100 Best Restaurants 2009: Ravi Kabob House

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli , Rina Rapuano , Eve Zibart

No. 87: Ravi Kabob

Ravi Kabob

305 N. Glebe Rd.
Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: 703-522-6666

Cuisines:
Middle Eastern

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
Virginia Square-GMU
Ballston-MU

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Not needed

Special Features:
Cash Only, Kid Friendly

Best Dishes
Lamb and lamb brains karahi; kebabs, including lamb chops, bone-in chicken, kubideh, and seekh kebab; chana masala; mango lassi.

Price Details:
Appetizers $1.25 to $2.50, entrées $9 to $17.


 

Reader's Rating:
3 out of 5

Cuisine: These no-frills Pakistani kebab houses, across the street from each other, sling some of the area’s best, juiciest meats—whether in kebabs over fluffy rice, sided with a hot round of naan, or submerged in the spicy stew called karahi.

Mood: None. The dining room is flooded with fluorescent light, and patrons order at the counter and eat with plastic plates, knives, and forks. On the plus side: A staffer usually delivers the food and clears your table, too.

Best for: Fast dinners when you don’t want fast food; takeout.

Best dishes: Slow-cooked, charcoal-grilled kebabs: lamb chops, bone-in chicken, and seekh kabob made with minced, spiced beef; lamb-and-seekh-kabob karahi; chana masala, a rich chickpea stew; mango lassi.

Insider tips: Thrill seekers might try a karahi made with lambs’ brains; the contrast of the mild, curdlike brains and the fiery stew—with garlic, ginger, cilantro, and chilies—is wonderful.

Service:

Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Inexpensive.

>> See all 100 Best Restaurants 

Reader ReviewsWrite your own review
 
Excellent Best Kabobs Ever!
dccatfan — October 1, 2009 3:25 PM
Not sure what the negative review was all about but this place is great. I've only been there one time when it wasn't shoulder to shoulder, and then I realized it was Ramadan. I do take-out because it is crazy in there, but it's kind of cool. The More ...
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Terrible Disgusting
nativewashingtonian — June 6, 2009 7:10 PM
If there is any restaurant in the Washington Metro area to avoid it would be the filthy Ravi Kabob. The bone-in and boneless chicken kabobs are overspiced (and I adore well spiced foods) and as dry as Ravi's day old Naan-type bread. The vegetables More ...
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Average Strictly carry out
Bartollah — March 3, 2009 3:00 PM
We went to the one by the CVS. The kabobs are up there with the best in the area. We were taken aback by how dirty the resturaunt was. Which leads me to question the cleanliest of the kitchen. Taking my family was a mistake. We would rather go to More ...
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