Quick info
About Papa's Kitchen
On Queen St in Ballymena, Papa's Kitchen is a takeaway serving evenings only, open Tuesday to Saturday and closed Mondays and Sundays. The kitchen makes its kebabs with proper steak pieces rather than the processed kebab meat found elsewhere, and the menu runs to a numbered mix such as the 23, often ordered with a side of gravy. Orders are placed at the counter, walk-in only, and each customer is given a number that's called when the food is ready. Queues can build, particularly on a Friday night. Opening times can vary, so checking Facebook ahead confirms whether the shop is open that evening.
Good to know
- ParkingFree of charge street parking
Menu & Prices
5 dishes- Kebab on Chips
- Kebab in Bread
- Gyro
- Carne Asada Fries
- Sausage
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention steak kebab, Papa's secret sauce, mixed kebab on chips and gravy on the side.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention steak kebab, Papa's secret sauce, mixed kebab on chips and gravy on the side.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return to Papa's Kitchen for the kebab, and above all for the steak-style meat, which several describe as real pieces rather than the processed strips at other kebab shops. The sauce comes up almost as often, with reviewers calling it unique to Papa's and urging others not to skip it. Close behind are the kebab on chips, a mix with salad and sauce, and a number 23 with a side of gravy that one family orders on cold Saturdays. Staff are described as friendly and quick to get orders right, and takeaway customers receive a number that is called when the order is ready. Some say it is worth a drive from Belfast, and one notes lines on a Friday night. The only caution comes from one reviewer, who advises checking Facebook for opening times because the shop can be closed some evenings. One longtime customer recalls stopping at Papa's after youth club years ago, and says the kebab is still as good as the first time.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return to Papa's Kitchen for the kebab, and above all for the steak-style meat, which several describe as real pieces rather than the processed strips at other kebab shops. The sauce comes up almost as often, with reviewers calling it unique to Papa's and urging others not to skip it. Close behind are the kebab on chips, a mix with salad and sauce, and a number 23 with a side of gravy that one family orders on cold Saturdays. Staff are described as friendly and quick to get orders right, and takeaway customers receive a number that is called when the order is ready. Some say it is worth a drive from Belfast, and one notes lines on a Friday night. The only caution comes from one reviewer, who advises checking Facebook for opening times because the shop can be closed some evenings. One longtime customer recalls stopping at Papa's after youth club years ago, and says the kebab is still as good as the first time.
Featured reviews
- Sharon Bell
“Fast service great portions staff very friendly and listen to order”
- Patrick Fong
“Love me some Papa’s!!! A trip to the Mena just ain’t complete without some Papa’s. Must try at least once for some takeout. Don’t skip the sauce. There’s nothing like that sauce in the whole world!”
- BRANDY MABOY
“This is the best takeout food in the world and it’s not even a close call. The sauce is amazing. The meat is real not processed like every other kebab joint. This is prolly the best thing about Ballymena”
- Gers
“One of the originals of glengormley Papa's kitchen, from years ago, the staff and service is top notch, as it's a takeaway, you receive a number when ordering, and of course it's called when you're order is ready. And the kebab is still as good as it was from the first time, when it was Papa's years ago in glengormley. Difinetly be calling in again. Years ago I used to drive a bus on a Saturday evening from youth club, and of course we called up to Papa's. And last night brought back some good memories, and enjoyable food.👍”
- Gareth
“Simply addictive. Best kebabs in Northern Ireland bar none. Not your typical kebab meat strips, but proper pieces of steak. Papa's sauce is an essential ingredient for your kebab. It's unique to Papa's and is the secret sauce that keeps you going back. Unfortunately I'm not a local, but when in Ballymena and in need of a takeaway this is my only destination. Absolutely scrumptious!!!”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Closed
Highlights
- Popular for dinner
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Free of charge street parking
- Takeaway
- Casual
- Quick bite
- Solo dining
- University students
Show more amenities
- Dining options· 1
- Dinner
Location
Restaurants near Papa's Kitchen
- 0.3 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegan optionsVegetarian options
fish and chips, curry sauce, celiac thursday gluten-free options
- Rococo4.47970.3 mi£15–30Good for kidsReservations
turkey and ham sunday lunch, veggie/chicken fajitas, sunday roast (2 courses £25)
- Gattos4.74200.3 mi£20–30Good for kidsReservations
pollo alla veronese, carne platter, risotto primavera
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papa's Kitchen | 4.6261 | — | £1–15 | steak kebab, Papa's secret sauce, mixed kebab on chips |
| Merchant Fish & Chip Shop BallymenaOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.5577 | 0.3 mi | £10–20 | fish and chips, curry sauce, celiac thursday gluten-free options |
| RococoGood for kids · Reservations | 4.4797 | 0.3 mi | £15–30 | turkey and ham sunday lunch, veggie/chicken fajitas, sunday roast (2 courses £25) |
| GattosGood for kids · Reservations | 4.7420 | 0.3 mi | £20–30 | pollo alla veronese, carne platter, risotto primavera |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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