Sultan Turkish Pide and Kebab House, run by Bill Kaya, pride itself on being a really friendly place which serves some of the best pide and kebabs on the North Shore.
After 10 years of serving the local school kids, tradies on their lunch break, and drunks after a night at the local pub, they have become pretty good at their craft.
Bill entered the kebab-game at a young age with his brother-in-law and says, “Once you start you can’t get out”.
It is not only his love for Turkish food that has consolidated the success of this takeaway, but his and his families’ ability to create a friendly, caring atmosphere.
Settling in Waitara on Pacific Highway 10 years ago, the family-run business has gone gangbusters ever since. It holds a little piece of any students’ heart from the two local schools, many of whom can be seen there on a weekday afternoon.
Priding themselves on the food they make and the service they provide, the little takeaway shop is generally packed throughout any meal time and especially straight after a school-days end.
“I’m in the business to make friends, friends always come back” says Bill, encapsulating the key reason for the Sultan’s success.
“I’m in the business to make friends, friends always come back” says Bill, encapsulating the key reason for the Sultan’s success.
Bill and his team provide juicy, meat-packed kebabs for approximately eight dollars each (depending on the filling – lamb, chicken, beef or falafel).
They also provide a huge assortment of pides; 26 variations, including the ‘Karisik’ – pide with ‘the lot’ and Bill’s personal favourite; ‘Sucuklu’ – Turkish sausage, garlic, egg, spices and cheese. Pides cost nine dollars fifty each and are a filling, authentic supplement to the menu.
On top of this expansive menu of kebabs and pides, they also offer 6 different kinds of pizza, char grill plates, snack boxes (chips and meat) and Sultan sweets for afterwards.
Having previously run similar outlets in Ermington, Canley Heights and the first and only (at the time) kebab shop in Coffs Harbour, Bill has fine-tuned his craft. Bill said that his shop in Coffs Harbour was just as successful as the current outlet.
When asked how long his working day was, he simply replied “long”. Working 5 days a week and providing lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner until late, it must take strength to keep a smile and provide the friendly service time and time again.
Bill believes the originality of what Sultan’s offers is another contributor to it’s success. The late Monza Pizza was in operation across the road on the opposite side of Pacific Highway, but only for a short period. They frequently copied specials that Bill was offering, but “our customers’ come here for us” rather than a good deal, says Bill.
I think they also come for the quality.
After 10 years of success and a tradition of school attendees from surrounding schools, a lot of the community hopes for another decade of success for Bill and his family.
