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Balkh Shish Kabab House
Categories: Restaurants Afghan Restaurants Halal Afghan, Halal [Edit]
2310 31st StAstoria, NY 11105
Neighborhood: Astoria
(718) 721-5020
- Nearest Transit:
-
Astoria Blvd (N, Q)
30 Av (N, Q)
Astoria - Ditmars Blvd (N, Q)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Balkh Shish Kabab House
Review Highlights
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"The "Bolani Kadoo" or pumpkin turnovers are a must-try..." In 4 reviews -
"...portion of awesome basmati rice, and some vegetables." In 5 reviews -
"Bolanee Kadu, Banadajan Borani,Combo Kabab, Bamia Chalow." In 7 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Joshua K.
New York, NY
1/13/2012
One of the most overlooked kebab houses in NYC. Located literally a stone's throw from the last stop on the Queens side of the N train, a hike to Balkh Shish is definitely worth it.
Balkh Shish is the most authentic Afghan food you will get outside of Kabul. Upon entering the restaurant, the grill and brick oven are to your left and pictures of every Afghan president are on your right. Once you are seated, two tv's showing Afghan programming ensure you are never bored. The pictures of Afghanistan and the map of the country with its provinces outlined also make for interesting decor.
I always start off with the samosa. The samosa is fried to a crispy perfection and the ground beef inside of the pastry is seasoned with blends of saffron, cumin, and tumeric. A chilled glass of sweet lassi, which consists of yogurt and dough, is the perfect companion for the samosa.
For the main course, I usually get the salmon kebab or the chicken kofta palow. The salmon is simply grilled and marinated in lemon juice, saffron, and cheyenne pepper and served with Afghan brown rice and fresh salad. The chicken kofta palow is basically two enormous chunks of ground chicken drowned in brown Afghan rice and accompanied with a generous helping of traditional Afghan chicken curry. The curry is the perfect texture and goes great with the dry chunks of ground chicken. The Afghan bread is toasted to perfection and the white sauce they serve is homemade and cools down the spicy taste in your mouth.
To top off the evening, I usually get the Firni, which is traditional rice pudding. The pudding itself is a piece of art, topped with pistachios and creamy. Down the pudding with green tea and your night is complete.
The service is great and the servings are plentiful. Be prepared to leave with a doggie bag and you might want to walk around the block a few times before hopping on the train. -
Review from Ted C.
I was psyched to try Afghan cuisine so when I had some time on my hands I made the walk here. There was a table of four men and just me. I thought this would be a fortunate circumstance since from previous reviews the service was so so. The service was so so and but the food was terrific. The waiter was literally just dour and whenever he came by it was just to take away stuff. At no point did he ask me if everything was all right, or if I needed anything more. I had to tell him that I wanted dessert.
A lot of my Afghan friends told me I should try Manto which is beef dumplings in a tomato gravy and sour cream. There were six little dumplings with a little bit of crunch left from the onions and while having tomato gravy and sour cream didn't sound good to me at first. I was wrong, because it was a good combination, a little bit of sweetness to the savoriness of the beef and onion.
I got the Quelli-I asked what that was and he said it was a small bird in a tomato gravy which didn't exactly give me a lot of confidence about what exactly I was ordering. I thought it was all right, and it came in the same tomato gravy the manto came in and it was hard to eat since it was such a small bird. I should have gone with a kebab which were cooked up front and smelled so good. I got a heaping plate of rice which didn't have raisins or carrots in it and I thought, well maybe they don't do this here and then a carry out order came in and they asked if he wanted carrots and raisins on the rice. Come on!
The dessert I had was a milk pudding with pistachios and honey. Phenomenal. The only thing keeping this place from 4 or even 5 stars would be the weird, iffy, flip flop service. -
Review from Atif I.
1/21/2012
"Did you hear that? I can't believe he just did that", commented my dining partner at the response of the server ("Phsst" and a shake of the head) after hearing that we would like tap water instead of the bottled water he had automatically placed in front of us.
It took us a while to figure out that the server makes that annoying sound unconsciously any time he's hovering around the table and doesn't intend to be rude. But, it's extremely disconcerting to anyone paying attention. And, that's the problem with this Afghan restaurant: your 4 star worthy experience can decline at a moment's notice. During one of my visits, the place went from empty to full (50 plus people) within 20 minutes and the lone server got so stretched that he wouldn't come to the table for long periods of time - to the extent that couples started leaving. No one could blame them for they hadn't even received the menu after being seated for 15 minutes!
The appetizers have been the highlight of my meal, every time. The Manto (beef dumplings with curry sauce and yogurt), Bolanee Gandana (fried turnovers with scallions, herbs, and spices) and Bolanee Kadu (fried turnover with pumpkin) have been consistently excellent. They remind one of their Central Asian heritage, for similar versions (called Manti and Cheburecki, respectively) are served at Uzbeki restaurants. However, I preferred the better spiced Afghan interpretation.
There's no point going to an Afghan restaurant if you're not going to eat Kebabs, common across Central Asian cuisines. However, Balkh's Kebabs are marinated in a different spice mixture, and also tend to be more well done (less juicy) in comparison to those in nearby countries. I would recommend Chabli Kebab, popular in the Pakhtun beltway spanning Afghanistan and Pakistan.
They do have obvious flaws: I am not a big fan of the re-heated Palow (brown basmati rice), or the bread (which needs to be warmer and softer). Though called Naan, it doesn't resemble either the Indian or Uzebeki version. The Firni (pistachio milk pudding) would be my recommendation for dessert, though I would like that it be refrigerated and served cold as opposed to at room temperature. And: the "salad"? Don't. even. think. about. it.
It's amusing to note that the TV screen is either playing Indian soaps or Pakistani TV dramas that have been dubbed into Pushto, but the staff can understand Urdu/Hindi well. The pre-dominantly non-Afghan clientele can entertain themselves by staring at a map of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan (population: 30 million) that reinforces the challenges of nation building. (Rating: 3.5 stars) -
Review from Merima K.
Manhattan, NY
5/24/2012
Holy Shish Kebab!
Yep, that about sums up the experience my taste buds were priviliged to induldge in.
Wowie wow! My friend and I tried this place out because we've got this unsatiable appetite for middle eastern cuisine. I mean, it's to the point where I'm putting garam masala seasoning into my spaghetti bolognese. Hey... don't knock it til you try it!
Anyway, I searched on yelp to find out what to try it.
BIG BIG FAN of the bolanee mixed platter - they are these fried turnovers the size of a post-it pad but really thin. You can get them stuffed with scallions (which my friend loved), potato (kinda like a fried pierogie) and the pumpkin one (by far my absolute fAVORITE). The pumpkin bolanee has this tiny sweetness to it which is offset by this creamy and herby yogurt sauce.
Let's talk about the Yogurt sauce.... is it sufficient to say that I could chug it straight from the squeeze bottle it comes in? Yeah.. that's right, it's that flipping good!
We also tried the Manto dumplings which came in this tomato sauce. I mean, other yelpers have loved them but they are too reminiscent for me of Bosnian food (which I'm used to) and I didn't really love them as much as the bolanee turnovers. Needless, to say, they were still very tasty!
Had the Beef Kebab with the jasmine rice. Be sure to specifically tell the waiter that you want it with raisins and carrots because that combination will blow you out of the water. The beef is flavored with these delicious spices that it literally melts in your mouth. I don't know what the afghan word for 'party' is but my mouth was definitely at a rager.
Oh and also, the Cardamom green tea is a must-have! I tried to squeeze the waiter for some to take home but he told me they were readily available for purchase in the neighborhood. Alright, alright, i get it, he doesn't want to divulge restaurant secrets, I respect that.
We were stuffed after that (literally drank 5 cups of tea) and didn't get a chance to try the Dessert although I was eyeing up that Firny rice pudding. I'll be back for sure and will have it next. -
Review from Swarnadeep M.
Briarwood, Queens, NY
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
A very good authentic Afghan kebab house. Make sure you order the manto (afghan version of dumplings) which were very soft and tasty. We also ordered the Lamb kebab and the fish (salmon) kebab. All the entrees are served with a curry on the side. The portions are pretty big and you might need a carry bag to take it home :).
Very good service except for the fact that the server promptly placed 2 bottles of water on the tables without asking. We did not want to pay for the water and asked him to take him back and get us regular water. Otherwise, a very good Afghan restaurant and an authentic place. -
Review from Hasan S.
Baldwin, NY
2/16/2012
Ok the food at this place is great - but i gave it a 3 star as bill is always wrong at this place - you order 1 thing and he will give you 2 even though you didn't order the other thing and then over charge you on the bill.
that's the only thing that pisses me off about this place. you go and sit there and he will put bottled water on the table. No concept of regular water. Then you order a kebab platter and he will put in a lamb shank too - but ofcourse charge you for the lamb shank...
so be careful.
I had recommended this place to a co-worker. He took his order to go and his bill was 18 bucks - but his card was charged for 23 bucks. He had to call them and they reversed 5 bucks. -
Review from Lara G.
2/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It was the February day that the weather teased us with some sun to warmly caress us, only to shock us back to winter the next day. At any rate, I took out my bicycle for a ride to the park, late afternoon. On the way back, I meant to pass by Astoria Fishery and Balk Shish Kabab caught my eye.
After chaining my bicycle, I went inside it felt like I stepped in another world. I ordered the Bolanee sampler: Gandana (scallion), Kachalou (potato) and Kadu (pumpkin) and the cardamom green tea. The tea was fantastic!
The server told me that he was from Uzbekhistan. Yes, I think I may have the habit of subjecting the server to sort of a pleasant version of third degree interrogation. :) The owner of the place was at another table with is friends sipping tea and watching what was at that time going on in Egypt.
I ordered the Combo Kabab which came with rice and salad. It had two (2) pieces of boneless chicken, one (1) piece of lamb tikka and two (2) pieces of beef keema for $10. Of course, I couldn't finish it and I ended up just having it to go while I enjoyed my tea.
This is not a place to go to marvel at the interior but it is a rockin' place for kabab! And the tea, the tea! It was so good, I finished the whole pot and I felt like a water tank as I rode my bicycle back home.Listed in: Equal Food Opportunity-Food…
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Review from Jared C.
12/17/2010 7 photos
The neon outline of Afghanistan greets people on the street, and if you can squint past this glow you will find the metal grill with all the kababs getting prepared. It's all the invitation I needed to walk in.
The interior is decorated with more homages to Afghanistan, carpets, and a large map showing the provinces (look for the namesake Balkh near Uzbekistan in the north). Also is a hand-written sign telling you what not to do, the most important being the consumption of alcohol in this restaurant.
I did not have to go far into the menu to find an array of items that I wanted to order, the appetizers section had no weak links. On a cold night, starting with the aashebride Balkh ($3.50) is a fine way to warm up. It's described as "Afghan spaghetti," and is a simple, hearty soup. There might have been three lamb balls in the bowl, but the broth shines brighter anyhow.
I can never resist a dumpling, no matter what the country of origin, so I ordered both the manto ($6.50, meat) and aushack ($5.50, scallions). Both came well covered in a spiced curry and a dribble of yogurt, but a handy mustard squeeze bottle filled with more was placed on the table when they were brought out. I was thinking I should make my own yogurt bottle to take with me to future restaurants, as so many things can be drenched in it successfully.
The biggest surprise of this array might have been the bolanee kadu ($4.50), fried pumpkin turnovers that were had such a lovely sweet puree inside the thin pastry. It also came with a yogurt dip, which was not necessary but still good.
Not to leave without at least one kabab in a kabab house, I ordered the keema ($5) a la carte with some rice. The beef is marinated and minced with herbs and spices and onions. On another visit I would stick to ordering as many varieties of kababs as possible to try them all, but just did not have the stomach to eat so much this time.
Fully stuffed by the end, it was nice to see the rather gruff staff finally smile. A customer had yelled at them when I was seated, so I think they were still coming out of that shock, but knowing this table was satisfied at least was some consolation for the night. The place got even friendlier as another group of Afghans walked in, greeted the owner/cook and took their seats, greeting friends. I should have stayed to spy on what they ordered, but maybe the next time. -
Review from Mike B.
New York, NY
6/15/2011
The rice here is unbelievable. Maybe you'll go here and say "what, it's just basmati rice?" but there's something about the way it's spiced and cooked here IMHO. it's the best rice in the city.
Staff is friendly, serious about the food. Kebabs are better than average and not expensive. -
Review from Stephen A.
FOREST HILLS, NY
7/6/2011
I have eaten here often and the food is always delicious. Recommend the Kebab platters with the rice that comes with
carrots & raisins. Portions can feed a family of 4 or at least double for your lunch the next day :) The homemade house bread, Bolani Kadu (pumpkin turnovers) and the salad with the yogurt mint sauce are all excellent. Told the owner he should sell the yogurt mint dressing by the squeeze bottle! Friendly dine-in service or great for takeout. Definitely check this place out. -
Review from Kat D.
Astoria, NY
11/19/2011
Oh, lord, how I miss this place. Especially so after having just eaten at an Afghan restaurant in Manhattan. This place is weird, but feels authentic and the food is so good I just want to live here. There's something amazing about their veggies - no other ethnic cuisine makes them so good. Can't wait to go back!
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Review from J. N.
Los Angeles, CA
11/26/2007
A rule to dine by: if you go into an ethic restaurant and no one is speaking English, sit down and order some food. Yesterday that rule held true.
Forget the eggplant I've had in Israel... or Egypt... or anyplace else for that matter; our eggplant appetizer (cooked to perfection with an outstanding, if understated, yogurt sauce drizzled on top) began one of the tastiest meals I've had in a while.
The eggplant was followed by tasty, tender lamb shank that fell off the bone, and a sweet & savory pumpkin dish on rice.
The service (maybe the owner) was friendly and helpful with the menu.
Yalla Baikh Shish! -
Review from Amy L.
Woodside, NY
6/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Like the great majority of restaurants beyond the euro-chic drags of 30th Ave and Ditmars in Astoria, this place is ugly, affordable and amazing.
I ordered take out from Balkh on a spontaneous recommendation from a chef friend who I ran into on the sidewalk on my way somewhere else. At 10pm on a Sunday, this place is full of nothing but burning fluorescent light, loud TV and a really delicious aroma coming from where the kitchen sits right in front of the restaurant.
My friend specifically said to get the borani kadu (fried pumpkin rounds), which I got in the appetizer portion, and as an entree I ordered the lobiya (red beans in a liquidy seasoned sauce). The borani kadu was both subtly sweet and spicy, though a little softer and oilier than I would have expected. I think that may have been a consequence of eating at 10pm on a Sunday what was probably prepared for the 8pm crowd. The thick quarters of bread on the side were a little tougher than I like, again possibly an issue of timing. For that, I don't judge.
Three condiments came with it. I love condiments! Seriously, @#$% high-end chefs and the inflexiblity of their 'artistic vision.' I demand the option to dip, drizzle, colorize and adjust my meal with a number of sauces and pickled things. Included here was a very minty yogurt, a very spicy red vinegar thing, and a green chile sauce that almost made me cry.
The lobiya was excellent. Plump kidney beans swim in a slightly thickened sauce full of warm spices and fresh herbs. The brown rice is fragrant and honestly, the most perfect thing about the whole meal. There is something lovely and familiar about it, probably because a good plate of rice and beans shows up in almost every culture with food worth eating. -
Review from ian B.
Los Angeles, CA
7/13/2009 1 photo
This just might be the best Afghan food outside of Afghanistan; the only other contender (from my experience) being Salang Pass in Fremont, California.
Everything is well-made and delectable; the Kabuli Pulao -which happens to be their equivalent of Biryani- is a must for your main-course. The meat here is juicy, flavorful, and always cooked perfectly as well as the rices in which you will find each grain separate from the others in a picture-perfect ensemble.
The owner is a sweet guy who will work to ensure your visit will be in your memories for years to come. All of the meat is halal/zabihah. For the people who can't tolerate a social gathering without alcohol, sorry, as it is neither served nor allowed here. -
Review from Mash A.
Queens, NY
1/8/2010
I've been coming here since I was a kid. The food is just great...afghan meat and rice...can't get any better. This place is not fancy at all so dont plan on having a romantic dinner for two here...for example, they serve poland spring water in the .5 liter bottles! And the flat screen mounted TV is always blairing some middles eastern news channel. Regardless, the food here is too good to miss and very affordable with huge portions. And if you live in Astoria like I do, chances are they will deliver. Who ever I bring here is hooked and always want to come back for seconds. My favorite meal is the ribs kebab (double stick) with rice and salad...and for starters, try the bolani kadu.
...writing this review is making me hungry...I think I'll order me some lamb now. =) -
Review from Jim K.
New York, NY
9/10/2008
Great food. Authentic atmosphere. Good service
I found this place out of curiosity to see what was at the end of the N/W train. Just before the last stop was Balkh Shish Kabab. I tried it and have taken people there ever since. The lamb is slow baked for hours and falls off the bone. Its raita is spot on.
Definitely one of my favorites. It is esp right when you are seeking low key authenticity outside the city. Great date place because it is in a relaxed Astoria neighborhood.
Easy drive from the city, too. If you want: 59th St/Queensboro Bridge upper level, keep bearing right. When you get to the light at 21st St, just hang a right. Once you cross Hoyt, go right to 31st St then continue back left/north. That is all! It is between 23rd Rd & 23rd Ave, under the train tracks of the N/W. -
Review from Cris C.
Long Island City, NY
1/27/2009
Very good food! Appetizers are delicious and portions are very generous. Their fried Samosas and Bonanee Kadu are incredibly delicious.
The combo kabob with yogurt sauce and bismati rice are quite a treat and give you a little sample of different meats.
The place is not fancy and could use some renovation, but the food is tasty and the people are very pleasant. You won't be disappointed!
They deliver and their prices are affordable! -
Review from Abed A.
ASTORIA, NY
8/10/2011
al7mdlillah
Get the Manto as an appetizer, and get the Kabli Palow as the main course, you can't go wrong. It's definitely some of the best lamb shank in the city and I've never had it come out subpar (that's after eating here frequently for years.) Their white sauce actually contains yogurt and mint, so it's palatable unlike those mayonnaise and pepper concoctions you find at street vendors. -
Review from Amber A.
Astoria, Queens, NY
6/14/2010
I absolutely love this place. I haven't had other Afghan food, so I can't do a relative comparison. But I've always been very happy with my food here.
In particular, the bolanee kadu (pumpkin fritters) appetizer is amazing. I get it every time I order from here--I just can't resist! They also have impressively good tea, for all you tea drinkers out there. And the baklava is very good, especially if you don't want it to be overwhelmingly sweet.
The atmosphere isn't very swank, as others have pointed out. It feels very authentic and very "family business." But if you're looking for "atmosphere," go somewhere else. Or do like I do and order take out and eat at home with a nice bottle of wine.
Speaking of wine, note that there's no alcohol permitted (at least according to the signage, though I've never tested whether they enforce it). -
Review from Jenn B.
Astoria, NY
4/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.5 I've probably passed this restaurant a million times in my life having grown up only a block away and I finally gave it a shot. Craving something different, I decided to give Afghani food a try which led me to Balk Shish Kabab. This is not a place you go to for décor or ambience. Not that it's horrible looking, just very simple. Their plates are huge and could easily feed two people, maybe three. I had the lamb tikka which came with basmati rice, bread, and a salad. The lamb was perfectly seasoned with a hint of spice and cooked very well. You can't ever go wrong with basmati rice and they are very generous with it. The bread was ok, wish it was a bit softer and warmer. My order came with some sort of yogurt dill sauce that reminded me of a milder, more watery tzaziki sauce; and a spicy green sauce very reminiscent of salsa verde. Can't wait to try more of their dishes!
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Review from dan c.
Brooklyn, NY
12/10/2009
A visit to this place is, I'm guessing, authentically Afghani. Signs warn against alcohol, the owner is dressed in traditional garb, and throughout the L-shaped dining room families of all walks and lots of Middle Eastern men share food at its smattering of tables. There is a crude, colorful map of Afghanistan on the wall, and overall the place exudes a friendly, welcoming vibe.
I think my friend and I ordered somewhat poorly, because this food was simply "ok," there was nothing transcendent about it.
We started with the Borani Kadu; fried pumpkin with homemade sauce served with afghan bread. It was light and pleasantly pumpkin, drizzled with the minty yogurt sauce that is a trademark of the country's cuisine, along with a brown sauce. The portion was large, though we should have gotten the turn overs.
I got the lamb shish kebab, and it came served over a HEAPING bed of good rice, with a trite salad doused in garlicy white dressing. My buddy got the Gulpi Chalow; fresh cauliflower cooked with beans, tomato sauce and herbs which was fine but unspectacular. I wanted bolder flavors in both entrees.
I don't like when bottled water is served without it being requested, instead of tap water, which this place does. There was a curious message on the table excusing the raising of prices by 50 cents for appetizers and 1 dollar for entrees. When the bill came, the prices were raised arbitrarily to be one or two or three dollars above the menu prices. When I inquired, the owner simply pointed to the message on the table. He should print or modify the menu to reflect the current prices. As it is now, it's misleading, confusing, and arbitrary. -
Review from Gustavo J.
Astoria, NY
12/25/2009
Big portions. Simple, delicious food. Nice, attentive staff. Authentic feel. While it was my first time eating Afghan food, the great food and overall experience were enough to make me an instant fan. A must-try if you're in the neighborhood.
And they DELIVER!?!? Too good to be true. -
Review from Rabia Z.
Forest Hills, NY
8/16/2010
My husband and I ate dinner here and the experience was less-than-favorable.
Unbeknownst to me, the chair I sat in had loose screws...the back of it fell off (!) a few minutes after I sat down, and I'm not a big girl by any stretch of the imagination. Nor was I leaning against the back of it. But thankfully I wasn't hurt, only shocked.
Service was a little slow, but that can be overlooked if the food is good. However, the food was just alright, and it still tasted bland even after being doused in white sauce. We've had much better, less-expensive Afghan food in Queens. We asked for water and they gave us Poland Spring bottles...umm how about tap water? Sorry, we don't have any. So what did you the boil the rice in?!
Not going back here anytime soon. -
Review from Madina W.
Fresh Meadows, NY
6/24/2010
I love the food here almost more than I love my momma's cookin' and that's saying a lot, considering my momma is "Iron Chef" material.
Balkh Shish Kabab House is a no frills kinda place, no wine-and-caviar-high-snobbery here; also, no wine and caviar (caviar's just not on the menu and keeping to "halal" convention, neither is alcohol).
I'd label this place a "Family Restaurant," not that you're required to bring your family, but most do and in effect, it can get loud. Don't expect a quite dinner, but do expect a savory one.
Let's turnover to the turnovers! The "Bolani Kadoo" or pumpkin turnovers are a must-try, especially if you have a sweet tooth. Do dip-- perhaps double dip-- this appetizing appetizer into the white sauce, you will not regret you did! The "samosas" or fried dumplings are good too, but there's never enough ground beef inside them. Still, if you dip or double dip the "samosas" into the white sauce, you won't regret it.
Most of the entrees are rice and kabab combos, accompanied with salad (do drizzle the white sauce on your salad, but don't stop there, do drizzle the white sauce all over your plate). I always order the chicken kebab, just because I'm loco for pollo, but the (salmon) fish kebab is just as delightful.
All the food is delicious and authentically Afghan. The prices are fair, the portions are filling, the ambiance is lacking, but if you're there strictly for food, you won't leave disappointed. -
Review from Yifang L.
New York, NY
7/22/2010
I was a little hesitant to try this place because I never had Afghan food before. But, my friend insisted that we eat lunch here. She guaranteed that I would like the samosas and main entrees. And she was right - the pumpkin samosas were fantastic. I still think about them from time to time. So delicious! We also ordered the chicken kebobs and fish kebobs with fried fish. The entrees were huge. They came with plenty of rice and salad. When I return to this restaurant in the near future, I will definitely share a main entree with a friend. And maybe have the entire plate of pumpkin samosas to myself. I am getting hungry just thinking about them :)
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Review from Romana claretta H.
Long Island City, NY
7/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
real delicious food! ambiance is nothing special, focus is mainly on the food. love the qabuli palow with lamb, along with all the kebabs. portions are massive so be prepared to take sum home. prices are exceptionally reasonable.
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Review from Ralphia L.
Astoria, Queens, NY
11/30/2010
Solid kabab house-- consistently tasty food and good service.
I've dined in, and gotten delivery on multiple occasions, and have not had any issues.
The lamb kabab is flavorful and tender, without being undercooked.
The chops were also good, but not especially so.
The rice is cooked very well -- nicely seasoned, and puhllava (plump).
Meals come with salad, rice, bread, and raita. Most dishes can be ordered as "sides," which are really just a la carte options.
The restaurant has plenty of space, and the food is cooked in front of you, so you can be comfortable that there is no shady business going on with the preparation. They have a couple tvs up- last time I went, I think we were seeing the Afghani or Irani version of who wants to be a millionaire.
Not sure this is much better than other kabab houses, so might not be worth a trek out to Astoria, if you have one closer to you.
This place does serve halal meat, but is great for everyone! -
Review from Greg G.
Astoria, NY
12/2/2007
Ah, the food was so good. Lots of lamb dishes with complex - and delicious - flavors. My roommates had lamb; I had the beef kabobs, which came with a generous portion of awesome basmati rice, and some vegetables. If you're in the area, swing by. You won't be disappointed.
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Review from Danaher D.
Astoria, NY
2/24/2010
So I read some of the reviews of this place, and I have to say that the service is decent but the food is damn good. I can't speak to the authenticity of the food as I've never been to Afghanistan. They do bring bottled water right to your table but you can request not to have it and they take it away without a problem. I'd highly suggest getting a pot of tea there. It's $2 a pot for some nice spiced tea a really good deal almost anywhere.
We got the Lamb, Lamb Ribs and Eggplant. All were delicious and come with HUGE portions of rice. You will not need to order extra rice.
Definitely worth checking out. -
Review from Nasheet R.
Astoria, NY
6/17/2011
love it.. try their tea.also good.. i wud not try the fish there ha ha
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Review from angela s.
Brooklyn, NY
7/29/2009 3 photos
after having a great meal at pita house over on 30th, i became temporarily obsessed with middle eastern food.
so i went all the way back, for afghani food this time. i got there at about 12:30, but it was empty. i thought it was because i was early for the lunchtime rush.
two of us dined, and i had the lamb shank and he had the beef and lamb on rice. (see pics) we also ordered the eggplant bolanee.
i felt that the food was tasty and the portions were large. however, it was not so outstanding that i would return. the waiter was quite inattentive. also, the food was overpriced, considering the food was the same as street food from the carts in manhattan. -
Review from eden n.
Los Angeles, CA
11/2/2010
Atmosphere - I love this place, it is the complement to fancy (a.k.a 1/fancy) it was like sitting in some cheap place in India, the old CRT TV was playing some shluk..shluk..shack...smuck...boom..trach hindi movie. The perfect disharmony between the soundtrack and the fighting characters was consistent throughout the movie and the only interruption to the fights was frequent 5 to 10 minutes music clips, that is no one change the channel and there were no commercials - it was part of the movie I swear. All the employees were watching the movie, a young waiter came over quickly and offered drinks, we said "tap water please", a minute later we had a plastic pitcher that was design to look bad with plenty of water in our disposal and the waiter went back to watch the movie. While sitting there, talking about Afghanistan our waiter came over and pointed out that he is from Tajikistan, I liked that, it contributed to the "home kitchen" atmosphere of the place.
This is what I call authentic cheap atmosphere , and from my experience, often it comes with low cost, high quality food. I was excited
We ordered
Bolanee Kadu, Banadajan Borani,Combo Kabab, Bamia Chalow
It was too much food for the two of us, one portion of rice is enough.
We paid 40$ after tax and tip.
If I go back there I'll order the Combo Kabab.
Good food and service, authentic atmosphere, large portions and cheap, friendly staff - I recommend the place if you happen to be in the area. -
Review from Meghan G.
Steinway, Queens, NY
3/23/2010
I never noticed this place and passed it several times, the word "kabab" simply doesn't do it for me. I've remedied that.
No, I've never had their kababs and every time I go in and don't order a kabab the guy says: "So, no kabab." No joke, every time. I get the manto, beef meat dumplings with curry sauce and yogurt, and aushack, boiled dumplings with scallions, herbs and spices.
The manto are home-by-the-fire wrapped in dough. The aushack, Spring-time-in-the-park wrapped in dough. A delightful combination if you're into dough like I am.
In the tasty beverage department, I get the small pitcher of (drumroll, please) sweet dough (the Afghani lassi equivalent.) Their black tea- "special Afghan tea flavored with Balkh cardamon" is lovely and they always give you a bottled water upon sitting down.
The kofta are yum. The brown rice is made with pride. I had a bite of my brother's lamb dish and it melted in my mouth.
In truth, one would be hard pressed to find a bad something here. Perhaps the Bolanee Kadu, mashed pumpkin turnovers, aren't up to par with the rest but still a tasty treat.
I also enjoy catching up on my Al Jazeera despite not having a clue as to what they are saying. -
Review from Bret G.
Long Island City, NY
6/14/2010
I've never had Afghan food before and wanted to check it out. It was really good. The staff was nice, and the waiter was friendly. I ordered a quail special. It was delicious though I wish I had gotten a kebab instead just because it was difficult to eat because of all the tiny bones in the birds. I also got scallion-stuffed turnovers as an appetizer and they came with bread and there was a huge variety of sauces to pour on top. It was very good. It's a bit of a walk for me to go here but I'm already planning on going back soon.
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Review from Just A.
New York, NY
8/13/2010
I love Afghan food but for some reason gave this place a miss for a couple of years. Big mistake - I've been missing out on excellent food.
Shared a variety of kebabs and appetizers and was very pleased with everything. Fresh, clean, good cuts of meat. Very attentive service by the Mexican/CA cook seemingly filling in for Ramadan.
Very impressed and will be returning soon! -
Review from Adeel R.
Brooklyn, NY
4/27/2010
My favorite Afghan Restaurant in NY. Highly recommend the kabuli pulow combo. You can't go wrong with the kabab's either
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Review from Todd F.
Manhattan, NY
3/6/2011
Love this place! The somosas are the best I have ever had. I have been going here for years. I don't live nearby, but whenever I pass through Queens I stop by. Just know, no booze.
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Review from Junkfoodie Q.
NY
1/13/2007
i got hooked on this afghan restaurant while living in astoria.
gotta try the fried turnover appetizers: the bolanee kadu is a fried turnover made of pumpkin, and the bolanee gandana is a fried turnover with scallions.
also the lamb korma (lamb curry), basmati rice (brown rice with raisins and thin slices of carrots), and sabzi (spinach) were all very tasty.
and the firny (some sort of yogurt dessert) was good too!
i used to order out from this place 1-2 times/week... it had me raving about afghan food for months.... -
Review from Sophie H.
5/14/2011
move over istanbul, i have found my new favorite kabab/turkish restaurant and its cheaper too! the restaurant was so dark and dimly lit i wasn't sure if it was open but sure enough, the open sign was lit. their menu is extensive and very reasonably priced...especially if your wallet has been raped by Istanbul like mine has. i got the lamb chops platter and it was so juicy, perfectly seasoned and delicious!! it came with basmati rice and you can really taste the love that went into that rice, a small salad and of course you get two choices of hot sauce: the red and a green salsa verde tasting one and the yogurt. i love sauces and i love their sauces. Istanbul has yet to get their sauces right. Mine came out to 9$, there is a small piece of paper on each table that says "due to rising food costs all appetizers are raised .50 and entrees 1.00$" which it was, so no complaints or shockers there. i would sooo venture all the way to astoria to eat here again! can't wait to try their famed dumplings
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Review from Süleyman Khan G.
Queens, NY
11/28/2009
excellent food!
