What’s on the menu at I Am Döner, the quirky British kebab chain’s first North American location

Name: I Am Döner Contact: 433 Queen St. W., iamdoner.ca, @iamdonerca
Neighbourhood: Queen West
Owners: Faisal Husnain and Syed Danish Chef: Paul Baron Accessibility: Fully accessible

After a career in fine dining, chef Paul Baron founded I Am Döner, a quirky fast-casual kebab chain. “I got tired of cooking for the rich,” says Baron, who opened the brand’s first location in Leeds, England, in 2016. Six months later, it won a British Kebab Award, and soon afterward it enjoyed viral fame for a video featuring the Christmas Dinner kebab, complete with honey sage turkey, pork stuffing and roast veggies.

Related: What’s on the menu at Yaffa Shawarma and Falafel, a casual Middle Eastern spot from the team behind the Haifa Room

Today, I Am Döner has seven locations across the UK, two in Dubai and a brand-new one in Toronto, with several more Canadian locations planned in the coming months. With its made-from-scratch menu, plentiful vegetarian (and vegan) options and loud anglophile branding, it’s a solid addition to the city’s döner kebab scene.

The Food

Customers can opt for a traditional kebab wrap, featuring house-made flatbread stuffed with a choice of döner (beef), chicken or veggie filling (seitan, falafel and grilled halloumi). But part of the fun here is going with a less traditional base, like a bed of basmati rice or seasoned fries. An array of bright and crunchy accoutrements includes grated carrot, fresh cilantro and pickled red cabbage, plus a choice of 12 sauces. And, in another unconventional move for a kebab shop, about half the menu is vegetarian.

The Drinks

The focus here is on decadent milkshakes, but there’s also the standard lineup of pop along with Celsius energy drinks, bottled Starbucks Frappuccinos and Earth water. No matter the drink, there’s a complete absence of plastic among the containers—this restaurant is 100 per cent plastic-free. Even the milkshake cups are made from plant-based starch.

The Space

It’s a bright, roomy spot brimming with British cultural references, including murals of Paddington Bear and Winnie the Pooh, a classic red phone booth and framed vintage Beatles records. The theme extends to the highly intentional playlist curated by emerging UK producer Adam Eagleson, featuring upbeat Britpop, classic British Invasion hits, reggae and ska.