Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen

Sarah was wonderful! She really made sure to check on us often to make sure everything was great!

We ordered 2 shrimp masala curry which were forgotten! We were almost done with dinner when I decided to ask about the 2 orders. I had to cancel 1 order . On top of that, only 1 order of rice was served when I ordered 2. It was quite embarrassing as we were short of 2 dishes and 1 rice at my husband's small birthday dinner.

This place used to be better. This time the food pacing was bad. We had all meats and curries together and had to wait 10 mins for the rice and naan to arrive. Food is pretty good tho, I love it. They just need to work on the pacing. Servers were all nice.

This is always a favorite and this time might have been the best yet. Our server was exceptional. She was clear, friendly, and made us feel at home and taken care of!!

It was a wonderful experience. We had guest visiting and they absolutely loved it. Thank you so much for being such a great hospitality.

Food was great. Service slow when busy. Could improve. Ambience can imrpove but understand its a small spot that fits 66 people.

Service was wonderful, Samar was awesome, attentive and even explained the menu to me as it was my first time
Place is clean, well lit for pictures

Australian tomahawk, tons of flavor, very tender and delicious
Smoked kebab hit the spot with the smokiness and the spices
Pani puri was also delicious and more so a fun appetizer to have

If you don't get Samar as a waiter everyone else there provides the same excellent service

Will definitely come back to try other dishes here

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pani Puri Shots, Garlic Naan, Smoked Beef Kabob, Wood Fired Bone-In Tomahawk

My take on Khan Saab Desi, Fullerton, CA

After years of eating my way through Southern California’s ever-expanding South Asian dining scene, I finally sat down for a long-overdue meal at Khan Saab Desi in Fullerton. The restaurant has generated plenty of buzz, and walking in, I could see why: the ambiance leans upscale, modern, and intentionally curated—an attempt to present desi cuisine with a fine-dining flourish.

But a restaurant’s soul lives and dies in its food, so here’s how the dishes stacked up.

Malai Chicken Kabab – Mildly Pleasing
The malai chicken kabab arrived tender enough, carrying the signature creaminess you expect, but it never quite took off. The seasoning stayed shy, almost hesitant, as if it was holding back from delivering the kind of richness that defines great malai kababs. Pleasant, but forgettable.

Tandoori Chicken – Competent but Not Captivating
Tandoori chicken is one of those benchmark dishes—if you nail it, diners trust you with anything. Here, it was fine: the char was there, the color was right, but the depth of smoky spice felt dialed down. It landed squarely in “okay” territory.

Biryani – Aromatic but Missing Spark
The biryani followed a similar pattern. It carried the fragrance you want from a well-built biryani, yet the layers of flavor didn’t quite unfold the way they should. It felt more assembled than composed.

White Rice – Underwhelming
White rice shouldn’t be complicated, but it also shouldn’t be an afterthought. Here, it was serviceable but lacked fluff and care—more filler than complement.

Chicken Karahi – The Undisputed Winner
Then the tide turned. The chicken karahi arrived and immediately pulled everything back into focus. This dish was bold, vibrant, and unapologetically flavorful—exactly the kind of fiery, aromatic brilliance you hope for from a karahi. The tomato-forward gravy, balanced with green chilies and spices, clung beautifully to the tender chicken. Easily the highlight of the meal.

Garlic Naan & Regular Naan – Outstanding
Both naans, garlic and plain, were stellar. Soft with just the right chew, blistered in all the right places, and sturdy enough to scoop up sauces without collapsing. If bread is a restaurant’s backbone, Khan Saab’s is strong.

The Wine List – A Mismatch
One notable misstep is the attempt to offer wine in a space marketed as halal. While the restaurant may be following its own definition of the term, the inclusion of alcohol feels off-brand and incongruent with the identity they project. It’s a jarring detail in an otherwise thoughtfully crafted atmosphere.

Final Thoughts
Khan Saab Desi is a restaurant with ambition—sometimes it clears the bar, sometimes it brushes against it. The highlights are genuinely excellent (the karahi and naans alone are worth a trip), but the rest of the menu needs more confidence and consistency to match the restaurant’s upscale framing. There’s potential here—serious potential—but it shines only in pockets.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Celebrated a birthday here and our server made us feel so special. Beyond that, the food was baseline amazing. Definitely coming back to try everything else.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A little disappointed! We've been going to this restaurant for about four years now. Initially, there weren't many customers, and the food was very well prepared. Now, the quality of the food leaves much to be desired. Yesterday we ordered kulcha with goat cheese, and it was excellent as always. The tandoori shrimp were okay, but there wasn't enough marinade. The biggest disappointment was the shrimp curry. Firstly, the shrimp were tough, like rubber, as if they'd been cooked yesterday. Secondly, the sauce was so thin and practically flavorless, as if it were made with water! It's a shame, this was our favorite restaurant.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Khan Biryani, Mango, Cheese Kulcha, Afghani Seekh Kabob

We love Khab Saab it's one of a kind experience specializing in Afghan - Indo/Pak fusion cuisine its the best in Southern California!

Food wasn’t the issue but we received terrible service from our server Samar. 1st he spilled water on our table on my phone which was sitting in table no apologies and used the table napkin that was already in use while eating our dinner on top of that as our table wasn’t still done eating he came started clearing up the table which was very unprofessional and not acceptable. For party of 5 gratitude was already added which i understand according to restaurant policy and we paid 25 dollars of gratitude BUT was our service deserved that gratitude not at all. This attitude and customer service need to be acknowledged by management as at the end of day its falling bad on restaurant.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 4

Service: 1

I’m a regular customer here, but today’s experience was truly disappointing. Our server, Samar, crossed all limits with his attitude. He placed the dishes on our table very roughly, and even accidentally spilled water on my new phone without offering a single apology.He rushed to clear our plates, and right after that he brought the check as if he wanted us to leave immediately. We waited almost 1 hour for our food, and after finally eating, we couldn’t even sit for a few minutes in peace.

This behavior is not acceptable at all. As loyal customers, we expect respect and basic courtesy. I hope the management takes this seriously and improves their service.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 1

Chicken is not halal - the waitress confirmed. Karahi is nothing but a can tomato sauce. Wasted money. Went to another restaurant to fulfill the hunger. Not worth it. Not coming back ! Poor front staff service.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

The waiter was so nice and attentive. Great smile and happy to be there. We ordered basmati rice, pani puri, naan bread, and three chicken kabobs and it was all good except the pani puri which was disgusting to me but very good to my Persian dinner companion.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5