Abiha Kitchen officially opened on January 1st at 2101 Chestnut Street in Center City West by Chef Hasan Ahammad and his partner Fahim Mollah serving south Asian dishes that are most popular in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Family is the inspiration of this halal restaurant in Philadelphia.

Abiha, the Arabic word for “her father,” is named after Ahammad’s daughter. He uses some of his mother’s recipes, such as a rustic, Bangladeshi chicken curry prepared in an open kitchen where customers can interact with Chef Ahammad.

Mollah explained that Bangladeshi cuisine is similar to other cuisines from the Indian subcontinent: slow-cooked meat, mainly shank meat of beef and lamb with bone marrow and flavored with traditional spices—ginger, garlic, curry, onion, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cardamom, fenugreek, and chilis to name a few.

Well-known dishes such as tikka masalas, biryanis, and kormas, made with chicken, lamb, or goat, feature on the menu along with vegetarian offerings. They also roast meats and make fresh Naan bread in a traditional tandoor/clay oven.

“Our response from customers has been positive so far,” Mollah said. “We want to bring smiles with the comfort food that Philadelphia craves.”

The restaurant seats 20 for indoor dining for lunch and dinner, but Mollah stressed a busy take-out and delivery business with many positive reviews, boasting a 4.9 out of five stars on Google and kind words for the young owners.

Keeping that high rating is essential to Mollah, who said, “We keep our menu price low and provide the highest quality food and service.”

Making sure the customer is satisfied is their primary concern, often going above and beyond to deliver the best customer service.

Mollah, an IT professional, who also has a passion for cooking, is developing an innovative new restaurant app, which he says will connect restaurants and customers in a new way. He said to stay tuned for more information about that.

If you’re craving a hearty, comforting meal, check out Abiha Kitchen and let me know what you think! They’re on all of the major 3rd party delivery services UberEats, DoorDash, Postmates, etc.