Yalda Grill & Kabob, Horsham

[PattiCakes]

I have been dying to go to this place for quite a while. After all, no Chowser's resume would be complete without a visit to an Afghani restaurant. Anyway, it was my birthday & in my family the birthday person gets to choose their venue.

This place is easy to miss. It sits in a tiny strip of stores just off Easton Road/Rt. 611, across from the Days Inn, on Horsham Road. I think it used to be a pizza place in its former life. Very unassuming from the outside, grimey actually. Still looks like a pizza parlor inside, but decorated with an Afghan theme. Forget how it looks; you are here for the food.

There were 5 of us: DH, Darling Daughter & Wonderful son-in-law, and one-and-only Sister (amazing brother-in-law- is in China teaching an MBA class).. We came armed with numerous bottles of wine and a stash of beer. Our server was a young man who had worked at Yalda for 2 years, hence knew the menu inside & out. He had a good sense of humor, and guided us through the menu.

Instead of bread, they bring a plate of something resembling pita, but much thicker. Still warm. It's served with a green "salsa", that our server called chutney (although it was very smooth & not the least bit chunky), and was made with cilantro, a lot of garlic and something spicey. Very good. Sensing that we might like another dish, he asked if we would like to try something spicier, then brough out a chutney made with raspberries. He warned us not to use too much. My DH, who usually loves very spicy food, and is not know for his ability to heed advice, slathered it on his bread, took a bite, turned bright red, downed an entire bottle of beer, and said "holt sh*t!".

We had a selection of hot apps, served as one dish: Baunjaun Bouranee (grilled eggplant), Sambosay Goshti (fried pastries filled with ground beef), and Mantu (wonton-like dumplings topped with homemade yogurt, meat sauce & mint). Amazing!! Also a plate of Bab Gunush, which was wonderfully fresh & garlicy.

Although they specialize in kabbobs, only DH & WSIL opted to go that route. Both had the Deluxe Kabob, which was 2 skewers @ of chicken, beef & lamb, served with grilled veggies and rice. Everyone at the table chose the same rice: brown rice with carrots & raisins. O&OS loves salmon, so she had one of the specials, Salmon Masala. It had Indian masala overtones & she virtually licked her plate clean. DD had the entree portion of one of the dished that had been on our app plate, Mantu. It was embarassing to hear her moans of pleasure as she ate. I had a dish that our server said was one of his faves, Murgh Jaan, sauteed boneless cicken breast with fresh spinish, mushrooms, topped with mozzarella cheese & a lemon wine sauce. Beautifull presented, it was absolutley wonderful. The sauce was not clear, as I had expected, but a little creamier. Very light, but very satisfying. I licked my plate as well (just kidding). We all had dessets: Some chose a vanilla ice cream topped with a saffroin & rosewater sauce, and some had Firnee, and Afhan pudding that was similar to flan, but firmer. Total bill for 5, including tax? Are your ready? $105. On the way out,, I saw take-away boxes of Afghan sweets & took home 2 kinds, a pistachio halwa & something that looked like tiny orange funnel cakes glazed with syrup. We cracked the boxes open in the parking lot, and swooned as we all sampled.

My DD had noticed a bunch of hookahs stashed behind a curtain & asked the owner as we were leaving if we could have one next time. He grinned & tried to talk us into doing one right then & there. "Next time", we said. And believe me, there will be a next time!

You have to try this place. Don't get dressed up -- just go. Don't be dissuaded by how the place looks outside -- take that leap of faith. Go with a few friends -- it's more fun with a group. Don't forget your wine and/or beer & don't forget to buy some of those sweets on the way out. If you see some crazy lady in the corner licking her plate, that will be me.

http://www.yaldagrill.com/about.html

[crazyspice]

Thanks for posting this! Yalda is on our place to try. Especially as it is a BYO. We love them. I believe you were served naan with the chutney.

[PattiCakes]

Not so sure it was naan. It was almost an inch thick, & cut in squares, and was not like any naan I've had before. Whatever it was, it was warm & yummy. When you do get around to going, please be sure to post! I can't wait for you to try it!

[crazyspice]

I will. We are going to Nadia on Saturday, so I will definitely check out Yalda the following weekend. Your review made me super excited to go. We went to an Afghan restaurant when we lived in Salt Lake City and it was fabulous!

[givemecarbs]

What an awesome review Patti! /drools

[oliviasaru]

We went tonight for the first time and I heartily concur with PattiCakes on every point! It was delicious and unusual and cheap - and lots of food (I came home with leftovers for Monday's lunch). Go now! Tell everyone you know! :)

[hotspur]

I will heartily recommend Yalda as well. I live in Delco but own a biz in warminster that takes me out that way. The food is amazing, if sometimes delivered a little slow. The only reason I mention that is if you are bringing kids. Mine loved the food but it tested there patience. For adults, order, drink and enjoy.

[oliviasaru]

You're right, hotspur, I forgot to mention that little issue. We had our 4-year-old with us and she was pretty antsy by the time the food arrived. Luckily she LOVED her mantu (meat dumplings in a yogurt sauce) so it was a happy ending for all. :-)

[TwoBellies]

something about Yogurt and meat makes me feel queesy.

[TeamPhilly]

We've been there and enjoyed it. Disappointed to hear about the hookahs. How do they do that if restaurants are smoke free now?

[PattiCakes]

The hookah doesn't seem to create smoke. Believe me, I can't stand being around cigarette smoke. Maybe because the smoke is filtered though the water? Even though the smoker expells the smoke after they have inhaled it, there is no lingering odor in the room and no "haze".

In any event, no one was smoking a hookah at Yalda the night we were there, but there was quite a bit going on at a place called Little Marakesh (Dresher) when we were there a few weeks ago. It really did not bother me (and as I have said, I am very sensitive to smoke). Didn't even have a residual smell on my clothes when we left. I would not let the hookah thing deter you.

[PattiCakes]

Went to Yalda again last night on my sister's spur-of-the-moment whim. "Do you want to go to Yalda", she called and said? "Does Malko's have KЯGLNЖ?!?!!!!" I responded, as I grabbed Hubbycakes and sprinted for the door.

Again, we ordered far too much & ate far too much. It did not disappopint. BIL had a very spicy kabab platter that helped sweat out his awful cold; Sis had the Salmon Masala again becaise she hadn't been able to stop thinking about it from the last time; Hubbycakes had marinated & charcoal grilled tiny lamb chops that were to die for; and I had a felafel stew, a special that night. It was actually 4 very light and tender felafel cakes in a lemony sauce. I was happy mine was light beause we had collectively polished off a plate of hummus, a plate a really really excellent babaganoush, an enormous plate of mussels in a spicy brown sauce (another special), and tons of bread. Of course we had desserts all around. Entire bill (including tax) for 4: $88.00. No we did not hooka.

My sister made an interesting observation. She was fascinated by what other people were ordering. We were obviously there for the Afgahni food, but there were a significant number of people who were doing the pasta/pizza thing. Also families where the parents were doing Afgahi, and the kids had a pizza. Talk about a strange culinary juxtaposition!

Sis is going back in mid May with a group of 20 or so people from her golf club who have started a monthly dinner party thing. Every month someone else takes a turn choosing a place and making arrangements. Oddly enough Sis's turn was last month & they went Mexican. Yalda's is someone else's choice!

I think we may have to return before then. I am so in love with this place.

[watercress]

This is why I love Chowhound. I never would've known of this place, being a little far away, but we finally made it there and really loved it. I had a cheesesteak. Just kidding. Went for lunch and had "dough", a wonderfully-refreshing tangy yogurt drink with tiny diced cucumber in it. Tried four other things, and all were very, very good. What a find!

[bucksguy14]

Tried Yalda for lunch today on the way back from a Dr. appointment in Abington. Loved the lamb kabob. Will definitely be back with a bottle of wine for dinner in the near future!

[jujuthomas]

we have GOT to get over to Yalda! these reviews are making me hungry for kabobs. :)