Shawarma Queen ready to open its doors in Brandon

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This article was published 03/02/2018 (3025 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A few months after the sign went up announcing a new Mediterranean-style restaurant in downtown Brandon, Shawarma Queen is finally within a few days of opening.

It has been a long process, stalled by the extensive construction process within the historic building at 908 Rosser Ave., but owners Kyle Koksal and his wife have remained upbeat, particularly now that they’re so close to the finish line.

While Koksal said he has been involved in several business endeavours since relocating to Canada 14 years ago, this one is special.

He and his wife, who asked not to be named due to her preference for privacy, recently got married and are opening up this restaurant as a starting point to their life together.

It has been percolating in his head since he immigrated to Canada 14 years ago, and he said that this is the fulfilment of his life’s dream.

While Koksal is tempted to celebrate the grand opening of their restaurant, they’re instead initiating a soft launch so they have time to work out the kinks prior to their customer influx.

During a site visit on Thursday, building owner George Penner was visibly excited by the business’s potential, commending the couple with how far they have come during the past six months.

Penner said he’d known Koksal for several years, and when he came forward with the idea for Shawarma Queen, his enthusiasm was enough to sell Penner on it.

Koksal was born in Greece and raised in Turkey, where he learned the ins and outs of Mediterranean-style cooking, including shawarma — wraps that include meat grilled in a vertical spit and accompanied by various ingredients, usually tomatoes and cucumbers, tahini and hummus.

While lamb is traditional, Koksal said they were using beef, which carries a more local flair.

On that front, he said that as much of their ingredients as possible would be locally sourced.

Everything will be prepared in an open concept kitchen where patrons can see how everything is put together, and while there will be items listed on a menu, there will also be a buffet option available.

In additional to Brandonites supporting local buffet restaurants, Koksal’s wife said it was important they include this option because there is not currently a Mediterranean-style restaurant in town, so not everyone will be familiar with the menu items.

This offers people an opportunity to sample everything without committing to any one particular unknown.

Shawarma Queen will open sometime next week, after which it will remain open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The owners of the nearby Chez Angela Bakery and Café, which is expected to open within the next few months, also plan on carrying evening hours, which Koksal said he looks forward to building off with his business.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB