Gulzaar Halaal Restaurant & Bakery
Categories: Middle Eastern, Halal, Indian/Pakistani [Edit]
1880 W San Carlos StSan Jose, CA 95128 (408) 292-2786
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
72 reviews
San Jose, CA
"who would've guessed my first 5 star review would be about an indian restaurant, given that i am not a big fan of it. This place was great.…" read more »
65 Reviews for Gulzaar Halaal Restaurant & Bakery
Biriyani is good as usual. Tried the lentil soup. They were out of barley soup. I also called once and they were out of biriyani. Don't always count on them to have all the item menus available. The lentil soup tasted like baby food. PUKE!
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05/02/2008
Update: I went back there two days later craving their chicken samosas. I decided to try the… Read more »
Great place. Great food. The owner is always smiling and very friendly.
We tried their Lentil Soup. Being an Indian, I thought it would just be OK. But their soup had fried onion shreds, which gave it a very nice flavour.
We also tried their hummus, and it was really good. Great portion sizes.
Lastly, we tried their sandwich. That was quite good too..
For dessert, we ate something (Can't remember what), but it was quite good too. Will update as soon as I remember, or re-visit.
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Well, now after four months, we're going here weekly at least.
Emam (the owner) is just as friendly as ever, and is always happy and smiling, spending time to talk to us every time we go. He's been getting alot of business lately, with many catering orders and lunch-rushes, so sometimes an item might be out for the day, but he says that, after seeing how much attention they're getting, they now are considering getting a larger location to accommodate the orders (its really a very small building, with six tables, and a tiny kitchen).
The menu is a little small, and feels that way after I've had every item they offer a dozen times over, but everything on it is great. With the issues he's having with space and time, its understandable that they can't get more items on the menu for now.
Chicken biryani one of my favorites, always fresh and hot (just dont order it "mild", or there will be almost no seasoning on it, still good, but not the same). The veggie and chicken samosas are both terrific, with the chicken samosas a more savory, sage-y flavor, and the veggie samosas a slightly sweet veggie taste, and both are always served hot and crispy. The jebneh (a type of big, toasty flatbread covered in melted white cheese) is always a great side too.
For more loyal fans, sometimes he'll have special items when they have time to make them, like pakora (fried dumplings of cheese and veggies, really great with the spicy red sauce/chutney). Or his "secret dessert" that takes three days to make and is only availible once in a long while (too long really, I wish I could have it every time!).
The desserts they have in the case are all great too: walnut baklava and pistachio baklava, a Lebanese cookie something like really soft shortbread, sesame bisquits, date filled round cookies, and a honey/coconut cake. I love all of them, especially the walnut baklava and shortbread, except the pistachio baklava has rather large pistachio chunks and gets a little too chewy.
I'm still going there all the time, and completely think the drive (and parking!) is worth it, and I can't wait if he opens up in a new location, hopefully letting him add more dishes to his menu!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/07/2008
Thank you yelpers for helping me find this awesome restaurant! I swear, without this page, you might… Read more »
Honestly, I was really very excited to go to this restaurant after reading its reviews on yelp.
So I thought to myself that it was a must to at least try it. Well, here goes:
FOOD:
Their Koobideh sandwich was nothing special. I wanted to order the wrap but the owner said the sandwiches are better and I saw a table of 3 guys eating the sandwiches-- so I thought maybe they are good. A french roll that was soft and fluffy and a little sweet with one small piece of beef koobideh lettuce mayo and tomatoe and cucumber... I could have gone to subway and got a better and bigger sandwich full of tasy meat and greens for less money. The bread was my favorite part of the sandwich which was similar to safeway's french rolls.
I've had vegetarian sambosas at Arya Cuisine in Cupertino and they are BOMB... I LOVE meat but these vegetarian fluff flour pastries of creamy potato saffron mix at Arya really set the standard for me and their housemade spicy green sauce is mouth watering... mmmm... On YELP I read praises of the chicken samosa at Gulzaar so I had to try it and even the owner said it was good and that it had more flavor than the vegetarian samosa. So I ordered the chicken samosa and it tasted like a crispy filled tort of dry chicken and parsley. I had to ask for spicy green sauce and it was such a dark green color as if it were sitting in the sun tanning to its darkest possible shade of green and the spicyness was like eating a jalapeno straight up.. they could have added some acidity to it like vinegar like other popular hot sauces... the red sauce that the samosas came with tasted like cocktail sauce mixed with ketchup. gross... but I needed some sauce to swallow that dry chicken...
The lentil soup had decent flavor, however, the lentils were blended in so there was absolutely NO texture.. so I agree with Katherine L. that it kinda did taste like baby food!!! maybe if I were 90 years old and lived on and IV drip that soup might taste good... or not. and I think not... Not only that my soup was served in a flimsy plastic cup and when I picked it up with one hand as if it were an ice cream cone it toppled over and spilled half my soup on the table. And the owner said don't worry about it as if it were my fault but if the plastic cup weren't soooo DANG FLIMSY it never would've happened because I always finish my soup ESPECIALLY when it is served right--IN A BOWL.
AMBIANCE:
Place is small and needs a makeover BAD. It is also in a weird location- right next to a motorcycle store off of san carlos. This place is very much a hole in the wall with the front door being the biggest window for light to shine into a dimly lit restaurant.. I don't mind hole in the wall restaurants as long as the food and service is good... And this place's service was slow and the food was bad. I left the place feeling hungry and unsatisfied by the overall experience.... I would have ordered more food but I knew that the other items would probably be just as dry and bland.
I am finally reviewing this placa after 2 trips there. Why you ask? Well, the first time I went there, it was about 6pm and they ahd already run out of the biryani rice. WHAT!!?? No freaking way dude!! The owner informs me that the last couple before us got the last order of the biryani. Ohhh! I gave that couple my evil stare, whilst envying their capture of the last biryani order.
So, i tried the sandwiches (yes, i took one home as well) and the samosas. BOING!!! The samosas hit the jackpot like nobody's business..! And the sandwich was good.... Oohhh..... Ahhh!! I left there stomach full, a happy woman and knowing that yelp hasn't dissappointed me yet!
Round 2 - Saturday - Lunch.
I wanted to watch tv at home but was too lazy to cook. Plus I had been craving the biryani for a couple of days then. So, i went over to Gulzaars and got in the 1st order of the day. WOO HOO!!! Hmmm.... What did i get? The chicken tikka biryani and the beef kebab biryani, dhal, hummus, baba ghanooj and samosas of course! So, I called my frens over and we had a biryani party in front of the tv. The hummus was awesome! It was a little over garlicky but i swabbed that container to death until there was no trace of the hummus left.
I am still a very happy person! I love this place. It hasn't failed me yet. The owner is always nice and attentive. i always feel like i am at home here. I know he doesn't remember me but his hospitality makes me feel warm and very welcomed here.
I will definitely go back there soon. If you want to avoid the wait, go before the lunch crowd hits or after. The place is small, and it does get kinda warm in the summer. Also, if you go during before or after lunch, you might get lucky and get a good parking spot right in front of the place.
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Sorry guys I don't see what the hype is all about :(. Went there late afternoon on a weekend the service was very very slow (two other customers in the restaurant at that time) and the food was definitely not worth the long wait.
I just had to visit this place after hearing good reviews on Yelp. I went for lunch and it was not crowded at all. The owner and staff are very nice and attentive. I ordered the chicken samosa (didn't even get a chance to eat it) and the beef kabob. The kabob was awesome and the rice was really tasty. Most kabob places just give you the plain white basmati rice. This place had flavored rice (much better). The portions are very good for the price.
***** You can pay with debit/credit card for purchase but can't tip on the card. If you would like to tip you must bring cash*************
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Hot Dammn these folks know how to cook. The lil' Lady and I hopped in the Chevy (our Schwinn bikes) and moseyed over here. Once there we'z hunkered down for some good eats (we reeds the Yelp ri-views prior on our ari-v-al). I thought this feller was from the south on account of the hospitality upon our en-ter-ance.
Sat down, grabbed a couple of cold ones (Cola's of course as Senior Iman is a Muslim man from what i gathered - therefore no alcohol- n' that was fine by us as we aren't drinkers either) *I've heard from around the bend that the word alkeehol is an Arabic word, but i digress*
The misses n' I shared the hummus and a rather grande chicken Samosa- oooooooh-wee... reminded me of the home cook'n my momma used to wrestle up back in Tennessee. Minus the exotic names and flavors- y'all know what i mean. Good food is just plain good food.
Well we coursed on the beef kabob and saffron rice- now i reckon some of you readers have eaten at the fine Afghan establishments in the cities to our north. This place hold its own. Lawz yes; they wrangle with the best of them-
1.spices are even and not over-powering 2. Service is extremely friendly 3. And the place is eee-maculate. I love a clean dining joint. As that Alton feller would say "thats good eats". I hope you'z folks enjoy it as much as we done enjoyed it- we'll be back.
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I can count how many times I've had Indian food on one finger.
This place is just blocks from the exclusive Santa Row, yet in a kinda scary neighborhood. I never dock stars for location though.
I LOVE love LOVED the food here~ I tried the Chicken Birani, Samosa, & Sandwich, as well as the beef Kabob Sandwich, Hummas, Baklava, pistachio cookie, and some coconut honey cake!
By far the BEST was my Spicy Beef Kabob Sandwich! The Samosa was excellent, but deep fried, you could deep fry a turd and it would be good. Not saying this in any way resembled a turd, oh contrair! It was soo tasty, a crunchy, flavorful spicy little pocket from heaven!
It has made me a new fan of Indian cuisine. The reason it got a star docked??? Our meal took about an hour total, start to finish and a HALF an hour to pay. The nice friendly owner wouldn't stop talking and ring us up. I almost just left without paying. Here's a hint. When I say "ok we REALLY have to go now, do you want me to pay for my tasty meal or is it on the house", well that means REALLY I wanna go now.
He kept going on and on and on...
I almost smacked Ali when she asked him another question! I'm like "don't you have an appointment to get too Ali?? Ixnay on the questionay's"
That.... and their's no booze here, no beer, nothin.
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Still great here despite all the positive reviews the place is not a madhouse yet. The hummus was very good, a slight tang and the large is plenty enough for a meal by itself. The Pita bread comes out warm from the oven and you can always get more if you run out. Recommended!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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06/30/2008
Best dang spicy beef kabob sandwhich I've had in my life. Not that I've had that many, but this… Read more »
I liked this restaurant a lot back when it was known as the Lebanese Bakery, but I love it now. The place is small, and there's no AC, so get your food to-go on a hot day. It's located on a surreal section of San Carlos - after you dine in, you can window shop for a Vespa scooter.
Everything is made fresh to order, so service isn't super speedy. That just gives you an excuse to order hummus for an appetizer while you wait for your oh-so-delicious beryani. The wraps are also pretty tasty. I always save room for a tiny slice of baklava, because I happen to suffer from a baklava addiction. Oh, the horror.
The owner is an adorable little man, who vaguely reminds me of my late great uncle (which is strange, because my great uncle was a little Austrian dude). If you're willing to keep an open mind, you should definitely try this place.
"The Chicken Biryani is the most expensive dish."
The owner/cook is a really nice man but sometimes you just don't have all day to chat. I came here with Miss Colleen and Sir Dono for lunch today! It was just as amazing as all the other reviews! Cheap, great food and fast! We ordered the hummus, chicken samosas, Chicken Biryani, beef kabob sandwich and chicken sandwich. All of the dishes were fantastic! My favorite had to be the chicken samosas. I have never had them before but they are so good!! I also really enjoyed the Chicken Biryani which was really tasty and great with their yogurt sauce! Hummus was very fresh and delicious with their warm pita bread.. The chicken and beef kabob sandwiches were yummy and definitely had some kick! I can't wait to come back here to try more of their food! Thank you Yelp!
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5 sparkling stars for the chicken sandwich and samosas. the chicken sandwich reminded me of a vietnamese banh mi except the chicken is saffrony. soft toasted bread. i wanted to order another to go.
GHRB has one of the best tasting samosas ever! the chicken is finely minced and it's packed with mint leaves which gives the samosa such a fragrant aftertaste. my new addiction!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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07/07/2008
I love to support mom and pop joints like Gulzaar. It's a small hole in the wall shop nearby a… Read more »
Mom and Pop status: Check
Great Service: Check
Tasty Yogurt Sauce: Check
Flavorful Seasonings: Check
Good Portions: Check
Quality ingredients: Check
The owner, Iman was about the nicest and most accommodating person you could have met. He seemed to keep the restaurant open past their closing time for our small party of 3, though he assured us that he was waiting for pick up orders. Not sure what the real story was, but the gesture was well received.
Everyone in the party had the Chicken Biryani (with the special yogurt sauce) and chicken samosa (OMG DELISH). I also ordered the special bread with feta and tomatoes. Let's just say that my mouth is watering as I write this review. I am going to try to have this place cater for my work. Let's see if I can hook some other folks onto this place.
Power to the Mom and Pops spots!
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I will be a minimalist for this review:
Chicken Biryani and hummus da best evah!!! Service is thumbs up!
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Omfg! I found this place on the last night I spent in San Jose before moving out (Jack in the Crack wasn't cutting it for me so on I drove). I can't believe this hole in the wall existed. Why don't I check out Yelp more often?! Doh!
I ordered the chicken biryani and nearly died! It was so fucking divine! I can't even believe the friendly owner doesn't charge enough for the truly awesome meal. Cheap eats for an absolutely fantastic dinner!
I decided to take the pita and hummus to go...and I highly recommend this! Their hummus is smooth and creamy; it melts oh-so-heavenly in your mouth.
I don't know if I'd voluntarily go back to San Jose for kicks, but if I happen to be in the area (for a damn good reason...not that I hate SanJo...I'm just sayin'), I would get my sweet ass into this little piece of nirvana and order up their yummies.
Oh yeah, I learned my lesson. Check Yelp! Jeezus! It's here for a reason. And yeah, I need to keep up with my yelping, too.
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Updated - GOD the chicken Biryani is the best! It's of course better eating it made fresh right after they just finish cooking the rice, but even to great to go... it's amazing
Even though it's been over a month from my last visit he still remembered me and was extremely quick with my to go order!
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07/06/2008
Nomnomnomnom...
Talk about a hole in the wall place, I drove by it twice looking for it and then had… Read more »
This place is excellent.
Let me start by saying, I don't think I have had friendlier service before. While I was waiting for the food, the owner would occasionally come to speak with me, ask me what directed me there (I told him about yelp, and he said he wasn't good with computers, hehe). I was the only one in there for a while, and the atmosphere was friendly.
I ordered the Chicken Tikka Plate (note that the prices have risen a bit since the yellow menu in the pictures was last taken), and got it spicy. The spiciness factor is not that bad, I felt like it was perfectly spicy, myself. If you can go eat spicy salsa in a mexican restaurant, than this should be no problem.
The salad that accompanied the dish was fresh and tasty, cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots. The Chicken was one leg and thigh, and was the best chicken I've had in a very long time. It was placed over saffron rice and this tasted phenomenal. The portions were good too, As I still have half a thigh and a third of my rice left over and I am completely stuffed (two people could finish one plate and be sufficiently fed, maybe not stuffed, but satisfied), it will be a good midnight snack tonight!
This place is great, sure it may be expensive when you compare it to delis or something, but compared to nice sit-down restaurants, this is cheaper and better. It sucks so much that I am moving from the area, because this is an instant favorite for me and I will return any time I come back into San Jose. Don't miss this place!
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I like the beef kebob sandwich at this place. I don't go for the double meat because that is way too much meat in a sandwich :). Their briyana nice is no joke either. Delicious food plus friendly owner makes this place a great eat.
this place is a strong contender for www.stuffwhitepeopleli..., as it is nestled between the meth den that is the "glass gecko" and the flash only tattoo parlor, it's also #1 on the current "best of yelp"...
the owner is the most adorable man ever, always cheerful and happy to see you. the menu is very limited, a hybrid of lebanese, indian, and african influences and he is often out of something, so be willing to try something that no one has ever heard of and be willing to take a substitution because everything is absolutely delicious. we brought my 18 year old sister here, who i'm convinced eats nothing other then guacamole and pop rocks- and she put away half an order of hummus , a giant kebab sandwich, a veggie samosa and two pieces of baklava for dessert.
they are closed on fridays, are out of rice by 3pm everyday, and don't get deliveries on monday's so the bread can be stale. but, if you come on tuesday before 3pm you should have no problem earning your street cred through samosa eating on the bad side of town.
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Not to much variety to choose from, but whatever is on the menu is done the right way...
Things to get:
Biryani plate, Kabob plate, chicken sandwich, kabob sandwich...
Samosas are freshly fried and are mighty tasty.
The owner, Eman, is incredibly gregarious...
Five stars for him walking around and making sure everything is to your liking..
OK. Informed of this spot in the area by the numerous Yelp reviews, I managed to drop in for dinner yesterday. What everybody else says! I tried the chicken biryani set in saffron rice and went all ecstatic over the rice which was flavored and colored with a really distinct never-tasted-before combination of saffron, mint, cilantro, some mildly hot spice. and who knows what else.
I also ordered take out on their Veggie-Feta flat bread, and their Baba Ganoojh. Luved the flat bread.. As for the Baba Ganoojh .. I think I prefer my *own* overwhelming garlicky, tahini-based egg-plant concoction to theirs.. No matter. Plenty of other stuff to chose from.. which I will get around to eventually.. this place being so close and affordable and all.
I suppose also, my 5 star is unduly influenced by the friendliness and unpretentiousness of Imam, the waiter?/cashier?/proprietor? As others have mentioned, he seems to enjoy sitting down and chatting with all the customers.. as if he had all the time in the world and without the slightest trace of hustle in his discourse.. He just projects a kind of laid-back delight in tending to his humble enterprise.. just seems to odd in this day and age.
I can't help but notice that the Burbank area.. not exactly the high-rent district.. is getting its share of humble but note-worthy little ethnic eateries.. Vicky's for pupusas, Anise for Vietnamese fusion, Falafel's Drive-in.. for well, you know, falafel's, Dia de Pesca for Mexican sea food, and now Galzaar Halaal.. Welcome to the neighborhood, man!
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Two words: CHICKEN BIRYANI
Get it. It's wonderful.
I love this place so much that I wish I can give it 6 stars. I've only been here once and already I am in love. The owner is awesome; very personable. I told him I was going to write him a good review on Yelp, so here I am. HELLO & THANK YOU!
The chicken biryani is the best I've ever had. And this is coming from someone who loves Indian/Pakistani food more than life itself. I'm literally salivating on my keyboard just thinking about it. So before I clean the slobber off my desk, I just want to say: you have to try this place out. It's a small mom and pop restaurant with a welcoming atmosphere. You will love it. I will definitely return to bring the mister and try out the other dishes.
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This is one of my favorite spots now in the whole south bay. The price is very reasonable for the quality and flavor you get. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious and pretty authentic too. The warm hospitality makes you feel comfortable and homey while enjoying a delicious meal.
The location and parking situation isn't the greatest, but after being completely and utterly satisfied I didn't mind one bit.
Try some of the baked goods, I got one of each and they were all fantastic! Hats off to a quality place to grab a good bite to eat.
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All I can say is that the chicken: biryani, samosa, and sandwiches are friggen GOOD!
I can't believe this place is so cheap. Don't be afraid to try all the other items!!!
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We visited gulzaar today, and it does not look like much. If you like to go to a restaurant for the ambience and experience...I recommend going elsewhere. However, if you like good food at a reasonable price, say hello to gulzaar.
We ordered the chicken biryani, chicken tikka and chicken wrap. Everything was mouthwatering-ly devilishly delicious. We're Indian, so definitely not spice-shy, and ordered everything spicy. Our taste buds were in for a treat. Everything was flavorful sort of like Indian food, but still different. Let me just say these guys know what they are doing!
The 5 stars is for the personal touch. The old man behind the counter, was super-kind, non-intrusive, and REALLY bothered about us enjoying our food. When was the last time you went to a restaurant where the owner(?) chatted with you for 10 minutes and made sure you liked everything?
We'll be back!
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Today was my first visit to this gem, but it won't be the last. The owner was friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious. We tried chicken biryani, samosas, fatoush salad and a variety of breads, and we were pleased by them all. Plus, it feels great to support a family business:)
Eman (sp?), you rock. Family owned and operated place....when I walked in, it just FELT and SMELLED like someone's home..neat and clean as a pin...whoa....and it is the best home cooking I've had in San Jose, period. WOW is all I can say. I am gluten intolerant, and the menu rocks save the sandwiches and the samosas for obvious reasons (but they look and smell incredible). They even grind their meat twice daily...now that's fresh!
I come here at least once a week and while I generally consider most of my decisions to be wrong or bad ones, when I look back on the week I can always count on my decision to eat here as a tally mark in the good column.
The food here is just awesome. I particularly enjoy getting myself a chicken sandwich with a chicken samosa to satisfy my appetite. From the bread to the chicken to the lettuce to the everything else, the ingredients are all top notch.
Let's not forget about the flavors. There are flavors I have experienced here that have sent me into dream like trances in which I have no control over my actions, but have been reported as speaking in unkown tongues, performing feats of seeming physical impossibility and making absurd and ludacris claims like "I invented the trapezoid".
When I come to, I know only what those around me tell me of the events. I have no recollection of what took place or how much time transpired, but I do know with the surest conviction that I had a damn good meal.
Nonsense aside, the owner is an incredibly nice guy and is genuinely appreciative of your patronage which always makes you feel very welcome. Not only do you feel great about the meal you just had, but you are also very glad to give this man and his family your business.
I can't say enough good things about this place and would recommend it to any and everyone.
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This will now be part of my regular rotation of places to eat. It is so good! I already have my next meal planned.
We walked in on a Saturday early evening and we were the only ones there. The owner is very attentive, helpful and personable. Like others have mentioned, he's from South Africa and he describes his dishes as a blend of cuisines from the Middle East, India and other African countries. He says his recipes have been worked on to have good flavor that doesn't overpower the actual meat or rice that's included. And it was delicious!
We had the chicken samosa which is nothing like Indian samosas. This is a flakier pastry shell, sweeter in taste and not oily. The filling is ground chicken with lots of herbs and spices. A must try when you go. Also has the manakeesh which he said was Lebanese in origin. It is baked flat bread with toppings. We had the zaatar jebneh which is half of the thyme spread with sesame seeds and half cheese. He said its Arab cheese which is really mild in flavor and melts like mozzarella. They make their own dough in house. The bread is flakey on the outside but light and chewy on the inside.
The chicken biryani which he recommended and says is their signature dish is delicious. We asked for it spicy but it's not a hot spicy, more of a slight kick. The plate is enough for two and it has seasoned basmati rice with chicken mixed in. The chicken was really good, moist and flavorful. He told us that next time we should try the chicken tikka to compare the flavors of the chicken; the rice is the same on both plates.
The online menu has pictures and it's exactly what you get. Same pictures are posted in the restaurant. He mentioned that most of their business is catering but he's very thankful to have walk in customers. We mentioned that we found him on yelp and he says other people have told him about it but that he does not have a computer so he hasn't been able to check, but is very thankful for the feedback.
Definitely going back, probably this week.
UPDATE:
Went back on a Thursday night. He remembered us and chatted with us again. One other person there when we walked in and 4 more when we left. Looks like business is picking up.
The Chicken Tikka is outstanding! I liked this better than the byriani. The chicken was much more flavorful and you can cut it with a spoon. Tender, juicy and just the right amount of spice. You get a thigh, drumstick and two smaller pieces so it's enough to share. The rice is the same as the other dishes and still good. We asked for the meal spicy but it wasn't spicy hot. If you like a little kick, definitely get it. You can ask for more yogurt sauce that comes with it. I love that sauce! I drown the rice in it. Water doesn't come to your table, you have to ask for it. Otherwise, get your orwn drink from the fridge.
Next I will try the wraps. Stay tuned. . .
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My co-worker and I came here for lunch.
The rice is excellent: fragrant with all sorts of spices, fried shallots that gave a nice flavorful cruch in every bite, and a little bit of lentils. The eggplant dip (Baba Ghanooj) has a nice smooth creamy texture, and their warm pita bread is great.
The only reason for -1 star is because I felt that their prices (the menu on Yelp! is outdated; Chicken/Beef plates are now $9.95) were a bit high for the atmosphere of the restaurant. They use plastic plates and utencils, and the table has a sticky plastic cover which is a bit unpleasant to the touch. The plate is the cheap styrofoam kind so if you aren't careful when cutting up your meat, you could cut right through the plate.
Other than that, the owner is very very friendly and helpful, and the food was very good!
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We wanted to come here because of the raving Yelp reviews and we were happy to try something new out for lunch. We first tried to visit on a Friday, but it was closed for religious reasons (just FYI).
So, we came back on a Sunday afternoon. People started to pack in as soon as we showed up, so it's clearly a popular community hot-spot, especially for take-outs and people with families. The man behind the counter is SUPER sweet. He kept checking on us and made sure we were happy throughout our visit. He made the trip out there for us, even if the food wasn't great.
Here's a summary of our eats:
- Manakeesh- It's like Indian naan with toppings... kind of like your flavored naan in an Indian or Pakistani restaurant. There are only a few choices, but we ordered the 1/2 cheese, 1/2 zaatar (thyme seasoning). It was pretty good, but I've had better especially for the price. $3.50
-Chicken sandwich- Really tasty. The meat was really juicy and it had a spicy sauce that has "been scientifically tested to be JUST the right amount of spice" (restaurant owner ;o) ). All of the flavors of the fillings blend in really well and the bread is soft and delicious. $5.95
-Chicken wrap- Also, very tasty. The fillings are the same as in the sandwich, but the wrap isn't as good because the wrap flatbread is not as good as the sandwich French bread roll. Again, the fillings blend very well to make this a fantastic meal. $5.95
We were most certainly full after eating this delicious meal. We will come here again for the chicken sandwich. The prices are a little more inflated than I'd normally pay for such items. I would rather go to Tandoori Oven to get similar items, but the very nice man who owns the place makes me feel good about coming here... so I'll be back!! Next time, I'll try the samosas I hear such great things about and maybe the biryani!
Imma give this place 4.5 stars.
the bad: slow! parking was bad, baba ghanooj was average.
the good: chicken samosas were hella good. the biryani was great,
flavorful and it looked/tasted like they put a lot of care/time into it
(although I'd like it a little bit saltier). owner was nice, smiled all the
time and likes to talk.
taste tops everything else, so it deserves to be rounded up. I will be
back!
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It's not fast food, but it's good food. I've seen advertisements at the San Jose airport for this neighborhood, they call it "Bascom and San Carlos" but it's really Burbank. I live close to this neighborhood, but I have never stopped at any place but this restaurant which is really good.
I recommend pick up. As others here say, I like talking to the guy, but its not the place to be on a hot day.
I'm giving it an extra star for being an oasis in a desert.
If I could give this place 10 stars I would. The uncle that works there is amazing. He used to be a meat man and has been in the food industry for years.He comes around multiple times to make sure the food is to your expectations. If you have any fav dishes, you may let him know a week in advance and he will get the best meats possible. The chicken samosas are full of flavor. The chicken and veggie sandwiches are awesome. THe bread is super soft and yummy. The chicken in the biryani is super tender and juicy. He usually surprises us with veggie bhajiya/pakoras. Hummus is good with the warm pita bread. Even tho the menu is not huge, I would def recommend this place for sure. Uncle works his ass off to make sure his customers are 100 percent satisfied! In all, any dish you order will have tons of flavor!
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Considering that I haven't much experience with Pakistani and foods from that region of the world, I actually really enjoyed the food. I came here on several occasions, and have tried both their chicken and beef kabab sandwiches which were delicious, but for about $6, it may be a little pricey. The sandwiches actually were very similar to Vietnamese sandwiches, in a roll, with cucumber, and pickled carrots. I haven't eaten at the restaurant, only because it gets so busy, but the owner is super nice and very polite!
My co-worker who can only eat halaal meat loves this place and lucky for us, it's not too far from work. Parking may be a little difficult, but make a right at the Ethiopian restaurant and park in the lot on the left.
The food here is very fresh and tasty. Try the Beef Sandwich, the french bread is awesome! The Chicken Biryani is very good too, as others have already mentioned. The owner is well known Muslim in the South Bay community. Very kind and friendly person. Definitely Recommended.