Welcome
325 Roncesvalles Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, M6R 2M6
Where the soul of the Levant meets the cutting-edge artistry of modern culinary innovation. Arbequina is a labour of love, co-created by Chef Moeen Abuzaid and his wife/business partner.
At Arbequina Restaurant, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our menu evolves with the seasons and local availability, featuring almost 100% locally sourced produce. We work hand-in-hand with our farmers and suppliers, and we cultivate our special herbs in our own garden. We prioritize whole utilization of fruits, vegetables, and proteins to minimize waste. Additionally, as a zero-proof establishment, we craft exquisite non-alcoholic beverages that complement our cuisine.
We hope the space we created feels warm and beautiful, and that the dishes transport you to the Levant region.
Thank you for being here, we can’t wait to meet you.
Reservations
Moeen Abuzaid
Executive Chef/Owner
Stay tuned for seasonal changes and new meal offerings as we settle in
Considered amongst many as a pioneer of elevated Levantine cuisine, Moeen Abuzaid always imagined bringing his craft to a global stage. Taking a leap of faith, without knowing more than a few words in English, Moeen moved himself to New York City in pursuit of his dreams.
“I became a Chef by accident. It’s true, I grew up in Jabal Al Taj, Jordan just a short drive from Al-Wehdat refugee camp, where my mother, from Lod and my father from Yaffa, lived as refugees.”
Moeen, Palestinian-Jordanian who was born and raised in Amman, Jordan discovered his passion for the culinary arts and ingredients at a very young age. He started his journey at eighteen years old working in some of the most world renown hotels in the Levantine..
In 2009, his journey and desire to be known for elevated Arabic cuisine brought him to New York City. While working with global chefs to further expand his palate and discover new ingredients, he started to infuse these flavours into traditional Arabic favourites. In a relentless pursuit to master technique and express his personal style, Moeen acknowledges the incredibly vast world of fine gastronomy that has influenced his technique and pushed him to create his own style of cuisine. After over ten years in NYC, he spent a great deal of time collaborating and sharing with world renowned chefs. Pursuing his dream of elevating Arabic cuisine, he conceptualized and opened his hugely successful pop-up restaurant in New York City called “The Broken English”.
Moeen’s path brought him to Toronto in 2019 where he continued to create and collaborate all over the world. Today he continues to craft new dishes, paying homage to the cuisine of his region, while re-imagining classic Arabic food through international techniques and local ingredients.
Through his own innovation and under the influence of many great chefs throughout his career, his passion for infusing and crafting elevated cuisine from the Levantine was ignited.
Hours and Location
LOCATION
325 Roncesvalles Avenue Toronto, ON M6R 2M6
OPERATION HOURS
Tuesday - Saturday
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
CAKES
Are you joining us to celebrate a special occasion and you’d like to bring in a cake?
Guests are welcome to bring in any bakery-made cake (or cupcakes),
but please note that Arbequina does charge a service fee of $6 per person.