With staples like shawarma, Syriana Cuisine fills a gap in the St. John's food scene

A new Syrian restaurant is filling a gap in the St. John's food scene that's been frustrating co-owner Mona Khalil for years.

Since she moved to Newfoundland and Labrador six years ago, Khalil told CBC News, she's had difficulty finding halal foods. 

Now she's filling that demand herself with Syriana Cuisine, which opened earlier this year on Empire Avenue.

"The Muslim community and the Syrian community are really, really happy about the restaurant because they were looking for a place like that. Me, myself, I was looking for something like that," she said.

WATCH | Here's how to Syriana makes shawarma: 

How about a shawarma from this new Syrian restaurant in St. John’s?

3 months ago

Duration 1:33

Mona Khalil arrived in Canada in 2018. Her family’s dream has been to open their own family-run restaurant in St. John’s. Today, they’re open, serving up shawarma, falafel and other traditional Syrian dishes. CBC Newfoundland and Labrador stops by for a cooking lesson.

The restaurant was six years in the making, a labour of love for Khalil and her husband, Abdul Kafi.

Khalil is serving up Syrian-style shawarma, falafel, fattoush salad and other Middle Eastern favourites — and the entire menu is halal — permissible under Islamic law.

"Cooking is my passion, it's my therapy," she said. "When I'm not feeling well, I go to the kitchen, I cook, I feel better."

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