Best Donairs in Calgary?

[billybob123]

Donair is actually Turkish. If you go to Germany you'll find lots of good donair shops, but it's totally different tasting than the donair here. I work with a girl from Istanbul who said that donair there is different - the meat itself is different.

Much like shawarma here in Calgary is totally different than shawarma is in Ottawa (where I grew up and it's awesome) which I'm sure is totally different than shawarma in Lebanon.

Regional differences. I suppose it's what you're used to.

That being said, I have yet to enjoy a shawarma here as much as the ones in Ottawa; but Cedars Deli and A & A aren't too bad.

[onetwo_threefour]

Bit out of the way for many (but about 4 blocks from my house), Pita Queen on Fairmount Drive at Franklin across from the Cravings restaurant. I'm more of a shawarma guy than a donair guy, but both are awesome with great sauce and they have these wicked pickled turnips you can get in them. Sounds gross, but they make a shawarma unbelievable.

Easily as good or better than the old My Donair at Westbrook was 15 years ago when I used to go there.

[lifetimefan]

Originally Posted by nik-

Is this the one that looks like a convenience store inside and has the Donair's that are about the size of a Suzuki Swift?

My buddy took me to a place sort of near SAIT that had an A in the name for Donairs, they were insane.

+1 A&A on 20th Ave

The supers are as big as a Volkswagon, and really tasty.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by billybob123

Donair is actually Turkish. If you go to Germany you'll find lots of good donair shops, but it's totally different tasting than the donair here. I work with a girl from Istanbul who said that donair there is different - the meat itself is different.

Much like shawarma here in Calgary is totally different than shawarma is in Ottawa (where I grew up and it's awesome) which I'm sure is totally different than shawarma in Lebanon.

Regional differences. I suppose it's what you're used to.

That being said, I have yet to enjoy a shawarma here as much as the ones in Ottawa; but Cedars Deli and A & A aren't too bad.

I'm pretty sure most places call them something different depending on where you live;

The words donairs, shwarmas, kebabs, gyro, are pretty much all used interchangeably depending on where you are. Australia leans towards calling them gyros (spelled yiros there), while Europe seems to be big on calling them Kebabs, while here we seem to float back and forth between donair/shwarma depending on the city. I've even seen plenty of mashups like Kebab-Schwarma, Doner-Shwarma, Gyro-kebab, etc.

I just wish people would actually use the right name for what they're making. A gyro with hummous and tabouli.....I don't think so! A schwarma with tzatziki? Why not!

[3 Justin 3]

Donair's aren't Turkish, a Donair is Canadian.

Doner Kabab is Turkish.

A Donair has sweet sauce, a Doner Kebab strictly speaking uses a cream as it's sauce. The only real variation between them all is the sauce.

Also, the Doner is way better in Europe, not only is it tastier, but cheaper. When I went on my 90 day Euro trip I had a Doner nearly every day because their so damn cheap, like $3-4 converted and the amount of meat is probably 350g. I want to go back to Europe just for a damn Doner Kebab.

[Top Shelf]

Charles Smart is my fave in Edmonton, a bit further down 82 ave

Any suggestions on donairs in downtown Calgary? Amin's is probably my fave, but it can get really slow there for lunch.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Donair's aren't Turkish, a Donair is Canadian.

Doner Kabab is Turkish.

A Donair has sweet sauce, a Doner Kebab strictly speaking uses a cream as it's sauce. The only real variation between them all is the sauce.

Also, the Doner is way better in Europe, not only is it tastier, but cheaper. When I went on my 90 day Euro trip I had a Doner nearly every day because their so damn cheap, like $3-4 converted and the amount of meat is probably 350g. I want to go back to Europe just for a damn Doner Kebab.

Donair/Doner, Gyro/Yiro are all just spelling variations on the original foreign words. Saying a donair is Canadian is like saying a Yiro is Australian because that's how they choose to spell it there. Its all just phonetical translations into English. (Think Osama/Usama)

And I agree, the different variations are all based on different sauces used, but what I was getting at is that we're all using our own sauces regardless of what we're calling it. A Gyro should be Greek (tzatziki, etc), Shwarma middle eastern, Doner Turkish, etc, which just leads people to be confused, especially in Canada where the same thing goes by about 12 different names.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Donair's aren't Turkish, a Donair is Canadian.

Doner Kabab is Turkish.

A Donair has sweet sauce, a Doner Kebab strictly speaking uses a cream as it's sauce. The only real variation between them all is the sauce.

Also, the Doner is way better in Europe, not only is it tastier, but cheaper. When I went on my 90 day Euro trip I had a Doner nearly every day because their so damn cheap, like $3-4 converted and the amount of meat is probably 350g. I want to go back to Europe just for a damn Doner Kebab.

If I may pretend to be the arbiter here.

Doner (aka Donair in english) is actually just the name for the way the meat is cooked. Doner is Turkish simply means "it turns."

The type of doner people are talking about here is really just a version that is eaten on-the-go in Turkey. Traditionally it is not served with any type of sauce or what not, but is simply meat, tomato and peppers (see the "Ceyrek Doner" pic from link below) in between some good bread (not pita, but closer to a french baguette). No runny white sauce, no onions.

The good stuff is really Iskender doner. In that, you'll have the shaved meat on a bed of thicker pita squares that were lightly oiled and grilled beforehand. Then atop that is the meat, and atop that a tomato paste / red pepper paste based sauce. Beside this will actually be plain yogurt of the middle eastern style (not runny, but thicker; no cucumbers / garlic a la tzatziki). This will be served on a plate, and is and often garnished by some boiling, melted butter that will be freshly doused atop the plate. Lipitor pills are delivered in lieu of after-dinner mints.

Istanbul Cafe used to make Iskender and it was excellent when I had it. They've since relocated and changed the chef so I can't vouch for it anymore. There is also a small-ish turkish restaurant (Istanbul Restaurant) diagonal across James Fowler High that makes a very good Iskender as well, and will also make a "donair" if you're on the go. It is worth checking out for those who won't rest until they've found the best that Calgary has to offer.


Here is a collection of pictures to make the point.

[Knalus]

I was always under the impression that if it was Beef, it was a Donair, and if it was Chicken, it was a Shwarma. Like if it was Chickpeas, it would be a Falafel.

As for Downtown Calgary, my favorite is the Pita Basket, with the green sign on 5th ave and 6th st. The chicken is very good, not too overdone, not underdone. A little bit of crispy, a little bit of soft and juicy. Very good food.

[boosterjuice]

Anyone try "the Pita Grill" in Riverbend off of 18th St? I'm not a donair or shwarma expert, but that is one best things that I've ever tasted.

Also, their baklava is absolutely amazing. I've had baklava in Egypt, Israel, and Jordan, and this beats them all hands down.

[Voodooman]

Calgary Shawarma, Edmonton Trail & 9th Avenue NE.

Dynamite food, and as an added incentive, you can get your tires pumped at the shop next door...<insert 7uongo joke here>

[fundmark19]

I always think about trying that place but then I go and get a dinner box full of chinese food goodness instead. I later sit on the toilet thinking if I had made the right decision or not

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by Knalus

I was always under the impression that if it was Beef, it was a Donair, and if it was Chicken, it was a Shwarma. Like if it was Chickpeas, it would be a Falafel.

There's Beef shawarma; I've never seen it in Calgary but it's everywhere in Ottawa. "Donair" is usually pressed meat, beef shawarma is chunks of beef rather than ground, pressed together and marinated in different spices.

THere's a middle eastern grocery story in Ottawa that you could buy marinated beef shawarma and fry it up at home. Buy the pickled turnips, and they sold garlic sauce and hummus in tubs, and you could eat shawarma at home for $5 or less for a huge sandwich.

Much bigger middle-eastern population in Ottawa to support that kind of stuff, but I've never been to any of the ME grocery stores (except Shaganappi on 17th) to see if they have similar products.

ETA: you can also get chicken as "shish taouk" which is more of a BBQ-type than the spit-roasted; there's also ground beef sausage BBQ called kofta/kafta. It's all yummy.

[bradster57]

Tried the Shawnessy Donair Place last night based off this thread. It was pretty good, nothing too spectacular though. 7/10

[iggypop]

Maybe I just really like donair's, but I pretty sure ever donair place in the city I've tried is fantastic.

[EverfresH15]

Mazaj(230 7 Ave SW) has very good schwarmas, there is very good place down in Deer Run called Donair Hut(amazing hot sauce) and Little Lebanon on 17th ave & 35th st is very good as well.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by Top Shelf

Charles Smart is my fave in Edmonton, a bit further down 82 ave

Any suggestions on donairs in downtown Calgary? Amin's is probably my fave, but it can get really slow there for lunch.

You obviously haven't been there in a while. (It's perma closed for a while now)

[3 Justin 3]

I really want a good Chicken Shawarma, this thread is just making me crave one badly.

Off to Shawarma King then!

[Kybosh]

I haven't had their donairs, but the Shawarma at the place on 8th Ave and 8th St was practically orgasmic. Oh man was it ever good.

[Swift]

I've found that place in Shawnessy to be pretty average.

My recommendation is Pita Stop in Canyon Meadows, off Elbow and Anderson. It's run by a Lebanese guy and they're top notch. They also have the absolute best fries I've tasted in Calgary. And luckily, it's my local.