Kabul Kabab House on Gerrard Street is one of the oldest Afghan restaurants in Toronto.  It’s truly a family affair, dating back some 30 years.  With the second generation now at the helm, they continue to be a fixture in the Gerrard India Bazaar.

A fundamental component of Afghan culture is the exceptional level of generous hospitality… making this a favorite spot amongst the neighborhood locals.  Truth be told,  Kabul Kabab House is also one of the Toronto Food Blog’s go-to sneaky spots any time we find ourselves Gush-nah ast-um (hungry) on the lower-eastside.

We absolutely love to start with an order of their Mantu.  These cumin-laden steamed dumplings are plump w/ lamb and finished with copious amounts of spicy tomatoes and herbed yogurt.  Generous on the seasoning, size and price, we often just dine & dash after finishing this perfection on a plate.  Makes for a great Naan-eh ch-aw-sht (lunch)!

BBQ and kababs are the eponymous star here.  The meats get threaded onto long skewers and cooked over charcoal (without the use of a grill).  Warizi Kabab is the strongest of orders… the best of both worlds!  Kofta (ground beef & lamb) is outrageously aromatic and rolls up nicely into Nan flatbread with the accompanying salad.  We then eat the tandoori chicken kabab with the leftover rice.  The smokiness of the BBQ permeates through every bite.

We’re also enormous fans of curry, and these guys have a banger on the menu served with Kabuli Pilau.  The beef comes braised in a firecracker of a gravy.  The sweetness of the carrots & raisins cools everything down nicely.  The rice mops up the leftover sauce.   Ma-za-dawr (delicious)!

Next time you’re in the Gerard India Bazaar and have a hankering to try something new, or if you already love the taste of Afghan home-cooking,  Kabul Kabab House might just be the spot for you.  Toronto Food Blog approved to the Nth-degree.

They even have a traditional Dastarkhan, which is an elevated platform, covered with an Afghan rug, allowing a group or family to dine together cross-legged with the spread of dishes in the middle for sharsies.

No-sh-eh ja-awn (Bon Appetite)!