DINING    guide No.30
For an Exciting Time in a Hot Spot
Kabab House

We went out to the Pakistani restaurant that our reader Chika recommended. Located
one block north of the Greenwood library along Greenwood Avenue North,
between a small grocery and a teriyaki shop, it¹s a place that could be
easily overlooked. But once you have eaten there you¹ll never forget the
taste.

With just five counter seats and three tables seating a total of 15, we
assumed that it would be a tight fit. However, we were relieved to discover
its inviting and social atmosphere. It¹s perfect for times when you want to
fill your stomach on honest-to-goodness good cooking.

Chef Joseph, who has 40 years of experience cooking in an open kitchen, came
to take our order. From the drink menu we requested a mango lassi ($2.75),
for hors d¹ouevres, samosas one beef ($2.15), and one vegetable ($1.75), and
a chicken boti roll, ($4.95). The main course was a seekh made with chicken,
beef, or lamb and served with rice, salad, and nan ($13.95). We also chose
chicken curry ($8.95) from the Daily Specials.

Both the meat and vegetable samosas were bigger than your fist and were
bursting with ingredients. If you ate only this it would be a substantial
meal. The chicken boti roll is a Pakistani-style burrito made with spicy
chicken, onions, and lettuce. It was lighter than I expected and it made a
good starter course. All of the meats in the combos were tender and
delicious.

Of course you¹ll want to try the nan ($1.50) which comes with the curry and
combo dishes, or it can be ordered separately. The nan is made in the
restaurant¹s clay oven. Handmade by Joseph, the nan is cooked to perfection
in an iron pot. It is soft and light while feeling crispy on the outside,
like a Japanese rice cracker. The chicken, drenched with curry sauce, was so
good that I couldn¹t stop my hand moving from my mouth to my plate to my
mouth.

From the dessert menu the owner tempted me with kulfi ($3.75), an ice
cream-like treat made with pistachios and condensed milk. Although it tastes
a bit like vanilla ice cream that was left in the refrigerator, its sweet
taste is satisfying after a spicy meal.

At night, there is a line of people waiting to pick up to-go meals. With
customers coming from as far away as Tacoma, Redmond, and Edmonds, I bet
there are people who end up eating their meals in their cars!

On the menu it is stated that the restaurant is "100% halal". In case you"re
wondering, halal in Arabic means "legally allowed". According to the rules
of Islam, halal points to foods that are fit to eat. For that reason
alcohol, which is prohibited by halal, is not served here. But when you have
a craving for delicious spicy food, by all means, this is a restaurant you
will want to try.


Reviewed for YOUMAGA by Wakaba Kato         Translated by Stacey Pruss