November 12, 2004
In Search of the Elusive Doner Kebab
If you're anything like DCist, you'll probably be out and about this weekend, perhaps tossing back a few thirst quenching libations at your local bar. And as last call hits, you'll probably be hungry enough to eat a huge, greasy slice of pizza on your way back to bed. But a recent conversation on Wednesday's Ask Tom made DCist a bit nostalgic for doner kebab when we spent time across the pond: the doner kebab. DCist fondly remembers stumbling home from our local pub with a chili-sauce rich kebab in hand at least twice a week.
We know what your thinking -- isn't that just a gyro? Well yes and no. The doner is actually made of lamb and not processed meat, and hails from Turkey, not Greece. As a late night snack, it's pretty fantastic, and it has the distinction of actually tasting pretty good sober as well. Which is important, because we haven't found any late night kebab joints in D.C. yet. But if you've got a hankering for the shaved lamb meat and are willing to eat it with a fork and knife at an actual table, there are several places you can go. In D.C., there's Cafe Divan on Wisconsin Avenue in Burleith (we also suggest the Iskender kebab) and Meyhane on Capitol Hill. Both restaurants specialize in Turkish cuisine and feature meze. Divan delivers, and Meyhane offers half price wine during happy hour. Northern Virginia has Nizam's in Vienna and Temel in Fairfax, though Tom Sietsema was quick to point out that the food at the latter has declined over the last few years.
DCist has yet to try any local renditions of these "Turkish delights" (groan!) but we're pretty sure we're going to soon. Unfortunately, none of the restaurants are open at 2 a.m. and offer to serve you kebab meat over chips, served in a newspaper cone. Guess that's as good an excuse as any to visit our friends in old Brittania. Anyone out there have fond memories to share about the doner, or a late night source in D.C.? Please share!
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Mmmmmm... kebabs. I vaguely recall going to a take out joint a couple of years ago near Dupont Circle (P & 22nd maybe?) that had both doners and chips (as separate items), but I was only there the once. That's the closest I've seen to a British-style kebab shop delectable in D.C.
british-style? i thought doner kebab was turkish - and doner meant 'turn' - anyway they're all over berlin too. we need more turks here but ashcroft won't let them in.
I was referring to a British-style kebab shop, not kebab. Sure, you can go to a Turkish restaurant here and get a kebab on a plate and eat it with a fork and knife, but it's not the same as getting carry out doner shavings on chips in a newspaper cone at 4am. I thought that was particular to the UK; guess I was wrong.
Döner as we know them today are actually from the Turkish parts of Berlin in the 1970s. They were created in order to appease German tastes (compared to the traditional Turkish dish) and spread all over northern Europe afterwards. You can get them in the Village in NYC, but after all my searching I've yet to be able to find them in DC. Man, do I ever miss them.
Hi, im living in South Africa and we dont have doner kebabs.has anyone have the recipe for me as its only been 12 years since ive had one.
i first had doner in sweden, ive also eaten it in denmark and there were many shops with it in germany. i think it is a northern european thing because i did not find it in spain. i wish i could find it in dc... ive even been to turkish restaurants in dc but they do not have it the same.
actually its usually lamb beef or chicken, the lamb is mostly gyros at greek places... sad it is not here in the states, its allover europe, esp germany/austria.
update... im from chicago, was just looking for a place... but... haven't been able to find "the real deal" here... not the same, guess have to go to europe.
Taverna on Capitol Hill has something called "Ntoner Kebab" but it's probly just just a freaking gyro.
I had one in Ealing outside London years ago and have been pining ever since. Can we get rid of some of the freaking tapas places and get a decent doner kebab in this godforsaken town.
I'd settle for being able to get a decent slice of pizza.
OH my GOSH ... I ate so many of those when I did study abroad in England when I was in college! They are soooooo gooooood and I haven't thought about them until just now when I read this post.
I don't think I knew that they are lamb, though, because I wouldn't have eaten them if I had known that. I don't like lamb. Except, I guess I do because I love me some DK. I think I thought it was beef.
Thanks for bringing back a good memory!!
I had my first kebab in France (kebab frites salade), and, oh my GOD, was it good. I was sober the first time I tried it, but it just tasted better when slightly drunk! With the hot, crisp fries on top and that delicious mayo...oh, man -- I really need another one.
Just stopped by the local turkish shop on columbia pike. Apparently a new place is opening up soon, straight from turkey witha sister restaurant in NYC. I'll find out the location and post.
I too love doner kabobs. greece had em everywhere, for locals too.
They've got doner at Rumi (20th and L). I'm no expert, but it tastes pretty good to me.
http://washingtondc.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=23275&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=67
Per your advice tried Rami for lunch today and was roundly disappointed. I unwrapped it to find that it was topped with tomato sauce, not the yogurt sauce that I was expecting (or that was listed on the menu). The meat itself wasn't the shaved beef/lamb mixture that typifies doener, but rather big chunks of tough lamb. The pita was on the chewy side, and there was so much of it that I had to tear off about the bottom third of the pocket. I might try the carry out option from Cafe Divan and see how that holds up, but at this point I'm skeptical.
Christine - sorry you had a bad time. I guess I'd only had the doner salad - the meat was some sort of shaved mixture you mention, and they gave me yogurt sauce. Never had the sandwich.