Zafoon Restaurant

What is Zafoon Restaurant? Set along the busy College Street strip just west of Kensington Market, Zafoon is a casual Middle Eastern dining room founded by hospitality veteran Abbas Wadi. The unpretentious interior is outfitted with warm wood finishes, tidy table seating, and an open kitchen pumping out authentic regional Arabian cooking. It operates as an approachable neighbourhood hub catering to late-night eaters, local students, and groups gathering around expansive share plates.

Zafoon Restaurant Menu & What to Order The kitchen specializes in hard-to-find Khaleeji and Arabian comfort dishes, led by pressure-fried broasted chicken that arrives with a deeply spiced, shatteringly crisp exterior. The chicken mandi and slow-braised lamb shank over fragrant spiced rice are essential centerpieces, layered with toasted nuts and served with punchy house sauces. Round out the meal with the sumac-heavy chicken musakhan flatbread, creamy hummus crowned with tender beef brisket, and a crisp Baghdadi salad.

Know Before You Go Zafoon functions predominantly on walk-ins, and while table turnover is relatively prompt, expect short waits during peak weekend dinner rushes. It stays open until 1:00 a.m. on weeknights and 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, making it one of the strip's most dependable late-night halal destinations. Paid street parking along College is scarce; hopping on the 506 Carlton streetcar or walking from Bathurst or Spadina is your best route.