Is there any more room on the Kabul House bandwagon, because I need to jump on. I made a solo visit to the new Skokie location today and had an amazing lunch. Since I was by myself, I didn't have much ordering power, but I tried the Murgh Chalau, which came with a bowl of lentil soup. Although the version I was served didn't have as much gravy as the dish pictured by Ronnie_Suburban, it was very enjoyable; especially when mixed with the rice and some of the green garlicky sauce that accompanied the dish. I also enjoyed the focaccia-like bread with the dark sesame seeds that was served on the side. Now that Kabul House has landed back in Skokie, it is solidly in my lunch rotation. I can't wait to go back with some ordering power to explore more of the menu.

Katie wrote:Thanks very much for posting those photos, Ronnie. Never having visited Kabul House in its previous incarnations, I didn't have any sense of what was so appealing about it to so many LTHers until I saw the photos of various dishes that you posted.

The plating of the dishes is lovely, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience to report on picking up food there for carryout?

Hi Katie!

I can tell you that they certainly don't skimp on the portions for carry-out, and I've tried virtually all the lunch specials. I work right down the street & like so many, Kabul is in my rotation. I was amazed, however, that at least for right now, they don't have their wonderful cardamom tea to take out.

Maybe if I bring my own cup...

Sure, I'll jump on the pile: the sabzee all but redefines spinach; the pumpkin is a creamy, silky treat; the seasoned rice gets some lovely tang and depth from the currants; and the two dumpling dishes are earthy, made all the better by a topping of really stellar yogurt (which, quietly, may be the very best thing they do). I don't think their meats hit the spicy, smoky highs of Khan's, but all we had--be it chicken, beef, or lamb--were expertly cooked.

Is there an online menu posted anywhere?

Just to let folks know, there is a bit of "instability" regarding hours of operation.

Based on a prior visit, I thought that they were open continuously from 11:00 through closing each day. I arrived at 2:30 sharp, and found a sign indicating that they were now closed between 2:30 and 4:30 each day.

A very nice "front of the house" person came to the door, and apologized - suggesting that the kitchen had requested a break between lunch and dinner, as there were some operational difficulties that they had experienced since they opened. He also said that they may yet revert to continuous operation, and offered to prepare something takeout for us.

I'm not angry (although disappointed) but I did want other LTH'ers to be aware that hours of operation are in a bit of flux.

rfleisch1 wrote:Just to let folks know, there is a bit of "instability" regarding hours of operation.

Based on a prior visit, I thought that they were open continuously from 11:00 through closing each day. I arrived at 2:30 sharp, and found a sign indicating that they were now closed between 2:30 and 4:30 each day.

A very nice "front of the house" person came to the door, and apologized - suggesting that the kitchen had requested a break between lunch and dinner, as there were some operational difficulties that they had experienced since they opened. He also said that they may yet revert to continuous operation, and offered to prepare something takeout for us.

I'm not angry (although disappointed) but I did want other LTH'ers to be aware that hours of operation are in a bit of flux.

The carry-out menu I picked up a few weeks ago states the hours as being from 11:30-2:30 for lunch and 4:30-10:00 for dinner.

Coincidentally, we're getting carry-out from there today (first time) for our office lunch.

=R=

We made our first visit to Kabul House on Saturday. While the food was great, what struck me most was the incredibly friendly, helpful service. When our server learned that it was our first visit, he made suggestions so that the three of us would be able to taste much of the menu. He was enthusiastic about the food and made sure we never wanted for anything.

I don't have much to add about the food, but wanted to emphasize just how delicious the mantoo are. For me, one of the best bites in recent memory and I can't wait to return to enjoy more.

Ronna

Had my first non-LTH related meal here last night. While we didn't have the ordering power of an LTH event, we did quite well. Started off with mandoo and aushak for the appetizers. Entrees consisted of murgh, and lamb kabobs along with two orders of quorma sabzee. Service was fine.

The other couple we dined with live in Skokie and had never heard of KH. They were very happy with my dining choice. I have officially indoctrinated them in the world of KH. My work is done. Amen.

I am so happy they are open and doing well! We used to live around the corner from the original location on Main in Evanston (first opened as La Rosa pizzeria, with Afghan takeout) followed them to Dempster and McCormick, and missed it so much when we moved into Chicago! This location is pretty easy to get to now, and we look forward to going more.

We went a week ago for dinner and had a great time. As noted above, food and service were both very good. There's actually a little parking lot behind the building - there are 20 minute retail spots, some handicap spots, and further back it looked like there were longer term spots. Street parking also seemed reasonably easy. We took a chance on one of the 20 minute retail spots, since the only "retail" in the building that was open at night was the restaurant.

This has also inspired me to get some cardamom pods to make that delicious tea

EvanstonFoodGuy wrote:Is there an online menu posted anywhere?

Website is up and running- http://kabulhouse.com/
Forgot to mention that I had another wonderful dinner last night at KH. Excellent service and it appears that they've fixed the exhaust system issue.

Dave148 wrote:

EvanstonFoodGuy wrote:Is there an online menu posted anywhere?

Excellent service and it appears that they've fixed the exhaust system issue.

That must have been why it was so eye-burningly smoky in there when I was there a few weeks ago. Glad to know it's been fixed.

Dave148 wrote:

EvanstonFoodGuy wrote:Is there an online menu posted anywhere?

Website is up and running- http://kabulhouse.com/
Forgot to mention that I had another wonderful dinner last night at KH. Excellent service and it appears that they've fixed the exhaust system issue.

Thanks for posting this.

RobK wrote:Lunch specials were available today. $6.95 for the vegetarian plate, Murgh (chicken) kabob or Koubedah kabob (1 skewer on the kabobs).

Kabul House is mixing up the lunch specials, I recently had Murgh Chalau, tender chunks of chicken, rich tomato based sauce, vibrant seasoning, one of my favorites. Though, like Steve Z mentions above, my lunch portion Murgh Chalau was served much less saucy than the full size entree. Not sure if this is by design or happenstance, but sauce is a key component of Murgh Chalau, especially with a large mount of fluffy rice at hand.

My one mildly negative critique is the tea, the price actually, though for the love of Carol Channing's ghost I do not want to start a nsxtasy Ria brewhaha [sic] Kabul House lunch is a great value, $6.95 for bread, soup, rice, entree, all delicious. A small glass of plain hot tea poured straight from a metal pot is $2.50, about 35% of the cost of lunch. The tea is good, they refill without charge and the glass is pretty, but nowhere is the cost of tea mentioned on the printed menu or specials board, if I had realized it was so disproportionately priced to the cost of lunch I probably would not have ordered tea.

Solo lunch was my second time at Kabul House, I will be back, and soon, service impeccable, generally well priced, comfortable bright airy space, a solid contender for space in ones dining rotation.

Enjoy,
Gary

Kabul House has been nominated as a Great Neighborhood Restaurant. Please discuss the nomination in this thread. Discussion closes on March 7.

I hadn't been through that neighborhood in a while and drove past there yesteray -- I hadn't realized that Kabul House is in a building built over my childhood memories. I lived two blocks from there until I was 4 (and my grandmother lived within two blocks of there for the rest of her life), and the corner bakery, the Price and Compare and Ben Franklin those condos replaced are where I had my first doughnut, first saw a grocery store and bought my first Snap-Tite model.

JoelF wrote:I hadn't been through that neighborhood in a while and drove past there yesteray -- I hadn't realized that Kabul House is in a building built over my childhood memories. I lived two blocks from there until I was 4 (and my grandmother lived within two blocks of there for the rest of her life), and the corner bakery, the Price and Compare and Ben Franklin those condos replaced are where I had my first doughnut, first saw a grocery store and bought my first Snap-Tite model.

Did you get your clothes from Wolke & Schake?

As I understand it, one should express one's support for a GNR nomination in the Eating out in Chicagoland thread about the nominated place. If that's the case, I strongly support GNR status for Kabul House.

Jonah

Jonah wrote:As I understand it, one should express one's support for a GNR nomination in the Eating out in Chicagoland thread about the nominated place. If that's the case, I strongly support GNR status for Kabul House.

Jonah

I also support this GNR nomination. I've eaten at Kabul House about a half-dozen times since it re-opened in this new location and the food's been consistently delicious. Service is warm and friendly and I get a sense that the owners and staff are all extremely appreciative of their customers. They seem proud of their food and are enthusiastic about sharing it with others.

=R=

I've had 3 excellent meals here. Great flavors, great cooking technique (talkin to you, kabobs), interesting options, thoughtful service and good value. Takes a lot to get me to the suburbs. Well worth it. Yes for GNR.

I strongly support the GNR based on my two visits to Kabul House. Their mantoo made my best bites of 2010 list, and I look forward returning and trying more of the menu. The staff made us feel welcome on our first visit, planning a lovely meal that allowed us to try much of the menu, and welcomed us back on our second visit. And, heck, while this place may not be in my neighborhood, it couldn't be closer to my mom's home - - and after our first trip with my mom, we all agreed that it was going to be the no-brainer place to enjoy many future meals.

Ronna

YES! Firmly agree - couldn't happen to a nicer group of people. Great food, lovely service, pleasant atmosphere. Worth going out of your way for. And when it WAS in my neighborhood, we frequented it... um... frequently.

Count me in with a nomination of Kabul House for a GNR. Had a great lunch today of a new lunch special, murgh chalau (chicken & chickpeas in a tomato-based sauce), and of course my favorite appetizer, the kadu (baby pumpkin). Service was impeccable, the refillable tea welcome!

I totally support the nomination of Kabul House as a GNR. I missed them when they left Skokie, and when they reopened, I was there within a few days. Bottom line, this is a Skokie institution, and a purveyor of really good ethnic food at very reasonable prices. I always recommend Kabul House on my short list of good places that visitors to Skokie must try.

My family and I are big fans of Kabul House and heartily support the GNR nomination. I've had three terrific meals here since they opened on Oakton, and everything I've had has been terrific. The pumpkin, a vegetable I'm normally not too fond of, is an ethereal miracle. The two kinds of dumplings are wonderful, the homemade soups are tasty, and their special rice is worth eating by itself. Every dish I've had has been carefully cooked, full of flavor, and beautifully served. The staff are friendly and warm, the space comfortable and now better ventilated than when they first opened. A natural GNR!

Fate brought me to Skokie today, and there was Kabul House, so I popped in for lunch.

I left full and very pleased with my meal. Nice room, nice staff (it being the NBA trade deadline, and I being the first diner there for lunch, they were mostly focused on what should be done to propel the Bulls to the championship, which was engaging).

Aush Rista was a tasty and complex soup, interesting mix of textures between the noodles and the vegetables, good, unctuous and slightly tart taste from the yogurt, good spices. On to the Boranee Baunjan which was a perfectly executed roasted eggplant with a nice touch of garlic, onions and tomatos, again with dabs of yogurt (I perceive a pattern here). My expectations for the Chicken Kabob in the lunch special were lower after sampling D's Shish the day before, despite the server recommending it, but I was wrong. Perfectly seasoned and cooked chunks, brought to life by a spritz of lemon. The green sauce added a touch of heat and tartness, though I preferred it on my seasoned rice - also sell done with a nice mix of savory with sweet touches from the raisins.

Beginning to end, excellent.

This is a little off-topic, but I want to try Kabul House sometime soon and I noticed it was BYOB. Not yet having any experience with bringing alcohol to a BYOB restaurant, I can't help wondering, do restaurateurs who themselves don't imbibe on principle (e.g., religious belief) feel a little annoyed by customers who bring alcohol into their restaurants? I know, if they say they're BYOB, officially they allow it; I'm just wondering about the subtler sensibility, not wanting to offend.

Katie wrote:... I can't help wondering, do restaurateurs who themselves don't imbibe on principle (e.g., religious belief) feel a little annoyed by customers who bring alcohol into their restaurants? I know, if they say they're BYOB, officially they allow it; I'm just wondering about the subtler sensibility, not wanting to offend.

Most restauranteurs I've met are people. As people, they tend to have widely varying opinions about matters such as alcohol and religion.

Katie wrote:This is a little off-topic, but I want to try Kabul House sometime soon and I noticed it was BYOB. Not yet having any experience with bringing alcohol to a BYOB restaurant, I can't help wondering, do restaurateurs who themselves don't imbibe on principle (e.g., religious belief) feel a little annoyed by customers who bring alcohol into their restaurants? I know, if they say they're BYOB, officially they allow it; I'm just wondering about the subtler sensibility, not wanting to offend.

My gut feel is that any place that advertises as being BYOB is probably also OK with being BYOB. If they aren't, though, I'm not going to spend much effort divining how it affects them . . . anymore then I would by having veal at a place that chooses to serve veal but for some reason the owner are opposed to veal (or foie gras or . . .).

Making a long-overdue first visit here this weekend and need some advice. My eight year old is excited about trying "Afghanistan food," but like most little people, his tolerance for heat is low. Which menu items are relatively mildly spiced but tasty?
TIA

Most of the food is not spicy at all, save for the chutney served with palao. Maybe avoid the koobideh as well, just to be safe.

A plate of kadu with palao would make a kid really happy, I think.