Donerka Shawarma & Cafe — Restaurant in Elk Grove Township

Good food, but could be better.

I went to Donerka with my friends last night, and we had a mixed experience. I ordered the beef Doner (Gyro) meal, which came with rice, fries, pickles, and warm bread. The beef was dry and not juicy at all, but the quality of the meat was good. My friends ordered the toasted wrap sandwich, and they said they loved it.

We also got a nice dessert at the end which I enjoyed, but some of my friends found it too sweet after having couple bites.

The staff was very friendly and attentive, and the restaurant was very clean. However, I think they could focus more on their recipes to make the meals yummier. The price was affordable, and I would recommend it to people who are looking for a casual and affordable place to eat.

Here are some additional details about my experience:

:: The beef Döner meal was dry and not juicy, but the quality of the meat was good.

:: The toasted wrap sandwich was juicy and flavorful, and my friends loved it.

:: The staff was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant was very clean. The price was affordable.

I would give Donerka a 4-star rating. It's a decent place to eat, but it's not the best doner kebab I've ever had. I would recommend trying the toasted wrap sandwich if you're looking for a juicy and flavorful meal as the wraps have more sauce in it and you don’t get to taste the dryness of the meat.

UPDATED:

I visited Donerka recently and tried their Donerger, the made up name for Döner Burger and it was great - this time I found the meat more juicy and tender, so I changed my 4 star to 5 star review. I’m also attaching a picture of...

Recently, my colleagues and I had lunch at Donerka Alma-Ata and were unfortunately disappointed.

The prices were quite steep for the quality of food we received. While the portions were average, the overall taste was just okay. I spent around $30 on a baked wrap, fries, a soda, and a macaroon. (Not to mention the obligatory tip before being served.)

The restaurant itself is unremarkable and very minimalistic. Just a few cheap tables and chairs that weren't very clean.

The customer service was virtually nonexistent. When we arrived, we weren't greeted, seated, or offered any assistance. Even when our food was ready, the staff simply left it on the counter instead of calling out our orders.

After our meal, we were left to clear our own trays and clean our table. While we understand that everyone has busy days, for a $30 lunch, we expected a higher level of service.

Based on our experience, I would recommend exploring other dining options. It seems the staff at Donerka Alma-Ata isn't particularly interested in providing a positive...

Tried this place recently and honestly, it was pretty disappointing.

They were out of chicken shawarma, which was the main reason we came. We ended up getting the beef instead. It was fine, but nothing special and not really worth the price.

The little things didn’t help either. The fountain drink didn’t have ice, the wraps weren’t cut in half (which makes them harder to eat, especially for takeout), and they didn’t include any napkins in our to-go order. For food that’s pretty messy, that’s a problem.

We also ordered a hot tea and were surprised to be charged $4 for what was just a paper cup of hot water and a basic tea bag. Way too much for something that simple.

One of the wraps said it came with a ketchup/mayo sauce, and when we asked for it on the side for our fries, the person at the register told us they don’t even have that sauce. Not sure if the menu is wrong or they just ran out, but either way it was confusing.

Overall, it felt like they were cutting corners on too many basics. Wouldn’t go out of my way...