After a Facebook appreciation group was created in December last year as an ode to Halal Snack Packs (HSP), the chip, doner meat, cheese and sauces combo has taken off Australia-wide.
Only in Australia
Unpacking the halal snack pack
But although the HSP has become a bestseller across the country and the now has over 142, 000 members, it's not always easy for those fans to track down a great late-night snack. Kebab shops – for the most part – are independently owned so there's not always much information available online.
Enter Deshan Ranchhod, an IT and Commerce student at Swinburne University in Melbourne. Ranchhod used his uni holidays to create a little side project and invented an HSP app called Get Me HSP.
The app is an HSP locator that shows you where to find closest kebab store serving up Halal snack packs.
“The app works by grabbing your GPS location (with your phone) and using that to work out what kebab shops and HSP stores are within 10km of you,” Ranchhod tells SBS. “Users can see rankings for stores and leave reviews so others can find the best food.”
Customers seem to be loving the app so far on iTunes.
“Easy to use and shows all the places around you. Great for people looking for a feast or that late night meal after a night out! Get on it!” Lukey76422737 writes on the app’s review page.
Another customer Guesswho270 writes, “As a lover of HSP, this is the best thing I could’ve downloaded!”
Ranchhod says that he was inspired by the idea after he was out in Melbourne one night and really wanted a kebab but didn’t know where to go or what places would be open.
When asked what he loves most about the HSP, the app creator says, “The meat of course. It really is perfection and the taste is amplified if it’s after a big night.”
Of course, you can also kebab at home...
Syrian-style hummus, lamb kebab
