Kebabs cover all the major food groups. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Whether it’s a late-night snack you’ll regret in the morning, or an affordable lunch to fuel you through the afternoon, kebabs have a special place in the hearts of many Canberrans.
There are a wide variety of kebabs, of course, but for this list we’re sticking to the doner-style kebab: meat (or falafel!) wrapped in bread with salad.
Here are just a few of our favourites.
Yarralumla Kebabs and Pide, Yarralumla
Often considered the GOAT of kebabs in Canberra, grabbing a cheeky Yarra-bab is a rite of passage. The atmosphere is chaotic as orders are made at breakneck speed. Mark down your preferences on the kebab bag and keep an ear out for your order when it’s ready.
These kebabs are notable for the amount of shaved meat they cram in: the laws of physics suggest it shouldn’t be possible, yet these monster kebabs just keep coming.
Earlier this year, they moved next door to expand and refresh, but the word on the street is that it hasn’t changed the iconic taste.
The Belco Halal Kebabs are a favourite. Photo: Michelle Taylor.
Belco Halal Kebabs & Pizzaria, Belconnen
If there’s a serious contender to the Yarra-babs crown, it’s in Belconnen. The opening of Belco Halal Kebabs, the second outpost of the popular Yarralumla shop, has caused many a Canberran to shift their allegiance.
The brand new fit-out has plenty of shine. Here, stylised lighting shines like chandeliers and colourful tiles in geometric patterns adorn the walls. The kebabs are huge. The HSPs (Halal Snack Packs: chips topped with shaved meat and sauces) are legit. The delivery is free to nearby suburbs.
What’s not to love?
Sukru Kocak and Tania Vereschildt-Kocak opened Anatolia as an upmarket dine-in restaurant following the success of Turkish Grill. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Turkish Grill, Wanniassa
It’s not often that a takeaway shop is so popular it spawns a proper sit-down restaurant, but Turkish Grill has done just that.
The popularity of the takeaway shop required owners Sukru Kocak and Tania Vereschildt-Kocak to expand their kitchen, leaving them with limited space for dine-in customers. So they took over the lease for the space behind Turkish Grill and opened Anatolia, an elevated Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant perfect for big groups.
But back to Turkish Grill … This takeaway has been operating for over 10 years, and there are plenty of good reasons why they’ve lasted so long. They bake their pide in a wood-fired oven, their chargrilled meats are beloved, and they’ve made themselves a part of the Erindale community.
The chargrilled chicken makes this an elite kebab. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Charnwood Turkish Pide, Charnwood
If there’s one thing we know about Charnwood, it’s that they love chicken. The Regal Charcoal Chicken shop is legendary, there’s a drive-through KFC, and now the local Turkish takeaway has joined the charcoal chicken train.
Visiting for a kebab recently, I was delighted to see that alongside the regular shaved meat options, you can also order grilled meats (aka shish) for your kebabs. Cooking from scratch means a 10- to 15-minute wait, but it is worth it.
No shade to the meat cones, but charcoal-grilled chicken elevates the heck out of a humble kebab. The meat is juicy, smoky and so freaking good.
Grab the garlic pide and get toasting. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Lyneham Turkish Pide and Kebabs, Lyneham
There’s a similar vibe to the better-known Yarralumla kebabs here, but as a Northsider I have a great deal of love for the Turkish takeaway at Lyneham shops. Family-run and friendly as heck, this suburban gem is always busy.
My hot tip is to get a mix of lamb and zucchini balls in your kebab, and grab a loaf of their garlic pide to take home for some epic toasted sandwiches.
This little-known gem in Charnwood’s Tillyard shops dishes up some great kebabs. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Charnwood Kebab and Pizza, Charnwood
I recently came across this tiny takeaway by accident while out and about in Belconnen around dinnertime. Decked out in Egyptian hieroglyphics, the trailer caught my eye from the road, and I found myself following my nose into the carpark (cartoon character style) to get a taste. This food trailer has found a home at Charnwood’s Tillyard Shops, settling in front of the liquor store.
Despite having pizza in the name, the menu seems to be kebabs, burgers and HSPs.
I ordered a falafel kebab and waited near a group of young men who were enthusiastically devouring their burgers. The falafel totally hit the spot after a long day at work.
Where’s your favourite Canberra kebab?
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.
