This Muslim-Owned Eatery Sells German-Style Doner Kebabs From $9: Is It Any Good?

Habibi Kebs has affordable doner kebabs in Kembangan

Doner kebabs are low-key an underrated option for a fast and affordable meal: they’re quick to prepare, portable, and packed full of vegetables for your daily dose of vitamins. So, next time you’re in Kembangan running errands or passing by on your daily jog along the park connectors, check out Habibi Kebs, a Muslim-owned eatery serving Berlin-inspired doner kebabs at nett prices.

Food at Habibi Kebs

For the uninitiated: doner kebabs are a traditional Turkish dish. The word “doner” comes from the Turkish term “dönmek”, meaning to “turn” or “rotate”, which aptly describes how it’s cooked: seasoned meat, usually chicken, beef, or lamb, is stacked on a vertical rotisserie and cooked until crispy on the outside and juicy within.

Habibi Kebs is a no-frills store specialising in authentic doner kebabs. The founders shared with us that they both have had prior culinary experience, and after a hiatus, they both decided to come together to start Habibi Kebs to bring the German doner experience to the masses. Contrary to traditional Turkish doner that’s served with rice, grilled vegetables, or tombik (AKA Turkish round pocket loaf) with little sauces and salads, German doner goes heavy on salad and sauces: all dressed and packed into bread for a portable, street-food-style sandwich.

The menu’s pretty straightforward: choose from three main styles, your protein of chicken, beef, or a mix of both, and a sauce: Garlic Sauce, Chili Sauce, or Herb Sauce. If you want it more saucy, you can top up $1 for an additional sauce.

If you’re feeling peckish, you can even upgrade your meal for an additional $5, which comes with a side of fries and a soft drink.

We first got their signature Chicken Doner Kebab with Garlic and Chili Sauce ($11). You get doner bread, AKA Turkish flatbread, stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, red onions, red cabbage, and chicken, dressed in a spicy chilli and zingy garlic sauce.

The doner bread had a nice crusty exterior and a soft, fluffy interior, making the perfect base for the whole dish. The chicken was well marinated and slightly smoky, which complemented the fresh vegetables.

We also tried their Beef Durum with Garlic and Herb Sauce ($11), which featured the same medley of lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, red onions, red cabbage, and grilled minced beef, drenched in a zingy garlic and herb sauce. The whole shebang was tightly wrapped in durum bread, similar to a burrito you’d get from Stuff’d.

The minced beef was nicely charred and finely minced, while the vegetables helped cut through some of its richness. I particularly liked how the durum was left under a press grill for a while, giving it a crunchy exterior for some textural contrast.

Worth noting: the owner mentioned that the minced beef is likely being phased out soon, so head down sooner rather than later if you want to try this combo.

Last but not least, we ordered the Mixed Doner Teller with Garlic and Herb Sauce ($14). It featured a bed of golden-brown, thick-cut fries loaded with both aforementioned meats, lettuce, jalapenos, tomatoes, red cabbage, and red onions, then finished with a drizzle of garlic and herb sauces.

Usually, I’m wary of loaded fries as they tend to turn soggy fast. However, the fries here were still crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They were generously loaded with toppings, and I particularly enjoyed how the vegetables and herb sauce helped to mellow out the richness.

We also had the opportunity to try one of their unreleased items: the Quesadilla ($12), which featured doner chicken, mozzarella, and chili sauce encased in a tortilla wrap, and grilled till crunchy on the outside.

Without a doubt, this was our favourite dish of the bunch: cheesy and creamy, with a little kick from the chili sauce.

The release date is currently TBD, though the owner told us it could be as early as this month. So, do keep a lookout on their Instagram page for any updates.

Finally, we washed it all down with Salaam Cola ($3), a soft drink hailing from Ireland that was refreshing on a hot day. It was sweet and fizzy, and tasted similar to Coke. The brand that produces Salaam Cola also donates 10% of their profits to conflict-afflicted regions.

Ambience at Habibi Kebs

The eatery is decked out in a vibrant red-and-white aesthetic reminiscent of an American diner. If you’re dining in, there are also a few chairs outside so you can sit down and enjoy your meal. You’ll definitely need it, as the interior of the store itself is squeezy with little ventilation, which isn’t an ideal condition for you to enjoy a sandwich in.

When we visited the store on a weekday lunch, there wasn’t much of a crowd, so we didn’t need to wait much for our food to arrive. However, the traffic did start to pick up after we got our food, so do come early if you’d like to skip the queue.

Habibi Kebs is located a five-minute walk from Kembangan MRT Station.

Habibi Kebs—Eatbook Review

Overall, Habibi Kebs earns a firm spot in your bookmarks for a quick, affordable meal. Portions are generous, seasoning is on point, and the prices are hard to argue with. As the store has no seating inside and limited seating outside, it might be better to take away instead of dining in.

For more halal spots to eat, check out our guide to the best halal restaurants for special occasions. In other exciting news, Chipotle is opening its first outlet at Jewel, so you can get your wrap fix there too.

Address: 430 Changi Road, Singapore 419872
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 12pm to 11pm, Fri 12pm to 1pm, 2pm to 11pm
Website
Habibi Kebs is halal-certified.

20 Best Halal Restaurants In Singapore For Special Occasions

Photos taken by Chan Zi Xuan.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg.