Dinner at Kebabers, SM Manila

Aside from Chinese food, another food I have high respect for is Persian. Whenever I hear a new kebab place has opened, I really take time to check it out, especially when it's within the vicinity. So when I spotted the new Kebabers at SM Manila last October 2, I convinced my brother, my sister and my mom to have dinner there before catching Kung Fu Divas in the cinema. Haha.



These are what we ordered that night:


2-piece Kebab with Cheese Value Meal, P110


Beef Shawarma Value Meal, P94


Steak Shawarma Value Meal, P114


Pepper Steak Value Meal, P120

Each value meal came with a regular sized soda. We were also given two sauces for the shawarma: garlic and chili.

these sauces are Kebabers' only saving grace, methinks

Seriously, the food didn't get us full that we had to buy some donuts to fill us up before going to the cinema. The pita, for one, was very thin and the beef serving was too small. The fries-like thing on the shawarmas were actually fries-like snack which tasted like the one from Oishi. (I initially thought they were Picnic fries.) The overall taste was ordinary, bordering on forgettable.

Our collective verdict? Mediocre food, small servings and quite expensive price considering it's fast food. The service during our visit was fast but we found the staff too relaxed and unfriendly. Our chance of going back is very low. If I'm craving for Persian food, I'd rather go all the way to San Juan to dine at Kebab Depot or to Malate for Shawarma Snack Center.



Kebabers
Area 441, 4/F SM Manila
Conception cor. Arroceros & San Marcelino Sts.
Ermita, Manila 1000


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Our Shawarma Experience at Shawarma Snack Center

The hubby and I had a shawarma dinner last Friday night at Shawarma Snack Center (SSC) in Malate. The street to look for is Salas St. There you could find two Shawarma Snack Center restaurants: one classy and the other no frills. Both have the same owner, I believe, so there's a guarantee you'll get the same quality of food. For this particular food trip, we chose the no frills one.





I first heard about SSC from our friend Vanessa and since then, I was able to read blog reviews on it. Now it's my turn to share my experience. I was happy to find out the no frills resto has an air-con area now (the entire dining area used to be open-air).





We got a table inside the air-con dining area and was immediately handed a laminated menu by the friendly waitress. We ordered the sizzling beef shawarma (available in chicken, too) priced at P200. It came with a serving of plain rice. We also got three pita (arabic bread) selling at just P12 each. We had a make your own shawarma right then and there. Cool.


make your own shawarma!

For drinks, the hubby got himself a banana shake (P75). I, on the other hand, ordered a yogurt shake (P75) which was surprisingly good with the perfect combination of creaminess and tanginess from the milk and the yogurt. Haaay, writing about it now makes me want to get myself another glass pronto. Whenever I'm at a Persian or Indian-themed resto, I always order lassi or yogurt shake. It's a great neutralizer for the spicy dishes which are specialties in these kinds of restos.


banana shake for him, yogurt shake for her

Now, let's go back to the shawarma which is what this post is all about.





SSC's beef shawarma was soooo good. All the blog posts raving about it aren't lying. The beef was tender with just a little bit of chewiness. One bite and I could tell I was eating the real thing. It was as authentic as it could be. Hands down, it was one of the best, if not the best, shawarma I've ever tried in Manila. But the hubby said he still prefers the one from Kebab Depot over this because of its corned-beef texture and unique flavor (okay, fine). Anyway, there was a burst of flavors in every bite of the shawarma. It was a little oily but it wasn't the greasy kind, if you know what I mean. There was also no pungent odor associated with beef that's not cooked well. The guy at the grill sure knows how to cook meats properly.



The three pita bread that accompanied our shawarma were also good. Each one was thick and filling with burns at the right sides. I dunno with you but I like my pita just like that.



All in all, the hubby and I were satisfied with our shawarma experience at SSC. It was gastronomically pleasurable and affordable, too. In fact, we plan to go back there again to order their other specialties. And soon. :)


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Persian Dinner at Kebab Depot

After visiting the wake of a friend's mom who died recently, the hubby and I along with our friend Vanessa had a nice dinner of Persian food at Kebab Depot located inside Greenhills Town Center (GTC). Coming from Sta. Mesa, you just turn right to Gilmore Ave. and drive straight until you see the signage of GTC.




Kebab Depot serves good Persian food! I had no idea until I tasted them. Our orders consisted of the following Persian favorites: hummus with pita bread, shawarma (also in pita bread), sizzling shawarma (which the hubby ate with plain rice), and beef korma with beryani rice (this one's spicy!).

While my two companions had fresh dalandan juice, I went for the perfect drink, yogurt shake.


fresh dalandan juice, P45


yogurt shake, P60

Vanessa liked her hummus which was lightly-seasoned but still very flavorful.


hummus (this came with one pita bread), P70


extra pita bread, P15 each

The same goes for her shawarma in pita bread. I remember she was raving how the beef was tender and had a corned beef-like texture. I couldn't agree more. The beef was fork-tender and very tasty! Actually, the hubby and I ended up ordering one pita bread each so we could finish off the remaining sizzling shawarma.


shawarma in pita bread, P80


sizzling shawarma, P140

Now, the difference between the shawarma and the sizzling shawarma is the presence of an egg. The latter had it which the hubby happily mixed with the rest of the beef dish. Speaking of the sizzling shawarma, I think it's so sulit at P140! No doubt that with the generous serving, it could easily feed four people by ordering four pita bread to go with it. Yeah, I just thought about it now! Haha.

My beef korma, on the other hand, was a delight in its own right. It was very delicious, I could eat it again and again. The beef was also fork-tender and there was a burst of flavors in every bite. The beryani rice was a little bit soggy and oily but I didn't care because it was yummy as well. Next time, though, I'll try their basmati rice for the long grain effect and minus the spice.


beef korma with beryani rice, P155

Kebab Depot is a dainty restaurant with cozy interiors and sharing space with its sister company Salsa Verde. If I'm not mistaken, they have the same owner. You could order food from both restaurants wherever you're sitting at. Cool, ayt?


the hubby


with our friend Vanessa

The food at Kebab Depot are definitely top-notch. During our visit, everything tasted fresh and good. I appreciated the fact that the servers were friendly and all our orders were served hot off the kitchen. It sure made our dining experience there more enjoyable and satisfying. We are definitely going back to Kebab Depot for our Persian food fix! :)

Kebab Depot
Unit 22 Greenhills Town Center,
2 Granada St., Brgy. Valencia, Quezon City
(+632) 477-9275


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Fuss-Free and Flavorful Persian Food at World Class Persian Kebab

After getting a laser underarm hair removal treatment from White Beauty Face and Body Center (West Avenue branch), I asked my two companions for the night (the fiancee and his sister Albie) to have dinner at World Class Persian Kebab located on the corner of Tomas Morato and E. Rodriguez, Jr., Avenue. I have heard good feedbacks about the restaurant online and thought it was the perfect opportunity to sample their offerings since it's within the vicinity.



World Class Persian Kebab is housed in an old building along with other small establishments. The restaurant has several tables inside and a few more outside. Aside from the orange and yellow color combination of the interiors, two things I easily noticed during our visit were the low ceiling and the not so neat surroundings.



When we got seated, the waitress immediately approached us and handed us their laminated menu. We already knew what to order. Edwin had Beef Shawarma with Jasmine Rice (P95), Albie got Chicken Shawarma with Basmati Rice (P120) and I settled for the popular Chelo Kebab with Basmati Rice (P170). While they got soda for drinks (P30 per can), I opted to try their Green Mango Yogurt Shake (P50). I initially asked for the Lassi but the girl said they didn't have it that night.

I think we had waited for about 10 minutes before our individual orders arrived. I was expecting my food (especially my rice)to be served hot (it was a chilly night, after all) but it was just on the warm side. For me, it felt like they just reheated it or something. The taste, however, was a different story.

My Chelo Kebab, which was a plate of long-grained Basmati rice with a slice of butter on top, two pieces of beef (a kebab and a tenderloin), two grilled tomatoes and one half grilled white onion, was satisfying. The kebab was juicy and flavorful while the tenderloin was well-seasoned but was a bit on the chewy side because of the presence of some ligaments in it. I mixed my Basmati rice with the butter and ate the kebab along with the grilled tomatoes and onion. Each bite was a delight to my taste buds. Yum. Never mind the aftertastes from the onion and the strong flavors of the kebab that went home with me. Haha.


Chelo Kebab

Both Edwin and Albie had shawarma rice, the only difference was the meat used. They each had a plate of rice with shawarma and some sliced tomatoes, white onion, cucumber and Baguio pechay (similar to the Chinese's wom bok). They both liked their meal so I guess they tasted good as well.


Chicken Shawarma Rice


Beef Shawarma Rice

This condiment duo surely did a great job adding flavor and spice to our meals:


chili and garlic sauces

My green mango shake was cool and refreshing. I like that it had just the right sweetness and ice texture. It came in a medium glass which made me think it's worth its P50 price tag.


Green Mango Yogurt Shake



World Class Persian Kebab is open 24/7. I like the fact that it offers no frills dining and serves good Persian food at affordable prices. I just hope they issue a uniform to their waitresses as they are just wearing casual clothes and you could barely distinguish them from the diners except when you take note of the way they speak and look. I also hope they train their staff more about taking orders and dealing with customers. The girl who took our order sounded as if she was in a hurry and was in a serious mode all throughout our conversation. A smile goes a long way and is always appreciated.


with the fiancee


with his sister Albie

Did I mention parking is not a problem here? They have parking spaces in front and on the Tomas Morato side of the restaurant. Plus, there is a parking lot beside the building on the E. Rodriguez, Jr. Ave. side that charges a meager sum of P20 per vehicle (the lowest I've seen in a Metro Manila parking lot).

Things I liked:

the fuss-free and flavorful Persian food
the refreshing Green Mango Yogurt Shake
ample parking spaces

Things I didn't like:

the hurried and not so friendly service
the not so clean restrooms
the poor maintenance of the dining area

Food wise, the restaurant is a must-visit. But if you want better ambience and a more maintained dining area and restrooms, try checking out the other kebab places in the metro.


Photo taken from http://www.wheninmanila.com


World Class Persian Kebab
Tomas Morato cor. E. Rodriguez Ave.
Quezon City


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My Not So Good Impression of Ababu Persian Kitchen in Boracay

One of the dinners we had during our recent Boracay trip was at Ababu Persian Kitchen at Station 1. I was craving for Persian food when we chanced upon this restaurant that had pictures of their value meals posted on their two access doors (one fronting the beach and the other fronting the road). The prices of the value meals were very cheap at just P100 so we got excited to try them. But it seemed luck was not on our side because we got disappointed with the food.



Edwin ordered their Shawarma Rice Meal while I got their Beef Kebab Rice Meal.For P100 per meal (very affordable!), these already came with bottom less iced tea. Instead of refilling our glasses, they just served a pitcher of iced tea for us to share. I thought it was smart.



We were in the middle of our conversation when our orders came out. We each got a plate of rice with chopped fresh onions and tomatoes and sweet corn. Mine also had a small piece of beef kebab while Edwin had a tiny serving of shawarma.





I was expecting my beef kebab to be tender but it was rubbery. I was expecting a piece of grilled, whole tomato but what I got were chopped tomatoes. The rice on the poster looked moist and buttery but mine was far from it. But knowing myself, I wouldn't complain on this blog if the taste of the food was okay. Unfortunately, it couldn't be said to my food. The beef kebab I had tasted old and bland. Edwin's shawarma tasted better but there was nothing really special about it.

Even the presentation didn't compensate for our food's lack of good taste. Our orders were served in simple plates and in a messy manner. You be the judge.



I understand that rent and utilities are expensive in Boracay but to compromise the quality of their food won't help Ababu Persian Kitchen regain their investment fast and stay in the food business for long. Rather, it could only drive their customers away which would mean less business for them in the long run.

Before I could lay out more business-related forecasts here, I'll stop already. In fairness to the restaurant, both their garlic-yogurt sauce and hot sauce were good. Also, their staff were very efficient and friendly to us. I also believe that their restaurant can still improve.





Have you dined at Ababu Persian Kitchen in Boracay? Did you enjoy their food?

Ababu Persia Kitchen
Station 1, White Beach
Boracay Island
Malay, Aklan


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