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Afghan Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Afghan Afghan [Edit]
2700 Jefferson Davis HwyAlexandria, VA 22301
(703) 548-0022
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
58 reviews for Afghan Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"They are covered in this delicious yogurt sauce." In 8 reviews -
"Mantu is the Afghan dumpling and it is delicious goodness." In 9 reviews -
"We very much enjoyed the lunch buffet." In 7 reviews
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58 reviews in English
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Review from Erin E.
New York, NY
5/16/2012
I have been coming here for over a decade, since I was a kid and we used to visit relatives down the road. When I moved to the area I knew I would be here all the time...and I am. I spent several years eating at over-rated Zagat places in Manhattan, and I kid you not...this is still my favorite restaurant.
I see a couple of reviews for the lunch buffet, which I have never tried. But dinner...is freaking unbelievable. The food is some of the most affordable yet most delicious in the area, the portions are generous, and I have never had anything but great interactions with the staff.
I can't tell you how many times I have brought friends here who were a little freaked out when they saw the place but were completely won over after the meal. Whenever I take people somewhere else I always regret it. Even my Leave-it-to-Beaver father loves this place.
Parking is in their lot and the service is typically good yet unobtrusive. It does have a hole-in-the-wall vibe and on Saturday nights they may have a wedding in the next room, but on those occasions I swear...the food is even more delicious.
If it is your first time, try the chicken or lamb chalau kabob with some naan and a side of maust sauce for dipping. -
Review from Brook B.
Garden City, SC
4/5/2012
Now, I Know We Are At War With Them And Shouldnt Be Eatting At Their Restaurant, but... the food is to die for!lol
Everything from ALL KAKBOBS,FISH,Yogurt,Eggplant,PUMKIN,SPINACH,(IVE tried it ALL) and all is great!
They also offer ordering online. -
Review from Jared C.
Reston, VA
3/25/2012
A word of advice-- call ahead before you take the time to drive there. They may have closed down the restaurant for an event of some sort, and they will not update their website to reflect that they will be closing early.
If you don't call ahead, you may arrive, walk in, and be treated rudely by the wait staff. When you ask if they can recommend any other place in the area to get dinner with your family, they will hurry you out the door and lock it behind you, without even acknowledging your question.
These are the definition of self-centered, rude, and selfish wait staff.
I speak from experience. I will be taking my money elsewhere from here on out. -
Review from Zaheer A.
Morehead, KY
5/19/2012
It used to be really great. Alas the greatness has not sustained. The food tasted mediocre , service was awful waiters absolutely couldnt tell their ass from their elbow .ordered lentil soup and got lamb korma instead! Maybe they like taking advantage of westerners with scant experience of afghani food . Who knows . I would avoid this place for now!
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Review from Jeff H.
Washington, DC
4/21/2012
If you're the type of person who likes great ethnic food in an unpretentious environment, this is the place for you.
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Review from Kalie B.
Washington, DC
2/14/2012
Amazing food. Just amazing. I hope they never become popular so that I can walk into this restaurant and feel like a fucking superstar every time.
You know the difference between going to a foreign country, but staying in an all-inclusive resort, as opposed to say, backpacking through Peru? This is the latter. This is the real McCoy.
This is not like going to an all-inclusive sandals where everyone speaks English and if your room service takes too long you can call the manager and bitch and he'll apologize.
This is the magical adventure of true, exotic, spontaneous authenticity. Bow your head, show your respect, take in all the smells and tastes and linger. Linger because this is your moment to be transported to a foreign place and enjoy amazing food and culture. -
Review from James G.
Washington, DC
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
My birthday dinner spot in DC.
Try the lamb kebabs with the spinach side.
Friendly waiters. Delicious green tea.
Amazing bread. Yum.
Kebabs slightly better on the weekends.
Fun to watch the wedding parties roll in through the side door. -
Review from Jay P.
Arlington, VA
1/25/2012
Everything tastes the same
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Review from Fair Rating D.
Alexandria, VA
3/21/2012
We went to the open buffet lunch. The buffet was very poor. No beef or lamb only one dish with full of bones chicken. I've experienced better.
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Review from kerry w.
Indian Head, MD
3/17/2012
We live in southern MD but go to this place whenever we're in the area. The kabobs and bread are excellent. Our kids (who normally will only eat McDonald's or Chic Fil A) love the lamb chop kabobs (bone in). My wife loves the leek boolawnee with their yogurt sauce. She also loves that brown-rice-with-carrots-and-raisins thing (forgot the name). Farid and the other waiters/waitresses are very friendly. Their lunch buffet is a bargain at $7.95. The only reason i don't give it 5 stars is that their decor could use some improvement/remodeling, especially the bathrooms.
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Review from Sangeeta R.
Arlington, VA
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's the best lavash bread I've ever had in my life. The kebab is perfectly cooked, and the service is very good. Friendly staff indeed. Could use some redecorating, but that's not important.
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Review from Lenny C.
Potomac, MD
3/4/2011
I think that I first started going to this place back in 1992 when I used to work in Crystal City.
At the time, we'd go for their most excellent lunch buffets, which years later are still as good as I remember them.
I've probably eaten here 50 times - always a lunch buffet - since then, and have never, ever been disappointed by the fragrant Afghan food. There always seem to be a lot of Afghan ex-pats here, so that's good.
Most recently, and for the first time ever, since we were in the neighborhood, my wife and I dropped in for dinner, and the experience wasn't as good. The place was packed and there was a huge 20+ person party, so I think the kitchen was overrwhelmed, so our order took a long time and it wasn't very good.
Still batting a pretty good percentage by my book. -
Review from Betsy S.
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a birthday lunch, and our server (born in Kabul), was doing all the cooking and serving by himself. The kebabs were delicious, the rice was flavorful, and the beer was cold. What else is there to enjoy? My friend loved the pumpkin dish, and not a soul in our six person party was disappointed.
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Review from mark b.
Arlington, VA
11/21/2011
My review is for the lunch buffet - hopefully their dinner menu is better. Also, I've been to Afghan restaurants before and loved the food.
I was not bothered by the hole in the wall outward appearance but did not expect the inside to look as bad. I had to move to three different tables as there were crumbs on all of them. The table I ultimately picked had crumbs/food all over the seat. Why don't some folks take pride in their businesses?
Needless to say, I wasn't excited about the buffet at this point but kept an open mind. What was left of the buffet at 12:00PM I did not find impressive. Out of the 10 buffet options three items were low or close to being empty for the whole time I was there. The bread was stale too. I guess for 7.95+tip you get what you pay for. -
Review from Mimi W.
Washington, DC
11/18/2011
This was my first time eating at an Afghan restaurant and the food was pretty good. Not too spicy, not heavily seasoned...just right. I went for a fundraising event, so we had the buffet with eggplant, chicken kabob, brown rice with carrots and raisins, white rice, spinach and bread, and rice pudding for dessert. Everything was very tasty. The rice pudding wasn't bad either, but I don't care for rice pudding anyway.
HOWEVER, that place needs some sprucing up. The ceiling tiles looked dirty and not properly placed, there were some holes in the walls, and there were spider webs in most corners. There was also a huge spider on the ceiling in the bathroom, which I kept my eye on the entire time I was in there.
The food was good, but not good enough for me to overlook dirt and bugs...no food is that good. I probably won't be back. -
Review from Dan T.
Alexandria, VA
11/10/2011
The food was very good, with the exception of the canned veggies in the Mantu and frozen veggies as a side. The decor is a bit dated, but the service was outstanding.
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Review from Michele D.
Sterling, VA
4/5/2008 1 Check-in Here
I'm so glad I don't live closer--I'd be big as a house!
A friend and I pulled into the parking lot last night and as soon as we got out of the car, we knew we were in for something good. The aroma got us right away.
We walked in with the intention of joining a group of people I had RSVP'ed with, but we were a half an hour early and starving, so we grabbed our own table. I noticed the interior wasn't all that, but I had a deep feeling the food was going to make up for it.
We perused the menu and I selected Mantu to start off with. I chose the Palau, which is lamb with rice, while my dining companion had the Chalau Kabob (lamb). We also had an order of bread and I got a side order of pumpkin.
The Mantu was a perfect portion to share; we both had 2 dumplings. When our orders came, we both dove right in. There was silence at our table for a good minute while we took in the fragrance and savored the food.
I didn't realize until this morning that I didn't actually get any lamb with my dish last night. I called the restaurant and was lucky enough to talk with the woman who served us. She said no problem! Next time I go back, tell them I talked to her, and she said the would give me a double order of meat to make up for it! That's what I'm talkin about!
I tried my friend's lamb kabob, and I have to say....it rivals that of Kabob Palace. For me, I thought the spice was a little more subtle; I learned that is the difference between Afghan and Pakistani cooking. It's all in the spice. Our rice was moist and flavorful. I loved the pumpkin, although my friend wasn't too crazy about it.
Everything was outstanding; we are looking forward to going back for the lunch buffet so we can try a whole bunch of stuff for lunch!
Service was very good; the restaurant has their own parking lot, which is helpful.Listed in: Eating in the 202 and the 703
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Review from Jon W.
12/11/2008
I have been coming to this place for lunch for years with a friend of mine who is very keen on buffets.. The building itself is nothing special, but the food is very good and a decent price for what you get. My friend and I have usually always had the all you can eat buffet. It is very good and they change the dish's now and then too. It all comes with great bread that is kind of a hybrid pita/naan. When they have the chicken on the buffet it is particularly good. I recommend the hot cardamon tea with your meal. Today I had about 7 glasses of it. It was fantastic.
Since I am trying to slim before going to FL, I decided not to have the buffet and go for the lamb kabob. I think it was called shabob kabob. It was three nicely marinated lamb chops served on a piece of bread. The lamb was of exceptional quality and I thought a decent price at 12.95.
They also included a kind of mint chutney kind of sauce with it that is also on the buffet. All was great together and I don't feel guilty for eating since the portion was a medium size. This place is perfect for getting a huge amount of food on the buffet.. Now, I find it's perfect for a sensible high protein lunch too. The service was excellent and very friendly too. -
Review from Donald P.
7/22/2009 2 photos
Based on the pictures on the website, this place looked impressive. I didn't understand how some people would think it was a dive or a hole in the wall.
Oh how you have fooled me just like a beautiful women who wipes away her make-up and you are left thinking..."Damn...who are you and what did you do to the other lady".
Anyway as everyone else has echoed, the place looks run down...nothing like the pictures on the their website. I came here for the lunch buffet, because after having the lunch buffet at Maizbon, I thought I was gonna love this place too.
The food barely passed as okay. There were no labels for any of the food, and the waiter didn't seem like he knew what the stuff either. When I asked for the name of the chicken dish, I heard him say "tandoori chicken"...which it clearly was not. Perhaps he thought I was a complete ignorant of middle eastern or central asian cuisine and it seemed like the logical answer.
So the chicken dish (qurma murgh?) I had didn't taste very curry like to me, and was a bit oily, but I must admit, it was very moist and tender. The rice dishes (white and biryani?) were too soft...almost mushy and also seemed oily. The other stuff was just alright. Although I had two dishes, I definitely did not leave the place feeling like I had just eaten at a AYCE buffet.
This place could certainly use a make-over. Water the poor wilted petunias outside or at least replace them with colorful and easy to grow poppy. -
Review from Mike Z.
Arlington, VA
4/14/2008
Facility description: ranch style exterior appearance, deck available for outdoor seating, windows lit with green neon lights. Planning a south Asian wedding or banquet? This place has a separate dance and dining hall, replete with two grand throne-like chairs for a bride and groom to be celebrated. All in all, it has a hole-in-the-wall type feel to it, but it seems to have great food.
On the Saturday I went, this place really filled up after about 8 PM.
For the appetizer, we had the Mantu: beef and onion filled dumplings in a delicious yogurt sauce. These were really good, and next time, I'd get the entree portion of this.
For our main meals, I ordered palau (lamb, basmati rice, meatball sauce) and my friend ordered the boneless chicken breast kabobs. The lamb in my palau was tender, but I wish it had be spiced more (they aren't kidding about the "delicately spiced" part on the menu). My friend's chicken kabobs were awesome, though; well spiced and juicy! To get the best of both worlds, I combined our dinners and ate them with the naan that came with kabobs.
Everyone else in the restaurant was eating with their forks and knives, but I had a hard time adjusting, as I'm used to eating South Asian food with my hands. My friend and I reverted back to the traditional style, and no one else seemed to care that we cared little for civilized utensil use. -
Review from Anastasia K.
Reston, VA
1/30/2012
The food was really good. But please, fix woman's bathroom. ..
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Review from Brian C.
Washington, DC
2/28/2010
I don't know whether it was in response to poor reviews of the waitstaff from the readers below, but I had a great experience here last night. The server and hostess went above and beyond the call of duty to be friendly and helpful.
The food was outstanding and portions were large and fairly priced. The chaplee and farmer kabobs were moist and well-seasoned, and the boolawnee with yogurt sauce was a real treat. I'll definitely be back to try the mantu next time I'm anywhere near Potomac Yards. I highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys Kabob Palace in Crystal City and other joints which you don't necessarily visit for the atmosphere. -
Review from Blake N.
St. Petersburg, FL
11/2/2008
AMBIANCE - Well... what can I say. Neon, nEoN, NEON everywhere!
WAIT STAFF - Um... seriously, unless you eat this food every day, I think it was obvious that we had no idea what we were ordering yet the waiter didn't notice. Even after asking for advice. I mean seriously, I doubt she thought I looked Persian.
FOOD - I have had middle-eastern food (I lived there). The food was OK.
BOTTOM LINE - I will not be going back. Mediocre food, potential to get UV burn from all the neon lights, and poor wait staff. Not much here to be desired. -
Review from Rachel W.
Arlington, VA
8/3/2011
I adore this place. Up until about 2 weeks ago I hadn't had any meat from here. It was all veggie all the time. If you get the veggie combo plate it is insanely good. You get the pumpkin stuff that tastes like Thanksgiving, the spinach that I'm obsssessed with, and the really good eggplant stuff. Plus the bread. It's about two meals, so I can take half home and relive the dream again a second time around. I will say the meats are delish though....get the mixed grill and try them all!
Service is pretty good here, but on occasion is techtonically slow. -
Review from Alyce M.
Baltimore, MD
12/6/2007
I love this place. Like a lot. I wish I lived in Alexandria!
I wanted to try something different (and I'd never had Afghan food) so I looked this place up on Yelp and had dinner there tonight.
It was amazing. The service was nothing short of great.
The boolawnee appetizer was wonderful. The dill yogurt sauce that came with it was even more wonderful. The salata is fabulous. (The aforementioned dill sauce in combination with salata is even better.) The nan is so yummy - and HUGE.
For an entree I had the Subzi Chalau (some sort of a fried spinach thing) with rice that was simple yet great. The salata + Subzi Chalau and rice + dill stuff on nan was the yummiest thing I can remember eating. I tried some of the vegetarian curry that someone else ordered and it was also excellent.
Cons of Afghan Restaurant:
1) The music (Afghani?) was up way too loud. I'm sure they would have turned it down if asked though.
2) Forget 'ambiance' here. The decor is almost non-existent. I did enjoy watching one of the few pictures on the wall flapping around from the heat vent since it was obviously not secured. Somehow, it made me laugh.
3) This place has a sectioned dining room. I assume the section that was closed with those retractable type doors is where the buffet usually is. It was odd to see a sketchy looking guy come out of there, look around to see who was watching, close the door firmly and lock it, and then leave. I prefer sketchy people to not be a part of my dining experience - especially when they emerge out of things that I think are walls.
I give this place 5 stars for the food alone. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from LiJia G.
Washington, DC
4/3/2009
After my first visit to Afghan restaurant, I came away with two nuggets of truth:
1) Afghan bread is deeeelicious: It's similar to naan you get at Indian restaurants, except it's thicker, which allows it to get a little bit more crunch on the outside.
2). Mantu!!! Every culture has their own version of "dumplings." I love chinese dumplings, pierogi, and everything of that sort. Mantu is the Afghan dumpling and it is delicious goodness. Wrapped in delicate dough skin is finely chopped beef, mint, and other spices. It's also served in a delicious sauce. mmmmm. I crave mantu.
I also had lamb kebab at Afghan Restaurant which was also good, but not spectacular like the bread + mantu. Yes, the decor is weird. It's like being transported to a set of an "Arab home" from the 1970s, but I like it for it's character. Plus, it's great saying to people, "I'm going to Afghan Restaurant," and having them ask "What Afghan restaurant?" and replying "Afghan Restaurant" and going on and on and on. -
Review from Jenny D.
Alexandria, VA
8/6/2011
I have been here a half dozen times for the lunch buffet and it is always declicious. Go when you are really hungry, because the food is super filling. Everytime I go I overeat b/c the food is so good, I feel like I have to waddle out of there.
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Review from Raul G.
3/9/2009
The Afghan Restaurant is a complete dive whose saving grace is excellent food and decent prices.
I cannot stress the "dive" portion enough. Anyone expecting trendy decor, atmosphere or patrons will be disappointed. Go to the Afghan Restaurant for the food and go somewhere else for the mingling.
My favorite meal is the Salata and Chopan Kabob. Salata is a mixture of cucumber, onion, tomato, cilantro, lemon and light spices. The Chopan Kabob is a generous portion of lamb shanks served on freshly made flat bread. It's simply delicious and always a hit with friends.
The wait staff are generally friendly and fast though I've had some negative experiences. Mostly some of the staff can be somewhat inattentive with refills or slow to bring the check. Fortunately the food has always arrived to our table promptly.
That coupled with the fact that the restaurant's bathrooms desperately need to be remodeled or at least a fresh coat of paint and more thorough cleanings prevent me from rating it any higher. -
Review from Fasle C.
Washington, DC
12/17/2008
In Arlington/Alexandria there's stiff competition for pleasing the appetite for the Afghan crowd, don't we know the carb and protein combo is the killer taste most would desire with a few light dishes of solid vegetables.
Even then Afghan restaurant still offers a great selection of specialty Afghan dishes, and I don't believe I have come across a better place that revitalises an era which Kabul, Afghanistan used to be but......
That is it...it used to be.., though the food was great the service of two waiters one who's mannerism is that of a under-developed gorrilla who cannot comprehend his native language let alone English and the other who is very kind and very helpful but too distracted by the demands of other customers but did contribute to the 1 star to the experience was an utter disappointment.
Too bad cuz the potential for this restaurant is great, but not executed.
Hello, its holiday season, I know the food might be great but feeding a few hungery stomachs with ample communication would be appreciated. -
Review from Catie C.
5/14/2009 5 photos
A cultural experience without leaving the border. Tis my first on Afghan cuisine so I really can't compare. Thus I came to soak in the flavor, the experience, the culture.
I tried the mantu which was interesting - very different from the Asian type. Absolutely bold in taste. I also tried the kaboobs. Chicken was tender and not dry. Lamb was not gamy - woohoo! Beef - I thought that was unique cuz it's like pasted up then cooked. I don't really like the texture of the beef which is difficult to explain in words.
To top off, the servers were very friendly and was adequately attentive. Neon lights off the windows. White and Red table linen. -
Review from Hannah B.
4/30/2010
Better Boy=Better Meal, yes!
I came here several years ago, but the only thing I can remember from that experience is my Ex texting me during a meal with another guy I was dating at the time. I guess the food wasn't as memorable as the text msg...
This time around my better boyfriend and I enjoyed a better meal. The yogurt dill dip was by far the BEST thing on the menu. It's great for dipping the naan and meat. We also got the sambatosh (sp?) which are like samosas. I had the kabob combo of beef, lamb and chicken. Next time I will get just the lamb as it is the best meat. There were a lot of similarities to Indian places we've been to but the one I missed the most was hummus (which is why it only gets 3 stars).
It is in a very random place on Rt 1 with no other restaurants very close by but it's a great non-chain place to stop in before seeing a movie at the Yards. -
Review from Jeremy M.
Mays Landing, NJ
2/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Has a distinctly foreign feel, cheesy neon lights and light fixtures to boot. Very mixed crowd. Good casual restaurant. Excellent kabobs and sampler. Come try this place, you won't regret it.
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Review from Geoff O.
4/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was just that - A-OK. It wasn't anything amazing. It was what it was. Afghan food is like Persian but less delicious.
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Review from Ginny I.
Burke, VA
5/24/2011
We very much enjoyed the lunch buffet! Friendly staff, delicious food, reasonable price. Score!
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Review from Ben S.
3/12/2011
Simply the best restaurant that I've found near me in Old Town, at least for the price point. The bread is amazing, service was friendly. We will be back.
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Review from Kripal K.
Arlington, VA
7/18/2011
Terrible service and even worse food. My wife and I showed up there on a weekday at about 9:30. The website lists timings as from 11 AM to 11 PM and the sign at the window said it was open till 10:30 PM. Despite that, the guy behind the desk refused to seat us. When I explained to him about the website and the sign outside, he just kept shaking his head and saying "no sir, sorry". I should have turned around right hen - but since it was late, we ordered take out. The food was absolutely atrocious. Quite possibly the worst kebabs I have eaten in North America. The chicken was dry, the lamb chewy and the rice tasteless. Don't waste your time going there - there are tons of other middle eastern places in NOVA/DC that are far better. Save your time and money by going somewhere else other than The Afghan Restaurant.
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Review from Squid I.
Washington, DC
1/1/2009
There are a couple things you should know before you go here. First, the service, is just OK. Our waitress was polite, but not necessarily attentive. The flatware was a bit dirty and you don't get the impression that they spend a lot of effort keeping the place clean. Second, the decor is, well, it looks like it was decorated by someone who is mentally disabled.
The reason it gets 4 stars is the food is really quite good and cheap for what you get. I will tolerate a lot for good food and this place gave me exactly what I wanted, good solid Afghan food. The name says it all it is an Afghan Restaurant, nothing more.
I had the Mantu, light dumplings with a yogurt sauce flavored with dried mint. Yummy. My sig other had the Palau, tender lamb under rice with carrots. Also, wonderfully flavorful. Don't forget to order the Afghan bread.
In the end, I give three stars if I would go again, but reluctantly, 4 stars if I would go again without hesitation, and 5 if I absolutely love the place. This is a solid 4. -
Review from Sher Y.
Morgantown, WV
This was the first time i have had Afghan food. I had the bowlawnee with potato and dill sauce...sooooo damn good! I was hung over so i also ordered the Aush which is basicly a chicken noodle soup and it was bowl slurping delicious. My meal was the super combo...it was good but a lil dry well i was a lil dyhydrated. I had a ton of leftovers and it tasted even better when i ate it later on in the night.
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Review from Keely F.
Fairfax, VA
8/22/2010
The best Afghan food in NOVA! The yogurt sauce is the best...also the baranee banjaun and Lamb Kabob are amazing! The service is great and I'd recommend asking for tea with cardamom after the meal.
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Review from Sharjeel D.
Fairfax, VA
10/25/2009
I never write reviews, never...but this place has pulled me out of lurker mode to write a very, very, very BAD one at that.
The food was pretty good but unfortunately the AWFUL service my party received negated the quality of the food. Here's why:
- As soon as we entered, the waitress had something of an attitude as she took us to our table
- When she brought our utensils, she just threw them down on the table in front of each of us with no sense of service
- She came around thrice to ask us whether we were ready to order...while we were visibly looking at menus and still discussing as a group. When we told her for the third time we weren't ready, she asked "Can you just order now?"
- After appetizers, she did not pick up our dirty small plates which we ourselves stacked for her to take. She asked "Can't you use them?" and after I said "No, they are dirty and tiny", she had another waitress come by to give us main course-size plates while she just stood and watched
- Our water was never refilled...quite telling of the type of service you're getting
- And not surprisingly, the paper towel auto-dispenser was out of order and there was no roll of paper to make up for it
Rather than having a normal fun dinner conversation, this waitress managed to ruin our meal and time together...focusing all our conversation on what a bitch she was.
All together - WORST SERVICE EVER...DO NOT GO HERE!
