Khan Saab Desi Kitchen in Fullerton gives diners a chance to spice up their lives during National Curry Week, which is celebrated from Oct. 10 to Oct. 16.
Since our first visit in 2021, this contemporary halal restaurant has earned a Michelin star for its culturally authentic and creative cuisine. Offering a variety of delicious non-alcoholic drinks and food inspired by Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, Khan Saab is an elevated, unique restaurant that is not to be missed.
Curry is described as a dish made with a significant amount of sauce that is seasoned with ground spices like cardamom or turmeric and has roots in India. Khan Saab offers 12 different types of curry, one of which is a signature dish called Chicken Karahi. The dish consists of a generous amount of boneless chicken, spiced tomato and fried shishito pepper. The chicken is extremely moist and tender, with a sauce that is thick and full of spicy flavor. We also ordered the Shrimp Masala Curry, made with large, black tiger shrimp, Goan onion, tomato and coconut masala curry. The coconut flavor is perfect for dipping a hearty piece of garlic naan. We also suggest trying the Nihari breakfast curry and the butter chicken.
Before enjoying our curry, we ordered Goat Cheese Kulcha with butter sauce as well as the Sloppy Khan. The Goat Cheese Kulcha is essentially naan stuffed with goat cheese that you plunge into the provided savory butter sauce. The naan is soft and the goat cheese gives it a twist that reminded us of a lighter quesadilla. The Sloppy Khan is a customer favorite that is similar to a Sloppy Joe but notably elevated. The Sloppy Khan is made with Khan Saab’s keema pav wagyu beef, which has been chopped, spiced and topped with jalapeno slices before being sandwiched between a soft, pillowy bun; two servings are delivered in an adorable little wagon. The Sloppy Khan tasted just as good as the presentation.
After you’ve ordered your curry, we suggest adding a kabob or two to your table. Khan Saab has an impressive number of kabobs; we’ve previously tried the smoked beef kabob, and it is a major standout. This time, we ordered the Kandahari Lamb Chops, which are French cut with sour cream, garlic oil and khan masala rub. When we took our first bite, we immediately knew these succulent lamb chops were the best we’ve ever had. Without a doubt, no matter what you do, you must order the lamb chops!
Although your table may become full of delicious dishes, you must save a little room for dessert. We tried the Shahi Gulab Jamun Indian doughnuts during a previous visit and they were sensational, but this time we decided to try the Choco Samosa. Constructed with a light dough and stuffed with Ghirardelli Chocolate, the Choco Samosa is deep fried to crispy perfection before being plated with a scoop of vanilla gelato and covered in shaved chocolate. The combination of the crunchy pastry and the gooey, rich chocolate is an unbeatable one.
One last feature to note is the restaurant’s non-alcoholic drink menu. Mocktails are having a major moment right now, and Khan Saab does a fantastic job creating flavors that mimic the cocktail experience. We tried the Smoked Negroni, made with Seedlip Spice 94, rose syrup and Palo Santo Bitters that provided the smoky, dark fruit flavors that are beloved in the typical version. The Peshawari Mule is made with Seedlip Spice 94, ginger, mint and ginger beer and is very reminiscent of the classic Moscow Mule. Next, we sampled the mango mojito, with mango nectar, mint, jaggery and lime, which was just as refreshing as the original. Lastly, we sipped on a shot of Ritual Zero Proof Tequila. Though it had distinctly similar flavors to traditional tequila, it’s not exactly the same–but it was impressively close.
Khan Saab is open Monday to Friday, 4 to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 11 p.m.
For more information about Khan Saab Desi Kitchen, visit www.khansaaboc.com.