Subscribe
A doner kebab from Marmaris Grill, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019.

A doner kebab from Marmaris Grill, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)

A doner kebab from Marmaris Grill, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019.

A doner kebab from Marmaris Grill, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)

A doner wrap from Anadolu Kebabhaus, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019.

A doner wrap from Anadolu Kebabhaus, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)

The inside of Anadolu Kebabhaus, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019.

The inside of Anadolu Kebabhaus, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)

The outside of Anadolu Kebabhaus, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019.

The outside of Anadolu Kebabhaus, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)

The head doner-maker at Marmaris Grill in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019.

The head doner-maker at Marmaris Grill in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)

The outside of Marmaris Grill, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019.

The outside of Marmaris Grill, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Thursday, May 23, 2019. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)

If you’re stationed in the Tower Barracks in Grafenwoehr, you’ve likely seen the two doner kebab restaurants right outside the rear gate of the base, on Alte Amberger Strasse. The doner places stare directly across the street into the meat-cooking eyes of their competition.

Doners, known as gyros in the U.S., are one of the most popular street foods in Germany. The restaurants of these sliced-meat sandwiches command fierce loyalty over who makes the best doners.

But who’s got the greatest gyro in Graf? Who dishes out the dankest doner in this part of Deutschland?

I’ve taken it upon myself to settle, for good and all, who holds sway over Grafenwoehr’s doner kebabs: Anadalu Kebabhaus or Marmaris Grill.

Absolutely none of the soldiers I’ve ever spoken with has known the name of either of these places, so for your reference, Anadalu Kebabhaus is the one on the left side of the street when you leave the base, and Marmaris Grill is opposite it, attached to Ed’s Bar.

Both shops serve up basically the same thing. The mainstays at both are the sliced rotisserie meat in a bun or wrap, with vegetables and sauce. Both also have dishes like pides (Turkish pizza), hamburgers and chicken nuggets (for some reason).

For this competition, I am limiting the choices to doners. You’ll have to get somebody else to try their chicken nuggets.

Marmaris’ attachment to Ed’s Bar gives it points in the eyes of the many soldiers who find themselves hungry after a night out partying. Not only is the smaller doner place a few feet out the door of the pub, but Marmaris is also open much later. In fact, it’s your only option late at night.

Anadalu, however, has a larger seating area. Marmaris can seat only two people inside, and awkwardly at that. Whereas Anadalu has actual tables, as well as an outdoor patio. Overall, I’d say Anadalu looks like the kebab hostess with the mostest from the outside.

Marmaris has fewer toppings on the doner, too. You basically get meat, lettuce, tomato, onions, that purple cabbage, and sauce. Cheese is extra, but worth it. Anadalu’s has this same combination. However, you also get this cool shredded cucumber mix thrown in there that adds some pop.

I also just feel like there’s more in a Marmaris doner. It’s almost hard to eat, it has so much in it. I think when functionality is chucked out of the window to add more ingredients, it’s a good thing. Maybe that’s just me, though.

But what surprises me is that even though you seem to get more stuff at an Anadalu doner, I find myself enjoying every bite more with my Marmaris Grill gyro.

I’m not sure why, but the meat just seems juicier to me. More packed with that street-meat flavor that I’m looking for when I’m hankering for a doner.

The meat, the red cabbage, the sauce ... everything just works.

All logic points to Anadalu Kebabhaus, but for some reason, I prefer Marmaris Grill.

egnash.martin@stripes.com Twitter: @Marty_Stripes

Address: Alte Amberger Strasse, GrafenwoehrDirections: A straight shot out the rear gate of Tower Barracks, down Alte Amberger Strasse. Walking distance.Hours: Anadalu Kebabhaus hours not listed; Marmaris Grill 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., later on weekendsDrinks: Soft drinks and beerFood: Doners, fries and chicken nuggetsPrices: Around $5 per mealDress: Casual

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now