Rasha Kana @International City Dubai.

 

Rasha Kana @International City Dubai

Rarely does a meal at a resturant pull at the strings and takes you to the native taste, smell and flavor of food from our native land. Rasha Kana is, in our opinion, the best food from the tribal lands that straddle both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Celebrating Afghan and Shinwari food, the experience was the best I have had in over 40 years in UAE. This is a true gem and is a must for foodies. 

The restaurant is small (40-50 covers), with a simple decor, and is very clean and welcoming. The seating is comfortable, and the staff is not only attentive but also very friendly. The husband and wife team who own the restaurant are present and very knowledgeable on the cuisine they offer. The menu is designed for meat lovers, though they were very accommodating to conjure up a vegetable dish for one of us who is a vegetarian. Talking to the owners, they did say they will include some vegetable dishes in the future. 

A word of warning: the menu has many of the dishes offered as 'half' or 'full' servings. Unless you have a massive appetite, its best to consider the half unless you want to share. The Shinwari options are not only for lamb but for chicken too. Being a Shinwari (my tribe) I was curious to what was on offer, and we were not disappointed. The Lamb Shinwari was divine, though I should have asked for it to be spicy. (in standard, it was perfect for anyone not desiring spicy food). The Chicken Shinwari was delicious, especially judging by the way the person who ordered it polished off a full serving. The Lamb Afghani, while on the spicy side was a dream of a dish. Served with hot naan bread (Peshawar naan and Garlic Naan) the food was an endless joy, morsel by morsel. The one vegetarian amongst us was all smiles with her fried channa dish.

The food took about 30 minutes to serve up because perhaps the lamb was fresh and not precooked. Served in individual large steel handi's it was sizzling hot. For four healthy adults the bill was AED 300 though we can confess we over ordered and had alot packed to take home. 

Pros:

• Authentic Afghan and Shinwari food.
• Fresh ingredients.
• Excellent service.
• Wholesome food.
• Very clean and inviting.

Cons:

• The salad needs improvement.
• After a great meal, we expected some desserts, which they didn't have.
• They could add some vegetarian dishes (which they said they are considering)

Overall Verdict.

Rasha Kana is a must-visit. For a city where quality food from our part of the world is not easy to find, this place beats expectations. The quality of food and its presentation puts some of the best eat places to shame. Highly recommended. We will be back.