YouTube star Spanian looks stressed at the opening of his new kebab shop on ‘cursed corner’ as eatery opens to mixed reviews

by

Spanian has opened a new Spanian’s Kebabs restaurant in Newtown, Sydney.

The popular social media star seemed a little stressed while greeting customers at the restaurant on King Street on Saturday.

Oh my gosh, I saw him! He was just sitting there, looking all deep in thought, you know? Like he was lost in his own world. Then, he noticed us, the fans, and the sweetest smile spread across his face. It totally made my day, honestly! He’s just… perfect.

The kebab shop has received mixed reviews, currently averaging 2.8 stars out of 5 on Google Reviews.

One customer was very disappointed with their $18 sandwich, saying the portion was small and contained very little meat. They felt it was overpriced, didn’t live up to the hype, and wouldn’t return or recommend it to others.

Customers complained the food was old and dry, and one person said they would never return.

The lamb was a little tough, and could have been more tender if cooked for a longer time. However, it did taste good.

One person said the kebab tasted okay, but wasn’t worth the $18 price tag because it didn’t have much meat – they estimated around 60 to 80 grams. They were still hungry shortly after eating it and felt it was just ‘meh’.

Many people enjoyed their meals, with one customer specifically praising the flavorful rice, tender, high-quality meat, and fresh salad. They even said it was better than some older, more established kebab shops and plan to return.

Another customer shared that they’d been curious about the restaurant for some time and were happy they finally visited. They described the food and service as perfect and said they had a great overall experience.

‘The food is amazing,’ added one more.

Someone congratulated them on the opening and raved about the food and service, especially the chips! They wished they’d stayed for dessert.

Spanian made a bold move by opening his store on a corner some restaurant professionals consider unlucky.

The space remained empty for three years until Mr Potato, a fast-food chain, opened there. However, Mr Potato went out of business last year.

Oh man, I was SO excited when the Mr. Potato store opened in Newtown back in April 2023! But honestly, even then, you could just feel something wasn’t right. By the end of the year, it was becoming painfully obvious that the whole business was in serious trouble. It broke my heart, honestly!

It closed its doors in June 2025, making room for Spanian to take over the space. 

Anthony Lees, better known as Spanian, used to be the face of Sydney’s ‘eshay’ subculture – a group of young people known for their distinctive style of tracksuits, bum bags, and a confident, streetwise attitude.

Despite now being a successful entrepreneur and performer, he previously served time for serious crimes, including armed robbery, intentionally causing severe injury, and reckless assault.

He was convicted of running a drug trafficking operation and has spent over 12 years in prison as a result.

Following his release from prison in 2017, he started a YouTube series called Into the Hood, where he travelled to some of the most dangerous and crime-filled neighborhoods in Australia and around the globe.

I seriously couldn’t believe it when he started his YouTube channel! He basically rebranded himself as someone who’d turned his life around, you know, an ex-criminal who’d gone straight. And it worked. He started making a fortune – it was insane! I’ve been following him since the beginning, and watching him build this whole new life has been… well, amazing.

He and Angela McColl recently divorced after two years of marriage, only a few months after their son was born.

He is currently dating much younger girlfriend Ava Jean Walker, 22.

Read More

2026-01-19 10:19