The journey to founding Shawarma Flavors began long before he ever served his first customer in Mississauga, Ontario. Driven by a lifelong passion for cooking and a dream of restaurant ownership, Zaid and his wife, Mafaz, spent years in Baghdad experimenting with recipes and mastering the art of authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. To truly understand the mechanics of the food service industry, Zaid took a job at a local shawarma shop, working from the ground up while meticulously developing his own signature spice blends.

That dedication became reality in 2018 when Zaid officially opened the doors to Shawarma Flavors at 755 Dundas Street West. Guided by a mission to bring genuine Baghdad-inspired culinary traditions to Canada, the restaurant quickly became a local favourite, celebrated for its premium slow-cooked meats, crispy falafel, and perfectly toasted saj bread.