Service Station Food - Metro Petroleum Canterbury
A hallmark of decent food is longevity. Canterbury Kebabs (built into the petrol station) has been around for almost three decades. The signage was spelt “Canturbury Kebabs” for the longest time but meant nothing, because the people know what's good.
What’s always noticeable is the miscellany of patrons that frequent Canterbury Kebabs. Where else would you see a mature-aged eshay, cologne drenched Givenchy ambassador and local copper waiting in line together? An unspoken armistice is drawn up on the uneven concrete because everyone’s on the same mission. Whether you roll up in a G-Wagon, bunged up Corolla or a NSWPF Signal 1 VE Commodore SS, the boys at CK will serve you straight-faced, fair and square.
Perhaps the only redeeming quality of the messy thoroughfare that is Canterbury Road, this pit-stop has established a cross-generational fanbase because they’ve cracked THE code for good chips. Chips that induce cravings so wild and adulterous that Pablo Escobar would have come out of hiding for. It’s the chicken lemon salt speckled on those dim-yellow batons that has become the opium of the masses.
Like Ayam Goreng 99 where everyone actually orders the ayam bakar, or Ramen Genki where regulars know the katsu curry is the best, at CK it’s the chicken burger that the people back. It’s a clean 8 or 9 bites. Lettuce, tomato and onion are all fresh, and the sauce ratio is just enough to prevent sticky fingers.
Their operation is like clockwork. A mixed bag of balding men seamlessly shuffle around each other in a kitchen space by no means rich in real estate. With the double holster cash registers on each end of the counter, the team churn through constant orders with no stress.
Also, it’s the small things they care about. The sauce bottles and glass cabinet are squeaky clean - no smudges, no nothing. If you watch the kebab assembly, the in-charge holds the tongs as if plating a dish at Eleven Madison Park - who says a kebab ought to be sloppy?
Canterbury Kebabs makes an effort and it really shows. Small businesses take note. The secrets to success are in a grundgy petrol station - who knew!
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