Bread and Salt Afghan Cuisine – 1492 Dundas St E #3, Mississauga, ON L4X 1L4
Country: Afghanistan
Must-try dish: Chicken Karahi
Dinner guest: Young Mat
The high: The entire experience
The low: Beef Tikka in Mixed Grill 6

The chances that Mandrea Bike would fall hard for Afghan cuisine were high and after only a few bites, the love affair began. The food from Afghanistan is bursting with flavour that tastes like a perfect fusion between Pakistani and Iranian food, which isn’t surprising considering it borders both countries. 

The menu was stacked with incredible sounding dishes and coming to a final decision for the order became a challenge. As a result, there was a little push in the right direction needed from Sid on the phone at Bread and Salt Afghan Cuisine. 

The order included:

• Appetizer Share Platter
• Chicken Qorma Served with Rice and Salad
• Chicken Karahi Served with Naan
• Mix Grill 6 Plate, Served with Rice and Salad

The Appetizer Share Platter is a sampling plate of four dishes: eggplant in a tomato sauce topped with yogurt, large beef dumplings, chicken wings in a lemon pepper rub (or choice of other seasoning/sauce), and a crepe-like bread stuffed with potato and onion called a Bolani. This platter was a terrific way to have a small taste of several things. The eggplant and the dumplings were a hit, but the entire dish is worth getting in all honesty. 

Both the Chicken Qorma and the Chicken Karahi have a curry-esque substance but they vary in flavour. The Qorma seemed to have more dominant Persian spices in a yellow sauce, while the Karahi was in a tomato base with more of an Indian or Pakistani flair. It’s also a larger potion than the Qorma and is served with 5 big pieces of naan. Although it was a difficult toss-up between which dish was the must-try, the Karahi took the title because it’s better value with more quality. And the freshly baked naan was a big hit. 

The Mixed Grill 6 came recommended and consisted of Chicken Tikka, Beef Tikka, and Beef Seekh over a bed of rice. The Beef Seekh is by far the best in the trio since the meat was juicy bitting into it, while the beef and chicken tikka were a little dry. 

Some other noteworthy elements of the meal included the soft rice, the yogurt sauce hiding a familiar spice that remains a mystery, and the house-made hot sauce. There’s also an entire vegan section with dishes available – something not often advertised on menus. 

A highlight of this meal that isn’t often experienced during the age of takeout and delivery is top-notch customer service. Sid, the employee who made all the recommendations gave us a discount on the final bill and even called later in the evening to check in on the food. Needless to say, we’re looking forward to more Afghan hospitality as we explore this cuisine over numerous dinners in the future. 

Supporting these small restaurants is crucial to keep the wide array of international cuisine that makes Toronto so special. It’s also giving people work in the kitchen and in the front of house. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)