Five reasons why a kebab is the ultimate late-night meal

It’s the ultimate late-night meal. No matter the time or place, you’re sure to find a kebab shop filled with hungry punters.

A chef cuts grilled meat to order with a doner knife. The kebab is a classic late-night meal. Picture: iStock

No matter the time or place, you’ll find a kebab is the ultimate late-night meal. Here are five more than likely to be filled with hungry punters.

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New Star Kebab

Auburn

New Star Kebab.

This late-night landmark has earned its cult status thanks to its superlative charcoal-grilled meats: smoky, juicy and sliced with reverence, not haste. The lamb skewers are consistently tender, the garlic sauce sings and the bread – slightly puffed, warm and golden – is the unsung hero of every wrap. The service here is brisk but warm, the vibe is classic neon-and-tile chaos, the halal snack packs are marvellously messy and the takeaway line often lingers long past 10pm. It’s the kind of place you plan a pilgrimage to, even if you live 40 minutes away. Come hungry once, and leave converted forever.

15 Auburn Rd, Auburn

Sambousek Lebanese Street Food

Parramatta

Sambousek Lebanese Street Food.

Named after the Lebanese meat pie and set up right in the heart of Parramatta’s buzzing dining precinct, Sambousek offers a classed-up kebab experience without sacrificing its street-food soul. The charcoal grill sizzles juicy skewers of marinated chicken, lamb and kafta, which are wrapped up in freshly grilled bread, but there’s plenty more Middle Eastern goodness on offer, too. Manoush flatbread pizzas, loaded pides and Lebanese “kaak” burgers are all generously portioned and big on flavour. A smoky, satisfying celebration of Levantine comfort food, and a delicious Parramatta pit-stop.

323A Church St, Parramatta

Brothers Kebabs

Banksia

Brothers Kebab.

Don’t be fooled by the simple shopfront – Brothers does classic with precision. The signature beef and chicken doner is carved to order, loaded into warm, lightly crisped bread and wrapped with pickles, lettuce and a generous swipe of chilli and garlic sauce. It’s reliable, quick and always hot, which might explain the line of locals clamouring for loaded kebabs and halal snack packs after sunset. This isn’t a flashy venue, but that’s the point. It’s a kebab without the Instagram filter: cheap, filling and hard to fault. If you know, you know. And if you don’t, it’s time you did.

315 Princes Hwy, Banksia

Mascot Kebab

Mascot

Mascot Kebab.

Just a few streets from the airport, Mascot Kebab gets you ready for take-off with a big menu of classics and a strong grill game. Open till late and popular with airport staff, tradies and the post-pub crowd, this queue-attracting corner store deals in classic doner wraps, pizzas, burgers, gozleme and plenty more. The chicken is charred just right, the salads are crisp, and the garlic sauce is unapologetically bold. No gimmicks, no fusion, just straight-up, satisfying kebabs wrapped in warm bread and foil. Don’t worry about the passport, all you need here is hunger … and maybe a few napkins.

950 Botany Rd, Mascot

Saray Turkish Pizza and Kebabs

Newtown

Saray Turkish Pizza and Kebabs.

Newtown’s Saray isn’t trying to reinvent the kebab – it just does it right. The bread is fresh and fluffy, the meats are grilled to golden-crusted perfection and the pickles are sharp enough to cut through a heavy night out (or in). The mixed plates are a winner, especially if you’re feeling indecisive, and the Turkish pides are more than just a side hustle – think crisp-edged and cheese-heavy. Whether you’re pre-gig or post-pub, Saray will fill the kebab-shaped hole in your stomach and soul every time. It’s fast, unpretentious and open late enough to attract all the characters of King St.

18 Enmore Rd, Newtown

Originally published as Five reasons why a kebab is the ultimate late-night meal