My boyfriend wasn't stoked about the idea of eating Afghan food, but we were in luck! The owners of Chopan Kebab House started their restaurant in the location of Morigi's Pizza. The pizza place's owner was retiring after 30 years and, in an attempt to hold onto the neighborhood favorite, Chopan has kept the pizza place running with the same kitchen staff. So, if you go with a picky eater they can get the Italian menu while you focus on the Afghan one.
We arrived at Chopan's around six on Saturday evening. There was ample parking in front and also a lot in the back. However, there was nobody in the restaurant. The owners were just sitting there in the dining room waiting for customers. I was thinking that maybe in Afghan culture the large meal takes place at lunch and that they may have a larger crowd then. Also, it was only six, and dinner in LA tends to be on the later side.
We were welcomed warmly and told to sit anywhere we wanted in the restaurant. All the tables are for six or more so putting four there is a little odd with the extra chairs. The restaurant is filled with mirrors so that you can see into the kitchen and the space looks bigger. The tables are covered in plastic tablecloths--smart because the food is messy. The chairs are very nice and new and remind me of a dining room in my grandma's house.
We ordered tea to start. The tea was very warm and came from a special tea maker in front of our eyes. It was supposed to have undertones of cardamom but I didn't notice it. Since three of us were drinking tea, they brought over a little pot of it for us.
Three of us ordered off the Afghan menu and one ordered from the Italian. The Italian menu had everything you would expect from an Italian restuarant such as pizzas, sandwiches and salads. Our Italian menu connoisseur chose a pepperoni and garlic calzone. The rest of us ordered three dishes off the Afghan menu.
We ordered the Manti and Ashkar dumplings along with the Chopan Kebab Combo. All of our entrees came with a salad to start. The salad was much more Italian than Afghan it seemed with iceberg lettuce, olives, tomatoes, mini cucumbers and garbanzo beans (possibly the Afghan influence). The salad was nothing special, then the real food came out.
The calzone was folded oddly and gigantic. The sauce was inside and with the ricotta and the whole dish was sweet--a little unusual. This tells me that the Afghan menu is the one you should focus on.
The Afghan food was delicious. The two plates of dumplings came first. The flavors were not like anything I had ever had. The Manti dumplings (I could be wrong about the spelling here) had meat on top and a yogurt sauce--as for what is inside, I couldn't tell you for sure but it was a mix of spices and something and was a little tangy. The other dumplings--the Ashkar had leeks in them and maybe potato along with mint and cilantro. This dumpling was folded into a half moon and had a softer outside texture much like a steamed potsticker. The Ashkar came with a yogurt sauce as well and was delicious. The Ashkar (perhaps it's called something else) was so delicious I wanted to eat the whole plate myself. The kebab dish came with two kebabs atop a large pile of rice mixed with carrots and raisins, some Afghan naan and a side of vegetable.
The kebabs were moist and flavorful. The rice was remarkably delicious with a slight sweetness. I didn't try the vegetable side which was eggplant, but I heard it was wonderful. The only thing I didn't find delicious was the Afghan Naan. It reminded me of slightly of stale pita.
I highly recommend that you try out Chopan Kebab House. I can't vouch for the authenticity, but the flavor was amazing and again, unlike anything I have ever before tasted.
Chopan Kebab House/Morigi's Pizza
8910 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge, CA 91324
Map
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