In Aug 2015, Massud Popall and his brother Haroon Popall opened Shawarma Palace in Richmond BC. “We are not like all the other shawarma places out there,” says Massud.
“Where most use just Lebanese spices, we use a select mix of Lebanese and Turkish spices.” Massud and his brothers worked very hard to bring their special shawarma flavours to the people of Vancouver and Richmond.
“When I came to Canada, I was looking for an opportunity and I knew this was it,” says Massud. “In the restaurant industry you have to work hard and put in a lot of hours. Many people work a couple of months and give up because it is so tough. But I am passionate about the restaurant industry, so it’s good for me.”
While the restaurant business is a challenge, it’s one that Massud and his brother have risen to. “The beginning was a little difficult,” Massud says. “Our business was still new, and we had to educate the customers and inform them about shawarma. People didn’t know about shawarma in Vancouver so we had to convince them to try it. Once customers started coming in, they quickly became regulars!”
“We have a wide variety of food,” Massud says. “We offer a wide variety of dishes which include chicken kafta and lamb kabab, chicken Kabab and chicken shawarma, beef and lamb Donair. All of our shawarma and donairs come in two varieties platters and sandwich: the platters come with rice, our spicy garlic potatoes and salad. Donair or shawarma’s come with our famous garlic sauce and hummus. And we also have large or small sandwiches and special kids meal.
Looking for tasty and healthy vegetarian options? Try the crispy Falafel and Fattoush salads, as well as baklava to satisfy your sweet tooth. Everything served in Shawarma Palace is halal, with no alcohol served in any of our locations.” At Shawarma Palace, we take pride in sourcing only the finest ingredients for our dishes, working closely with trusted Canadian wholesalers to ensure top-quality freshness and flavor. From our tender meats to our vibrant vegetables and flavorful spices, every ingredient is carefully selected to create the perfect shawarma experience.
With Shawarma Palace locations in Richmond and Surrey, BC, Massud and his brother are excited about the success of their shawarma business and are considering expanding to new locations in the future!
