About a year ago my family moved to the Kent town of Gillingham, a rather unremarkable place, save for Master Kebab on Watling Street.
I’d noticed the place initially for its proximity, but lately for the fact it is always full. According to my brother, a kebab expert, that was because Master Kebab draws punters from across Kent and has even picked up local awards, including recognition at the British Kebab Awards in 2023.
I could fight the urge no more. I had to try Master Kebab.
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What the Master Kebab?
Master Kebab has been serving Gillingham since 2018. The owner, Mehmet, a Turkish-Cypriot, learned the ropes in London before opening this branch. It’s won local awards like Best Takeaway in the South East at the British Kebab Awards in 2023.
The shop is known for perfectly cooked meats, generous portions, and a menu that mixes classic Turkish kebabs with British-style chips and large burgers. It’s become a hub for locals craving a late-night doner or a proper meat feast, with queues at pretty much all times.
The Master Kebab Menu
The menu is a proper British-Turkish hybrid. You’ve got chicken doner, lamb doner, shish, kofta, wraps, and burgers the size of a lad’s head. Specials include the Mega Mixed Grill, Master Special Box, and the Ultimate Burger. Prices range from about £9 for a doner wrap to £18 for a large meat box.
Sample Menu
- Chicken Doner Wrap – £8.95
- Lamb Shish with Chips – £12.50
- Ultimate Burger – £14.95
- Mega Meat & Chips – £17.95
- Mixed Grill Platter – £18.50
- Falafel Wrap – £7.95
- Baklava – £3.50
Getting a Kebab at Master Kebab Gillingham
With my brother acting as my taxi for the evening it was duly implied that food would be provided by myself. I thus touted the idea of a Master Kebab while dodging attempts to get fish and chips. This was to be a buyers market. As we were watching football we wanted to have it delivered, but alas it is too busy. You can though pre-pay and collect.
Using this medium one of our group went for a chicken doner (newcomer), the other for the “Ultimate Burger” and I went for the most expensive single man’s dish on there. I went for the monster big meat and chips for £17.95, or $25. For context the next smallest were £12.95.
We went collect as instructed to find our meal not ready and the restaurant truly HEAVING! Although it was Saturday night. We took the food home only to discover they had forgotten the chips for the burger. I won’t hang them on this, but not ideal. So, time to eat.
Is the Food at Master Kebab Any Good?
OK, so the chicken kebab and chips went down well, but as our test subject had never had a kebab it was not much of an endorsement. The Mega 1lb burger on the other hand was top notch with great bread and a whole beef patty. It took just 5 minute stop devour.
Now to my monster kebab. So I asked for burger sauce, as well as garlic sauce, but only got the later. On opening it it was indeed pretty big, with the grease slowly dripping off of it. It was though not insurmountable, nor do I feel worth $25.
The meat tour was impeccable and I sure why they win awards. Perfectly cooked with not a piece overdone, as is often the case in many British kebab shops. The chips though were a letdown with one having to wade through the meat to get to what were soggy oven chips. To be a great kebab in the UK you need hand cut English style made real chips.
Overall though it was pretty good, with the $50 price reflecting more the UK economy than price gouging. I would eat here again, but would not necessarily make a beeline for here. A steady 7.5/10, no more, and indeed no less.
Click to read about UK Street Food.
Where the Master Kebab?
Master Kebab
88 Watling Street
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 2YS
United Kingdom
Sits very amusingly between a great restaurant and weirdly a nail salon. This is industrial Gillingham and there is not all that much going on here.
Phone: +44 1634 575757
Email: info@masterkebabgillingham.co.uk.