Capital Doner Washington DC ( Shawarma - Gyro) — Restaurant in Washington

They deserve five stars but am giving them only four because I want to motivate them just a bit more. They are not quite "Berlin" level Döner but the ingredients, the building blocks, are all there to make a Berlin-Level Döner.

First of all, I love supporting a local "mom and pop" restaurant! This is a Turkish family restaurant through and through. Their service was excellent and the restaurant ambiance is very cute and European.

Second, the ingredients are fresh. Everything from the freshly baked bread, baked on-site, to the veggies to the beef/lamb meat on the rotating spit: these are the freshest ingredients I've had on a Döner, in the United States. The "Berlin Döner" is my benchmark and I consider myself to be a Döner connoisseur.

Third, less is sometimes more. The meat-to-everything-else ratio was a bit off. With less meat and more sauce and veggies, the Döner would have been even more enjoyable! I'd suggest removing about 33% of the meat they gave me! Yes, that much! Make room for more sauces and veggies!

Fourth, in true Berlin Döner Bude fashion, when a customer orders a Döner, the cook should ideally make the Döner "with" the customer.

What do I mean? The customer waits at the counter and works with the cook to make the customer's ideal Döner. To start the order, the cook should grab a piece of (freshly baked) bread, split it, then slide it into a bread warming press to get the sides crispy and warm. While this happens, the cook slices meat from the spit, ensuring the freshest, warmest meat is used. (Some Döner restaurants in Berlin take it a step further and cook the freshly sliced meat on a side griddle, along with a special marinade and sauteed vegetables. Think Gemüse Kebab.)

By the time the meat is ready, the cook then removes the bread from the press and lathers the inside with the sauce(s) of the customer's choice, usually garlic sauce, tzatziki sauce, spicy sauce, Kräuter sauce, curry sauce, or special secret sauce, etc. Once the inside of the bread is covered in sauce, the cook then adds the meat (or meat and vegtables for a Gemüse Kebab), and finally asks the customer what they want on their Döner: lettuce, tomatoes, red cabbage, white cabbage, onions, etc. Once the customer adds what they like, the cook often finishes it off with a squeeze of lemon juice, salt, pepper, and maybe red chili flakes or jalapenos if the customer wants some spicy heat upon request. The Döner is now ready to be served or packed to go.

Fifth, I recommend they eventually add a chicken meat spit for those that don't eat beef/lamb. Falafel is already an option for vegetarians.

Sixth, the French fries, lentil soup, Turkish tea were all tasty and on-point. The fries even tasted exactly like what I'd eat in Berlin!

Finally, I suggest the owners take a business trip to Berlin. Go to the mountain top! Write it all off on their Schedule C as a business expense! Go to Rüyam Gemüse Kebab on Schönhauser Allee/U-Bahnhof Eberswalder Straße. See how the perfect "Berlin...

Delicious Shawarma and Gyro at Capital Doner on P Street, Washington DC

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review: Capital Doner on P Street in Washington DC is a hidden gem for anyone craving mouthwatering shawarma and gyro. I recently tried their steak box with fries and a complete salad with dressing, and I must say, it was an absolute delight.

The steak was perfectly cooked, tender, and bursting with flavor, complemented perfectly by the crispiness of the fries. The complete salad was fresh and vibrant, providing a refreshing contrast to the savory protein.

What truly sets Capital Doner apart is their garlic sauce and spicy options. As a fan of bold flavors, I found these sauces to be the perfect accompaniment to my meal. The garlic sauce added a creamy richness, while the spicy option provided a satisfying kick that elevated every bite.

I frequent Capital Doner often, not only for their delectable dishes but also for their flexible closing hours. Whether it's a late-night craving or a quick lunch fix, Capital Doner has always been there to satisfy my appetite.

Overall, I highly recommend Capital Doner to anyone looking for a delicious and satisfying meal in Washington DC. With flavorful proteins, fresh salads, and fantastic sauces, it's a dining experience you won't...

My fiancé and I ended up here last night as our second dinner. Our first dinner was across the street, and he spent the entire time glancing over at Cafe Istanbul telling me he wished we were eating there instead. We waited out a quick rainstorm and then sprinted across the street to Cafe Istanbul, where we walked in and were immediately greeted by the smell of roasted meat. We talked to the owner Ibrahim, who was so nice and excited about his new restaurant. He recommended the adana lamb kebab, so that’s what he got. I was still stuffed from our first dinner so I wasn’t planning to eat anything. But then the platter arrived. It was served on a rectangle bamboo plate and came with salad, rice and three steak fries. My fiancé made me try some salad, and it was one of the best I’d ever had — the olive oil-based dressing was incredible. I usually would never eat lamb because of how I feel about the animal, but it was glistening and looked so flavorful, and I took just a tiny bite, and it was so tasty. The rice, pita and the steak fries were also so good. I wasn’t even hungry, and I couldn’t stop eating his food! (He’s accustomed to this.) I told my fiancé that I want to go back for a full meal ASAP, maybe even tonight. I can’t recommend this...