Persian Flavors Soar High at Kite Kebab Bar

Authentic Persian flavors fly high over Poblacion...

Kian Kazemi's latest dining concept, Kite Kebab Bar, offers authentic Persian cuisine adding another colorful layer to the culinary scene of Makati's Poblacion. The name is inspired by his own family's experience, rising above challenges and adversity. It's an apt name, as Kian draws from his own family's Persian roots with sumptuous Persian and Mediterranean style dishes. Kian shared his new restaurant's signature specialties, and some new dishes, in a sumptuous dinner. Turn to the wind and let your appetites soar for some authentic Persian flavors...at Kite Kebab Bar.

Located right beside Kian Kazemi's other restaurant, Lobo (more on Lobo my earlier post, #PoblacionHop: A Food and Art Hop at Makati's Poblacion with Hop Inn Makati Avenue), Kite Kebab Bar is hard to miss. Just look for the colorful kite logo for some of the finest and authentic Persian flavors this side of Poblacion.

The Mezze Sampler (P 680) gets you on the right track featuring Kite Kebab Bar's popular appetizers in one platter...

...including soft and lightly crisp Vegetarian Samosas with a flavorful filling blended with spices...

...and crunchy Falafel served with Hummus, Moutabal and a homemade Greek Yoghurt Dip at the center. It's a perfect introduction to Kite Kebab Bar's eastern flavors, but there's more...

The Beef Keema (P 155) is another comforting dish with tender minced beef sauteed with a rich blend of spices, onions and tomatoes. The savory richness of the beef is tempered by the spices, tart notes of tomatoes and subtle sweetness of the onions offering diners layers of distinct flavors.

Then, Kian Kazemi shared one of Kite Kebab Bar's newest dishes, the Bademjun. A vegan eggplant dish with caramelized onions offer diners with a refreshing vegetarian option, combining the fresh and clean flavors of eggplants with the smoky sweetness of caramelized onions capped by mildly spiced notes...

...pairing well with Kite Kebab Bar's Pita Bread. The Bademjun is a hearty and flavorful dish, and the absence of meat or any protein makes it all the more surprising. It's a welcome addition to Kite Kebab Bar's extensive repertoire of Middle Eastern dishes. 

Relishing the flavors of each dish, Kite Kebab Bar then served the next batch of bestsellers starting with their Classic Kebab (P 148), richly spiced grilled beef served with a duo of dips with creamy and spicy notes along with tomatoes...

...and the tender and juicy Chicken Tandoori (P 165) with its charred outer layer adding delicate smoky hints with each bite. The chicken is perfectly moist and juicy, draping the palate with its rich flavors.

The grill is clearly the source of Kite Kebab Bar's rich flavors, and you can savor more of this with their kebabs, like the Ox-Tongue Kebab (P 125). The grilled ox-tongue is perfectly grilled, tender and juicy to the bite. The flavors are enhanced by the smoky hints from the grill, intensified by a dip in the chili sauce.

Our dinner at Kite Kebab Bar takes on a festive vibe with the Beef Biryani (P 399), a lavish rice dish with savory beef and spices. The origins of the dish can be traced to Persia whose Mughals brought it to India. The name is said to have been derived from the Persian world for rice, birinj. There are countless theories on the origins of biryani, but Kite Kebab Bar simplifies everything with their own flavor-packed version of the dish. The soft long-grained rice bursts with vibrant flavors from both the spices and beef with each bite, making it one of Kite Kebab Bar's popular dishes. The dish offers multiple layers of complex flavors with the spice blend, completed by the savory richness of the beef. 

But Kian Kazemi had one more surprise that evening with one of their newest dishes. The Pomegranate Chicken, a slow-roasted Persian-style chicken dish is an impressive sight. Roasted for hours with spices, water spinach, tomatoes and sweet pomegranate, the delicate flavors of the chicken are infused with the various ingredients. Moist, juicy and fall-of-bone tender, each bite delivers a delectable sweetness that perfectly compliments the chicken. It's a preview of Kite Kebab Bar's new offerings. And if it's already on the menu at the time of your visit, simply order it. It's that good.    

Following up on the success of Lobo, Kian Kazemi clearly has another winner with Kite Kebab Bar at Poblacion. Kite Kebab Bar is open from 5:00 pm to 3:00 am every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; and 5:00 pm to 4:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Take your palate on a flavorful flight with the exotic flavors of the east...right here at Poblacion's Kite Kebab Bar.

Kite Kebab Bar is located at 4898 Durban corner Polaris Street, Poblacion, Makati City or call 810-7388 for inquiries and more information.

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