Boostan Restaurants - Detroit — Restaurant in Detroit

Stopped here for the first time, it was really late, and the restaurant and parking lot were very well lit. Definitely felt safe going in there. It was fairly clean too! The staff was really nice and helpful, especially giving me tips and guidance with the VERY LENGTHY menu. If you want any kind of Middle Eastern food, they probably have it. I felt like they covered every type of food, or menu item, you could ever find, but you'd normally have to go to multiple restaurants to find it all. But they had it all there, plus some things you may have never seen or heard of. For example, I ordered the Lamb Chili ... like I've never seen that on a menu in my life! It was good, really spicy, and reminded me of "coney island" style chili. It wasn't great, but it was better than you'd expect at 1AM! LOL! I would eat it again, but if you're not into spicy food, you may want to beware. I also ordered hummus covered with lamb. The hummus was way thinner than I like, but still edible. I think the flavor was good, but it being so thin threw me off. The lamb was OK. It was chopped too small for my liking. And it tasted like they tried to really season it well, but it was probably a bit over seasoned... I prefer my lamb to taste like lamb, but the seasoning, I'm guessing it was their Boostan sauce, was overpowering. Plus they mix it with hashwi (Lenten Middle Eastern rice, pine nuts and spices). I'm used to pine nuts, but I think the rice, and something in the spices, threw me off, because it just wasn't what I was expecting. Now, they did warn me about the hashwi, but I didn't realize what that meant until I received it. It was my fault, I should have asked more questions, but to be honest, I think I still would've wanted to try it anyway, had they explained it fully! I'm sure someone out there loves it, because it's not bad, it's just not what I was expecting, or used to! Then, I had their Fried Kibbe. The taste and texture was perfect, however each kibbe was really small, compared to other restaurants I've been to. And the amount of lamb was lacking, in some of them, as well. A couple of them had a good amount, but the inconsistency was a bit worrying. Finally, I tried their Baklava for dessert! Of course, I don't know if they really make it there, or if they buy it from a local bakery. But it did taste fresh, it had a great amount of honey on it, and the flavor was great. The pieces literally melted in my mouth! Highly recommend that, if you're into baklava!

All in all, I would recommend going and trying their food for yourself, because to be honest there's so much on the menu, it would take me another 3 or 4 visits to try everything I want to, and come up with a more complete assessment. I will be trying them again, because I want to try their chicken dishes, and I want to see if the thin hummus was a fluke, or if that's just how they...

The rice was very dry and bland...Season it up a bit guys...we love Mediterranean spices, it is a known dietary restrictions are out there but a tad bit of salt would NOT hurt.

Guys my salad had too many bits of brown lettuce...just no. Not fresh nor fair.

The lamb wasn't seasoned the best just seasoning would help, and some not juicy a spoonful of broth and ghee may help rice. Rice was just bland for yellow rice. As, a whole not impressed the bite of my friend's meat kafta, was good maybe I'll get that next time. For another try is worth it for the establishment was very neat and tidy. So appreciate that in a restaurant and they have a small market section, appreciated in a food desert.

Service was extremely friendly and kind.

So yes, GAVE Them another try Meat Kafta was okay being well seasoned made it! Got a bit soggy from running tomatoes, firm is key, no pickled anything I like the pickle veggies should have asked...made from only beef, Lamb is my fav.

Surprised no lamb... but okay. Still appreciate the cleanliness and service was on point so I will try the other location on Caniff. & Kafta was nice bite for a snack, great alternative to an American burger. So Ill go again to get it tha way I like.🥰.

Service is so Amazing on 🎯!

I'll tell hum make it pretty for y'all's my...

I visited Boostan's Hamtramck location a good while ago and remember it being alright, but a stretch to make it there and back during my lunch time. When they opened their new location where the old Johnny's used to be @ Davison/McNicols i was excited to try it again.

They aren't a coney island, but not purely a shawarma house either. It's like Mediterranean food - Americanized a bit. I went with their Booatan shawarma which is their house chicken shawarma meat but prepared like a Hani wrap. Something about their chicken is awesome 😎. It's cooked really great and super tender. I'll absolutely be adding this to the work lunch staples.

e: has gone way downhill. Stopped in today since it's been a while. Ordered the cream chops - disgusting. Warm wilted lettuce, too much sauce and cheap quality chicken with barely any "cream chops" to it. Fries were actually perfectly cooked, but also overly salty. They're soda or ice has always been off and tastes like they're trying to skimp on flavor somehow. Won't be back to...