The day I lunched with a well-traveled friend at Kabob Bazaar II in Bethesda, almost every customer was speaking Farsi. It seemed this Persian cuisine, with its hearty, chargrilled meats, was pretty authentic if it attracted this many Iranians.
Despite humble digs in a low-slung shopping center on Wisconsin Avenue, in less than a year, Kabob Bazaar II has built a steady customer base by offering exceptionally tasty food and dignified service. Both my friend and I know and adore Middle Eastern cuisine and were taken by surprise by the level of quality in the ingredients and by the powerful aromas captured in these dishes.
I can’t say enough about the start of the meal here. While you spend time perusing the extensive menu, the server brings a basket filled with individual cups of Most-o-kheyer, a yogurt dipping sauce, and to share--a heaping pile of fresh herbs, parsley, mint and cilantro, as well as homemade bread cooked in a clay oven.
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Yes! This is the way to a hungry person’s heart. No talk of tossing out the staff-of-life here. Owners of Kabob Bazaar recognize that fresh, hot bread will keep customers coming back, and more tolerant of any price increases in the future.
Good Enough For the Kabob Snob
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The restaurant is named Kabob Bazaar for a reason—do order their star attraction. The salivation begins from one glance at the loaded-up skewers awaiting the grill (check out the refrigerated case by the bar). Choices include kubideh (ground sirloin), salmon, beef (filet mignon or prime rib), chicken (both breast or thigh), lamb and vegetables.
There’s muscle in Kabob Bazaar’s meat preparation—first, the meats are cut into bite-sized pieces, so all surfaces are prepped in marinade—likely the marinade is made with yogurt, lemon and olive oil. Then, a smoky fire sears the outside of the meat, while spices--cinnamon, cumin, saffron and sumac--are infused inside during the slow grilling process. The meats aren’t burned or charred, just bursting with zesty juices. I was blown away by the succulent chicken thighs--usually chicken kabobs are too large and too dry, but here the tender meat melted in your mouth.
The kabobs come with a choice of seasoned basmati rice, or you may choose to go low-carb, and opt for a side salad make of crisp iceberg, topped with slices of tomato and onion. Dinner entrees include a grilled tomato, onion and small side of bread.
Persian Version
We ordered the mixed plate so we could sample several dishes. Besides giving star power to the skewers, Kabob Bazaar creates an enchanting Felafel (Farsi spelling). It’s very soft inside, with a crisp dark-brown crust on the outside and saturated with parsley. We were impressed; having eaten a fair number of dried out falafel overseas and here.
The mixed plate contained a helping of crunchy taboli made with chopped tomato, onion, cucumber, cracked wheat, and heavily garnished with mint. Hummus was included, and it had an unusual consistency—smoother with less tahini or garlic—not my favorite version, but interesting. They were worth sampling just to experience how each country puts its own spin on traditional Middle Eastern dishes.
Kabob Bazaar also offers salads topped with grilled meats and fish, or soups including a lentil and vegetable soup with a dollop of yogurt, and even a “tongue sandwich.”
Free Parking Lot, Yes, Really!
We appreciated the hospitality of the manager who inquired about our satisfaction. He also reminded me of the restaurant's free parking in the lot behind this shopping center on Woodmont Avenue (he noticed I kept leaving to put money in the meter on Wisconsin Avenue).
Kabob Bazaar’s décor was not memorable, dark with brick and stone. But one major plus--Persian music played unobtrusively in the background not hindering conversation, even when the restaurant was crowded.
I would recommend Kabob Bazaar II to anyone seeking a satisfying meal of garden-fresh, high quality ingredients in an unpretentious neighborhood atmosphere. Kabob Bazaar I has enjoyed 20 years of success in Arlington, Virginia. Bethesda is fortunate to add Kabob Bazaar II to its list of congenial ethnic restaurants.
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Kabob Bazaar II
7710 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
Tel: 301-652-5814
