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On a slow day at Brothers 5-Star Kebab House, local business owner Mehmet Balik (56) has caught himself daydreaming about the glory days of the 2016 HSP craze.
The HSP craze was a short-lived social media trend that took Australia by storm as hoards of people were queuing up to get their hands on a Halal Snackpack.
Traditionally reserved for drunk people, the simple combination of hot chips, donner meat, cheese and sauce somehow became a viral sensation. Facebook pages dedicated to the late night meal were highlighting the best kebab stores around the country.
As the HSP craze peaked in 2016, spawning memes, merchandise, and even its own dedicated fan base, the meal just as quickly faded back into obscurity, reserved only for the most brave (and drunk) customers.
“It feels like just yesterday,” sighed Mehmet, as he lovingly gazed at his spinning kebab spit.
“Queues out the door, everyone posting their reviews to HSP facebook groups, the garlic, chili, bbq sauce holy trinity.. those were the days.”
For Mehmet, the HSP craze brought with it a surge in business, as hungry patrons flocked to his kebab shop in search of the ultimate HSP.
“We would have HSP eating contests, novelty mega-HSP’s, we even started making our own shirts, it all vanished so quickly, just like that.” Said Mehmet.
As Mehmet gazes out at the empty tables in his shop, he can’t help but wonder if the rivers of gold that flowed from the days of the Halal Snack Pack craze will ever return.
