October 30th, 2003 | The lowdown by Emily Masamitsu

Doner Kabob

There really is nothing fast about food in Spain, and that's exactly how the Spanish like it. Eating is a time to enjoy the company of your friends and family and distance yourself from the busy hustle and bustle of the day. But as a student here, sometimes you just cannot find the time to enjoy that hour and a half meal in the middle of the day. Of course there are the McDonald´s and Burger Kings and the Rodilla sandwich shops that offer food on the go, but we have discovered something better: Doner Kabob.

Donor Kabob is the Middle Eastern equivalent of fast food, and when you are looking for a quick meal, its absolutely delicious. Spain has had a long history of Muslim influence, with the conquest by the Moors spanning over seven hundred years. These days, with its more recent historical ties to Morroco and Mediterranean location, one finds a lot more Arab immigrants than in the US. One of my favorite things they have brought with them is the shawerma.

I personally always order the shawema cordero(lamb) but they offer a chicken version as well as the vegitarian falafel. They always make your food to order and it has never taken longer than 10 minutes to grab a sandwich. They are even open until 2 in the morning, for those late night grab and go snacks before the metro closes. And the price is the best feature...just 3 euros for a sandwich and soda. It really is a better verison of fast food without the overpriced imported feel of Burger King or McDonalds.

Doner Kabob is actually a chain, and a quite sucessful one with cafes all over Madrid. The one I always go to in Sol is hidden away down the alley of Calle Cadiz, off of Calle Carretas, but don´t worry, you won´t miss the short Arab man giving out the fliers for the 3 euro soda and sandwich combo. Make it a point to stop in, you will fill up and be amazingly satisfied to boot!