Really small restaurant in Hamtramck with only a handful of tables. The inside is not super warm but it's cute enough. Service was friendly. Food took just long enough to know it was being made fresh to order and I was hungry. I was too excited about it to stop and take pictures of everything. I got a chevapi plate, which is a Bosnian dish with beef sausage and bread. This was absolutely freaking delicious. I have had authentic Bosnian food in the past and this measured up. I savored every bite. My boyfriend got a beef/lamb döner wrap, which he thoroughly enjoyed. We also got a plate of waffle fries, which were perfectly crisp and seasoned. I couldn't get enough of this food! I got baklava to go and enjoyed that at home. I can be picky about my baklava- this was good. I will absolutely be back for this food! read more

Kind of dirty inside but the food was good. I liked the salad I had. I got takeout and there was nothing super special about the staff. Just average but friendly service. I would not go back there because it is dirty. read more

The food was super fresh! Everything tasted delicious! I devoured the fries it was so yummy, hot, crispy and flavorful. The doner was also spectacular and I would definitely recommend anyone to stop by to try them out. The waitress/cook was also friendly and it took a little bit to get our food but it was worth it! read more

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Awesome sandwiches, our group had the Döner Kebob with steak, lamb, chicken Falafels. The peppered seasoning was excellent! The server was very prompt and knowledgeable about the menu. read more

Balkan House - The flavor knock out! - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

My husband has been talking about how much he loves Doner Kebab for years, so when I saw a post for Balkan House we added it to our must visit list. Located in Hantramck, there is ample street parking available. There is also a lot across the street, but I am unsure if it's available for parking. I am also unsure if they have a dedicated lot behind the restaurant. Regardless, it was easy to find free parking. When we came in there was only one other group eating. There are not too many tables inside, and the interior is not fancy. There was a great playlist when we visited though. While there may not be much for ambiance, it more than makes up for it with the food. We did order the Doner Kebab, but you also have the options of a Doner bowl, Doner fries, or a Doner wrap. We went the traditional route, which was beef/lamb served in between some crispy white bread. It was topped with shredded cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and Doner sauce. It was definitely big enough to share, and at $12.50 with fries it was a great deal. The fries were not anything special, but they were very seasoned and delicious. We also ordered falafel, which is also served with Doner sauce. Trying the sauce with the falafel, it is definitely spicy. The order came with 5 falafel, and while they were not big in size they were very heavy. Overall it was a good flavor, but if you are sensitive to spice I would skip the sauce. The price was a little high at $7, but since we were splitting our main meal I did not have a problem paying that. I loved the addition of the DCFC scarves on the walls, as well as the different flags throughout the restaurant. Our food was ready in less than 5 minutes, and eaten probably just as quickly. I would recommend checking out The Balkan House if you are in Hantramck, or if you miss the taste of Doner Kebab. The food, service, and price will definitely have us coming back. read more

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This is 100% not a traditional donor kebab. The meat is gyro meat and nothing more. Friendly ordering friendly, takeout OK bread and toppings, but I was expecting a donor kebab and I got a Gyro. I can't believe more people don't mention this. read more

Balkan House - Doner Dner Kebab - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

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Drove nearly three hours because I missed the döner kebabs in Germany... this did not disappoint!

Luckily this place was open just down the street. The Döner sandwich actually sounded pretty good for a filling meal. There is absolutely no sitting allowed at all inside the restaurant, not even to wait for your carry out food either. They said they would bring the food out to the lovely exhaust infused patio or to your car. I told her I would wait on their sidewalk patio, but then was asked to leave the patio a few minutes later and to move to my car since I was not eating and only waiting for a carry out order. She said the the two ladies that came after me wanted to eat at the patio. I told her she's kicked me out of the restaurant after I put my order in and now she asked with a little guilt trip and pressure to leave the patio for their dine-in patrons. She said she's not kicking me out and I could go across the street and wait in my car, that's kicking me out since she suggested I go to my car. This place has a knack for making their patrons feel small. I had to stand by the garbage can, but close to the shop, yet out of the sidewalk and shop store path, so I wouldn't have to wait across the street and in my car. Their smoothies are not fresh, nor is their baklava. Their Döner is their best meal here, so they claim. They offer fries and a canned soda with their Döner sandwiches on Thursdays. The soda options are coke, sprite or Mountain Dew. I figured I should take the sodas since they were free and give them away, even though we don't drink soda at all. As I stood watching everyone else comfortably seated, they brought out a table and chairs for another family that wanted to sit on their patio, how sweet for them. My carry out Döner is taking longer than the dine-in orders of the family after me, with the same main meals, nicely executed and right in front of me to see too. My order took A little over 22 minutes to come out. I asked for no meat on my salad when I ordered, it came with lamb meat and plenty of it too. I tried a couple of pieces of lamb meat, they were bone dry as was the chicken meat in the Döner sandwiches. The fries tasted bad because they had cooled down and tasted stale and bad. The food here smells better than it tastes, sadly. The service was about a 1. The woman taking my order even snapped back at her male colleague about something. I felt uneasy the entire time I was here. The food is a 2 and that's being generous. The food was definitely not worth the $36.31 that was extorted out of me at all. read more

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Heard about this from a coworker, and while we were in the area, I decided to give it a shot. Definitely very glad that he took me there. Fortunately they were still catering during Covid, so we ordered some takeout and enjoyed it outside on a nice Summer day. I think my only complaint here is just how messy it is to eat. Of course that's just the nature of this type of sandwich though. Other than that, extremely pleased with it. The tastes were awesome, everything was cooked just right, and it was very filling. read more

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Tried this place on a whim at 9:15 on a Saturday. Thought they'd be annoyed of us walking in at that time since they close at 10, but they were ready to serve us. We were the only people in the joint, which I thought might be a clue that they don't get many diners, but I just think they don't get many diners after 9 pm. We were sat at booth, and our waitress helped us order since we really didn't know what anything was. She steered us to the 2 most popular menu items, the Doner and the Chevapi, and said she could have them cut in half, so each of us could try both. I loved the Doner. It's a Balkan/Bosnian/Romanian take on a Gyro, but way better. Their sauce is a mix of Tsaziki and Garlic sauce, and it's spicy! I could eat these sandwiches often. The Chevapi had this wonderful spongy bread with sausage, way too many onions, and a roasted red pepper sauce. This combo was good, but next time I would order it sans onions, or only a spoonful. We then decided to get crepes with fruit for dessert. Great call! I think they put Nutella on the crepes, bananas, strawberries, and chocolate drizzle. Yummy! Will definitely hit this place up for lunch sometime. read more

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I've had doner in Berlin, Vienna, and Krakow. This place stacks up. The bread, sauce, meat, and veggies are damn near tastebud perfection. I usually head to Hamtramack for Polish food but this place might have changed that! read more

Balkan House - Beef/Lamb Doner Kebab with Waffle Fries - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

Not a fancy place, and a little chilly in the cold weather, but the food was outstanding! I had a Doner sandwich, and it was incredible. Although it isn't a "gyros", it's very similar - and I'll never eat one again because this Doner is soo much better! And the bread is amazing - the outer layer being delicately crisp, and soft on the inside. Also had Turkish coffee for the first time, and loved it! Prices are reasonable, and the staff is friendly. read more

Balkan House - Loved the Turkish coffee - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

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Love, LOVE eating Döner bowls. Thank you for existing. Always a friendly atmosphere. Every time the truck is at the Detroit Soccer games, I go straight to it! read more

Stopped by for carry out after visiting Woodward throwbacks warehouse sale. I had the beef/lamb doner, my wife had the chicken doner wrap, and we shared the waffle fries. Everything was delish, I can't wait to get back read more

One of the best sandwiches I've had. Taste was amazing! Sally had the Doner bowl and loved it as well! read more

Balkan House - Doner Kabob - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

This is what you come here for, The Doner Kabob. I saw the write up and had to try it. Don't be discouraged by the looks of the front, kind of like a house converted to a restaurant. It's what makes it unique and special. The house repurposed to the restaurant is awesome and definitely special. First time there, you should get the doner kabob, then you're free to get what you want. You can try to compare it to a gyro but it really is better than that. If I had a choice side by side, doner, for sure. I also tried their gyro salad, lots of cheese. The cheese was very tasty, no meat even with the name. It was ok, not sure if I would get it again though. Staff was very nice. It took some time to get water refills but overall helpful and nice. read more

Balkan House - Doner Kabob - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

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Excellent food. Got the Donne Kebab with Beef and Lamb. The bread was good but maybe too bready. Will get the wrap or bowl next time. It was still very good. Onion rings were OK, don't recommend. Will be back! read more

Balkan House - Beef|Lamb Kebab - Most popular dish - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

Love their doners. A bit slow-ish, but not objectionable so. Worth the wait. Will I return? Yes. read more

Ordered a beef/lamb doner for delivery and it was absolutely delicious! Very flavorful, the only critique would be more filling. The bread was nice and soft, but a little more filling for the amount of bread would be perfect. Also got the mozzarella sticks with ranch that were great. Can't wait to try more menu items! Will definitely order again soon! read more

Loved the doner kebab and the Chevapi. I liked the falafel but can't remember very much about it. The Hamtramck location is very small, but I will definitely go again and write a better review. read more

Definitely try the loaded donor, smaller menu than the original in Dearborn and less staff but great food!!

BRO THE FOOD LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE PHOTOS AND THEY TASTED AWESOME! Oh don't forget to ask for hot sauce if you love spicy foods and you find yourself wondering "what's missing in this delicious donër kebab sandwich?" read more

Balkan House - *Gasps* - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

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I have heard about Balkan House for awhile, and I'm well-versed with Middle Eastern and Eastern European food. (My husband is Lebanese American and my grandparents were from Russia and Poland) So I thought, i knew what to expect, but it was so much more than I had anticipated The flavors were well developed and perfectly balanced; good garlic flavor but not overwhelming. (i had beef/lamb doner kabab). But what really stood out was the bread. The bread can make or break a sandwich, and to be honest the Doner Kabab would have been great with average bread, but the whole package was just fantastic. I'm still thinking about that Doner Kabab, and I think I will be until in get a chance to get another one. I highly recommend this place to anyone. read more

Balkan House - Beef/lamb doner kabab - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

Nice atmosphere , good service with even better food. Try the doner kebab and chevapi! Everything is Halal as well! read more

Balkan House - Loaded Doner Kebab( lamb) - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

It's a small restaurant but food is great. Very hard to find DONER KEBABS in this area full of Shawarmas. Genuine Turkish food. read more

Tried for the first time last week and what a treat. The doner kabob sandwich is truly refreshing full of tasty meat and fresh veggies on a homemade bread that doesn't get soggy :) I cant wait to try Balkan again and expand my palate with some of their unique entrees. read more

Balkan House - Chicken Dner - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

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A lot of recent reviewers have been overly harsh in their assessment of Balkan House. I don't think people fully understood the pent up demand that authentic Donor Kebab has in the United States and how rare a dish It truly is. Yes - the service is a bit disorganized at the moment, but the team members are clearly trying their best. They're used to a slower pace and I'm betting they will find their groove in this newer fast pace they're currently in. As others have commented - the Donor Kebab is on target. Perfectly cooked meat, bread freshly made in house, and sauce on target. It's exactly what I remember from Germany. Pack your patience and give this place a try. read more

I have to say I could kick myself for not getting here sooner! Tonight I finally made it and I understand what all the fuss is about with the doner kabob. The closest way to describe it as it's similar to a gyro with more flavorful meat, a kick ass sauce on some amazing bread. Which means shaved meat with some addicting yogurt garlicky type sauce . So I guess it's considered a German style doner kebob at this European restaurant. I also ordered their house salad, which is similar to a Albanian shopska salad and it tasted as good, but my 'complaint' would be it is pre made, (had way too many onions and not enough tomatoes) and you don't get much for $5. There's an Albanian restaurant in Warren/SH? that makes a better version of this for far less $. I definitely will be back to try some different items on their menu if I can resist not ordering that sandwich again! The service was good, but definitely could've been better! read more

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We took friends to the Balkan House and had wonderful jalopy sausage sandwiches and salads with Expresso Coffee. The menu is on the wall and the restaurant is small, in a house. The service was fine the food very European. Try it yourself, you will enjoy the time, they also, have a food truck!!!! read more

A friend of mine is Serbian and once she heard there was a new place in the D that did a take on cevapi, we stopped by to give it a try. Balkan House is a hole in the wall ish place in Hamtramck, easily found off the main street. Street parking is plentiful (especially if you're willing to park just a touch away and walk a bit). Immediately, it's like walking into someone's home. The decor is welcoming and the staff are helpful and prompt. There's a couple booths around and we had a TV in the corner playing an Eastern European riff on MTV music videos. We ended up splitting a medium order of cevapi (8 came to an order), a house salad, and a doner kebab. Cevapi are very akin to a kofta kebab, that is a minced/ground meat mixture cooked in a sausage form. Cevapi are smaller and more delicate but that does not by any means imply it lacks in flavor. My friend did note that as Balkan House DOES make an effort to provide Halal meat, it was not the typical mixture of beef, pork and sometimes veal/lamb that she was used to. Nonetheless, the cevapi had a great, chewy texture and smoky flavor. The bread that came with the cevapi was good as well - much like a large english biscuit, buttered, toasted and redolent of the juices as the cevapi are served on top of it. It is served with a cream cheese-esque smear, which I wasn't terribly crazy about but overall it was excellent. We also had fries with it which are served with a seasoned salt on top - nothing mindblowing. Next, the doner kebab. It comes as a sandwich/giant pita and you can choose a sauce - mild or spicy. I opted for the spicy out of curiosity and it was not too spicy. I could see most enjoying the additional flavor of the pepper flakes and contrast to the savoriness of the sauce and meat. Otherwise, the meat with it is a pretty standard kebab meat. Definitely hits the spot. To be honest, I was far more impressed with the bread. They list it as homemade and I believe every bit of it. The crumb is so nice and bubbly and the crust is crispy and stands up SO well to the strong flavors within. I could not get enough of the combination which elevated a simple mixture of doner, sauce, veggies to a whole new level. For dessert, we split the crepe with fruits (palacinke). It's a sweet crepe, stuffed with copious portions of nutella, a light dusting of powdered sugar on top with some bananas and strawberries. Delicious. We also had ordered a side of turkish coffee. For those who are not used to Turkish coffee, it is served in a small espresso-esque cup, and the coffee liquid itself sits in the cup along with a thick layer of coffee sediment on the bottom, so newbies beware! It is strong and served with some sugar and biscotti-like bites. Be sure to invert the cup once you reach the sediment and try reading your fortune! I really liked this place. It's cozy, the food is delicious, reasonably priced and so, so filling. And the staff were so welcoming and attentive and I can tell they take pride in the food they serve and the service they provide. After we paid, we noticed they had a little cooler with some desserts in to-go boxes (e.g. baklava, cakes and such). One such sweet was tulumbe, which is a fried doughnut-like pastry in an eclair shape, soaked in simple syrup. Of course we had to try it, and they gave it to us on the house! Solid. read more

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Great customer service and great food! You must come and try the Doner Kebab and the Turkish coffee read more

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Absolutely delightful. We got a lamb Doner and a chicken doner. My wife said they were akin to a fancy gyro. The pita wrap was soft and perfect and the toppings had just the right amount of spice. I would absolutely go here again. read more

hello people, the food was very welll. the server alina super amazing very polite puts the food gently!!! food was great affordable. alina needs a raise read more

Balkan House - You can draw on their board - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

I've had Doner Kabobs at other cities (and even other countries) but nothing came close to the Doners at Balkan House. The bread is always fluffy, chicken is cooked just right, and the slaw is fresh and saucy. I didn't expect the fries to be anything special but I was wrong - they are crispy and delicious. Highly recommend this homely gem in Hamtramck. read more

Balkan House - Seasoned House Fries - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

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This place has been on my foodie bucket list for months and did NOT disappoint! The ingredients are so fresh. The homemade bread that is perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy and fluffy in the center provides a perfect vessel to hold the tender, well seasoned meat covered in fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, onions, feta and sauce. We ate in the parking lot and debated on ordering more before we left! We cannot wait to come back. read more

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Since my last trip to Kosovo, I have been on the lookout for donër sandwiches in the metro Detroit area. Balkan house is that place! Situated off of Caniff street in Hamtown, do not be disappointed with the dated venue - what matters most is what's on the inside ;) The service was that of any hospitable Eastern European host, top notch and with a smile! I began my experience with a hot Turkish coffee with mini gjeze or (cute lil copper single-serve coffee pot) pourable by ones self. So many similarities to exactly what you would expect in "thee old country". Check it out for something new and different read more

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Wow. Just wow. I book marked Balkan House over a year ago. Was in Hamtramck for work and needed lunch. Decided to pop in and was blown away. The Donna's was Just amazing! The bread on point. Tons of tasty lamb. The white sauce was incredible. Reminded me of my late nights in Germany. I'm going back ASAP. read more

Balkan House - Dinner. - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

Holy cow the doner is awesome. Only draw back s there needs to sauce further into the sandwich. It's easily two portions. Also fries are pretty crisp and tasty and also a very good sized portion. I am surprised they could close the to go container. We also split a chevapi. It was ok. The bread was soft and buttery. I would get a side of that bread with a side of their sauce! I WILL BE BACK!!!! read more

Balkan House - Doner, chevapi, and since we were on Fat Tuesday they were giving away paczki's! - Modern European Near Me - Hamtramck, Michigan

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One of my favourite things to do is eat at unique places that don't get alot of recognition. I'm not sure many people wake up one day and say "I want Bosnian food". But for anyone that does you are in luck, because Hamtramck is home to Balkan House. This space used to be another Bosnian restaurant years back, but the ownership, name and food has changed. Regardless it's still a fantastic place to grab a quality Eastern European meal. Even more appealing is the fact that they are probably the only place I know in Michigan where you can get a proper 'doner kebab', which is a Turkish sandwich that inspired the Arab shawarma and Greek gyro. They are popular throughout the world, but especially in former Ottoman territories. Both the lamb and chicken doner kebab sandwiches are amazing, and the people who make it are wonderful to say the least. It's also worth noting that Bosnians are Muslim, so the food is halal here as well. read more

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The food is great. I went specifically for the Döner sandwich which was almost like I remember it from Germany. Delicious. And the service is very friendly and fast. read more