Located in the heart of Rotterdam’s Delfshaven, a culinary legend was born, not from a Michelin-starred kitchen, but from a humble barbershop. Tati, an unassuming salon, is where the iconic “Kapsalon” dish originated. The story began in 2003 when Nataniël Gomez, Tati’s owner, craved something more substantial than shoarma. He opted for a hearty mixture of fries, meat, and cheese in a single box from El Aviva, his neighbour shoarma spot, and an unexpected culinary masterpiece was born. This simple yet genius addition of melted cheese transformed the dish entirely.

El Aviva, the restaurant where this delicious dish was born, perfected the recipe by adding cucumber, tomato, garlic sauce, and sambal. What started as a special order from a nearby customer quickly became a sensation. As word spread, this unique dish went from a local secret to a (inter)national phenomenon, eventually earning a place on menus throughout Rotterdam and the Netherlands.

Although the Bengu family, owners of El Aviva, attempted to patent their culinary invention known as “Kapsalon”, they did not acquire wealth from it. However, they gained immense pride in creating a unique dish that is a testament to Rotterdam’s inventive spirit. Even today, people still visit the Schiedamseweg to taste the original flavour of this dish named after a barbershop. This proves that sometimes, extraordinary things can come from the most unexpected places.