The Kebab Shop - Mira Mesa

Because we were never able to make it to the Kebab Shop in the Gaslamp, the opening of a branch in Mira Mesa seemed like a golden opportunity for us.

The restaurant is located in the same strip mall as In-N-Out and Ralph's, and the shop is big, with a ton of open space.

I was particularly interested in the Kebab Shop because according to sources, it specializes in the European-Middle Eastern style Doner Kebabs. Doner Kebab is "the fast food item" in Germany, and is so popular that it outsells Burgers and sausages.... probably even in Hamburg! I've read that even that the Doner Kebab was brought to Germany by Turkish immigrants and workers, and it took over the fast food scene.... now German "Doners" are exported from Germany, back into Turkey!

The menu is small and simple with thirteen "mains" and eleven "sides", and prices are reasonable. everything is under nine dollars. The guy who works the front counter is very friendly, and seems to be eager to explain and serve.

The Missus loves Falafel, so we started with a side order ($2.25):

These weren't very large, but there were ten falafel on the styrfoam plate. The falafel were good, cirsp on the outside, with that excellent paradoxic falafel interior..... to us, it is both creamy and gritty at the same time. The falafel was served with a mild, and kinda runny yogurt based sauce, which didn't do anything for the falafel.

I of course, had a Lamb Doner Kebab($6.25). Right away, you can tell that there's a difference from a Gyro, the Doner Kebab comes wrapped in a flat bread instead of a pita, and was as long as my forearm. Instead of the usual iceberg lettuce and tomato, this Doner has romaine lettuce, purple cabbage, and shredded carrots. In fact, at first glance all I could see was "veg", and I wondered where the meat was.

But after one bite, it was quite obvious that there was a good quantity of "lamb loaf". The meat had a decent amount of seasoning which didn't overwhelm the lamb flavor. In other words, you knew that lamb was being consumed. Under these circumstances the yogurt based sauce did well to compliment the lamb, as did the vegetables. This was pretty filling, and even though the Missus poached a good amount of the Doner Kebab, I was pretty full. At $6.25, we think this is very reasonably priced.

The reason the Missus made off with much of my Doner Kebab, is that She didn't care for the Iskender Kebab($8.25):

Though She enjoyed the roasted Anaheim Chili, it was the combination of the tangy tomato based sauce, the yogurt, and the savory seasoned meat turned Her off. She didn't care for the combination of flavors, nor the bread on the bottom which was soggy by the time She got to it.

Still, the Missus really enjoyed my Doner Kebab, and loved the Falafel.... enough so, that we returned a few days later.

This time, the Missus got the Lamb Plate($8.25). You get one hot side and one salad to accompany your lamb, and the Missus chose the falafel (duh!) and the Algerian Eggplant as Her sides.

The Eggplant salad was nice, with a good nutty-smokey grilled flavor. This time, the falafel looked like it had been burnt. Lucky for us, it was not, I guess maybe the frying oil was just a bit "dark". The texture and flavor was as before, except that this time the it was way too salty.... and this coming from a pair of salt-lovers. Talk about thirst inducing! The lamb strips were as before, mildly seasoned, with a good lamb flavor.

This time I got a Lamb Shawarma ($6.25). I guess the rules go, if it's wrapped in a flat bread it's a Doner, if it's in a bun it's a Shawarma? The whole thing was placed in a paper sleeve, with the tentacles of meat calling to me like some Chthonic creature luring me to my doom.

It was messy, but in a good way. It also came with the same set of veggies as the Doner Kebab, and there was that yogurt sauce, which was much thicker this time, and really did seem like Labneh Yogurt. I think, I prefer this to the Doner Kebab, mainly because the roll was nice and crusty.

As with the Doner Kebab, the Missus preferred what I ordered to what She had gotten. Again, this was well worth the $6.25.

  I'm sure we'll be back to the Kebab Shop, though we'll stick with the Doner Kebabs and Shawarma. And though it was lamb all the way for us, there's a Chicken Doner as well. The prices seem right, and on both visits we didn't leave hungry.

The Kebab Shop
9450 Mira Mesa Blvd #E
San Diego, CA 92126

One last interesting item.....

The Missus asked me what kind of kebab this was, and I replied Turkish via Germany. She responded by saying, "Turkey, that makes sense..." And pointed to my receipt:

Would that be how the Turks spell "Kirk"????? It kinda does rhyme doesn't it????

Comments

[Sandy]

This used to be a Starbucks that was on the small side. When you said the store is big with a ton of open space, I took a closer look at your photo and it looks like they took over the adjacent storefront.

I haven't gone to the Kebab Shop in the Gaslamp, but this one is much closer to me. I had a doner kebab in Germany a couple of years ago; we'll have to see how the Kebab Shop compares.

[Pedma]

Here is the link if anyone cares to see the trailer:

http://soulfabric.net/newsfeed/

Aloha nui loa to all that support the cause....

[kat]

yummy!

[Pat]

Thanks for reminding me where I'm going to run out for lunch tomorrow Kirk...

I'm more than happy to not have to try to park in the east village for a kebab... not to mention I'm not cool enough to be hanging with all the hipsters down there :)

[dave]

Oh man how i love doner kebabs. On my first date with my now wife we ended up at this great kebab place in the lower east side of manhattan on houston st. it used to be a little hole in the wall, but expanded at some point. it got really crowded on weekend nights. they shaved the lamb from one of those spits and served it in a large pita. i loved that place. wonder if its still there...

[Janfrederick]

Oooh...the flatbread looks like it would be better than doughy pita. Speaking of dough, is it pronounced "dough-ner" or "daw-ner"?

And who'd have thunk there was a word that had ch and th right next to each other. Neat-O!

[Lynnea]

This looks and sounds exactly like what I saw all over Brussels, snack shops serving basically middle eastern fast food. It was all incredibly good and of course they all made fresh Frites as well to eat on the side or include in the wrap.

[kirbie]

I didn't know they opened a location in Mira Mesa! I've been to the gaslamp one quite a few times. I always get the lamb doner or the lamb plate. I like the sides that come with the plate. The lamb is well seasoned, though sometimes a bit too salty for me.

[Linda]

The spelling of "Curk" made me chuckle! Haha. I've never tried the Algerian Eggplant as a side, and think I just might the next time I find myself there.

[Stefan]

Since San Diego is known for putting french fries in their burritos I'm surprised they don't in their kebabs like in Europe.

[caninecologne]

hi kirk - i haven't tried a doner kebab before...i'm not a lamb fan though. my husband would like it...

[Kirk]

Hi Sandy - I'll be interested in what you think, so let me know!

Hi Kat - Quite good for the price.

Hi Pat - I hope you enjoyed lunch!

Hi Dave - That's a nice memory.... I hope they are still there.

Hi Jan - I've always called the "dough-ner".

Hi Lynnea - I've been told about frites in Doner kebabs, I'd love to see that here.

Hi Kirbie - This one has only been open for a short while. So now we don't have to go to East Village.

Hi Linda - You'd be surprised at the different ways I've seen my name spelled.

Hi Stefan - OK, another mention of Kebab mit Pommes.... I'm going to have to ask them if they'll make that for me next time.

Hi CC - They do have a Chicken Doner, so I think you'll be ok.

[H]

love love your page. Just left a comment on one of my other faves Pink Candles at Ridgemont High to share how you guys' pages made me want to go back to blogging after several years away. I put the link below but dont even know if I did this right...

http://thediligentdiletante.blogspot.com/

[honkman]

French Fries in Doner Kebabs is just a recent "innovation" in Europe and is considered a sacrilege and should be punished by being forced to eat On the Borders for a month

[Kirk]

Hi H - Nice blog - keep up the good work!

Hi Honkman - Is that a threat?? ;o) Now you know that I just have to try it. Seems like a lot of folks are committing sacrilege...... I bet when the Turk first brought the Doner to Germany, folks thought eating it was a sacrilege too, huh?

[foodhoe]

ooh that schwarma looks so much better than my salad I just picked up.

[Sandy]

Just went to the Kebab Shop over the weekend, but because I'm recovering from the flu, my taste buds couldn't really enjoy the food. The menu says add fries *inside* for the doner kebab and shawarma. My husband asked for fries and they were served on the side of his shawarma. With the amount of fries he got, I don't see how they would have crammed them inside.

[Kirk]

Hi FH - Just the thought of that Shwarma is making my tunny rumble....

Hi Sandy - I'll have to look at the menu a bit closer. Thanks for the update, I hope you're feeling better soon.

[Wandering Chopsticks]

The first time I had a doner kebab was more than a decade ago in Norway. It was brought there by Turkish immigrants too. Since then, whenever I travel, I try to start off my vacations with a doner kebab.

[Kirk]

Hi WC - I can't think of a better way to start things off.....