If you’re looking for flavourful dishes on a student budget without sacrificing quality or service, Ali Baba Kabab is a good place to start your hunt. Ali Baba can be found a short walk from campus in the downtown area, and is filled with large windows and wooden decor that offer a warm and homey atmosphere.
Prepare your stomachs for portions of food that are ridiculously easy to share. Since the restaurant is on the smaller side, Ali Baba is more suited to small groups. So drag a few of your closest friends to get cozy with you while experiencing an authentic Persian meal.
Photo by Joyce Li
The appetizers at Ali Baba Kabab are nothing short of mouth-watering, particularly the garlic potatoes. I never knew that potatoes could be jam-packed with so much flavour. Even though my friend ordered the potatoes for herself, I ended up eating most of them.
I recommend getting two orders of potatoes if you’re with friends or even three if you’re by yourself. That way, you won’t feel embarrassed when gorging yourself with these little pieces of heaven.
Appetizers also include vegetarian samosas, which are elegantly presented and demand to be devoured immediately.
Photo by Joyce Li
Then there was the soup. Oh that soup. Much like the other dishes I tasted, the soup was extremely strong in flavour. This is not your grandmother’s Thanksgiving chicken soup. If you’re looking for some comfort soup, try a simple broccoli cheddar recipe instead.
For those craving a solid combination of soft rice and savoury meat, the Ali Baba Chicken and Saffron Chicken are promising options. Both come with a generous mound of rice adorned with dried fruit and a neat row of steamy, spicy meat.
Sharing is caring, so take advantage of the bite-sized meat portions by sharing a piece with everyone at the table.
Photo by Joyce Li
For those who want a little bit of everything, the shawarma mix plate includes chicken, beef, rice, salad, and hummus. Use the complimentary pita to pack these ingredients into one (or several) flavourful bites of Ali Baba goodness.
Photo by Joyce Li
Perhaps the most unforgettable dish of the bunch is the baghali polo. If lamb is your meat of choice, don’t pass up this experience. The baghali polo is one humongous hunk of meat that you won’t want to share once you take a bite of its spiced tomato flavour.
Try mixing the warm broth with your rice for a softer taste. For those of you unsure about lamb, at least it’s not raccoon. So take a risk and stuff your face with lamb.
Photo by Joyce Li
Ali Baba’s menu, filled with bold and spicy dishes, is most definitely a welcomed departure from what any of us can even hope to make at home. Add the warm atmosphere with the great service, and you’ll be sure to have a memorable restaurant experience unique to Ali Baba Kabab.
The menu is available online if you’re the kind of person that likes to drool all over your keyboard to work up an appetite.
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