Omar's Kebab And Pide — Restaurant in Wollongong City Council

Visiting from Sydney, unbeknownst to us at the time, we would stumble upon this absolute gem - I felt compelled to write this review (and would feel as a major disservice not to!) as following our stellar dinner experience last night instantly elevated it to the pinnacle of our culinary experiences for Turkish food in Australia.

Nestled conveniently in the heart of Wollongong, this gem offers an unparalleled combination of convenience, ambiance, and culinary excellence that beckons diners, time and time again - as noted by high volume of customers vouching to dine in and take away during the dinner rush.

From the moment we stepped through the door, we were greeted with the warmest smiles and an atmosphere that exuded hospitality and warmth and the restaurant was remarkably clean. The staff exemplify the epitome of friendly and attentive customer service, ensuring every visit feels like a special occasion - they took special care to understand our needs and went the extra step to ensure our toddler also felt equally welcome.

As noted before, the cleanliness factor at this restaurant cannot be understated! The venue itself is a testament to their commitment to cleanliness and comfort, providing a pristine dining environment that invites relaxation and enjoyment, away from the bustling and hectic city ambience. It’s evident that the owners take immense pride in maintaining a spotless and inviting space for their patrons.

Now, to the true highlight - the food. Each dish we ordered was a masterpiece, meticulously crafted and served hot and fresh. The Adana roll was bursting with flavor, each bite a culinary experience with an amazing mix of spices and tender meat. The mixed shish plate, with its array of succulent meats, offered a delightful variety that catered to all our tastes. Our family-sized serving of chips was golden and crispy, the perfect accompaniment to the rich, savoury mains. It was evident that the oil that was used to cook the food was fresh and clean, and there were no burnt bits or excess scrap that you may find at other restaurants that don’t pay similar attention.

The spinach, cheese, and vegetable pide was another standout, the perfect balance of crispy crust and generous, flavourful fillings. Each dish resonated with the authenticity of Turkish cuisine, prepared with a passion that is palpable with every bite and would, no doubt, serve as a homage to Turkish restaurant vendors overseas.

Value for money is another aspect where Omar’s shines brightly. The portion sizes are generous, ensuring you leave both satisfied and with a sense that you’ve received excellent value. It’s rare to find a place where exceptional quality and affordability align so perfectly - we weren’t able to finish all our food due to the serving sizes, so we gladly took the leftovers home.

In summary, Omar’s Kebab and Pide is more than just a dining destination; it’s a culinary haven where impeccable service, a welcoming environment, and divine food converge. Having dined here, it’s clear this is by far the best Turkish cuisine we’ve enjoyed to date in Australia. We will unquestionably be returning, eager to relive the experience and explore more of their delectable offerings.

If you find yourself in Wollongong, a visit to Omar’s is a must. Hopefully, it should be clear by now that this establishment doesn’t just serve meals, it creates amazing experiences and it deserves to be at the top of every food lover's list.

Five...

Large Mixed Snack pack. Size: 5/5 Is Huge Coverage: 5/5 Well sauced Meats: 5/5 Chips: 6/5 Would have these chips on their own Extras: 2/5 Little Variety available

SIZE Not many HSPs get any bigger than this one, a large will probably do 2 regular people, or a single hungry seasoned HSP enjoyer.

COVERAGE Top layer was entirely covered in sauced kebab meat, as per international snack pack regulations. This particular HSP had some sauce penetration into the chip layer from the get go, which was a nice addition.

MEATS High quality kebab meat, range of slice size and cuts. No outliers, all meats were consistently snackalicious

CHIPS Best chips I've ever had on a HSP and maybe Top 10 ever. Perfect size, perfect crunch, chicken salt, plenty of em.

EXTRAS The only detriment to this HSP. I ordered online so it may be different in store but the variety of extras available is minimal compared to other kebab stores. Needs more sauce variety, more topping variety and some wildcards for the weirdos...

This has to be one of the best places to eat in Wollongong, with consideration that eating out isn't just about the great food and great value for money. This place scores huge ticks for those things but it's the friendly, helpful & polite service by the staff that made it the highlight for us. Despite being busy with the lunchtime rush they were delivered greatness. My wife and I were visitors from South Australia, we did the romantic thing of sharing our food and the service was extraordinary, we had a sidewalk table, a platter of food between us and the meal was prepared in a speedy but seemingly unrushed pace. We're blue collar, ordinary Aussies on an intestate trip to see a concert at the Entertainment Centre. That concert was the best we've ever seen but it was this sidewalk takeaway that was the highlight of the trip! That's best food + great value for money + a comfortable dining experience + great service =5+/5 stars...