Afghan Kabob and Grill — Restaurant in Hamilton Township

It's easy to overlook a restaurant in a strip mall. Until tonight, I overlooked this one for many years. What a mistake.

I must admit that upon entering I was a little skeptical -- the entrees are pictured on the wall above the kitchen (like they do in fast food places), no tablecloths, no special decor, napkin dispenser on the table. No special atmosphere. Guess what? They don't need any of those things. They don't need them because the food is so delicious.

We were three people. We ordered three entrees - Chapli, Falafel, Gyro and hummus with the idea to share. The hummus had a bit of a delightful kick to it and was served with warm pita that somehow was soft yet crunchy at the same time. I honestly could have just kept eating that. Then the entrees came out.

I wish I had taken photos. We three sat at a standard booth. The three entrees were each served on a huge oval plate. I dont mean a standard dinner plate's area that happens to be an oval I mean something like the platter on which the Thanksgiving turkey appears. Each of the platters was arranged similarly - kind of like a flag -- a third of the space occupied by fresh salad, a third by rice and third by the protein of the particular entree. - in our case, beef, lamb and falafel (which is made from chick peas). Those three plates were gorgeous. And that visual certainly affects the appetite. As for our idea to share - well we did but those three occupied just about all the table space.

The salad was just standard stuff - lettuce, onion, cucumber, without dressing ( there were two different sauces in squirt bottles on the table) but fresh and crunchy and it made a pleasant accompaniment to get a mouthful of cool crisp veggies.

The rice was superb - some long variety with a gentle flavor, perfect texture and a surprise bit of sweetness here and there due to the roasted raisins within it.

Finally the proteins. Chapli is like the Balkan dish ' fashirina shnitsla" -- a ground beef patty with onions and spices within it. I could swear the three of us each managed to eat half!

The falafel was crispy outside and perfectly cooked ( and beautiful) on the inside.

Finally the lamb gyro. I'm from Chicago. Chicago has neighborhood called Greektown. Point is - I've eaten tons of gyro. This gyro was easily the best I've ever eaten - moist and perfectly charred and just fantastic. The kind of thing you keep eating long after you are full.

We chatted with the owner, Namet, who was warm and appreciative. It's clear he genuinely wants to please his customers and takes pride in his product.

As well he should because his product is genuinely wonderful.

I cant...

Meat was undercooked for lamb, I threw some away took picture of two, I called was told I could get something for free when I came back. When I did come in person I was told it was end of bone when I know for a fact it had meat and was the meat and was told.i should have brought it back even though guy on phone said I just needed to come back another day. I took a picture as courtesy to show them but kept saying it was end of bone but I know for a fact it was meat because I was eating it and didn't finish and threw it away.

Its crazy cause before I came in person on 10-19-22, I called over a week ago to let them know I wanted something but was told they had to speak to the owner or whoever was in charge, and would call back, called back oct 4th, missed it, so I called back few days later, and a new guy answered saying they had no clue, and would need to speak to original guy I spoke to, then I came in person finally weeks later in person and then this happened.

Normally I have had good orders from here but this experience and deception and going back on their words has made me give a 2. I expected better from Muslims to stick by their word and honor because I was honest, but I guess islam is second to making money. Not going back ever to this buisness. Just made me feel like a liar. Next time I will treat all places muslim owned or not as a buissneses first. I expected too much because they are muslim. I blame myself.

(To those that own this buisness, be better Muslims, deen before the green (money). Honor before dishonor, keep your word and not make excuses to go back on your word you gave on the phone to me and others. Don't let America and its material wealth and your increased wealth make you do injustice, Allah is watching, and He will hold us all accountable and HE gave you this wealth and business as a test. And your business made your fellow muslim brother feel like a liar.)

P.S. didn't mention this as I let it go, a few times I did buy meat was fine, but their rice tasted bad, old weird after taste. Happened a few times over last 2 years.

Just wanted to share...

I always very much enjoy my meals from Afghan Kabob and Grill. Unfortunately, the A/C rarely does enough to fight off the summer heat inside, so in the warmer months I ALWAYS take my dishes to go. Small sacrifice for the quality meals I consistently get. While I have explored much of the menu, I find myself coming back time and time again to the Nargisi Kofta. Imagine mom's meatloaf (complete with the hardboiled egg inside!), but with a delicious homemade red curry sauce in place of whatever tomato or ketchup based concoction you grew up with. It's nota perfect comparison, but it's the best that I can come up with. After devouring that, I wipe up the sauce with the delicious fresh made naan that accompanies each meal, and I am satisfied 100% of the time. Other favorites include the lamb curry (when available), the chicken rashida and the bolani banjan. I would be remiss if I did not mention that every entree comes with the most amazing rice with carrots and raisins that I have ever had. I'm not even terribly fond of rice and I can't enough of this stuff! The icing on the cake is the owner, who is an incredibly friendly and kind man, who clearly takes pride in sharing and explaining his native cuisine to those who are unfamiliar with it. So, drop in, ask for suggestions, and enjoy something new! Just be sure to be dressed for the weather or...