r/Eugene Dec 04 '24

Request: where can I find a good Donner kebab/shawarma? Not a gyro. Do we have one in town? Food

Anyone know?

21 Upvotes

27

u/gianthoginyoazz Dec 04 '24

I used to get them at the Caspian. But it closed down like 2 years ago or so after like 40 years. I'd like to know also.

16

u/nowlan_shane Dec 04 '24

Man I was bummed when I moved back here and saw Caspian closed down. Had many meals there in my college years.

12

u/gianthoginyoazz Dec 04 '24

Yeah they also used a very old model burger charbroiler that made frozen patties taste delectable. Their 5 dollar double patty burger with fries and coke was my go to for years along with their swarma with extra tziki or however you spell it. Lol.

4

u/Adventurous_Flow7754 Dec 04 '24

There used to be Casablanca at the 5th street market that closed 10 years ago. Best shawarma I’ve had in the states. Oh well

5

u/Alert-Pea1041 Dec 04 '24

Omg same, I always thought it was odd to go there and order a burger but they were so good.

2

u/DothrakAndRoll Dec 04 '24

Used to deliver food from there and the burgs were the top seller, I swear. Such a weird restaurant. But you couldn’t beat a one stop shop at 3 AM for a burger, French toast, a gyro and a breakfast burrito

13

u/thegreatmiasma Dec 04 '24

I'm not saying there aren't any but I have been here 20 years and I hadn't had one till I went overseas. If there is a place it probably isn't a hole in wall spot to get one late at night.

5

u/DonerHaus Dec 04 '24

We're coming to LA soon and Oregon isn't that far away (from a franchise perspective). Who knows, maybe we'll be in Eugene one day! 😎

1

u/EUGsk8rBoi42p Dec 04 '24

Thank you for your work, would love if you guys came to Eugene!

12

u/thrombolytic Dec 04 '24

We sadly have nothing like German doner here (that I know of), but how I wish we did.

7

u/FCRavens Dec 04 '24

Döner Kebab at 4 am when the bars and clubs closed were such an under appreciated pleasure when I was in my 20s.

Regensburg was such a great city for Friday and Saturday nights.

7

u/thehockie85 Dec 04 '24

There's a great Donner place in Portland. PDX Donerland Food Cart off of 99E. Really friendly German lady

2

u/Intelligent_Wheel522 Dec 05 '24

Ok. I’ll try to check it out next time I’m up there.

5

u/labelm8 Dec 04 '24

Yes, Shalosh cart at Public House has chicken & lamb shwarma and it's incredible!

https://www.instagram.com/shaloshlevantinecuisine/

https://www.yelp.com/biz/shalosh-levantine-cuisine-springfield-2

4

u/WokeAssMessiah Dec 04 '24

Donner kabobs 😱

1

u/samalama23 Dec 04 '24

It should be döner kebab, if I recall correctly, pronounced kind of in between doner and dinner. Best street meat you will ever have, if you happen upon it. Hoping someone here mentions a hidden gem in the Eug/Spfld area!

3

u/washington_jefferson Dec 04 '24

Döner macht schöner.

2

u/DonerHaus Dec 04 '24

Auf jeden brudi!

1

u/clown_muse Dec 05 '24

Döner macht dich.

1

u/LateralThinkerer Dec 04 '24

Just like moms...

4

u/GarmBlack Dec 04 '24

I would kill for a good döner place.

4

u/[deleted] Dec 04 '24

[deleted]

2

u/Anominin Dec 04 '24

Agree on both counts.

2

u/shewholaughslasts Dec 04 '24

That's sad to hear. I've enjoyed many tasty meals there when they were at the Friendly food truck zone. Most of their dishes are too spicy for me but I'd keep going back for the flavor.

3

u/VeloKvlt Dec 04 '24

Poppi’s Anatolia is really good Greek food locally!

1

u/itshorriblebeer Dec 04 '24

that's sad - only place with a shwarma I've seen. Hopeful that Tradewinds would have it as I love all of the rest of the mediteranean inspired food, but alas we can't have everything.

4

u/rainbowchipcupcake Dec 04 '24

This is not very close to Eugene obviously but there's a German döner place in Seattle's Pioneer square called Berliner.

3

u/Arcatalien Dec 04 '24

There was a donner kebab cart in Cottage Grove but it shut down during Covid…

5

u/idontcare0088 Dec 04 '24

I haven’t been yet (been meaning to) but there’s Khalo Naser Syrian Cuisine in Corvallis. The Arabic shawarma looks similar to what I’m looking for, but not sure if it scratches your doner kebab itch. :/ I think a place out centennial used to do those but it’s long gone.

3

u/Slugcatfan Dec 04 '24

Jdawg told me there was this donner guy who went around the wit, said he carts around a rotating thing of meat and he will let you take as much as you can hold for $5

20

u/brwnwzrd Dec 04 '24

On the big rock caaaandy moun-tain

3

u/Useful-Ad-2409 Dec 04 '24

For the last 30 years before moving to Eugene four years ago, I lived in the city with the biggest Afghani population per capita in the US and one of the highest E. Indian populations. We probably had 10-12 kebab restaurants and takeouts, at least, and over 40 Indian restaurants in town. A section of the downtown was known as Little Kabul. It was no problem getting a doner kebab, shawarma, samosas, or any other Afghani or Indian food. I didn't expect much coming to Eugene, but there is nowhere to get good kebabs here. Evergreen is the best Indian food here, by my reckoning of having Afghani and Indian food every week for the last 30 years, but it would be mediocre by the standards I'm used to. At least here, you don't have to pay a Caucasian tax, which is a real thing back where I'm from.

3

u/clown_muse Dec 04 '24

Cafe Soriah sometimes has shawarma on the menu, but they don't right now.

3

u/LabyrinthJunkLady Dec 04 '24

Same folks that ran Casablanca in old 5th St, so if you remember and liked that place, this is where you want to go.

2

u/EUGsk8rBoi42p Dec 04 '24

The restaurant opening at the new building where Caspians used to be serves gyro/kebab/shawarma per their sign, I know it won't be the same but hoping they invested in some sandwich science.

2

u/Intelligent_Wheel522 Dec 05 '24

That’s promising.

1

u/EUGsk8rBoi42p Dec 05 '24

There's also a food cart down off in the parking lot next to Venture Data which does gyros, I don't know if they also do a shawarma but would not be surprised, they are very good!

1

u/iNardoman Dec 04 '24

Here's the Doner Kebab Nacho Song, which is of no help at all in your search for a good Doner Kebab around here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBYSxDRh4QY

1

u/dunhamhead Dec 04 '24

There used to be a stand I liked near the university 12 years ago, but since then... I haven't seen any.

1

u/leaky- Dec 04 '24

Sadly the Eugene food scene is pretty lacking :(

1

u/spankmathews Dec 05 '24

Alex? French guy cooking? Is that you?

1

u/Intelligent_Wheel522 Dec 06 '24

Yes. It’s me. I’ve decided to come to the one place known for the best kebabs in the whole world. If only I could find them.

1

u/jawid72 Pisgah Poster Dec 04 '24

Donner...Pass

-9

u/Affectionate-Art-995 Dec 04 '24

PSA: Tip your delivery drivers $5+ depending on distance from restaurant

10

u/Intelligent_Wheel522 Dec 04 '24

So far, closest one mentioned is Seattle. Think 5 will cover it?

2

u/thrownalee Dec 04 '24

There are some places in Corvallis.

-5

u/Affectionate-Art-995 Dec 04 '24

You must be a lot of fun, like others who take everything literally.....

1

u/EUGsk8rBoi42p Dec 04 '24

Best I can do is $2.

0

u/Affectionate-Art-995 Dec 06 '24

Then your food is cold

1

u/EUGsk8rBoi42p Dec 06 '24

I don't think I've gotten food delivered since 2017 maybe. I don't trust uncertified independent contractors to handle my food.

-1

u/Affectionate-Art-995 Dec 06 '24

Yeah I wouldn't either tipping like a homeless person

1

u/EUGsk8rBoi42p Dec 06 '24

Jeebus dude, no reason to start with the rude comments. It's not a service I find appealing, sorry if it's your job, doesn't mean I think less of someone doing the work. Worse than weak tipping are the workers who feel entitled to being rude over someone not having "enough" to tip. Have some class.