CHECK OTHER REVIEWS FOR THIS PLACE:
It's kind of weird that I've been writing reviews for three years, but realized that I don’t have a detailed review of Kababji. Kababji is a renowned sandwich place with super tender bites and I think this place has changed the way a typical Lebanese sandwich is viewed.
I walked in for a dine-in experience.
Nestled on Zalka highway is Kababji, a restaurant with a huge sign and popular tagline "Grab a Sandwich and Go". The place also enjoys a dining space.
Because I had in mind a dining experience, I walked in expecting something special, but I then realized that at the end of the day it is a casual "snack" with good food.
Enter Kababji where the large grill welcomes you, the famous signature item and take a left where the dining area is located or continue to the upper level for more dining tables.
Service is average. One person does it all. Smoking is allowed, as if the country carries no no law forbidding it.
The menu:
- Salads
- Appetizers
- All day breakfast
- Charcoal grills
- On the grill
- Raw cuts and nayyeh
- Desserts
- Beverages
- The light menu
The menu sections:
- Choose between white, brown or oat bread Contains alcohol
- Light (400 calories each)
- Spicy
- Kababji special
- Everything is halal
As we sat, a bread basket landed on the table accompanied by a plate of pickles. Good quality bread and pickles.
Now for the food:
- Fattouch, full of big chunks of vegetables bathing in a lemony sauce, is fresh.
- Hummos is good, not exceptional but it's correct. On top is a portion of fried pine nuts and tender meat. The meat is even better than the hummos itself. I didn't like its texture; it's too condensed like a chocolate spread and not light like cream.
- Their superb lahme beajine followed, the unique exquisite pomegranate lahme beajine that's so thin, so tender and so moist with crunchy borders and topped with Kababji's famous meat mixed with pomegranate molasses. These are a must try.
More was yet to come.
- Grilled makanek which I loved. Tender and rich in taste with a grilling flavor.
- Grilled Halloumi served on lettuce leaves comes in two skewers: cubes of Halloumi cheese, grilled bell pepper and grilled tomatoes.
- The charcoal flavor covers on everything else making the Halloumi lightly chewy. I would have loved to receive them a bit hotter making the tomato juicier and the Halloumi less chewy.
- Meat, what else, the most tender meat you can have on a Lebanese grill. Perfectly marinated and great in taste. I simply am in love with it.
- Mouhammara manakish is something I won't be ordering anytime soon. It’s too bready and chewy without any taste. Simply bread covered with tasteless paste. I wish I ordered a plate of mouhammara instead to at least feel the walnuts.
The minuses:
- The place has strong echoes.
- Smoking is allowed in this closed space. I think I still prefer ‘the grab a sandwich and leave’ experience at Kababji.
The pluses:
- Food is correct.
Now that I've written a review about the Zalka branch, I'll be taking a ride up to Hazmieh to experience their newly decorated restaurant with a fresher feel.
