I think people have been waiting for this place to open, as even without any advertising it was packed with a steady stream of customers all night. Service was slow since they mostly make the kabobs to order, and it took me about 30 minutes to get my food. (This has gotten a lot better -- see update below.)
But it was worth it. This is by far the best food near Arundel Mills, though the Five Guys next door can be good if you get their burgers with grilled onions and mushrooms.
The Food
I've eaten at the Columbia and Linthicum (BWI) locations so I knew what to expect, and they didn't disappoint.
I ordered the lamb and chicken combo with a side of aushak (a kind of very thin ravioli filled with scallions and topped with yogurt mint and garlic sauce and ground beef).
The aushak came out first and was very good, with a strong meat flavor to the sauce. As with all of Maiwand Kabob's food, the ingredients were of the highest quality.
The well-seasoned lamb and chicken kabobs are served with rice, a chopped salad, and tandoori bread. The kabobs, tomatoes, and onions were grilled a little more than ones I've had in the past (which I liked; I'm a sucker for a little charring on the outside as long as the meat is tender and juicy inside, and the onions sometimes seem a little raw).
I seldom eat the green sauce, so maybe I should ask them not to give it to me.
The tandoori bread was piping hot, and though this style of flatbread is a little dry by nature, it was still very satisfying and a good way to sop up the sauce on the aushak. You can watch them making the bread next to the counter and then lifting it out of the tandoori oven with tongs. I forgot to take a picture so here it is at the Columbia location:
I've also had the pan-fried pumpkin (which might be a little too sweet), the bowlani (pastry shells with potatoes and scallions), and the samosas (fried pastries filled with potatoes, green peas and spices). While they're all tasty I like the aushak the best.
Update (2/2/09): Here's the Chow Pan (grilled lamb chops), probably my favorite of the grilled meats. They've fixed the worst of their service issues and the wait time is now under 15 minutes (with appetizers coming out much more quickly).
The Location
This location of Maiwand Kabob has a trendy look with dark oranges and earth tones, and was a little chilly. They haven't quite worked out the traffic flow as it's not clear whether the line should form to the left or the middle.
I think it's going to be a huge success as there's a crying need for interesting, non-chain or -fast food restaurants in the area.
One of the things slowing down the service was that a number of customers were unfamiliar with this type of food, and were asking many questions as they ordered.
Getting There
Maiwand Kabob is in the Shops at Arundel Preserve, a small new retail center immediately on the left at the light (Dorchester Blvd) as you exit MD295 (the Baltimore-Washington Parkway) onto Arundel Mills Blvd. Maiwand is next to the Starbucks. (The mall is a good bit further down the road.)
Although Linthicum is technically closer to BWI, it has limited hours (weekdays only, until 7 pm), so Arundel Preserve is a better choice for dinner in the area.
Maiwand Kabob - Arundel Preserve
7698 Dorchester Blvd
Hanover, MD 21076
(443) 755-0461
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