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Giant Meat on a Stick: Shawarma, Gyros, Al Pastor

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As Meat on a Stick Power Hour continues, contributor Theresa Swaney takes a look at the larger varieties out there.
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It wouldn't be a Minnesota summer without eating something off of a stick, but sometimes the best foods come on sticks that are just too big to hold: rotisseries. Whether this giant stick holds lamb, beef, chicken, or pork, it doesn't really matter. What matters is that the meat is doing all the work. It is slowing rotating and basting itself into a perfect piece of juicy meat. Where does one go to find these giant meat sticks in the Twin Cities? Here's a handy guide to finding the best rotisserie meats— and one turkey leg for good measure. Did we miss your favorite rotisserie meat? Do let us know in the comments.
—Theresa Swaney


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Black Sea Restaurant

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Black Sea is a charming little eatery on Snelling Avenue in Saint Paul that churns out kebab after kebab from its not one, but two giant rotating meat sticks. Choose from beef and lamb or chicken. Both sandwiches come with pita bread, tomatoes, onions, and lettuce. Opt in for the fancy kebab plates and you will get even more of Black Sea’s juicy seasoned meat. Be sure to try one of their specialty Turkish drinks to help all that meat go down smoothly. [Photo]

Afro Deli & Coffee

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Afro Deli has a small but juicy roasting spit of lamb meat that entices both students and residents of Cedar Riversides to indulge. Served on a pita bread with onion, tomato, and Tzatziki sauce, this lamb gyro is such a steal for only $5.95 that you might as well get the side order of sweet potato fries. [Photo]

Filfillah Restaurant

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Don’t let Filfillah’s suburban location turn you away. This Columbia Heights restaurant is a mecca for succulent giant meat sticks. In traditional Turkish fashion you can get beef and lamb or chicken from the rotating spits. Fillfillah serves its meat with lavash bread, pita bread’s thinner cousin, baked fresh and brought out piping hot. [Photo]

Taqueria La Hacienda

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When 2 a.m. rolls around and you need a taco fix, head straight to Taqueria La Hacienda on Lake Street. Not only is this local Mexican eatery open 24 hours on the weekend but it’s also the self-titled “house of the authentic tacos al pastor.” The taqueria’s spinning spit of chili-spiced pork is topped with a pineapple and ready to be sliced and devoured at any time of the day. [Photo]

Gyropolis

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As the name suggests, this quick-service eatery in Bloomington is a bustling city of gyro meat. They have everything: gyro chili, gyro salad, gyro pizza, a gyro platter, and a good old fashioned gyro sandwich. Ready to take things a step further? Try Gyropolis’s meatlovers gyro sandwich, which comes with gyro meat, bacon, pepperoni, melted mozzarella, and cucumber sauce. Yup. [Photo]

Taqueria Los Ocampo

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With five locations across the Twin Cities, Taqueria Los Ocampo is a well-loved eatery. At the Chicago Avenue and Lake Street location you can watch the rotisserie spin chili-spiced pork around until it’s ready to be sliced and placed into the dish of your choice. Try it in a taco, or a burrito, or a gordita. [Photo]

Texas Steak Out

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A bone is a stick right? Let’s hope so, because this year the Minnesota State Fair is offering bacon-wrapped turkey legs. Sure, turkey legs are pretty small when compared to the other options on this list but who are we kidding— eating a whole turkey leg wrapped in bacon is certainly a feat unto itself.

Black Sea Restaurant

Black Sea is a charming little eatery on Snelling Avenue in Saint Paul that churns out kebab after kebab from its not one, but two giant rotating meat sticks. Choose from beef and lamb or chicken. Both sandwiches come with pita bread, tomatoes, onions, and lettuce. Opt in for the fancy kebab plates and you will get even more of Black Sea’s juicy seasoned meat. Be sure to try one of their specialty Turkish drinks to help all that meat go down smoothly. [Photo]

Afro Deli & Coffee

Afro Deli has a small but juicy roasting spit of lamb meat that entices both students and residents of Cedar Riversides to indulge. Served on a pita bread with onion, tomato, and Tzatziki sauce, this lamb gyro is such a steal for only $5.95 that you might as well get the side order of sweet potato fries. [Photo]

Filfillah Restaurant

Don’t let Filfillah’s suburban location turn you away. This Columbia Heights restaurant is a mecca for succulent giant meat sticks. In traditional Turkish fashion you can get beef and lamb or chicken from the rotating spits. Fillfillah serves its meat with lavash bread, pita bread’s thinner cousin, baked fresh and brought out piping hot. [Photo]

Taqueria La Hacienda

When 2 a.m. rolls around and you need a taco fix, head straight to Taqueria La Hacienda on Lake Street. Not only is this local Mexican eatery open 24 hours on the weekend but it’s also the self-titled “house of the authentic tacos al pastor.” The taqueria’s spinning spit of chili-spiced pork is topped with a pineapple and ready to be sliced and devoured at any time of the day. [Photo]

Gyropolis

As the name suggests, this quick-service eatery in Bloomington is a bustling city of gyro meat. They have everything: gyro chili, gyro salad, gyro pizza, a gyro platter, and a good old fashioned gyro sandwich. Ready to take things a step further? Try Gyropolis’s meatlovers gyro sandwich, which comes with gyro meat, bacon, pepperoni, melted mozzarella, and cucumber sauce. Yup. [Photo]

Taqueria Los Ocampo

With five locations across the Twin Cities, Taqueria Los Ocampo is a well-loved eatery. At the Chicago Avenue and Lake Street location you can watch the rotisserie spin chili-spiced pork around until it’s ready to be sliced and placed into the dish of your choice. Try it in a taco, or a burrito, or a gordita. [Photo]

Texas Steak Out

A bone is a stick right? Let’s hope so, because this year the Minnesota State Fair is offering bacon-wrapped turkey legs. Sure, turkey legs are pretty small when compared to the other options on this list but who are we kidding— eating a whole turkey leg wrapped in bacon is certainly a feat unto itself.

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