Archive for December 19th, 2008

Finding a good ethnic restaurant in Fort Worth isn’t really difficult, but you do have to pay attention. And it helps if you’re in South Fort Worth, or what they’re now calling “The Near Southside.” Particularly on Magnolia Avenue, where there’s a veritable slew of ethnic restaurants, from Benito’s Mexican and Hot Damn Tamales to Palermo’s Italian and a Thai place. But our personal favorite is the Egyptian restaurant, King Tut. I have this thing about hummus. 

On Magnolia Avenue in the Near Southside, the King Tut serves up authentic Middle Eastern cuisine at a reasonable price.

Food traditions from the Middle East start around Greece and run around the eastern end of the Mediteranean, including cuisines of Jordan, Iran, Syria, Egypt and Libya. Based on ancient cooking traditions and using the crops grown in the region, including broad or fava beans, lemons, olive oil and lamb as well as tomatos and peppers, Middle Eastern food is not just good-tasting, but with all that olive oil and vegetarian choices, it’s good for you. For those who relish flavorful crisp barbecued meat, there’s the shish kababs. So when my husband and I can’t agree–do we want sweet or savory, meat or vegetarian–the King Tut is a great place to compromise.

As you enter the establishment on the corner of Magnolia and Hurley, just a block from Baylor All Saints Medical Center, you see a counter full of exotic grocery items and in the back, the gold plaster statuary, including a King-Tut style sarcophogus and effigy of the Cat God. The floor is simple cement, the brick walls have been decorated with replicas of Egyptian tomb paintings.  Old-fashioned cafe’ windows look out on the street. The proprietor has been there every time I’ve gone, and he or a waitress quickly comes to take your drink order — but it will have to be soda or tea, the shop is Muslim-owned, so there’s no liquor.

Atmosphere aside, the main reason for going to the King Tut is the food. Whether you choose falafal salad, which is fava bean croquettes with tahini sauce, or hummus, chick pea puree with flat bread for dipping, or dolmadaikias, grape leaves stuffed with rice, onions and lamb, or shish kabab, or couscous, a rice-pilaf like dish, no lover of Middle Eastern food will be disappointed. The whole wheat flat bread, which arrives at your table warm and soft, is my personal favorite.

Yes, you can finish up with coffee and a bakava, or try shopping at the counter for grocery items which include imported olive oil, more baklava, and exotic cookies.

Price depends on what you order, but I’d say around $10 per person  for lunch and $15 for dinner.

King Tut Restaurant, 1512 Magnolia Avenue, Fort Worth, (817) 335-3051

Hours: 11-2:30, 5:30 -9, Monday through Saturday.