The Kebab Shop — Restaurant in Encinitas

I ordered ahead for pickup, and the rep. was very nice and efficient on the phone. When I arrived, the cashier (that was the rep. that had previously answered the phone; his name is Gonzalo) was polite and efficient. I ordered a fountain Coke and discovered that the Coke syrup needed to be changed out. I’ve experienced that a lot over the years in various eateries, so not a big deal at all. I went to notify someone, and the first employee I saw ended up being Rory. I believe Rory is the head chef, as it sounded like may have been training, when he immediately noticed that I needed something. He was super accommodating and assured me that the syrup would be changed out quickly. He wasn’t kidding, as shortly after that, Gonzalo notified me that the Coke had been changed out and was all ready. I really appreciated how Rory saw that I needed something and handled it right away, even when he was busy with the food and with training. And how fast Gonzalo, handled changing out the syrup. And the Coke was perfect right away. Impressed with their service, I asked their names bc I wanted to recognize them specifically for their great work and service. (I own a business, and I easily spot great employees when I see them, and they both are great!)

(And the food at TKS is always consistently great. I’m a residential contractor and depending on where I am for work, I’ll make it a point to stop in at the Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo and Carmel Mountain locations bc the quality of the food...

Oh juicy delicious fire roasted meat on a stick. How we as humans have loved your for thousands of years, millennia perhaps. We've all made skewers, we get the skinny, brittle, thin bamboo package from the store with the way too sharp ends. Prick ourselves a few times. We use improperly cut, seasoned or the wrong cut of meat with vegetables that somehow cook too fast or slow for the meat and you get this acceptable mess of burned tomato's, an imbalance of onions and well done cubed steaks with a char and not a sear. Cooked on propane weber grills in the summer. These are not the same skewers or kebab's that you'll find by cooks who care of even restaurants like "the kebab shop".

Be it chicken, beef, lamb they do things right. A new location from the same ownership as the widely successful spot downtown, they impress equally as well in the North. I believe it is considered Mediterranean or Turkish based so you'll see Falafel, lamb, yogurt dipping sauces, but heavy on the herbs and less on the spices. Lamb can be quite gamey if not seasoned well and they don't overdo it. Usually ginger is needed to remove that gaminess, but this really is a showroom on so many Mediterranean foods. Not specific to Turkey, Lebanon or wherever, just good meats properly cut and seasoned, proportioned to vegetables and cooked on an open flame and coals for sear...

So...my love of falafel is pretty well known amongst my family so when I was in Encinitas and was recommended "The Kebab Shop" I figured I'd give it a go. And daaaaaammmnn am I glad I did! It was one of the best falafel wraps and fries I have had. Every element was impeccable - the pickled onions, the hummus, the herbaceous falafel, the flaky wrap, the veggies, & THE SAUCES (highly highly recommend the garlic yogurt sauce and the spicy cilantro sauce). I also really loved the "build your own" design of the menu, you had a selection of proteins(chicken doner, lamb doner, beef meatballs, grilled chicken, or falafel), side options (like hummus, saffron rice, fries, Greek salad), sauces, & meal styles (wrap, plate, or box). And just a FYI, the wraps are HUGE, like the length of my forearm- I should have split it with my husband. Also, don't sleep on the "crave fries"- those crispy fries paired with salty feta, creamy garlic sauce, & pickled onions is the perfect flavor combo, just absolutely divine. Make me want to cry that I don't have this restaurant...