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Donair King Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Mediterranean Mediterranean [Edit]
1028 Davie StVancouver, BC V6E 1M3
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 685-8723
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for Donair King Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Good garlic sauce, perfectly moist falafel, pickled veg..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Best falafel wrap in Vancouver."
(in 3 reviews)
"The chicken wrap (shawarma) is delicious."
(in 7 reviews)
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Cody S.
1/5/2012
This is a great place to get a donair on a late night in Vancouver. The staff here is very friendly and quick as anyone could be. The smell is probably the reason we stopped in here and the open door draws you right in.
The flavours are great, everything is nicely spiced. Nothing here will disappoint. I really liked that they pressed it panini style at the very end...makes for a warm and crispy snack. -
Review from Tamara L.
11/7/2011
I walked 10 blocks out of my specifically to have a Chicken Donair Plate at this particular place based on the Yelp reviews, and was pretty disappointed. Over cooked, dry, flavourless chicken and prices are at least $2-$3 higher than anywhere else. Average, at best.
With that said though, to give credit where it is due, the couple running this joint is really lovely and kind. I just wish the food was more on-point. Perhaps it was just an 'off day'? -
Review from Scott P.
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Donair seems to be a dime a dozen in this city but Donair King is my go to. They just do it right and whenever I am on Davies Street and in the mood they always get my business. They just seem authentic and always have a special. You can walk out of there with a Donair and a drink for $10 or less. Yummy stuff kids - now get out there and try one!
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Review from Paul R.
Vancouver, BC
1/20/2012
Like so many others I got taken in by the great smell from this place.
I've been about a dozen times in the last 3 months. It's my easy / fast / satisfying quick-fix craving for something relatively nutritious if I'm in the area.
I'm a beef and fish guy; lamb, wild game too, but not at all into pork, and only sometimes do I eat chicken.
However, the beef turning on the spit looks odd, not like real beef. A friend of mine told me it's not very good either.
So I do the chicken when I go here, and it's a great chicken donair. under $8.
If you eat it there, be prepared to put up with bright lights, noisy international news on the big screen (here I go again but wtf is with TVs everywhere?), and often accompanied by competing ethnic music from the other speakers.
But if you eat it there, they dip the top of the donair in a yogurt dressing and dust it with paprika; something you won't get if it's wrapped to go.
Lovely male and female server, but it annoys me when any establishment's staff abruptly interrupts serving you to talk with or serve their friends or new customers without even 'disengaging' you. The cross-talk is simply rude, confusing and unsettling.
Otherwise this place is a hit for me. -
Review from Alouise D.
Edmonton, AB
6/26/2011
I stopped by the Donair King because I hadn't eaten all day. While I wanted to find something seafoody my need for protein sustenation overwhelmed me.
I ordered a falafel donair, one of my favourites. I liked how they offered a variety of sauces and toppings to choose from. The donair was delicious. The falafel patties were not dry, like some places tend to be. The donair was delicious, filling and a good price. The restaurant is clean, but there's not a lot of space. Still if you need a grab-and-go type of meal this would be a good choice. -
Review from Charly S.
11/15/2011
Like the stars say, meh... I've experienced better. The lady behind the counter is lovely, and the tzatziki (garlic sauce) is very good. The crisped exterior of the pitas are also terrific. We found the hummus very lacking in flavour. The lettuce to chicken ratio and bland taste were the most disappointing. The prices were also high, $18 incl. tax for two donairs and no drinks - definitely not worth that. And Cash only.
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Review from Darcie G.
Vancouver, BC
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hands down the best donair I have had they are all amazing even the falafel wrap is amazing! I stumbled upon this place after a late Tuesday night at celebrities and they were packed but well worth the wait. They are so good that when I lived in Langley my friends and I would drive downtown just to get their donairs. They are simply the best! And I have yet to find anyone that even comes close to them!
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Review from Erin U.
10/8/2011
Best donair spot in the city. And i dont even eat donair meat but the falafel donair is amazing!! seriously must go to here after a drunk night on davie, they load up the toppings of your choice then toast it together to form a perfect lil feast. a large one is big enough for 2 people easily. a small one is even alot for one person. Yum, drool drool. I think I might take a walk there right now....seriously, bye
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Review from Tim S.
12/16/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Something a little different: bell peppers and crispy pitas! And I don't think *anyone's* ever asked me about interior design before.
I hadn't expected much from Donair King except in a drunken, late-night kind of way, given that it's a door down from Celebrities (and you know what they say about food with a view...). But tonight, I started to walk past on my way to get my usual fix at Falafel King and thought I'd stop in & check out another shop in the 'hood. I wasn't disappointed!
It's a little pricier than their competition down the road, but definitely more interesting. The falafel are perfectly respectable, the garlic level is is set to STUN -- which is AWESOME (unless you're a vampire or on a makeout rampage), the green & sweet yellow bell peppers are a nice touch, and the grill-crisped pita is worth the wait and definitely helps alleviate the usual soggy-pita syndrome. (Ask your doctor if grilling is right for you!)
While the pita was on the grill, the guy came out around the counter and asked whether I liked the front of the counter in wood or whether he should go granite. I thought the wood was pretty nice -- but maybe you disagree? Friendly guy! I also liked the OONCE OONCE OONCE blastin' out the speakers, though YMMV. Nice place! Will return. -
Review from M S.
Vancouver, BC
9/27/2011
The donair here tastes alright, but the service here is appallingly rude and incompetent. I went here on a Friday night with a friend, and we waited in line for at least 20 minutes while the girl taking orders neglected to make eye contact, acknowledge our presence, or take our orders (even though everyone in front of us had already been served). The icing on the cake was when she took orders from some guys who hadn't even been waiting in line at all, still without even batting an eye towards us.
Look lady, I'm not that short, and I wasn't THAT drunk either. I know shit service when I come across it.
I would like to add that I wasn't being belligerent, or even loud. Somehow, I managed to wait patiently in line for all 20 minutes.
I would have been better off at McDonalds. -
Review from Carlos G.
7/7/2011
Awesome wraps. The chicken wrap (shawarma) is delicious. Definitely coming back to this place when I visit Vancouver once again.
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Review from James L.
4/17/2010
The relative dearth of good, cheap falafel joints in most of the Bay Area always strikes me as strange. Aren't we supposed to be a big, diverse group of foodies? Why is it I always get the most/best choices above the 49th parallel?
Anyway I can't comment on the meat choices here, but the falafel wrap ($5) here is the best I've had, hands down. Good garlic sauce, perfectly moist falafel, pickled veg, wrapped expertly so that nothing ever drips or falls out, a pretty sprinkle of paprika, and an exterior that's toasted to perfection--good and warm, but not intensely hot. This beats all my favorite falafel places near my own digs, hands down.
4.5 stars, rounded up, because yes, as some of the other reviewers have pointed out, the man behind the counter is a total hottie. My apologies to his wife for all my covert ogling of her cariad!Listed in: My Top Food Picks
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Review from Zee K.
Vancouver, BC
4/12/2009
I have searched high and low, and this is hands down, the best Shawarma / Donair in Vancouver.
They have all the right ingredients that so many of the Vancouver places don't bother with, especially the garlic sauce. Mmm, garlic sauce.
When I am having a Shawarma craving, I will drive from anywhere in the city to go here, even in rush hour, no exceptions. I've learned better than to bother setting foot in any of those other no garlic sauce, non-grilled abominations, where I will always be disappointed.
Even when it's busy in there, they always take the time to add an extra bit of garlic sauce / paprika loving on the top of the wrap before handing it to you, all crunchy and warm and delicious.
Seriously, don't bother going anywhere else, you'll only have a sub-par experience. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
12/27/2008
The West End has an unbelievable number of donair and falafel shops. This one goes the extra step and puts your finished wrap onto a little George Forman style grill which crisps up the outside. This is a nice touch. The food isn't fancy, and if I wasn't in the neighbourhood I wouldn't rush over here. But it is what it is, and if I'm in the area I'll sometimes pop in.
The biggest tip here though is that the place is run by a couple. When he is working I would give their donairs 3.5 stars. When she is working 2 stars. Hence the 3 stars. I'm not sure what it is that she does differently, because it looks like the exact same preparation. But it just never tastes the same.
I thought I was crazy, but several friends have mentioned this exact same thing at this spot. Very weird! But if you see her working just skip it for the day like I do! Otherwise give it a shot.Listed in: Vancouver Middle Eastern Food
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Review from Alex K.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I used to DJ goth and fetish nights at Celebrities next door, and the highlight of my evening was usually ducking out for a quick falafel at Donair King. Never mattered what kind of nonsense I was wearing, Sam, the perpetually present owner/operator was always there with a smile and a friendly word. Last Halloween I went in wearing a housecoat, fuzzy slippers and a full on gimp bondage mask and homeboy didn't blink an eye. (As an aside, do you know how hard it is to eat wearing one of those masks? The answer is very hard, take my word for it.) The Falafel is always nice and fresh tasting and the pita is filled with crisp veggies and tasty spicy sauce that gives it a real zing. It's $5 flat, so you can even treat your pals as I've been known to do when in a generous mood. I'm a vegetarian so I don't partake in the shawarma, but holy crap does it smell good, if I was gonna break veggie edge that'd probably be the first thing I elected to put into me. It just smells so appetizing!
I don't claim to be an expert on the city's options for this sort of thing, but I have eaten enough crappy falafel at various junctures to know when something is way, way above average. I just ate a Donair King falafel in the middle of the day stone cold sober (a surprise I know!) and it tasted just as good as all the times I've used one to soak up the litre of gin I routinely ingest. This is some A + shit, as fast, tasty food goes on Davie you ain't gonna do much better. -
Review from Katie F.
4/8/2010
Stopped in last night since the amazing smell from this restaurant drew us in! I didn't even think I was hungry at 10:00 at night, but turns out I was! Steady business the whole time we were there.
I'm definitely not a donair expert but what I had tasted great! Had a beef samosa and beef donair. Their samosas are HUGE and decent value at about $3 each. The beef is nicely spiced and it's the no potato kind. The downside is that they're underfilled and since they're reheated, they're not as crisp as the fresh ones.
I loved the donair sandwich - the way they make them wth the filling on the inside and all wrapped up makes them one of the tidiest ones I've eaten! This is the first time I've seen them crisped up on the grill and it's super tasty! Remember to ask for more tzatziki and you're good to go! -
Review from Dave B.
Campbell River, BC
2/1/2010
I don't know if I'd go as far to call him the Donair King, but I'll at least give him "Prince of Donairs".
Since I enjoyed my first Donair in Ottawa, back in 1999 (Shawarma Deluxe, oh how I miss thee), I've always been on the Quest to find the best Shawarma. But what qualifies as the best?
For me there are few criteria:
garliciness -- a good shawarma needs a good garlic sauce (sorry ladies, no kisses for you!)
toppings -- a good shawarma always has fresh, crisp veggies and purple turnips
lean, crispy, evenly-cooked chicken (and preferrably Halal -- I don't know why but blessed chicken always tastes better)
chicken marinate -- it needs to be tasty and not too salty
consistency -- I want the same thing every time I go
lack of random hairs or bits of plastic -- yeah, I've found those toppings in my shawarma before
lack of extended bathroom visits the day after -- I've been told that in europe especially shawarma places are notorious for their lack of cleanliness.
I've been going to Donair King about once a week for 3 years, and he meets all these criteria, EVERY time. I've never had a bad chicken wrap or chicken platter. And the owner(s) are really nice, to boot. They are happy and upbeat 99% of the time, despite working there basically all day, every day -- I don't know how they do it!
However, I would not recommend the beef donair, as I don't think it's too popular and hence winds up on the rotisserie for longer than usual and tends to dry out.
Jason D.'s review mentioned that the sauces are not made in-house -- I wonder how does he know this? The sauces have always tasted fresh and they're atypical vis. a vis. the garlic paste/sauce, which I've never had anywhere else in Vancouver.
I agree with Jason's comments about the Falafel King -- it is pretty good as well; I used to go there a lot (I alternated between Donair King and Falafel King, as well as Falafel House Enterprises), but got turned off by Falafel King when one day I wound up with a big lump of chicken fat in my mouth (ew!).
As to the other places in Vancouver? I've tried many, but none compare to Donair King. -
Review from Reena M.
4/3/2009 1 Check-in Here
This place does not disappoint. I've been here on several occasions for some yummy donairs for dinner. Probably not the healthiest thing (compared to making food at home), but I like it. And I like to think it's healthy. It has all those veggies on it! The only complaint I have is that there's dill pickles inside... but I should just remember to tell them no pickles, extra spicy.
That being said, I haven't had much experience with Vancouver's donair/shawarma scene, but I've had better than this in Europe (Spain, to be specific). But this is cheaper than flying there. And the rice they serve on their dinner plates is really delicious!Listed in: Sip & Grub in Downtown…, Where to get your shawarma on
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Review from Roanna Z.
3/24/2009
The smell of the food alone will bring new customers to this little neighbourhood gem. The only issue I had was that they keep the door open even when it's COLD out. Annnnd oh, my goodness What a good looking proprietor ! and NICE too!
check
check. -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2008
I love the previous reviews emphasis on who is working, and I couldn't agree more!
The Donairs here are great but it's all dependent on the time of day and who is working. Come here at an off time and you're going to wait a while for food that doesn't taste so good. But come here at just the right time and you're sailing.
Sadly, the ideal time I've found is usually late night. They cater to the Davie bar crowd and when they're running full steam ahead they seem to make the best Donairs. I've had nibbles of their other treats and while they're good I can't put a full recommendation. I'll at least say they have a pretty extensive menu.
So yes, the quality can differ pretty wildly here but I've never bothered to try any other Donair place down Davie because 8 times out of 10 Donair King really hits the spot. -
Review from Evilyn T.
4/5/2010 3 Check-ins Here
As soon as you get close to this place, the smell hits you like a punch in the face, and then you realize how hungry you are, (even if you're not.) You go in to order and the guy behind the counter starts chatting you up like you're old friends and asks you what's going on tonight. He does this in a way that distracts you from noticing him whipping together your falafel, so all of a sudden its just presented to you and you're like "holy shit that was fast." So sneaky.
The falafel is so filling that you don't get hungry again until you run for 5 miles, and even then, mostly you are just dehydrated. The Donair King packs up his falafels tight so they don't spill when you eat them, and gives them a touch of spicy kick. This place is a must when you're a DD (drinking and dancing) at Celebrities next door, or even if you're just looking for something on the go.
Veggie Falafel = $5.24 of yummy. -
Review from Raza M.
2/3/2011
As for the place itself, it's no different thing any other shawarma joint, only a bit cleaner. It's just cheap delicious fast food. The lamb donair I had was pressed to make the outer pitta warm and crispy and the garlic source was perfect. Over all I'm very satisfied with the experience I had with this place.
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Review from Jason D.
Vancouver, BC
9/4/2009
I cannot believe the reviews above; I find them incredible (in the literal sense). The best shwarma place in town? Have you people been eating tainted hummus?! The best is one block away - it's called Falafel King (next to the Transylvanian bakery) . On a whim I went to Donair King to sample what they've got to offer. Not only are they considerably more expensive, the portions are pathetic. They don't even make their own sauces in-house. If you like a lot of roasted protein, a lot of hummus and all the trimmings, you will take the 30-second walk across the street. I was still so hungry after Donair King, I ate at Falafel King. Ok, I was really full after but it was worth it - I got my shwarma fix!
ps: Falafel King is hidden off the road - I suspect the above never noticed it and guarantee they've never eaten there. -
Review from Rhino R.
Calgary, AB
11/1/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I give it 4 Stars because of its great ability to satisfy the late night hunger of so many people. The food is good, but does vary quite a bit from visit to visit.
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Review from Adam R.
Vancouver, BC
7/21/2010
My mouth fell asleep as I ate a chicken donair from this place. Like a veggie sandwich that my grandma made me. Worst ever. I suspect it is highly rated by people who had one too many that night or had a severe munchies case.
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Review from Paulinha R.
Vancouver, BC
2/28/2011
Really good and fresh pita wrap... i like the lamb and the chicken donair... i used to have it for lunch on my work break... they grill the pita, and they also put some really tasty sauces... you can taste the freshnes on their wraps... the dude that makes the donair is very friendly, bonus!! i hate when i go to places and people are rude or indiferent... being friendly and polite makes it much better!!!
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Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
2/24/2010
Best falafel wrap in Vancouver.. Why? Because it's grilled. Holy smack is it ever good. I shit you not.
Listed in: Greatest Hits
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Review from Mike S.
Delta, BC
6/10/2011
One of my favourite donair/shawarma joints in the city. Love how they grill the outside to perfection and the sauce is the best! Get the chicken!
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Review from cheryl m.
Vancouver, BC
10/24/2009
love this place ... delicious donairs ... better than any other donair place i have tried on davie street (the one near bute by money mart - no washy the hands - yick) ... staff is super friendly ... prices decent ... i was in a store in which several people were talking about a great donair place and they were all talking about this place :o)
