K2 Kebab

07/24/08

very unique, very good

by yazfan

I'm fond of Persian and Indian cuisine, but this was my first taste of Afghan food (which is somewhat close in origin.) The restaurant was clean and a far cry from a simple kitchen, tables and metal chairs; complimentary chai tea is offered while you wait. Unfortunately, I don't remember the names of the dishes I tried, but all were VERY good. I asked the very nice owner to recommend the most popular appetizer and entrees, so he started me off with some scrumptious bread like strips that seemed to have onion and potato inside. One entree consisted of shells stuffed with a ground beef/vege mixture drizzled in a tasteful sauce, very different, very good. I also had some superb Spinach and special rice (not plain Basmati.) Even the Naan for $1.50 was good, in fact better than what you find in an average Indian restaurant. Prices were average, but the menu just a bit confusing. For example, you can only order a side as an accompaniment to an entree, etc. Generally, the less rules, the better when dining out. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend this place and plan to frequent again and again.

• Pros: everything I tried
• Cons: menu layout

09/09/07

K2 Kebab is now Kabobi

by nurse

New Owners, now serving Afghan Food. Tried it a couple of nights ago - Jury is still out. Will try it a couple of more times, and then write a review, though first time was pretty good.

• Pros: Seems Pretty Good
• Cons: New Owners, serving Afghan Food. Was K2 Kebab, now opened as Kabobi

07/12/07

Hopefully this will open again

by oneangryraisin

This place closed, but I heard it may open up again. Good thing b/c this is a good Indian/ Pakistani restaurant. Casual dining experience, but good food.

03/18/07

Very spicey and a bit pricey

by milesgirl

Everything on the menu is ala carte so it ends up a bit pricey for what you get. Can't find anything that is not spiced to the hilt. They need a more varied menu so that if you are in the mood for Pakistani and Indian food but can't handle the spicey stuff there are still some options. Nan bread is terriffic!

• Pros: tastey food and good service
• Cons: pricey in an ala carte way

02/08/07

YUM!

by pdxer1

Great Tikka Masala... prices are a good $3-5 cheaper than most other Indian restaurants in town. Servers are very nice and charming.

One con: NO RAITA? C'mon, that's craziness.

• Pros: Food, flavor, price, free chai
• Cons: No raita, no eggplant dishes.

02/02/07

Best Lamb Biryani anywhere!

by mrsbaylis2004

Most Biryanis are dry rice dishes with tiny shreds of greasy meat - but K-2 Kebab's Lamb Biryani is spectacular! It comes heaped on a plate with huge fork-tender chunks of lamb, cooked with plenty of onions, spices, and sauce. I like to eat it with Naan and plenty of the cilantro/mint chutney (green squeeze bottle). Mmmmmm!!! Everything is cooked to order, from scratch - and chai is complimentary with the meal. The owners and staff are extremely friendly (I like them - and their cooking - so much I want to take them home with me). This will definitely be my regular lunch spot. THANKS, guys! :-)

• Pros: Lamb Biryani, Pakors, Cilantro/Mint Chutney, Friendly Service

01/30/07

Average South Asian food at best

by balticblond

We saw K2 appear suddenly across from, Portland's best Asian (Viet-Thai) restaurant Than Thao at SE 40th & Hawthorne. After all, new great south Asian places on the inner SE side are always a plus. Also, with more international Muslim friends these around days, we value a few halal restaurant options to make them feel welcome to our city.

Unfortunately K-2 kebab is at best average. We tried two nans, a couple of curries, with a kebab and a biryani making a $30 dinner for two. Honestly not too much stood put and I felt the restaurant wouldn't be one that our Middle eastern or South Asian guests would care to visit more than once.

The decor and seating have the feel of a small cafeteria without much in the way of atmosphere.

The American owner and his empoyees were friendly and service was average.

There is still room in SE Portland for a great South Asian or Pakistani place (you might try Bombay Cricket Club on Hawthorne as a good alternative). K2 isn't it.

• Pros: Easy seating, open atmosphere, friendly owner
• Cons: Food is only average-- It needs a few true stand-out "trademark" items.

01/23/07

Small Food Portions

by timpster

The place is clean, but very plain and cheaply decorated, which I don?t mind because I?m all about the food. The staff is friendly, but the service is somewhat slow. They make very delicious naan and appetizers. The main entrees are very good, but I must admit the portion is VERY small in regards to their curry entrees. Three of us ordered from the curry entree and we all came out still very hungry even after we licked our bowls clean. However, my other friend ordered the lamb kabob and his meat portion was a lot more so perhaps if you ordered kebobs or any other entrees besides the curry section you might get a bigger portion. Based on the quantity vs. the price for an entree it isn?t worth the value. I would stick with the appetizers, naan or even one of the wrap if you want to get your money?s worth.

• Pros: Good Naan
• Cons: Portion Is Not Good For The Price & Cold Inside

01/21/07

DON'T EXPECT TO GET FULL!!!!!!!!!!

by anguyen24

When I first went to this place a month ago the price was cheap for the quantity of food you were getting, even though they charged you for rice & all ala carte. If you ordered a curry dish you would get three (if you?re lucky maybe even four) pieces of dark meat cut up and covered in sauce to compensate for the small portion of meat you were getting. The food was good, but even after I ordered appetizers, rice and naan I still was not full. However, since the price was reasonable I didn?t complain much. Then I went back a few weeks later because I was told the menu was going to change. Some of the items were added/removed on the menu & of course the price was higher, but now you get rice with your food. However, the quantity of food you get for the higher price in their curry entrees ($9-$11) you still get the ridiculous small amount of food in your order. I ordered their chicken w/spinach and their chicken curry and each dish came with three small cut pieces of dark meat covered in sauce. For the higher price in their menu you would think you would get at least three large pieces of chicken or a plate full of meat NOT three small chopped up pieces floating in sauce. The higher price must be to compensate for the ?free? rice you now get. I recommend that if you are hungry to not bother going there if you want to get full. To get full, you would have to drink a lot of their chai tea, order a few appetizers, a couple ala carte & perhaps more than one entree to get your stomach to come close to fulfillment. The food and service is good, but you?ll come out spending more than you want, but that?s only if you don?t want to leave hungry. I definitely will not go back because it?s not worth it to pay that price to get so little and come out STILL hungry!!!

• Pros: Good Sauce & Free Chai Tea
• Cons: Price is High For VERY small portion

01/05/07

Makes me happy.

by plainyogurt

As a Portland resident for over ten years, I have tried most of the Lebanese, Greek, Persian, and Indian/Pakistani and other restaurants in the metro area. While I love the food at Abu Rasheed, Nicholas', Ya Hala, Greek Cuisina, India House, Jake's, Typhoon, E-San, Syun and others, K2 is where I go to feel at home (taste-wise). The service is great, and the atmosphere is fine, too. I don't choose restaurants based on decor. I'm not going to be living there, after all. They make good food.

• Pros: Ayran, Seekh Kebab, Biryani, not crowded
• Cons: not crowded