It’s been a while since I last visited an Indian restaurant. Not because I stopped enjoying the cuisine, far from that. But because life, work, and time each have a way of pulling you toward familiar places while unintentionally leaving others behind. Before long, more time than I anticipated had passed without me realizing how much I’d missed it.
I am happy to say that has officially changed with a recent visit to Khan Saab in Santa Monica.
I was invited to the restaurant to preview a variety of dishes from the menu, and from the moment I stepped inside, it felt like an experience worth taking in. The restaurant strikes a harmony between elegance and comfort. You can dress up or you can dress casual. You can celebrate a major milestone or stop here after work. It’s beautifully designed without feeling intimidating, making it just as fitting for whatever you may be looking for.
After looking around the space, I found a seat and spoke with the waitress to select a few items. As the dishes began arriving, I was reminded how much variety Indian cuisine offers. And how much I missed it.
The Pani Puri ($7) was a fun way to begin the meal. The crisp puff pastry filled with garbanzo beans, potatoes, onions, and served on top of shot glasses of spiced mint-tamarind water delivered bright, refreshing flavors in one memorable bite and sip. They were adorable to see but even cuter to bite into. Sure that may be corny, but the tiny nature of it all that still carried so much flavor was a delightful start. Then came the Chola Bhatura ($19) which caught my eye and naturally stood out to be another favorite. The spiced chickpeas paired perfectly with the airy, wok-fried bread, creating a comforting dish that was difficult to stop eating. Eating them individually or pairing them together is a choice, and both are perfect to do with this dish.
For the main courses, the Butter Chicken ($22) was everything I’d hoped for. The creamy butter sauce, fragrant with dried fenugreek, coated tender pieces of chicken and reminded me why it’s considered a classic for good reason. Sure it’s a dish you can get anywhere, but when a place does it right like Khan Saab it’s a dish you definitely should order.
Then came the Khan Biryani ($24) which like the others, was a beauty. It brought layers of aromatic rice, boneless chicken, and just enough Thai chili to keep each bite interesting without overwhelming the dish. The best part is it can stand on its own or be paired with a side. There are no bad moves with this one.
One of the biggest surprises of the evening was the Sloppy Khan ($15). Move over cafeteria style sloppy joe’s, this one is much better. It features chopped Wagyu beef served on gunpowder-dusted pav. The bread was incredibly soft, the meat was rich, flavorful, and bite after bite it was unlike anything I’d had before. It may seem small, but if you simply need something easy and filling, it will be a great option.
The last entree that navigated the dinner was the Smoked Beef Kabob ($22) which offered another standout moment. Charcoal-smoked top sirloin marinated with yogurt, garlic, shallots, and mustard oil delivered a deep, savory flavor that lingered long after the last bite. Paring it with one of their great side options will help bring it all together.
To sip throughout dinner, I enjoyed the Smoked Double Apple (price unavailabile). I loved the presentation: the glass was delivered in a beautiful box and when opened it came out in display of smoke, almost welcoming you to drink it. From the first sip to the last, it was a refreshing blend of Gala and Honeycrisp apple nectar, wild pineapple molasses, and burnt dalchini. Truly lightly smoky, subtly sweet, and a wonderful complement each dish of the dinner.
Walking out of Khan Saab, I found myself thinking about something I hadn’t expected. This dinner didn’t just introduce me to a beautiful restaurant. It reminded me that there are entire cuisines I’ve been meaning to explore more intentionally. Sometimes all it takes is one memorable meal to spark that curiosity again. Khan Saab did exactly that for me and I have a feeling it won’t be my last visit here and it has only kick started my journey deeper into dining at more Indian restaurants.
Thank you for that Khan Saab.
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Address: 115 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (424) 744-8001
Hours: Monday through Friday – 4:00 pm to 10:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday – 2:00 pm to 10:30 pm.
Social: Website and Instagram.
