Anyone who has spent anytime in Germany will know that while bratwurst and Beck's is one of the most quintessentially German meals, a more typical (and easier to find) meal is usually a döner and an Astra (in Hamburg at least).
While to the untrained stomach, all döners may seem the same: a pita full of grease and garlic, the true gastronome can appreciate the nuances of a good sauce and can differentiate high quality skewer meat from what is no better than pressed possum. The highest quality street meat can sometimes be found in the least likely places. So here goes, where is your favorite döner?
My personal favorite is at a little stand by the bus stop outside bahnhof Bergedorf in Hamburg. Chicken, with the salad and onions, no tomato, lots of taziki. Those got me through the long bus ride out to krümmel on the way home from the Reeperbahn more times than I'll ever remember.
Programs: CX, OZ, KE (+AY, JL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 3,723
Two real favourites:
Balli in Berlin-Neukolln on the Sonnenallee: This is not just a basic kebab joint but also has a real charcoal grill and does some mean grilled lamb dishes.
Turkiye Pazari in Cologne at Rudolfplatz: Very famous place for buffet lunches and evening kebab plates. They have high quality meats from the inhouse butchers.
Programs: SPG Plat, M&M FTL, BA Blue, Luxair Courtesy Card, VLM Encore
Posts: 476
Quote:
Originally Posted by chococat
pork roast doner kebab
Mmmh, authentic halal pork
Rule of thumb for good Doner Kebab in Germany:
Which animal did the meat come from? "Don't know" - Go somewhere else. "Pork" - be extremely suspicious, this could be Gyros ("souvlaki" for Aussies) and run by Greeks. "Chicken" "Lamb" "Mutton" "Beef" - does the place look like they have proper refrigeration - proceed to step 2.
How does the meat look like? - "A cylindrical brownish mass of mice-like substance" - leave. "Clearly identifiable layers of meat" - Step 3
Serving styles? "Filled pitta only" - mediocre. "Filled pitta and lamacun ("turkish pizza" or "orient pizza" in German parlance)" - standard. "Yufka" or "Dürüm" (rolled flatbread) available - a good sign. Anyway, let's go to step 4
Are there any options other than Döner Kebab? - "Skewers of meat = Shish kebab" - a good sign, you need a grill and someone who can operate it to offer shish kebab. "Iskender Kebab" - even better, you need a proper kitchen to serve Iskender. "Adana Kebab" - a very good sign. "Italian style pizza" - a very very bad sign, leave unless any of the other dishes mentioned is also served
Is there a choice of sauce?
Does the place sell Ayran?
Any Döner sold for less than EUR 4.00 is a sign of the seller either cutting corners on quality, or being a money-laundring operation.
I personally don't eat any döner that is cheaper than 3,50. Anybody know a good döner place in Switzerland? I've been looking for one for over three years now. Not nearly as good as in Germany.
Programs: CX, OZ, KE (+AY, JL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 3,723
I for my part have all but given up on regular doners.
Nowadays would normally order some kofte minced meat patties or chicken/lamb skewers in a durum roll. Ok, you have to wait at least ten minutes while they grill the meats but the taste is on a different level.
Enjoy!
