COLOGNE. Happy Europe Day, Döner Fans! Or so it was on 9 May. I chose to celebrate this auspicious date by going somewhere in Europe, in this case Cologne. The weather was not particularly clement and I endured a moist boat tour up the Rhine, but what made it all worthwhile was the local cuisine. During my 9 hours in Cologne I consumed various types of sausage (Bockwurst and Krakauer) as well as a giant pretzel. But the main meal of the day was, of course, a kebab.
The awning of Bistro Orient on Aachener Straße.
It was while meandering Flâneur-like through Cologne’s belgisches Viertel, where the streets bear names like Genter Straße and Brüsseler Straße, that I espied a kebab shop. Peeking from underneath a classy black awning it twinkled at me. A glance at Google Maps purports its name to be Bistro Orient, Aachener Straße 13. Its veg was visible from the street, and unable to resist, I went in.
The view inside Bistro Orient, with the big meat log partly blocked by an elbow.
Bistro Orient has a clean, chic, hipsterish vibe. Its salad looks crisp and fresh, and its bread is warmed in an oven. Two ladies officiate. Its counter faces to the street and its entrance is very light, with furniture in bare wood, while the interior stretches back into a dim twilight zone leading at some length to the bathrooms. I ordered a Döner Sandwich and an Ayran.
The massive sandwich arrives.
The Döner Sandwich duly arrived. I had baulked a little at the 4,50 EUR price, but on seeing the size of the beast that landed on my plate I was mollified. The kebab really was very big. It was stuffed full of a variety of fresh salad and meat, and was slathered with a thick, yoghurty sauce. The bread was warm and floury, fresh from the oven.
It was very tasty. And the shop was evidently popular, as many people stopped by to purchase its fleshy wares. If I were to criticise anything, it would be that the kebab tasted overall too healthy for my liking. Fans of the blog will know that I like my kebabs cheap and dirty. But I can hardly hold that against Bistro Orient. With friendly staff, large portions and a cosy atmosphere, what’s not to like!
Results
Service: 4/5 (friendly and welcoming)
Atmosphere: 4/5 (classy)
Price: 3/5 (pricy but reflected in the portion size)
Taste: 3/5 (very nice, if a little too clean)
Photographs by Dr Döner
The Dr Döner Guide To Kebabs 