Businesses from Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Craigavon and towns across the region are in the running for national recognition after being selected from thousands of public nominations

Twenty-one kebab businesses from across Northern Ireland have reached the semi-finals of the British Kebab Awards, with operators from Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Craigavon and towns across the region now competing for national recognition.

The businesses have been selected from thousands of public nominations for the 15th annual British Kebab Awards, one of the UK's biggest celebrations of the kebab and takeaway industry.

'Everyone was so excited for the grand opening – people started queuing from 5.1...

placeholder image — Twenty-one kebab businesses from across Northern Ireland have reached the semi-finals of the British Kebab Awards, with operators from Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Craigavon and towns across the region now competing for national recognition

Among the Northern Ireland semi-finalists are eight contenders from Belfast including Absolutely Chicken on Lisburn Road, Dalyan Kebabs Belfast on the Upper Lisburn Road in Finaghy, Galata Mezze Restaurant on Distillery Street, Istanbul Kebab on Woodstock Road, Kebab Company on Sunnyside Street, Kebab House Ballyhackamore on the Upper Newtownards Road, Sphinx on Stranmillis Road and The Original Istanbul on the Ormeau Road.

The list also includes King Kebab Craigavon, Portadown Antalya Kebab Pizza House & Grill Antrim and T Kebab & Pizza in Antrim, while Bodrum Kebab & Pizza House in Crumlin has also secured a semi-final place.

Further semi-finalis include Kebab House Lisburn and Pasha, Lisburn, while Newry is represented by LA DOLCE VITA on Patrick Street.

Lahore Kebab House in Newtownards, Masala Express in Strabane, Grab a Kebab and Mickys Fish & Charcoal Grill Restaurant in Omagh, and Romeo’s on Strand Road in Londonderry are also among the Northern Ireland semi-finalists.

The 21 businesses are part of a national shortlist of 500 semi-finalists announced at the British Kebab Awards’ Parliamentary Reception at Speaker’s House on September 8.

Now in its 15th year, the awards have grown from a single dinner in 2013 into one of the UK's most established events celebrating the kebab and hospitality industry.

Winners are decided by public vote, giving customers the opportunity to back their favourite businesses and help them progress to the final.

Ibrahim Doğuş, founder of the British Kebab Awards, said reaching the semi-finals was a significant achievement: “Reaching our semi-finals is a genuine achievement, and in our milestone 15th year it is a proud moment for the hard-working Northern Ireland families behind these businesses, who are part of the fabric of their communities.”

The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at Park Plaza Westminster in London on Tuesday, February 23, 2027.

The full list of semi-finalists and voting details are available through the British Kebab Awards website. Tickets, tables and partnership opportunities for the ceremony are also available through the awards organisation.

The 21 Northern Ireland semi-finalists are:

Absolutely Chicken – Lisburn Road, Belfast

Antalya Kebab Pizza House & Grill Antrim – Railway Street, Antrim

Bodrum Kebab & Pizza House – Main Street, Crumlin

Dalyan Kebabs Belfast Ltd – Upper Lisburn Road, Finaghy

Galata Mezze Restaurant – Distillery Street, Belfast

Grab a Kebab – Holmview Avenue, Omagh

Istanbul Kebab – Woodstock Road, Belfast

Kebab Company – Sunnyside Street, Belfast

Kebab House Ballyhackamore – Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast

Kebab House Lisburn – Longstone Street, Lisburn

King Kebab Craigavon – Bridge Street, Portadown