Hamed Allahyari has had a lot to celebrate recently. Not only has he opened his new Persian grill cafe and take away, but after 12 years he finally has secured permanent residency in Australia.
Kababi, Hamed’s new restaurant, is located in an industrial part of Sunshine. The interior is welcoming and colourful, with an open charcoal grill. Not that I’ve been there yet, as this review comes to you thanks to the miracle of Ubers Eats and Instagram.
While Hamed’s cafe, Salamatea, focused on traditional Persian dips and mostly slow cooked fare, Kababi serves up fresh and fast from the open grill. I can just imagine the smells and sounds of the grill, lit up by Hamed’s big smile.
Instead, I do a whip around the office and put in a big lunch order for 10. We try a variety of dishes, chicken and lamb kebabs, wraps and something vegan. Everything arrives hot and there is much excitement as the contents are revealed as colourful and generous. Salads are laden with herbs and two rice: white and gold. The vegan kebab, I’m assured, is delicious.
Opening a restaurant is hard work and Hamed has built his following and businesses from scratch. Kababi is good, simple food that will satisfy everyone from bodybuilders (thinking of the protein) to foodies.
