The flavours of Turkey have arrived in downtown Orillia with the opening of Express Shawarma at 6 Front St. N.
Owned by brothers Emin and Emil Isgenderli, the restaurant officially opened its doors yesterday, offering fresh, homemade Turkish cuisine.
The Isgenderli brothers, originally from Turkey, have been in Canada for 13 years and previously operated a restaurant in Toronto. Now settled in Orillia, they saw an opportunity to introduce their style of Turkish and Mediterranean cooking to the Sunshine City.
“We live here now,” Emin explained. “We wanted to bring something new to the community, and so far, the feedback has been awesome.”
The restaurant specializes in shawarma wraps and dinner plates, with an emphasis on generous portions and bold flavours.
The chicken shawarma was the standout dish during the restaurant’s soft opening, he explained, noting there are plans to expand the menu to include beef and vegetarian options in the near future.
Emin takes pride in the authenticity of the food, having learned traditional cooking techniques in Turkey. He says he has refined his skills while working with three top chefs in Toronto.
“Our food is authentic, and I use a special recipe that nobody else has,” he said. “Everything is fresh, and we focus on customer service and quality, not just making money.”
An example of that philosophy, he says, is how Express Shawarma is generous with its portions, particularly the amount of meat in their wraps.
“I put in a lot of meat,” Emin said with a laugh. “Less salad, more meat — because nobody likes toasted lettuce.”
Another major highlight of the restaurant is its custom hot sauce, which has quickly become a favourite among customers. The sauce comes in three spice levels, catering to both heat lovers and those with milder tastes.
“I found out people here love spicy food,” Emin said. “I use four different kinds of hot peppers and pure olive oil to make it unique.”
Beyond serving delicious food, Express Shawarma is also committed to giving back to the community. The brothers have decided to waive taxes for first responders, recognizing the contributions of police, paramedics, and other essential workers.
“We have three police stations here, and they are really important to us,” Emin explained. “Without them, the community can't run.”
Situated in the heart of downtown Orillia, Express Shawarma is in an ideal spot, just minutes from the waterfront, making it a convenient stop for locals and visitors alike, he noted.
“When I looked online for somewhere to rent, this was the first place that came up,” Emin said. “I rented it the next day.”
Right now, the brothers are focusing on perfecting their menu and establishing their presence in Orillia. In the future, they hope to expand their offerings and possibly introduce a dine-in experience.
“For now, we’re taking it step by step,” Emin said. “We have limited space here, but bigger ideas for the future.”
Express Shawarma is open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., providing a quick and flavourful option for those on the go.
During their first day of operations, the Isgenderli brothers saw more than 50 customers, with word-of-mouth quickly spreading.
“The community has been really welcoming so far,” Emin said. “And we’re just getting started.”