Most guests at a kabob restaurant decide on the meat first and treat the rest of the menu as an afterthought. At Shishkabob Mediterranean in Sunnyvale, the starters, salads, drinks and desserts are where the Persian side of the menu shows up: yogurt dips, an eggplant dip, a Persian salad, doogh and ice cream sandwiches. Recent posts on this blog cover the kabobs. This one covers everything else, with plain-language explanations of the names and a suggested order for a table of two or more.
What is on the starter list
The Appetizer category lists the dips and starters:
- Hummus with Lavash Bread
- Fresh Greens and Walnuts with Lavash
- Mastousir: yogurt mixed with shallots.
- Mastokhiar: yogurt mixed with cucumbers.
- Kashkebademjan: eggplant.
The Salads category lists Shirazi (Persian Salad), which the menu describes as chopped cucumber, tomato and onions, alongside a Garden salad and a Greek salad. The spellings are the menu’s own.
Yogurt dips: Mastokhiar and Mastousir
Two of the dips are yogurt-based. Mastokhiar is yogurt mixed with cucumbers. A recipe from Food Network describes the Persian dish, mast-o-khiar, as yogurt with cucumber, dried mint, walnuts and raisins, eaten cold or at room temperature with other dishes or with bread. The menu lists only the cucumbers, so ask what else is in Shishkabob’s version.
Mastousir is yogurt mixed with shallots, according to the menu. The menu lists only the shallots, so ask what else is in it.
Order Mastokhiar if: you want a cool, fresh dip beside grilled meat.
Order Mastousir if: you like onion flavor in your yogurt.
Menu card — Mastokhiar
Listed under Appetizer on the Shishkabob ordering page as yogurt mixed with cucumbers.
Kashkebademjan: the eggplant dip
Kashkebademjan is the menu’s spelling of kashk-e bademjan, a Persian dip. Wikipedia describes it as eggplant with kashk, a dried fermented dairy product, topped with sautéed onions, garlic and often walnuts, served with fresh bread, hot or cold. The Appetizer listing says only eggplant. The tray listing says mashed eggplants, dried onion, mint and kashk.
Order Kashkebademjan if: you want an eggplant dip to scoop with bread. Ask whether it is served warm or cold, and whether lavash comes with it.
Menu card — Kashkebademjan
Listed under Appetizer on the Shishkabob ordering page as eggplant. The tray version is listed as mashed eggplants, dried onion, mint and kashk.
Hummus, greens and Shirazi salad
The rest of the cold starters are more familiar.
- Hummus with Lavash Bread: a dip with flatbread, the easiest starter to share.
- Fresh Greens and Walnuts with Lavash: fresh greens and walnuts with lavash, going by the name. The listing does not name the greens, so ask.
- Shirazi (Persian Salad): chopped cucumber, tomato and onions. It is the cool, acidic bite beside a rich kabob plate.
A simple plan for two: one dip, one Shirazi (Persian Salad) and the Hummus with Lavash Bread, then add kabob plates.
Doogh or Persian Tea?
Shishkabob lists Persian Tea, Doogh Non Carbonated and Doogh Carbonated, along with sparkling water, Snapple, canned soda, bottled water and Gatorade.
Doogh is a cold, savory Persian drink made from fermented milk, according to Wikipedia. It is considered a main beverage for meals, most often served with kabob. It is made with yogurt or buttermilk, water and salt, so expect a savory drink rather than a sweet one.
Order doogh if: you want the drink most associated with a Persian kabob meal.
Order Persian Tea if: you want a hot drink with the meal. Ask how it is served and sweetened.
Menu card — Doogh Non Carbonated
Listed under Beverages on the Shishkabob ordering page. A carbonated version is listed separately.
Baklava and Persian ice cream
Desserts on the ordering page include Baklava, a family-size pistachio baklava of nine pieces, Persian Ice Cream Cup, Persian Ice Cream Sandwich and a Persian faloudeh dessert (the menu’s spelling varies). The pistachio baklava also has a tray listing of nine pieces, which makes it the easiest dessert to share across a table.
Order Baklava if: you want something to share or take home.
Order the Persian Ice Cream Sandwich if: you want a single-serving dessert. The menu does not describe the flavors, so ask.
Trays for a group
The Trays category covers the starter side of the menu too: Kashke Bademjan (Dip), Hummus Tray, Mastomusir, Mastokhiar, Garden Salad Tray, Greek Salad Tray, Salads Tray and Basmati Rice Tray. The catering page says the restaurant serves Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Santa Clara, and the website describes its trays as halal-certified. The menu does not say how many people each tray feeds, so ask.
Hours, location and how to order
Shishkabob Mediterranean Cuisine is at 903 E Duane Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, phone (408) 685-2037. The website lists Monday to Saturday, 11 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM. Check the ordering page for current ordering hours.
Order through Shishkabob’s own page rather than a third-party app. The restaurant receives the full order with no app commission.
FAQ
What starters does Shishkabob Mediterranean offer?
The Appetizer category lists Hummus with Lavash Bread, Fresh Greens and Walnuts with Lavash, Mastousir, Mastokhiar and Kashkebademjan. The Salads category adds Shirazi (Persian Salad), a Garden salad and a Greek salad.
What is Kashkebademjan?
It is a Persian eggplant dip. Wikipedia describes kashk-e bademjan as eggplant with kashk, a dried fermented dairy product, garnished with sautéed onions, garlic and often walnuts, and eaten with bread. The menu lists it as eggplant; the tray listing adds mashed eggplant, dried onion, mint and kashk.
What is doogh?
Doogh is a cold, savory Persian drink made from fermented milk, per Wikipedia. It is usually served with a meal, often with kabob. Shishkabob lists Doogh Non Carbonated and Doogh Carbonated.
Can I order dips for a group?
Yes. The Trays category lists Kashke Bademjan (Dip), Hummus Tray, Mastomusir, Mastokhiar, a Garden Salad Tray, a Greek Salad Tray and a Salads Tray. The menu does not say how many people a tray feeds, so ask.
Where is Shishkabob Mediterranean Cuisine and when is it open?
It is at 903 E Duane Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, phone (408) 685-2037. The website lists Monday to Saturday, 11 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM.
Order your Persian starters at Shishkabob
Pick a dip, add a salad and a drink, and order straight from the restaurant. Ordering direct means Shishkabob gets the full order with no third-party commission.
