Where are Melbourne’s best kebab shops?

KEBABS were once the 3am soul food of the drunken night out. These days, though, there’s a haven of the Middle Eastern delight on every Melbourne corner. Here are some of the best.

Smith Kebabs

KEBABS were once the 3am soul food of the drunken night out.

While there’s still no better cure for a boozy night, the humble Middle Eastern food has slowly become a staple of our diets.

If you live in Melbourne, you probably have a favourite kebab stop.

Here are some testimonials from loyal kebab-loving customers.

Did we get your favourite? Have we missed any?

Read on to find out and then scroll down to tell us in the comment box below.

Doner Kebab

Where: 374 South Rd, Moorabbin

What they say: There’s one near Moorabbin Railway Station run by the same mob that runs the car wash during the day (it is a little shed to the side of the car wash). Great tucker for punters who need to walk 20 minutes home after a few drinks in the CBD. Car wash is Wash and Go Cafe.

Ali’s Jumbo Kebabs

Where: Shop 9/958 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster East

What they say: I’ve been going there since I was 17, Ali (the owner) started with one very quaint kebab van at a closed servo, I followed him all over Doncaster. He now has three restaurants and two food vans. He let’s his shops do the talking. It’s not a kebab filled with big chunks of onion, it’s more meat than anything else, and lemon juice ... he puts a little bit of lemon juice on his kebabs — that’s the kicker. And his chips are killer. All the food you can order on his menu is legit. And his hot dogs are mental. You can get a hot dog there that’s wrapped in pita bread with cheese sauce (and chilli sauce if you wish) and you will never eat a hot dog anywhere else ever again in your life.

Balkh Takeaway

Where: 256/258 Thomas St, Dandenong

What they say: They don’t mess with this wrap stuff. The meat is genuine meat, no blended together muck and it’s cooked over coal, served on a plate with vegetables, some sort of vinegary sauce and in house made bread. It’s not a quick five minute late night drunk kebab. This is a proper meal at a proper restaurant. It’s the Cadillac of kebabs... or the Lincoln... actually, real talk, it’s the Bugatti Veyron of kebabs.

Melbourne Kebab Station Thomastown is the place to get a perfect after-the-footy kebab.

Melbourne Kebab Station

Where: 265 High St, Thomastown

What they say: Thomastown Kebab Station is the place to be. I hated it when mum would drop dad and I off at the dodgy Thomastown station to catch an MCG-bound train to the footy, but all was forgotten when I devoured one of these mouth-watering kebabs for dinner. I actually said to mum only recently that we should get one (it’s been about 4 years since my last one) because people at her work were even raving about them.

Charlie’s Coffee and Kebabs

Where: La Trobe University, shop 6 Agora Square, cnr Plenty Rd and Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora

What they say: My absolutely favourite kebab shop is at La Trobe University in Bundoora (in the Agora at the university which is Kingsbury Drive). I think it’s called Charlie’s Coffee and Kebabs. They have the softest Turkish bread kebabs with garlic sauce. My fave is chicken.

Adrian’s Kebab Stop

Where: 127 Canterbury Rd, Heathmont

What they say: My boyfriend’s fave is Adrian’s Kebab Stop in Heathmont. He says the meat is perfect and everything is packed in to perfect proportion. Not too sloppy.

24-hour Kebabs

Where: 899-901 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully.

What they say: Unlike fish and chip shops, these are proper professional kebabs that are stacked with meat. Absolutely delicious.

Hangover cure or gourmet meal?

Ariana Kebab and Bakery

Where: 200 Thomas St, Dandenong

What they say: Obviously there are heaps of really good eateries in Dandenong, but I just wandered in there one day and had a lamb kebab — it was the best I’ve ever had. The meat was cooked perfectly and was mixed in with the salad and sauce beautifully. I went back a second time thinking maybe it was a one-off, but no, they nailed it again. Might go there again next week now as well ... and the week after.

Afghan Master Kebab

Where: 20 Devonshire Rd, Sunshine

What they say: Huge kebabs and amazingly succulent, delicious meat and the bread is really fresh and fluffy and, oh, it is so yum.

Haci’s Kebabs

Where: cnr Bell St and St Georges Rd, Preston

What they say: Haci’s is life. I pray to it every time I pass it. If you’re not eating it then I’m offended. It just is. Across from Bell St Maccas, always busy at night. Kebab doesn't taste stale or too greasy. Is fresh decent hot sauce to go with. Not expensive.

Smith’s Kebabs

Where: 74 Smith St, Collingwood

What they say: This place needs no introduction as the subject of the SBS reality documentary Kebab Kings, but, in truth, it didn’t need a doco to prove it has some of the finest fair in Melbourne’s kebab scene.

Buddy’s Kebabs

Where: 340 Craigieburn Rd, Craigieburn

What they say: His $15 XXL kebab is not something you mess with. Also Buddy is a top bloke too. Always walks around the shop wearing socks and sandals.

Dough Works Gozleme & Kebabs

Where: Dandenong Market, cnr Clow and Foster streets, Dandenong

What they say: Service with a smile and a kebab that simply melts in your mouth. Get the mix with cheese and plenty of garlic sauce. It’s wrapped in a double bread and has some serious length. It’s the best kebab I’ve ever had, which surprised me, because the shop looks very generic and slightly like a chain.

— Reviews by: Shaun Campbell, Fiona O’Doherty, Brittany Shanahan, Laura Armitage, Geordie Cowan, Michael Randall, Dixie, Aleks Sera, Aleks Kumurdian, Owen McGearey, Sean Ioannidis