Babylon Cafe - Vancouver

We started going to the Babylon Café on Robson Street when we moved to Vancouver six years ago. We LOVED their chicken, lamb, and falafels, either in a wrap or in a salad. When we moved out of the West End, we kept frequenting the Robson Street location until we discovered that there is another location near our new home. The Babylon Café on Nelson at Granville was virtually the same as the Robson location BUT they recently changed owners. The prices the same (and sometimes more expensive) but they give you VERY LITTLE OF EVERYTHING. If you want a lamb wrap with two falafel balls then it will cost you $12.00 when it was $10.75 with the other owners. Under new management, I went on three separate occasions and with three different people making the wraps. They gave us 2 or 3 pieces of tomatoes or cucumbers, less than a spoonful of onions, a spare spread of tabbouleh or garlic, and half the portion of chicken or lamb as before. Essentially, the chicken wrap I had last night had more wrap than chicken or vegetables. Babylon Café on Nelson at Granville is expensive for what you get and you will still be hungry. There are many, many shawarma and donair places downtown. If you can, go to the Babylon Café on Robson at Cardero. Their wraps are delicious AND filling. If you’re closer to Dunsmuir at Richards, check out Pita Wrap on Dunsmuir. It’s a family owned business, only has one location, and the service and portion sizes are incredible.

If you want shawarma, this is the place. The place has really good shawarma though they did not have enough lamb. I had a chicken while my wife had what was left of the lamb. we also bought another chicken to go. The place is tiny but good food. We walked and traveled a long way for this. Not many places make a good shawarma. we went to the one on Robson Street.

We were visiting Vancouver for 2 days and we ate at The Babylon twice! With all of the choices of food in downtown Vancouver The Babylon Cafe is our favorite! We live in Kelowna and everytime we visit we eat here for the Shwarma Wrap or Shwarma Plate. It is amazing! Great price and generous portions. Great staff! An absolute must!!!!

I was staying at a hotel nearby and decided to try the lamb and chicken souvlaki at this restaurant. The portions were very generous, including Greek salad, rice, roasted potatoes, tzatziki or hummus, pita, and your choice of lamb or chicken for $12 or $11. Everything was hot and delicious. The cooks were helpful and friendly, and they were busy with a lot of takeout orders while we were there. There were only a few tables inside and outside on the busy Robson street, but we arrived early for dinner and didn't have to wait.

The lamb shawarma platter was tasty and satisfying. I also tried an Egyptian soda, which was a little pricier, but definitely worth it for the unique experience.