Julia and I love receiving recommendations on which street food trucks to visit as part of our ongoing Drive-Thru Diners series.
Why? Because they tend to be eateries we have simply never heard of. Either that or we were unaware of how high quality their grub truly was.
After all, despite writing about the food and drink sector in the north and north-east, a lot of businesses do manage to slip our radars. Sadly, it’s unavoidable given the number out there.
One reader-recommended business that we thought had to be tried and tested was Yilmaz Snack Bar in Altens.
The menu appeared varied and the reviews were positive. With that, we set out to see what the team had in store.
Yilmaz Snack Bar: What is it and what’s on offer?
Yilmaz Snack Bar, located on Hareness Road in Altens, is a family-run business that was launched in 2016.
The food truck serves a selection of Scottish favourites and traditional Turkish food – from a chicken and Turkish sausage wrap and doner kebab to burgers and breakfast rolls.
The team prides itself in satisfying its customers with a fast, friendly and affordable menu that has something for everyone to enjoy. And it was clear that the individual encouraging us to head there would back that.
Whilst Julia and I put the food to the test in our fortnightly Drive-Thru Diners taste tests, we also took note of the service.
The two members of staff we encountered at the food truck were friendly, helpful and speedy, which automatically enhanced our dining experience.
The order:
The results
So, did Julia and I give the fare at Yilmaz Snack Bar a thumbs up, or were we left disappointed (and hungry)?
Mixed kebab
First things first, each portion that Julia and I removed from our bag was vast, to say the least.
We tucked into a mixed kebab to kick things off, which included everything from chicken, steak and doner to Turkish sausage, all perched on top of a thin wrap.
Each piece of meat was cooked amazingly – and the pair of us mentioned this numerous times whilst diving in. The Turkish sausage was peppery, whilst the chicken and doner were incredibly juicy and melted in the mouth.
We opted for chipotle and garlic sauce as a topping. This was a solid choice as both married well with not only each other but the meat, too.
Julia did mention that she would have preferred the sauce was layered throughout the meaty pile rather than on top alone, but she enjoyed it nevertheless.
Presentation
Julia: 3.5/5
Karla: 3/5
Taste
Julia: 4/5
Karla: 4/5
Salad
I don’t spend a lot of time inside kebab houses or takeaways, so I’m not sure if this is common practice.
But something I was impressed with at Yilmaz Snack Bar is that we received the salad for our kebab in a separate container from our kebab meat to stop it from getting hot. A lovely touch. And the ingredients, which included onions and red cabbage, tasted fresh.
However, for those not in mine and Julia’s situation and who need something to tuck into on the move hastily, the kebab as a whole was a bit of a faff.
Presentation
Julia: 3/5
Karla: 3/5
Taste
Julia: 3.5/5
Karla: 3/5
Chips, cheese and curry sauce
Chips, cheese and curry sauce. It sounds like a dish that you could pull together with ease and it would hit the spot every time without fail, but that is not the case. It’s easy for things to go wrong.
Before Julia and I tucked in, we were hoping the chips would be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and for the cheese to be stringy and creamy.
As for the sauce, it had to boast an equal amount of sweet and spicy notes and have a thick consistency.
The chips were great, as was the cheese as it had completely melted. Top marks on the cheese pull.
The sauce was a little on the grainy side, but it did taste similar to a Chinese-style curry sauce, a favourite of mine, so this was a big positive.
Presentation
Julia: 3/5
Karla: 3.5/5
Taste
Julia: 3/5
Karla: 3.5/5
Chicken and Turkish sausage wrap
The pair of us were informed that the best-seller at Yilmaz Snack Bar is their chicken and Turkish sausage wrap.
Again, the meat was faultless and cooked perfectly and the vegetables were fresh. They also added sweetness to the dish.
Like the other menu items we ordered, the portion size was huge.
For Julia and I, there was too much filling given the thinness of the wrap used to hold it all together. It made the wrap a tad frustrating to eat and it needed to be deconstructed.
However, everything tasted the part, including the chilli and garlic sauce.
Presentation
Julia: 2.5/5
Karla: 3/5
Taste
Julia: 3.5/5
Karla: 3.5/5
The mixed kebab came out on top at Yilmaz Snack Bar, racking up a score of 14.5/20.
Can you think of any local venues or dishes you would like the Drive-Thru Diners to try?
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