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The Wrap That Transported Me to Istanbul Streets Without the Plane Ticket
My friend Marcus backpacked through Turkey three years ago and came back obsessed with street food. Not the kebabs tourists get – the actual street food Turkish people eat. Simit from cart vendors. Döner wrapped quickly by guys who’ve made ten thousand wraps. Midye dolma from boats. Lahmacun folded with herbs and lemon. He couldn’t…
Read MoreThe Meal That Reminded Me What Real Cooking Tastes Like
My friend Leyla moved to San Francisco from Izmir five years ago and spent all that time eating restaurant food that tasted like restaurants – polished, efficient, designed to appeal to everyone. Then she tried Presidio Kebab and halfway through her menemen she just stopped eating and stared at the plate. I asked if something…
Read MoreThe Dinner That Made My Date Think I Was Fancy (I Just Picked the Right Restaurant)
My friend Alex had a third date with someone he really liked and he was panicking about where to take her for dinner. Too casual looks like he’s not trying. Too fancy seems like he’s trying too hard. Loud places kill conversation. Quiet places make silence awkward. He picked Presidio Kebab because the Turkish dinner…
Read MoreThe Lunch That Made Me Stop Wasting Money on Chipotle
My coworker Mike was spending like $15 every day on mediocre lunch – Chipotle, Sweetgreen, Panera, the usual corporate lunch spots that taste okay but leave you hungry an hour later. Then he discovered the lunch specials at Presidio Kebab and his whole routine changed. He started going there three times a week getting these…
Read MoreThe Turkish Breakfast Saved Me
My friend Emma spent a year teaching English in Ankara and came back unable to eat normal American breakfast anymore. She’d complain that pancakes were just sugar, that cereal was for children, that bacon and eggs were boring. We thought she was being pretentious until she dragged us to Presidio Kebab for traditional Turkish breakfast…
Read MoreThe Meal That Made Me Forget I Was Still in San Francisco
My friend Jake spent three months in Istanbul last year and came back obsessed with outdoor Turkish dining. He kept talking about eating kebabs at sidewalk cafes, drinking tea outside in the evening, watching people walk by while the smoke from the grill drifted over. He tried finding that vibe in San Francisco and kept…
Read MoreThe Restaurant Where My Friend’s Picky Kid Ate Vegetables
My friend Katie has a six-year-old named Max who survives on chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and spite. Taking him to restaurants is usually a disaster – he complains about everything, refuses to eat, makes a scene, and Katie ends up stressed and embarrassed. Last month she was desperate and tried Presidio Kebab because someone…
Read MoreThe Restaurant Where My First Date Didn’t Go Horribly Wrong
My friend Chris had a first date last month and he was stressed because picking the wrong restaurant can kill the vibe before it even starts. Too fancy feels try-hard. Too casual looks cheap. Loud places make conversation impossible. Quiet places make silence awkward. He picked Presidio Kebab because it seemed safe – good food,…
Read MoreThe Day I Discovered Turkish Takeaway Beats My Cooking
My girlfriend Amanda is one of those people who loves cooking. She meal preps on Sundays, has seventeen spices I can’t pronounce, watches cooking shows for fun. Last Thursday she was planning this elaborate Turkish dinner she’d been researching for weeks. Then her work meeting ran until 7pm and she called me defeated, saying we…
Read MoreThe Night Turkish Food Saved My Dinner Party
My friend Kevin invited eight people over for dinner last month and completely forgot to actually prepare food. He realized this at 6:40pm when his first guest texted they were parking. Full panic mode. He frantically searched for Turkish food delivery San Francisco and found Presidio Kebab, ordered like $150 worth of kebabs and mezze,…
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