What is a star but something that burns brightly and fades with just the fond memory left to ponder. Well Mais Alghanim is determined to bring the stars back to life with their new Stars Menu. Perhaps you remember tasting something wonderful, recommended it to friends and family and then realized the dish was only a part of a promotion and is no longer available? Put that disappointment aside, as the most popular restaurant promotion offerings are back! The Stars Menu is only available in the restaurants in the Sharq and Spoons Mall locations, and for a limited time only.

One thing that contributes to the success of Mais Alghanim is that, if you ask those who have been, the food is classically good. Always consistent, the kitchens produce great-tasting, high-quality dishes. Each person asked can name you something they savor and will only go to the restaurants for. Plus, their local twist on traditional fare keeps you coming back for more.

The Kuwaiti favorite ma’abouch is a paste of ingredients including garlic and green or red chilies that can be found in most local homes. This lends a piquant edge to the Stars Menu choices of hummus and green ma’abouch, and the deeply smoky Moutabal and red ma’abouch.  If you love hummus you have to taste the halaby which is mixed with pistachios and mint. Unexpectedly it is the chopped pickles in the Hummus Ma’abouch that gives the crunch, and the nuts bring a softness to the tang of the pickle.

Fattet Falafel

It is possible to keep on arguing amongst ourselves about whether this next dish hails from Armenia or Turkey, but the one place you really want to make sure your Manti does come from is the kitchens of Mais Alghanim. Their rendition of this dish is as textured and tasty as you could hope for, with the meat-filled, fried dumplings adding a crunch to the yogurt topped dish.

Manti

There can be nothing quite as satisfying as succulent chicken and the triangles of Saj Wrapped Chicken Shawarma are moist, perfectly seasoned, and with just the right amount of garlic. Do ensure you order at least two triangles per person.  One is not enough, as you will want to make certain with a second piece that this appetizer is as delicious as you first thought! It was hard to not finish all the starters especially as they were accompanied by the best Iranian bread, perfect for scooping up all the deliciousness. But, the mains were on the way so we had to show some restraint.

That restraint did not mean stopping eating, it meant tucking into salad! We tried the Basket Salad first. With fried pieces of cauliflower this salad has some depth to it. The bread basket is thin, fried and shaped similar to a taco basket that you might find in a Mexican restaurant. The salad is creamy and rich, the result of a well-paired Tahini and yogurt mixture. A load of Romaine lettuce is liberally covered in the delectable dressing and pickles and sesame seeds cut through the lot with their particular flavor profiles.

Basket Salad

A lighter salad that packs an even greater flavorsome punch, is the Rocca Salad. Rocca leaves are tossed in a home-made vinaigrette with pristine white strands of twisted Majdoulah cheese strewn across the top. Sweet and ripe pomegranate seeds which complement the barely salty cheese, are stirred through the entire salad with a few raw walnut halves, making this salad as beautiful to behold as it is to taste and eat.

For the mains, we decided to go on a global journey from the Stars Menu and went for Chinese, Indian and Turkish influences. Just as we finished up with our appetizers the mains made their way across to our table.

Thin, diagonal slices of scallion decorate the Lamb Black Pepper. With red and green capsicum tossed through the richly thick oyster sauce based dish this is one you want to take your time over, and luxuriate in the depth of flavors. The massive mound of white rice with it is exactly what you need to enjoy the experience of this Chinese offering.

Lamb Black Pepper

Placed on a bed of biryani rice, the presented lamb shank is a large, juicy piece of halal, locally sourced meat and it falls easily off the bone using just a fork. Delicate coconut comes through in the accompanying Chef’s gravy. There is more than a passing reference to Indian influences in this flavorful, but not spicy, meal which has proven to be a runaway hit with most Mais Alghanim Stars Menu customers.

The culinary journey continues along the map from East to West with the Karmuze Taouk. The chunks of Turkish spice marinated chicken rest splendid next to a pile of Batates Harra. The side is well executed with the potato proving light and fluffy once you bite though the lightly seasoned skin.

Karmuze Taouk

Sticking with Turkish traditional dishes we move on to dessert. There are only two, so you may as well order them both! The Turkish Pudding is a take on mouhalabiah with a Mais Alghanim twist. Lightly toasted coconut and slivers of toasted almonds are scattered all over the top of this jelly-like milky pudding with a drizzle of heavenly honey trails.

Turkish Pudding

You may want to share the lotus fondant with ice cream dessert. This is a deeply chocolatey affair with a layer of lotus paste baked into the main “cake” which adds a caramel touch to the whole thing. The vanilla ice cream is home-made and sits endearingly on a small, round cookie, inviting you to eat it. Carefully, you want to fit a piece of each different element onto your spoon to get the best out of this devilishly delectable dessert.

Lotus Fondant

With Mais Alghanim’s Stars Menu, you can to choose from the best of each menu offering from the last year over 2017. The best, as chosen by you, the customer, curates the star items all together, and throws in a unique family offer! The Result? A menu that cannot fail to be enjoyed by all, as it is truly a Stars Menu by name and nature.

Mais Alghanim is located on the Gulf Road near the Kuwait Towers (2225 1155) and Spoons Mall, Mahboula (2225 0655). For delivery orders, please call 1821 155. Follow them on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter @Maisalghanim. Delivery is also available through Talabat. The Stars Menu is only available in the dine-in restaurants in Sharq and Spoons Mall.