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One of the best halal kabob houses in the washington d.c area. No question see the reviews. The family owned family really knows how to deliver on fantasic kabobs.
I tried their new Gyro wrap. OMG. I love gyro, but this was simply over the top. They wrapped the meat in an entire pita bread i.e. naan. The meat is spicy like their chaapli kabob. Next their special sauce is wickedly good.
This has become my favorite menu item.
Can't wait to go their again..
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Had the Haleem and Lamb Kabob...
Haleem tasted like lentil and nothing like it is supposed to be! The Chana wasn't really good too. Kabob pieces were so small that i could take them all in 2 gulps. They tasted nice, but not worth the price or the visit. The service was good, which may prompt me to try the place once again
Let's just say I'm in the "kabob addict" phase of my life and am constantly on the prowl for my next kabob fix. This place came highly recommended by a fellow kabob connoisseur so I had very high expectations.
Location/Service:
Easy to find in the Herndon Centre shopping center off of Elden and had lots of parking. Within lunch driving distance from Reston where I work. It's not much to look at from the outside or the inside however the interior walls are richly decorated with the piercing glares of various afghan freedom fighters and other men on horseback playing the traditional game of "toss the goat" - sure to keep you entertained throughout the meal!
When we arrived it was the weekday lunch hour so the place was packed but there are plenty of tables so finding a seat isn't a problem. An employee came around from behind the counter to take orders from people in line so all you had to do when you got to the counter was pay for your food. Considering how busy they were, I didn't mind the 10-15 minute wait for our food. I also liked that they have a speaker system that they use to announce when your food is ready - this reduces the confusion I've encountered in other ethnic restaurants where the noise combined with the difficult to understand accents of the staff make it a guessing game as to what number they are calling.
Food:
The portions are generous; your typical kabob platter (I've had the lamb, keema and kubidah) comes with bread, rice, small side salad w/yogurt sauce and your choice of veggie curry. I think it's a great value at $9 and trust me it's enough food for a big guy like me to come away stuffed. If you're extra hungry and opt for one of the combo platters, you're guaranteed to have a case of the meat sweats as you approach your last few bites. The keema and kubidah could have had more flavor, but I did like that you could ask them to make it extra spicy for you. The bread is outstanding, but the yogurt sauce was a bit runnier and lacking in flavor than I am used to. I've had the spinach, chick peas and lentils (my favorite) on the side and they are all good - I find the best way to eat them is to just dump them on my rice, creating a wonderful basmati rice/curried vegetable orgy of yumminess.
Conclusion:
I found that for me Reston Kabob is still the champ as far as the best overall kabob experience I've had. They both make excellent kabobs and bread, however the sauces at Reston Kabob keep them on top. But Charcoal Kabob is probably the better value money wise, and also has greater variety on their menu which will keep me coming back to try new things.
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After seeing Seab H.'s recent review - I knew I had to visit Charcoal Kabab soon - it's been on my "want to try" list for a long time.
Had dinner here this evening - walked in amongst rapidly darkening and threatening skies - was about 85 degrees out when I walked in.
Ordered the Lamb and Keema Kabob combo - which comes with rice, a side of iceberg lettuce with one cucumber slice, bread, and one side of your choice - I selected the spicy creamed lentils. And a bottle of cold water.
Sat down to wait for my number to be called. I was one of the only Caucasian folks in there - lots of folks from various ethnicities came in for their Kabob fix - I figure they must be doing something right!
When my order came up - I tasted the rice straight - kind of bland. Then I tasted the lentils. Wow! And spicy! I poured the lentils over the rice and now I have something even more delish!
But the highlight were the Kababs. Man were they good. The lamb was as tender as I've ever had. Zero fat, zero gristle - just pure, tender lamb goodness! The Keema is a spiced ground beef based Kabob - very yummy and flavorful with a nice light char to it.
There was no chemical lighter fluid taste as Jeff W. experienced - and no I've not yet experienced those places in Arlington that you like Jeff! :-)
They do accept credit cards - paid with a Visa. Can't wait to come back and experience more of their menu!
When I walked out the door to leave - it was pouring rain - and was 70 degrees out! The temperature dropped 15 degrees in less than 30 minutes!
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Certainly the best kabob place in the Herndon/Reston area.
Their strength is really the meat kabobs, and specifically the lamb, beef, or chicken. I got the fish kabob once, and it was quite disappointing - way overdone. Their other star is their chickpea curry. I believe it is the most popular of their sides, by far. I tried the lentil side instead once, and while it was pretty good, it was no where near as good as the chickpea. They also have various other curries, but I'm not quite intrepid enough; they look rather unappetizing.
Now, here's the thing: they have a daily special, which is the same every week. Friday's special is "chicken beriani", and it is really not the same as an indian biryani, though etymologically is the same word. You get this mountain of INTENSELY spiced rice, generously suffused with chunks of tender chicken. You need to have a pretty good heat tolerance for this, but if you do, I think you'll love it, as I do. I never get kabob anymore on a Friday! The daily specials the other days of the week can probably be skipped.
I also have to ding them for never having sambosas, though they're always on the menu. They do have other reasonable substitutes, if you're looking for something to augment your nosh.
Jeff W. is right, though: Ravi and Kabob Palace are a notch above Charcoal Kabob. Personally, I'd rate Kabob Palace a notch or two above Ravi Kabob... but that's a review (or two) for another day.
People thought this was:
Charcoal Kabob is by far the coolest place to eat in Herndon. I love the decor at this place. As you walk in, you'll see a big mural painting of Afghan men on horsebacks playing the sport of tossing a dead goat around. If you ever see Rambo III, you'll know what I'm talking about.
On the left wall there is about two dozen framed portraits of I guess freedom fighters maybe? If you look straight ahead, there is a large cartoon picture of a chef with a big mustache, cute. Also, there are two big arabian lanterns. If I open up the lid, I think a pink smoke will come out and turn into a gorgeous blond and call me master.
As for the food, the food is awesome. Ample portions, the bread comes out piping hot. I love their tandoori chicken, smokey & juicy flavor. I like to dump my side order of veggie & potatoes onto the basmati, delish.
The only small complaint is their yogurt sauce, kinda watered down and tastes more like ranch dressing.
I'm definitely a fan.
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Wow! I came to this place when I visited a friend in Loudon (I'm originally from near Richmond) and this place is SOO GOOD! What they lack in ambiance (it's pretty much got that hole-in-the-wall feel, but with giant murals depicting images reminiscent of the owners' home country), they make up for with great flavor! The food was very flavorful and didn't seem greasy at all. I had the chickpeas and they were soo very good...a nice thick, brownish curry sauce. We had some sort of meat kabab too (sorry, I forgot which one), but it was all so good! Let me tell you, the chickpeas alone are a lot of food! They're so good to eat with the naan. Man, I wish I had a place like this where I live. Everything was nice and spicy, too. I am seriously salivating right now just thinking about it!! Can't wait to go back!
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"I'd like a combo number thirteen please."
"Two?"
"THIRTEEN."
Double language barrier oh god.
Walking in you feel like this is gonna be the real deal. Traditional decor, cafeteria layout, customer base is legit. Minute maid lemonade, coke, sprite, fanta orange soda among the fountain options. Fridge of bottled water, doogh, some other soft drinks. Rice was disappointingly plain. Yogurt sauce was bland and tasted more like ranch dressing for some reason, but the naan was pleasantly fluffy. Sides are actually pretty good: lentils were acceptable, but I enjoyed the chicken curry much more... even if it gave Paul's bowels a rough go. Lamb was much superior to the chicken, which was sadly dried out.
They do now accept credit cards, which is a plus. I think we had a 20 minute wait before they called our ticket number, so calling ahead next time is definitely a must for the hungry. Great value, slightly lower overall quality compared to my favorite joint for meats prepped on sticks. Tables aren't kept quite as clean though, and the lack of spicy sauce is mildly depressing. Three and a half star experience overall. I'd probably be happy to return if I have to go shopping at Giant right after work again.
People thought this was:
Tucked in the corner of the little strip mall - you would not think this to be a popular place to eat. Lunch traffic in this area is brutal on good days.
Went there with a co-worker from Pakistan. Walked in and immediately felt glad I was with my Pakistan friend. The decor includes pictures on the wall of fighters on horseback. I don't know if they are Mujahidin or Freedom Fighters or ?? You can see one of the pics on the home page http://www.charcoalkab.../
Regardless - speaking the native language has it's advantages here and Ravi did most of the talking...
The food - I almost forgot... :) Great stuff!! All the dishes come with rice and bread (Naan-like). There is a yogurt sauce and sides that include chickpeas, lentils, etc. There are jalapenos to round out the sides (wondering how that pepper gets around in so many cultures).
The meat portions include lamb, chicken, beef, fish, vegi... I prefer the keema. The portions are ample, so if you are with someone else - you can actually share the plate. There is a lot of food here for the dollar.
If you have the time to get to this place at lunch - go there. You will not regret it. Wonderful food and you don't really need to take a friend from Pakistan with you - they are very cool!
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I've tried the other kabob places in the area and this is by far, the best. I would drive the extra 15 minutes to come here rather than go to Reston Kabob. There is nothing I did not like about the food here. If you want a consistently good experience, this is the place to come.
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I still like moby dick's a tiny tiny bit better but the Kubideh here rocks! And they are a lot faster than moby dicks ... as well as less crowded. We eat here before going to the movies.
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One of the best places I have ever had kabob. Anytime I am out in the Herndon area and craving kabob madness, I go here. The lentil and the lamb are so money.
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They have really good kabobs. I went here once years ago and never went back because they do not take credit cards (My policy is no credit card machine = no customer).
A few month ago a co-worker of mine mentioned that they do now take credit cards. I have been back several times since then. They still have very good kabobs. I recommend giving it a try for lunch sometime.
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Charcoal Kabob is the second best kabob house that I've sampled in Northern Virginia. Their tandoor-fired bread is outstanding. The chick pea stew over basmati can be likened to the Afghan version of Japanese curry rice or American mac-and-cheese: I could eat it all day.
Their meats, sadly, fall a little flat. The chicken is tasty but dry. Dry chicken is perfectly acceptable to me as that's just how mom made it. Nontheless, I've had a couple of colleagues complain about the dryness of the chicken.
For the very best kabobs in Northern Virginia, try Rose Kabob in Vienna. I semi-seriously discussed with my wife the possibility of approaching the owner to invest in the establishment. That is how much both my wife and I enjoy Rose Kabob.
People thought this was:
Good, casual place for kabobs. They were very busy during lunch, mainly for carryout orders. I like the fact that you can choose a side if you order the combination. The lamb and chicken were tasty. The spinach side was a little spicy. I would like to return and try some of the other dishes.
It would be nice if they stopped using styrofoam plates and cups.
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Normally, I would never venture into a place like this, of course, unless it was recommended by someone I know. This was the case for my first trip here.
I was in charge of finding a place for a farewell luncheon at work and this was highly recommended by a co-worker, so off to Elden St. we went.
Lots of space, there's even a "private" room to the side just in case you want to be alone.
Food here was good. Not only do you get your typical kabob, with rice and their bread but you get a side of your choice of one of their speciality dishes. It's great. I had so much, I swear it was meant to share. I did the lamb combo, excellent. My other co-workers did the chicken, and of course, more lamb, all delicious.
I will be back...
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Doesnt look like much inside, but some pretty good kabob at decent prices. The lamb, chicken, beef triple combo was like $13. Their bread is pretty good too. Pretty good chickpeas too, but give the halim (sic) a try too. Its some chicken porridge type of stuff that makes for a very filling side dish with your meal.
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$9 Chicken, $10 Lamb, $11 Beef Kabobs. The bread is the best! The meats are seasoned well, the Chickpeas are amazing and the rice is awalys perfect! The Nan/Pita is made to order so always fresh, probably the key to a great kabob. Oh and call 10 minutes beforehand to avoid waiting for your bread to bake.
Over the years with inflations the prices have risen and the saffron yellow rice on top has since disappeared, but the owners are very nice, and always there to greet you with a smile. For a $9 meal it is one of the best in Northern Virginia, I have been addicted since 1997.
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I have moved away from Herndon and I dream about this place.
Worth having a light lunch so you can eat more kabob...
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I went back after a year, and they have a new cook now. As far as I can remember, everything used to be good, but now it's hit or miss.
The spicy beef was too dry for my liking, but it had great flavor. The chicken kabob was top notch, and I'll definitely get it again.
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Delicious food in a dirty, unpleasant, school cafeteria-type atmosphere. It's very cheap, and… Read more »
I visited this place for the first time when visiting with my boyfriend's family over Christmas last year. It was my first time every eating kabab's and I was blown away. My very favorite part was the amazing bread, and upon returning to Orlando, FL I spent the next nine months visiting pita and kabab places searching for anything that might come close to it.
Alas, my search was a failure. But I've moved back here for the time being, and I'm sure to become a regular.
The decor is pretty awful, but it's made a little less so when the place is filled with customers, which it often is. The staff have been friendly to me on every visit and seem happy to answer questions, even if they're a little busy.
People thought this was:
Definitely my favorite Kabob place. Whenever I go anywhere else for kabobs, I always compare them to Charcoal Kabob in my mind and they never come close. Everyone I've taken there has always been satisfied. I even have a friend that drives down from Philadelphia and always takes back a couple boxes for her family. It's that good!
I recommend the Chapli Kabob and the Karahi Chicken. My favorite dish on the side is the chickpeas. And you can never go wrong with a Combo #1 - one keema kabob, chicken kabob, rice, naan, salad, and your choice of side (mine is always chickpeas!!)
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I have been raised on kabab's. Other than my mom's food, this has to be my second favorite place to eat. My family and I have been going here since 94 and nothing has changed (in a good way).
Other than it relocating just down the street, the food, service and music have always been just what I expect it to be; fantastic.
If you're a vegetarian, go there get some bread and ask for the green yogurt sauce and I promise you'll be so happy. It get spicy but grab some mango juice and suck it down. I can not stress how wonderful the staff have always been. I hope this place stays around for I can not imagine living here without Charcoal Kabab.
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clean place and the food is very good
My boyfriend is of Pakistani descent, so my first time here was actually with him (he and his family have been going to this place for years).. even cooler, it's right across the street from my office in Herndon!! awesome.
Anyway, I highly recommend the Chupli kabobs (spicy little beef patties).. they are excellent, and spiced just right if you like it a little hot :x
The chicken is always moist and succulent, and the sambosas are made fresh and also delicious. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. You will, however, probably spend an average of 10 bucks on a dish - but you get more than enough food for one sitting, and the quality and flavor make it well worth it.
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BEST KABOB'S I'VE EVER HAD
....NUFF SAID.
btw, they DO NOT take credit cards...that's why they have an ATM right in the middle of the place.
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This has been one of my favorite kabob spots for the past 6+ years. Even though the wait can be a lil long, the food is always worth the wait! The reason I didn't give 5 stars is because of the two price increases over the past year.
By the way, they have recently undergone remodeling which is a big improvement but still far from upscale. You wouldn't want to sit and chit chat for an extended amount of time.
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man this place is great. The guys who run it are a pleasure. Kubideh is awesome, rice is great. The chickpeas here are absurd. It is difficult to believe that a chickpea can be coaxed into having such a flavor, and I could easily abandon my kabobs and eat nothing but these chickpeas.
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In a word - a lot. I'd say you'd have to starve yourself for a week to eat all the food here. Very rich. Kabob's are great. Portions, huge. Large space so you can accomodate a good-sized group. Just bring your A-Game when you come here to pack it in. And the owners are quite nice as well.
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The Kabob is properly spiced and tastes good. I had chicken, lamb and keema kabob and enjoyed them. My only slight negative is that they were a little dryer than I would have liked.
The bread is excellent.
As indicated in other reviews, the ambiance is not exactly lavish. Well, it's actually a little dumpy. But the food's good and that's what counts.
I'll definitely go back.
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Until I discovered Charcoal Kabob, the only reason I would be in Herndon was so that I could leave Herndon. Among the crowded and horribly placed/planned streets and shops, there is but one glistening beacon that gives purpose to an otherwise mini failed-state....and that place serves kabobs and the best chickpeas that side of civilization.
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Great place, the keema kabob for lunch will leave you stuffed!
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You will not leave hungry
I started working in Herndon and was looking for a good kabob restaurant. Charcoal Kabob is quite good. I ordered the kubideh combo and added the chick peas that others had raved about. The chick peas were good; the meat was not the best quality and the bread was quite doughy and not my favorite. Still, for about ten bucks (including the bottled water) I thought this was not a bad option. I will check out other options in the area, but might go back.
People thought this was:
I will go out of my way to stop at this place. I love that they have a dedicated bread guy and I usually watch him take my bread fresh from the "oven" and put it on my plate just as my kabob selection is ready. They used to be a cash-only establishment, but they now take plastic.
At least three of the people there, have been there since I first learned about this place in 1995-ish and they're always friendly.
On the veggie/side selection is Haleem, but they usually only serve it up for those who know what it is. I've ordered it, with bread, for carry out before. Their recipe is awesome and the best I've ever tasted.
Their keema (spiced ground meat) is pretty darn spicy and full flavored. The lamb is also a favorite of mine and I also just grab the "veggie trio" for carry out from time to time as well.
The plaza where they are located is going through some sort of transition. About a month ago, nearly every other busines in this center was closed, but they were putting in new floor tile (nice too), so I have no idea what's going on. I haven't found anything that comes close to the Charcoal Kabob though so I hope it's around for at least another 10 years.
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This hole-in-the-wall serves superb superb kabobs at a very reasonable price. The boy and I came by to pick up take-out for dinner. I mentioned that I thought this place could easily give Reston Kabob a run for its money, or even out-perform it. By the way he wolfed down the food, I'd guess that he'd agree.
I think the quality of the food has already been expounded upon reasonably well. The portions on the kebabs are incredible. The value is superior. The only additional thing I could possibly ask for is that they served their kebabs with some zhoug (http://www.jewish-food...). Fortunately, my surrogate mom gave me some of her homemade zhoug a few months ago and this was a perfect opportunity to break into it.
One huge reason why I foresee myself being a staunch supporter of Charcoal Kabob is the friendliness of the staff. While we were waiting the 5-10 minutes for our kebabs to grill up, I noticed one of the guys behind the counter pulling apart dough and slapping it into a clay oven.
I asked what kind of oven it was and got a thorough explanation on how it's a tandoor (oh, so that's what a tandoor is!), and whereas some places that serve naan sometimes explode in giant balls of flame because they use grease to cook with, Charcoal Kabob doesn't have that problem. The issue with grease and bread and ovens is that grease pools, and unless you clean it out regularly it can catch on fire and burn down buildings. With its two tandoors, Charcoal Kabob can make great fluffy naan bread without grease; instead, they can simply slap the doughy goodness up against the side of the clay, and when it's done it just peels right off with a little nudge.
Thanks to Charcoal Kabob, I now have a better understanding of how their naan is so scrumptious and light. A big "yum" goes out to their spinach saag, too. I'll definitely be back for more!
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Stop! Are you Gary Smith? If yes then do not read ahead because you could be my boss and I am about to reveal something that I don't want you to know!
I've been making up excuses for business trips to my company location in Herndon just to satisfy my Charcoal cravings! I've been doing these since 2001, ever since I was introduced to it.
I have tried everything from Curry to Kabobs and biryanis. Since the kabobs are cooked fresh you do have to wait for 10-15 mins and might be longer during lunch. If you can't wait go for the Chicken curry and you don't have to wait, some of the best curry for a fastfood. Every thing comes with a naan, small salad (very small), basmati rice, choice of veggie dish and yogurt sauce (sort of raita).
Biryani is not the best, but I am not going to cut down on the stars since no one is perfect!
In kabobs some of my favs are beef, lamb, chicken(bone-in/tandoori), rib, keema. For those who can't make up their mind they have combos. Infact I just got back after a super combo. Oh, I finished off with a frozen custard from http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Ok, Gary please accept my apologies and it's upto you to fire me or not!
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Everytime I come here, it's all about the fresh flat nan bread that's addictive like crack.
The owners are two brothers from Afghanistan, and the recipes are spiced accordingly. I don't know the difference between persian or afghan kabob, but if they make clay oven "crack" out in SF where I'm from, I'll be there in a hot minute. Your meat choices are lamb (boneless, or ribs), chicken (boneless or not), beef (with vegatables) and fish (whiting). There is a vegatarian kabob as well made of potatoes. I've not had the fish or the bone-in meats, but all the rest are truly excellent.
Served with your kabob choice is a small salad, and rice with your choice of toppings. I'm quite partial to the chick pea topping myself. The kabob is served in a fresh flat bread from the coal ovens they have there. It's so good I'd come here alone for the bread! Prices are decent..$10 bones gets you a meat kabob combo...2 sides (go wit the spinach!) and the crack bread. Service is quick and everything is served on styrofoam. So, I'm going to go out on a limb and say they don't recycle.
If you're ever in the Herndon/Reston area or on the way to the airport stop by and pick up a couple of flesh popsicles with yo crack bread. Got it? Good!
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A friend of mine showed me this place and was hyping it up as if it's the best place i've ever been to. Walking into the place I assumed it was Indian because there was Indian music playing and it seemed like Indian Central. I was really suprised to find out the place is actually owned by Afghanis.
I tried the chicken kabab and was really disappointed. It was not as flavorful as other kabob stores... The rice was ok, and the bread was ok also... Probably won't go back.
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This is one of my favorite places to eat in Herndon. It may not look like much from the outside, but the food is fantastic, the staff is very friend, and they just did some remodeling so the interior looks nicer as well. I love their chickpeas as well as the spinach but everything I've had there is fantastic. One of the better values for the money in the area. They do take credit cards now (something new).
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Reston, VA
Category: Afghan
Vienna, VA
Category: Middle Eastern
Sterling, VA
Category: Caribbean
Sterling, VA
Category: Afghan
Herndon, VA
Category: Caribbean
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