The Thirsty Camel Cafe, Nanaimo
14 Victoria Cres.
(250) 753-9313
Top of China Steps (Map below)
After opening in July ‘04, the Thirsty Camel Café quickly established itself as a cornerstone of authentic ethnic fare and community culture in Downtown Nanaimo.
This Middle Eastern restaurant is not large, but it fosters community like no mainstream eatery ever could. There is often colourful conversation — usually over the counter — or, a handful of diners quietly reading through the eatery’s unique selection of progressive magazines.
And you can eat very well here, too. The food is wholesome and tastes amazing, because the guys who run the Thirsty Camel take their menu very seriously. Everything's free of preservatives and fillers: the chicken's free-range, non-medicated and veggie-fed; the hot sauce is home-made, as are the spice mixes for the Persian Chicken and the Jerusalem Mix.
The crew at the Thirsty Camel aim to offer fast food with a slow food philosophy. The food is prepared in house from scratch, and fresh falafel mixture and hummus are made daily. The specialty espresso drinks are organic and Fair Trade, as are the teas and hot chocolate.
All in all, this is tasty food you can afford and feel good about.