photography by Stefanie Michejda

Long, long ago I was tipped off via Raj Parr (the wine director at Michael Mina) about a place called Punjab Kabab House (101 Eddy St., 415-447-7499). I hate to admit how far back this dates, but let’s just say it was many moons ago when Raj was working at the Fifth Floor.

For some reason—despite having dined at just about every other similar Pakistani restaurant in the Tenderloin—it took me until this year to get myself to this delicious little spot and now it’s a favorite. Not to say Punjab isn’t worth a visit alone, but there’s an added bonus: Located a couple blocks from what I like to call Forever 35 (a.k.a Forever 21), it makes for my kind of ladies-who-lunch-kind-of-lunch and shopping date. I mean, how often can you get a dress and lunch for under $30?

I suggest shopping first because Punjab dishes out hefty portions that are impossible not to finish despite better judgment, and no one—even in the florescent-lit smells-like-teen-spirit environment that is Forever 35—wants to try on clothes with a full belly. I usually go for the tikka masala lunch special, which comes with a daily veggie, rice and perfectly done naan. Of course chai is free and I never leave without a spoonful of candied fennel for dessert.