- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Royal Kabob
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Restaurants Halal Indian, Pakistani, Halal [Edit]
5245 W Rosecrans AveHawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 297-6870
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
56 reviews for Royal Kabob
Review Highlights
"The Chicken Tikka Masala is a must try."
(in 13 reviews)
"garlic naan - fresh and very yummy."
(in 15 reviews)
"the bollywood videos are extremely entertaining as well."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
56 reviews in English
-
Review from Kyle M.
Hanover, MD
11/8/2011
Very good food! The samosas were fantastic, any any of the Kahari dishes are great. Get the Goat Kahari, you won't be disappointed.
Only ding is that service can be slow, and dishes don't necessarily come out all together. -
Review from Tracy T.
Redondo Beach, CA
6/27/2011
The food here is fantastic! The shrimp tikka masala and chicken tandoori were both flavorful and delicious. The naan was piping hot and yummy.
However, good food does not a restaurant make. I don't care how great you are at cooking. If you can't get 5 different dishes out in a timely manner, or if you do not know what your kitchen has, you should not be in the restaurant business. The food is just as good and flavorful as the other places in the area, so it's a shame to see such bungling restaurant management. I hate to leave such poor marks for a living social dining experience, but royal kabob needs to step it up.
Firstly, I remember when this place was a yogurt/coffee shop. And before that it was a Togo's. So now that you know its roots, you can see how the setup was perfect for a Togo's, decent for a yogurt/coffee shop, but awful for a trying-to-be-fancy restaurant. The fresh flowers are beautiful, the black tablecloths are a nice touch, but when you can hear the owner/manager/chef training his employees, the ambiance plummets. Instead of enjoying the dinner conversation, I was wondering why the poor chef-in-training couldn't get the garlic to the pan fast enough for the boss's liking.
The girls who were serving were young but polite. I like it when businesses try to mentor, train and give teenagers jobs. I felt bad for them having to keep on telling us that everything was out.
And by everything I mean EVERYTHING was out. We at first tried to order beef nehari, but were immediately told they were out of that. Okay, so we order another dish. Fifteen minutes later, the girl comes out from behind the counter and tells us they are out of that too. Fifteen minutes for that? So even after that was taken care of, we waited a good 40 minutes for our food. In that time frame, they tabled food for one other patron and a to go order. That's not a lot of food produced in 40 minutes.
Normally I wouldn't order chicken tandoori, but that's one of their bestsellers so we ordered that in desperation for something that they actually had. We were given 5 pieces of chicken (delicious juicy chicken) on a bed of rice with salad. Thinking we were given the lunch portion, I looked at the menu again. Ah-no. That's the only chicken tandoori plate they have. Now why does a restaurant with a la carte curry, naan, and rice offerings only offer chicken tandoori as (what I consider) a lunch plate? We were planning on sharing that dish and eating it with naan. Instead it was carb overload and not enough of the mains. Either turn your curry offerings into complete meals too, or offer a chicken tandoori only plate.
The shrimp tikka masala was fantastic. It was pretty oil though. I would much rather have cream over oil in my tikka masala, but personal preferences aside, it was delicious.
If you do come here, order to go and pick it up 30 minutes later. But as for me, there are plenty of other mediterranean or pakistani or halal places (Al Hamra, Al Noor) who are quicker and cheaper with the kabobs and tikka masala. -
Review from Monica C.
Hawthorne, CA
5/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fiance and I came here with a Living Social deal of $15 for $30 worth of food. The deal was difficult to refuse, so we dropped in.
Walking in, the place has a long counter on the left with an open kitchen and a string of tables on the right. The place is small and intimate. We sat in the back at the very last table... i could hear every single conversation in the entire restaurant. I knew what every table ordered and how the kitchen was preparing it... that seat amplified all the sound in the restaurant. I'm not sure if it was a blessing or a curse because everyone was clearly enjoying their food and the kitchen was taking great care with the food preparation.
We ordered the strawberry and mango lassi, chicken tikka Masala, aloo matar, and beef kabob. The lassi tasted as if it was made in-house, so it had a little tangy flavor that was very distinctive. I liked it... the fiance didn't. The chicken tikka masala is exactly how everyone describes it on yelp - not too oily with tons of flavor. I just kept dipping naan into the sauce and devouring it. The beef kabob had a ton of spices in it and the fiance loved it. The food was fantastic and my stomach wasn't angry after the meal. (I have a sensitive stomach that refuses cheap indian food.)
Royal kabob loses a star for its incredibly slow food service. It took almost 25 minutes for the food to come out. I mentioned it to the server, so the owner came out to apologize. He said that each dish was made to order, so it takes some time.
We're definitely coming back... most likely for take out. The food is wonderful, but I can't sit and wait for 25 minutes starving while I listen to all the other people shoving food in their mouth. Its a tease!!! -
Review from Virak R.
Lakewood, CA
5/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had the Chicken Tikki Masala which was full of flavor. My meal came with naan bread which was hot and fresh. The decor was nice and clean. The service was just ok. I wish the naan bread came out with my masala and not while i was half way done with my food because I was hungry and couldn't wait :)
Can't wait to come back and try some of their other dishes. -
Review from Melanie D.
Kagel Canyon, CA
11/2/2011
I am a HUGE fan of Indian food and eat it whenever I can...so I know a thing or two about the cuisine. I have eaten the food here several times and each time I've enjoyed it completely. The chicken dishes are especially good and flavorful and I've never had dry chicken from this establishment. The garlic naan is to die for good...I would go there just for the naan. I also really enjoy their vegetarian dishes...especially their paneer. I will definitely eat there again.
-
Review from Daniel G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I won't be going back. It's shameful that anyone would give this place more than a few stars. Actually, from what I saw inside the restaurant it's doubtful those reviewers have ever eaten at a decent kabob or Indian restaurant.
Don't let the name fool you. It's basically an Indian restaurant with 1/3 the menu of an Indian restaurant. Their menu is fairly small to begin with, yet on a Saturday night they didn't even have several of the options I tried to order .
The chicken kabob was overcooked and dry. The beef kabob was slightly better. The garlic naan was the worst I've had, and almost definitely bought frozen/prepackaged. For the high prices, it's absolutely not worth the small portions and lack of quality.
Our server even forgot to give us a side and wouldn't give us a discount.
India's tandoori is right down the street, has better food, and a much larger menu.
If you gave this place five stars I will gladly ignore any other review you write. -
Review from Kim T.
Thousand Oaks, CA
1/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Place:
I was working nearby and looked at the reviews, I agree with one of the reviewers as you walk in you don't know what to do with this long and tall counter I didn't see any to go menus and wasn't acknowledged for just a short time then the cook took my order. I't wasn't long of a wait and they did offer me a seat but I declined. I was also turned off by kitchen area and saw 2 of the employees in street clothes checking the food and the amounts in the warming section and the cash register in the kitchen.
There was an observation of a manager discussing with his cook a problem, not the kind of thing a customer wants to hear while dining.
The food:
I ordered the Sheekh Chicken Kaboob Plater, In my opinion it was dry and to spicy hot, the rice had too much bay leaves in as I kept on having to remove it from my mouth. When I unpacked my to go order I couldn't believe there was no Naan bread, I figured that a $11.00 plater would have come with it, It's like having Carne Asada plater and no tortillas . That's how you are to eat this cuisine so I won't be returning here. -
Review from regina m.
Los Angeles, CA
11/8/2010
This location is great for parking as it's usually not a problem to find a spot in the enclosed lot.
The set up inside is a bit confusing because the long counter gives the impression that one would order there and then sit, but we were walked over the a table and then given menus so that cleared everything up.
It seemed while we were there that the majority of business was for take out, which makes sense since the dining room is a bit small. However, what it lacks in size it makes up for in service and charm (the walls are covered with what seems to be a family member's paintings). The person there seemed to be jack of all trades, taking orders, waiting tables, and cooking and plating, but he was great.
What I remember was the cucumber salad, raita, and pitas being really good. The tandoori chicken was also great- it was moist and really tasty. We also had the ground meat kabob, which was overshadowed by the chicken, but was still satisfying.
It was, overall, a good meal that was not overly expensive, but I think I'd consider this more of a take out spot for future visits.Listed in: the OTHER bay area, Kabob Karaziness
-
Review from Penn T.
El Segundo, CA
10/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Very pleasantly surprised by this place. Was in the area shopping and wanted some takeout food. Thanks to Yelp once again, we found this little gem.
Service was extremely friendly and even though they were having a private party, they were able to accommodate a takeout order. They even allowed my friend to have some of the food that was already prepared for the other guests.
The tandoori chicken was extremely juicy and flavorful and had two very tasty veggie side dishes as well as a lot of rice. The chicken tikka masala was a little oily but still very flavorful.
Would definitely return. -
Review from Robert G.
San Jose, CA
7/12/2010
I was just at LAX picking someone up, and of course, a trip to LA means a chance to find some new restaurants. I got out the Blackberry and decided to look for a Cuban restaurant. Found one in Hawthorne. I exited, and saw the first shopping center. In red, I was captured by one of my favorite words in food: KABOB.
I continued on to the Cuban restaurant, thinking of kabobs the whole way. Well, the Cuban restaurant was closed (Sunday evening, 8 PM), so I returned to the "kabob". I checked Yelp first to make sure it was a good idea. 4 stars... hmm... let's go.
As I walked in, it was pretty empty. Gosh, everywhere what little of Hawthorne I saw was dead. The place looked very nice though. Left side of the restaurant had a high counter with the grill/kitchen behind it. The right side was a nicely decorated set of formal tables with square dishes and cloth napkins folded on top. Two large TV screens played Bollywood-esque videos with Chicken Tikka Masala and the Royal Kabob Signature Platter.
WOW! That was a ton of food. She first served the chicken, and it was excellent. Their basmati rice had some small vegetables cooked in with it to give it an interesting appearance and color on its own. I topped it with some of the gravy from the chicken along with some meat, and boy, I was in heaven. It was just a little spicy - just right (I'm a whimp for spicy food honestly). After a few scoops of that and the garlic naan (flat bread), I was already feeling satisfied. Then came the kicker.
The platter was very large. It came with several side dishes, including raita, dall, and aloo chana (see website for descriptions: http://www.kabobtogo.c...). The platter had tandori chicken as well as ground chicken and beef kabobs. The gound meats were OK, but when compared with the rest of what we had, they didn't compare. Nevertheless, it was excellent. All of this with two sodas for $41 was a steal since there are enough leftovers for tomorrow's lunch... and that is IF I'm not still full.
Finally, I asked what part of India this food is from (since the only food of this sort I've had was at a Nepalese restaurant in St. Paul, MN). She said it was Pakistani! I didn't expect that. (Hence, I wrote Bollywood-esque... Do Pakis like Bollywood? I thought they had beef with India...).
If you're in the hood, I recommend this place for great food, servcice, and ambiance. And value! Sundays are good since those are their dead days according to the waitress. She says weekday lunches and Fri/Sat nights are more busy. -
Review from Daniel C.
Irvine, CA
11/8/2010
Food: Doable
Service: Forgettable
The service was horrible! We literally did not get water for fifteen minutes and it was only half full (meaning there were 2 groups of 4 in there at once).
The food was tasty but for what we ended up paying, I was hoping my stomach would be fuller. The dishes are more geared toward individual serving rather than family-style. The Chicken Tikka Masala is a must try.
I really enjoy the Kabob concept and there certainly aren't enough Indian places in this area to be picky, so overall a solid B. -
Review from Salma M.
9/23/2010
Great place to eat! The chicken tikka masala was quite delicious. The chutneys were fresh and yummy. My cousin ordered one of their wraps and she did not like it.
The venue wasn't bad. It looks like a fast food restaurant, but it's not. It took the waitress forever to get us our food. There was only one waitress for the whole place. The prices were reasonable! -
Review from Shannon O.
Torrance, CA
8/22/2011
I spend a significant amount of time on here Friday reading reviews on this place. What my basic consesus was when I finished was that the food woudl be great but it might take a while to get it. So, in light of that, we stopped by and placed a take out order, ran across the street to Costco and came back in half an hour to them just finsihing it up.
The hostess / order taker wasn't very friendly but not rude...just kind of straightfaced and "what can I get you?". I asked a couple of questions about menu items and her answers weren't very helpful so we didn't order the items in question.
We ultimately ended up ordering garlic naan (they were out of cheese naan), Chicken Tikka Masala (it was highly spoken of on here), the Vegetable Samosas, the Chicken Bihrayni, and the Aloo Gobi.
Before we headed out to Costco we saw the chef come out of the back part of the kitchen with sautee pans holding the already prepared items- complete with sauce and put them on the stove top to reheat.
The Samosas were crispy on the outside but absolute flavorless mush on the inside. We each took one bite and passed on the rest.
The Chicken Tikka Masala was swimming in oil and there was VERY LITTLE flavor. I have had Indian food many times and this dish in particular, this doesn't even compare. Perhaps the previous reviewers who raved about this have not had it often, do not mind pools of oil in their food, or had it on a day when they actually prepared it fresh.
The Chicken Bihrayni was AWFUL!! I have never had this type of dish with meat mixed in the rice where the chicken still has bones in it. That being said, I can understand that different people have different styles of cooking. This however was just unacceptable. Each bite we took had bits of bone through it. I had to take it off my 4 year old's plate because I was afraid he would choke. It was like they had cooked the chicken so long that the bones had disenegrated. The rice was also super dry and not a little undercooked. The flavor wasn't horrible but in light of everything else, not a dish I would recommend.
The Aloo Gobi was edible, oily though. I am assuming the extra oiliness of the food is because they precook and reheat.
Now, on to the naan... I read a ton of reviews on here that said how awesome it was and hot and delicious. How they cook it right there, etc. Perhpas they sometimes prepare it fresh and it is good, however, the naan bread we got was reheated flat bread similar to what I buy at Trader Joe's. It was very think and flat - not like fresh naan where it is bubbly and fairly thin. It was also VERY brown... not how it would be served normally. What a disapointment... great naan may have masked some of the other flavors in this meal.
I have got to think that with the drastic differences in these reviews that they prepare fresh food on certain days and reheat later or that they have changed recipes over time, idk. I otherwise cannot believe that anyone eating the food we had from here on Friday would give it more than 1-2 stars. It was awful.
Even with the Living Social deal that left us only paying a total of abut $22 for everything, it was worth it. We had to order other food for dinner. If you are looking for Indian, skip this place, it isn't like we are short on options in this area. -
Review from Martin M.
Los Angeles, CA
5/22/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I felt like trying something new for lunch and a couple of my coworkers had recommended Royal Kabob, so I stopped by for take out.
I ordered the chicken tikka masala which comes with your choice of either naan or rice. I had the rice, don't think I could eat something that soupy without it. The masala had a bit of a kick to it, but I felt there wasn't much flavor. Portions are huge though, it was enough for both lunch and dinner.
I'll go back to try some other things on the menu, but the masala is significantly better down the street at both Al Watan and Al Noor. -
Review from Ryan J.
Los Angeles, CA
3/25/2010
Spicy. Indian. Two of my favorite words.
Let's start with spicy. Why do I love spicy food? Is it the burn that spreads from my nose to the back of my throat, and then which I can feel spreading down into my abdomen like a shot of scotch? Is it the way that it makes my stomach gurgle for the rest of the day? Is it the way my eyes tear up and water escapes through my pores (read: I sweat profusely) as I stuff my cakehole? Or perhaps is it the unhappiness that is my bunghole about two hours later? I'll have to ponder these items and then get back to you, thanks.
Indian. Why do I love Indian food so much? Is it the complexity of flavors? Is it the spices inherently utilized in the culinary culture? Although there are many distinct types of Indian cuisine, there are similarities throughout. Is it the way that I walk in and the proprietor assumes that I'm another white guy who knows nothing about Indian cuisine, but then is pleasantly surprised when I can rap until the cows come home? Again, I'm not sure.
All I know is that I love spicy food. And I love Indian food. So put the two together, and you've got a fan.
I will admit that I have never actually had a full meal at Royal Kabob. I've ordered from Royal Kabob several times, always to go, always the same thing, always consistently satisfactory. Will I eventually spread my wings and sample some of their house specialties? Sure, when I have time to do so. But it's convenient from my office, and if I actually take the time for a lunch break and I'm in the mood for... spicy... Indian... I'll head over to Al Watan down the street, so it might not happen in the near future. But someday, I promise.
Every time that I've eaten here, I've had the chicken breast roll ($6.50). Add $1 for the garlic naan, trust me on this. Inside, you'll find perfectly-cooked chicken tikka, fresh lettuce and produce that adds a nice crunchy texture, and a spicy chutney with garlic that suits the roll perfectly. While it isn't a massive amount of food, it's a proper meal for one person, and hits the proverbial spot perfectly.
Service has always been friendly, preparation is consistently quick, and Bollywood videos are shown aplenty. Very entertaining while you wait for your food. And they show the risque ones. The ambiance itself is okay, and the interior is clean, but it is a relatively small restaurant (that I've never seen full) and it is in a strip mall next to King Keg, so your only outward-facing view is of the King Keg owner's massive, obnoxiously-yellow Humvee.
Nevertheless, I go for the food. And the food is pretty tasty. I will update this review someday when I actually try some of the other menu items, but for now, for a spicy and delicious Indian sandwich for a totally reasonable price, I'm going 4 stars.Listed in: Ryman's Guide to Indian Food
-
Review from Barry W.
3/1/2009
*** rather nice eatery ... and i do not even like Indian food. ***
that is what i "used to" think but Royal Kabob changed that!
i stopped here b/c it "looked" like the best place in the plaza.
the strip mall has a Carl's Jr and a mex place called Qjoba?
anyways Royal Kabob is quaint, very clean, very convenient to
access, and two flat screen tvs w/ the latest Indian pop videos.
so i decided to give this place a try because i was in a big hurry.
tandoori chicken - well seasoned
lamb chops - meaty and succulent
garlic naan - fresh and very yummy
chutney - more flavorful than most
spinach/potato - spicy lovely side dish
*** i do like Indian food. i just didn't know of a go-to spot for it. *** -
Review from Jaime L.
Huntington Beach, CA
9/6/2009
What a find in a strip mall close to the freeway!
The kabobs are succulent and tender and packed with flavor! The rice is tender with that nice little bite.
The naan is garlicy with a nice crisp from the tandor and then soft and light on the inside.
Its a mix between indian and pakistani cuisine's I think.
The sauces are all good and fresh with a kick.
It's really good, freshly made to order and pretty inexpensive. How can you go wrong here? -
Review from Amit A.
Los Angeles, CA
1/1/2011
I have eaten at Royal Kabob 3 times...
There is something "je ne sais quoi" about this place which makes it extremely indian. The flavors are great. I have had their kabob platter, chicken tikka masala which are all great.
My only complaint if any is that lots of dishes are in the form of meals. This makes eating family style a little hard.
Besides the food, I should add that the service is pretty awesome. -
Review from Amador A.
Cerritos, CA
9/24/2008
This little shop took the place of what used to be a Quiznos sandwich eatery.
It's kind of a strange setup to be a kabob dining location, but the food is excellent.
They hand make fresh aloo pratha and naan bread to order, served piping hot.
Excellent food and decent prices. -
Review from Sam N.
5/14/2009
The Best Pakistani Food Ive had so far in Los Angeles, Better than Al Watan and Bismillah, but its just a small restaurant. The ambiance isnt that great and its in a strip mall but the food more than makes up for it.
You must try their Beef Boti Kebab (garlic roasted steak chunks and spices)
The one thing that separates this place from all other Indian/Pakistani places in the south bay, red fort indian cuisine, addis tandoori, al watan, etc. is their QUALITY OF MEAT. The best chicken breast meat and the most tender chunks of filet mignon are used for the steak. Its as good as many nice persian restaurants who use top quality meat. No cheap chicken leg and thigh meat on the tandoori at this place.
The owner is nice and the prices are incredibly reasonable, You must try this place. I am driving again from OC to Hawthorne to get take out this weekend when family comes to visit.
And the tandoori chicken is out of this world!!
The naan is just fluffy and heavenly. Worth the trip to Hawthorne, but be forewarned, it takes a while to cook the food.
A hidden gemListed in: Hidden Gems in the LA and OC…
-
Review from Andrew M.
Hermosa Beach, CA
5/3/2010
A place I frequent once a week. I work just on the other side of the freeway from them, so its an easy walk to get some good food.
The chicken Kabob's used to be my favorite, then they let me sample the Chicken Tikki Marsala. I never went back. I always order it extra spicy. Lilly the girl who pretty much runs this place knows me all to well. I walk in, she seats me and my party, takes their orders and already knows what I want.
The owner owns the liquor store next door too, very nice guy.
Overall, Their prices are a little high, but delicious non the less. -
Review from Caroline F.
Venice, CA
5/19/2011
This is not your typical ethnic restaurant- it is so much more! The food is amazing!! I've never had a better tandoori chicken in my life. You have to get the garlic naan- it is made fresh right in front of you. This restaurant is clean and the staff is super friendly. It's a blend of the east versus the west with all fresh ingredients. Also, the new Mali Chicken is great! Thanks so much I will be back soon!
-
Review from Angela P.
Redondo Beach, CA
7/14/2011
food was ok-but they got a B rating. Just gross to me.
-
Review from Margaret N.
Gardena, CA
10/13/2008
3.5 stars? I'm not totally a fan yet but it is better than "A-OK".
I got the Boti Kabob platter ($11.99) and an order of garlic naan ($2.50) here today. The plate came with 4-5 large pieces of beef atop basmati, a side of dall, and cucumber salad. The beef was excellent--super-marinated, fall off the bone tender (well, there was no bone, but you know what I mean), pepper and spices pervaded the crevices of the beef. The dall was tasty as well, with a delayed heat that pleasantly hit you after a few bites. Cucumber salad was slightly tart and refreshing. The garlic naan was pretty good--freshly cooked, the naan was a little thicker than I was used to, which allowed for a softer, chewier bread, but it still had those nice crunchy/crispy bubbles that switched up the texture. My only complaint was the basmati (-.75 star). I look forward to a good, flavored basmati but Royal Kabob's was plain and kinda wet. Disappointing. *tear*
So what was the other .75 star deduction? The price. It wasn't terrible, but $15+ for lunch is a bit much. Granted, I'm snacking on the platter throughout the afternoon, but I'd be doing this with kabob plates from other restaurants Similar portion size, but slightly smaller price. They had some other good looking items on the menu, I'll come back to check out those dishes. Since their seasoning rocked on the main dish today, I can't wait to taste their Chicken Tikka Masala ($7.99), skip the rice, and just use naan to sop up the sauce...Listed in: List Of Lunch Locales Located…
-
Review from Paul J.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
The ower personally came to our table and explained why his food is better. They use free range chicken and have recently upgraded there menu. Food was fresh and prepared in full view.
-
Review from libs k.
Del Aire, CA
7/16/2010
The boy and I went there for dinner and we didn't get our food for at least 20 minutes, and if you want a refill on your drinks good luck to you - I think someone else already mentioned it but the waitress obviously didn't want to be there.
The reviewers on Yelp recommended the tandoori chicken and beef so the boy and I ordered one of each - $9.99 for ONE kabob and a plate of rice? I can get far better food down the street. For a place surrounded by Indian and Kabob places this one is not nearly as good as the others. -
Review from annie p.
Cypress, CA
9/19/2008
I love this place!
The food is delicious,
the staff is really nice and friendly,
and they have a pretty extensive vegetarian menu.
I haven't tried everything on it yet,
but everything else so far has been awesome.
The food gets more and more delicious each time,
I could go there more than once a week if I wanted.
Also, everything is made fresh so it takes a while to get your food.
It'd probably be best to phone in your order ahead of time.
But if you don't,
the crazy music videos they play are
really entertaining and a good way to pass the waiting time.
They have a website too if you're interested in seeing what's on the menu. -
Review from Michelle I.
Rolling Hills Estates, CA
3/31/2010
Royal Kabob is all about fresh-tasting food and good quality spices!
While waiting for a lunch order I placed at the Italian place nearby, I walked over to the liquor store to browse around. The owner (I forgot his name...begins with a T?) greeted me and then told me that he also owned Royal Kabob. I mentioned to him that one of my favorite Indian dishes is Chicken Biryani. It just so happened that it was their special of the day and was at a very reasonable price. He was really nice enough to have his staff give me a good sample of it. Loved it! The chicken was tender and the rice cooked and seasoned perfectly. I wanted more, but I had already purchased food somewhere else.
I've been there a couple of times thereafter (last year) and enjoyed every meal. The ones I ordered were specials. I don't remember what they're called (sorry). The staff are very friendly and welcoming. I haven't been there for awhile since I stopped working near that area, but know that if there was one nearby, I'd definitely go there more often. -
Review from Rosa B.
Los Angeles, CA
4/27/2010
On my way home from work and too tired to cook, I stopped in to see what it was about and get a to-go order. When I viewed the menu, I found it to be more Indian than Persian; I never associated kabob with India but Wiki says it's all halal so...(okay, bad attempt at word play there, sorry)
I got an order of chicken tikka masala and tandoori chicken and a side order of garlic naan. I liked the naan but my Husband didn't because there was "green stuff" (parsley?) on it. *roll eyes* Since I'm writing the review, it's good. Get it.
The masala was spicy and buuuuuuurned. I don't think I've ever had tikka masala this..um..angry before. Husband commented that his tandoori chix was also spicy. Not sure what the deal with that is as I thought tandoori wasn't supposed to have heat to it? Maybe it's a regional thing?
There was a lentil-based side that came with one of our orders as well that was good but also a little spicy. I think the only things that didn't burn were the rice and naan.
I guess if you like spicy Indian, this would be the place to go. I can't really say if it was great cuz my mouth was numb but it wasn't horrible. I think I will try a few other nearby Indian places first before I return. And next time, I'm going to order a kabob in the hopes that it won't be angry with me.
Service was nice and they showed Bollywood music videos on TVs behind the counter. I was entertained while I waited for my order. -
Review from E'stormae S.
Hawthorne, CA
6/4/2011
I've patronized this restaurant maybe 10 times. Always good Never got a Kabob, even though they look outstanding. I've gotta the Chicken Tikka Masala and/or Chicken Kahari. Always very flavorful and they can make itE HOT!!! I like it so hot I want to cry, but not so hot that I cant continue eating. I wish they did delivery, I'd patronize them more. The lady there said the owner goes on and off with delivery, so maybe he'll start again. Heck how hard to deliver?? Even a gimp like me can do that. I see by their menu they have new stuff, which means I must return to try some more. Its not a dive, but not super posh either. You must try this place if you're by. You can get stuff milder if you need. fountain drinks are a plus. Rice is fantasitic and the naan will make you cry!
-
Review from Duane L.
Manhattan Beach, CA
12/6/2008
Awesome! The lamb was delicious, and under 15 bucks for a rack? Wow! Also had the boneless chicken kabob that was very good. Luckily this place is just down the street from work, I think it's going to be a weekly haunt. Despite what another reviewer has said, the owner Tariq is one of the most hospitable proprietors I've seen in a while.
Definitely recommend trying out this place. The food was much better than I expected out of a front previously occupied by Togos. -
Review from Dennise C.
Hawthorne, CA
6/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Delicious chicken Masala... very flavorfull will come back garlic naan is mouth watering!
-
Review from OMAR A.
Irvine, CA
7/16/2009
So far I have been there 3 times and every time I go the food tastes better. I know the decor is not much to look at but any of their chicken dishes make up for it by a long shot. Even though the menu looks predominantly Indian, I think this place is a Pakistani restaurant. This place is a true depiction of a dive with great food with mediocre decor.
I know the food takes a little while to get to you, but there is a very good reason for that. Unlike most places, Royal Kabob actually use a tandoor to cook the meats and breads in. That in itself a huge rarity in these days. Their meats are cooked to perfection, specifically the chicken.
I am definitely hooked!!! -
Review from Tiffany L.
Manhattan Beach, CA
Try the Manchurian Chicken. It's my new favorite dish!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
1/13/2011
I'm udating this review to 5 stars because this place is just awesome. I cam here again the other… Read more »
-
-
Review from Afroze B.
Los Angeles, CA
3/12/2010
I totally liked this place! Customer service was great and food was pretty good unlike the other nasty Indo/Pak restaurants we've been to in the LA area. In all honesty it deserves a 3, for Bay Area standards. For LA it's a 4.
Portions are huge. Biryani was good. I don't like how they have that "King Keg Liquor" right next door that they own too. Such a turn off for Muslims, as the owner claims his food is halal. I guess maybe that's one reason I haven't been back there again even though the food was good. -
Review from Heather D.
San Pedro, CA
3/30/2009
There's one thing that sets this place apart from other Indian restaurants: the interior. One could imagine that this place was a Quiznos from the layout. There are glasses containing paper napkins on the tables and the plates are those square gourmet style plates. The restaurant has a gallery feel to it with all the oil paintings on the wall. At one point, I got up at the end of the meal and took a look at them as though as I was in a museum. What the other customers thought about that, I do not know. Another thing about the interior, is the attention to detail. There are flowers on the table and there's a water jug by the soda fountain containing slices of oranges. There are two large screen TVs behind the counter showing the Zoom channel and popular Bollywood videos.
The guy taking the order was very prompt and efficient and the young lady who served me my lunch was very friendly and down to earth.
I ordered an Aloo Mutter which was very nice. My meal automatically came with a basmati rice. The garlic naan bread was good.
I think the thing about Royal Kabob is that it really leans towards the meat eaters and it caters to people who think outside the box. The hip South Bay crowd who would go shopping at the Manhattan Village mall, the art house types. -
Review from Nicole J.
6/18/2010
Went here for the first time yesterday for a late lunch/early dinner.
I ordered the Boneless Tandoori Chicken, which comes with spiced basmati rice, cucumber salad, and some kind of green goop that I think was attempting to be aloo saag.
The plate was $9.99 -- a pretty good deal for all that food.
What a mixed bag! So the Chicken was excellent -- beautifully marinated and cooked to perfection in the tandoori oven. The rice was good enough, and the cucumbers were a nice accompaniment.
The green goop (spinach curry with potatoes I think?) that came with my meal were awful. No spice or flavor, just goop.
So the moral of the story? Order tandoori-cooked meat, stay away from the curries, and you'll be happy at Royal Kabob.
I'll go again and get one of their wrap sandwiches. -
Review from Don W.
12/6/2009 5 photos
My wife and I would have never found this awesome place without the Yelp iPhone app!
It was just before midnight and we were hungry while on the 405's South Bay Curb. We fired up the iPhone and Yelp told us Royal Kabob was still open. Really? It was almost midnight! We figured it was a mistake, but we hopped off the freeway anyway. Well, it was no mistake!
Even though it was close to closing, we were given excellent, friendly and helpful service by the young Honduran waitress, who has made herself an expert on Indian and Pakistani food.
We weren't there for a full dinner, so we simply ordered the lamb ribs (not cheap) as a late-night snack. They were stunning. I mean, truly amazing. Flavorful. Moist. Meaty. They were perfect. We tried eating them with a knife and fork, but that wasn't happening. Instead, we picked them up and gnawed them into submission, and we enjoyed every delicious bite. WOW!
While we were there, another couple came in (it must have been after closing), but they were still warmly welcomed and ordered an entire meal. This place rocks! -
Review from Adam R.
Torrance, CA
4/24/2010
My wife and I ate here for the first time today and we both had the same impression: so so Indian food and poor customer service.
We ordered samosas, the vegetarian sampler with Aloo Chana, Aloo Palak, and Aloo Mutter, Naan, and we both had Mango Lassis. The Samosas (pastries filled with spiced mashed potatoes) were very tasty as were the Mango Lassis (a blended yogurt mango drink).
The rest of the dishes weren't bad, but they were overall bland. The Naan bread was dry and the portion was small. The quality of the dishes likely reflected the price. We paid $27 for all of it and we have leftovers for tomorrow.
The decor was very nice, especially since the place is tiny and in a strip mall. They had cloth napkins, fresh flowers, and the latest bollywood playing on flat screens on the wall.
The guys cooking the food behind the counter (who were the only employees we saw for the first 15 minutes we were there) were not very friendly though. I saw a number of people come in and leave without being greeted or acknowledged. -
Review from James P.
Redondo Beach, CA
9/19/2008
Ok so dont be too confused by this place.
It looks like a quick in and out type restaurant type but it really isn't. The awkward setup of the tables and cooking area can be dismissed as the food is great! They have a great menu and are EXTREMELY friendly people. The food does take some time to prepare (as i said before the looks of the place are a bit deceiving) so i would say order ahead of time!
nom nom nom,
James
