Mizaan Mandi & Kebabs
Reviewed
Food
- Royal Platter (lamb shank, mandi rice, charcoal chicken)
The Good
The Royal Platter (Lamb Shank) was the standout of the visit by a considerable margin. The shank had been braised long enough that the meat was sliding off the bone before you made any real effort — not as a marketing phrase, but as a literal description of what happened. Rich connective tissue fully rendered down, deep savoury depth throughout, not a trace of dryness. This is the dish you come back for.
The Royal Platter (Rice) did its job without fuss. Light and fluffy with genuine fragrance, well-spiced without being aggressive. The two-tone presentation — golden saffron on one half, brown spiced on the other — gives both colour contrast and a slight flavour variation across the platter that keeps the eat interesting from start to finish.
Free hot tea arrived unprompted. Service was attentive and warm without hovering, and the portion size for the price is difficult to argue with — the platter feeds two comfortably and then some.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
The Royal Platter (Chicken) was overcooked. The charcoal flavour was present — a sign the technique and intent are there — but the flesh was dry where it needed to be juicy, and no amount of good smoke rescues a bird that’s spent too long on the heat. Given how well the lamb was handled, the gap is noticeable.
The Verdict
Mizaan Mandi & Kebabs punches well above its weight for what is, on paper, a small Middle Eastern takeaway on St Kilda Road. The lamb shank is a legitimate reason to drive across the city — properly braised, generously portioned, and priced at a level that makes you feel like you’ve got away with something. The overcooked chicken is a genuine miss worth flagging to the kitchen, but it doesn’t undermine the overall meal when the lamb and rice are this good. Come hungry, bring someone, and let the free tea settle things at the end.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Yes — for the lamb shank alone, without hesitation.