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Al-Zaytoun
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
34 reviews for Al-Zaytoun
Review Highlights
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"They also let us taste their signature mint lemonade." In 7 reviews -
"I had the combo kabob with chicken ground beef and lamb." In 8 reviews -
"Your own Naan bread that was as fluffy as Naan bread could..." In 2 reviews
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34 reviews in English
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Review from Justin P.
Woodbridge, VA
4/7/2012
This place is great.
It's the literal definition of a family-run restaurant, as the mother, father and son smile and greet you as you walk in.
They were genuinely interested in whether my girlfriend and I were enjoying the food, and we were, 100%.
When you go here, you're getting first-rate home-cooked food, and you're supporting a great local business and family. -
Review from Tyler R.
Lorton, VA
3/19/2012
This little hole in the wall Afghan joint is nothing short of fantastic. First the gentleman behind the counter not only greets you like you're a guest in his home but also cooks. As far as the food goes, this is easily my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant that I've been to. You can order from the menu or there's a small buffet type setup and everything on it is delicious.
Oh and definitely try the homemade mint lemonade! -
Review from Charles O.
Quantico, VA
3/11/2012
Fantastic food for a good price.
Their lamb dishes are perfectly cooked, juicy and full of flavor.
Good people, good food. I definitely recommend it.
(The right turn only does kind of suck but it doesnt change the fact that this place has fantastic food.) -
Review from Jeremy F.
Woodbridge, VA
5/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I really enjoy this place! The kabob is awesome. I love the mint tea, but the strawberry smoothie is Fantastic. The food is great. The staff are very sincere in their customer service!! I will be back!
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Review from L S.
Washington, DC
5/14/2012
This place is fantastic! We drove here all the way from DC, and would come back in a heartbeat. I'd agree that you feel like you're eating in a family home - the owner was warm and friendly, the service was excellent, and they make sure that you are well-fed. As vegetarians, we weren't sure what to get, so they made a special vegetarian combination up for us.
We'd also agree with the other commentators that the lemonade is some of the best we've ever had.
I hope they open a location in DC soon. I've traveled to the region and tried many of the South Asian restaurants in DC, and I can definitely say that I enjoyed this place the most. -
Review from Kim M.
Ashburn, VA
4/12/2012
We found this place after hitting IKEA, its close by. We had the lunch buffet, the flat bread was fresh out of the oven...make sure to get the spicy green sauce. The lunch buffet was $10 which included very tender chicken, beef, salad, flatbread, and several sides. Service was quick and friendly. Looking forward to another meal soon!
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Review from Jean H.
Goleta, CA
1/23/2012
The hubby and I were looking for an easy dinner on a Friday night. I went on Yelp and randomly found this place. The reviews looked good and we were heading to Woodbridge so we gave it a try. The restaurant is in a strip mall that's easy to miss. Like one other reviewer had pointed out, you can only turn right into the strip mall...so don't miss it!
The place is small with a few tables, but most people are getting take-out so I didn't see anyone waiting for a table or anything like that. The owner was really friendly and the food was nicely priced. The hubby and I both got lamb kabobs. The meal came with a side, salad, and bread. IT WAS DELICIOUS! The lamb was really tender and nicely flavored and so was the side. The bread was a generous portion so we took some of our food home with us. I also got the mint lemonade, which was also great!
Overall, this is a awesome little place to go if you're looking for somewhere easy and delicious for dinner. Would definitely come again! -
Review from Linda R.
Alexandria, VA
Updated - 4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Service is very quick, the owners are extremely friendly, and the food is always great. The mint lemonade is to die for! Also, the baklava is house-made and delicious.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/19/2010
The place is small and looks dive-y but you will be pleasantly surprised. The small buffet has a… Read more »
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Review from David C.
Manassas, VA
3/25/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Little ambience or would be a five star review. The food was fantastic! The owner was friendly, is rightfully proud of his food, and welcoming to my kids...neither of whom are adventurous eaters. That said, they both dug in and really enjoyed a terrific Afghan lunch. Can't wait to go back!
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Review from Lady M.
McLean, VA
4/9/2012
Good afghan kebabs and drinks. The mint lemonade tastes like a mojito!
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Review from Jeff M.
Dale City, VA
9/19/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Here's the scoop on a very cool place....
From the outside it doesn't look like much and you wouldn't think to try it. I wanted a kabob to go with watching Sunday night football.....odd combo huh? So I found this place close to where I live in Woodbridge and read the reviews which are all very accurate.
The owner and his wife were there to greet us when we came in and he took the time to show us the dishes and explain what they were. He even gave us samples of each to taste. Everything we tasted was great especially the ground beef kabob thingy (sorry I dont remember names).
The mint lemonade was good - it doesnt look good in the dispenser but trust me, it tastes great - like a mojito.
The only thing I would say is that my chicken was a little tough. But I will try it again.
I recommended this place.
Make sure to give them 10 minutes to prepare your meal. They prepare it fresh. -
Review from Marcus P.
Fairfax, VA
3/8/2012
Great tasting food!! Try their mint lemonade
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Review from Roy Q.
Woodbridge, VA
2/29/2012
Great place, the people that work there are extremely nice. The food is great. I had the lamb kabob, I'll have to try something else next time I go back. I'm glad there is a good kabob place in Woodbridge.
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Review from Nancy E.
Washington, DC
8/11/2011
Authentic, fresh and great customer service. Local owned family restaurant. A few tables to eat in or take out. Staff is very hospitable, welcoming and friendly. They are eager to help and explain the various dishes they offer. Everything is fresh and cooked to order. Been here a few times, haven't had a bad meal.
Prices are moderate and portions are huge. Ample parking in front of location. Love this place! -
Review from Carisa G.
Alexandria, VA
4/7/2012
This is by far one of the best restaurants I've been to in a LONG time. Who knew that a gem like this place would be located in Woodbridge VA? It's a little hole in the wall place that packs huge flavor and amazing service! The staff are incredibly friendly and so sweet! The mint lemonade is WONDERFUL! The lamb kabob is delicious, the spinach is to die for as well as the potatoes, the bread is made fresh with each order, everything is made to order. We will definitely be back again and again!
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Review from Faraz A.
Washington, DC
2/9/2012
Great place, Great food and a very Great People
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Review from Lizbeth C.
Woodbridge, VA
2/3/2012
Everyone was very nice and the food was served fairly quickly I do wish that they would give more of the bread though they only served one slice, thats the best part!
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Review from Stephanie P.
Washington, DC
11/10/2011
Hands down the best food I have ever had in my life!
I know that sounds like a lot, but trust me, you will not regret going here.
I will start out with the bad (nothing I mind, just thought I would note):
Cons:
Can only turn right into the plaza
Does not look like much, you could even describe it as looking like a "dive"
Pros:
1. The owner and his wife remind me of an uncle/ aunt or Grandparents. Not only are they friendly, but they truly want you to have a great experience here. I sat and talked to the owner for 10-15 minutes about the history of this place, living in Woodbridge, etc...
2. Very easy to find, right you can see it at the Prince William Parkway and Smoke town intersection
3. Very clean, well maintained. You can tell they spend their money on the ingredients, not making the place look mainstream or like every other chain restaurants. I actually like that about this place.
4. The food is delicious; I mean clean your plate, be a glutton, delicious. I had the Boneless Chicken Kabob and Potatoe Curry dish as a side. Everything except the side is made fresh. The chicken was fire grilled with minimum spices and no sauce. It was not greasy. The meal came with:
a. Your own Naan bread that was as fluffy as Naan bread could be. The dipping sauce (green) was awesome.
b. House salad with a white creamy dressing, also good
c. Two types of rice (white and a cinnamon brown), under the chicken
d. Potato Curry , spicy. When you mix this with the chicken, that's the money maker.
5. I also order the mint lemonade. It is green and looks questionable. Get this. You will not regret it. The mint takes the bite/bitterness off the lemonade you will normally experience. You will also notice a slight minty aftertaste. The owner said it was his wife's recipe and they plan to bottle it soon.
Finally and the most important thing....knocks every Afghan, ethnic, and/ orkabob place I have been to in this area and period. If you like Moby Dicks, after you come here, you will no more! If you hate Moby Dicks, this will right every wrong you experience with a Kabob place.
Next time I go, I will take pictures of my meals. -
Review from Aly R.
Woodbridge, VA
3/11/2012
I never would have stopped at this place if it weren't for Yelp. Al-Zaytoun is tucked in this little strip mall where you would never notice it. The reviews on Yelp were excellent, and I'd never tried Afghan/Pakistani food, so when my family was visiting, the 5 of us went down. Inside it's on the small side, but immaculately clean and very welcoming. The owner/employees are all extremely kind and helpful. We tried a few dishes between us, including several different varieties of kabobs, and each was excellent. I think we ended up with chicken, ground beef and lamb, plus rice, potatoes and cabbage on the side, all delicious. My mother got a Greek salad and even that was great. All 5 of us loved the food and would happily go back, even my father who is very uptight when it comes to foreign food. I would highly recommend making a trip to Al-Zaytoun!
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Review from Lisa R.
Springfield, VA
4/14/2012
This is simply a wonderful place. Had been at Potomac Mills and wanted a quick dinner - checked Yelp and read the great reviews - decided to give it a try. The place is a hole in the wall with 8-10 small tables/booths. You order at the counter and they call you up when it is ready to pick up. They also have a buffet - with which the two Army guys that were there were filling their plates. We each had a kabob plate (me lamb, my friend chicken); you also get naan, a veggie (me spinach, my friend curried potatoes), and a small green salad - all served on foam plates with plastic-ware (I'm sure to keep their costs down). We then saw how another table was digging into their hummus and went back and ordered some of that too. The food was simply fabulous - can't express how good it was. After, as we were paying, the owner found out it was our first time there and offered us both a glass of the mint lemonade. We sat back down to enjoy it (and we did!) and had a whole discussion with the family that owns the place. They opened it 4 years ago after the mother lost her job in the financial industry and have been able to keep it going. Sounds like they have quite a few regulars, and I can certainly see why. We will definitely go out of our way to return here often!
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Review from Wendy L.
Woodbridge, VA
12/26/2011
I cannot say enough good things about this place! It's in a not so great strip mall, but that shouldn't deter anyone. When you open the door the aroma is spectacular! When we told the man at the counter (who turned out to be the owner) that we were staying to eat, the first thing he did was change the TV to the Cartoon Network for our 5 year old son and set him up so he could watch while he ate. He also offered a less spicy sauce for him, but my boy likes his spices. We got the buffet and when you talk about all you can eat, no kidding around here. The rice is kept in front in cookers to keep it from drying out, and you get both white and brown rice with the buffet. There were several vegetarian options and several chicken dishes and a beef stew of sorts. All of it fantastic. Then there was the freshly made naan. The tandoor is right behind the counter and the owner was telling us about how hot it gets and how they rigged up a thing to use to put the naan into the oven. Very clever. Also not to be missed is the mint lemonade! It looks kinda funky in the canister, but it's too die for yummy! The owners, husband and wife, are so sweet and thoughtful too. They wouldn't let us pay for our food until after we finished dinner, and were happy with what we had eaten. This is a place we will DEFINITIELY be returning here. We even suggested that they keep an aloe vera plant by the tandoor, as burns are part of the job, and the next time we return, we are going to bring them one. Mom and Pop establishments this good are worth supporting! We'll be back!!!!
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Review from Chunnu B.
Don't you just love a GOOD hole in the wall find? Al-Zaytoun is located in a tiny strip next door to a pawn shop. Perhaps you would expect something cheap. But cheap AND delicious? Oh yes, very delicious. You won't be served food that's been dried out from rotating under some heat source. No sir. If it wasn't in a sauce or gravy, then it was made to order. Even certain "buffet only" items. Everything served here was clearly fresh, including their MINT lemonade. Good stuff. They also had a raspberry-strawberry lemonade that I will have to try next time I'm in.
Upon seeing the name and walking in I was under the impression that this was only an Afghan kabob house. However, when you look over the menu you will see quite a few dishes which are common to Pakistan. Turns out the owners have both Pakistani and Afghan roots and incorporated dishes from both regions into their menu. Guess you get the best of both countries! Since we're on the topic: The owners are wonderful. Very friendly older couple who told us what exactly was on the buffet (with all the options available you should consider getting) and made sure we were pleased with our meal.
I think we've found a new restaurant to carry out our kabobs from. -
Review from Jordan B.
Woodbridge, VA
7/24/2011
Just got back from a hard deployment in Afghanistan, and saw this on Yelp. I took my wife here. It met my expectation of being a solid 5 star eating place.
Their buffet was authentic and very good. What amazed me was their Gyro. I know that this is a Greek specialty, but rarely does a restaurant serve it as a sandwich like Al-Zaytoun. The gyros I tasted in other "authentic Greek restaurants" were over-piled with needless American items that it no longer resembled a gyro (I used to live in Greece). The best thing is that the meat is tasty and not overpowering. I also liked their fries. Usually, in Greece they put the fries in the Gyro. The yogurt sauce topped the dish off nicely.
The service was great. I liked the way he treated newcomers and gave us a complimentary mint ice tea (his wife's specialty). I'm sorry that I didn't discover this place sooner. Since I'm am back in AFG. I will be going back to this place when I get home GW. -
Review from T R.
Dale City, VA
7/15/2011
Customer service and food are both exceptional. Had the buffet and everything was delish.
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Review from Tank M.
Alexandria, VA
12/28/2011
Love this place. All the reviews I've read here are spot on. Great food, great service, lovely people. If you enjoy good cuisine, you won't be disappointed.
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Review from Jeremy R.
Woodbridge, VA
3/20/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Service was excellent. The lady at the front offered me a free mint lemon aid for coming in for the first time. I had the combo kabob with chicken ground beef and lamb. I'm no kabob expert but it was great. The lamb was slightly tough but still able to be cut with plastic utensils the naan was well worth the stop.
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Review from Jessica E.
Woodbridge, VA
6/24/2010
This is a very small restaurant but it has lots of heart! The food is wonderful. It is difficult to decide which meal to order from their menu; thankfully they have a fantastic buffet with a sampling of 6-8 dishes, accompanied by a salad, naan, and rice (white and/or their very flavorful "brown" rice). The food is very hearty and is especially good on a cool day. The staff is very warm and friendly; they are obviously happy for your business and treat you more like a friend than a customer. It is very difficult to find a restaurant with service this wonderful.
My husband, friends, and I often visit Al-Zaytoun to get our "fix". -
Review from Linda N.
Alexandria, VA
9/8/2011
Met a friend here for lunch, based on yelp reviews, & it was an excellent choice. The owner was welcoming, the food was excellent, the only thing that bothered me was that we were the only ones there-come on, people, support your local restaurants or they will go under! Definitely get the mint lemonade...
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Review from John and Stacey B.
Prince William, VA
8/30/2010 16 Check-ins Here
This place is awesome!!!! We eat here at least once a week and the food is consistently amazing. The lamb kabob is heavenly. The owner is a master at cooking lamb. No matter how you order it medium, rare, well done it is always tender, juicy, and delicious! Don't forget the chickpeas too, they're perfectly seasoned.
The owner and his family are warm, genuine, and care deeply about the experience their customers have.
If you like kabob don't miss this place.
...Almost forgot, DO NOT FORGET THE MINT LEMONADE. If crack was a healthy (relatively), delicious, cold drink it would be the mint lemonade from al-Zaytoun. Come to think of it, I'm getting thirsty for some mint lemonade just writing this. -
Review from Chris C.
Woodbridge, VA
9/23/2010
If your not looking you will miss a great little place were the staff is nice and the food is great. Try the minced chicken kabob! Extra yummmmmm!
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Review from Brandon S.
Brentwood, CA
7/23/2011
Wow, this place is delicious. The owners are friendly and the food is authentic. Everything is made from scratch, to include the naan bread (you'll see the dough balls when you walk in). We've lived in the area for just over a month and have eaten there 3 times, twice dine-in and once take out. The dine-in buffet is perfectly balanced with the right number of dishes, and their karahi (think hearty chicken or lamb stew) is exceptional. Don't miss the fresh mint lemonade either. Their prices are a great value for the quality of food.
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Review from Ian F.
Washington, DC
1/8/2010
As a kabob gourmand, I would give the lamb kabobs 4 stars. I did, however knock off a star overall for two reasons: the naan was fluffy, hot, yet not very flavorful as it should be; quite possibly due to a little less salt in the dough. Second, the "chole" (chick peas) were extra flavorless. But hey, I was there for the lamb and that was cooked to my desired doneness; and very promptly! The kabobs are cut from leg of lamb, so they are extra tender and moist. The rice, basamati, was ok. The salad was a bit meh. Could have added kidney beans or chick peas to add some flavor. Very friendly owner/operator. Would go back for the meat!
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Review from Babette S.
Woodbridge, VA
I saw good reviews for this place from fellow Yelpers, so I decided to try it out, and I am so glad I did. I have been looking for a kabob place that will actually cook my lamb medium rare like I like it, and I have finally found it. Most places freak out when you ask for it that way, but this place does it perfectly, and it tastes great. They give you big pieces rather than the tiny little ones most places give. You may pay a bit more for it, but it's worth it. The owner and his son are super-nice guys, too. My mom and I went for the first time, and didn't know what side to get, so they let us taste them all. The spinach, chick peas, and eggplant are all wonderful. They also let us taste their signature mint lemonade. Sounds weird, and looks even weirder, but it is AWESOME! There's a kabob place less than a minute from my house, but I will go out of my way to go to Al-Zaytoun because it is just that good.
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Review from Jen B.
Williamsburg, VA
11/1/2009
VERY EXCELLENT FOOD!!! the ambience is more like a diner - with TV in the background, tile floors, bright lights and such. But it is Very clean, and the food is really awesome. The people that run it are extremely friendly. I would definietly recommend this place for amazing tasting food. The lunch buffet during the week is $9.95, and 10.95 on weekends/dinner. so its not SO inexpensive. But if you really want great food and friendly service, it is very much worth it.
