Kamiil’s: The Fellowship of the Kebab

By Julia Wednesday October 14, 2009

When I was at university, I used to work a graveyard shift at a print shop in the Valley, and so I’ve had my fair share of late night kebab. Not that this by any means makes me the authority on kebab, however, I would like to point out three things: 1) Tastebuds never lie; 2) You can’t argue with a mother of 6; and 3) Uncle Darren knows best.

My old housemate, “Uncle” Darren, got me into Kamiil’s Kebabs several years ago, when he dragged me kicking and screaming at about 500m up Brunswick St at 1am, much to my protestations that we visit the more generic kebab store right near our apartment. “Kebabs are all the same grease, no matter where you go!” But as usual, Uncle Darren was right, and I was wrong, and Kamiil’s was in fact very good kebab.

Now I’m not going to be audacious enough to claim that a Kamiil’s Kebab will change your life. All I’m saying is that as far as a bunch of meat, sauce and salads wrapped in pita goes, this stuff is good. Kamiil’s is just a whole lot fresher, and a lot less greasy, than your usual junky kebab shop. Their wares are assembled with care, and you’re not left with kebab goo dripping out the bottom of the packaging, only to gum up your hands – not to mention the upholstery of your car.

I had a chicken kebab, with yoghurt garlic sauce and tomato sauce (the favourite combo of the charming young man who served me), tabbouleh, salad and cheese (oh I love the cheese… please don’t judge me). The price range is fairly standard (coming in at around $8 each), but treat yourself to the extras: the Turkish Delight is amazingly soft and tender (I’m constantly surprised by how much tough, flavourless Turkish Delight there is in the world) with a container of 8 huge pieces only $5; and the baklava (handmade on premises) which is so sensationally crisp and sweet, is only a measley $3, and boy oh boy is it ever good. Like the “oh-I-was-watching-Glee-and-all-of-a-sudden-my-plate-was-clean” kinda good. I may or may not have lapped up the pistachio and honey dregs as well. Just between you and me.

So why the Fellowship of the Kebab? Because Kamiil’s is a bit of an institution to those in Brisbane who know of it. Each time I’m there, I’m always meeting people who’ve heard about it from someone, or go want to go that extra distance to get their fix. At one of my more recent visits, I met a mother of 6 who uses it as her backup plan for her army of boys when she’s rushed for dinner, because it satisfies all her main criteria: healthy, tasty, filling and cheap.