Tucked in the vicinity of Dela Rosa 1 Car Park at Makati City is Kebab Turki Baba Rafi that dishes out honest to goodness impressive kebab fares and then some. This unassuming food nook tagged as the biggest kebab franchise in the world started out in Indonesia way back in 2003 and has further branched out to Malaysia and The Philippines.
The fact that it currently holds 1000+ outlets and still counting with the goal of reaching other Asian markets, you would know from the get go that Kebab Turki is ready to compete with some of the best shawarma and kebab places in Manila.
It was only recently that I had a chance to try out a great shawarma place that shook me to the core in a very nice way. Having been introduced to Kebab Turki Baba Rafi upon visiting their branch in Makati City steeled my resolve that there are abundant foodie highlights for this year.
Aside from the interesting offerings on Kebab Turki's menu, it was their packaging that leaves an impression on me. I may be an avid shawarma eater but poorly wrapped goodies that hinders me from enjoying it to the last bite commensurate to annoyance. Rolled up sandwiches which call for the proverbial sauce are messy to eat by nature. If you are not up to getting your hands dirty, the possibility of ditching the idea of indulging despite the cravings can be relatively high. With the kind of packaging that Kebab Turki has, all you have to worry about is the number of these babies you can actually consume in one sitting.
There are several items available at Kebab Turki that piqued my interest but my first visit called for trying out some of their best sellers. I could have drown myself into trying out each and every offering there is but the serving portion of an order can easily knocked down anyone even if they possessed an appetite as big as mine.
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| Beef Kebab Jr. Php65 / Beef Kebab Php80 |
I would have to admit that my photo didn't do justice at how good tasting Kebab Turki's Beef Kebab was. It may looked like your run-of-the-mill processed beef at a glance but the flavor was unapologetically beefy and downright savory that it floored me. It also helped that the pita bread they used was already flavorful on its own. Aside from this powerful of a tandem, the garlic sauce meant to illuminate the distinct taste of kebab sandwich played its part really well.
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| Chicken Cheese Dog Kebab Php75 |
Chicken Cheese Dog Kebab was also well worth the mention. The robust savory taste of the meaty hotdog played the lead role made all the more palatable by the vegetables and garlic sauce incorporated to the dish. Expect that the hotdog they uses is not the one you can easily get at some grocery stores, for the taste speaks of the quality of meat that does not spell commercialized.
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| Chocoban Kebab Php55 |
A beautiful break from the savory kebabs is Kebab Turki's Chocoban Kebab. It is essentially made out of chocolate and banana, hence the name. Judging by the way it tasted, it is the kind that would make anyone who has a thing for dessert go back to Kebab Turki if only to experience this wonderful fruity treat. Not overly sweet nor too fruity in taste, the rich flavor of chocolate and the innate sweetness of banana struck a beautiful balance that rooted from the incorporation of melted cheese to the dish.
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| Cheeseburger Kebab Php100 |
The photo of Kebab Turki's Cheese Burger Kebab would not graced the first spot on this post for nothing. It is not everyday that you get the chance to be introduced to a shawarma / kebab nook that dishes out impressive burgers. At Kebab Turki, I experienced that. Nestled on a bed of crisp lettuce is a burger patty that screams beefy taste in your face. Generously smothered with mayo and a slice of cheese, it may look like the usual burger you can get from any restaurants but in terms of flavor, it echoes a beautiful marriage of meat and spices meant to be celebrated.
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| Matcha Php35 |
If you are my friend on Facebook, you would know how mad crazy am I about anything matcha, if not, well, please know that I am. Having tried an indecent number of matcha in this lifetime, I am confident that I know my matcha by heart. Sadly, Kebab Turki's matcha does not fit the bill. It tasted more of a Jasmine tea rather than matcha. It was refreshing, yes, but it could have been better.
Except for the matcha, everything I have tried at Kebab Turki Baba Rafi was really impressive. I have no expectation prior to my visit but clearly I was impressed after having tried some of their goodies. Prices are relatively affordable and service is warm and welcoming. I am crossing my fingers for this new player in the field to branch out soon because with the kind of kebab they dishes out, they deserve to be noticed and patronized by kebab/shawarma-loving people.
I may not be impressed with the way they execute their matcha drink, yet in terms of kebab sandwiches, I would have to say that they made a fan out of me.
Kebab Turki Baba Rafi
Address: Dela Rosa 1 Car Park,
Dela Rosa Access Road, Makati City,
Metro Manila, Philippines
Website: www.babarafi.com.ph
Facebook: KebabTurki-Phils
Email: acgifood@gmail.com | info@babarafi.com.ph
Address: Dela Rosa 1 Car Park,
Dela Rosa Access Road, Makati City,
Metro Manila, Philippines
Website: www.babarafi.com.ph
Facebook: KebabTurki-Phils
Email: acgifood@gmail.com | info@babarafi.com.ph
