Otto’s Berlin Döner

Geez. If you can get past a much longer than necessary wait for food, and find a seat at one of the low, uncomfortable stools, you might strike gold.
The sandwiches here are delicious. A nice take on a gyro (or a sausage on a bun if you prefer), the sandwiches (chicken, lamb, etc.) have a great flavour. Take fries or a side salad for a nice meal.
The staff here are great and the beer is cold.

This place is a gem. I had the doner box and my goodness, it was so tasty. Was not expecting it to come in a box when I first ordered but I am glad it did because it is like a doner poutine. Absolute must try.

Very yummy food, great spot for lunch. Haloumi teller is my favorite. They also have vegan/​gfree options.

The atmosphere is delightful. It was quite busy in this small restaurant on Wednesday night. Ordered their chicken box (teller) with salad… which was refreshing. I’d come back to try their currywurst. That looked pretty delicious!

Used to like this joint but today I ordered a lamb and veal sandwich and the bread was at least a day old. If you want to charge almost $ 12 for a sandwich then have the courtesy to use fresh bread. Totally lame.
Konrad, the owner was good enough to respond and offer a replacement sandwich. Going to take him up on it but will need some time and consistent quality before I give more than 2 stars.

Small but really nice atmosphere. Big portions and delicious food. I’d highly recommend getting the haloumi sticks! Staff were quite nice as well.
I’d definitely go back.

I’m horrified by the «expertise» on Döner a few commentators are sharing here. Especially Melissa F. (1÷17÷2016). No offense but what you described is actually a nightmare of a Döner.
Yes, you’re absolutely right about the bread.
Yes, it is too expensive.
No, vegetables in a Kebab should NEVER be pickled. There’s not a single top Kebab stall in Berlin putting pickled stuff into the bread. Some of them sometimes use salt or a special spice blend as a finish on top of the Döner but that’s it.
No, a Döner shouldn’t be drenched in sauce. That’s like ordering an expensive steak and drowning it in ketchup. The sauce is meant to supplement the taste of the meat and vegetables and to improve the overall texture. It should only be a thin but noticable layer of sauce directly on the bread. Too much sauce is always an indicator that the taste and quality of the Kebab is not very good.
No, a good Döner doesn’t necessarily have plenty of meat. Actually, too much meat is just as bad as too much sauce. The secret of a good Kebab is the balance between all its ingredients. 50% meat is the absolute maximum. Otherwise the taste of the usually strongly seasoned meat becomes way too dominant.
Of course, everyone has a different taste and if you like your Döner the way you described it then that can’t be changed. But pls never ever tell anyone again that this is how an authentic Döner should be like. It’s just not true and I’d even say it’s an insult to everyone in Berlin who’s really committed to deliver the best possible Döner experience on a daily basis. Otto’s Berlin Döner is way closer to that. Four stars (three if it was in Berlin).

We had the currywurst and the lamb veal box with a side bread. It was alright I guess, but nothing spectacular. The currywurst is a sausage on a bed of fries (or salad, or or couscous) with curry on top. The fries were kinda soggy, really thin cut. The donner bread was good but the meat was mediocre. Kinda oily and didn’t taste like much (I could only taste the rosemary).
The bill came to $ 30 after tax and tip. It was a «meh» experience, and we probably won’t be coming back.

Went to Otto’s today and although I wasn’t 100% sold (hence my rating), there is a lot of potential for this place to be a ⁴⁄₅ star rating.
The good things:
— the place is conveniently situated on one of the main streets in Kensington market
— clean and quirky restaurant with a nicely streamlined menu
— friendly service
— great-​tasting chicken doner — the aoli sauce makes for a fantastic doner
The ‘could be better’ things:
— the place is small — you will be hard pressed getting a spot to sit on weekends and eating this doner ‘on-​the-​go’ is not ideal as they are big in size
— the amount of meat in our doner didn’t do the $ 10 that we paid justice (more meat please!)
That said, because the taste was so good, we will be back to try it again. :)

Checked out this spot for lunch on a weekday. We came around 1pm and it was relatively quiet without any lines, which was lovely. I ordered the vegan Gemuse Donner Teller with half salad and couscous, and really liked that there was a dairy-​free alternative of the yogourt sauce on hand.
Despite being veggie-​only, the donner teller was super rich, tasty and filling. A fantastic healthy option to the traditional meat version. For $ 10 I was happy & full — can’t ask for much more than that! We also stuck around and chatted in the dining space for an hour an no one hassled us about moving our butts, which I also dug.
There are German beer options for those who might want a brew with their lunch as well.

Food was very oversalted, service was not friendly and had limited seating. Would not come back here.

In all honesty I don’t quite know how to classify this stuff. It’s like a middle-​eastern take on a Canadian classic. Poutine with a kick, fries with a pow! Regardless of what it may be or should be, the only it is to me is… it’s absolutely delicious!
There are no soggy fries here, a goopy mess or careless flavours. Fries are hand cut, crispy with the skin on (double fried). The assortment of spices and herbs you get from the gravy is ridiculous! I tasted curry, paprika, chili powder, coriander, lots of garlic and an assortment of other spices I can’t decipher. It’s a palette over-​loading experience but in a nice way. The flavours are powerful but also used sparingly and therefore cohesive. Everything from the portion size to the various condiments, sauces, herbs and spices are well thought out. Be forewarned, this stuff does have a kick (mildly medium) to it so if you can’t handle spicy foods at all then this isn’t the place for you. The soup of the day was corn and it too was packed with flavour! Smokey, sweet, spicy and a bit of curry doesn’t hurt either.
I haven’t even gotten to try their wraps yet but I will definitely be back for more. This place has very little seating but whatever they have is warm, inviting and very cozy. Quite a gem!

I’ve never had a Doner or a donair before. So I don’t know anything about the authenticity of the food here. But all that matters to me is if it’s good, and the food here is good!
I had the doner with chicken and halloumi. Both were the same price, and so they said I can get it with half chicken and half halloumi. Having never had halloumi, I said «SURE!» Halloumi is a cheese. It’s firm in consistency. I think the outside was fried a little. I asked for all the fillings and all the sauces. The result was awesome deliciousness. The hot sauce wasn’t overly hot (actually not hot at all, to be honest). But along with the garlic and yogurt, it was an interesting combination.
There’s a small number of seatings (3 or 4 bench tables and two smaller tables) inside and some outside tables too. It was too cold to sit outside and there wasn’t enough space for a large group to sit together. Also made it awkward for a large group to stand and wait for their food together as well. That’s the only thing I’d note about coming here: maybe come early to get tables (to avoid the lunch time crowd).
Oh and maybe add fries to the oner as well. i didn’t get that and watched in envy as people devoured theirs with fries… though mine was really good without fries.

This is a tough one– it’s definitely not authentic to the Donair kebab (developed in Berlin by Turkish migrants who tweaked the donair recipe to suit German tastes). But it’s definitely a more healthy version and some would argue a better version because it’s more healthy.
Differences:
–The triangular bread is the right shape but not the right consistency. It’s had more of a thin crust pizza dough kind of thing going on instead of a flatbread type consistency. Again, it’s not the same but it’s not a terrible version.
–The veggies are plentiful and there isn’t particularly any seasoning on them. I believe most donair kebabs will have pickled veggies and/​or sumac. This lack of this kind of «sour» taste really changes this into a more mediocre mainstreamed flavour.
–The sauces are ok, but certainly not enough. A donair kebab should be almost drenched in fatty delicious sauce. Or the free-​option to do so must exist.
–The meat was dry, and not enough. Donair kebabs should have PLENTY of meat throughout, not just a thin spread of dry chicken and then a ton of unseasoned vegetables on top.
-$ 10 is STEEP for something that is a couple euro on the streets of Berlin. It’s a unique offering for toronto, but not $ 10 unique. These should be priced at 7 – 8 $ tax included.
–They are a lot bigger than the regular donair kebabs but it’s less food because there’s just so much air space, spaces for lettuce veg. The real donair kebabs are piles of meat with some veggies drowning in the meat sauce.
Notes of the «meh» variety:
–The beer selection seems to be very German. But I don’t like german beers (too light, not enough malt for me) so I didn’t order any.
–Club Mate-​check.
–Music was too loud and too much pop.
–I see a lot of people have reviewed the service. Meh. this, if anything is more German than anything here. They aren’t rude but they certainly aren’t North-​American eager.
–Some reviewers are commenting how the owner is German. The owners are NOT german. Just fans of the party scene.
The good:
I like the layout and vibe of the space and, of course, the bathrooms are fun.
Final verdict?
It’s not a bad place IF you have no idea what the original donair kebab/​kebap tastes like and you want an idea. And it’s also not a bad place if you have Berlin nostalgia but you want a healthier version of the food. But it IS a place that’s not quite good enough/​worth it if you are looking for a replica of the delicious, fatty, saucy fusion food you ate a couple times a day in between parties in Berlin.
I probably won’t be back

If you’re ever in the Kensington Market area of Toronto and looking for a place to eat, I recommend checking out Otto’s Berlin Doner. It’s a small German-​owned restaurant that serves delicious Doner Wraps and Doner Teller Plates. This place is amazing! The staff are very friendly too!
The Doner Wraps are $ 8.95+tax which comes with choice of Meat, Filling, and Sauce. Meat choices include: Chicken; Veal & Lamb; Halloumi (Cheese); Gemuse (Vegetables); Chicken & Gemuse; Chicken & Halloumi; Gemuse & Halloumi; Veal, Lamb & Chicken; Veal, Lamb & Halloumi; and Veal, Lamb & Gemuse. You can fill your wrap with Feta and Fries for $ 0.50 each. Choice of Sauces are: Garlic Aoli, Yogurt Herb, and Hot Sauce.
The Doner Teller Plates are $ 6.95+tax (Small) and $ 9.95+tax (Large). You can choose Meat, 2 Sides, and Sauce. The Meat options are the same as the Doner Wraps. The Side options are: Fries, House Salad, and Couscous Salad (extra $ 1 for Couscous Salad). Sauce options are the same as the Doner Wraps.
I personally ordered a Large Doner Teller Plate with Chicken, Fries, and Couscous Salad. It was delicious! The quantity of each item in the take-​out container box was balanced.
This restaurant is one of those rare gems you stumble upon while exploring the Kensington Market area of Toronto. I plan to return to this place since it’s now one of my top favourite restaurants in Toronto! I highly recommend trying this place if you haven’t yet.
Otto’s Berlin Doner is also in collaboration with Grabb so if you ever want to order take-​out from your phone, don’t hesitate to use the Grabb App!

The chemistry is perfect here. Stuck in a sketchy location in Kensington on Augusta Ave. up near College, Otto’s has a unique take on the classic middle eastern sandwich. Couple that with some serious German-​style efficiency and organization, and BEER, now any doubts about their competency disappears as you walk through the doorway.
Teutonic perfection demonstrated here is clearly the balance of ingredients in the sandwich and how it is plated. The relationship between the veggies, the meat, and the bread is what I like, and to wash down that with a tasty Belgian beer on TAP yet, well this is what turns my crank! I’ll be back to try other menu items.

Perfect Balance of what you want in a meal.
Crispy fries, refreshing salad, a good amount of veal and lamb and the right amount of sauce. This place has the right balance of flavours. I enjoyed every bite. The curry ketchup was a great touch as well. This place just offered something different and it is just what I needed!

I’ve been on a quest, ever since I lived in Germany years ago, to find true doner kebap. Without going back to Germany that is. Otto’s Berlin doner is as close as I’ve gotten. And it’s absolutely delicious.
But it’s still not my perfect doner.
Here’s what they get right: First, the meat. The chicken has the right flavor and texture. It has crispy edges and moist interior. Second, the sauces. It has both the requisite white and red sauce, which is often where other attempts flounder and fail.
The biggest problem for me is that the raw veggies lack any seasoning. The best doner I had in Germany always had more pickled veggies. That type added an extra kick of flavor that plain raw veggies lack.
Finally, the bread. It’s hard for me to opine on this. It was tasty and worked really well. But it was different than my personal ideal doner. Then again, I ate my doner in a different part of Germany, and I expect that regional variation accounts for the difference.
If you’ve been craving doner, otto’s will help you get your fix. And if you’ve heard people rave about doner for years after return from a visit to Germany, you’ll start to understand finally what all of the fuss is about.

Otto’s Berlin Döner puts German style food on the map in Toronto. A döner ranges from $ 6.95 to 7.95, the Döner Teller ranges from $ 7.95 to 9.95. As other reviewers had mentioned, be prepare to wait for 10 – 15 minutes for your food. My colleagues and I had waited for a solid 15 minutes after the order was placed.
The food was delicious. The only fault was the slightly dried chicken. It seems juiciness of the chicken was sacrificed for a crispy exterior. This was luckily compensated by the garlic yogurt sauce and hot sauce. It is only detectable when eating the content of the döner separately and likely undetectable when eaten as a whole. My colleague was kind enough to let me try the veal and lamb döner he had ordered. Between the two, I would order the latter in the future.
Overall, Otto’s Berlin Döner is great for after-​party or coma food. It’s filling and definitely warms your belly and puts you to sleep!

It’s not every day that I can say, ‘holy bananas! why have i not been here before?’
For the longest time, if I heard anything involving German style food, I can’t say I was jumping up for joy. However, this has given me a totally fresh appreciation of German Street Food. For some reason the concept of street food in germany was beyond me. I am completely wrong — and happily so!
The only reason it’s not a 5 star rated spot is the customer service. Otherwise, everything else was spot on. They have a simple and straight forward menu which I appreciate. I chose the chicken doner. My mind kept drifting gyros but I knew it would not be quite like that.
What I ended up instead with was this amazing chicken sensation in a crisp, warm flatbread thingy (yup, I said thingy). I can only say I am not proud at the speed I inhaled this. It was so good, so flavourful and filling. It is messy to eat though. It is the price you pay for the good stuff.
Speaking of price. It is more expensive than your average donair or gyro or whatever concoction like that. $ 9 dollars with tax but if you aren’t eating this everyday — splurge a little for something really good.

Delicious döner — even my non bread loving friend was loving it. There are a few options for sauce: spicy, yogurt, and garlic (?). You can ask for all three! The spicy sauce is on the really spicy side, not for the occasional spicy fan. But if you are indeed a spicy lover, you’re in for a treat.
Also got the weisswurst currywurst, the sauce is currilicious! It comes with a choice of salad or fries, and again, you can ask for half of each. The salad was fresh and well seasoned, and the fries were skinny and on point. The currywurst sauce is divine. It goes surprising well with the meal. Overall it’s the winner of the night.
There are beer on tap as well and it comes in a big mug.
One big downer is that the portion is on the small side, I was still hungry after and so was my friend. But guess what — you are in kensington, there’re a few places for desert (millie crêpe) and or a beer after. Make it a kensington day, my friend!

*** This is a rating for 2.5 stars ***
I had the lamb and veal döner while my fiancé had the chicken. We originally wanted one combo between the two of us, but at prime dinner time (6:30pm) they had NO FRIES and had no idea how long it would take to make a few batch. I understand that it’s still in the opening week, but still… really? The overall taste of my döner was there, I had gotten ²⁄₃ sauces (garlic and yogurt) and thought it was quite tasty. My fiancé felt like both his bread and chicken were overdone as it was chewy and rubbery. (He had gotten the hot sauce and garlic sauce which added a nice flavour.) Pricing was alright, perhaps a bit steep, but it’s not enough food for dinner. Overall, the service was very slow since they’re still getting the hang of things. I personally wouldn’t go back.