Istar Restaurant & Banquet in Etobicoke
235 Dixon Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9P 2M5, Canada
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Easygoing, always-open restaurant serving Somali fare, plus Italian & American specialties.
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Istar serves delicious food and is a hub for a local Somali(?) Muslim community. It is a pleasure to get food here either to take out or dine in. I love the wraps, which, although the experience of choosing toppings is similar to a fast-casual burrito restaurant, are not like anything I've had anywhere else.
Phenomenal service and food, must try their mango juice and sambusa. Brother Suleiman was very friendly and made a customized food plate with a variety of dishes which definitely made our experience. Looking forward to the next visit.
Omg! How have I not known about this restaurant! First time going there today and I left SO happy! Right from the start to the end,I had an amazing experience! Adnan was so patient, explaining all the food and he did it with such a huge smile! J [Jay] was amazing with his wonderful sense of humor! I didn't realize they had Ugali...I was so shocked and excited! It did not disappoint! I'm vegetarian so Adnan put something together for me and it was delicious! The milk tea was so warming and comforting, reminding me of Ethiopia! The mandazi was so good! Not too sweet at all and paired perfectly with the tea! Thank you everyone there for making my first visit so memorable and amazing! Special thanks to Adnan and J! I'LL BE BACK [insert Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice] haha! Thank you Istar for allowing us to sit down and have a good "home" cooked meal!
Nice restaurant with East African food. They have large portion sizes of food, the meal was delicious and the ambience relaxed. They have samosas, chapati, mandazi, goat meat, beef, chicken etc. They also have delicious home made cake slices. The best part is that they are open 24 hours so if you’re travelling through late at night it may be worth a try.
The food is amazing , and the portion size is appropriate given the pricing.” 😊
Came here late night and the place was packed! I was surprised how busy the place was but it all made sense after I tried the food. We ordered a chicken wrap and mixed beef wrap and both were good. The wraps here are made with a different type of pita that was much thicker than my liking. Also order a beef suqaar platter with spicy rice, salad, bbq chicken 🤤 and a greens a potato dish. Definitely recommend this late night spot and definitely bang for your buck!
The pictures wrap vs plate no it justice as taste is 10 stars 🌟 🤤. However, the the best of the best freshly cooked food globally that I eat. I was just visiting for a conference for the weekend from Ottawa. This now easily part of my religious eating practice in Toronto Follow up: I'm back T.O 1 year afterwards to get the mixed up chicken 🐔 & beef 🍖 😋
I can’t recommend enough this place. Best value ever; food is great. We shared goat, pork and chicken options; meals include rice which for three people you can see how much that was. Service is also great; people are very friendly and helpful, when I asked for recommendations they actually gave us pretty good feedback on the different meals they offered. Mango juice tastes pretty good, very refreshing with this combination of flavors. Plus: they gave us three little wraps as a house gift. Everything for the best price we’ve found in Toronto. Definitely recommend to come here, I look forward to comeback.
Great food and wonderful Service
The best food and the best service
I used to love coming here for the wraps. But you might as well get a meal instead. For the same price, because youre eating more Roti, than you are. Having food inside. Literally 3 pieces of onion, 3 pieces of pepper. 2 slices of tomato 3 pieces of cucumber, makes no sense for what youre paying. And the portion size has got, smaller i work hard for my money, so not being full after I spent $15 is crazy?
Gotta try the fish samosas...soooo good!
Khatra has a very good service thank you
I simply love istar
Goat stew plate, Ma Shaa Allah so good
Great food, service and friendly staff. The beef stew, butter chicken, bbq beef ribs & was very good, dont miss out on the mango juice.
Their food was really good and fresh! My favorite chicken wrap and ribs.
Food was pretty plain. Not as much flavour that I was hoping for. Not bad, just not very flavorful.
Bit expensive for par person but really good food and service Vegetarian options: Parking: Kid-friendliness: Wheelchair accessibility:
Great hall for parties
Good food,
24 hour restaurant with amazing food! My fave is the wraps. They are big and affordable. Always great service with very friendly staff. A taste of East Africas finest.
Best restaurant to eat overnight
Best ever
Prices changing all time and terrible customer service. I would pay attention to screen before paying Food
Beautiful place to eat
Poor quality food restaurant. They gave me cold chicken from fridge with plain rice to go which costed me CAD 18.00 I dont recommend it
Amran SHe is wonderful ,she served better. Food is amazing Food : 5/5
Great
Food was good quantity was not that much what they charge. Bit expensive
Great food, great service, friendly staff. Strongly recommend checking it out.
May Allah reward the owner. Great customer service.
good eats.
August 03, 2024: Our first visit back to Istar, since we moved to BC! The restaurant was very busy with about 20 people lined up for the wraps. The line for dinners (rice and meat) took only about 15 minutes. Despite the wait it was well worth it. Lots of rice was loaded into the take out container (your choose the type) and plenty of meat and vegetables, fish is also an option. Well worth the visit!!! Enjoy __________________________ 2020 review: Food is very good. Dont expect as fancy restaurant but DO expect to have eat a good size quality meal for a reasonable price
Great Halal food
Great place to eat! Fresh food and friendly staff!
Good food I enjoyed
If I could give their service a 0 I would. I can t be paid to go back again
Nice Somalian cuisine they got tasty wraps Their meat dishes are delicious and sufficient quantities They are open almost 24 hours, it is my go to place if I air travel and land at Pearson airport with confidence that they will have food at that time Grateful for their service and hospitality
First time trying Somalian Food the food was amazing I got the chicken wrap and BBQ chicken entree. The customer service was amazing and it was delicious I didn t leave a drop of rice behind.
I bought a sandwich from this place and when I took it home and took a bit, I pulled hair out of my mouth. I had to throw away my food and I contacted the restaurant to complain and I was told to leave a message. No one contacted me back. I tried calling the next few days and left my phone number, but I still havent received a call. The customer service is also very poor. The staff have trouble focusing on one customer at a time. They could be preparing your order and theyll stop multiple times to speak to each other or another customer. Especially when trying to cash out your order. Instead of focusing on cashing the person out, theyll start trying to take other orders. Your not moving faster by doing this. It causes confusion and Ive had mistakes done in the past by staff not paying attention. Why do I have to repeat myself multiple times?? Very disappointing...
Worst food
Their food used to be okay but now its tasteless and expensive for no reason. Their wraps used to be good but now I have no words to describe their wraps, lets just say the wraps are overrated now, I can make better wraps at home. And their customer service, OMG their customer service is garbage, they have no customer service skills at all and you will have to wait 30 minutes in line to place an order, just ridiculous. They charge so much for food but wouldnt hire more employees to better serve their customers. They have only 3 employees on the floor and those employees are super slow... Even to get a cup of tea, you will have to wait 30-40 minutes in line... Madness. Istar get your act together and hire more employees to better serve your customers.
For all authentic Somali dishes. This place has amazing food,good service and amazing atmosphere. Open 24/7. I recommend everyone to go there check out. Good prices too.
Really good food
Jazakhumullakhair! We are very happy how everything turned out, and so are our guests. We had my daughters wedding reception here recently and highly recommend this place. The food was great and the hospitality was amazing. Obama, Mohammed and your staff treated us like family members and not like customers. This meant a lot to us. On behalf of my family and myself, thanks again!
Food is always fresh and service is top-notch
This place is incredible. If you go for lunch, try the beef or chicken wrap with everything on it including all sauces. You wont be disappointed. Entirely satisfying, unlike anything youve ever tasted before. The people are super friendly, and the prices are stuck in the early 2000s. If youre there for dinner Id recommend the goat entree. Id never had goat before, but it was delicious, and wont be the last time.
Excellence service Coming next time
This place is a 24/7 location that has been serving GTA for decades and buys whether day or night. Food is the same since years ago. No shortchange on quality and quantity. Staff are all professionals and are patient. Keep up the good food and the good vibe
Good.local.taste, but getting expansive. Parking: Free parking Kid-friendliness: Yes Wheelchair accessibility: Yes
Love this place
A great place to try East African cuisine. A friend recommended their chicken wraps. The wraps came in a bread similar to a roti and the chicken had hints of Indian tandoori seasoning. It was a delicious blend of cuisines. The final product was an excellent late night meal. Would definitely recommend and will visit again.
The most delicious tasting food today was my first time at this place, I am of a Westindian background, and I would say that the food here is definitely a 10 out of 10 Alhamdulillah!!
Its an ok place
Nice food and awesome black tea
Service was disappointing waited a long time for the cashier to finish chatting with her friend then on her phone before serving me samosas. They have the best Samosas at this place just request fresh ones. They have a variety of other hot meals that. Somali style food sold here
Their Tea is fantastic I do not eat any food there . I am sure food is also nice. Staff is very nice. There is a main Person behind the counter is super awesome.
I frequently visit this place for their Goat rice. The serving size is quite generous, especially considering the amount of rice. The staff is courteous, pleasant, and welcoming. During the winter months, their hot milk tea comes highly recommended.
The food is dry and raw. The food is very bad.
Food was okay. Very nice staff! Definitely would give it another try
Always beat of tea n samosa
Staff was super friendly and nice and food was fresh and delicious Solid 5 star I was surprised by their caring attitude and hospitality Great experience Food : 5/5 |
Good place to be. It is a clean restaurant .They have a variety of foods, and they are open 24 hours. All the servers are friendly
I had goat on rice - nice. I also had the Istar Shake which was amazing! Wheelchair accessibility: full accessibility. Tables are a bit tight. Food : 5/5 |
Love this spot. I love their butter chicken, sambosa and their malawa. Their mango drink also hits the spot! Dietary restrictions: Halal food
Delicious variety of healthy food. Fresh baked bread, desserts and fresh squeezed
So good to see that the Ambience is very Family friendly. People who are concerned about privacy/Hijab/Parda this is a very good option. Food
Delicious foods prepared by great people served by wonderful people. Simply outstanding overall.
Good plenty food more then what you paid for Vegetarian options: Halal Food : 4/5 |
Best Somali restaurants MashaAllah
Go to place for late night cravings!! I really appreciate the fact you guys are open 24H. That is really great. All the time, whenever we want to satisfied midnight food craving, we end up coming just because of the food and its 24h. I have recommended you guys for many other people and they all loved it and keep coming. Keep up the great work guys.
can t wait to come back!! Mashallah tabatrakuallah literally I love food and the service nice people there. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED TO EVERYONE IN TORONTO OR EVEN IN OTTAWA. Food
First time to this restaurant. We ordered more than 5 dishes and all super good. Most of all, the staff was very kind. I would go back to this place.
Food is amazing. Get the salmon wrap! So flavourful
I come here often because of the Goat rice. The portion is very reasonable, fair with the rice. Service is kind, nice and friendly. In winter, they have hot tea with milk is highly recommended.
When all is close at nights, here is where to go. Vegetarian options: They have different options. Food : 5/5 |
The food was good but cold. The somali tea was great. Vegetarian options: We also ordered rice with mixed vegetables . Food : 3/5 |
Excellent place to be!!
24 hours Restaurant! African-Indian fusion. Good size of portions. Service really nice. Lady who served us was so friendly (and beautiful). It was so nice to receive a Chai as a compliment after food. If you want to eat normal, good food in the middle of the night, this is a right place!
Excellent
Great place to go for Halal Somali Food. Feels like a nice cozy restaraunt. Food was amazing and authentic. Service was good. Lots of seating and decent amount of parking. I really recommend you try this neat spot
Osama fixes the plates
Must try samosas and mango juice. Chicken suqaar and butter chicken Beef sandwich is awesome Tea is delicious Food : 5/5
I have been coming to Istar for years now after my friend had recommended it to me, and I have always left fully satisfied. The meals and drinks are so filling and the price is just right. The bariis, barbequed chicken, goat meat, butter chicken and potatoes are all so delicious. The mango beverage they sell is also excellent. Its so great to have a wonderful Somali restaurant in Etobicoke. Thank you! Parking: Lots of parking space in the plaza. Great location overall.
One of the best places I ve discovered in recent years here in the gta Thank you so much Inshallah your business will prosper Great goat meat No farm taste or smell Mango juice is a MUST try Great rice too And vegetable Great for all humans and baby humans hahaha Thank you
The food was absolutely delicious! I ordered butter chicken and goat. The staff answered all my questions over the phone with polite/helpful mannerism. This was my first time ordering from here and it is now my new favorite spot! I definitely recommend if you are looking for quality-authentic-tasty food! Portions are also very decent. They also surprised me with a complimentary dessert on the house! What a great gesture. 10/10
Parking: Nice parking Food
They wont give you tap water
this restaurant is great if you know somali and know somali food, its a great shop to find new friends out of the bloom.
If you never been here then you are missing out
Allahuma Barik Lahum(May God Bless them), the food was good and filling, The staff seemed kind and friendly, alhamdulillah, I definitely recommend coming to this restaurant with a group of friends or family. May Allah bless all the workers and the owner.
I loved the food here is amazing, and it s open 24 hours; you can always get hot, fresh and delicious food anytime; the worker is also super friendly, the portions are big, and the price is really affordable, 100/10 definitely recommend!!!
One of the best restaurants in the area. Food is freshly made and the staff members are very friendly. We tried the liver breakfast a d it was amazing. Very delicious and fresh. On a 2nd visit the BBQ beef ribs dish also one of the best and I strongly recommend trying it. All in all it was a great experience and will definitely revisit if I am in the area.
Awesome food
I really enjoyed visiting here. It was an atmosphere filled with culture. I would definitely visit again. Food was flavourful.
So~ so~~ nice Nice service nice food Everything good Highly recommends Food : 5/5 |
Excellent place
Nice Food, Greate people, Great service
Top service, amazing food, warm ambience, what more do you want? Vegetarian options: Fish, veggies, salad, rice and more Food : 5/5 |
Metal wire, probably from a cleaning sponge inside my food. I threw out everything.
Decent varties, friendly atmosphere
Istar restaurant really Very good Restaurant. their Food delicious, quite place & Good Service. Food
Amazing, and its open 24 hours
I dont even know where to begin. This place is magical. Such nice people, delicious food, God I cant wait to go again. God bless you and may Allah Grant all your wishes
This place is fantastic and would absolutely recommend it again. Not only was the food flavorful but I had forgotten to get my receipt (I needed it) and the lady working there actually took the time to help me find it and made me a new receipt also. Love this place and will be coming back when Im in Etobicoke!
Ordered 60 all beef spicy samosas for pickup 9/24/2023.Taste just like my wife and daughter remembered,might last a week.
First time trying this place, the workers were so nice and let me try the chicken and beef steak because I didn t know what I wanted. I ended up getting the bbq chicken legs with rice and salad and they were AMAZING!!!!!
Affordable and delicious halal food.
rlly good chicken wrap, could not finish by myself it was that big
I love this place and the most favourite thing is the food of instar restaurant Moreover , everything is amazing . I am living as a international student in Canada but every time I visit I explore more things to eat . I m love
Food was cold. Would not go back
Try the tea after your meal. This place always makes amazing fresh variety of food . Taste can be bland sometimes,add a little salt and pepper. Service depends on the worker that day. I have had great service and a not welcoming one.
Everything on the menu is tasty and delicious. Great prices, too. Vegetarian options: There are vegetarian options Food : 5/5 |
Got some liver to go for a bunch of people. It was a major disappointment. It tasted as if no effort was put in. Barley any seasoning and it was bland. The portions were decent but it would be fantastic if the flavors were there. Consistency is missing with this dish.
Good place good food good Services
Quantity was awesome.. missed a little authentic flavors..great ambience and great service ..
People with big heart! I have been going here for many years with my entire family. Never once they disappointed us. We were always served with a big smile, food is great with lot of meat options. Price is very reasonable. I will keep coming here.
Food and service were okay
delicious meal
I like their East African dishes, tasted almost all their food it s very tasty and clean restaurant
Very nice banquet hall for about 200 people . Very delicious food environment
Always come here when visiting this side of Canada. Delicious food & friendly staff. Food is always cooked fresh and you get great value for your money in terms of portion size of the food as well.
First time attending. What a treat, the staff were excellent, the food experience was wonderful and the somali bread was delightful. Definitely plan on going again.
