Although this might be hard to believe, Batcha is a dish I’ve been wanting to try for a very long time. I had heard about it from a friend who had heard about it from another friend who most likely also heard it from someone else which would explain why I was told Batcha was actually a soup containing sheep balls, eyes, bones, brains, liver and tongue. That’s (disappointingly) not what Batcha turned out to be.
I was told there was a small restaurant tucked away at the corner of a traffic intersection in Kuwait City that serves only Batcha so I headed there with a friend of mine expecting to try the soup I described earlier. Instead it turned out Batcha was just sheep head and hooves. We decided to order their largest platter which included a sheep tongue, sheep head and four hooves. A short time later we were served two bowls of what looked like hot water mixed with oil. Not very appetizing but turns out it’s the broth that the heads and hooves were boiled in. We also got some fresh Irani bread as well and some greens. While we were trying to figure out what to do with the bowl of broth the waiter came back with our platter. It didn’t look appetizing either, but I wasn’t expecting it to.
The bowl of broth according to the waiter is a soup but I decided to use it as dip instead. I took a piece of Irani bread, put some tongue and sheep head on it and then dipped it into the broth and took my first bite. It tasted as good as it looked, not that great. But I was there for the experience so I tried to eat as much as I could. The hooves, those were the most difficult thing to eat since they looked really gross. It’s mostly skin and when I peeled the skin off and tried to eat it, I bit on something hard which turned out to be the nails of the sheep. Who knew sheep had nails?
I really didn’t eat much neither did my friend and our plate was left mostly full. But, I would still recommend the place. The thing is it’s a strange and exotic dish with the added benefit of not having to travel to some far away country to experience it. So if you’re into trying strange dishes you should pass by and give it a shot. Here is a map to the location [Map]
33 replies on “The Batcha Experience”
I never knew testosterones aka sheep balls were used for making soup !
I can manage to eat hooves but not balls !
I’ll pass.
May be it is very heathy (MAY BE)
By the way why are you always out with ur friends. (i mean besides this place.)
Where is the mrs??
I am sure the Mrs will be very irritaed by this lifestyle of yours.
LOL, this is such a weird comment. Are you suggesting married couples should not have friends of their own?
U have been very “experimenting” recently! that’s a lot of guts what u just did or ate! i’ve walked down that place for almost 5 years daily and will never cross my mind to even think of trying….Good stuff dude!
Thank God I live in a country where Batcha is available for a bargain.
-thought from a Paleo dieter
hows the place like? I mean is it crowded? and what the prices like?
place wasn’t crowded when i was there, our platter was the most expensive dish at KD3.500
i would never eat bacha other than our homemade!
i’m sure if you tried ours as your 1st experience,, your opinion would be completely different.
i don’t eat bacha outside bcoz it’s gross!
Never ate it and never will, the soup sounds tempting though.
Bacha is wonderful the meat is soooo tender and yummy. I highly recommend the tongue.
Well if you ever go to the Philippines, and just so happen to go to the Laguna area just outside of Manila, try soup #5. It is cow balls, penis, the ass area, and a couple other parts of the cow. Its a aphrodisiac. I’ve never tried it but it has been on a episode of Bizarre Foods.
https://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/bizarre-foods/travel-guides/philippines
This might be a pakistani restaurant. As per my Pakistani friend, each part of a sheep is worthfull. once i tried hooves curry called “paaya” and tounge curry. I only tasted once and all ofa sudden a little lamp face came into my mind and i throwed out.
Paya and Batcha are similar yes
not sure if its the same as what we call paya.. but try it at Al-Tabaq Rest. @ Murqab Circle.
Its all about how its prepared/cooked. You may like it at Tabaq.
Funny you did this review, the Kuwaitis I work with were just talking about this dish and they raved about it. I’ll try and get the place they mentioned. Sounds awful, but hey, you can’t complain about something you’ve never tried, right?
The bone marrow bits are actually really yummy, even if you don’t eat the rest
If any body wants to give it a try, hit me up. I’m a professional Patcha eater.. just pay for my dish and i explain how to eat yours 😀
#Respect
you should mentiooned the perfect address where we can find it , it is more easier for us .
Did you not see the map he linked?
Awesome to see you trying out some less common “off the beaten track” spots! Keep it real 🙂
+1
YUCK YUCK YUCKKKKKKKKK
Disgusting
This type of food is available all around the Near East. In Iraq they also call it Pacha but it is made only from the head, feet and intestines of the sheep. The Iraqis like to eat this very early in the morning after leaving a bar and before going home!
In Lebanon there is something similar that we call Neefa, and this is only the head of the sheep that is grilled in an oven. Also in Lebanon, there is something called Ghammi which used more parts of the sheep and this is usually made at home where one needs a lot of hygiene control!
For any one who have not tried this at an early age, I suggest you do not start doing that now, especially outside your homes..
i dont even understand how u people have the stomach to eat this , of all the good meat parts u pick the most disgusting ones
LOL
EEEEEEEEEEW! EW!! Nails?! *Shudders*
Haha you’re reviewing my fav. batcha restaurant , The soup doesn’t contain sheep balls im pretty sure of that.
mate you went to the wrong place… souk ilmbarkia ftw
God no. At least do it like McDonalds and grind it all up in a machine and make it look like something enjoyable like a MCNugget.
Those who need to go on a diet all they need to do is think of this . what an appetite killer.