The Kebab

[sbagman]

I need info here.

Is the kebab greek, turkish, or from somewhere else? Is the kebab bit just the meat, or is it with the lettuce and salad and stuff?

So what is a "souklavi"? And "Yeros"? (Not sure of the spelling)?

Where are the best places in Australia to get one?

Cheers,
Sbaggo.

 

[Hollypig]

Originally posted by sbagman
I need info here.

Is the kebab greek, turkish, or from somewhere else? Is the kebab bit just the meat, or is it with the lettuce and salad and stuff?

So what is a "souklavi"? And "Yeros"? (Not sure of the spelling)?

Where are the best places in Australia to get one?

Cheers,
Sbaggo.

The souklavi bar down a bit from Hungry Jacks on the corner of Russell & Bourke is an absolute must to anyone visiting Melbourne. The Olympic (fetta cheese & olives) is the ducks guts Max. Melbournites must already know this.

 

[Carlos]

My understanding is that the kebab is Turkish and the Souv is Greek. Its all in how they cook the meat and the layer of fur that eventually covers the average kebab is the essential difference.

I dont know what species the yeros is though.

And Holly pig, indeed you are onto something there. They know how to make a mean Souv. Never had an 'Olymipic" though. Intrigued.

Kings on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy goes alright too. Really nice meat. Lambs on Chappell used to be great, but somewhere love went bad and the standards slipped. But Ulyssis on High Street in Northcote is top shelf. Cannot get better in Australia. But dont be put off by the 5 mil thick layer of black filth under the dude's nails who makes the magic. Its just extra love, or thats what i tell myself.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

I think it is spelt 'gyros' and I think it is a different term for a souvlaki. You buy a gyros in Sydney, a souvlaki in Melbourne. A souvlaki is made with thin Pita style bread-a kebab is made with the thick Turkish style bread. A souvlaki tends to have chucks of meat from a skewer, while the meat in a kebab is cut off a rotisserie. This is all based on observation and I am willing to stand corrected if the official Doner Kebab Board or the Souvlaki Society of Australia come down on my arse.

I'm a big fan of either variation-there is a joint on Lygon St that makes a Hawaiian Souvlaki-basically a regular souva with pineapple. They are friggin awesome.

 

[Captain Random]

Probably the same, just different names in Greek & Turkish. Not sure about the other q's. Once asked a Turkish guy where the best kebabs were in Perth, he said "don't know, I make my own". So his house, presumably.

And the Iskender is a damned fine kebab.

 

[McAlmanac]

Originally posted by Carlos
Kings on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy goes alright too. Really nice meat.

Agreed. Souvlaki King is awesome.

 

[Uncle Steve]

The Lamb Spit on Jetty Rd, Glenelg, is an institution and would be a contender for the best Yiros (as they are known here) in Adelaide.

Best yiros/souvlaki/kebab/etc in the world goes to the junk food vendors on the main drag up at Montmartre in Paris. Next time I go to Paris, the first thing I'm gonna do is jump on the metro and go get me one of those kebabs. No kidding - they're that good.

 

[happy_in_hell]

Donna Kebab - any Service Station in Melb after 8pm

 

[kristin5]

Kebab is Turkish - best ones are from Alaysia's in Sydney Rd. Brunswick

Souvlaki is Greek - best ones are from Zorba's in Bridge Rd Richmond


I used to be a big souvlaki fan, but now that I've tried the kebab's from Alaysia's, I'm totally hooked!

 

[Mocca]

I feel the need to bring the old souva thread back to the top.

 

[knuckles]

Think it's Alayssa?...Syd rd. Anyway, kicks butt. When in Melb always come out of there smelling like a lump of garlic. Orange tiles are very retro too!

 

[Lorelei]

The thing I love about Alaysa is how you order -

I think I would always order a 4, 72, 46 and a jug of coke LOL

Mmmm their mushroom dip is divine.

Need some now!!!!

Jen

 

[Hollypig]

Originally posted by Uncle Steve
The Lamb Spit on Jetty Rd, Glenelg, is an institution and would be a contender for the best Yiros (as they are known here) in Adelaide.

Had one there Steve, pretty good but not a patch on the Olympic,
don`t know what it is, but they make a better yiros (insert state name) than any I`ve eaten, & I`m married to a greek.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Wow! I didn't realise there were so many Alaysa regulars on the boards. I normally go a small container of Iskender, a small Russian Salad and some beans.

 

[Lorelei]

I was so obsessed my best friend and I moved out and into a place in the next street! LOL

Gotta love the spray and wipe on the tables and on a busy night how they always stuff up someting with your order.


Jen

 

[kristin5]

The service at Alasya is appalling! They ALWAYS stuff up, even if they're not busy. But the scrumptious food makes up for it.

I usually get a double serve of #5 (cacik - tzatziki), a serve of #18 (biber dolma - stuffed capsicum), a serve of #34 (ispanak - spinach), and a #51 (donna kebab - spicy lamb), and of course heaps of garlic turkish bread...mmm, it's making my mouth water just thinking about it!

and how sad that I remember all of the menu numbers, even though I haven't 'eaten in' there for quite a few months!

 

[Uncle Steve]

Originally posted by Hollypig


Had one there Steve, pretty good but not a patch on the Olympic,
don`t know what it is, but they make a better yiros (insert state name) than any I`ve eaten, & I`m married to a greek.

I don't doubt it Holly. I'd wager that any Melbourne-produced yiros would beat anything from any other state, solely because of the large Greek bias in Melbourne's gene pool.

and I gotta ask:

did you have a big fat greek wedding?

 

[knuckles]

I like it when the family members start arguing behind the counter(s) or near the stove. Like they're throwing in a sitcom for free.

 

[Hollypig]

Originally posted by Uncle Steve

I don't doubt it Holly. I'd wager that any Melbourne-produced yiros would beat anything from any other state, solely because of the large Greek bias in Melbourne's gene pool.

and I gotta ask:

did you have a big fat greek wedding?

It was a hoot Steve, half bushies, half orthordox greeks.
Watching my uncles faces when the greeks pinned money on us was a scream. They loved the food though, once we could talk them into eating octapus & stuffed vine leaves, & they could talk the greeks into skulling competitions.

 

[TheFoxhat]

My favorite is The Golden Terrace in Sydney Rd Brunswick
The best part is they make their own Turkish bread & the meat is the grouse ....nearly as long as a footlong at Subway
And they don't rip ya off like they do at Lamb's in Lygon St
$$$$8 at lamb's ----------- V --------------$$$$$5 in sydney rd
Where are you gunna go......Think about that Meat Freaks...

 

[aggels]

I was going to ask this exact question the other day. I normally have kebabs, from anywhere. When I was at work the other day, I asked a workmate what was good around there and he directed me to a souvlaki shop. I asked him how sovlaki differed from kebabs, and he seemed to think that kebabs are on sticks, and souvlaki is is bread, but that's obviously not the case.

I've only had souvlaki twice now, and I must say I think I prefer kebabs. That could just be because it's what i'm used to.

 

[5CougarsThanks]

For anyone out Essendon way, local favourites are the NOBEL Greek Tavern on Keilor, which is sensational and KAMILS KEBABS in the newer foodcourt at Highpoint which is also very good.

Some inner city ones such as Alyssas and Stalectites on Londsale street are also great.

My big 'NO THANKS' is to those who use the compressed meat. Seems to be very popular in Sydney (from my limited knowledge). Give me tender lamb in the gyro any day.

My other dislike is something that has come about because of economic factors. The Souvlaki and Kebab stores that are now shaving the meat instead of slicing it off the rotisserie just to make a few extra sales are doing so at the expense of a great tasting feed. Not happy!!

 

[M29]

Originally posted by Rusty Brookes
I think it is spelt 'gyros' and I think it is a different term for a souvlaki.

Gyros is greek for 'rotate', as in on a Spit. Many places in Melbourne advertise as Souvlaki Gyros, as fish and chip shops are stingy put 5 or 6 pieces of small meat on a skewer and fry it on a hot plate, making the ****test 'souvlaki' known to man. Also, kebabs souva's are by far the most healthiest and low fat 'fast foods' out there.

Proper Kebabs should be made with Turkish bread, baked not fried bread.

Top Kebab Joints:
Footscray there are a few. One across the road from the K-Mart and Coles. There is another one around the corner from that both use the proper Turkish bread. Regular $5.50, Extra Meat $7.

Souvlaki's
Nobels Keilor Rd, go their alot. Now the guy pretty well. (Has some great pics of Dean Wallis and more recently, anthony koutafiedes, josh fraser and one of Anna K. signed. Pointless info I know.)

Kamils in Highpoint is good, pity they don't use the proper turkish bread.

I will never eat at Ali Babis again.

But thats my rant over. I probably eat Souva's/Kebabs at least 6 times a week, I just pray my next missus is greek!

 

[M29]

Originally posted by knuckles
I like it when the family members start arguing behind the counter(s) or near the stove. Like they're throwing in a sitcom for free.

'You no touch my daughter, Fatima. I kill you like pig farken.'

 

[Sydneyfan]

Kebabs are great, kebabs are a lot easier to find in Sydney than souvlakis, I guess it's because of demographics, a lot of Turkish and Lebanese people in Sydney.

They're the ultimate night out food, a meal in a roll. It's best when they toast the roll as well I find!