Essex has a ridiculous number of kebab shops – some absolute gems, some total grease pits. I’ve eaten my way through hundreds over the years (taxi drivers, night-shift workers, and late-night Uber drivers are the real experts). This is the definitive list of the 20 that consistently come out on top. No sponsored nonsense, no PR – just the places that still taste incredible at 3am.
All prices checked late 2025, British English, no photos, no links – you’ll find them easily enough when you’re hungry.
- Best Kebab & Pizza – North Hill, Colchester
The undisputed king of Colchester. Been spinning doner since 1994. Meat is properly fatty, seasoned overnight, and shaved thin. Large doner in lavash with chilli + garlic sauce £9.50 – easily feeds two. Open till 4am weekends. Taxi rank opposite = constant queue of drivers who know where the good stuff is. - Istanbul Grill – High Street, Southend-on-Sea
Proper Turkish charcoal doner – not electric. You can taste the smoke. Best mixed (lamb doner + chicken shish) in a box with rice £12. Their garlic sauce is yoghurt-based and addictive. Open till 3am Fri/Sat. - Efes BBQ – Duke Street, Chelmsford
Lahmacun (£4) is the best in Essex – thin, crispy, spicy mince. Adana kebabs hand-minced and grilled over charcoal. Large mixed kebab £14. Open till 3am weekends. - German Doner Kebab (GDK) – Lakeside & Romford
Yes, it’s a chain, but the Essex branches actually care. Their signature toasted waffle bread and the Doner Quesadilla (£8.99) are stupidly good when you want something different. - King Kebab – Town Square, Basildon
Portions are obscene. Large mixed (lamb doner, chicken doner, shish) on naan with chips £15 – enough for two hungry people. Chicken is marinated in yoghurt, stays juicy. - Masterchef – Market Square, Harlow
Albanian lads running it. Red spicy sauce is lethal in the best way. Large doner meat & chips £10. Open till 5am Fri/Sat – lifesaver after clubs. - Bodrum Grill – Pier Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea
Right opposite the pier. Lamb shish is exceptional – proper chunks, not minced. Large lamb shish wrap £11. Chilli sauce made in-house, burns perfectly. - Best Grill – High Street, Grays
Romanian owner does the best chicken shish in Thurrock – paprika-heavy marinade. Full mixed platter with rice and salad £15. Open till 4am weekends. - Istanbul Turkish Kebab – High Street, Brentwood
Tiny shop, massive flavour. Doner cooked over real charcoal. Large doner box £10. Always busy after the pubs shut. - Express Kebab – Station Road, Loughton
The juiciest doner north of the M25. Fat drips onto the coals – you can smell it from the tube station. Large doner wrap £9.50. - Favourite Grill – Ilford (Essex border)
Pakistani-style iskender kebab (£13) – doner meat on bread, drowned in yoghurt sauce and hot butter. Absolute filth, absolute heaven. - Tasty Grill – Romford Market
After market day or night out. Double-meat doner naan £11. Still going strong at 4am. - Bodrum – Station Road, Frinton-on-Sea
Quiet little town, surprisingly good kebab. Chicken shish wrap £9 – properly charred. - Anatolia – George Street, Saffron Walden
Hand-minced Adana kebabs (£12). Owner chops the meat himself with two knives – proper Turkish village style. - Kebabish – Harlow Town Centre
Pakistani seekh kebabs in naan (£8). Spiced to the edge of pain. Garlic naan on the side is a must. - Perfect Kebab – Furtherwick Road, Canvey Island
Post-pub legend. Large mixed on naan with chips £14 – feeds two drunks easily. - Best Kebab House – Braintree High Street
Classic large doner wrap with chilli + garlic £9. Open till 3am. Never lets you down. - Mister Kebab – Newland Street, Witham
Albanian again. Their yoghurt sauce is next level. Large lamb doner £10. - Mega Kebab – High Street, Rayleigh
After Sugar Hut or the pubs. Large mixed £13. Meat always fresh because turnover is mental. - Turkish Kebab House – Epping High Street
Right opposite the tube. Quick, cheap, tasty. Large doner £9. Perfect for the train home.
These are the ones that consistently come up when you ask Essex night owls “where’s the best kebab round here?”. No nonsense, no tourists, just proper late-night fuel. If your favourite isn’t on the list – tell me, I’ll go try it.