Founder of Kebabs on Queen, Ish Salman was born in Turkey, moving to Australia as a child. Getting off to a rocky start in their new home, Ish started working at the age of ten to help his family. When working at a kebab store in Sydney a customer commented on how much they loved kebabs, and wished they were available in New Zealand.
The idea stuck with Ish, and eventually led to the founding of Kebabs on Queen in 1997. The first store opened on Queen Street in the heart of Auckland City and due to its address the name 'Kebabs on Queen' was born. In 2002 the business became franchised, and has become one of New Zealand’s most successful franchises to date, serving food at high speed using quality ingredients.
I’m not going to lie, this was definitely not the best kebab I’ve ever tried (the ratio of falafel to salad to sauce was just a little bit off; picky you might say, but I take my kebabs seriously), but what Kebabs on Queen might lack in kebab-cooking finesse, they make up for in speed and convenience. They are located on Courtenay Place (ideal), and they know how to whip up a kebab in minutes (vital), meaning that the time taken between lights on in the club and chowing down on some much needed Middle Eastern goodness is negligible.
Also, they do a rocking combo with a drink, kebab and chips, which combines everything that any weary, homeward-bound party-goer could possibly want in life.
If not for overwhelming pleasure, then definitely for extreme convenience, Kebabs on Queen is the perfect destination for a post-town kebab.