Bilal Khan says his family-owned restaurant, Ali Baba Kabob & Curry, strives to provide excellent food and good customer service at affordable prices.
After living in the area for 10 years, Khan's father and restaurant co-owner, Ali Khan, said that he had a difficult time finding food from his native country that was both delicious and affordable. In March 2010, the Khans opened their first location in Salt Lake City.
In June 2012, they opened a second location in Ogden. Bilal Khan runs the new location, while Ali Khan oversees operations in Salt Lake.
"I enjoy the restaurant business," Bilal Khan said.
He especially likes meeting people from all over the world, although he spends a lot of his time in the kitchen preparing the food, too. Along with his sister, mother and father, Khan developed the menu using family recipes for dishes from regions of Northern India and Pakistan.
Because the food is made fresh, orders usually take 20 to 30 minutes. If customers are in a hurry, they can enjoy the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet ($8.99), available 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To-go orders may also be taken from the buffet ($5.99-$8.99).
Each day, the buffet includes Chicken Tikka Masala, one lamb dish, one beef dish, rice and two or three vegetable dishes. Khan wanted to make sure customers always have access to his most popular and familiar entree -- the Chicken Tikka Masala ($9.99), chicken breast marinated in yogurt with a blend of spices, cooked with onions, tomatoes and cream. He also wanted to provide a variety of other menu items on a rotating basis to keep it interesting.
Some of Khan's favorite meals are the Aloo Palak ($7.99), spinach cooked with a blend of spices, onions and tomatoes; Saag Paneer ($7.99), ground spinach with spices, tomatoes and cheese; and the Lamb Karahi ($11.99), lamb with ginger, garlic, tomatoes and onions in a house gravy.
They offer traditional naan breads cooked in a tandoor, or clay, oven. The Traditional ($1.69) and Garlic ($1.89) are popular, as well as the Roti ($1.89), a whole-wheat version.
They make their own fresh yogurt for cool drinks like the Mango Lassi (2.99) and Banana Shake (2.99).
Khan also said the Samosa ($2.99) is the most popular appetizer, made from potatoes wrapped in a homemade flour pastry.
ALI BABA KABOB & CURRY
- ADDRESS: 4250 S. Harrison Blvd., Ogden
- HOURS: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday (takeout only after 9:30 p.m.)
- PHONE: 801-621-2181