Melbourne’s best HSP: The best halal snack packs around the city
They’re stacked high greasy goodness, and are a sure-fire fix for a big hunger. Here’s where you can find Melbourne’s best halal snack packs.
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They’ve been a cult sensation and the perfect fast food fix for an empty belly or to chow down on after a big night out on the town.
Halal Snack Packs, commonly known as HSPs, have popped up on menus in kebab stores, fish and chip shops and in food trucks since first emerging about five years ago.
They consist of chips and kebab meat (lamb, chicken, mixed or even mock vegan meat) piled high in styrofoam containers.
Devotees often go for the ‘holy trinity’ of garlic, chilli and barbecue sauces and cheese on top, but HSPs can also be customised with many other toppings.
Such is the success of HSPs, doughnut and cake stores began offering DSPs, known as Doughnut Snack Packs, to cater to sweet tooths’ appetites.
Pizza shops have also introduced it as a dedicated variety, as have some pubs as different topping on their parma nights.
HSPs have in some cases overtaken the traditional kebab as a more popular menu item with customers at various eateries around town.
Here’s eight of the most popular places in Melbourne where you’re guaranteed to get a great bang-for-your-buck feed.
GLENNY KEBABS
Springvale Rd, Forest Hill and Century City Walk, Glen Waverley
Glenny Kebabs has become an institution in Melbourne’s east.
Its HSPs are viewed by many as some of the tastiest and best value in town, and it has built up a massive fanbase of car lovers and high school students, many of whom drop by for its themed hangout nights.
And who could forget owner Asad Syed’s successful battle with Caltex after the corporate giant tried to evict his truck from its old home at its Springvale Rd service station?
It now has two stores, a plum spot outside the cinemas at Century City Walk, and another catering for car lovers with an eye-catching mural in Forest Hill.
PARIS’ KITCHEN
Main St, Croydon
This restaurant on Croydon Main St has been serving up everything from parmas to burgers and pizza since it opened late last year.
But its generously sized HSPs have also been a big hit, and there’s no skimping on the presentation and the sauces either.
QUEENS KEBABS
King St, CBD
It has music blasting well into the night, and offer gigantic HSPs along with it.
Queens Kebabs is the place to go in the CBD for a much-needed feed after a fun night out, but is also perfect for anyone with a rumbling stomach at any time of day.
The mountainous HSPs are stacked high with meat and chips and their sauces pack a firey punch too.
Good luck trying to finish one off by yourself.
FLEMINGTON KEBAB HOUSE
Racecourse Rd, Flemington
Those in the inner west are guaranteed a great feed from this longstanding family run restaurant.
Although known for its huge, mouth-watering kebabs, its HSPs are also a quality feed, and there’s plenty of room to kick back and enjoy its Turkish-themed interior in the middle of busy Flemington.
KEBAB JOINT
889 Springvale Rd, Mulgrave
Tucked away on the border of Monash and Dandenong in a small shopping strip, Kebab Joint has a large and comfortable dining space, perfect for eating in and sampling its tasty treats.
Being close to Daniel’s Donuts’ 24 hour store nearby doesn’t hurt either.
Along with some great kebabs in Turkish bread, its HSPs are also well-priced and not too sloppy, with plenty of cheese on top and chips kept warm underneath the meat.
The store also offers kebab bowls, a similar item for those who don’t want chips packed in.
CENTREWAY KEBABS
25 Centreway, Keilor East
This kebab store in Melbourne’s west was a big favourite when the HSP craze hit several years ago.
Former owner Ferhan Gunsay, aka Freddy Smith, made picture-perfect snack packs, and often wrote messages to customers on the lid with sauces.
He also attempted to break the record for the world’s biggest HSP in March 2017.
The store now has a new manager, Suzi, and has offered free HSPs with a sparkler in it to anyone who visits on their birthday.
CINARS SHISH & KEBAB
Nepean Hwy, Frankston
Locals on the Frankston Community Noticeboard rated this kebab spot as the suburb’s best a couple of years ago, mainly for using “real stacked lamb”.
And those who like it hot will be glad to know they sometimes put jalapeños on top for an extra spicy hit. Have some water handy.
McCORMICK’S FISH AND CHIPS
McCormick’s Rd, Carrum Downs.
It’s not just traditional kebab joints piling out great HSPs — this fish and chip shop in Carrum Downs is a big favourite with locals for their loaded creations.
It finished just behind Cinars in the Frankston Community Noticeboard’s poll with page owners impressed with the size and quality of their HSP’s.
“This hidden gem is well known to Carrum Downs locals as the go to location for your HSP,” they wrote.
“Generous portions and great value for money are what separates this one from the rest.”
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