Abaseen- A taste of Peshawar

Type: Pakistani Food

Hours: Early - Late (Guess) 

Location: 858 Leeds Rd, Bradford, BD3 8EZ.

Website: No Website

Overall Rating: 7.3/10

Review: 

Peshawar is one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse cities in Asia. Peshawar's recorded history goes back at least 500 years BC, making it one of the oldest living cities in South Asia. But I’m not here to give you a history lesson, I’m here to talk about food. Peshawari food is quite distinctive, it incorporates Afghan, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Yum! To get the true essence of the Pashtun dishes you need to get down to Bradford, taste these Chapli Kebabs at Abaseen.

It’s a tiny place, barely enough for 10 people, but I can assure you this place won’t disappoint. It was my first time going to Abaseen and very quickly me and my friend were convinced to get the chapli kebabs. So I told the fella to give me 2 portions of 3 kebabs but he laughed at me. Apparently a portion of 2 kebabs was enough for both of us to start off with! So we put the order through. Was the food going to be enough? Will I starve? Is this guy feeling ok? I was ready to eat a cow that specific day so you can probably understand what went through my head. The workers quickly got to work, I could see one of the workers preparing the Nan bread for the tandoor oven; fluffy, fresh and warm Nan, couldn’t wait. But that wasn’t the highlight; it was the big massive karahi In the middle of the room. Kneading the kebab meat, the worker slammed the prepared mutton in the karahi, cracked an egg, threw in a few chillies, tomatoes and peppers and got to work frying and cooking them.

Within 5 minutes a warm Nan topped with 2 Chapli Kebabs layered with egg, tomatoes, chillies and peppers was served to us. The kebabs were surprisingly humongous! So we got tucked in, and within a few minutes I realised this was going to be more than enough for both of us. The kebabs were delicious; nice soft mutton mixed with spices and chillies hidden inside a crispy deep fried outer layer, served with spicy eggs; seemed like the perfect combination. I can say it wasn’t too rich in flavour like many indo subcontinent dishes and did need the mint sauce to substitute in for some of the missing flavours, however my taste buds were still amazed. I definitely enjoyed it. The freshness of the food was overwhelming. Just before we left we paid for the meal, £8. Yes £8 for both of us! That’s why the price to food ratio rating was 9/10.

We only managed to get the chapli kebabs, but this place has other items on the menu; fish, lamb and chicken curries with the choice of an Asian style breakfast in the mornings. Exciting! As we finished the worker quickly presented us with Cava, a green tea like warm drink freshly made within the store. This is one of the reasons why this place picked up a 10/10 for its customer service, for a small place, the workers had an amazing attitude towards providing fast and quality customer service. The place did need touching up but it was very clean so I gave it a decent 7/10 for hygiene. Likewise due to the lack of spices in the kebabs I'm normally used to in my curries this place got a 7/10 for flavour, however it’s good to note that my friend thought this place should get a 10/10.  The food wasn’t presented very well so it only managed to get a 6/10; I would changes the dishes and maybe add a few more sauces on the Nan.

 So what about the manliness? Did this place make me struggle to walk to the car? Did it have me craving more? Did it save me spending on an expensive meal? Did my beard and hands get dirty? The answer to most these questions except the last is YES! Abaseen; Peshawar in Bradford picks up an 8/10 for manliness. A perfect taste of the Peshawar markets, picture-perfect for them heavy Friday afternoon meals. 

Thanks

A manly man

Chickano's Bradford

Type: Fast food- Fried chicken and Peri Peri    

Hours: 11am-11pm

Location: Leeds Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD3 9TY.

Website: www.chickanos.co.uk

Overall Rating: 8/10

Review:

Park your car at the rear and run for the entrance, as the food can get addictive at this place. You’re welcomed into a vibrant, fresh and inviting environment; a small counter placed on the left, surrounded by seating for the customers. Well, I can definitely say it’s a clean place; tables and toilet, all clean. There’s always a cleaner on hand, quickly cleaning up after the previous customers.

Like most fast-food outlets, the menu is short and there isn’t much choice, but I think that’s what makes it special. You already know what you’re going to order, no messing around and no indecisive feelings. There’s a selection of around 10 different burgers, wraps, fried chicken and salads. It doesn’t take long to put in your order. The staff are very friendly. But what does take long is waiting for your order; let’s just say there’s abit of a wait (around 10 minutes for around 3 meals), which doesn’t really match up to the claim they make on their website about having a 'fast service'.

We normally order the Mexicano burger, with extra buffalo sauce; consisting of a nice crispy piece of fried chicken dipped in Chickano’s own special buffalo sauce (secret recipe, soon to be stolen), topped with lettuce, cheese, jalapenos and nachos, all placed in a burger bun. Delicious. The spicy, tangy buffalo sauce is mouth-watering, it’s the item on the menu that makes the place unique. The buffalo sauce is the main reason we never get the standard chicken fillet burger, what’s the point paying four quid for a standard, bland burger meal when you can walk down the road to Salah’s and pick two of them up for a similar price. I’d like to see the wings, strips and fried chicken with an option to dip in buffalo sauce. As we stick with the saucy stuff!

The rest of the items aren’t that different, you either get buffalo chicken in a burger or get it chopped in pieces and put into a salad or a wrap. However there are two unique items; the ‘gourmet’ and ‘big stack’ burgers. The former is a grilled chicken in a gourmet bun, filled with a grilled chicken fillet smothered in mayo and topped with pickles, gherkins and lettuce. The latter is basically a posh ‘cheese burger’. Both these burgers take an awfully long time to make, but you are warned by the staff whilst you’re ordering.  

Seen at though I’m a big fan of the burgers covered in buffalo sauce I gave this place a 7/10 for taste. As the standard for most fast food outlets for appearance is low, Chickanos managed to pick up an 8/10 in this section, due to their consistency and nice packaging. The customer service picked up a 7/10 and hygiene 9/10 as the lads upfront are friendly and the place is quite clean (not always the floor) but the food can take long, maybe because its fresh and always warm. The price to food ratio got a decent 7/10, as Chickanos is competing against the likes of Mahmood’s and Salah’s which often tip them at the prices.

Finally the manliness rating; did my fingers get dirty? Did I ask for extra tissue? Did I go back for more within the next week? Did I get sauce in my beard? The answer to all these questions is YES, 10/10 for manliness. The food at Chickanos is cut out for a real man. Wherever you are, go to Chickanos, get yourself some chicken dipped in buffalo sauce. 

Thanks

A manly man