This takeout place is so small that only the first four

people in the lineup fit inside,

and this place ALWAYS has a lineup.

The most popular location is the one on Robson/Granville

corner facing Sears and Futureshop/Winners.

The food quality is quite consistent and shawarmas are

pretty easy to eat while walking on the street.

When I have a shawarma craving, I always come here!

You can smell the Babylon Cafe for four square

blocks in the middle of Downtown Vancouver.

You can see the line from a few more than that.

To call it a cafe is a bit of an exaggeration except that

 I think they sell coffee.

 It occupies a space of slightly more than 10 sq ft. 

The space that is not occupied by the cooking area and

the large counter,

is just wide enough for patrons to shimmy along it to select their toppings.

In the UK, these are called Kebab Shops. 

They specialise in Falafal Wraps, Chicken and Lamb

Gyros/Kebab/Schwarma Wraps.

They are insanely popular. 

This type of business is so big in Germany,

that there is an annual conference of several tens of thousands of shop owners get together.

 I do not go that often because I miss the places in

Montreal that have the big french fry sized pink-dyed pickled Turnips. 

There are few places in Vancouver that have them in the condiment bar.

They have a fair selection of toppings and are very efficient in loading and wrapping. 

 They only do wraps, no plates.  They have to be efficient. 

The line snakes down the block every day. 

The Falafel itself had good flavour, on the dry side but held together. 

 The peppers, and vegetables were good but those stale

Turnips were just sour note. 

They did not even originally put them on. I had to ask. 

Wish I had not.  I liked his Chicken. 

Moist and good flavour and quite loaded. 

 I thought most of the meat looked over cooked,

particularly the lamb.Babylon Cafe is known for their shawarmas.

Shawarmas are middle-eastern wraps containing sliced meat and other goodies.

The marinated meat is slow-cooked on a rotating

vertical spit and then sliced off right before serving.

I’m by no means a shawarma/döner/gyro expert so I’ll keep this short:

Babylon Cafe’s shawarmas are TASTY

 and a lunch spot favorite around the office.

Judging by their long lines around lunch time, usually 5 – 10 deep,

I’d bet that they’re a lunch spot favorite for many.

Despite the long lines, the efficient and sometimes friendly

staff ensure you don’t have to wait long to get a nicely wrapped shawarma in your hand.

They have the assembly line process down to a science.

There’s no where to sit at the Robson-Granville location, but that’s okay.

Lots of places to sit at the nearby Vancouver Art Gallery &

Vancouver Law Courts.

Or just multitask: walk & eat.ha~~

You can choose between chicken, lamb, pork, and beef.

The meat is moist and flavorful, and they don’t skimp on the fresh veggies.

Ask for some hot sauce to give your schawarma an extra kick.I do all the time.

 Chicken Shawarma

I always get this flavour because it smells the best.

I usually  get it with  hot sauce .

The chicken is really tasty with 'the works' but after eating it

 I always feel Yammy!!!!!!!!!! 

( You must try this!!)

 Downtown Vancouver.

Downtown Vancouver.

Downtown Vancouver.

Downtown Vancouver.Hollyster.

 Babylon Cafe
716 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z1A1
Tel: (604) 677-3522

2010.09.10 Downtown Vancouver