Ariana Kabob Grill II

This review is for the Ariana Kabob Grill in the Charles Street Food Court near 100 N. Charles Street. Great service, ordered ahead and although we had to wait a little longer when we got there, food was hot and really good! Large portion size, the Gyro sandwich would have been enough even without the french fries. Great place for lunch, food court style, and close to where I work. Will be coming back soon!

The AMAZING food truck finally gets a storefront! I’ve been wondering for a while now what they could do with an actual kitchen, since what they do within the confines of a food truck is nothing short of spectacular.
This place is situated at the corner of Hillen and Forrest, which is a bit off from where the Unilocal site thinks it is. Parking is a little weird, but the meters are ridiculously cheap so it’s essentially free parking. Ariana storefront isn’t really a restaurant as much as it is a takeout place, with several tables and chairs, but not much room for anything else.
The menu is a bit more expansive than what they offer in their truck, and stays pretty true to its humble roots. I decided to try the mix platter, which actually gives you two options to choose from instead of one. Not something on the menu at the food truck as well. If you’re looking for variety and you’re eating alone, you can’t go wrong with this. The food comes out hotter and I feel like a step up from the food truck, and the value is great. They seem to have portion controls down to a science too, because this place always serves just enough food for it to hit the spot for both myself and my girlfriend. Just like the food truck, I left completely satisfied.
I really hope this place does well. It seems that this place just opened a little while ago. Although this place is still getting its bearings from just starting up, their food is on POINT, as I think they have the guy who originally worked the food truck working here now. The location being a little out of the way, but it’s definitely worth a try.

I have been a screaming Ariana Kabob fangirl since discovering their ever-​roaming food truck on Route 40. As such, it was only natural that I would stalk them to the ends of the earth — and yup, that’s what seems to have happened.
This place is a great secret bunker — unplottable (address on Unilocal is wrong — this place actually is on the corner of Hillen and Forrest), a little rough (think shut-​up storefronts, shady-​looking people wandering around), and really, REALLY good. I would highly recommend going during the day if you’re walking, because this place is not the type of place you want to be wandering around in after dark (unless you feel rather charitable towards muggers). However, if you’re driving or visiting during the day, you’ll be fine. Directly facing the restaurant are a few parking meters, for which a quarter will get you a little over an hour for parking. A dime will get you 35 minutes, which is probably all you need. Ariana is the only store on the block that’s not boarded up or missing doors/​windows/​assorted house parts. However, don’t let that deter you. The inside is immaculately clean, and the menu is posted clearly at the front of the place.
There are clear pictures of what you’ll get, which makes it very simple to order. In case you have any additional questions, the guy in front (who used to work the front of the food truck) is really awesome and will explain the flavor profiles, ingredients, and any other challenging inquiries you may have. The place is catered mostly towards carryout, since there are about 3 actual tables with 6 total chairs, but it’s not a problem if you want to sit down and enjoy your meal. There are some novel things on the menu that are not offered at the food truck, such as the mixed platter and a dish containing beef seasoned with cilantro and savory herbs whose name was too unique for my untrained mind. They’re super friendly and flexible here, and they offered to substitute the seasoned chicken for butter chicken in my mixed platter.
Verdict? Food was piping hot, fresh, super savory. I would put this above their food truck, as the rice was softer and fluffier while their chicken was softer and more juicy. I’m glad they opened this place, because the extra kitchen space allowed them to take the food truck recipes and enhance them even further. I’d advise you to definitely get the white yogurt sauce on everything, as it does not impede the flavors of the dishes at all. For $ 7, I definitely was very full — the serving sizes are quite nice, the same size as those from their food truck.
In summary, if you like the food truck, you’ll love it here. Prices are the same, but the quality is better (is that even possible?). Clean, friendly, and the food is really savory having been prepared straight out of a full-​sized kitchen. The area is a little on the sketchy side, so try not to look like a rich dude. Otherwise, I’d heavily recommend giving this place a visit!