REVIEW: Azeen's Afghani Restaurant (Pasadena, CA)

Recently I had lunch at Azeen's Afghani Restaurant in Pasadena, CA. Pictured above is an excellent dish called mantu (Steamed dumplings filled with chopped beef, onions and herbs topped with yogurt and sautéed Mixed vegetables, $4). My lunch companion ordered pakawra-e-badenjan (Batter dipped, sautéed slices of eggplant topped with yogurt and meat sauce, $4). I don't even like eggplant, and I thought this was very tasty. These were both appetizers. For our entrees we ordered the chicken and lamb kabobs, which came with pallaw, an interesting seasoned rice (the rice is cooked in the juices and gravy of the meat, so arrives infused with flavor) and Afghani bread which was described as a cross between Indian naan and Italian focaccia. It was served with a very interesting spicy/minty green chutney. The bread had a look of corrugated cardboard and the texture of somewhat dry toast. To be honest, I enjoyed the appetizers more than the entrees (cooked meat on skewers is nothing new). The pallaw was a dry shadow of the Caribbean pelau, which is a similar gravy-infused wet rice dish (reminiscent of risotto or paella). The meals were served with delightfully refreshing Afghan iced tea with cardamom. Afghani cuisine appears to be an interesting hybrid of sources from India, Persia and the Middle East.

I definitely intend to return to Azeen's in the near future, for some more mantu, and to sample the rest of their interesting appetizer menu.

GRADE: B+.