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Best takeaways in Kent and why TripAdvisor is wrong
06:00, 11 January 2020
updated: 08:41, 11 January 2020
If you want to know where to find the best takeaways in Kent, all you need to do is look on TripAdvisor, right?
Wrong!
What you really need is carefully nurtured local knowledge of the county's top takeouts.
This is where KentOnline steps in.
Across every town, our dedicated journalists have spent years devouring greasy kebabs, spicy curries and the best battered sausages in the business.
We've had a look at TripAdvisor's rankings - and offered some alternative views on the county's best takeaways....
TripAdvisor says: Po Thai
The town's top-rated takeaway is Po Thai in Park Street, according to TripAdvisor.
Three quarters of customers say they had an excellent experience.
KentOnline says: Our top choice for a takeaway in Ashford is the Everest Inn, just a stone's throw away from the International station and town centre.
The restaurant serves a selection of Asian-inspired dishes including Magic Chicken Tikka, Himalayan King Prawn and Chicken Chilli Masala - and it is pretty good value for money.
As well as this, it has recently been titled Best Nepalese Restaurant in the UK at the Asian Curry Awards and has maintained a TripAdvisor certificate of excellence for four years.
TripAdvisor says: Saint Smokeys BBQ House
The Caribbean restaurant in The Borough only serves chicken - but that's not stopped it being rated Canterbury's best place for takeout.
"Forget Nandos, come here," says one reviewer, who hails the "fantastic flavourful food at a much cheaper price".
KentOnline says: Super Noodles - the beauty of this splendid Chinese restaurant is that you get to completely tailor-make your meal.
Whether you're craving beef in black bean sauce and chips or juicy prawns with a particular type of noodle, choose any combination of ingredients from Super Noodles' extensive menu to create your own dream dish, cooked fresh by the chef.
The food is delicious and very reasonably priced - well worth a try!
TripAdvisor says: The Hayman's Kitchen
The pizza parlour in Dover Road, Walmer, is rated excellent by 84 out of 93 reviewers.
One described how it was packed out with punters and "people kept arriving to pick up takeaways".
KentOnline says: We're going for our favourite Chinese takeaway - Crystal Garden, which is also in Dover Road.
You can't beat their salt and chilli chicken and duck wraps.
Their chicken balls are also really good quality and staff are always very polite.
TripAdvisor says: Aspendos
The Turkish restaurant in King Street provided one satisfied customer with "the best kebab I've ever had".
Another describes their lamb chops as "tender and very tasty".
After 176 reviews, Aspendos has a 4.5 star rating on TripAdvisor.
KentOnline says: Our reporter said: "I have a Friday night ritual of buying a take-away at The New Moon Flower in Dover High Street.
"Buying a chicken chow mein and special fried rice there is my way of starting the weekend.
"It provides good value at less than £10 and there is enough there to provide two meals - the second half is reheated later in the weekend."
TripAdvisor says: Faversham Kebab House Restaurant
Bagging a TripAdvisor certificate of excellence for the past three years running, the Mediterranean dishes served up continue to delight reviewers.
One writes: "I have been using this establishment since the 80s [and] never had a problem with the takeaway or restaurant".
A recent visitor adds: "It was the tastiest and most authentic Turkish food I have ever eaten."
KentOnline says: There are very few people who would turn their nose up at Chinese food for dinner, but after trying dishes from Shanghai in East Street it's unlikely anyone would.
Ideally placed just a minute's walk from the high street, the takeaway has a reputation for decent portion sizes at great prices - with service with a smile chucked in for free.
TripAdvisor says: Annapurna Nepalese Restaurant
The Nepalese eatery in Cheriton Place, Folkestone, is rated as Kent's very best takeaway by TripAdvisor.
But according to one review, it has an "unusual" rule where you cannot get a takeaway "until you have experienced the food fresh in the restaurant".
KentOnline says: It's got to be Gurkha Palace!
The Enbrooke Place restaurant dishes out massive portions with huge chunks of succulent meat.
If you like spicy curries you have to try the Sherpha Khasi.
TripAdvisor says: Il Padrino
This traditional Italian restaurant cooks its popular pizzas in a wood oven.
One customer who grabbed a takeaway from the Stone Street eatery praised the "excellent, authentic pizza" - which tasted "much, much better than Pizza Hut".
KentOnline says: "Street food" has become an overused adage for small portions of food hastily cobbled together but this certainly isn't the case at Chattorey in Wrotham Road.
While classic dishes chicken tikka and korma are included on Chattorey's menu, you can expect reworked versions which are both rich and flavoursome.
Don't forget to try one of their 'chaats', which combine sweet, sour and a satisfying crunch, or one of their regularly-updated specials.
Forget the rest, this is the best.
TripAdvisor says: Coconut Tree Noodle Bar
"The soft shell crab and squid was the best I've eaten," says one happy customer of the William Street Chinese restaurant. "Can't rave about this place enough."
Takeaways "always arrive hot", according to another reviewer, who also praises the eatery's good value for money.
The noodle bar is rated 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor.
KentOnline says: What's better than a mouth-watering lamb madras with a side of pilau rice and Bombay aloo? Well, we'd argue a half-price madras with rice and Bombay aloo!
There's nothing like sitting back on a Sunday evening and making the most of the 50% discount at the excellent Taj Mahal in Sea Street, Herne Bay (it's also available on Mondays - but who has takeaway on a Monday?).
Throw in a naan of your choice and you're picking up a satisfying feast for just £8 from a restaurant shamefully ranked only the 13th best takeaway in town on TripAdvisor.
You'll have to pick your food up to bag the offer, but it's worth the trip!
TripAdvisor says: Coppers
The Indian restaurant has "amazing food and the best keema naans anywhere", according to one recent visitor.
Another praised the "generous portions" in their takeaway from Coppers.
After 470 reviews, the curry house has five stars on TripAdvisor.
KentOnline says: This is a prime example of why you can't take TripAdvisor as gospel.
It ranks Vinodhon Tandoori seventh out of eight Indian takeaways in Hythe. Madness!
The staff are always friendly and even remember you if you haven't been for years!
And what makes Vinodhon simply the best is the five-star treatment you get when you pick up your takeaway rather than have it delivered.
Not only do you get a tasty discount on the bill - but they'll offer you a free half-pint on the house too while you're waiting. Cheers!
TripAdvisor says: The Square Fish Cafe
Takeaways from the Lenham eatery are "always piping hot [with] lovely crispy batter on the fish".
Another writes: "This 'chippy' is no frills but the fish is beautifully cooked and the chips are perfect".
KentOnline says: It's all about Pizza Hot 4 U on Maidstone high street.
It's a well-known, perfectly placed chicken and pizza shop which is always popular after a night out or if you want to grab a quick bite to eat when walking through town.
It's always been popular with students walking through the town centre to get their buses and has some of the best chicken wings and prices in Maidstone.
TripAdvisor says: The Bollywood Buffet
The curry house in Canterbury Street, Gillingham, provides the very best takeaway food in the whole of Medway, according to the website.
Out of 353 online reviews, an incredible 328 give the family-run Indian restaurant top marks.
One satisfied diner said the naans and butter chicken are "to die for".
KentOnline says: Papa's Fish and Chip shop on Beatty Road in Rochester is definitely the best in Medway.
Not only is the food amazing (no fatty batter here) but the staff are wonderful.
There's always a queue out of the door - proving its popularity - but they're speedy at taking orders and always greet customers with a smile.
TripAdvisor says: Dragon Palace
The Chinese restaurant is the best takeaway on the Isle of Sheppey, according to TripAdvisor.
One delighted diner writes: "Food here is always so good, would 1,000% recommend - never use any other take out."
KentOnline says: The Taste of India is a no-nonsense Indian takeaway which makes the best chicken madras on the Island, as far as we are concerned.
They do deliveries but nothing beats popping into the Heritage micro pub a few doors down to sample a beer or a cider while waiting for the meal to be cooked.
That's why this curry house is our top Sheerness takeaway.
TripAdvisor says: Secret Spices
The Indian restaurant in Margate is third in the website's list of Kent's top takeaways.
One reviewer describes the curry dishes as "beautiful authentic Indian food", while another writes: "Great for a night out or a cheeky takeaway."
Out of 1,187 ratings, 1,018 diners describe it as excellent.
KentOnline says: Thanet might be a world away from the tropical beaches of South East Asia, but Thai Four Two in Broadstairs gives you a little taste of Thailand.
Offering all the Thai favourites, the food-to-go is just as good as the dishes served up in the small, authentic restaurant in York Street.
The only drawback is they don't do home delivery - but it's worth the journey to pick it up.
TripAdvisor says: Potato Tomato
This eatery in Oxford Street is the trendy town's top place to grab a takeaway, according to TripAdvisor.
Out of 114 reviews, an impressive 104 rate veggie-friendly Potato Tomato as excellent.
One reviewer hails the "cosy cafe", adding: "Our teenage daughter declared the burger one of the best ever and she isn’t vegetarian!"
KentOnline says: Whitstable might be packed with trendy restaurants and oyster spots, but nothing beats the no-fuss fish and chips served at Ossies Fish Bar.
At lunchtimes and weekends, queues can often be seen winding out of the door of the High Street shop.
But it's certainly worth the wait, for wonderfully flaky, fresh fish in crisp golden batter, along with generous portions of proper chip shop chips, lashing of salt and vinegar, and friendly service.
There is some seating inside, but why not head around the corner to enjoy your food on the beach? Just watch out for seagulls!
Now vote for your favourite!
If none of the above, then let us know in the comments below.
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