Orange County Register

There should be a warning that comes with the food at Sasoon Chicken in Orange. Or at least, for that innocuous-looking little plastic container of white garlic paste that accompanies your kabob meal.

Let’s just say it’s been oh, three hours since I last ate my tasty lunch and I’ve been rabidly chomping on two pieces of gum, chocolate AND I’ve rinsed my mouth. I could still kill five vampires right now by merely sighing in their direction. After my meal, I frantically tore through my purse, panicked (and let loose an expletive) when I couldn’t find any gum. I had to pull over to a nearby store to grab not one, but two packets, just to be on the safe side. (P.S. I had to make the lame vampire crack after reading Gustavo Arellano’s review in OC Weekly, which was proudly displayed at the restaurant counter.)

As Gustavo noted, the signature Armenian condiment resembles a grainy frosting that at first tastes buttery, but it doesn’t take long for the stinking rose to unleash its full garlicky fury …

(Click on the thumbnails to view larger images.)

The chicken kabob was fine — moist and flavorful, with dark and white meat. The $11 combo came with some hummus and a side of potatoes in a citrusy cilantro dressing that provided the tongue some temporary relief from the garlic assault, all neatly tucked in a squeaky styrofoam box. I was very sparing with my application of garlic paste, spreading about a quarter teaspoon with each bite of chicken and pita. Apparently, that was more than enough. I liked my meal at Sasoon, but kabob-wise, my stomach belongs to Open Sesame’s Chicken Tawook in Long Beach. I also prefer Open Sesame’s more silky and air-whipped version of garlic paste, which is divinely cloud-like and packs just enough garlic heat.

Consider yourself warned. You might want to bring along some arsenal to Sasoon: Gum, mouthwash, a tongue scraper — though I’m not sure how effective that defense strategy might be. ***Double expletive. I just remembered that I have dinner plans at Open Sesame in two hours. Gulp. I’m a little frightened.

Sasoon Chicken

3440 E. Chapman Ave.

Orange, CA

714.516.9600

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