Franchising

German Doner Kebab arriving in US this month

Photo provided.

August 9, 2021

German Doner Kebab will open its first U.S. restaurant this month at the American Dream entertainment and retail center in Bergen County, New Jersey.

The fast casual said the U.S. presents a huge opportunity for the brand, according to a press release.

"German Doner Kebab is exciting consumers across Europe and Canada, offering a fast casual concept that is responding to the needs of Generation Z. We are now recognized as a top fast casual brand of the future, and we are looking forward to bringing this German Doner Kebab experience to people visiting American Dream," Nigel Belton, managing director of German Doner Kebab North America, said in the release.

The brand launched two restaurants in Canada in Ottawa and Surrey in 2020 and opened a flagship restaurant in downtown Toronto earlier this month.

Expansion plans include 100 restaurants in Canada over the next 10 years, as well as U.S. locations spanning New York City, New Jersey and Houston.

The first U.S. location is in partnership with franchisee Yunus Shahul, who has deep experience in the restaurant industry. The New York native operates two Saravana Bhavan Indian restaurants and a growing Cousins Maine Lobster portfolio throughout New York and Connecticut.

"I am extremely excited to pursue a dream of mine, which is joining the GDK family as I have a personal love for the doner kebab," Shahul said in the release. "I have no doubt that German Doner Kebab is going to be a huge hit, and I'm extremely excited to be opening the first restaurant in the U.S. American Dream gives us an iconic launchpad for the brand and we are very much looking forward to bringing a fresh, fast casual offering to people visiting the complex."

German Doner Kebab's first location opened in Berlin in 1989 and the brand operates 70 restaurants worldwide.