It’s late, you’re drunk, you’re starving and in need of a good Kebab. We’ve all been that lost soul, so Rebel Dublin have put together a guide to find the best Kebab in Dublin.
We take a look at all kinds, from Doner, Kofte, Shwerma & Shish to mixed doners as well as meat and chips.
But don’t just take our word for it. We welcome your comments & suggestions. We’re an elite few who share a passion for this oft-maligned food of the gods. So let’s elevate it to it’s true status and set the record straight on the GOOD, the BAD and the downright SLOPPY Kebabs.
Want the BEST KEBAB IN DUBLIN?
In no particular order, this is the ultimate bucket list for Kebabists.
Hot Chilli
Set on Dublin’s Kevin Street, Hot Chilli has gone from strength to strength since my last visit when I was somewhat let down. Perhaps it’s the new decor & comfortable seating, as I shrug off the bitter winter cold outside & am greeted by the warm and friendly staff. I inhale the tangy scent while reading from the extensive menu. This is certainly a cut above your typical kebab joint. My warm chicken shawarma, was moist with charred edges & plenty of chilli sauce. Very good service. Garlic sauce was a little weak but the chilli is perfect, very clean and the meat is always good. Friendly staff.
It’s a step up from your common or garden variety pissheads kebab shop with varied tasty salad fillings. The excellent lamb shish is enormous. Much bigger than my mouth as evidenced by the sloppiness with which I ate it. Always a good sign though. In fact all the portions are huge. Hot Chilli is hard to beat for truly authentic, vivid flavours in a no-nonsense setting.
Freshness: ★★★★
Sloppiness: ★★★★★
Greasiness: ★
Service: ★★★
Chilli Sauce: ★★★
Salad: ★★★
Value: ★★★
Overheard in the queue: “I’ll be dug outta dis…”
Curry & Kebab (Thomas Street)
This perennial favourite offers no holds barred Afghani street food. Meat on a stick, kebabs and spicy snacks. The best on offer is the chicken kebab & the lamb skewer with an aromatic seasoning. Both freshly prepared using prime meat. The menu covers all the Afghani basics. I ordered the lamb shish. The meat left a little to be desired, being slightly fatty, however the salad made up for it. Just the right amount of chilli sauce to tingle my my taste-buds and then quickly cool them down with a slug of coke. Ahhhhhh…
The lamb shish is perfect but the the chips are lacking. For take-away fare it’s a little on the pricey side, but judging by the long weekday queues snaking out of the door, the locals think it’s worth it. It’s called Curry & Kebab, and I’d recommend not just their Kebabs but their curries too. They serve big portions and will do the kebab just how you want it. Great service and great kebab.
Freshness: ★★★
Sloppiness: ★★★
Greasiness: ★
Service: ★★★★
Chilli Sauce: ★★★
Salad: ★★★
Value: ★★
Overheard in the queue: “That’s the sexiest garlic sauce I’ve ever seen.”
Zaytoon
Zaytoon has been such a success that it now stretches to 2 large locations in the city (Camden St and Parliament St) At weekends it’s buzzing with clubbers spilling out looking for drunken soakage. During the quieter times it gets a wide variety of diners such as families, couples, taxi-drivers and tourists like on this bitterly cold Tuesday evening.
The always friendly staff prepare the bread fresh in front of me. It’s hard to say anything bad about Zaytoon. It’s consistently good & whether drunk or sober the staff are always friendly. I opt for the Chicken Shish Kebab. Boneless chicken fillet marinated with saffron. You can taste the onion, garlic & what I think are walnuts. I opt for an aubergine dip to cool the spice & give it texture. But it’s the creamy smoky sauce that gives it it’s magic.
Baked in the clay oven in the front window, the taftoon flatbread is a perfect accompaniment. The marinade with turmeric, garlic & black pepper is ideal for minced lamb. These guys know their shit. The kebab cannot be faulted except I usually like my meat carved to order. In Zaytoon they serve from the bain marie. That’s OK when they’re busy, but if left lieing it can cause the meat to dry.
The salad is quality but the meat portions could be larger. Overall it’s difficult to find fault.
Freshness: ★★★★
Sloppiness: ★★
Greasiness: ★
Service: ★★★★
Chilli Sauce: ★★★★
Salad: ★★★
Value: ★★
Overheard in the queue: “I think I dribbled on that girl back at the storehouse.”
Istanbul (Lower Liffey Street)
Why there aren’t queues out the doors of Istanbul on Lower Liffey Street I’ll never know. With it’s buttery barg, authentic falafel and mouth-watering Persian grilled meats this is one of my top spots for a truly authentic dish. Like Susan Boyle, it’s looks terrible on the outside, but prepare for a shockingly good surprise. Kebab lovers need to know about this place. Not just in Dublin but in the Middle East. And they need to get their arse here to taste real Persian style grill. The staff are friendly. Add to that bargain prices for amazing food & you have a winning formula.
Sides include a rich flavoured kubideh, minced lamb delicately spiced on a skewer, although mine was slightly fatty. I can also recommend the mixed donner of chicken and lamb. The chicken and minced kebabs were artfully seasoned and cooked just right: juicy within, charred on the outside.
For an authentic taste of Shawarma Istanbul can’t be beaten. Very similar to Iskanders the service is friendly but not as slick. And so it wasn’t as hot as it could have been. The lamb kofte was great but if going I strongly recommend the lamb shish which is moist and succulent. My salad was a bit limp but fresh and about the only thing that let me down. The hint of mint was spot on.
Freshness: ★★★★★
Sloppiness: ★★★★
Greasiness: ★
Service: ★★★★
Chilli Sauce: ★★★
Salad: ★★★
Value: ★★★★★
Overheard in the queue: “That last shot of tequila isn’t happy with me at all.”
Passion 4 Food (Clanbrassil Street)
Passion 4 Food is famed for it’s Chicken donner & ours was pretty decent. Generously topped and not too doughy. The grilled chicken is OK but the lamb shish and lamb donner are probably a better choice. Prices are reasonable and the service is top notch. Decor is no-nonsense. But I’m here for food. Not photos.
The telly is showing Bollywood movies but the real entertainment is from the open kitchen. I’m pretty much dribbling as I watch the cooks kneading the dough & flipping meats on the grill. The meat on my kebab is sublime and succulent. and the addition of tangy, chilli-spiked marinade (recommended as a side) improved the overall dish. The sauce was whipped to a perfect thickness. And made the ideal accompaniment to fresh taftoon bread peppered with sesame and poppy seeds.
This was a kebab as it should be. 2 in the morning and beered up! I had been looking forward to this all night and it didn’t disappoint. The meat was already off the spit but wasn’t overly dry from resting on the bain marie. Extra chilli sauce gave it the fiery magic and I could see the other late night revellers were enjoying it too.
Freshness: ★★★★★
Sloppiness: ★★★★★
Greasiness: ★
Service: ★★★★
Chilli Sauce: ★★★
Salad: ★★★
Value: ★★★★
Overheard in the queue: “All dat…..and a bag o’chips….”
Turkish Kebab House (Parnell Street)
Not much has changed since I first reviewed Turkish Kebab House on Parnell Street over 4 years ago. My review which once took pride of place on the wall has gone, however the place has remained the same. Thankfully! Kebab shops should not be overly lavish with Persian rugs and velvet drapes. They should be scruffy and at best have plastic seating. And this place doesn’t disappoint.
I slouch into my chair and crack open a can of coke. As I take a big slug I realize how little this place has changed and not just the prices. With a meal costing less than a tenner (chips & coke plus lamb shish) they have really nailed the authentic Kebab shop feel.
The restaurant excels at grilled meat. Don’t bother with the sides. This is the most succulent grilled lamb available in Dublin. It’s a sloppy, melty kebab. But they make them like no other. The staff are friendly as they wish the other punters a good night. Few places have such an eye for detail. And I’m not just referring to the cracks in the walls & strip lighting. This is as close to Iranian street food as you can get. The key to Persian Lamb Kebabs is the marinade. Turmeric, black pepper & garlic. And the chelo koobideh (minced lamb) was perfect.
It’s the service which sets this place apart. Always open, no matter how late. And always a friendly chat. Usually about the weather. Great prices. Probably why they get so many horrible students.
Freshness: ★★★★★
Sloppiness: ★★★★★
Greasiness: ★
Service: ★★★★
Chilli Sauce: ★★★
Salad: ★★★
Value: ★★★★
Overheard in the queue: “…easy on the chilli sauce…only need a gee-hair…”
Manor Take Away (Stoneybatter)
My very first visit to Manor Take Away in Stoneybatter was unforgettable. I’ve since reviewed it on numerous occasions and every year it get’s busier & busier. It’s easy to see why. What started out as a small restaurant has become something of a mythical legend for Kebab lovers from the Capital. The guys that runs it couldn’t be more welcoming. And it’s this love and attention to details that lends to the magic.
If you’re looking for a relaxing, cheery service or an intimate atmosphere, you’ll be disappointed. This is full-on, hectic with an in-out policy. It has to be to cater for the demand. It pulls no punches with it’s cheap and in your face food. Literally! Try not getting chilli sauce all over your chin.
If you’re going get the fiery grilled chollo kebab. As it’s a chipper the chips can’t be beat and the portions are huge.
The meat is top quality and the chicken shish is my kebab of choice.
The menu is all about slow cooked staples. Oh, and chips. The best chips in Dublin.
Freshness: ★★★
Sloppiness: ★★★★
Greasiness: ★★
Service: ★★★
Chilli Sauce: ★★★
Salad: ★★★
Value: ★★★★★
Overheard in the queue: “…have yez gorra tin o’Lilt? ….”
As the kebab market grows, and grease flows we’ll keep this opus updated. Of course we’d love your feedback. Where do you think is the best kebab in Dublin?
