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Usta Kababgy offers amazing charcoal-grilled Mediterranean food that provides authentic, "soul-fed" experience that's hard to find elsewhere. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, suitable for a place nice enough for a family/friend gathering. The service is friendly and reassures wanting to provide an enjoyable meal. The standout here is the charcoal grill definitely must try. It's all fresh and top-tier.
Wasn't sure what to expect but the restaurant was recommended by someone who had dined at the Round Rock location. Let's get the negatives out of the way first. The strip mall that the restaurant is located on Lamar is grungy and rundown. And the restaurant has seen better days and needs updating. The dining room feels dingy. Now for the positives. The server was very friendly and helpful and made great recommendations. We ordered the hummus and tabbouleh as appetizers and they were delicious. The waitress also brought out a huge plain flatbread and it was served hot and was chewy and soft at the same time. The flatbread is unlimited so we ordered a second one. It paired well with the hummus but is delicious by itself. For entrees, we ordered the lahmbiajin and the sharing barbecue plate. Everything was well seasoned and delicious. The kebabs were moist and flavorful and it was enough to feed a family of four. For dessert, we had the baklava and a chocolate cake and they were excellent too. We found out that they have an in house person who bakes the cakes. All in all, I would recommend this restaurant if you aren't picky about the ambience. Definitely go for the food. I would definitely go back again. According to the person who has dined at the round rock location, that restaurant is nicer and has better ambience. Food: 4.5 stars Ambience: 3.5 stars
In one of the strip malls at the intersection of North Lamar and Runderburg, after driving through the speed-bump laden parking lot, you'll arrive at Usta Kababgy, nestled among establishments serving up tacos, pupusas, and more. I orders takeout from here once. The dolmas and the lahmbiajin were quite good. The dolmas were a nice size, with a good amount of filling, and a nice savory and lemony flavor. The lahmbiajin was savory and sour. If it had still been warm when I got around to eating it, I'm sure it would have been even better. But because it is quite thin, it cooled quickly on the way home. However, I thought the kebab I got was not particularly flavorful. It was still seasoned well, but just tasted plain beefy. They also offer some options under their "Halal Mexican Kitchen" menu which I've yet to try. One minor note was that the takeout bag they gave me contained a fly, which I unknowingly took and released into my home when I opened up the bag. Thankfully, I was able to capture the fly inside a cup and release it outside. Still, I'll probably return at some point in the future to try some more of their food out.
Great food! Good service! And adequate ambiance. I enjoyed my meal and the food came out fairly quickly. I had 1 skewer of chicken tikka with rice, hummus, and pita bread. There is plenty of parking and the dining area is large. Great for groups.
Best halal Middle Eastern I've had in a while. The beef tenderloin was tender, kafta was juicy. Bread was fresh, nice chewy texture. Hummus was smooth with plenty of tahini, not sour or beany. Everything was good, including falafal and califlower. Service was friendly and patient.
Every bite was so delicious! Highlights were the tenderness and flavor of both of the kebabs (chicken and koftha) and the pita + hummus. I can tell all the ingredients are high quality, even down to the salad that came with it. Definitely get the tahini and jalapeño sauce as well! The service was amazing, and they gave me some recommendations as it was my first time. Will be back!
THE BIG: Located in northeast Austin inside the Northgate shopping center. Very big interior with minimal decor. Plenty of parking spaces in the lot outside, however the curbs are very tall, so be careful with a small sedan in parking. THE BLACK AND WHITE: We came here for a pickup order since the wife was feeling mediterranean. This place has the decor and windows of a legit middle eastern restaurant. It's pretty big from the inside. Here we got the lahmbiajin Pita, Naan and kabab combo plate. The lahmbiajin resembled the viral egg in the middle pita (khachapuri), but with just meat and peppers. Still very delciious. The helping of pita was very generous and the meats were nice and tender. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall damage done for three items was around $37, which is a great deal in my opinion. Will be back!
Outstanding meal! Fresh, authentic and a lot for what you pay. We had the kafta kabob meal. The flavor was so good. The bread they serve ahead with the sauces - so fresh and chewy. The plain white sauce was our favorite - lots of garlic flavor. Service was great. Ambiance is nothing special. We will be back!
The best chicken kabab ever. It's so moist and tender. The seasoning is just perfect. My tastebuds are too sensitive with saltiness recently, and this place nails it. There's just enough seasoning of every flavor. It's not a fancy place, just a family run small restaurant, so don't expect too much from ambiance and service.
I was a little bit surprised when we walked in because I'm not really sure what happened to the interior... The pictures on Yelp show two different decor schemes--one with gorgeous traditional tables and chairs, and another with mostly banquettes that was also pretty, but less of a total wow factor. When we got there, the furniture in the room was a lot more scarce with tons of empty space, and the remaining banquettes had mostly ripped or worn out material. The friend who took us there said it looked really different from the last time he came, so it surprised him too. I'm not always huge on Middle Eastern food, so I wasn't expecting a lot, but the food was incredible. We ordered the sharing barbecue plate, which comes with 6 regular skewers, a choice of 1 premium skewer, 2 cold appetizers (we chose hummus and baba ghanoush,) and bread, plus we ordered the lahmbiajin (meat bread.) There were 5 adults and one kid, and this was plenty of food. The hummus was the best I've ever had--super smooth and silky, and I couldn't stop eating it. Skewers were amazing, bread was pillowy with the right amount of chew, and I even didn't mind the baba ghanoush despite hating eggplant in general. The sharing bbq plate also came with some perfectly charred onions and tomatoes. They were so good that when I got home, I started googling ways to cook veggies like that without having access to a grill. All that to say, this isn't somewhere to come for the ambiance, but the food will have me coming back for sure. Really friendly service too!
Highly recommend this hidden gem of a restaurant! FOOD: 10/10. I got a kofta kabab plate and everything on it was excellent. The portions and flatbread were nice and large! SERVICE: The service was quick and friendly. When we were checking out, I ordered an ice cream and the employee offered me and my friend double scoops on the house! PARKING: The location is in a plaza with a good-sized parking lot.
No frills spot for amazing halal/Mediterranean food! Decided to try this place for take out on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant itself is large. They didn't have as many tables as space available. It was also really hot inside but the food smelled incredible. Bread is always made fresh and delicious. I got the mixed plate and the Lahmbiajin Pita. The Lahmbiajin Pita was incredible! Highly recommend adding egg and cheese if you can. Bread was soft and doughy. The mixed plate was good, except the lamb was very salty and not as tender as the chicken. The chicken was the best part! Overall, not a bad place for real halal.
Really good food here. The bread is huge. But not large enough for the amount of dip they give. The kebabs and rice were made really well. Lots of seating in the area. The tea was good but $8 for a small sugar mint tea felt a bit high. read more
I'm honestly bummed cause I was really craving Mediterranean food but this was not it. Granted we got our order to go, so it's possible that eating at the restaurant is better. We got the lamb/beef kebab 1lb and first off the picture online is misleading. It shows for the catering of kebabs, not 1lb. Which is probably on me for not catching that, but that's fine. The kebab itself was just alright. Could have had more seasoning and there chunks of either fat or onions that were not pleasant to chew. The pita was the size of a mini pizza which is nice, but they were so chewy it was disappointing. The sauce was more watery than I would have liked and also not as flavorful. Overall, this was a miss for me. read more
6 months ago
Usta Kababgy is an excellent restaurant for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Austin, TX located on N. Lamar Blvd. The restaurant has well seasoned, charcoal grilled meats. The kebabs are the true highlight...juicy, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The portions are quite large as the hubs and I shared a wrap. We were sufficiently full after eating the chicken tikka wrap. Interestingly, the wrap came in a Shawarma King packaging with their contact phone number. So, I assume that Usta staff are sub-contracting from Shawarma King. Usta also has freshly baked bread and classic sides like hummus and rice paired with the main dishes. The restaurant has a homey, lived in feel. It has a few middle eastern artifacts sprinkled throughout the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from Iraqi and Adana kebabs to shawarma and traditional Middle Eastern plates, so there are food items for both first timers and regulars who want to explore beyond the basics. They also serve flatbreads where you can have two different toppings. The food focus is on bold, traditional flavors rather than modern takes on middle eastern foods. On the desserts front, they have an assortment of desserts and several sections of ice cream. I had the baklava, which was surprisingly delicious...it was not eye-squinting sweet like a standard baklava. It was crunchy, flavorful, and had nuts that were substantial. Layla, my server, was so super sweet and welcoming. She pointed out that Usta provides its customers free tea. How cool is that? I cannot remember last time I received a free drink. read more
Usta Kababgy offers amazing charcoal-grilled Mediterranean food that provides authentic, "soul-fed" experience that's hard to find elsewhere. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, suitable for a place nice enough for a family/friend gathering. The service is friendly and reassures wanting to provide an enjoyable meal. The standout here is the charcoal grill definitely must try. It's all fresh and top-tier. read more
2 months ago
Wasn't sure what to expect but the restaurant was recommended by someone who had dined at the Round Rock location. Let's get the negatives out of the way first. The strip mall that the restaurant is located on Lamar is grungy and rundown. And the restaurant has seen better days and needs updating. The dining room feels dingy. Now for the positives. The server was very friendly and helpful and made great recommendations. We ordered the hummus and tabbouleh as appetizers and they were delicious. The waitress also brought out a huge plain flatbread and it was served hot and was chewy and soft at the same time. The flatbread is unlimited so we ordered a second one. It paired well with the hummus but is delicious by itself. For entrees, we ordered the lahmbiajin and the sharing barbecue plate. Everything was well seasoned and delicious. The kebabs were moist and flavorful and it was enough to feed a family of four. For dessert, we had the baklava and a chocolate cake and they were excellent too. We found out that they have an in house person who bakes the cakes. All in all, I would recommend this restaurant if you aren't picky about the ambience. Definitely go for the food. I would definitely go back again. According to the person who has dined at the round rock location, that restaurant is nicer and has better ambience. Food: 4.5 stars Ambience: 3.5 stars read more
In one of the strip malls at the intersection of North Lamar and Runderburg, after driving through the speed-bump laden parking lot, you'll arrive at Usta Kababgy, nestled among establishments serving up tacos, pupusas, and more. I orders takeout from here once. The dolmas and the lahmbiajin were quite good. The dolmas were a nice size, with a good amount of filling, and a nice savory and lemony flavor. The lahmbiajin was savory and sour. If it had still been warm when I got around to eating it, I'm sure it would have been even better. But because it is quite thin, it cooled quickly on the way home. However, I thought the kebab I got was not particularly flavorful. It was still seasoned well, but just tasted plain beefy. They also offer some options under their "Halal Mexican Kitchen" menu which I've yet to try. One minor note was that the takeout bag they gave me contained a fly, which I unknowingly took and released into my home when I opened up the bag. Thankfully, I was able to capture the fly inside a cup and release it outside. Still, I'll probably return at some point in the future to try some more of their food out. read more
Great food! Good service! And adequate ambiance. I enjoyed my meal and the food came out fairly quickly. I had 1 skewer of chicken tikka with rice, hummus, and pita bread. There is plenty of parking and the dining area is large. Great for groups. read more
Best halal Middle Eastern I've had in a while. The beef tenderloin was tender, kafta was juicy. Bread was fresh, nice chewy texture. Hummus was smooth with plenty of tahini, not sour or beany. Everything was good, including falafal and califlower. Service was friendly and patient. read more
Every bite was so delicious! Highlights were the tenderness and flavor of both of the kebabs (chicken and koftha) and the pita + hummus. I can tell all the ingredients are high quality, even down to the salad that came with it. Definitely get the tahini and jalapeño sauce as well! The service was amazing, and they gave me some recommendations as it was my first time. Will be back! read more
1 year ago
THE BIG: Located in northeast Austin inside the Northgate shopping center. Very big interior with minimal decor. Plenty of parking spaces in the lot outside, however the curbs are very tall, so be careful with a small sedan in parking. THE BLACK AND WHITE: We came here for a pickup order since the wife was feeling mediterranean. This place has the decor and windows of a legit middle eastern restaurant. It's pretty big from the inside. Here we got the lahmbiajin Pita, Naan and kabab combo plate. The lahmbiajin resembled the viral egg in the middle pita (khachapuri), but with just meat and peppers. Still very delciious. The helping of pita was very generous and the meats were nice and tender. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall damage done for three items was around $37, which is a great deal in my opinion. Will be back! read more
2 years ago
Outstanding meal! Fresh, authentic and a lot for what you pay. We had the kafta kabob meal. The flavor was so good. The bread they serve ahead with the sauces - so fresh and chewy. The plain white sauce was our favorite - lots of garlic flavor. Service was great. Ambiance is nothing special. We will be back! read more
The best chicken kabab ever. It's so moist and tender. The seasoning is just perfect. My tastebuds are too sensitive with saltiness recently, and this place nails it. There's just enough seasoning of every flavor. It's not a fancy place, just a family run small restaurant, so don't expect too much from ambiance and service. read more
1 year ago
I was a little bit surprised when we walked in because I'm not really sure what happened to the interior... The pictures on Yelp show two different decor schemes--one with gorgeous traditional tables and chairs, and another with mostly banquettes that was also pretty, but less of a total wow factor. When we got there, the furniture in the room was a lot more scarce with tons of empty space, and the remaining banquettes had mostly ripped or worn out material. The friend who took us there said it looked really different from the last time he came, so it surprised him too. I'm not always huge on Middle Eastern food, so I wasn't expecting a lot, but the food was incredible. We ordered the sharing barbecue plate, which comes with 6 regular skewers, a choice of 1 premium skewer, 2 cold appetizers (we chose hummus and baba ghanoush,) and bread, plus we ordered the lahmbiajin (meat bread.) There were 5 adults and one kid, and this was plenty of food. The hummus was the best I've ever had--super smooth and silky, and I couldn't stop eating it. Skewers were amazing, bread was pillowy with the right amount of chew, and I even didn't mind the baba ghanoush despite hating eggplant in general. The sharing bbq plate also came with some perfectly charred onions and tomatoes. They were so good that when I got home, I started googling ways to cook veggies like that without having access to a grill. All that to say, this isn't somewhere to come for the ambiance, but the food will have me coming back for sure. Really friendly service too! read more
Highly recommend this hidden gem of a restaurant! FOOD: 10/10. I got a kofta kabab plate and everything on it was excellent. The portions and flatbread were nice and large! SERVICE: The service was quick and friendly. When we were checking out, I ordered an ice cream and the employee offered me and my friend double scoops on the house! PARKING: The location is in a plaza with a good-sized parking lot. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
No frills spot for amazing halal/Mediterranean food! Decided to try this place for take out on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant itself is large. They didn't have as many tables as space available. It was also really hot inside but the food smelled incredible. Bread is always made fresh and delicious. I got the mixed plate and the Lahmbiajin Pita. The Lahmbiajin Pita was incredible! Highly recommend adding egg and cheese if you can. Bread was soft and doughy. The mixed plate was good, except the lamb was very salty and not as tender as the chicken. The chicken was the best part! Overall, not a bad place for real halal. read more
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Stumbled upon this gem through some other reviews on yelp and definitely agree that the food is delicious! I had been looking for a Mediterranean restaurant that serves authentic zatar bread in Austin and this one fits the bill! The zatar flatbread is absolutely perfect. Chicken kebabs and falafels were also cooked very well and seasoned. The falafel wrap bread was thinner and different from the zatar flatbread and I didn't like it as much. They don't provide water unless you ask. Other than that, service was quick and friendly. The restaurant also had a Mexican bakery on one side so ambience is not the best but food more than makes up for it. read more
10 months ago
Superb experience overall. We ordered the family platter (12 mixed kabobs). There were 2 different chicken, 2 different lamb, 2 different beef. They were all excellent. You can to mix and match how you want but I highly recommend getting them the way they came as a variety. They put soft fresh pita bread as the base and out the hot kabobs on top. It makes the bread extra delicious. The platter also had grilled onions and tomatoes. The meal came with 4 cold appetizers. We chose 1 hummus, 2 baba ganoush, and one yogurt cucumber dip. It also came with amazing garlic sauce (I'll order extra next time), tahini and 2 spicy sauces. It was a spread! I requested part rice and part bread since we have one GF person and they were able to accommodate. They were kind, thoughtful, helpful and the food was superb. I will use them to cater a party the next time I have one. read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
I really enjoyed the food, the meat was so tender and flavorful, big portions. We ordered the mixed platter with lamb and Adana kebob - it came with hummus, salad and rice. Very tasty, really enjoyed the seasoning on the meat. Hummus was really good, smaller portion of that though. The zatar and feta flatbread was delish. The bread was hot and fluffy. It was cut up like a pizza. While I really liked the food, dine in experience was just ok. I was confused at the beginning. We slowly sat ourselves after walking in, nobody greeted us so figured that was the thing to do. Our waitress was polite, she came over with menus but took a while to come back. Again we were confused because we saw people going to the register to pay but we weren't totally sure if we order at the counter as well? Then I had to order water and got bottled water, so of course they charge extra for that. Plus, plastic plates and cutlery. Not a bad experience just off-putting but in line with other hole in the wall restaurants. What I really didn't like were a couple small flies buzzing around. read more
Their lentil soup is delicious! It is a bit grainy texture, but the flavoring is all there. I also tried their baba ganoush. It was good too, but it a bit more on the sour side. I got their mixed kebab so beef and chicken kebab. I also tried their chicken tikka too. The beef one was the best. The chicken kebab wasn't flavorful. For those dishes, I wish they added more meat on it. read more
I agree with much of what has been written in previous reviews: don't be put off by the sketchy look of the shopping center, the people are very warm and welcoming, and the food is excellent. We both ordered kabob plates, which included beef kabobs for him and one Adana and one Chicken Tikka for me. Both had a generous amount of very tasty rice, hummus, and a nice salad, along with a huge flatbread. Everything was delicious. The Adana kebab was beef-based with complex seasoning, and the Tikka was quite good. Rice tends to be an afterthought for me in meals, but the rice they serve (with Saffron, I think) was so good I paid way more attention to it than I usually do. The portions were generous, and we took quite a bit home. The Baklava was acceptable but not outstanding, and the two pieces were rather small for the price ($2.50). The complimentary hot tea (a choice of Earl Grey or Black with Cardamom) is a nice touch, especially on this chilly day. I was a little taken aback to be served on paper or foam plates, and the Christmas theme of ours today was a comic touch, but the food was so good, the service so warm, and the portions so generous that I didn't mind. read more
1 year ago
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1 year ago
Absolutely 100/10 of food! Like so wonderful that I'm eager to come back. I got the mixed grill and it was filled with such succulent pieces of meat, fair warning the spicy kebab is actually spicy. The Zataar and feta manakeesh was everything I could have wanted. The baba ghanoush and hummus were full of flavor and I'd definitely order both again. This was enough food for three with left overs. Service is slow but kind and they gave us complimentary baklava and tabbouleh! read more
1 year ago
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More info about USTA KABABGY
9310 North Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78753
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(512) 465-2720
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https://ustakababgy.com
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