Ameer Kabob

To my delight, a kabob shop opened directly across the street from me at 1050 N Milwaukee Ave. this Wednesday. Early in their game for sure, but I couldn't resist waltzing across Noble St. to check them out. The space is bright- new and shiny with a spartan eating area and an open kitchen. Orders are placed at the counter. Prices are incredibly low- Falafel sandwich $3.99, $4.99 for shawarma. I spied no shawarma cone yet, so I avoided this offering- I imagine that they are waiting for business to pick up before hooking up the old 50+ lb. meat log. Shish and kofta kebabs are grilled over an open flame. I wasn't paying close enough attention to note the source of the flame. I ordered a kofta sandwich and was not disappointed at all- the size is fairly appropriate to the low price- I could have easily put down two. The flame grilling imparted a definite char flavor and the meat yielded a well seasoned garlicky kick. The middle of the kabob was left slightly pink and was moist with a very satisfying texture. Falafels are $.45 and I ordered four. They are an unusual donut shape which really makes for an almost crisp- to- the- center falafel. Very well seasoned, but I almost wished there was more softness to the interior to carry the herb and garlic flavors. Great tahini dipping sauce paired with the crunch made for quite a nice appetizer. Hummous was well balanced, full flavored and creamy. Very fresh, soft pita rounded out this pretty, pretty, pretty good meal.
To be expected, service issues were present- more so for the few groups waiting ahead of us- we received part of our order before them. We carried out and the whole experience took about 15 minutes. The very gracious man at the counter was apologetic about the wait and rewarded us with a few free Cokes.
I am excited about this spot- just what the neighborhood needed- full flavored, authentic on-the-go grub that has the virtue of a fresh lightness characteristic of Mediterranean cuisine. A great alternative to carne asada tacos and fried chicken. Oh and they deliver and best yet are open until 2 am on the weekends and midnight during the week. I will be there!

Ameer Kabob
1050 N Milwaukee Ave.
773-489-8888

Agreed! I work almost next door, and am so glad to have a place VERY close that I can get a healthy and cheap lunch.
Stopped in on day two and had hummus, tabbouleh, and pita, for just under $5. Although there was nothing
especially notable about the taste, everything was incredibly fresh. Hopefully they keep this up as the tough first
couple months go by. Anxious to try their lunch special.

Jefe wrote:Falafels are $.45 and I ordered four. They are an unusual donut shape which really makes for an almost crisp- to- the- center falafel. Very well seasoned, but I almost wished there was more softness to the interior to carry the herb and garlic flavors. Great tahini dipping sauce paired with the crunch made for quite a nice appetizer. Hummous was well balanced, full flavored and creamy. Very fresh, soft pita rounded out this pretty, pretty, pretty good meal.

Funny, I had the exact opposite falafel experience, underscoring what seem to be consistency issues. Mine were the normal spherical shape, maybe slightly deflated, but definitely not a donut or torus shape, as I assume you meant. The inside of mine, though, were too soft: undercooked and gooey in the middle. On the plus side, the exterior was exactly how I like it: crispy but giving way without too much trouble. I also didn't care for the seasoning, which had a vegetal quality I couldn't place.

The hummus was equally inconsistent. The first batch we got was watery and had an odd chalky taste. We didn't say anything, but the very friendly manager brought out another just-made batch that was nicely thickened. However, the taste hadn't changed too much.

On the plus side, the baba ghanoush was very respectable, thick with a noticeable smoke flavor, and the warm pita did the job. I'd come back for this. I'd also like to try some meat dishes next time around. In addition, they had a tray of knafeh from Feyrous Pastries in the fridge behind the counter for $2/slice. I don't know if they have this all the time since it wasn't on the menu, but they should imo. Freshly warmed up, it was delicious.

This place just opened, and I think it shows promise.