Restaurant review: King Tut in Fort Worth

by Josie Singleton of Eat This Fort Worth

King Tut may conjure up ancient images for some. In the landscape of Fort Worth, King Tut is more of an “original gangsta.” King Tut’s longtime presence in an otherwise deserted spot on Magnolia earn it some serious street cred. Thankfully, Magnolia has experienced a resurgence beyond the Mad Hatter’s heydays of the early 90’s (let’s pour one out for those homies now). Vegetarians of Fort Worth must also give props to King Tut as being one of the first and few places to include vegetarian fare on its menu.

The Vibe

Upon entering King Tut the small dining area looks like a modest diner when contrasted with the more open dining area. The larger dining area is fully bedecked in requisite King Tut replicas and Egyptian themed linens. Egyptian “artifacts” complete the space, but alas none are doing the sand dance (don’t you know). The dining area has an open lofty feel punctuated by a vintage tin ceiling and cement floors.

The Food

King Tut provides a mix of Egyptian, Middle Eastern, and Greek dishes that make it a great option for dining with a big group. Classic dishes such as gyros, kabobs, schwarma, and moussaka are on the menu. Everything I’ve tried always tastes exceptionally fresh.

Maybe it’s the veggie bohemian roots of King Tut that compel me to order vegetarian options when I’m here. Perhaps it’s just my love of a snack dinner and an appetizing mezze platter. Either way the mezze platter is the best way to start off a meal at King Tut. The mezze platter comes in a small ($12), queen ($15), and king versions ($18). The king version could indeed serve as a full meal or be split between friends. The mix and match options give you a nice sampling of the Egyptian slash Middle Eastern slash Greek appetizers. The dolmas were refreshing and slightly sour. The garlicky and creamy hummus is a must order item, all the better for enjoying the homemade pita bread - in fact, order extra because it’s that good. The sambosas from the appetizer menu are like Middle Eastern eggrolls and just as tasty with their rich, fried wrapping. On my last few visits to King Tut I also enjoyed the contrast of the feta cheese with the homemade pickles on the mezze platter.

The vegeterian naan crust pizza is a good option if you have the same illicit love affair with cheese that I do. Somehow the homemade naan crust survives the deluge of cheese that covers it and makes for a wonderfully delicious dinner. The naan crust pizzas range in price from $8.00 - $13.00. Pilaf rice makes a lovely bed for the veggie shwarma. The vegetables were good but just a tad too oily. While the dish was good and filling I thought the $10.50 price tag was a bit high for sauteed vegetables and rice, but it does come with a nice house salad. Other interesting veggie options include the falafel salad and faul madammus (fava beans, onions, and tomato). Desserts are a bargain at $2.00.

The Service

It’s not uncommon for the owner, Amin Mahmoud, to be the one efficiently taking your order and bringing the food out. At other times the waitstaff get the food out without a lot of fluff and friendliness, which is fine. Sometimes it takes awhile for the dishes to arrive, so if you’re in a hurry stick to the appetizers.

Overall

With all the dining options now available on Magnolia Avenue, King Tut’s reign as an original gangsta is still intact. The vegetarian menu and Greek and Middle Eastern classics served up at King Tut make this a favorite spot. Lunch is always bustling with folks from the medical district and downtown. The spot is not exactly first date-worthy, a little too well lit (and no alcohol is served). However, it is a great spot for larger groups or for grabbing a bite before catching a show at The Fairmount or The Chat Room Pub.

Eat This

Yes! You’ll be walking like an Egyptian if you eat here.

I Eat This

Mad for the Mezze Platter