He once chased kites in Kabul. Now, he's chasing a dream in Downtown Albuquerque.
Apr. 26—Growing up, Ilham Uddin Hussaini used to chase kites with his friends in Afghanistan to escape the realities of a war he didn't really understand. Today, he's chasing a long-held dream of owning a business and providing for his family through a local restaurant that offers a taste of home.
Afghan Kebab House, an eatery serving authentic Afghan cuisine in the heart of Downtown Albuquerque, opened earlier this month. Located near the corner of Gold and Third SW, the restaurant serves everything from kebabs to mantu (an Afghan dumpling) and qabuli palow, also known as kabuli pulao (a national Afghan dish featuring rice, caramelized raisins and carrots, and lamb or beef).
"I always wanted to have something of my own and to be able to comfortably go home and provide," Hussaini said. "... I'm blessed, to be honest. I love it — every part of it."
Hussaini, 26, was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, where his brother served as an interpreter and translator for U.S. troops. His brother came to the U.S. and established roots in New Mexico about four years before Hussaini, his parents and seven siblings made the move in 2016.
Hussaini, who was 18 when he came to the U.S., completed high school in Afghanistan but had two options after moving to the U.S.: go through high school again or earn his GED.
"I chose to go through high school, even though I was 18. When I graduated, I was 20 years old," said Hussaini. "It did help me to learn English and be able to communicate."
The restaurant owner went on to obtain an associate degree in business from Central New Mexico Community College in December. Shortly after, Hussaini, inspired by a lack of authentic Afghan restaurants in Albuquerque, started looking for locations to open an eatery.
"We do have a couple of places here, but they're more Persian style," Hussaini said. "I wanted to build something authentic with a proper Afghani style."
Hussaini found the Downtown spot at 218 Gold SW in March, "instantly fell in love with the place" and signed a lease for three years.
The roughly 2,600-square-foot space seats up to 50 people, Hussaini said, through table seating, stool seating and even floor seating for those who want to enjoy their meal Afghani style: crisscross with shoes off.
The space is adorned with urban decor and art reflecting Afghan culture. One wall painting features buzkashi, a traditional Central Asian sport played by Hussaini's father, who died two years ago. Hussaini and a friend, Steven Perez, painted the tribute to his father.
A kite also hangs in the space — a reminder of where Hussaini came from and the friends who lost parents in the war and joined him in kite-chasing their worries away.
"Those little details, it really matters. People really appreciate it, especially in my Afghan community," Hussaini said.
Jewelry made by Hussaini's family and women in Afghanistan line one of the restaurant's walls. Hussaini said Afghan Kebab House sends all the proceeds from its jewelry sales to those women, many of whom are widowed or cannot leave the house or conduct business under the rule of the Taliban, which recaptured Kabul after U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. Hussaini said one $40 jewelry sale can feed a family in Afghanistan for two weeks.
The dream, Hussaini said, is to roll out a more expansive menu as he hires more help and to open another location. In the meantime, Hussaini is undergoing what many new business owners know as the startup grind — a grueling but rewarding process.
"As a kid, I was just kind of wanting to get rich to help my family and people around me," Hussaini said. "Now, I'm understanding it's not about being super rich. If have leftovers and I see a homeless person or somebody else, I can give them food, and that's how I can feel like I'm rich, and happy."
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