“I started the cart on June 14, 2014, and it didn’t take long to break even, business was booming for me,” said Labib Ahmed Tarafdar, founding partner of Madchef restaurant. “After Madchef became well-known, I, along with Arman decided to turn it into a restaurant. Arman, who had his own cart, called Chips and Gravy, closed it down and we started this venture together. And now that our restaurant is running well, we are planning on opening another restaurant in Dhanmondi 5/A called Nomads.”
The love of food and the knack of creating mouth-watering items with interesting combinations of cheese, chicken-beef, mayo, mushrooms and so much more, lead a simple street cart to successfully evolve into a restaurant. Well, the story of how Madchef became such a recognised hang-out spot for most of us is truly inspirational for those who want to get in the food business (by starting small) and tempting for the rest.
We paid them a visit recently, hoping to check out the place and catch up with old pals. And of course, to sit down to taste their food. We also got the opportunity to sit and chat with one of the exceptionally delightful owners of the establishment, Labib.
The fast-food restaurant has a sporty/Hollywood ambiance, with pictures and quotes of celebrities on one side of the wall, big flat screen for sports viewing on another side. And a see-through glass wall giving you the live action of the kitchen. Not only do you get to eat good food, you get to watch them make it for you! The price of food is also very reasonable compared to the quantity and taste of the items.
Burgers:
Naga Blast! (Tk220)
Picture it this way – a big chunk of meat in a bun, drenched with cheddar cheese and mayo, and a special Naga sauce – a burger not only delicious but as gorgeous as it looks in pictures. The flavors are all blended into a mesh of heaven in your mouth as soon as you bite into it. The burger is, undoubtedly, the best in their menu and a must try at Madchef.
Garlic mayo (Tk220)
The appearance of the burger is somewhat similar to the Naga Blast, but the tastes of the two are poles apart. It’s the same recipe with a slight change in the sauce. It's a Madchef special garlic mayo sauce, which over powers all the other flavors to give you a garlicky taste along with the beef, bun and cheddar cheese. It might not suit up to some, but to those who prefer the smell and taste of garlic should love it.
The Cuban (Tk320)
If you’ve never tried a greasy (the good kind) beef-chicken burger in your whole life, go to Madchef and order The Cuban. And if you’re thinking having chicken and beef in the same burger might taste good, you’d be wrong because The Cuban is the bomb. Smoked chicken base, mustard sauce and pickles, and a beef patty on cheese all smacked in between two halves of a bun. Let it explode in your mouth and let the flavours sink in.
Sandwiches:
Spicy garlic meat Reuben (Tk240)
This curiously named item consists of pepperoni, beef bacon drenched in cheese and siracha, with a signature garlic mayo all made into a sandwich. The taste is similar to that of the Garlic Mayo burger and will only appeal to those who love distinct garlic flavour in their food. However, it didn’t really work for some.
Chick’ n Shroom (Tk240)
Steak chicken and spicy mushrooms, a sandwich couldn’t get any better than this. The crunchy bread on the outside, and the luscious blend of meat inside, puts it at the top of the charts among the sandwiches at Madchef. Without a doubt, it’ll go down as a favorite for most (and Labib’s as well), along with the Naga Blast burger.
Others:
Crispy Fish and chips (Tk310)
The fish and chips in the restaurant are moderately good. Big, fat French fries with a special sauce on the side, and as implied in the name, crispy succulent filleted fish. The dish is tasty and satisfactory, but not something you should go to Madchef for. With so much more ‘awesome’ items to try, this one would just be an unnecessary fill in the belly.
Not only does the restaurant provide you with an extremely friendly service and comforting environment (along with a smoking zone for those who partake), they have great food with a blend of flavors that is sure to entice your taste buds. The charms of the place and the taste of the food work like a spell, sure to bring you back over and over again. And it sure did on me, as I paid it a second visit on the following day.
