- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
California Kabob Kitchen
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Middle Eastern, Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
141 W 11th StLos Angeles, CA 90015
Neighborhood: Downtown
(213) 747-9500
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 4 pm
Sat 11 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Validated
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
20 reviews for California Kabob Kitchen
20 reviews in English
-
Review from Misty F.
San Gabriel, CA
**Dinner 4-6pm take out special! Chicken-beef kabob $7.95!
Located on 11th St. and Broadway.
Arrived late in the afternoon and there was no wait. People started filling in afterward for dinner. Don't let the exterior deceive you. It looks like some sort of fast food joint, but in fact it is a nicely decorated sit in restaurant. (see photo) Service was great and attentive.
I tried the food from here when they were at their old location down the street, which was many many many light years ago. The food at their new location is just as I remember it to be.. DELICIOUS!
While you wait for your meal, they start you off w/ a basket of warm pita bread and butter. :)
Here's what we ordered:
Ckk Shish Kabob (half order: $12.90): Flavorful and tender filet mignon skewered w/ bell peppers and onions. So delicious!!
Boneless Chicken Kabob (half order: $8.95): Chicken marinated w/ lemon, saffron and herbs. Tasty, tender and filling!! YUM!
** The orders above came w/ basmati rice (the sprinkle of yellow rice on top is just like color decoration, it doesn't taste any different than the white rice underneath) , grilled tomatoes and chili, lemon wedge, and raw onion strips. Season the rice w/ the purple colored spice mix for a zesty and flavor enhancing meal!
Lobia Polo ($5.95) w/ Beef Koobideh ($12.95): This is basmati rice mixed w/ minced filet mignon, green beans, and tomato sauce accompanied w/ beef koobideh. Beef koobideh is skewered ground beef marinated w/ spices. It has somewhat of a meatloaf texture. Very tasty!! YUM!!
Check it out! -
Review from Kevin R.
12/6/2011 1 photo
Downtown Los Angeles has some of the best and some of the worst food in the city. The restaurants range from Michelin stars to C level Health Code ratings and some places make you worry about risking your life on the very first bite. The dining in Downtown is a lot like the different districts. One moment you're dodging business men talking on their Bluetooth headsets and the next your dodging dealers and druggies. So I guess it's only fitting right?
Working in Downtown gives me a lot of choices during my lunch break. Sometimes we'll stumble into a taqueria and vow to never return after just five minutes. Other times we find a place that warrants multiple visits in the future. California Kabob Kitchen is one of those places!
We came here around 1pm and we got a table pretty easily. The place has a very mellow vibe with soft earth-tone colors everywhere along with white tables and leather chairs. Even though the space is a little small they still manage to have a lot of tables without making it seem cramped.
Mediterranean food is one of my favorite foods because of the rich flavors and strong spices. The menu has a bunch of kabobs, stews, wraps, soups, salads, and appetizers. To start out we got an order of the magic eggplant (grilled and sauteed eggplant with toppings of kashk, mint, and sauteed onion) and an order of hummus (garbanzo beans pureed with sesame garlic, lemon & spices garnished with roma tomato and basil). Each one was great. I love hummus and pita bread so these two starters got me even more excited for my entree.
For my main dish I got the salmon kabob (Atlantic salmon marinated in saffron and house seasoning, flame broiled and served with lima bean dill rice and organic mix green salad). Whoa! The plate came completely filled with huge portions of rice and salmon with a big salad on the side. The rice had strong spices that only made the salmon taste better. The salad was almost like an added bonus, especially after sharing two appetizers. The salmon was nice and fresh with a crisp outside with a warm and flaky center.
After I finished off the entire plate (like a champ) I couldn't even think about dessert. Instead, I started the long process of waddling back to the office. Lunch break successful, indeed! -
Review from Maureen M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/12/2011
So yummy! The beef and chicken combination was delicious! The half rice and half salad were the perfect addition. The salad has a limony fresh crunchy taste and the jasmine rice is warm and fluffy.
-
Review from Henry A.
Los Angeles, CA
6/27/2011
I had a craving for mediterranean today and I decided to yelp to find an option. The first thing that came up was CKK which is right next to my work. It's a bit intimidating, with murky glass doors that don't allow you to see inside and Santee Alley Way right around the corner.
When I stepped foot inside the restaurant, it was beautiful. They really did a great job decorating the place. The room makes you feel welcomed. Dim lights, subtle coffee-shop music, and a kitchen facing you.
I ended up having the Chicken kabob, which was delicious. I ordered cucumber yogurt to go with the free pita bread they bring out. The rice is what really made the dish so good!
This place was truly a hidden gem. I will be back! -
Review from Min T.
Los Angeles, CA
8/19/2010
The good- it's clean and the food is pretty good.
The bad- they overcharged me $2. I had a $12 plate plus an iced tea ($1). So why was it almost $17?
The only thing I can imagine is they were charging me for every iced tea refill.
Oh, I had the adas polo which came with one chicken kabob that was tender along with lentil rice and some dates on top of it.
I probably shouldn't have tipped them but I'm just not going back. -
Review from Nicole V.
San Pedro, CA
7/9/2010
This is one of my favorite nearby lunch places in Downtown. ....I'd give it 3.5 stars, if I could.
I always get the same thing: Grilled Vegetable Kabob Salad, add chicken, no dressing. Always delicious.
The service is hit-or-miss. Don't get me wrong, they are always polite. The waiter tends to recognize me and my co-worker, often bringing us our Diet Cokes as we're being seated. However, the order we put in aren't always correct.
Today, I went with a group of 5 others for lunch and three of the lunch orders were wrong. Not just a little bit - but completely different than what they ordered.
Tasty tasty food and I will continue to visit.
BTW: If you go here, you'll wonder what the owner is doing on the phone the ENTIRE time while his one waiter gets a work-out trying to service the entire restaurant on his own. -
Review from Danielle W.
Westwood, CA
2/15/2009
Oh man, what a relief it was to find this place. I work in an office building just around the corner which has the most horrible cafeteria and an awful food court (Trimana's (sans grill), Asaki, and Subway).
I got the Salmon kabob to go. Wow, that was a lot of food. Though the salmon was cooked slightly more than I normally prefer, it tasted great. It came with dill rice and a salad as well.
The host was very gracious. He offered me tea or soda while I waited for my food. The restaurant itself was tastefully decorated, which was a surprise because I was expecting it to be a take-out place.
I'll definitely be back! -
Review from Jenny C.
Costa Mesa, CA
8/11/2010
I come here for my lunch break fairly often. If you order to-go there's a dicount menu.
The hummus and chicken kabob are my favorite. The generous portions can make 2 meals for me. -
Review from Andy P.
Los Angeles, CA
6/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stopped by for lunch, Nice quaint dinning room with conversations and soft middle eastern music playing. I was seated immediately by friendly gentleman who came back to take my order. Nicely decorated and you have a view of the kitchen or the street.
I ordered the small hummus appetizer and the chicken koobideh. They brought warm pita bread with butter to start, the humus was bland and missing spices. The koobideh (ground chicken) was perfect, two long skewers on a bed of Persian rice with raw onion, grilled tomato and a spicy chili. I didn't touch most of my rice and I was still stuffed. As Middle Eastern restaurants go this is definitely a place to visit. My check including appetizer $2.78 and lunch $10.99 which I think should have been $9.95 according to the menu. $15 + tip, a bit pricey for lunch but well worth it. Enough food to share and split the bill.
All the tables were attended to by one waiter and one busboy incredible feat as the restaurant was at full capacity. These 2 guys didn't miss a beat. Definitely coming back... -
Review from Shannon V.
Los Angeles, CA
5/3/2008 3 photos
YEEAH! Am I really first!? A must! If you remember the Golden Olive, it's the same owners, staff & food with some new additions. It was just like we remembered & super friendly. We went today (Sat.) for lunch (you know me!) & can't wait to go back. The super black windows don't let you see in, but once you go in, it's so open and clean and fresh you are surprised. We were able to choose where we wanted to sit and the owner even recognized my husband from the Golden Olive days.
It was a hot day & we had just been shopping so I had the 1/2 order Greek Salad ($6.49) which was generous and gorgeous! Red, yellow & green peppers, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives (with seeds!) and super tasty feta. It was so fresh & the dressing was perfect!! See my pictures.
DH had the Boneless Breast of Chicken Kabob which I was lucky enough to sample! YUM YUM and I don't like chicken! Super moist & flavorful. The basmati & grilled tomato & chili make it a perfect plate!
We ordered the salsa to start to go with the warm pita they bring to the table. The salsa was really fresh, I think they made it special for me! I thought it was a little pricey, but considering the generous portions, freshness & service with a smile, it can't be beat! Go check them out! -
Review from Billy K.
Torrance, CA
2/24/2010
Just viisted this place for lunch with my co-worker.
It was a nice jaunt but worrying if it was going to rain on the way back to the office.
The place was quiet. Half filled ( looked like regulars).
We didn't see the same special on their website as on the menu.
But they had some special written with chalk near the counter.
We both ordered the California Kitchen Special
1 appetizer
1 salad
1 boneless chicken kabob.
We tried the eggplant and cucumber. The eggplant was rich. Never tried before so not sure if right. But it tasted good.
The plate was very appealing. The grilled veggies in one corner of this large rectangular place. The rice was topped with another color rice. The chicken was moisty and very juicy.
More food for lunch. Saving half for dinner. -
Review from Lucy T.
Los Angeles, CA
7/17/2009
This place has great food.
You have to try:
#1-Magic Eggplant (kashk o' bodemjon) - not really a fan of eggplant, but really good.
#57-Lobia Polo (basmati rice mixed with special tomato sauce, green beans, and minced fillet mignon) Yummy!
#25-Boneless Breast of Chicken Kabob - this one is always good.
Try it for yourself, you'll keep wanting more. -
Review from Meghan A.
Encino, CA
9/1/2010
As there are so few options near my office building, this is a great change of pace from the regular fast food or leftovers from home. The portions are huge and can easily be split with a side of humus and their house salad with a delicious lemon dressing. I am partial to the beef koobadeh or the chicken breast plates. The staff members are always pleasant. This is one of my regulars.
-
Review from Foodie - L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/9/2010
Persian food in downtown la? Now thats a treat!
We had the original salad with chicken kabob. Delicious!
Mind you, I am not a salad for a meal kind of girl, but this dish was completely satisfying. Adding the chicken kabob is necessary.
Pita was warm and plentiful. Service was courteous and full of smiles.
Water comes with lemon slices on the side. And..they even offered us some extra pita for our leftovers.
**They treat you like family there** -
Review from Ron S.
Los Angeles, CA
11/23/2010
UMMMMMM...GOOD
The Chicken Kabobs are the best, it is one our favorites places for lunch, as I work just around the corner for the City of LA. Wants really nice is they are open late afternoons for pick up to take home for dinner...what a great idea!!! And is a really good bargain for dinner with lots of food for the money. Eat here several times a week...LOVE IT!!! -
Review from M D.
Santa Barbara, CA
5/17/2011
My family and I went here for lunch after visiting the natural history museum. I got the koubideh sandwich which came with s greens salad served with a balsamic vinaigrette. Service was excellent. The owner was very nice. We asked about the pita bread and where we can find some. He turned around and brought over 3 bags of pita bread to take with us at no charge. Completely unexpected and generous. Definitely going back for the food and service.
-
Review from roger c.
Rosemead, CA
2/25/2009
Great kabob place. The chicken is always moist and tender. Rice cooked to perfection. Great, cheap lunch specials. Friendly staff. What else do I have to say?
-
Review from John L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2010
I've been living in downtown LA for almost three years. if it wasn't for my neighbor, I would've never have found this place within walking distance from my loft. the owner is extremely accommodating and the food is fresh. the food is inexpensive and the portions are generous.
my only complaint: they need to open later, b/c 3PM and no weekends are just not enough to fix my cravings. -
Review from Rich R.
Los Angeles, CA
10/21/2010
We eat here about 2 times a week, and really love it. The prices are good, the food is always fresh, the chicken is fresh & juicy. Great for pick up to take home in the evening too.
-
Review from Carmel B.
6/5/2009
This place has zero street presence so I have walked by it a few times. First - the interior is immaculately clean. Stunningly so - eat off the floor clean. Second - the host and waiter are the definition of gracious. Third, the food! The portions are ENORMOUS. I had the veggie kabob with the mountain of baghali polo rice and it was very good. My pal had the combo meat and chicken kabobs and enjoyed them. They were out of salmon, so I am going to go back to try that kabob. We also had the hummus which was also very good. I am thrilled to have found this place as I work in the same building as the other reviewer, Danielle W., and the food choices there are BAD.
