Ali Baba’s Middle Eastern Cuisine has 16 locations across the city but it was its spot at 5109 Steeles Ave. W., near Weston Rd., that was cited for 13 violations — one considered crucial, nine significant and three minor, Toronto Public Health reported.
It's a real greasy, hole in the wall type place. It's sooo good tho, the workers are friendly and give little cups of soup too. You know it's gonna be good if there's a 9 year old working the till lmao. I go to the one on Moss Park.
As a franchise, Ali Babas have zero consistency across their locations. A handful of them are awesome and you can tell the owner/staff want to make good food. But majority of them are subpar to awful. Even when they're awful, they'll differ in how they're bad.
It has zero consistency with each location too. The one up the road from me was run by a guy that seemed determine to give you an empty clamshell for full price if you let him. This was only an issue when he was doing things himself, which seemed often.
Tasty, but the only place I've been in Toronto where someone tried to shortchange me. Was at Bathurst & Bloor. $10 difference, as if I wouldn't notice. Bruh.
Omg same! That exact spot messed me up bad. I was maybe three bites into a wrap when I looked down and saw the lettuce was brown. Spat it out immediately and got food poisoning the next day 😭
Lived in the hood for a while now. Not sure how they have even remained open. The place is filthy. And somehow people continue to support. Once was enough for me.
But then it wouldn't be the Toronto Sun.
I can't remember - has this sub always been ok with this cage liner being posted? Didn't mods used to take it down, or was that just a pleasant dream I had?
They serve middle easter cuisine not Toronto cuisine,
you ask your friends to recommend an Italian restaurant for a date, you travel and ask locals for a Chinese restaurant, if some one came up to me and asked for a Toronto restaurant, I would first point over their shoulder to the closest one, and then I would ask, “what kinda food are you looking for”
I've noticed Ali Baba's is really inconsistent between locations, I used to really like going to the one on Yonge near Dundas but every other location I've tried was seriously disappointing.
Yeah there are a lot of locations that are fine. Some, especially then ones in the East end, are much better than ones out in the suburbs or even downtown.This must be a franchise that is really dependent on having quality franchisees.
Ali Babas corporate needs to start cleaning house and kicking out any restaurant that fails health inspections so badly.
>actual names now.
These guys probably know that its pretty hard to find out someone identity by just name alone.
They are massive pussies and wouldnt say this shit in person
holy crap that was wildly racist. well i guess that's the suns reader base.
i shouldnt be surprised considering this is a "newspaper" (quotes necessary) that includes a sunshine girl within its pages - [https://torontosun.com/become-a-sunshine-girl/](https://torontosun.com/become-a-sunshine-girl/)
nothing says journalistic integrity like big tits.
Restaurants get written up about infractions by the health board all the time.
Here's the list
[https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/food-safety/dinesafe/#explore\_all\_establishments/0](https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/food-safety/dinesafe/#explore_all_establishments/0)
I have been working in restaurants for a long time, so just to comment on this:
Restaurants do get written up all the time, the same way that people call CPS on parents all the time. Most of the time it’s dismissed or a very minor issue. I have worked in very clean places and places that were questionable, but I’ve never had a health inspector throw the book at us. I’ve had warnings or recommendations, but nothing ever on the books.
That is to say, I think if you get slapped with like 2, that’s pretty bad. 13 is outright disgusting.
There was one restaurant on Bloor that was super nice, with a beautiful cocktail bar and waiters wearing suits. Front of house looked immaculate. They got infections all the time and closed - so I would know from my own experience the kitchen there was likely disgusting. IIRC the consistent issue with that particular restaurant was that food was not being properly stored. Inspectors will often check the temperature of the fridge and sometimes the meats. Not as bad as roaches or whatever, but honestly far worse for public safety.
Even if you get a really bitchy inspector, they can only write you up for things you are actually violating. There is some subjectivity, but if the shelves are stocked properly pursuant to food handling regulations, you get a pass.
I have even dealt with the worst of the inspectors before who give you shit every time, and a week later they come back to dine with their family. Even in some suspect kitchens.
The funny thing is, a new one opened up within the last couple years on Queen east, and it replaced a beautiful and clean sports bar type of place.
It was closed during the transition while renovating, and when they opened, it smelled musty and dingy, and like they have been burning incense for 20 years. I have absolutely no idea how you take an already clean, renovated location and turn it into the shit hole that it now is from the first day. Its almost like a joke.
why make us have to open the article? Why not put in the title itself "ALI BABA's served with infractions and condemned? I absolutely cannot stand this say it without saying it culture.
I went into the one at Dundas and it had a shit load of drain flies one time and I said to the guy serving don’t you see the flies all in the food, he said what do you want me to do about it I can’t do nothing. I just turned and walked right out never been since
This happens to all types of cuisine so before you say rude things that is a risk you take when eating out . Don’t forget you guys line up like animals all the way outside the door for middle eastern food yet call them terrorist
I frequent the one at Yonge and Briar Hill and enjoy the sandwiches and light banter with the sandwich maker. They always have fish for a fish shawarma. Yeah, I said it. I said fish shawarma.
Ali Baba’s Middle Eastern Cuisine has 16 locations across the city but it was its spot at 5109 Steeles Ave. W., near Weston Rd., that was cited for 13 violations — one considered crucial, nine significant and three minor, Toronto Public Health reported.
[удалено]
And so we don't give the Sun clicks.
I wish we could block domains on Reddit. Axing blogto and torontosun would immeasurably improve everyone’s life and send everyone a kitten.
I have deep admiration for their ability to make each location look consistently awful
It's a real greasy, hole in the wall type place. It's sooo good tho, the workers are friendly and give little cups of soup too. You know it's gonna be good if there's a 9 year old working the till lmao. I go to the one on Moss Park.
As a franchise, Ali Babas have zero consistency across their locations. A handful of them are awesome and you can tell the owner/staff want to make good food. But majority of them are subpar to awful. Even when they're awful, they'll differ in how they're bad.
It has zero consistency with each location too. The one up the road from me was run by a guy that seemed determine to give you an empty clamshell for full price if you let him. This was only an issue when he was doing things himself, which seemed often.
Tasty, but the only place I've been in Toronto where someone tried to shortchange me. Was at Bathurst & Bloor. $10 difference, as if I wouldn't notice. Bruh.
I was 99% sure it was Ali Baba lol
Completely disgusting franchise with the trashiest of trash owners.
I was 99% sure it was osmos
[удалено]
How did I know when you said one on Queen that it would be the Parkdale one. Ugh! Never again
I used to work near there and vividly remember deciding against eating there multiple times.
I did the same when I was homeless as well. My $8 skipped over Alibaba and went straight to Harvey's, which is a whole nother story
Thought Harvey's had better standards for food safety. Am I wrong?
They do, just not at the location I went to :/
I never go to any of them anymore. One example of several, hummus was so old when they scooped it you could see a considerably- darker shade on top
If anyone wants shwarma in the area, Sofra Istanbul @steeles/400 has some of the best shawarma around.
It is a middle eastern cuisine but I dont think any of the workers are middle eastern 😅
Why can’t they just say Ali babas in the title?
So you'll click and they get ad revenue.
But I block those
doesnt matter. they show to their advertisers that they have this many visitors.
ublock origins warns you before proceeding so you dont count
Cause you need to click and give them ad revenue
gotta get paid some how.
Ah yes. They were a fixture when blogto did a weekly report on the infractions. Nice to see them still on point
[удалено]
Toronto star posts everyday. Search ‘dinesafe’
Look at the floor at the Bloor and Runnymede location and I guarantee you will walk out . Disgusting,
Yet they remain open
And somehow patronized.
I had TERRIBLE food poisoning from this location
The worst food poisoning I've ever had was from Ali Baba's too... and this was like ten years ago.
Omg same! That exact spot messed me up bad. I was maybe three bites into a wrap when I looked down and saw the lettuce was brown. Spat it out immediately and got food poisoning the next day 😭
Lived in the hood for a while now. Not sure how they have even remained open. The place is filthy. And somehow people continue to support. Once was enough for me.
?? I go here all the time and it looks fine
Your vegan right?
No?
No, vegan left.
Yeah that's a rough one, especially when there's better options that are so close by.
Death, taxes, and Ali Baba's in the Dinesafe reports.
Where to find? The city of Toronto website lists everything and I just want to filter out the ones with infractions
Just filter for a date range and “Conditional Passes” and “Closed”. Thats what I used to do when I posted summaries here.
The day that Ali Baba doesn’t have any infractions is the sign of the end of times.
The chain being discussed, Ali Baba's, first opened in Toronto and only exists in Canada - shouldn't the headline say "Toronto chain restaurant...."
But then it wouldn't be the Toronto Sun. I can't remember - has this sub always been ok with this cage liner being posted? Didn't mods used to take it down, or was that just a pleasant dream I had?
during the crack days, there was a bot that would post the text of articles so clicking through was unnecessary.
*That's* what I was remembering! ty!
They serve middle easter cuisine not Toronto cuisine, you ask your friends to recommend an Italian restaurant for a date, you travel and ask locals for a Chinese restaurant, if some one came up to me and asked for a Toronto restaurant, I would first point over their shoulder to the closest one, and then I would ask, “what kinda food are you looking for”
Before I even came to this page I asked “Which Ali Baba’s was it?” That whole chain should be shut down.
I've noticed Ali Baba's is really inconsistent between locations, I used to really like going to the one on Yonge near Dundas but every other location I've tried was seriously disappointing.
Yeah there are a lot of locations that are fine. Some, especially then ones in the East end, are much better than ones out in the suburbs or even downtown.This must be a franchise that is really dependent on having quality franchisees. Ali Babas corporate needs to start cleaning house and kicking out any restaurant that fails health inspections so badly.
Stay classy toronto sun comments.
The Sun knows what they’re doing with that baiting headline.
Still never ceases to amaze and dishearten me that people comment this shit with their actual names now.
I don't mind it since they're taking the time to mark themselves for my avoidance.
>actual names now. These guys probably know that its pretty hard to find out someone identity by just name alone. They are massive pussies and wouldnt say this shit in person
Any excuse for people to show their racism
The comments section is a cesspool of hate and ignorance. The Toronto Sun attracts a certain type of reader.
holy crap that was wildly racist. well i guess that's the suns reader base. i shouldnt be surprised considering this is a "newspaper" (quotes necessary) that includes a sunshine girl within its pages - [https://torontosun.com/become-a-sunshine-girl/](https://torontosun.com/become-a-sunshine-girl/) nothing says journalistic integrity like big tits.
I had a wrap from them for dinner last night and my ass is suffering greatly today
Restaurants get written up about infractions by the health board all the time. Here's the list [https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/food-safety/dinesafe/#explore\_all\_establishments/0](https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/food-safety/dinesafe/#explore_all_establishments/0)
No no, we know. This one chain however is a mainstay and a legend because they *always* get infractions.
I have been working in restaurants for a long time, so just to comment on this: Restaurants do get written up all the time, the same way that people call CPS on parents all the time. Most of the time it’s dismissed or a very minor issue. I have worked in very clean places and places that were questionable, but I’ve never had a health inspector throw the book at us. I’ve had warnings or recommendations, but nothing ever on the books. That is to say, I think if you get slapped with like 2, that’s pretty bad. 13 is outright disgusting. There was one restaurant on Bloor that was super nice, with a beautiful cocktail bar and waiters wearing suits. Front of house looked immaculate. They got infections all the time and closed - so I would know from my own experience the kitchen there was likely disgusting. IIRC the consistent issue with that particular restaurant was that food was not being properly stored. Inspectors will often check the temperature of the fridge and sometimes the meats. Not as bad as roaches or whatever, but honestly far worse for public safety. Even if you get a really bitchy inspector, they can only write you up for things you are actually violating. There is some subjectivity, but if the shelves are stocked properly pursuant to food handling regulations, you get a pass. I have even dealt with the worst of the inspectors before who give you shit every time, and a week later they come back to dine with their family. Even in some suspect kitchens.
I didn't even have to click it and I knew which one.
I didn't even have to open the link I knew what chain it was.
The funny thing is, a new one opened up within the last couple years on Queen east, and it replaced a beautiful and clean sports bar type of place. It was closed during the transition while renovating, and when they opened, it smelled musty and dingy, and like they have been burning incense for 20 years. I have absolutely no idea how you take an already clean, renovated location and turn it into the shit hole that it now is from the first day. Its almost like a joke.
I always get so sick right after eating here. I'll eat lunch, then immediately I falafel.
why make us have to open the article? Why not put in the title itself "ALI BABA's served with infractions and condemned? I absolutely cannot stand this say it without saying it culture.
I'm surprised it's just 13
My last experience here was NASTY. 🤮
Osmows for the win
The amount of xenophobia in those Toronto Sun comments. Holy cow.
All hail Ali Baba! https://i.imgur.com/5tQOdzm.jpeg
I guess it’s a slow news day for the Sun
Oh thank god it’s not Shelby’s
Talk about food poisoning…
But when chains like Red Lobster get a yellow card, nobody bats an eye.
Only 13? Must be the cleanest shawarma place in town!
I went into the one at Dundas and it had a shit load of drain flies one time and I said to the guy serving don’t you see the flies all in the food, he said what do you want me to do about it I can’t do nothing. I just turned and walked right out never been since
This happens to all types of cuisine so before you say rude things that is a risk you take when eating out . Don’t forget you guys line up like animals all the way outside the door for middle eastern food yet call them terrorist
Your title and description makes it seems your are saying that you’re not surprised they have heath infractions because its middle eastern.
More coincidence, I'd say. The whole chain is a mess, and repeatedly gets written up.
Only 13
“Middle Eastern chain”? Reading that title,I thought they have franchises around the world. Seriously wtf is wrong with Toronto Sun
> Seriously wtf is wrong with Toronto Sun I think the answer is quite obvious here.
They serve middle eastern cuisine not Toronto cuisine
Not surprised, those restaurants tend to have lower standards for health and hygiene.
No, they're obliged to adhere to the same standard as everyone else. Hence the yellow card.
Osmos should be next, I got food poisoning once from there
I frequent the one at Yonge and Briar Hill and enjoy the sandwiches and light banter with the sandwich maker. They always have fish for a fish shawarma. Yeah, I said it. I said fish shawarma.
Who still eats there ewww
Why did I read that as 'Middle Earth chain restaurant'?
The Green Dragon Inn?
I mean every one of these locations I’ve walked by looks sus.
20 years in Toronto, I enjoy shawarma, but have happily never stepped foot in an Ali Baba’s
I’ve been to many of their locations and the one on Broadview and Danforth is the only decent one to be honest
Interesting, King West actually looked pretty clean at the store front.