Maha's Menu Will Have You Drooling For An Egyptian Brunch in Toronto

One of my (many) brunch goals in Toronto is to steadily eat my way through ALL of the authentic Egyptian delights on Maha’s menu.

With so many drool-worthy spots to eat brunch in Toronto, I usually don’t make it a habit to revisit any too often in favour of trying new eateries. Like any impartial brunch-goer, I try not to play favourites. In any case, how could one choose? As Drew Barrymore’s character in ‘Ever After’ (one of my favourite happy-cry movies) proclaimed, “I could no sooner pick a favourite star in the heavens.”

Yes, I’m a dramatic queen when it comes to brunch.

One of the things I love the most about living in Toronto is the diversity of our thriving metropolis and how other cultures are celebrated, especially through food. Whenever I travel to another country, no matter how delicious the local cuisine is, inevitably I miss the variety that this melting pot of a city offers — Persian for breakfast, Italian for lunch, Japanese for dinner, and Chinese food 24/7 to fill in the cracks.

As one of the most popular morning east-end locales, Maha’s Egyptian Brunch is a prime example of the city’s ravenous appetite for international fare. From traditional dishes to twists on classics, there’s something for everyone at this Greenwood Avenue and Gerrard Street East fixture.

Egyptian Food

Eggs Benedict and pancakes are pretty standard brunch fare in the West, but what can you expect from Maha’s Egyptian brunch in Toronto? What makes it stand out in a sea of deliciousness?

Egyptian cuisine can seem like a bit of a mystery to the uninitiated, kind of like the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Like…how were they built? Who built them? What are they made of? I have questions.

With culinary traditions that date back 5,000 years (!) to an age when pharaohs ruled the land, Egyptian food is a celebration of legumes, vegetables and fruit that can be found in the fertile lands around the Nile Valley and Delta. Over the centuries, the food became influenced by those who ventured across Egypt — Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, British, French and Arabs — and evolved to what it is today.

While you’re noshing on a crispy falafel at an Egyptian restaurant, you might liken it to iterations found in Israel or Lebanon. However, what differentiates Egyptian dishes from its Middle Eastern counterparts are the different ingredients and flavours that are used.

If you’re not convinced by now that Egyptians are serious contenders in the culinary world, remember that they’re the reason we enjoy bread as we know it today, having invented the fluffy, leavened version in 3,000 B.C.

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait

If you’re planning on visiting Maha’s for brunch on a weekend, resign yourself to a wait. Go with realistic expectations so that you don’t cry at the sight of a long line snaking out the front door. For example, the first time I visited this cozy Egyptian café it was 11am on a Saturday and I waited 90 minutes for a table.

Spoiler Alert: It was worth it!

It may occur to your to game the system and go on a weekday. While the line will definitely be less daunting, if you arrive after 11am it will still be long enough to make you mutter crankily “Don’t people have jobs?” while conveniently disregarding that you are also there during standard work hours. Don’t hate the player.

Just don’t go on a Wednesday when they’re closed.

Pro Tip: For this Toronto brunch spot, consider leaving the crew behind. Make like Noah’s ark and go in twos.

Family Affair

They say that the best food in Egypt can be found in private home…so unless you can somehow trick a local into inviting you for a home-cooked meal, you’re up the Nile without a paddle.

Luckily, if you’re heading out to the eponymously-named Maha’s for brunch in Toronto, the experience is like being invited into the home of Maha Barsoom.

After immigrating to Canada in 2000 with her kids (and co-owners of the restaurant) Monika and Mark, cooking authentic Egyptian dishes was a comforting reminder of home.

You can feel that warmth and familiarity permeating this family-run café, from the welcoming staff to the cozy space. If you manage to snag a spot inside at one of the wooden tables, take stock of the dazzling textiles on plush pillows, shelves bedecked with handmade baskets and trinkets, and the family snapshots hanging alongside photographs of Egypt taken by Monika herself.

There’s also patio seating, ideal for enjoying Toronto’s all too brief summer months.

Maha’s Menu Picks

Now for the part that you’re all dying for me to get to — Maha’s menu! It’s a mix of traditional and innovative where you’ll find classic Egyptian dishes listed alongside inventive culinary recreations.

Drinks:

Let’s start by dealing with your caffeine fix. I’m a sucker for cardamom so I was immediately drawn to the Honey Cardamom Latte which earns bonus points as the cardamom seeds are ground by a barista’s practiced hand.

If you’re not much of a coffee drinker, Maha’s offers a selection of fresh juices like the refreshing Egyptian Mint Limeade. This tangy beverage made with finely diced mint and lime juice is a fantastic way to beat the heat, whether you’re in Cairo or Toronto.

Going the traditional route? Order a warming Egyptian black tea with fresh mint.

Mains:

Cairo Classic

If this is your introduction to Egyptian cuisine, the Cairo Classic is a delicious place to start. Foole or Ful is the most common and hearty breakfast made of fava beans that you’ll find served from massive copper vats on the bustling streets of Egypt’s capital.

A crispy falafel is perched atop fanned slices of egg, foole (Maha’s version is stewed with tomato and onion), and served with a dollop of creamy feta, charred triangles of balady bread, and a side of a crunchy salata balady (Egyptian salad of cucumber, tomato and onion).

You’d be a foole not to give it a try (👈🏼 see what I did there?! 🤣).

Date Grilled Cheese

An Egyptian twist on a comforting, childhood classic, the Date Grilled Cheese is a must-order from Maha’s in Toronto, even if you end up having to take it to-go.

Take an indulgent bite of fluffy egg bread that’s been drizzled with honey and pressed till golden, sandwiching a gooey blend of three cheeses — gouda, havarti, and swiss — studded with plump dates that have been sautéed in butter. The perfect balance of savoury and sweet!

Accompanied by your choice of salata balady, cumin fries, or lentil soup (not available in the summer months).

Maha’s Mind-Blowing Chicken

While technically categorized as a sandwich, Maha’s Mind-Blowing Chicken looks like if a sandwich exploded (in the best possible way) and multiplied in deliciousness. It’ll make sense once you see it, I promise…

LOOK AT THAT!!!

It’s a piece of art.

There is a toasted egg bun on top and buried below a mixture of chopped tomato, onion and parsley mixed with chunks of marinated chicken and liberally drenched in tomeya (a garlic sauce made with mayo and tehina).

Overflowing the confines of the bun and bursting with umami, the richness of the meat is tempered by the brightness of the tomato while the creamy sauce blends all the flavours together.

Pharaoh’s Po’Boy

Middle East meets West with the drool-worthy Pharaoh’s Po’Boy, another top pick (for good reason!) from Maha’s menu.

My first bite into the warm pita stuffed with marinated, lightly-battered and deep-fried baby shrimp was pure ecstasy. The plump and juicy crustaceans filled the half-moon pockets and drizzled with their Maha’s magical garlic sauce with a sprinkle of parsley for garnish.

Add a squeeze of lemon for some zest!

Egyptian Falafel

Drawing culinary inspiration from the British gastropub staple, Maha’s version of the Scotch Egg is worth unbuttoning your pants for.

The Egyptian Falafel is a couple of soft-boiled eggs encased in a soft Egyptian falafel mix in a crisp shell of sesame seeds with luscious, thick squiggles of garlic sauce on top of the gooey yolk. Whoa!

It’s served perched atop cumin home fries with a side of salata balady.

If you’re going between this and another of the main dishes, you can order a side of Egyptian Falafels for the best of both worlds. Genius, I know.

For the full Maha’s menu, click here.

Maha’s Egyptian Brunch

Location: 226 Greenwood Ave., Toronto, Ontario (Greenwood Ave. + Gerrard St. E.)
Hours: Everyday 8am – 4:30pm, Closed Wednesdays
Price: $$-$$$
Type of Food: Egyptian, Vegetarian-Friendly and Vegan Options
Features: Free Wi-Fi, Take-out options, Accepts credit cards
Website

For someone who is loathe to a) wake up early and b) venture further than 20 minutes from home, Maha’s brunch in Toronto is my exception. I look forward to trekking all the way to the east end of the city to steadily feast my way through the rest of their menu.

For more recommendations for brunch in Toronto, check out the second installment of the best brunch in Toronto!

Keep your stalking game strong and follow me @teriaki if you aren’t already!