With all that’s happened in Afghanistan and Iran recently, it’s important to remember that these countries have vibrant cultures and cuisines. The food from this part of the world can be hard to find ‘round here, but thankfully more restaurants have been offering Afghan and Persian dishes.
One of the newest is Saffron Kitchen on Main Street in Buffalo. Founded by two families who immigrated to Buffalo from Afghanistan via Iran and Turkey, Saffron Kitchen offers a crash course in the region’s cuisine for the uninitiated. The smoky Koobideh Kabobs ($21) and Banjai Borani ($17), a spicy stewed eggplant dish, are good places to start.
When we called for an interview, spokesperson Danial Jafari told us that Saffron Kitchen sells some dishes that are similar to Mediterranean ones you might know, specifically the gyro-like Doner Kabob wrap ($10) and a Turkish filled dumpling called Munti.
“The Doner that we have is somewhat similar to the Turkish version,” Danial said, “and then we have a dumpling called Muntu. They have the same thing, but they call it Munti. Theirs is like, really small, almost pea-sized, and we make it much bigger. It’s almost a handful.”…