"I first encountered Abu Kabab outside of Rancho Bar in Altadena, where the owner grills a slate of kebabs to crowds on Saturday nights and the smell of meat and smoke wafts down Lake Avenue. When I visited the permanent Pasadena location on a Monday that was technically closed, the owner showed incredible hospitality and fired up the grill anyway; the combination platter with beef lule and filet mignon arrived on a fluffy bed of rice along with two sides: a fantastic mutabal (roasted eggplant dip with tahini) and an equally memorable shirazi salad with chopped tomato, cucumber, onion, and parsley. The expertly grilled meats hit the spot, and paired with service that goes above and beyond, it put me squarely in customer-for-life territory." - Eater Staff