Southfield, MI –An excellent food recommendation from my coworker Tim inspired this post. My colleague is quite the foodie himself and is quite savvy about the local food scene. Whether you need a new grab-and-go place or a hidden gem spot, Tim’s got you covered.

Last week at work, Tim stopped by my desk and said that he had a food tip for me. My interest is always piqued when Tim has a food recommendation because I know he’s circumvented probably hundreds of restaurants around Metro Detroit in his adventures and always knows the fire spots. Tim handed me a takeout menu from Mr. Kabob’s Xpress in Southfield.

He excitedly told me about the great entrée special that features two proteins served with veggies, then your choice of saffron rice or hummus and pita. My eyes widened when I saw how great the price was for this deal and the sheer amount of food that seemingly came with it. Sure enough, Tim confirmed that not only were the portions overwhelming but that one could easily have a round (or two) of leftovers after this meal. Also, a fellow powerlifter, Tim, pointed out the meal prep and high protein benefits of the meal in conjunction with workouts. I wasn’t going to waste a second; I was determined to check out this epic entrée special from Mr. Kabob’s Xpress and give this Mediterranean eatery a proper adventure!

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A few days later, I had mapped out the perfect day to get takeout for dinner for my work break. I was covering for a colleague’s shift on a Saturday, so I decided to rope in a few folks at the station to get a group order going. After enlisting three other interested foodie adventurers (shout out to Foodie-At-Arms Juan, Zaria, and fellow Jeff), I called and placed the order over the phone.

I went with Tim’s suggested order for the Xpress Entrée, picking the steak shawarma and chicken kabob for my two proteins and saffron rice to get the most out of the meal and ensure leftovers. I was tempted to upgrade my order to the Xpress Platter, which featured two additional sides for four dollars more, but I decided to keep it simple for the first adventure.

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When I walked into the store at 12 Mile and Telegraph Road to pick up my order, I chatted with the owners and handed them some of my business cards. I told them to keep an eye out, and that a post would appear once I finished my most recent post about the Patchwork Culinary Project in Ferndale. The owners of this store appeared to be a father and son duo; they were very friendly and nice to talk to about food. I was even more excited to write the post now because it always inspires me when I meet chefs and restauranteurs who take pride in their work and the quality of what they serve to their communities. I could already tell I was going to love this meal; the flavor rocket was ready for lift-off!

The aromas emanating from the colossal takeout bag tantalized me within the confines of my vehicle the entire drive back to my station. The heavenly scents of spice and seared meats drove my rumbling stomach into a frenzy as I rushed inside the building and made a quick beeline for my desk. I began dispersing everyone’s food orders out before sitting down to crack open my meal. The sheer weight of this food order was impressive, as was the colorful array of seasoned meats, pickled veggies, and perfectly cooked rice. I snapped a few quick photos and then got to work on this epic meal from Mr. Kabob’s Xpress.

I immediately tore off a piece of pita bread, enclosed it upon a chuck of chicken kabob, and easily nibbled the meat apart through the bread since it was grilled to perfection and remarkably tender. The spices and seasonings were sensational and really elevated this meat, adding a hint of back-end peppery heat. The chicken was so tender and easily pulled apart that I forked the remaining chunk to act as a barrier to scoop some of the saffron rice up against for a more wholesome bite of meat and the supporting side. The rice was steamed, seasoned very well, and soft, and it had the perfect consistency for fresh, hot rice. Whether I was scooping chicken chunks or strips of steak with whatever rice I could collect in a pinch, I loved this food from Mr. Kabob’s Express.

This meal was cooking along with flavors firing on all cylinders. The steak shawarma was as great as the chicken, with some nice crisped corners and seared bits throughout. The steak was seasoned similarly to the chicken but took on a slightly different flavor profile with less heat. It was honestly tough to decide which meat I enjoyed more; I absolutely loved them both! Next time, I definitely want to try the Chicken Cream Chop and Falafel.

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The turnips and pickles were a pleasant bitter and vinegary pitstop for my palate, getting a break from the zesty meats or savory rice. Collectively, this meal hit home runs in every category of the basic tastes.

I’m glad I went with the saffron rice for my first adventure to Mr. Kabob’s. Saffron rice is extremely healthy and has many benefits, like increased antioxidants. In addition to the rice, Mr. Kabob’s menu features several other healthy dishes and sides, including grilled veggies, tabouli, cucumber mix, turnips, beets, chickpeas, and more. Aside from the meal or platter options, you can utilize the aforementioned ingredients in things like pita wraps, fresh bowls, and salads.

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Despite my best attempts, I had quite a bit of leftovers. Even after running out of pita bread, I forked as many bites as possible before hitting “the wall,” which typically symbolizes the end of a meal. Leftovers is a word not often used in my vocabulary, but as I get older and find myself curtailing some meals to align more with my workouts, it’s certainly a word I’ve begrudgingly started using more often. Tim couldn’t have been more right when he said you get your money’s worth at Mr. Kabob’s because I ended up having enough food for two more rounds!

Not only does Mr. Kabob Xpress have fantastic food, but it also has quite the origin story. It turns out Mr. Kabob Xpress locations are extensions of the original Mr. Kabob, which resides near downtown Berkley at 12 Mile and Coolidge Highway. The original Mr. Kabob was opened in 2003 by brothers Joe and Sam Gulli inside the family-owned Sunoco gas station. It didn’t take long for it to begin appearing on many a foodie’s radar, gaining accolades from the Detroit Free Press for Best Station Food, Detroit Metro Times, Thrillist, and more. The family eventually launched the first of their Xpress locations in September 2015 in Troy. After 20 years of stellar service and catering for all those special occasions, the family operates five locations, including the original in Berkley.

I’ll definitely be incorporating a lot more of Mr. Kabob into my diet for dinner breaks at work, and I have a new mission to visit the original Mr. Kabob in Berkley since that’s only about a 15-minute drive for me. I’d love to experience the original location and see where this family’s Mediterranean grille legacy got started. I’ve been on a fortunate kick lately with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine; let’s hope that continues!

For more information on Mr. Kabob (original location), click here. For more information about Mr. Kabob’s Xpress (several locations around Metro Detroit) in Southfield, click here.