The owners of Michelin-recognized Khan Saab in Fullerton are expanding their Southern California footprint with a new concept, SHOR Bazaar, opening in Hawaiian Gardens on Feb. 9.
Khan Saab, founded by executive chef Imran Ali Mookhi, opened in 2020 and quickly drew the Michelin Guide’s attention. In 2021 the restaurant earned a Bib Gourmand, which recognizes high quality restaurants at an affordable price.
Now Mookhi is bringing a new upscale, halal, alcohol-free concept with SHOR Bazaar. Its chef-driven menu draws upon the cuisines of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.
Grand opening festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a pre-dinner mocktail hour and include henna tattoo artists, dhol drummers, an outdoor non-alcoholic bar and a chai cart. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and reservations are recommended. The restaurateur has pledged 10% of the evening’s proceeds to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Orange County.
Menu starters include kale fritters, fried in chickpea batter and served with tomato chutney, and mantu, an Afghani beef dumpling served with yogurt. Among the entrées will be regional favorites like chicken tikka masala, aloo gosht (lamb curry), veal osso buco and more. Dishes are suggested to be served family style, meaning multiple items are ordered for a table to share.
Entrées range from $20 to $35 per plate, with a $220 tomahawk steak when available.
The new 5,000-square-foot space will include a lounge, a private chef’s table room for roughly 20 people, the dining area and a bar. Its interior design takes inspiration from South Asian spice markets and bazaars.
Like Khan Saab, the new restaurant will have a non-alcoholic beverage program with multiple $10 craft mocktail options like the Cozy Blanket, made with non-alcoholic tequila, cinnamon, lime, pomegranate and bitters. The restaurant will also carry a range of zero-proof beers, wine and spirits.
“Hawaiian Gardens is a small city boasting a large population from the Indian subcontinent, positioning as the perfect locale for SHOR Bazaar and the elevated cuisine we plan to introduce to the community,” Mookhi said in a statement.
The space where SHOR will open was formerly Peris Restaurant, which served Iranian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Mookhi knew the owners of Peris and jumped at the chance to develop the SHOR concept there due to is central location between Orange County and LA and the general demographics of the area, he said.
SHOR Bazaar is at 12155 E. Carson St., Hawaiian Gardens and will be open Monday through Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., and 2 to 10 p.m. on the weekends starting Feb. 9.