Located on Mecca street, Kabab-ji Grill features authentic, healthy, and flavorful Lebanese cuisine in a casual environment. Decorated in rich traditional colors and regional artifacts, Kabab-ji invokes a warm and welcoming attitude. The signature orange brick charcoal burning grill, imported from Lebanon, perfectly captures the full flavor of the food.
Kabab-ji is one of my favorite places in Lebanon, so while in Amman I decided to give it a try, for a quick comparison with the one back home.
We ordered:
- The Ayran Laban fresh drink
- The three Hummus varieties (meat, normal and pine seeds): A spread prepared with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and topped with extra virgin olive oil
- Fried kebbe: Beef and cracked wheat, fresh mint and basil, blended and stuffed with sautéed ground beef, onion and pine nuts
- Lahmeh beajine
- Grilled halloumi
- Fried cheese rolls: Prepared with white cheddar, mozzarella in parsley, mint and onions, rolled in a phyllo pastry
- Moutabbal: Fresh roasted eggplant lightly mashed with tahini, lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil
- Kabab-ji mixed grill platter: Laham Mishwe Kabab, Shish Taouk, Frangali Kabab, Dejaj Kabab, Halabi Kabab and Kafta Kabab served with pita bread and parsley-onions mix
- Fattouch: Mixed greens, mint, arugula, tomato, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, sumac and pomegranate with brown bread toasted chips
- Tabbouleh: Fresh cut parsley and tomatoes, cracked wheat, diced onion, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil and sumac
I loved the food... It is exquisite:
- Their hot chili pickles offered to start, with olives and tomato slices
- They serve Coke not Pepsi
- The have the best Lahme Beajine (Meat Loaf) ever. Yes the best you can dream of eating. Try the Lebanese version that is even better.
- The staff is so friendly and welcoming, We were served by the smiling waiter, Nawzat, who made us feel at home. Nawzat who never yet had the chance to come to Lebanon yet, asked us about the differences between their restaurant and ours back home. It was a pleasant discussion.
- All the food preparations are finger licking good. Perfect!
- Bread is baked in-house and offered in abundance
- Their tender meat is to die for
What I didn't understand:
The conflict of identity. Two logos used! Why? On the windows you will see the original Kabab-ji logo and on the menu the other childish fast-food-like logo where Kababji is written in one word.
What I didn't like: The menu looks exactly like that of Burger King. The flames and the yellow feel simply don't reflect the professionalism of this High-end Lebanese diner.
A lovely experience that I would surely repeat and urge you to try whenever you are in Amman. Their food is simply perfect.
