When I first came across this delicious Israeli egg dish, it was at Aroma, an Israeli-based coffee chain that had opened up in the Toronto area. Eggs cooked in a tomato and roasted red pepper sauce, it is healthier and filling at the same time – perfect for this time of year. Since my first taste of shakshuka at Aroma, many more restaurants, especially in the downtown area, have added it to their menu. While the dish is very similar at all restaurants, each one also has its own twist. Here are five (including Aroma) places which serve this delectable delight:
The restaurant may be a quick-bite/order at the counter eatery, but the fact that they give you a choice of different FRESH BREADS (with tahini!) is definitely a bonus, in addition to having it on their menu EVERY DAY (rather than just weekend brunch). Nothing too spectacular (eggs are a little bit “plasticky” and likely not cooked in the sauce), but definitely more affordable than the rest. A good “introduction” to the dish itself. Several locations across the city.
Weekends and holidays only, and likely seasonal (i.e. it wasn’t on the menu back in the summer). It’s served how it’s cooked – in a cast iron skillet and you can see the eggs – so bonus points for presentation. Taste wise, the sauce is excellent (especially with the feta on top), and eggs are fresh, but points are taken away for the bread – just small, measly pieces of crostini and therefore not enough to sop up the sauce. A bit overcooked the time I had it.
Wish:
Not sure if it totally counts, since they call the dish Eggs in Purgartory, but it’s the same idea. The sauce is flavourful and the eggs well-cooked (though hidden under the sauce). The presentation is good – served in a soup plate rather than a skillet, but they definitely over-do the bread – three huge slices of Italian bread, which is MORE THAN ENOUGH for the sauce.
The time I had it, the eggs were a bit too hard-cooked, but the sauce was good and eggs aren’t hidden. Lola’s shakshuka is likely seasonal as they change their menu every few months, so it’s probably a good idea to order this before it disappears for the spring and summer! It’s served in a casserole dish with toasted challah (or gluten-free bread for an extra $1.75) as well as the diner’s choice of mixed greens, home fries or frites. This is the only restaurant which includes a side dish.
Of COURSE Fat Pasha has to have it on its menu (and not just for brunch – it’s on their regular lunch menu). The restaurant is Israeli-inspired, after all. I like how they add peas to the dish and for an additional cost, you can also have lamb meatballs (however, the eggs are hidden under the peas. It would have been PERFECT if one could actually see the them). Like Lola’s, it comes with two small slices of challah (the menu says pita, though) to soak up the sauce as well. The menu notes that the sauce is a bit spicy, but I did not taste much of a kick at all. And I’m not much of a spicy food person. Also, if you ask, you can substitute the bread with cucumbers as a diner at the table next to us did.
Out of the five places I’ve had the dish, I’d probably pick Fat Pasha as it’s a little more “unique” in terms of taste (with the peas and optional lamb meatballs) and Wish as a close second.
Have YOU tried shakshuka? Are there any other places you recommend?
