News / Kosher kebabs Oh my nosh! Reubens wins Jewish News kebab award

by Lee Harpin lee@jewishnews.co.uk

Much-loved deli Reubens beat tasty competition to land the Best Kosher Shawarma Restaurant prize at this week’s prestigious British Kebab Awards.

At a plush ceremony in Westminster’s Plaza Hotel, attended by 1,200 people, including MPs, journalists and many restaurant owners and sta , Reubens became the first winners of the newly-created kosher category, partnered by Jewish News.

The British Kebab Awards has become one of the most popular ceremonies of the year, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Labour leader Keir Starmer among scores of politicians sending messages of support.

Reubens chief Lee Landau was loudly cheered as he collected his award on stage, where he was joined by Jewish News’ Justin Cohen, who had first come up with the idea of introducing a kosher category.

Landau was presented with the award by

Westminster Council leader Adam Hug and Just Eat’s Robin Clark.

After collecting Reubens award, Landau told Jewish News: “It was a real honour and privilege to receive the award. It’s actually 50 years now for Reubens, we opened back in 1973. People ask why our food is special, I say it’s our magic touch. We try our very hardest to give all of our customers the best food we possibly can. It’s just fantastic that we’ve been honoured in this way tonight.”

The event – which saw former Tory Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi and Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner both give speeches – was started over a decade ago as a way of honouring Britain’s kebab industry and its workers, who generate around £3billion to the economy each year.

Golders Green’s Pita, Bricky’s in Shenley, Balgan in Borehamwood, Shefa Mehadrin in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, Balady Alaesh in Temple Fortune, Sami’s Restaurant in Hendon, and Samis, Edgware, along with Saba Borehamwood. Other awards on the night included best restaurant by region, best kebab house by region, and best kebab van, best fine dining, best Lebanese and best chef sections.

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey was among those to hand out gongs.

British Kebab Awards founder Ibrahim Dogus was loudly applauded after he gave a speech in which he urged attendees to support his charitable e orts to raise money for the victims of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Dogus, whose father arrived in this country as an asylum seeker from Turkey, has previously spoken of his enormous respect and close friendship with many in the Jewish community in this country.

He said: “We are very proud of launcing the first kosher kebab award in partnership with Jewish News. Reubens is a 50-year-old brilliant business in Westminster and plays a significant role in the local community. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to Jewish News for supporting the awards.”

Among the MPs at the event were ex-Conservative minister Sasjid Javid, Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker, and MP Caroline Noakes. Jewish Labour MPs Alex Sobel and Charlotte Nichols both hailed the inclusion of a kosher category at the ceremony for the first time. Nichols said: “It feels kind of natural there’s a kosher category at the event after all these years. We all know that kebabs are big deal among the community and in Israel. It’s brilliant that this has been recognised. It feels kind of validating.”

Nichols also said the ceremony was not just about cuisine, but all served as an important reminder of how communities such as Jewish and Muslim ones had strong historic links.

Sobel added: “This ceremony is not just about kebabs, it’s all the traditions of all the countries surrounding the Mediterranean. It’s about Greece, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, we have these shared traditions and should celebrate them.”