SM Megamall has just recently opened its Atrium and in it are lots of interesting restaurants to choose from and one of which is Kebab Factory. The Atrium is their first restaurant and will probably open other branches in the near future. At that time, they were still in their soft opening so the restaurant looks pretty simple. The place does not look like Persian at all unlike the other Persian restaurants we’ve been to like Mister Kabab, Ziggurat and many others. The common colors are white and yellow and the waitresses/waiters do not look Persian at all (meaning their uniforms ).

We ordered 3 dishes: Hyderabad Biryani, Beef Kebab and Motabal with Pita Bread. The Hyderabad Biryani tastes great. I could really taste (and smell) the spices and you could really see the brightness of it. The brass bowl also compliments the Persian feel of it.

Beef Kebab @Php 225

As for the Beef Kebab, the serving is exactly for 2 people. One can easily be full when you pair this one with Biryani. I didn’t like it very much as much as I liked the kebab in Ziggurat, it was pretty ok. Plus, the price is quite expensive for just 2 pieces of kebab.

Motabal @ Php 120

Their motabal is also good because it’s freshly done. The eggplants were not really grinded too much unlike the other motabals I’ve tasted. I could still feel the texture of the eggplant. 1order of Motabal comes with 1 pita bread.

There are other interesting things to try there like their curries, tikkas and tandooris. The only thing that I didn’t like in this restaurant is that you would always have to ask the waiter for the garlic and hot sauce. I believe that those are very important in Persian restaurants since people always pair their food with garlic and hot sauce. It’s just a hassle that you have to always call the waiter for it.

Budget per person would be Php 250-400. The price range for their entrees is Php 300-400, for the kebabs/tikkas/tandooris: Php 225 – 500, rice: Php 50-200, breads: Php 50-65, appetizers: Php 120-250.

The Kebab Factory

Unit 209, 2nd Floor
The Atrium, SM Megamall
Phone number: (632) 631 9648

Related posts:

1. Persia Grill
2. Ziggurat: Indian, Mediterranean, African and Mideast Cuisine
3. Sofreh: Persian Fusion Cuisine

“Ziggurat” is derived from the Assyrian term ziqquratu which means ‘high’. The word Ziggurat actually means temple ( like the ones in the Mesopotamian times).

This restaurant is located in Sunette Tower, Durban St. cor Makati Ave in Makati ( it’s actually near P. Burgos St). They’re open 24 hours by the way so if you’re craving for some authentic kebabs at the middle of the night, this is the place to go. We actually went there at 3 am, after having a round of drinks in Greenbelt 2.

The place is actually cozy and simple. It’s a bit small so it’s better to call for reservation if you’re more than 5 people. They have an open area and an enclosed area. You could also have some hookah there.

They actually have a very extensive menu of different dishes. By the way, they’re actually selling their menu, it’s a gazette ( size of a newspaper, Php 35.00 each). It’s really hard to decide so we just ordered the basics: kebabs, pita breads and dips. We ordered the mixed kebab special ( medium platter) which consists of: 2 skewers of tikka kebab ( we had chicken and beef), 2 pieces of kufteh kebab and vegetable kebabs. By the way, tikka is the sliced piece (somewhat like barbeque) while kufteh is ground patty ( somewhat like longganisa). We also ordered hummus ( hand pounded beans with tahini) and mutabbal ( hand pounded eggplant with tahini) plus Arabian Khobiz ( pita bread, like the one being used in shawarma).

You could also visit their website to see their menu: www.zigguratcuisine.com

Mixed Kebab Platter

Hummus, Mutabbal and Arabian Khobiz

The Ratings:

Food: 4.5/5

I would say that their kebabs are really flavorful. I loved the kufteh and chicken tikka. I also loved their garlic sauce. I also liked the Arabian Khobiz, it’s newly cooked.

Ambiance: 3.5/5

The place is really small so it’s kind of cramped inside. There’s just one table outside where you can sit on the floor ( you know, with the pillows). I have not seen the enclosed area, I just don’t know how it looks like.

Price: 4/5

The price is expensive compared to Mr. Kabab however I believe that the quality of food here is better than the latter. Probably the factor of it being in Makati makes it more expensive. However I understand that the ingredients are expensive so their price is ok compared to Hossein’s. The Mixed Kebab Platter ( medium) is Php 685.00, Hummus is Php 75.00, Mutabbal Php 75.00, Arabian Khobiz is priced Php 10.00 each ( I believe for every 2 pieces, you get 1 free). Probably you can bring a budget of Php 300.00-500.00.

Related posts:

1. Sofreh: Persian Fusion Cuisine