Spitz

While I was studying abroad during college, I fell in love with the street-stand food Doner Kebabs. These tasty treats are similar to gyros except on bread and with more vegetables and a tiny bit spicier.Doner Kebabs are of Turkish decent but are a popular late-night or fast food for many Europeans, much like hot dogs or pretzels in NYC.

Some Occidental college students shared my love for Doner Kebabs on their study abroad visits and decide to open a restaurant devoted to sharing this treat with their fellow Angelinos.

Spitz is located just a hop, skip and a jump from Oxy and a perfect stop for starving students. But, if you aren't a student, you'll still fit in with the crowd. And crowd there is! I went around 2:30 on a Friday afternoon and was among 4-5 groups sprinkled across the patio.


The menu is small, but varied including salads and kebabs with a couple of sides and vegetarian options as well as gelato. I checked the menu online before going in and knew I wanted the classic to recreate that same street food I fell in love with.


The restaurant is small and hidden behind the Sizzler so keep your eyes peeled. It can be more described as a take out shack than a restaurant. There are 10-12 tables on the patio and none inside. If you are eating there, get the meal that comes with a side and a drink.


The classic is doner meat, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, Tzazhiki sauce and chili sauce stuffed into a grilled focaccia bread. Getting the bread right is probably the hardest part. The focaccia works well but it isn't as soft as the kind they had in Europe. I also sometimes got my Doner in Germany on some kind of pita-like flatbread that was thicker than a pita. They have another wrap bread option, but if you want a real classic use the bread.


The taste brought back a rush of memories from my travels. They nailed the filling on the head and the flavor was spectacular. Mine came with some pita chips. These aren't your average pita chip either. They are regular pitas, cut into strips and lightly fried so that they are mostly soft with a little crunch on the edges. They are seasoned with something that makes them extra delicious and come with hummus for dipping.

I suppose a doner isn't that different from a gyro, but it is still worth a try if you are in the area or you want to remember your travels in Europe.






Spitz
2505 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Map