Kabul Kabob - Bridgeview

Per my Fall tradition, I went hiking down in the Utica area, worked up an appetite, and stopped somewhere in Bridgeview on the way home.

As I looked around for new places to try, I quickly honed in Kabul Kabob. I love Afghan food. Kabul House in Evanston is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicagoland. So while it can be hard to pass up Levantine food in Bridgeview, I was drawn to Kabul Kabob.

This is located in the shopping mall directly across the street form GNR Al Bawadi Grill. The restaurant is new with bright signage. Initially, it didn't look promising as there was no one in the restaurant. I almost turned around and went to Al Bawadi instead. I'm glad I stayed.

I wanted an order of aushuk (vegetable-filled dumpling served with meat and yogurt sauces). They didn't have them available so I went with badinjan instead. I later found out that Mondays are very slow. While I was disappointed I didn't get a chance to try the aushuk, I'm glad that if this is the kind of dish that should be freshly made, that they weren't serving me some frozen or held-over prep from the weekend.

The gratis lentil soup was tasty and filling. The badinjan (seared then roasted eggplant with a yogurt sauce and dried mind) was served with what they were calling naan. I don't know if that is the right term, but it is Afghan bread. The bread was outstanding and the badinjan was very good. The bread was easily better than any version I've had at Kabul house and was great to seep up the flavorful sauce and oil from the eggplant.

My main of Qabuli Palow (braised lamb shank with Afghan-style pilaf rice) arrived soon thereafter. The shank was cooked very well and was very tasty. They offered me a hot sauce to eat with the dish and it was special. Spicy, piquant, a bit sour. I'm not sure I've had this particular condiment at Kabul House (or if I did, it was not this memorable). I also thought the Qabuli rice (the pilaf) was terrific. I normally roll my eyes at the platter full of rice you often get at Afghan or Persian restaurants. But this rice was no afterthought. It was well seasoned and there clearly was some flavorful broth or fat involved in the cooking.

When I walked back to the bathroom, I saw bags of unopened charcoal. I asked if the kabobs were cooked over coals and the server confirmed this ("We never use gas"). I should add that both of the employees I interacted with could not have been nicer. The restaurant has been open 3 months. And while my server confirmed that Mondays are slow (another family did come in while I was eating and they did get a carryout phone order as well), he said that on the weekends, it is pretty packed. So I'm glad to hear that people are finding the place.

All told, this was a very promising first meal. As stated above, I really love Kabul House. I think everything I tried here was as good or better than food I've eaten at KH. I look forward to returning and trying more of the menu (specifically the kabobs).

I just checked and, of course, I'm not the first to have tried this place. LTHer Titus visited and his write-up was positive on his blog here. He noted a number of the same points as I did and also snapped a picture.

Kabul Kabob
7265 West 87th Street
Bridgeview, IL 60455
708-529-0590
https://kabul-kabob.business.site/ (they list kabul-kabob.com on the to go menu, but that seems to be for an Afghan restaurant in SF.