DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Lifestyle
Dutch news & articles
Fat Kids Corner food review: Leeman Döner
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy



Related Stories

Fat Kids Corner food review: In love with lasagnaFat Kids Corner food review: In love with lasagna
Fat Kids Corner food review: BACON!Fat Kids Corner food review: BACON!
Fat Kids Corner food review: Grillworst met kaasFat Kids Corner food review: Grillworst met kaas
Fat Kids Corner food review: Oliebollen in AmsterdamFat Kids Corner food review: Oliebollen in Amsterdam
Fat Kids Corner food review: The Beef ChiefFat Kids Corner food review: The Beef Chief
Fat Kids Corner food review: Benny's ChickenFat Kids Corner food review: Benny's Chicken
Fat Kids Corner food review: The BossFat Kids Corner food review: The Boss
Fat Kids Corner food review: Meat & GreekFat Kids Corner food review: Meat & Greek
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Joe Montagna
A New York born, Los Angeles raised now living in Amsterdam self proclaimed foodie with a silver tongue, god like voice and a "Bourdain" like persona. I stay active because I need to eat, eat and eat more. I love to discover eateries off the beaten path, places that have a genuine story, family owned that have perfected one or two items on their menu. THAT is what gets me excited... My writing is a passion, my voice acting and business development, brand ambassadorship is what I do.Read more

Fat Kids Corner food review: Leeman Döner

Jul 12, 2019

Growing up in Long Island, New York, my cultural palate never experienced many cuisines outside of Italian, Chinese, American and Mom’s. Turkish food was never an option, so now at 38 years old, I can appreciate the pleasant, sweet, peppery and warm flavours this cuisine, rich in tradition, presents.

Sauce thieves

When the risk of sauce theft is so common that a place has to hang up a sign saying, “Sausflesjes mogen niet naar buiten” (“Sauce bottles are not allowed outside”), something real special must be going on inside! Leeman Döner has been a family owned and operated business since 1992, with two locations here in Amsterdam.

With the exception of one month per year, the incredibly hard working Kilic family cranks out 200kg or 400lbs of döner PER DAY!

What is döner?

Well, it’s an inverted cone of meat, seasoned with Turkish spices, being slowly cooked, vertically on a rotisserie that will make any Fat Kid weak at the knees.

Spinning round and round

I walk in, I’m practically drooling! Serving up Turkish Pizza’s, Lamb or Chicken Döner, Dürüm, Kebab, Falafel, Börek and even Baklava, you can choose just about anything on the menu and only pay a few euros for it! I give my order, “Kip broodje” and luckily find a place to sit. Entranced, I watch the four meat saunas work their magic!

Spinning round and around, the döner slowly cooks while fresh, made-to-order pieces of bread are lined up, waiting to be called into action. “Hondered drieentwintig!” They call out. “Hondered drieentwintig” They yell out again…” Then, “Number 123!” “Shit!” I think that’s me. “Sorry.. dank je wel,” I say as I grab my chicken bundle of joy like a newborn.

Battle tools

The tools I need for battle, napkins and extra garlic sauce, are within striking distance as I eye up my first bite. I dive in! The crunch of the lettuce, bite from the onion, earthiness of the cilantro combined with the taste of paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic, cumin, oregano, and red pepper touch my palate, creating a holy matrimony of flavours with the chicken.

Physically unable to put my sandwich down, I laugh, watching the lunchtime video game unfolding in front of me. Everyone there is “Pac Man” eating: chomp, chomp, chomp without stopping. My own Fat Kids version of “Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat” starts playing in my head as I douse my sandwich with more garlic sauce!

Brothers-in-arms

Like machines, without saying a word, together we are garlic sauce “Brothers-in-arms”, passing the bottle back and forth to each other after each bite until there is no more sandwich left!

Out of breath, I cave as I contemplate another sandwich. “Why not?” I say, as I re-enlist my stomach for another tour of duty. It’s just that good.

Remember, no matter where you come from, where you’re at or where you’re going, food allows us to come together despite cultural or religious differences. Stop in today and say hello to my friends at Leeman Döner!”

Where do you go for döner? Let us know and comment below!

By Joe Montagna