Exotic 'Khan Saab' Restaurant Poised To Open In O.C.

FULLERTON, CA — Khan Saab, a new Desi restaurant with an upscale, halal menu of Pakistani, Indian and Afghan cuisine and helmed by acclaimed Chef Imran Ali Mookhi, will open next week in downtown Fullerton, accompanied by a festive kick-off.

The grand opening at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the eatery, at 229 East Commonwealth Ave., begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring the Consulate General of Pakistan.

Dinner service will follow, with proceeds to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Orange County, and henna artists on hand providing complimentary tattoos to diners. The community is invited, and reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at (714) 853-1081.

Chef Mookhi's culinary career includes stints with Michelin-starred chefs, as well as roles at the former Tantra on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, Tamarind Restaurant in London and, most recently, TUMBI Craft Indian Kitchen in Santa Monica.

Mookhi's vision at Khan Saab is a "a Desi concept (restaurant) that is really a first of its kind,” he said.

“My team and I have worked rigorously to develop the menu and artfully present the cuisines from this region in an elevated way, while still maintaining halal tradition, which is reflected in the offerings down to the mocktail bar program," he said, noting that he will work alongside Sous Chef Mustafa Ansari, who brings a solid background of training under Michelin-rated chefs in San Francisco, Chicago and Columbus.

Alongside such traditional dishes as Butter Chicken and Pan Puri, the Khan Saab menu will feature signature recipes including: Pomegranate Braised Kiwami Brisket served with creamy polenta, fresno chili relish, and beef jus; Jhinga Masala made with black tiger and baby shrimp, goan onion, tomato and a coconut masala; and Sloppy Khan, a take on a Sloppy Joe featuring Keema Pav Wagyu Beef on gun-powder-dusted pav bread.

With input from consulting Chef Dominic Crisp, the menu also offers halal steak options as a Woodfired Bone-In Tomahawk and Boneless Ribeye served with sumac mashed potatoes and a veal glace.

In keeping with halal tradition, Khan Saab will be 100-percent alcohol-free, and the bar program, led by mixologists Ahmad Hosseini and Luis Valencia, will feature craft mocktails, like the Mango Mojito made with mango nectar, Nigroni and a Peshawri Mule made with non-alcoholic spirits, along with such traditional beverages as lassi, a dahi-based drink made with a blend of yoghurt, water, spices and sometimes fruit.

Mookhi said his crew is "overjoyed to share our vision of Desi cuisine with the community.”

Khan Saab will be open seven days a week for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For reservations, call (714) 853-1081, or see the menu and more here.

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