Ashfield - Metro One

Like burning sage to cleanse a new home, it is only appropriate to start off a shiny new food blog with a dependable meal. With HSPs (Halal Snack Packs), my absolute go-to favourite is Metro One in Ashfield for the most succulent and tender meat, decent fries and firework trio of sauces.

Regular Mix HSP with hummus, garlic sauce and tomato sauce; $12

The shop looks like any good ol' kebab shop with its glass counter displaying all their pides, pizzas, and sectioned-off ingredients. An air conditioner at the back end weakly spurts out cold air against the heat from the busy noisy road; the entire store front is open - a perpetually broken fourth wall that would make Metro One fitting for a wholesome sit-com.

I share a regular HSP with my good buddy, as we are both not too hungry. We get a Mix with 3 sauces of our choice. My go-to is hummus, garlic and scandalously - tomato sauce (otherwise known as haram sauce amongst the serious players). Cheese is included, which apparently is a luxury in some kebab shops. We sit down at a plastic table, physically wobbly but conceptually robust in its contribution to the authentic family business experience. The wait is around 10 minutes, with many known faces popping in and out of the store. My friend and I notice some did not need to announce their orders; the owners seem to already know.

Our meal arrives in the signature medium - a takeaway styrofoam box even though we were eating in - these are the ways of the store that we shall not question. We dig in with our plastic forks. Maybe the beauty in the HSP is in the faith that every spearful from the fork will capture all three sauces, all three shaved meats, a few fries, all of which gather in one mouthful in a sweet sweet mix of carby goodness.

The fries are not too dry and not too soggy - they are soft on the inside, reminiscent of soft Maccas fries (definitely the best kind of Maccas fries). The 3 shaved meats are incredibly soft and juicy which negates any dryness the fries may have had. I find the sauces thicker and creamier than some places. The garlic and hummus compliment the meat very well, and I find the tomato sauce provides a sharp tartness to contrast with the meatiness- leaving you to want more. I am aware that the 'proper' way of having a HSP is with the Holy Trinity of sauces - BBQ, garlic and chilli. If you'd like the true experience, then by all means, the staff will swiftly understand you if you asked for the "Large Mix HSP with the Holy Trinity (please)".

If you're looking for a cheap eat that is guaranteed you satisfy your belly, and looking to have a long catch up with friends under cool fluorescent lighting, then I highly recommend Metro One.

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