Cheap Eats
Thousand Kabobs
Aromatic, perfectly spiced, and completely authentic
Sarenka Smith
Published: March 14, 2012
Thousand Kabobs, a tiny Pakistani corner joint operated by two women clad in traditional garb laboring over huge steaming pots and griddles, may not look like much. It’s slightly dingy inside, with four stools cramped along a counter that separates the customers from the owners. But the food is top-notch, aromatic, perfectly spiced, and completely authentic. The menu boasts a range of breads—naan, paratha, chapati—all fresh from the griddle. Perhaps the best deals on the menu, however, are the papri chaat ($4.99) and aloo tikki ($2.99). The chaat, a fried, crispy dough, is served with boiled potatoes, yogurt, and a flavorful tamarind chutney, while the aloo tikki plate, more than enough for an entire meal, is heavily spiced with coriander and lightly fried. These potato croquettes are served hot with coriander-mint chutney, though their spicy flavoring can stand alone. They pack a serious punch, and are not for the faint of heart. The servings of the most expensive dish on the menu, the traditional biryani ($8.50), are enough for at least three people, with tender chunks of bone-in chicken placed atop a bed of flavored basmati rice with caramelized onions and hints of cilantro. It’s likely you will leave full from a mere appetizer with an extra six dollars in your pocket, along with the lingering smells of turmeric, cardamom, and cloves.
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