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Aryana Afghan Cuisine
Categories: Restaurants Afghan Restaurants Middle Eastern Afghan, Middle Eastern [Edit]
9000 Crow Canyon RdSte J
Danville, CA 94506
(925) 736-7781
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 3 pm
Tue-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
73 reviews for Aryana Afghan Cuisine
Review Highlights
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"They had the chicken Kabobs and loved them." In 6 reviews -
"The basmati rice was THE BOMB." In 10 reviews -
"I ordered the Sabzi Challow which was divine." In 3 reviews
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73 reviews in English
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Review from Hayden P.
Danville, CA
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
It is rare to go to a restaurant and leave having gained more than a great meal.
Let me begin by saying that Aryana's menu is one of the best ethnic offerings I have had. A great representation of northern Afghan cuisine, each flavor was rich and refined. Of the five dishes ordered by the three in my party not one negative remark could be given. It was simple and unassuming, yet all aspects - from the spiced chicken kabob to the uncomplicated mixed greens - were fresh and treated with care.
But the true beauty of the restaurant comes from it's staff. The cover of their menu tells you that the restaurant is family run and you can definitely tell. The service wasn't the fastest I'd ever experienced, but the waitress (a daughter of the chefs) was knowledgable and able to effectively assist in choosing dishes that are perfectly suited for each guest, a skill I find to be exceedingly rare among restauranteurs. Not only that, but she - like her parents - was well cultured in Afghan life and was perfectly willing to divulge her breath of experiences for the benefit of the patron.
I will definitely be returning very soon. -
Review from Jane M.
Danville, CA
5/17/2012
I must say the food was good. I am not a big fan of Afghan food, but this was the best I have come across. I like the fact they have half orders and the Firni desert
was so good I would order it again.... Yes I would come to eat here again. -
Review from Brownie S.
San Ramon, CA
5/19/2012
I'd never had Afghan food before, so I didn't know what to expect. I was surprised when I loved everything! The basmati rice was the most flavorful rice I've ever had. And I would order everything in the vegetarian sampler again.
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Review from R R.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2012
It was my first time there and the food was amazing. You can order half of orders of the entree as appetizers so you can taste a variety of things. The kabobs were very good and the desert "firni" was amazing. I will go back.
Over all 4.5 -
Review from Eat Z.
San Ramon, CA
3/10/2012
Of all Middle-Eastern Cuisines, I consider Afghan and Lebanese to be tops. The there are only a few Lebanese restaurants in the Bay Area, we are blessed with quite a lot of representative renditions of the former, from "street"/"hole-in-the-wall" versions (see De Afghanan) to sit down ethnic upscale versions.
Aryana is a tweener between these extremes, but more the latter than the former. Located in the Corner of a Corner mall, it feel out of place amongst the standard thai, chinese, pizza parlors that also share the area.
Don't let that deter you, however! The food, which can be spiced up or down to your sensibilities, is very good. Pullaw (Aghan's version of a one-pot rice dishes), Bolani (savory quesadilla-like flat bread stuffed with potatoes or seasonal leeks), Kabobs (I am partial to the lamb chops) are all done with a high level of refinement expected in a sit down dinner without losing the layers of taste and fragrance that many restaurants cannot replicate when bringing street/home food to a restaurant.
Take, for example, their mantoo. Afghan's answer to the ubiquitous meat dumplings, this one veers closer to a delicate middle-eastern riff on a Cantonese Dim-Sum, except that it is made with ground beef, instead of pork or seafood preferred by the Chinese chefs. Surrounding the dumplings are spices, yogurt and peas lightly cooked in tomato sauce, which balance rather than overwhelm the delicate dumplings. It makes for a great appetizer although they also serve it as a meal.
I was amazed to find out that they have been in this location for the last 12 years and have not had more of a word-of-mouth. For those in the area, which we moved to recently, this is quite a standout that we are fortunate to have which we would otherwise have to drive to Fremont, Sunnyvale or San Francisco, and, even so, may not find an equal. -
Review from Alyssa P.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2011
Only 5 stars? I'm giving it 10, because it's 5 for the food I eat in the restaurant & 5 for the meal I always take with me...Here's the thing, Aryana Afghan Cuisine doesn't just serve the BEST Afghan food, they make the BEST, most delicious food PERIOD!!!
For the longest time I was coming here and torturing myself trying to decide on which one of my favorite dishes to get...I live in San Francisco, so I can't pop in to Danville for a meal every day...Until one day I came up with a brilliant plan!!! Order one amazing dish & get another one "to go" that way my dining experience can be extended. It's just as good the next day for lunch or dinner!
Believe me, it's well worth it! The portions are generous! The food is fresh! In fact, they always change items on the menu to reflect what's in season. Sometimes I have to wait for my favorite veggies to come back...but it's OK, they always have something equally good. I've never been disappointed.
Afghan food can be spicy, so you have to tell them your comfort level - mine is zero. I know, I'm a wimp! But it's still incredibly delicious. My two must-haves are Korma Chicken. I've had it in many placesover the years, but the sauce here is unbelievable! Even without the chicken it would be crazy-good!!! Chaplee Kabob, which is a flat, ground beef kabob with spices that's also something I've tried at other restaurants but nothing compares to Aryana! Their Chicken Kabob is tender & juicy with just the right grill & flavor, by the way, if that's what you crave. I have another friend who ALWAYS gets their lamb, so I think that's a vote for lamb! Of course they have many veggie options as well.
I should also mention if you possibly have room for dessert? There's baklava, which is a good way to end any meal. And I love their homemade rice pudding, which isn't at all like rice. It's so smooth & creamy & has a hint of rose water. OK, I better go make a reservation now...I'm hungry!!! -
Review from Erez K.
Pleasanton, CA
2/15/2012
Excellent experience. It is a small place with an intimate and elegant feeling to it.
There is evident skill and creativity in the making of the dishes. Even a basic dish like Mantu, that anyone can make, was surprisingly unique.
The service is attentive. They just care.
The atmosphere was civilized with people enjoying their food, soft eastern music on the background. We had a great time and will probably come back.
It is recommended to call in advance as the place gets full quickly, especially if you have more than 2 in your party.
Considering the price - the place is a winner! -
Review from Kasia K.
Pleasanton, CA
10/17/2011
Visited here based on the reviews here on Yelp and they did not disappoint! My stomach is currently growling craving the delicious seasoned rice. I can't comment on eating inside of the restaurant, because we did take-out, but it looked small and cozy. Waited about 15 minutes for our food just like they quoted.
We got:
- the Kaboo: it was good, although not as good as I've tried in other places. The portion was rather small as well for the price, so I'd probably pass on this next time and try one of their other appetizers.
- Kabob Combo: I got the chicken and steak and my SO got the steak and chaplee and they were both very good. The stand out of definitely the chicken of the three for me. It was perfectly spiced and juicy like no other! Got the seasoned rice and it was to die for, I think some of the best rice I've ever had and I've had a lot over the years! Pretty decent sized portions and came with bread inside the entrees and a side of bread wrapped up. Also had a little portion of salad and a side of something else delicious, but I had no idea what it was.
Bill game to $47 bucks plus tip and I would return in a heartbeat. Pretty excited that such a delicious place is so close to me. -
Review from Kristina v.
San Ramon, CA
2/10/2012
They no longer deliver. Very disappointing. Entry should be changed to reflect this.
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Review from Andy S.
San Ramon, CA
1/25/2012
Great food and great service! We are never disappointed with this restaurant.
We are usuals here and the server lady always remembers our favorites :-). Nice cozy restaurant, fast service and great food. -
Review from Mahsa K.
Danville, CA
1/1/2012
This place is soooo yummy. If you like great seasoned meat with a little kick to it try the beef chopan. For kids I recommend the soup (aash) it has so many healthy vegetables and noodles.
I ordered a sald with my chopan and it was so delicious! My hubby got the chicken kabob and it was so well marinated. I cant wait to go back. -
Review from Eleen W.
Dublin, CA
3/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Aryana, how you toy with my heartstrings. So unassuming in store front, usually closed until I come begging with forlorn eyes at lunch (they open late ~11:30pm), and then hitting me with mind-blowing cuisine.
I would have never searched for Afghan cuisine to try, but I'm sure glad a coworker recommended this place. Originally, this was spotted on the http://restaurant.com list, but they no longer accept the gift certificates. No matter, I will come anyway!
It blows me away how they can produce such hot, fresh food just minutes after we force them to open their doors at lunch. Their cardamom tea (both green and black are yummy, I can never remember which I prefer) was recommended by the beautiful waitress, and I'm in love. I love tea, and now I love cardamom tea. Who would have thought you could drink a tea based on a spice and not leaves?
I can't remember the exact names of the dishes we order, but the fiancé always orders the kabobs (flavortown, juicy, noms) and I usually get the creamy tomato-based dish (Korma Chicken). Their fried dumplings are quite the delight as well. Similar to the Indian kind, but somehow more satisfying. Even the rice that comes with the dishes are nicely seasoned and perfectly complementary to the main course.
I'm tempted to try other delights, but can't bear to pull myself away from the clear winners we've already tried. Oh well, time to go have some more Afghan food!Listed in: Spots for Nola~
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Review from Theresa L.
New York, NY
6/15/2011
YUM.
I can't wait to go back again.
I'm still thinking of the lamb and biryani rice... It's a nice, cozy place for a couple or family. I don't mind my food salty, but did notice that they have a heavy hand when salting their food... We finished with pudding, which was amazing. I have a sweet tooth that was completely satisfied with Aryana's dessert! -
Review from Dave B.
Campbell, CA
1/31/2011
This tiny restaurant serves the best Afghan food I've had in the Bay Area. With only a few tables crammed into an oddly-shaped space in the corner of a strip mall, it has a certain hole-in-the-wall ambience, although as befitting the neighborhood it's a rather upscale hole-in-the-wall. A loud kitchen fan can dominate the sound in the dining room if they forget to turn the music on.
I had the pumpkin appetizer, the kabuli pulao (lamb shank with rice), and the firni (dessert) and found it all to be immensely satisfying. Since everyone talks about how great Fremont's Salang Pass Restaurent is, the next week I had the same dishes at Salang Pass. I thought that the entire meal was more flavorful and prepared with more care at Aryana. For example, at Aryana the bread that started the meal was nicely warmed; at Salang Pass, it came cold. The pumpkin, which was super tasty at Aryana, was almost flavorless at Salang Pass. And the service was more personable at Aryana.
I thought Aryana's lamb shank was even better than the much more expensive version at Danville's Esin Restaurant that I'd had a few weeks earlier. Maybe it's because the sweetness of the raisins and carrots in the Afghan preparation enhances the flavor of the lamb. -
Review from Charles K.
Pleasanton, CA
10/28/2011
Wow, pleasantly surprised. Food was really good and lunch special was truly a good value.
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Review from Jay C.
Danville, CA
9/12/2010
This was the first place in Danville that we tried as "residents". It was incredible. The veggie soup is to die for. The sauces they provided were also refreshingly tasty. The kebobs were done nicely and the bread seasoned perfectly. The only thing I found a little lacking as the seasoned rice, but I'm a rice snob. Overall, it was an amazingly tasty meal, and filling to boot. And very reasonably priced.
The service was speedy and very well handled by the lone, lovely waitress/hostess/co-chef. We are looking forward to many visits.
Be warned though - the place is tiny so be prepared to wait if they're busy. -
Review from Ernie C.
Danville, CA
2/3/2011
Been a few times now. Excellent food. Favorites: bolani kachaloo (potato "turnover" - like a flatbread), borani banjan (sauteed eggplant), chicken kebab, tekka kebab (beef). Not really a fan of the chaplee kebab (ground sirloin).
A small dining area - I actually prefer to take out. -
Review from Christopher W.
Danville, CA
10/11/2010
Decided to check out Aryana because it showed up on http://restaurant.com. Overall the experience was great. The waitress was attentive and very nice. Fast forwarding to the end it turns out that Aryana is no longer participating in http://restaurant.com. Strikes me a little odd as the link on Yelp advertises their participation (not sure if controlled by Yelp or the owners) and also the http://restaurant.com website still has them listed. I took the waitresses suggestion and reached out to http://restaurant.com. I applaud her for the way she handled the situation and appreciated our business and for coming to dine with the assumption that we'd be able to use the certificate. She gave us complementary baklava and pudding.
That being said, the prices were a tad high for my taste, otherwise I would have given them 4 stars. I started with the Aush soup which was pretty hearty. For some reason it didn't fit in with the rest of the meal and almost seemed like a Westernized soup! I really enjoyed the kabob combo that we got, chaplee and teka. One was a cubed meat (super tasty) and the other ground and flattened/fried. We also tried the boloni kachaloo, a type of turnover filled with potato that really reminded me of the Chinese onion pancakes. This was a nice complement to the meal, but not sure how it could be the main meal.
I haven't had much Afghan cuisine before, but Aryana definitely left a good impression and willingness to try other Afghani restaurants.Comment from Aryan O. of Aryana Afghan Cuisine 12/4/2010
Thanks for your review, we appreciate the feedback. We also… More » -
Review from Brian C.
Dublin, CA
1/23/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I've never had a better over-all dining experience at an Afghan restaurant. Numerous dishes are excellent. The service is always good. Now that Royal Afghan in Dublin is closed *sob*, this is our go-to place.
[Update: I named Royal because it was so much closer, not necessarily better. Also, they are very accommodating to vegetarians, within reason. Tried the mantou last time, it was amazing]. -
Review from amy t.
Dublin, CA
6/16/2008
Went here for lunch today with a couple of work friends and we were literally the only people in there the entire time. What's up with that?! The food was SO delicious!!!
I had the chicken korma and I had to force myself to not overeat, because the chicken and the tomato/lentl sauce were so delicious and the chicken meat was falilng off of the bone....YUM. My friend's sabzi with chicken (spiced spinach) looked incredibly good and so did the steak kabob salad. These dishes ranged in price from $8-$10 and except for the salad, they came with salad, basmati rice and the flat bread with dipping sauces.
I definitely want to go back and try their borani (eggplant).
The restaurant is clean and relatively small. They had somewhere around 10 tables total.Listed in: Lunch Adventures in the…
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Review from Joey J.
4/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
I really wanted Thai food for dinner the other night. The girlfriend, however, wanted to try something new and different. She won...and was right, per usual.
For an appetizer, we split the Boloni Kachaloo which was a nice start. There were six turnovers and the sauces offered a great deal of variety. The cooling yogurt did a good job of countering the heat of the hot sauce, which had a good flavor to it. In addition, a vinegary green sauce was served that worked well with the other two sauces. For the main course, the girlfriend ordered the chicken kabob and I ordered the Teka kabob (or steak, for those scoring at home). Her chicken was really well spiced and very juicy and tender. My steak was a little more hit and miss, with some pieces perfectly cooked and some a lot tougher. If you order this dish, you may want to slide down how well you want your meat cooked by one grade (if you like it medium, you may want to order it medium rare, for example).
All in all, everything was pretty good. And you know the girlfriend is going to read that whole "she was right" comment and take us to Aryana again when we're in the neighborhood. -
Review from Lonnie R.
Danville, CA
1/26/2009
Went here for dinner last week and loved the food. We started out with the eggplant appetizer with some kind of yogurt sauce and other seasonings and sauce on it. It was very good. I had the kabob combo platter with chicken and steak and it was also tasty. My wife had a pasta type dish with some sauce and peas in the dish. I liked her dish better than she did but it was just her tastes. She said it was OK.
I recommend the eggplant appetizer dish and their Kabobs, I will go back for sure. Great tasting food. -
Review from Kelly A.
West Sacramento, CA
1/30/2009
Went here with a party of 10 for a birthday party. Two of us had been major fans of Salang Pass in Fremont for years, so we were very eager to try this place since it was in our neighboorhood. One word..........WONDERFUL.......!!!!
The food was amazing. Our host was fantastic, she was so pleasant, answered all of our THOUSAND questions about the menu items and waited on us hand and foot. We took her advice on the rice, YUM, and we ALL were very pleased with our meals. Even the kids! They had the chicken Kabobs and loved them. I ordered the appetizer size of Bolani and was SO incredibly happy with the flavor. For dinner I had the Lamb Kabobs and they were so incredibly full of flavor. They had a wonderful aroma and a very tasty exotic dry rub, and again....wow, the rice!
We were very bummed out that the ice cream machine was broken, so no cardamon and rose water ice cream for us this time, but she brought the birthday girl out the same but in pudding form. YUM YUM YUM.
Also, we had one of the most PICKY eaters on the planet with us and she ordered the salad. Needless to say, she was eating and picking off everyone elses plates she LOVED the food so much. SO that speaks VOLUMES! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are a fan of ethnic foods. You will have an experience you and your taste buds will remember! LOVE IT! (going for dinner there tonight with a party of 5!)
My vegitarian friend said the pumpkin and eggplant dishes were the best she has ever had! -
Review from Dae-Ho C.
San Ramon, CA
8/19/2008
I just went to Aryana Afghan for lunch (the specials all around $9!) and it was verrrrrrry solid. I had it recommended to me from a friend, and the food quality was top-notch. My chicken kebob was delicious and I was also very pleased with the atmosphere of the restaurant. I'd imagine this place to be great for a date (casual, yet still very decent).
My only knock is that the portions were a smidge small for the price, but for how delicious the food tastes it isn't much of a complaint. Definitely recommended. -
Review from Nora S.
7/26/2011
The food was very good, but I don't think I've ever had Afghan where it wasn't. If I were to compare this to Middle Eastern food in general, I would think it overpriced. However, the prices are typical for Afghan/Persian. The restaurant is nicer than you would think from the outside and being in a strip mall. Nice sit-down ambiance. A little too nice for a family with young children. We felt out of place.
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Review from Ali J.
Danville, CA
4/25/2007
This is, hands down, the best restaurant in Danville. Forget downtown, head to this strip mall across the street from Blackhawk for the best food around. My husband and I are picky, plus we never cook. This forces us to explore everything that this sleepy town has to offer, which we don't think is much. Arayana's is a cute, nice, relaxing place for dinner.
Must try: Korma Challow Chicken (in a tomato sauce), Kabobs -- Teka Kabob (steak, it's insane), basmati rice (BROWN) is delicious. Pretty much anything you order will blow you away. -
Review from James S.
Danville, CA
11/29/2007
First off, I should mention that I believe the restaurant is spelled "Aryana" not "Arayana."
I've been here several times, and get take out from this restaurant about once every month or two.
It's an excellent restaurant. I haven't had afghan food before coming to this place, but I find it's somewhat close in flavor to Indian.
Regardless, it's absolutely fabulous. There are many dishes I enjoy, though my favorite is the teka kebab (steak kebab). I notice others above have mentioned it, but they truly are excellent (also, as the first reviewer mentioned, DEFINITELY get it with the brown rice, I don't think I've ever enjoyed rice so much). I also enjoy their sauteed pumpkin.
I've brought family and friends here, and they never fail to be impressed by the restaurant. Afghan food might seem adventurous and very different for the average person, but I think most people would be extremely surprised and satisfied by the high quality and excellent taste of the food.
The only downside is that it can take a little while to get your food when it's extremely busy (I've never waited more than about a half hour). -
Review from Andrew K.
7/11/2011
Really solid and delicious - the meatball was a highlight and the rice was perfect. If this were in SF, it would be packed!!
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Review from Jeremy J.
San Ramon, CA
12/13/2008
Decent Afghan food, but nothing to write home about.
I was so wanting to love this place since it's in a convenient location from where I live...I typically go to Salang in Fremont, which is far superior to any other Afghan cuisine I've ever had, but is a journey to get there from the Tri-Valley.
We had the Mantoo appetizer which was a little bland compared to others I've had, but it was decent. My wife and I both ordered the Chaplee Kabob, which was a little oily and was undercooked. We asked the waitress/owner to cook our kabob a little longer and she had said that was the way it is supposed to be prepared. I've had this dish about 20 times in the past at other Afghan restaurants, and no one else leaves the middle raw, but apparently they do. She never asked us how we wanted our Chaplee cooked, so if you're planning on ordering that dish make sure to ask for the meat cooked the way you like it.
On a positive note the bread and brown basmati rice were excellent.
All in All the meal was decent, so I'm giving them 3 stars mainly for the location, bread, and rice. -
Review from Anthony D.
San Leandro, CA
9/18/2010
Great food and service.
...a bit pricey but with this being my only afghan restaurant eaten at, not much to compare.
the meat is cooked perfectly and the special rice is delicious. Had the steak for the first time last and definitely getting that one again. Also, their bolani is much better than the stuff we buy at the stores.
cilantro chutney is excellent, can eat it for dayS! -
Review from Keith L.
Pleasanton, CA
2/20/2008
After the rave reviews, my wife and I thought we try the place.
We started with the Mantoo appetizer, which was good but not great. I had better Mantoo at Salang Pass in Fremont. The large house salad was good with the mint and yogurt dressing and the portion was good for both of us. We both hate mint and yogurt normally but it seems to work with this, strangely enough.
For our entrees, we got the Famous Chaplee Kabobs and the Chicken Kabobs. The chicken kabobs win! They were tender and spiced well..love them. The Chaplee kabobs had a bit too much chili, and I even ordered the medium hot one. I can't imagine how hot the "hot" one would be, but probably inedible because your mouth would be on fire. I like spicy food as long as the spiciness does not overwhelm the other flavors. Their spiciness did.
The basmati rice was THE BOMB. I could eat just the rice for my meal. It was so good. The bread was also awesome, flaky, soft, and not tough, but they did not refill the basket. I think they make their own bread there.
Overall I would not make a trip up to San Ramon just to go here. I think there are better Afgan food places in Centerville in Fremont (Salang Pass) and in Pleasanton (Royal Afgan Cuisine). Four stars mostly for the bread, rice and chicken kabobs. -
Review from Paul T.
San Ramon, CA
5/11/2009
A discovery from http://Restaurant.com, we went to a late lunch with a $10 gift certificate. It was a pleasant surprise to see it in the space of an Indian restaurant that we used to frequent a few years back when we worked in Danville.
The wife ordered three appetizers and I got a chicken kaboob lunch. All was very good, matching or surpasing other Afghan resturants.
Service was very quick and friendly, with the server explaining some of the differences between the dishes. -
Review from Kristen S.
San Francisco, CA
5/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Loved it! My coworker brought me here and I had never tried Afghan food before. I have been back a couple of times since then and every time the food has been delicious! The staff is very friendly the atmosphere is nice. I really loved the chicken & steak kabobs and the pumpkin appetizer was very good. Definitely a must try!
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Review from Scott W.
Danville, CA
6/19/2011
Fast, friendly service, the food is really yummy here (I had the bolani kachaloo as well as the chicken in tomato sauce -- both were good but the chicken was really good). Best of all, $35 for two people with dessert -- really great value.
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Review from V A.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2010
The namesake of this Afghan restaurant greeted us at the door. We were politely motioned to a table near the corner, devoid of noise or other patrons. Excited by this first-time experience at Aryana, I quickly scanned the menu. My favorite Afghani dish, Chaplee kabob, was an overpriced $12! Ok, ok, granted I'm in Danville, literally across from my uncle's ginormous mansion at Blackhawk, so I'll let the out-of-the-ordinary pricing slide. This is chump-change for residents here, no? =)
The boy, my BFF (who's Afghani), and I order away:
We start with bolani gandana for a shared appetizer, I proceed with the Chaplee, and the two get the combination kabob, selecting chicken and teka. Aryana re-reads our order with a very stoic demeanor and disappears into the kitchen. We stare at each other and our empty glasses. H2O was promised to us, but I'm told the human body can survive without water for 3 days, so who am I to complain? After 5 minutes (no joke), Aryana comes back with water. I look around the restaurant- we're the only table there...what's with the slow-service?
Our bolani gandana comes out. A turnover made with leeks, the bolani gandana excites me. Most Afghani restaurants will promise "gandana", or leeks, but instead cheap out and give green onions. Have you seen how much green onions cost at Safeway? They're like 3 bunches for $1, so I'll be damned if I'm paying $7 for turnovers with that. Happily, I munched on a delicious turnover filled with the real deal. +1 for Aryana.
The three of us scarf down our appetizer, so we patiently awaited our entrees. I tried to keep myself entertained, but became transfixed by the ubiquitous National Geographic photograph of the Afghani girl. Her eyes pierced through me, as if to say, "Slow the *&$% down, V.A.! We eat slowly, methodically..." My bad. Bread is brought to our table, accompanied by delicious sauces. The three of us dive head first into the basket, periodically patting our tummies in preparation for our entrees...
And here is the breakdown of the food:
* Chaplee Kabob- aww, Aryana disappoints! The ground sirloin is not as flavorful as other chaplees I have had (and I've had A LOT). It was almost as if they mixed as many spices and ingredients as possible, but did not take notice of how it would taste. -1
* Chicken Kabob- made with chicken breast, rather than dark meat. Delicious, considering chicken breast is usually dry and/or flavorless. The seasoning had seeped in perfectly, producing a wonderful moist and tasty dish. +1
* Teka Kabob- the marinated beef sirloin is probably in my top 3 of best Tekas. It was THAT good. Not chewy, rubbery, or over-cooked at all. We all agreed it was yums!! +1
* Rice- Delicious rice with chicken-broth and saffron flavoring. It was an explosion of indescribable taste. Too bad only 3 teaspoons worth of it was on each of our places. (no points- it's a wash)
We were filled, but not full, and we patiently waited for our check...and waited...and waited...Finally Aryana came out with our check. Then we paid and waited for the receipt to sign...and waited...and waited... -1
If you have 2 hours to burn, don't mind getting mean-mugged by a photograph, and want delicious chicken and teka kabobs, roll through the 'hood of Blackhawk. This place is A-ok. -
Review from T V.
San Ramon, CA
4/22/2010
Hunny bought a $25 gift certificate from http://Restaurant.com and all we had to do was order a minimum purchase of $35 and that's pretty easy to do.
The restaurant is across the street from Blackhawk located in a nice neighborhood & is the only Afghan restaurant in the plaza so you won't be able to miss it at all. We walked in and there were only 2 other patrons in there. I believe this is family owned which is always awesome from my experience.
The lady greeted us and gave us our menus. They had daily specials and their regular dishes as well. Thanks to the fellow yelpers, we ordered the following:
Mantoo - which are delicate steamed dumplings. It comes with 4 servings (great for two people). It is stuffed with ground beef & onions and topped off with chopped carrots and green peas. Along with it, dashes of spices and mint were found on there with droppings of yogurt
Chicken Kabobs- just like everyone said -they are to die for. I can't get over how juicy it was. It came with a serving of rice and I highly recommend getting the brown basmati rice. I mean, aren't we supposed to be eating healthy anyways?
Teka Kabobs- tender beef marinated in spices ( I felt like it was more salty). The bf liked the chicken better and he's pretty big on beef, but he said it wasn't satisfying him
The portions are pretty big. We each finished 1/2 of what we got and was overwhelmingly stuffed.
I'll be coming back for my chicken kabobs. -
Review from A H.
Fremont, CA
12/26/2011
Love, love, love a billion times love this place! Chaplee kabob is the best and my absolute favorite.
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Review from S.R. F.
San Ramon, CA
6/22/2011
The chicken kabobs are delicious...juicy and tasty and cooked to perfection. Definitely order the seasoned brown rice in place of the white rice as it's so delicious and goes perfectly with the chicken.
The vegetable samosas are pretty good, as are the eggplant dishes. However, the Lubya Challow (kidney beans in a tomato garlic sauce) is amazing.
The ambiance is nice, but the restaurant is small and I always order for take out.
The lady that answers the phone and takes your order is very nice and always helpful.
Just thinking about eating here is making my mouth water.....it's a definite must and your order is always ready in under 15 minutes. -
Review from Zef C.
San Ramon, CA
6/22/2011
This is my 2nd favorite restaurant in the Bay Area! The food is always good, never had an off night in the many, many times I have eaten here.
It is a family run restaurant with great atmosphere and quality, tasty food.
My favorite dishes are the bolani and Chappali Kababs... Can't miss with most of the menu, but those 2 always stand out...
Great value with fantastic service! -
Review from Overkill S.
Campbell, CA
8/27/2008
I forgot to come back and post a review from my Post-graduation party. Beautiful evening of July 19. I thought I was 12 people, I ended up having 20.
Because of the beautiful evening, I asked if we could set up outside and they were quickly accommodating. We received family style portions of the pumpkin, the eggplant, Mantoo (my new fav appetizer), steak, chicken and at the end, a delicious dessert; which I can't recall the name at the moment, but it looked like ice cream but was more like a rice pudding with spices that kept you digging in.
It was memorable and divine. Exceptional service and my friends whom had not previously tried Afghan food are now hooked! Will be back for sure.
