The lunch buffet was great. I walked out very full and happy. If you haven't had Persian food before, the buffet is a fun way to try a bunch of different dishes. The interior is nice and the staff were very friendly- they gave us free tea! I love its location on that little strip in Parkville. The bread and salads were a light and tasty start. I liked the crispy rice with carrots. The soup was ok but not my favorite. I ate all four of the meats: chicken, fish, beef, and lamb. The fish was fried and had a nice sauce. The beef was delicious, probably the highlight for me. The beef is cooked in a sauce with big preserved lemons- edible, but stuffed with bitter herbs. Overall, I recommend!
(5)
Jacob R.
Staff was very rude after I went in for takeout tonight at 7:45 p.m.. They weren't supposed to close until 8:30 p.m. and I was left standing at the back register for 10 minutes before I was told, "Sorry, the grill is closed!" (This after they passed by me as if I didn't exist.). I told him, "The guy just told you that, and I've been standing here for 10 minutes now.". I was told, "Sorry, I can't help you.". They offered me anything from some menu I wanted nothing from, so I left, and I shall NEVER RETURN!
(1)
Michelle T.
Delicious!! Very friendly server & the food was very good! I tried the tuna steak & lamb shank & everything including the rice & veggies were cooked perfectly!
(4)
Supriya M.
Four of us found a table with ease on a Saturday night. Street parking is free and ample on weekends. It looks like a take-out place from the outside but the inside is quite cozy. Not very fancy but the food more than made up for the ambiance. BYOB and no corkage fee - great deal! The lamb and chicken kabobs were some of the best we've had. The tah-dig was interesting with the crispy rice. We all enjoyed our food very much. The service was very good. We sat there for a while after dinner talking but never felt rushed. All in all, worth the trip to White Marsh.
(4)
B. P.
Pretty good food, love the rice, generous meats, well cooked, nicely seasoned veggies. Ive only done carryout but the staff is always nice. A little on the pricier side for what you get but no disappointment makes it worthwhile.
(4)
Laleh S.
As an Iranian-American, it's so hard to find Persian food that can come close to being as good as the food your mother makes at home. Outside of NYC, LA, and DC, this is as good as it gets. I tend to get koobideh and barg with rice... hits the mark every time. My husband, who only started eating Persian food when he met me, gets chicken and loves it. My parents have been there a few times and they, too, find the food to be quite well done. I don't go there for any other dishes such as ghorme sabzi, khoresht gheymeh, or zereshk polo because I tend to be disappointed when I order them at restaurants. Based on how they do their tahdig, though, I bet theirs would be quite delish. I did eat at their buffet twice and found that it was not as good as ordering the meals fresh. If you didn't catch the food right out of the kitchen, it seemed to be dry and less flavorful. Although, they do offer a variety of foods from their menu. Maybe I need to catch their buffet on a better day.
(4)
Edward S.
Again, I've been going here for many years. This is a place where I always am made to feel like I am their most important costumer. Ive been going here long enough that I rarely order anything other than the Barg Kabob with the cheese/walnut/scallion/radish/herb garnish with pita plate (sorry can't remember the name) as an appetizer. Both are my favorite, and they've become as cherished as mom's cooking. Also it's BYOB, and they have a small Persian grocery in the back. I often pick up their spice packs for use in my Tagine. (I often try to reproduce dishes I like in restaurants). Whenever friends visit from out of town HK is on my short list of places to take them.
(4)
Graham P.
A amall, family owned and operated Persian restaurant offering great kebobs (both the chicken and beef are good) and other Persian favorites. The food is straightforward, featuring grilled meats and vegetables served along with Basmati rice. There rest of the Persian dishes, if you aren't familiar are similar to some Indian and Moroccan foods in many ways. I've never had a bad meal here. The service has always been quite good but can be a bit understaffed at peak times with only one or two servers for the restaurant. Once you've been there a few time you understand that it is basically one or two people doing everything in the front of the house. So for me, a little slower service is understandable. Also take into account that this isn't Applebees and that traditional Persian meals are usually spaced out over several hours. That being said, I have no problem occasionally walking my bill up to the register if they're busy or if I just want to get going.
(4)
Erica M.
I deduct a star because the place was frigid, and although our server was efficient and timely, he was a little odd. Other than than, I have to admit this is the best Iranian food I've gotten from a restaurant. My boyfriend's Persian father makes the best, of course, but House of Kabob comes in at a close second. I got the koobideh kabob, and it was amazing! The first time I had their food, it was a few hours old because my boyfriend's family brought some back for me when they went but I had to work. It was delicious then, but fresh, it was heavenly! I don't know why anyone would chastise that rice. The seasoning and saffron were just how I like them, it was buttery, warm, and moist, and a perfect complement to the juicy and flavorful beef kabob. Also, I usually don't like veggies, but they somehow seasoned them perfectly. I ate my boyfriend's peppers for him! Dumped the sumac on, of course. Because it was so cold (though I am always cold, everywhere), I'll probably do carry-out next time. If you get cold easily like I do, bring a sweater.
(4)
Barry B.
Yes this one is a little hit or miss. I have been and had a Jeff experience. It seems that that happens when the place is full of friends/relatives/native speakers. So if you can be patient, very patient, very very patient, and you have some previous exposure to the cusine and the "culture" of Imshalah- "God Willing"... as in Imshalah the waitress has good english skills, imshalah the cook is giving the non- "family" the good stuff...you get the picture. I have also been at lunch both weekend ( best experience, there were only two other tables, a little past the traditional lunch hours, we had a gorgeous blonde supermodel waitress who while still not terribly conversant was at least attentive and pleasant. The food still took a while but I think that is just a cultural thing. They are not a hurried people like most of us. Germany was the same way, relax, enjoy, you are out for the evening. When it came it was plentiful and delicious. Someone else noted and I agree the flavors are much more subtle. The grilled vegtables are a nice feature. The weekday buffet is pretty good as well, the dishes are much more limited than your standard chinese layout but the qaultiy is better. This is a place to go to escape the usual "stuff" we eat in Baltimore.
(4)
Frank S.
Very decent lunch buffet. Great service. I was really hoping the place would be as cold as a previous reviewer wrote - wanting to cool off on this hot summer day - but the temperature was really quite normal.
(4)
Lito T.
This place is great. Family run it feels warm and welcoming. We've eaten here many, many times. They make some of the best kabob's in the area. The chicken is perfectly cooked as is the roasted veggies. Basmati rice isn't as "wet" as short or medium grained rice. We usually try to go to the buffet but it's not offered during dinner. I'm not a Persian food expert, but everything I've tried, I love. Maybe I'me too easy but people are just too harsh on this place. It's consistently good and keeps us coming back.
(4)
Matthew V.
Pretty mediocre. There's a mix of good and not so good dishes, but all seem disproportionally based on rice rather than the feature ingredient. The vibe in the restaurant is also strange. On the plus side, there is a a little shop to buy Middle Eastern ingredients.
(3)
Dana B.
My boyfriend is from Iran and introduced me to Persian food, we have been going to House of Kabob since we met 3 years ago and the food and service has been consistent. I love the Ashe reshte, love the Koobideh, love the Barg. We have tried the buffet a few times and sometimes new offerings appear on it which makes things interesting as I always like to sample new things but might not want a full serving of something. A recent visit to the buffet introduced me to Zereshk polo morgh, which i had not been interested in trying off the main menu but found it to be really good . The service can be slow but when in good company what does it matter, it's not fast food after all! We have tried other Persian food in the region and we always go back to House of Kebob.
(5)
Shieva R.
I've never physically been to the restaurant, but I have been to many Iranian parties that they catered. The food was good, I only got to try the koobideh but it was tasty, not as great as some of the kababi's in northern Virginia, but definitely good stuff! I can't comment on the staff or service, but the food was good standard Iranian fair, I don't know why Jeff had such a bad experience, maybe he's not used to authentic Iranian food. It's not highly spiced like food from other middle eastern countries, but more delicate and subtle. It isn't supposed to come with any dipping sauce although some places do give something on the side it can be ordered separately, and usually you eat the food with rice or bread not both. I'll definitely be coming by for some kabob when I'm in the area.
(4)
Lisa Y.
GREAT persian food. not middle eastern food, PERSIAN food. so much better than Orchard Market. Yes, the service can be anywhere from indifferent to excellent, depending on time of day, buffet v. ordered, and server. i like the buffet because you can taste a little of everything, but I think the three dishes I like most are not buffet items.they are the sabzi and bread, lamb tenderloin kabob, and the lamb shank. the soup (ashe) is usually excellent, but on rare occaion, it seems a little thinned out. i've never had rice there that has been dried out. you can always put a pat of butter on it to moisten it. It is byob with no corkage fee., I would rather eat here than just about anywhere in bmore, other than my own place. If you are in a hurry, you are in the wrong place. but if you are with people whose company you enjoy and you want a warm, leisurely meal, without someone rushing you out, you have come to the right place.
(5)
Kathryn E.
I like Kabob House. It isn't as good as Orchard Market Cafe (Persian fare in Towson) but it is good. Our experience was completely different than Jeff's. We were served by the owner, a sweet man who was eager to share his native cuisine and took a lot of pride in what he served and kept bringing us more things to try. The meal started with a plate of parsley, olives, feta, walnuts, and a little pita. Just bites of each as an Iranian type of amuse bouche. We've tried the lamb, tenderloin, chicken and the koobideh kabobs (ground beef with spices) and all were tender and tasty. They are served with a mound of rice, grilled tomatoes and onions, and then we also ordered the yogurt and cucumber to dip it in. I haven't tried other parts of the menu, but the kabobs are good. And since it is close to Usha's original salon, we drop in before or after the eyebrow stop for a nice bite.
(4)
Jeff W.
I imagine the only reason this place exists is because of the complete lack of "ethnic" cuisine in the area. From the outside (and name) I was expecting more of a carry-out type place. Instead, it's a sitdown Iranian restaurant. It was surprisingly busy when I showed up but we were promptly seated. After that, it was all downhill. Service was abysmal. After being seated for 5 minutes, we still hadn't been addressed, and still didn't have menus! We had to finally get up and get our own menus from the front. Our waitress was completely lost, not really knowing anything about the food or menu. The choices basically consisted of a few iranian "specialities" and then standard kabob fare. I decided to play it safe and go for a kabob combo, which I'm pretty familiar with, and since I couldn't get any valuable feedback from the waitress on any of the iranian dishes. Not unlike the service, the food took a really long time to come out. When it arrived, it was disappointing looking. Each plate had a HUGE pile of bland, dry, plain old rice. No sides on top of it, no spices in it, no moisture. No flavor, aside from the weird chemically taste that I couldn't identify. I compared it to tasting like glue. There was also no bread with which to eat my kabob, and no yogurt sauce, as is standard at most places. This was probably the first time I've ever used a fork to eat a kabob. Chicken was juicy enough but had no flavor. Koobideh was pointless. Dry and no flavor. I wouldn't be surprised if it was just unseasoned ground sirloin on a skewer and then cooked to death. The only highlight was the generous portion of grilled vegetables. Once finished the lackluster meal we couldn't wait to leave. Not surprisingly, paying also took forever. Finally we had to go in the back to physically take the money to the waitress and get change. An awful experience of bland food and poor service. It took over an hour and a half to go through the dining process here, and that was with us trying to expedite things. I definitely will not be coming back ever again and I find it hard to believe this place is still in business. Maybe their weekly lunch buffet draws in customers?
(1)
Matthew R.
Really sweet man gave us great suggestions for ordering and served us kindly. The food was so delicious and the portions of our meals were very large. We had enough leftover for dinner the following night as well. I would definitely recommend.
(5)
Shaharazad P.
I love this place. My family and I always come in for the buffets. They offer a lot of different dishes for their buffets. On the weekends I would definitely make reservations if you plan to come around dinner time because it can get full. Even when full it is a cozy place and the staff are really friendly. there aren't many Persian restaurants in the area so it is convenient and the food is always good. They don't serve alcohol but you can bring your own bottle of wine if you like.
(5)
Drew P.
If you want a fancy experience, then pass. It's just not that kind of place. However, for what they are trying to do... They do it really well. I loved the food and the kind, hospitable employees. And for a buffet, I was extremely impressed with the variety, quality and freshness of the food. They are doing a really great job. I'm definitely coming back... And with a huge appetite. Great kabobs.
(5)
Victor M.
This is the only authentic Persian restaurant that offers a buffet that is worth trying. The buffet items were replenished frequently. They had a great choice of salads. The meats on the buffet were cooked perfectly and exploded with flavor. Their menu items are great as well!! Definitely try it if you are in the area!!
(5)
Eric H.
The lunch buffet is a favorite spot...We're there regularly enough that the owner and servers all know us, but the service was great even before that. The food is consistent and delicious. There is always a rotating dish that changes with each day of the week, so there is also some variety. The koobideh here is not my favorite, but the chicken is always juicy and the other dishes are always great. They also have the crispy Persian rice that I love.
(5)
Constance C.
Best restaurant in town! We take everyone that visits us here. We love dinning in and love getting carry out. Everyone is so nice and the food is AMAZING! I love it all! Great service and a cool little store is in the back where you can buy spices and snacks.
(5)
Dmitriy G.
I have been here many times ; great food , quiet place . I enjoy food here !
(5)
Mohammad Ali K.
This buffet is the best deal in the entire DC/MD/VA/DE/NJ/PA/NY area. In fact, the only other place I've ever seen a persian buffet is in Chicago and Los Angeles, and they had half of the options, house of kabob provides. Oh btw, ALL THE MEAT IS HALAL!!! Freshest type of meat out there, most five star restaurant chefs prefer Halal over regular meat. If you are not Persian, you will get the opportunity to try the most popular Persian dishes in one trip. Let you Persian/Iranian (whatever they go by) friends know about this place and make them bring you here so they can share with you their faves. Its a great group outing spot. If you are an irooni family, this place is a no brainer. Bring family, bring your friends. The quality of the food is home-made. The prices affordable. And they even have small amount of irooni groceries you can stock up on like tea, various fruit jams, irooni pickles, noon-barbari, various desserts and many many more. They even have sugar cubes on the tables, each one screaming for a cup of tea in your hand. You will not regret your trip here. The Buffet has always had the following each time i've gone: 1) Noon 2) Ash 3) Salad Shirazi 4) Salad Oliviyeh 5) Torshi (various kinds) 6) Mast-o-Khiar 7) Hummus 8) Polo 9) Taadeek 10) Koobideh 11) Jujeh Kabob (boneless) 12) Ghormeh Sabzi 13) Fesenjoon 14) Gheymeh 15) Baghalee polo and morgh 16) Rice Pudding and a few other things i'm forgetting now. But wow, look at that list. 11 something per person...you can't beat that. Call them double check their hours for the buffet and get you and your friends there!
(5)
Melissa B.
I've never been able to try their food because whenever I have called to order in the past for carryout no one ever answered, we've since given up.
(3)
Eugene K.
Kabobs are delicious and moist. Portions are generous and hostess was attentive. A large central air conditioning ceiling vent was blowing very cold air impossible to avoid in any of the tables. Prices are very reasonable. We plan to go back.
(4)
Sheri H.
House of Kabob is pretty consistent. The koobideh tastes authentic and the chicken kabob is juicy. They offer a Sunday buffet that my family and I have eaten at in the past (good selection), but I usually get carry-out. The kabob meals include grilled veggies, rice, two roasted tomatoes, and pita bread. They also give you a small portion of mast o' khiar, which is yogurt with cucumber in it. I like to dip my bread in the mast o' khiar as a palate refresher between bites of kabob :) The salad-olvieh is decent. A little too much pickle for my taste, but I usually get some anyway for lunch the next day. One thing that did annoy me when I ordered yesterday: I had an Entertainment Book coupon for a buy one get one free meal and when I called to make a carry-out order, they said the coupon was only valid if you dined in the restaurant. The coupon made no mention of that restriction.
(4)
Nelson R.
We have not eaten here in years, but we remember that the food was good. I would imagine that the food is still good. When we arrived, it was busy and a waiter pointed to table for us to sit at. We sat down and waited..... and waited..... we saw other people come in after us, and the wait staff welcomed them with open arms (these folks must have been regular customers) and gave them great service all the while we were still waiting to get served. I made eye contact with another member of their wait staff, but that didn't help. We left without finding out if the food was worth the wait. My advice, if you are not a regular customer and have not eaten here before, don't expect good service.
(1)
Suki R.
I really like this place. The kabobs are awesome - the chicken was cooked perfectly and wasn't all dried out like I've had at other places. The koobideh was really good too. On the other hand, I loved the hummus the first time I was there but when I ordered it again on a later trip, it wasn't as garlic-y (I like it super-garlicy). That's a demerit for inconsistency. I haven't branched out and tried any of the more adventurous items on the menu but until I tire of the kabobs, I probably won't. I've been there 3 times (the first was with a group of about 7 for my birthday - we all had a great experience) and it's always been pretty quiet. Servers have been good but I had a strange occurrence the first time I was there with one of the waitresses - but she ended up not being our server (lucky her, she annoyed the snot out of me). The big draw to me, other than the great food and service, is that this place is BYOB. I can't remember if there's a disclaimer on the menu about a corkage fee - but I've never paid enough attention to the bill to see if it's ever really been charged. If there is, it's not enough to break the bank.
(4)
Kiran P.
This restaurant was an unexpected surprise. Me and my boyfriend went for the lunch buffet. They have everything! Ghormeh sabzi, fesenjan, gheimeh, kabob, mast o khiar, and tadig. It was all so good! Service was great! I took off one star because the ashe was really bad. We will be back for everything else!
(4)
Sarah W.
I've eaten here quite a few times, mainly for carryout. Food is always good. My go to is the broiled salmon, the basmati dill rice it comes with is great. I've also gotten the chicken, beef, and veggie kabobs and always start with Naan panir sabzi, which is feta, walnuts, radishes, and parsley served with Naan. This place doesn't look like much from the outside, but I have never been disappointed. If you want to dine in it's BYOB (no corkage fee!). Staff is always pleasant and accommodating.
(4)
Sarah S.
This place is AMAZING!!! We had them cater a bridal shower and everything was great! Love the service and flavor!
(5)
R n.
Good food, enjoyed their lunch buffet There kifta kabob was really one of the best I had, the chicken Kebob was a little dry and lacked the marinade flavor. The tomato and cucumber salad is one of my favorites and theirs was really good, the right amount of acidity complemented with the sumac flavor The fried fish was truly amazing, the batter was flavorful and complemented the fish Over all, this restaurant had great food and I would go back again Lunch buffet was $11, I would rather see it at less than $10
(4)
Jamie B.
By far my favorite Persian rest. In the Baltimore area. Wonderful tadig, sabzi , koobideh salad Oliver. I never tried the buffet however. I highly suggest House of Kebob. Even a little grocery store in the back to take home dolmades, basmati rice and Sadaf seasonings!
(5)
Sudhir M.
Ordered for the combo which includes chicken kabob and the ground beef kabob. For the sides, chose the saffron rice. They started the service with Pita bread (their style) and butter. Firstly the pita bread was completely cold and rubbery. Then came the entree. Have to give it to them for the amazingly soft food. Its so easy to slice and eat. And to top that the chicken was really tasty. On the other hand, the beef was soft oo but tasted really bad, like its not properly cooked (I actually left half of it). It had good basmati rice and a big piece of well cooked mushroom with it. I would totally recommend it for the chicken kabob. Also they have afternoon buffets, for $10.50 during weekdays and $13.25 during weekens, which is a steal.
(3)
Ureka G.
Love the atmosphere and the buffet menu. They have the best rice!! It's small and a great meeting place for Middle Eastern people. Very quaint, reasonably priced and great food. One of my favorite lunch spots.
(4)
Javad A.
Craving Persian/Iranian buffet? Want to try Persian food? Check out House of Kabob. I first discovered House of Kabob during 2010, when I was craving good Persian food. At the time, it was one of two restaurants, and it was the second I found. I supposed I saved the best for last. I absolutely love their koobideh, and their persian style rice (polo) is always well made. Their buffet has both chicken and ground beef kabobs (koobideh), rice, herb stew (ghormeh sabzi), This is the only Persian restaurant where you can get a persian carbonated yogurt drink known as doogh. In the back of the restaurant, House of Kabob sports a small grocery where you can purchase spices, teas and candy. House of Kabob is as authentic as it is delicious.
(4)
Michael H.
Consistently great food. Usually only do carry-out but have had a + dining experience there. Casual atmosphere.
(5)
Marina S.
We stumbled upon this restaurant while running an errand in Baltimore, and we are already planning our trip back. What a delight! Delicious, flavorful, authentic Persian food served by a courteous, friendly server who even offered us complimentary, traditional tea while we waited for our take out order. The food was exceptional, and portions were ample. We'll be coming back soon!
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Carter N.
The lunch buffet was great. I walked out very full and happy. If you haven't had Persian food before, the buffet is a fun way to try a bunch of different dishes. The interior is nice and the staff were very friendly- they gave us free tea! I love its location on that little strip in Parkville. The bread and salads were a light and tasty start. I liked the crispy rice with carrots. The soup was ok but not my favorite. I ate all four of the meats: chicken, fish, beef, and lamb. The fish was fried and had a nice sauce. The beef was delicious, probably the highlight for me. The beef is cooked in a sauce with big preserved lemons- edible, but stuffed with bitter herbs. Overall, I recommend!
(5)Jacob R.
Staff was very rude after I went in for takeout tonight at 7:45 p.m.. They weren't supposed to close until 8:30 p.m. and I was left standing at the back register for 10 minutes before I was told, "Sorry, the grill is closed!" (This after they passed by me as if I didn't exist.). I told him, "The guy just told you that, and I've been standing here for 10 minutes now.". I was told, "Sorry, I can't help you.". They offered me anything from some menu I wanted nothing from, so I left, and I shall NEVER RETURN!
(1)Michelle T.
Delicious!! Very friendly server & the food was very good! I tried the tuna steak & lamb shank & everything including the rice & veggies were cooked perfectly!
(4)Supriya M.
Four of us found a table with ease on a Saturday night. Street parking is free and ample on weekends. It looks like a take-out place from the outside but the inside is quite cozy. Not very fancy but the food more than made up for the ambiance. BYOB and no corkage fee - great deal! The lamb and chicken kabobs were some of the best we've had. The tah-dig was interesting with the crispy rice. We all enjoyed our food very much. The service was very good. We sat there for a while after dinner talking but never felt rushed. All in all, worth the trip to White Marsh.
(4)B. P.
Pretty good food, love the rice, generous meats, well cooked, nicely seasoned veggies. Ive only done carryout but the staff is always nice. A little on the pricier side for what you get but no disappointment makes it worthwhile.
(4)Laleh S.
As an Iranian-American, it's so hard to find Persian food that can come close to being as good as the food your mother makes at home. Outside of NYC, LA, and DC, this is as good as it gets. I tend to get koobideh and barg with rice... hits the mark every time. My husband, who only started eating Persian food when he met me, gets chicken and loves it. My parents have been there a few times and they, too, find the food to be quite well done. I don't go there for any other dishes such as ghorme sabzi, khoresht gheymeh, or zereshk polo because I tend to be disappointed when I order them at restaurants. Based on how they do their tahdig, though, I bet theirs would be quite delish. I did eat at their buffet twice and found that it was not as good as ordering the meals fresh. If you didn't catch the food right out of the kitchen, it seemed to be dry and less flavorful. Although, they do offer a variety of foods from their menu. Maybe I need to catch their buffet on a better day.
(4)Edward S.
Again, I've been going here for many years. This is a place where I always am made to feel like I am their most important costumer. Ive been going here long enough that I rarely order anything other than the Barg Kabob with the cheese/walnut/scallion/radish/herb garnish with pita plate (sorry can't remember the name) as an appetizer. Both are my favorite, and they've become as cherished as mom's cooking. Also it's BYOB, and they have a small Persian grocery in the back. I often pick up their spice packs for use in my Tagine. (I often try to reproduce dishes I like in restaurants). Whenever friends visit from out of town HK is on my short list of places to take them.
(4)Graham P.
A amall, family owned and operated Persian restaurant offering great kebobs (both the chicken and beef are good) and other Persian favorites. The food is straightforward, featuring grilled meats and vegetables served along with Basmati rice. There rest of the Persian dishes, if you aren't familiar are similar to some Indian and Moroccan foods in many ways. I've never had a bad meal here. The service has always been quite good but can be a bit understaffed at peak times with only one or two servers for the restaurant. Once you've been there a few time you understand that it is basically one or two people doing everything in the front of the house. So for me, a little slower service is understandable. Also take into account that this isn't Applebees and that traditional Persian meals are usually spaced out over several hours. That being said, I have no problem occasionally walking my bill up to the register if they're busy or if I just want to get going.
(4)Erica M.
I deduct a star because the place was frigid, and although our server was efficient and timely, he was a little odd. Other than than, I have to admit this is the best Iranian food I've gotten from a restaurant. My boyfriend's Persian father makes the best, of course, but House of Kabob comes in at a close second. I got the koobideh kabob, and it was amazing! The first time I had their food, it was a few hours old because my boyfriend's family brought some back for me when they went but I had to work. It was delicious then, but fresh, it was heavenly! I don't know why anyone would chastise that rice. The seasoning and saffron were just how I like them, it was buttery, warm, and moist, and a perfect complement to the juicy and flavorful beef kabob. Also, I usually don't like veggies, but they somehow seasoned them perfectly. I ate my boyfriend's peppers for him! Dumped the sumac on, of course. Because it was so cold (though I am always cold, everywhere), I'll probably do carry-out next time. If you get cold easily like I do, bring a sweater.
(4)Barry B.
Yes this one is a little hit or miss. I have been and had a Jeff experience. It seems that that happens when the place is full of friends/relatives/native speakers. So if you can be patient, very patient, very very patient, and you have some previous exposure to the cusine and the "culture" of Imshalah- "God Willing"... as in Imshalah the waitress has good english skills, imshalah the cook is giving the non- "family" the good stuff...you get the picture. I have also been at lunch both weekend ( best experience, there were only two other tables, a little past the traditional lunch hours, we had a gorgeous blonde supermodel waitress who while still not terribly conversant was at least attentive and pleasant. The food still took a while but I think that is just a cultural thing. They are not a hurried people like most of us. Germany was the same way, relax, enjoy, you are out for the evening. When it came it was plentiful and delicious. Someone else noted and I agree the flavors are much more subtle. The grilled vegtables are a nice feature. The weekday buffet is pretty good as well, the dishes are much more limited than your standard chinese layout but the qaultiy is better. This is a place to go to escape the usual "stuff" we eat in Baltimore.
(4)Frank S.
Very decent lunch buffet. Great service. I was really hoping the place would be as cold as a previous reviewer wrote - wanting to cool off on this hot summer day - but the temperature was really quite normal.
(4)Lito T.
This place is great. Family run it feels warm and welcoming. We've eaten here many, many times. They make some of the best kabob's in the area. The chicken is perfectly cooked as is the roasted veggies. Basmati rice isn't as "wet" as short or medium grained rice. We usually try to go to the buffet but it's not offered during dinner. I'm not a Persian food expert, but everything I've tried, I love. Maybe I'me too easy but people are just too harsh on this place. It's consistently good and keeps us coming back.
(4)Matthew V.
Pretty mediocre. There's a mix of good and not so good dishes, but all seem disproportionally based on rice rather than the feature ingredient. The vibe in the restaurant is also strange. On the plus side, there is a a little shop to buy Middle Eastern ingredients.
(3)Dana B.
My boyfriend is from Iran and introduced me to Persian food, we have been going to House of Kabob since we met 3 years ago and the food and service has been consistent. I love the Ashe reshte, love the Koobideh, love the Barg. We have tried the buffet a few times and sometimes new offerings appear on it which makes things interesting as I always like to sample new things but might not want a full serving of something. A recent visit to the buffet introduced me to Zereshk polo morgh, which i had not been interested in trying off the main menu but found it to be really good . The service can be slow but when in good company what does it matter, it's not fast food after all! We have tried other Persian food in the region and we always go back to House of Kebob.
(5)Shieva R.
I've never physically been to the restaurant, but I have been to many Iranian parties that they catered. The food was good, I only got to try the koobideh but it was tasty, not as great as some of the kababi's in northern Virginia, but definitely good stuff! I can't comment on the staff or service, but the food was good standard Iranian fair, I don't know why Jeff had such a bad experience, maybe he's not used to authentic Iranian food. It's not highly spiced like food from other middle eastern countries, but more delicate and subtle. It isn't supposed to come with any dipping sauce although some places do give something on the side it can be ordered separately, and usually you eat the food with rice or bread not both. I'll definitely be coming by for some kabob when I'm in the area.
(4)Lisa Y.
GREAT persian food. not middle eastern food, PERSIAN food. so much better than Orchard Market. Yes, the service can be anywhere from indifferent to excellent, depending on time of day, buffet v. ordered, and server. i like the buffet because you can taste a little of everything, but I think the three dishes I like most are not buffet items.they are the sabzi and bread, lamb tenderloin kabob, and the lamb shank. the soup (ashe) is usually excellent, but on rare occaion, it seems a little thinned out. i've never had rice there that has been dried out. you can always put a pat of butter on it to moisten it. It is byob with no corkage fee., I would rather eat here than just about anywhere in bmore, other than my own place. If you are in a hurry, you are in the wrong place. but if you are with people whose company you enjoy and you want a warm, leisurely meal, without someone rushing you out, you have come to the right place.
(5)Kathryn E.
I like Kabob House. It isn't as good as Orchard Market Cafe (Persian fare in Towson) but it is good. Our experience was completely different than Jeff's. We were served by the owner, a sweet man who was eager to share his native cuisine and took a lot of pride in what he served and kept bringing us more things to try. The meal started with a plate of parsley, olives, feta, walnuts, and a little pita. Just bites of each as an Iranian type of amuse bouche. We've tried the lamb, tenderloin, chicken and the koobideh kabobs (ground beef with spices) and all were tender and tasty. They are served with a mound of rice, grilled tomatoes and onions, and then we also ordered the yogurt and cucumber to dip it in. I haven't tried other parts of the menu, but the kabobs are good. And since it is close to Usha's original salon, we drop in before or after the eyebrow stop for a nice bite.
(4)Jeff W.
I imagine the only reason this place exists is because of the complete lack of "ethnic" cuisine in the area. From the outside (and name) I was expecting more of a carry-out type place. Instead, it's a sitdown Iranian restaurant. It was surprisingly busy when I showed up but we were promptly seated. After that, it was all downhill. Service was abysmal. After being seated for 5 minutes, we still hadn't been addressed, and still didn't have menus! We had to finally get up and get our own menus from the front. Our waitress was completely lost, not really knowing anything about the food or menu. The choices basically consisted of a few iranian "specialities" and then standard kabob fare. I decided to play it safe and go for a kabob combo, which I'm pretty familiar with, and since I couldn't get any valuable feedback from the waitress on any of the iranian dishes. Not unlike the service, the food took a really long time to come out. When it arrived, it was disappointing looking. Each plate had a HUGE pile of bland, dry, plain old rice. No sides on top of it, no spices in it, no moisture. No flavor, aside from the weird chemically taste that I couldn't identify. I compared it to tasting like glue. There was also no bread with which to eat my kabob, and no yogurt sauce, as is standard at most places. This was probably the first time I've ever used a fork to eat a kabob. Chicken was juicy enough but had no flavor. Koobideh was pointless. Dry and no flavor. I wouldn't be surprised if it was just unseasoned ground sirloin on a skewer and then cooked to death. The only highlight was the generous portion of grilled vegetables. Once finished the lackluster meal we couldn't wait to leave. Not surprisingly, paying also took forever. Finally we had to go in the back to physically take the money to the waitress and get change. An awful experience of bland food and poor service. It took over an hour and a half to go through the dining process here, and that was with us trying to expedite things. I definitely will not be coming back ever again and I find it hard to believe this place is still in business. Maybe their weekly lunch buffet draws in customers?
(1)Matthew R.
Really sweet man gave us great suggestions for ordering and served us kindly. The food was so delicious and the portions of our meals were very large. We had enough leftover for dinner the following night as well. I would definitely recommend.
(5)Shaharazad P.
I love this place. My family and I always come in for the buffets. They offer a lot of different dishes for their buffets. On the weekends I would definitely make reservations if you plan to come around dinner time because it can get full. Even when full it is a cozy place and the staff are really friendly. there aren't many Persian restaurants in the area so it is convenient and the food is always good. They don't serve alcohol but you can bring your own bottle of wine if you like.
(5)Drew P.
If you want a fancy experience, then pass. It's just not that kind of place. However, for what they are trying to do... They do it really well. I loved the food and the kind, hospitable employees. And for a buffet, I was extremely impressed with the variety, quality and freshness of the food. They are doing a really great job. I'm definitely coming back... And with a huge appetite. Great kabobs.
(5)Victor M.
This is the only authentic Persian restaurant that offers a buffet that is worth trying. The buffet items were replenished frequently. They had a great choice of salads. The meats on the buffet were cooked perfectly and exploded with flavor. Their menu items are great as well!! Definitely try it if you are in the area!!
(5)Eric H.
The lunch buffet is a favorite spot...We're there regularly enough that the owner and servers all know us, but the service was great even before that. The food is consistent and delicious. There is always a rotating dish that changes with each day of the week, so there is also some variety. The koobideh here is not my favorite, but the chicken is always juicy and the other dishes are always great. They also have the crispy Persian rice that I love.
(5)Constance C.
Best restaurant in town! We take everyone that visits us here. We love dinning in and love getting carry out. Everyone is so nice and the food is AMAZING! I love it all! Great service and a cool little store is in the back where you can buy spices and snacks.
(5)Dmitriy G.
I have been here many times ; great food , quiet place . I enjoy food here !
(5)Mohammad Ali K.
This buffet is the best deal in the entire DC/MD/VA/DE/NJ/PA/NY area. In fact, the only other place I've ever seen a persian buffet is in Chicago and Los Angeles, and they had half of the options, house of kabob provides. Oh btw, ALL THE MEAT IS HALAL!!! Freshest type of meat out there, most five star restaurant chefs prefer Halal over regular meat. If you are not Persian, you will get the opportunity to try the most popular Persian dishes in one trip. Let you Persian/Iranian (whatever they go by) friends know about this place and make them bring you here so they can share with you their faves. Its a great group outing spot. If you are an irooni family, this place is a no brainer. Bring family, bring your friends. The quality of the food is home-made. The prices affordable. And they even have small amount of irooni groceries you can stock up on like tea, various fruit jams, irooni pickles, noon-barbari, various desserts and many many more. They even have sugar cubes on the tables, each one screaming for a cup of tea in your hand. You will not regret your trip here. The Buffet has always had the following each time i've gone: 1) Noon 2) Ash 3) Salad Shirazi 4) Salad Oliviyeh 5) Torshi (various kinds) 6) Mast-o-Khiar 7) Hummus 8) Polo 9) Taadeek 10) Koobideh 11) Jujeh Kabob (boneless) 12) Ghormeh Sabzi 13) Fesenjoon 14) Gheymeh 15) Baghalee polo and morgh 16) Rice Pudding and a few other things i'm forgetting now. But wow, look at that list. 11 something per person...you can't beat that. Call them double check their hours for the buffet and get you and your friends there!
(5)Melissa B.
I've never been able to try their food because whenever I have called to order in the past for carryout no one ever answered, we've since given up.
(3)Eugene K.
Kabobs are delicious and moist. Portions are generous and hostess was attentive. A large central air conditioning ceiling vent was blowing very cold air impossible to avoid in any of the tables. Prices are very reasonable. We plan to go back.
(4)Sheri H.
House of Kabob is pretty consistent. The koobideh tastes authentic and the chicken kabob is juicy. They offer a Sunday buffet that my family and I have eaten at in the past (good selection), but I usually get carry-out. The kabob meals include grilled veggies, rice, two roasted tomatoes, and pita bread. They also give you a small portion of mast o' khiar, which is yogurt with cucumber in it. I like to dip my bread in the mast o' khiar as a palate refresher between bites of kabob :) The salad-olvieh is decent. A little too much pickle for my taste, but I usually get some anyway for lunch the next day. One thing that did annoy me when I ordered yesterday: I had an Entertainment Book coupon for a buy one get one free meal and when I called to make a carry-out order, they said the coupon was only valid if you dined in the restaurant. The coupon made no mention of that restriction.
(4)Nelson R.
We have not eaten here in years, but we remember that the food was good. I would imagine that the food is still good. When we arrived, it was busy and a waiter pointed to table for us to sit at. We sat down and waited..... and waited..... we saw other people come in after us, and the wait staff welcomed them with open arms (these folks must have been regular customers) and gave them great service all the while we were still waiting to get served. I made eye contact with another member of their wait staff, but that didn't help. We left without finding out if the food was worth the wait. My advice, if you are not a regular customer and have not eaten here before, don't expect good service.
(1)Suki R.
I really like this place. The kabobs are awesome - the chicken was cooked perfectly and wasn't all dried out like I've had at other places. The koobideh was really good too. On the other hand, I loved the hummus the first time I was there but when I ordered it again on a later trip, it wasn't as garlic-y (I like it super-garlicy). That's a demerit for inconsistency. I haven't branched out and tried any of the more adventurous items on the menu but until I tire of the kabobs, I probably won't. I've been there 3 times (the first was with a group of about 7 for my birthday - we all had a great experience) and it's always been pretty quiet. Servers have been good but I had a strange occurrence the first time I was there with one of the waitresses - but she ended up not being our server (lucky her, she annoyed the snot out of me). The big draw to me, other than the great food and service, is that this place is BYOB. I can't remember if there's a disclaimer on the menu about a corkage fee - but I've never paid enough attention to the bill to see if it's ever really been charged. If there is, it's not enough to break the bank.
(4)Kiran P.
This restaurant was an unexpected surprise. Me and my boyfriend went for the lunch buffet. They have everything! Ghormeh sabzi, fesenjan, gheimeh, kabob, mast o khiar, and tadig. It was all so good! Service was great! I took off one star because the ashe was really bad. We will be back for everything else!
(4)Sarah W.
I've eaten here quite a few times, mainly for carryout. Food is always good. My go to is the broiled salmon, the basmati dill rice it comes with is great. I've also gotten the chicken, beef, and veggie kabobs and always start with Naan panir sabzi, which is feta, walnuts, radishes, and parsley served with Naan. This place doesn't look like much from the outside, but I have never been disappointed. If you want to dine in it's BYOB (no corkage fee!). Staff is always pleasant and accommodating.
(4)Sarah S.
This place is AMAZING!!! We had them cater a bridal shower and everything was great! Love the service and flavor!
(5)R n.
Good food, enjoyed their lunch buffet There kifta kabob was really one of the best I had, the chicken Kebob was a little dry and lacked the marinade flavor. The tomato and cucumber salad is one of my favorites and theirs was really good, the right amount of acidity complemented with the sumac flavor The fried fish was truly amazing, the batter was flavorful and complemented the fish Over all, this restaurant had great food and I would go back again Lunch buffet was $11, I would rather see it at less than $10
(4)Jamie B.
By far my favorite Persian rest. In the Baltimore area. Wonderful tadig, sabzi , koobideh salad Oliver. I never tried the buffet however. I highly suggest House of Kebob. Even a little grocery store in the back to take home dolmades, basmati rice and Sadaf seasonings!
(5)Sudhir M.
Ordered for the combo which includes chicken kabob and the ground beef kabob. For the sides, chose the saffron rice. They started the service with Pita bread (their style) and butter. Firstly the pita bread was completely cold and rubbery. Then came the entree. Have to give it to them for the amazingly soft food. Its so easy to slice and eat. And to top that the chicken was really tasty. On the other hand, the beef was soft oo but tasted really bad, like its not properly cooked (I actually left half of it). It had good basmati rice and a big piece of well cooked mushroom with it. I would totally recommend it for the chicken kabob. Also they have afternoon buffets, for $10.50 during weekdays and $13.25 during weekens, which is a steal.
(3)Ureka G.
Love the atmosphere and the buffet menu. They have the best rice!! It's small and a great meeting place for Middle Eastern people. Very quaint, reasonably priced and great food. One of my favorite lunch spots.
(4)Javad A.
Craving Persian/Iranian buffet? Want to try Persian food? Check out House of Kabob. I first discovered House of Kabob during 2010, when I was craving good Persian food. At the time, it was one of two restaurants, and it was the second I found. I supposed I saved the best for last. I absolutely love their koobideh, and their persian style rice (polo) is always well made. Their buffet has both chicken and ground beef kabobs (koobideh), rice, herb stew (ghormeh sabzi), This is the only Persian restaurant where you can get a persian carbonated yogurt drink known as doogh. In the back of the restaurant, House of Kabob sports a small grocery where you can purchase spices, teas and candy. House of Kabob is as authentic as it is delicious.
(4)Michael H.
Consistently great food. Usually only do carry-out but have had a + dining experience there. Casual atmosphere.
(5)Marina S.
We stumbled upon this restaurant while running an errand in Baltimore, and we are already planning our trip back. What a delight! Delicious, flavorful, authentic Persian food served by a courteous, friendly server who even offered us complimentary, traditional tea while we waited for our take out order. The food was exceptional, and portions were ample. We'll be coming back soon!
(5)