Kabobeesh Reviews

The service is below acceptable. The place is not clean. Absolutely rude cashier. Didn't want to give me a receipt. Food came after 20 mins and was cold. The cashier insulted Gulf Arabs. Avoid. ..Avoid...Avoid!!!

I was told about this place by a Pakistani friend, and it is very popular with South Asian cab drivers. The food is tasty and cheap-curries, kebabs and tandoori chicken. There's is also a variety of desserts, both homemade and ready made. The atmosphere is extremely casual, and they use styrofoam plates, so don't expect a fancy night out. They've recently tried to spruce up a little, and there is now a little outdoor patio .

Our friends love it. But we've gotten sick every time we've eaten there

My Beloved Umi is the only one I know cooked the very best Halal Pakistani food I've ever had! Authentic, Halal lamb Curry, mixed vegetables fresh oven baked Nan bread 💕

Amazing food. They serve halal Pakistani and Indian cuisine like chicken Karahi , chicken tikka masala , Chana. Their BBQ is the best as they cook it on charcoal grill.

Kabobeesh as the name suggests is renowned for its flavorful kabobs! When in Philly and you crave Pakistani cuisine at its near-best then Kabobeesh is your destination! Pros: - Halal food - ample parking space - large seating area - their "kadahi" (chicken & goat) dishes are amazingly flavorful! - their kabobs and chicken tikka are fantastic

Keep it up! Amazing Lamb kababs and more. Most Authentic stuff I've tasted in North America. The owner, Mr Asad...great gentleman, even dropped me to the hotel after the meal when stuck in rains of Hurricane Irene.

It's not easy to find Pakistani restaurants, but this would be the [only] place. Setting and interior is a little dingy for the moderately priced menu, but the taste is full of spice and flavor (and fat), with huge volumes. Grills are awesome.

Location is in the middle of shady area. So be careful at night. Kabob. 7.50 $ a piece. I think it was too expensive. Taste was so so. Service was close to nothing. No decor. Lamb kabob were undercooked. Nihari and Haleem so so. Resturaunt is busy and they dont have to pay attention to you. Having watwn at Devon Chicago. I hate to say this place is a rip off.

Tasty Chicken Seekh, Boti kababs, nice breads and Chicken curry. Their kadai chicken and goat are also good. Place is not that great, an old diner, seating average. Food makes up for it though!

This is a greasy spoon place with the best kabab! Stars for food, not atmosphere. Just look for the parking lot filled with taxi cabs and you will know you are in THE place. The ground meat kabab came on a bed of light and fluffy white, yellow and orange rice, a large nan and 2 sides. I had the gobi (cauliflower) and the channa (chick peas). It was all so delicious! The texture of the chickpeas was fantastic, the cauliflower was a little greasy but so flavorful. It is counter service, and you point to the sides of your choosing which they scoop into the partitioned plate. They hand you a squirt bottle of some riata type sauce. Not sure what is was but it was good. It was too much food for me to eat in one sitting. The free parking lot is a bonus!

This place gets a five-star rating for having delicious food and friendly people working. The food is fantastic. The meats are great, but you'll also love the sides. The chana (chickpeas), okra, and zucchini dishes are absolutely fantastic. Kabobeesh is super casual and you'll see everyone there from Wharton MBA students to cab drives and everyone in between. It's a fantastic value for money and you'll leave feeling full and happy!

Not a bad place for an evening meal, you get plenty of food for your money. Some dishes are better than others, but two people would be completely full with one meal and one a le carte item.

Excellent kebabs. The ambience isn't so good but the food is and that's what counts. We had the tandoori chicken, lamb kebab, biryani and lamb curry. Biryani was sub par, lamb curry was ok, kebabs were superb, roti and naan was average. We had kheer for desert which was great. Essentially the kebabs are outstanding, the rest isn't anything to rave about.

The kebabs here are excellent. Side dishes are good as well. We have eaten here or take out many times most recently 11/10/17.

I was very impressed with this restaurant. There was a young man behind the counter that was very respectful. He even took potatoes out of my wife's vegetables dish after it was packed already(she has special diet). The portions were so huge I ate them the next day. I would definitely come to this place again.

This restaurant has one of the best Pakistani food in the area. The kabobs and tandoori chicken are delicious. Staff is friendly but the sitting place is not so great. Prices are very reasonable and quantity is more than enough.

A Pakistani friend told me about this place. She would drive from the suburb to the city to eat there. The restaurant is not fancy at all. The building is a an out of date diner. It's cafeteria style. You order at the counter. They call you when your food is ready. You pay at the cash register before you leave. There isn't much service at all. But who cares! What counts is the food. We ordered the mutton karahi over the phone before we left the house because it took about an hour to prepare. When we got there, we did not have to wait long for it. The karahi is spicy and rich. Very yummy! Other food on the menu can be ordered upon arrival.

The place is a bit basic but the food is authentic Pakistani cuisine. I ate there at least twice on my visit to Philadelphia in 2013. They now deliver.

The food at this place is outstanding. We had the chicken karahi and chicken tandoori with naan and I don't think I've had this good Pakistani food even in Pakistan! The owner introduced himself to us and is very friendly and the boy working as cashier was very helpful recommending what to eat. The interior was closed but the outdoor deck was very nice. Will absolutely be eating here again!

We went there for dinner once, it looks like a diner inside. Food was awesome, little bit toi spice for my kids, but I love it. Naan is excellent. Would go again and would recommend it.

Dirty restaurant, low hygiene! We got sick after eating kebab. Not recommended. The cost is low the taste is great but no hygiene.

the taxi drivers all come here.

Foreign students go to this restaurant because of its reasonable price. The place is filthy & dirty. There are a few Paki restaurants and we thought of trying. Rotten food can easily hide under spice, but be prepared for after effect/sickness

Not on the menu is the hidden gem. The Karahi mutton. You'll need to call em up 4 hours in advance but its worth it !

We tried their chicken and mutton karahi- this was very delicious and authentic Pakistani karahi. You do have to wait for it because they make it fresh. I like it and often go there to enjoy home land taste.

[iminent rb=anim][/rb] Believe me its worth it. One should atleast try and you will love it.

We tried Kabobeesh on the advice of a former local. It is not flashy or trendy but if you are seeking the best Chicken Karahi outside of Lahore, this is the place! They use a decades old karahi (cooking vessel) that has obviously been tempered to perfection by the love of generations of mothers and aunties before it was passed down to the chef at Kabobeesh. We had the chicken our first visit and were forced to bring a larger group later in the week after we raved about it, and ordered both the chicken and mutton-both are fantastic. Please note that it takes 30 minutes to prepare these dishes but no worries, the other food you will be eating will keep you going until the finale. They are proud of their craft and honored to host small or large groups.

This is where u rub shoulders with cab drivers, students and bankers. Amazing food in a simple set up. The chicken tandoori was mouth watering and it simply dissolves in your mouth like butter. Don't forget to try the orca or chickpeas!

Great kabob rolls, The sauces are great and so are the marinated chicken, beef and ground beef kabobs. On wekends nihari and paya are amazingly delicious.

Please, please, please try this place. It is beyond amazing. The service is so sweet and delightful. The nan, oh the nan, is top 1%. I have not had anything bad here and I crave it. I miss it. It is PHENOMENAL and so understated. Do it. Go now!

Awesome Indo-Pak food, cheap, fresh, and delicious! They spice everything right, and although the food can take a while, it is worth the wait.

Not bad!

Kabobeesh is a Pakistani restaurant located in the heart of "university city" Philadelphia. It is in a silver diner, and they recently made some renovations. The food is very spicy, and very good. Their boneless chicken platter my favorite, the chicken is perfectly spiced and very tender from being marinated. Their vegetarian dishes are great too, the spinach and potatoes and squash with potatoes are my favorites. They also have a good mixed vegetable dish, chick peas and okra. The portions are huge, the food is great and the staff is friendly. The kabobs are all cooked to order, so be prepared to give them 15 minutes or so, it is well worth the wait! They have their own large parking lot (free) which is always a plus when dining in Philadelphia!

A lot of reviewers have pointed out the negatives - slow service and no ambience. However, if you want delicious Pakistani food, I'd advise you to look past the negatives and give the food a try. I always get the half Kadhai chicken which they cook to order and the wait time can be half an hour. Maybe this is why I haven't experienced any stale meat which a few people complained about. The last time I was here (May 2017), I also got tandoori salmon and falooda. Everything was exceptional and my mouth is salivating at the thought of that meal. If ambience is a deal breaker, I'd suggest getting takeout. You won't regret it.

I visited Kabobeesh on a Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend because I remembered how good the food was a few years back. I took my food to go and enjoyed it at home 40 minutes later. Go for the food. The aforementioned young man in glasses pleasantly greeted me at the door as did a pleasant woman behind the counter. I had not looked at the menu so I asked the best question “What should I eat?” I got Haleem - boneless beef short rib beef with barley and onions - a weekend special. It’s delicious - I have 1/2 of the portion in the pint container for tomorrow. The naan is great - right out of the oven. I don’t know what the chickpea dish was called but it was the best thing that I ate this weekend - looked like baby food - tasted like heaven. I had the pleasant woman throw some chicken curry on the rice - that also was fantastic. I enjoyed everything I got - for $15. Don’t go for the ambiance. The former diner space at 42nd & Chestnut is dominated by a giant flat screen TV with international news on one side and a beautiful enclosed deck on the other. When I visited, I was the only customer and the team was cleaning. There’s nothing bad or wrong but a post Covid Pakistani spot in an old diner doesn’t scream date night. I would absolutely go back. I remember pre-uber nights when the parking lot was full of taxi cabs. That’s what inspired my first visit and should encourage your first visit, too!

I am a bit tough on restaurants that claim to be Pakistani. Kabobeesh is a great place for student that are still working on their taste buds. It is very average pakistani food that would not have a chance in NJ/NY, Houston or California but here they are located right next to UPenn. The restaurant is always busy with student and taxi drivers eating what I feel is very average and tasteless food. The couter folks are not rude but they are also not very friendly - perhaps due to the volume of business. If good Pakistani food is what you are looking for walk a couple of blocks to Wah Gi Wah that makes excellent food and the service is exceptional with better prices and atmosphere is way way better.

I just wanted to take the time today do make a review, besides the delicious food they serve I was in there one night right before closing and witnessed them serving food to the homeless!! That warmed my heart!!

Worthy of your money knowing you will have a good meal but with a spicy kick - lucky me, my wife and children like spicy food. About 10 years ago or so my Egyptian friend told me there's a great Pakistani restaurant in the University City (West Philly), at the time a meal cost not more that $6. Never ate any Pakistani/Indian food prior to my first visit. I have been a regular visitor of Kabobeesh ever since. Even though we moved about 90 minutes away from Philly, we still come down to Philly at least once a month to Kabobeesh.

The naans are great and kebabs are to die for. Generous portions and the folks behind the counter are very attentive. Reminds me of truck stop food in Quetta Pakistan, just gather some friends and go for just food.

My kind of place. Frequented by cabbies, Penn and Drexel students, well-dressed businessman and people like me (none of the above). Ate here twice with my son who lives nearby. I have loved both dining experiences. Not sure what the dominant cuisine is because they seem to be covering many bases: Pak, Indian, Bengal, Afghan and more. You order a main course which you choose from a variety of skewered meats in the display case (they may have vegetarian options but I wasn't looking). They have ground chicken, lamb, lamb chops, ground beef (kibbeh??), chicken and several others. Food is grilled to order and then you get sides of fragrant rice, great bread (nan?), and a choice of vegetables (e.g., chick peas, lentils etc.). I have had the lamb, and the beef. The food is spicy but very good. Decor is probably not up to most peoples' standards. It is a renovated diner. There is a small parking lot out front which is oftentimes filled with taxicabs (do cabbies know the best places to eat?). Food is served on paper plates. Plastic knives and forks. Most meals are under $10 and a cooler of water is available for a glass of H20 at no charge, or you can choose a canned/bottled drink from a refrigerated case. Even though there is no wait staff, you don't pay for your food until you are ready to leave and the pleasant gentleman at the counter just asks what you had and rings it up. Not for the picky customer as it is a bare bones kind of joint but one that I am happy to have found. I can't wait for my next visit. I am going to have the lamb chops! The also have some interesting desserts available in a refrigerated case. I haven't tried them yet because the meal is so filling that dessert isn't necessary.

WORST DESI RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE EVER!!! If I could give it no star I would. This was our first time here. We ordered GOAT karahi. Instead of goat karahi, we were given what was clearly beef karahi (if such a dish exists). When we confronted them and asked them if they served us beef, they said no and that this was actually lamb, "baby lamb", "sir, we wouldn't serve you beef". I can't believe I drove this far for this (from Baltimore). Maybe this was an isolated incident, but this will be my last time here. If you want good Desi food in the area, go to some place else and not these scums.