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When we announced that a Liverpool restaurant has been nominated for the kebab Oscars, Echo readers shared their own favourites on our facebook page.

Istanbul Barbecue and Bistro, on Allerton Road in Woolton, is a finalist in the Best Value Restaurant section, competing with kebab shops in London, Leeds and Kingston.

Kebabs have become a Great British institution. And they’re big business, with an estimated 1.3m kebabs sold every day in the UK.

And it turns out that Merseyside is bursting with great kebabs.

Here are some of your favourites.

Friends, Smithdown Road

Steven Hilton gave his recommendation: "Friends on Smithdown Road is the best place for kebabs."

Andrea Vaughan Simons agreed: "Should be Friends on Smithdown - best Kebabs ever."

Lesley Dooley added: "It’s got to be Friends on smith down road. They're the best. Even have a wait up to 40min sometimes."

Echo kebab expert and digital aficionado Steve Graves said in his review: "Friends is legendary on Smithdown Road and didn't disappoint this time. The chicken and lamb were perfectly cooked, good quality meat and the special sauce (a mix of mayo, tahini and chilli) lives up to its name. The kebabs are huge and made the chips something of a challenge. I managed it."

Read his full review here

Hello Pizza, Kensington

As well as their pizzas, readers say Hello Pizza do a great line in kebabs too.

Reader Shakh Shakh says: "Hello Pizza in Kenny."

Hello Pizza describes itself as "your traditional pizza takeaway in Kensington, Liverpool. Our takeaway aims to deliver fast, fresh food that is full of authentic Finest ingredients. You can order your favourite dishes online, over the phone or in person. We accept cash payments for delivery and collection, card payment is available for online orders."

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Hot Chillis, Berry Street

James Jackson praised this city centre favourite's delicious homemade doner meat, packed with spicy lamb flavours.

Echo curry and kebab expert Andrew Campbell reviewed this place, saying: "In an era of factory-made doner meat, Hot Chillis make their own and it’s packed with spicy lamb flavour. The chicken doner is also home-made in a tikka style and the chicken tikka is cooked on skewers. Bright orange pakoras are excellent. The large mix kebab (£6.50) is a gut-buster. The chicken tikka is a lighter treat.

"Popular high-quality pitstop for clubbers but you don’t have to be drunk to enjoy its charms. Chilli sauce is not for the faint hearted. One minor criticism: the naan bread acted as a sponge for the mixed kebab’s slightly excessive but flavoursome oil."

Read his full review here

Curry Hut, Southport

Echo reader Barry Mcguinness says: "The best kebab house ever is the curry hut in Southport at the back of the train station - wow you definitely get more than you pay for."

Lemon and Lime, Dale Street

Another city centre favourite with plenty to recommend it. Echo reporter and girl about town Lorna Hughes praised its: "Generous amounts of meat, salad and tasty sauces piled onto flatbreads. The chips were crunchy and perfectly cooked. Solid, reliable kebab shop fare. You'll get exactly what you expect and no more but it's none the worse for that."

Read her full review here

New Planet, Aigburth

Sandra Jones recommended this hidden gem, saying: "I wouldn't go anywhere else."

Our reviewer Jamie Bowman concluded: "I’ve never had any complaints about my kebab which always comes with the added bonus of tahini sauce and garlic mayonnaise. The option at no extra cost of having it in a fresh naan bread is a nice touch."

Read his review here

Bacchus Taverna, the Dock Road

ECHO reviewer Marc Waddington was full of praise for this eat in kebab. He said: "I’ve been trying to eat much healthier since Christmas. Granted, most people wouldn’t associate a kebab with a healthy eating regime, but the real thing (more Greece, less grease) is probably one of the healthiest dishes you can find on a decent Greek restaurant’s menu.

"The lamb, pork and chicken, griddled on the huge charcoal pit at the back of the restaurant, is lean and juicy. The lush green salad on the side, along with the wholesome brown rice (cooked in tomato with a cinnamon stick thrown in to add an extra dimension) makes the whole dish a very healthy option of balanced protein and carbohydrates. If it weren’t so filling, I could have gone out for a run."

Read his review here

Elif, Lark Lane and Childwall

Another restaurant favourite is Elif, with its two South Liverpool branches. Echo beer guru Alistair Hougton praised its Seize Kebab: "There were mushrooms, peppers and, best of all, an aubergine grilled almost to melting point. Elif is generous with its portions – we barely made a dent in our salad plate piled high with lettuce, red cabbage and all manner of veg."