De Afghanan Kabob House
(between Beloveria Ct & Peralta Blvd)
Fremont, CA 94536 (510) 745-9599
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
62 Reviews for De Afghanan Kabob House
Great Kebabs and Bulani! Friendly seller, great charcoal BBQ taste and the rice, o the rice!! I wanna try their lamb next time. So far, I like the beef patty the best bec I like cilantro taste. But the beef was done to perfection, grill marks and only a lil pink in the center! Delicious! However, the place is maybe too small to eat there. Better take it to go =)
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This place is a dingy hole in the wall, and guess what? I loves it. I finally got to step in and order something, though I've had their food many a times in a to-go box at my house, since turning my room-mate to this place. I definitely suggest getting your food to-go as well, as this place only has 3 tables, and if you do eat there, it will be like eating in someones tiny ass kitchen.
They grill huge meat kabobs over fire, slathered in some Afghan, garlicy-herby marinade and serve it atop perfectly cooked white rice, with a side of a refreshing but tangy garbanzo salad, and another side of some rustic salsa fresca (tomato, onion, jalapeno and cilantro). *see pics* Prices range from $9-$13, depending on type of meat you choose, all of them are great. The portions are quite large and actually quite split-able, and if you go this route, it makes for a rather inexpensive meal. I've only been so hungry twice, where I finished off a whole meal, and boy was I stuffed. They also make this Bolani $8 (potato-leek pancake) and that is outstanding, as well as ginormous, it will feed a small army. I now use it to pair with smoked salmon and sour cream as a quick party dish.
So this place is straight Afghan bbq. Grilled meats, cold salads, good bread, just like our American version, just with flavors from another part of this world. And let me tell ya, flavors from these parts of the world are simply out of this world.
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To paraphrase Dave Chapelle: what can I say about this place "that someone hasn't already said about Afghanistan? It looks bombed out and depleted."
Of course, anyone who has ventured into my apartment might easily make the same observation. There is the hint of grandeur in most ruins, so I'd likely take it as a compliment.
The high walls are covered with a faded patchwork of pictures of the land and people of a place which is itself a faded patchwork. The pictures are in turn coated with plastic, which has been washed yellow by heat and airborne grease. Three tables fight for elbow room with the grill and counter in a space that might fit in someone's master bedroom.
All of this -- to me -- enhances the flavor of the place. You walk in and it's like someone took a basting brush and wrote "LEGIT" in mint chutney on the wall. We ordered what we thought was going to be an appetizer -sized portion of Bolani: what we got was a stack of hot, starchy, delicious goodness that could have fed a small family, served with ladle-full of fresh yogurt.
It was so overwhelming that we asked if one our two kebabs (which weren't ready -they're put on the grill as you order) could be prepared to go. The owner, who had been enthusiastically greeting everyone as they came though the door, saw the problem immediately and asked if we'd prefer to get just one kebab. With some relief, we said yes. The other one, a chicken skewer, was perfectly cooked when it came, served over a bed of lightly buttered but still fluffy rice.
We lolled out into the Fremont sun, food-stunned and happy.
De Afghanan now has a San Francisco location, but I recommend that you go to Fremont and sit with the stocky farsi ladies in the back. You'll wait for your food crammed into one of the tables, and see a slice of somewhere else.
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hmmm, my first Afghan kabob experience. I ordered the chicken & beef combo (11 bucks). Was it just my beef, I found it kind of tough. The cilantro dip was yummy. The rice was nicely made too. This hole is def. a call in advance and take out to go. The 2 cooks were hard at work preparing the food. I mean hard, sweating and all. Are they a couple? They seemed like it.
You probably don't want to stand and wait in the small crampy space. I was afraid my hair would smell like BBQ when I went back in the office. So we waited in the 90 plus degree weather, like it helped. I personally prefer Greek kabobs. But I'm glad I tried this place with all the good reviews.
Ok, so much of what i would like to say about this place has been mentioned so let me reiterate in bullet points
~Parking SUCKS! Be ready to search for parking forever or have a friend drop you off to pick it up and circle around the block
~Prep time is HORRIBLE, even if you call in, they still wont start it until you show up!
~Place is alittle greasy ( but some people like that kind of thing )
~Its not cheap. cheap is a relative term, but at ten dollars a plate. You cant eat this 3 times a day every day!
~The kabob is PERFECT, the owner wont share the ingredients of his secret marinade but either way it one of the best places for Afghan Kabob hands down.
And on a side note, i personally like the hole in the wall,greasy, makes you impatient kind of places, reminds me of major metropolitian and when you do finally get the food thats to die for... it makes it taste that much better!
Fantastic chicken kabobs (best I have ever tasted at a Afghan Place)! Good Bulani!
Quite a small place though. Can barely fit more than 8 -10 people.
I just moved to the area (Mountain View) and I had heard that Fremont had a really big Afghan community with some good food. I had nothing to do last night so I went in search of a place with some good takeout and found this place on Fremont Blvd.
Like others have said, the place is TINY, there's no parking, and it does take some time to prepare your food because it's done fresh. It's also not terribly cheap as most entrees run around $10.. high for takeout, more typical for a sit-down type place. But the food was excellent; the beef was flavorful, tender, and succulent, and I greatly enjoyed the potato and chick peas and the flatbread. All in all, a great trip and I would definitely recommend someone check it out if you're in the mood for some Afghan food. Don't bother if you want a romantic/sit down type experience, but if you want to grab some grub and run then this is a good bet. Worth the trip over to Fremont from the peninsula too, as long as you have time.
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I think the term hole-in-the-wall has been used once or twice to describe this place.
I would have to say one of the best Afghani restaurants in the bay. Kabobs are awesome and grilled to perfection. I recommend the combo with chicken and beef.
Its a little pricey but you do get a lot for your money. The kabob platters come with rice, garbanzo bean salad, 2 kabob skewers, green sauce (chutney), and Afghan naan bread.
The only problem is after eating, I feel like I need a nap. It sucks because I only eat here during lunch while at work.
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Aslam Bhai's #1 rated Kabob!!! Go and order for takeout only! This is a bare bones hole in the wall, with a crowded 12 chair 3 table dining??!? area but some damn good and tasty killer Kabobs. These guys are so busy sometimes they won't even answer the phones but these Kabobs are sooooo mouth watering they are worth the 15-20min wait. Grreeeat cold weather food.
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My husband & I went there for the first time on Saturday. It wasn't at all busy. Yes the place is very small (3 tables inside).
Ive read that the parking sucks for this place so he parks on Peralta and we walk to the place. Also keep in mind that street parking (on Fremont Blvd) is not good (in front of the cinema) - its a loading zone only, though, the curb isn't painted yellow there are 2 signs posted.
I was lucky enough to see a motorcycle cop pull over a pizza delivery guy for not wearing his seat belt and then he issued all 3 cars in the loading zone tickets. All while we were waiting for our dinners.
We ordered the bolani (HUGE! Enough for 5-6 people) (potato turnover with chopped leaks, potato (of course) and special seasonings, served with homemade yogurt) its real good and they serve it to you in a pizza box (husband thought they served pizza and was looking for where they would cook it, I said its not pizza but probably bread) he got the chicken kabobs and I got the combo of 1/2 chicken and steak. Both were good, but I liked the chicken more. You also get Afghani bread, a potato/garbanzo bean salad, shore nakhod (which is tomato, cilantro and onions) its tasty.
We asked for a to go menu - so that the next time we ordered we wouldn't have to hang out for so long. Though we were entertained by the cop on this one.
Ive added a copy of the take out menu in the photo section.
Small little hole in the wall place, but its to the point- Kabobs. They are oh so good. My sister turned me out to this place. This is the only place I go for Kabobs. Okay priced..oh and call before you pick up your beef kabobs because parking sucks. There is a parking on the side of this alley but its cool- your not there for long.
I'm going to have to disagree with the rest of the reviews...
Salang Pass charges the same price-wise, has a lot better tasting kabobs that arent cooked so dry... and not to mention, far better ambiance.
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On some days, this Yelp "star" system is simply not nuanced enough to express one's most complex thoughts and opinions.
Case in point -- De Afghanan Kabob House.
I have never been to Afghanistan but I have lived in India and traveled there many times, so I have developed a love for cheap, hole-in-the-wall meat restaurants -- the kind where you can see the guy working over a flame pit.
De Afghanan's food was delicious -- tender, spicy chicken breast kabobs and spicy beef, fragrant rice, and golden-brown bolwanis (here, presented like a grilled parantha, stuffed with potatoes and cilantro). A crunchy salad of red onions and tomatoes, and another side salad of seasoned potatoes, garbanzos and onions.
But oh, the down side.
A thin, ageless layer of grease covers every horizontal surface (and a few 45-degree ones), from the restaurant's floor, to the table tops, all the way to the sneeze guard separating the dining tables from the prep station. The floor is so greasy that your feet actually slide. We brought baby-wipes and actually wiped down the table. The wipes were marked with brown, greasy stains.
There is no drinking water and you must buy a bottle of Kirkland water.
The cook-waiter-cashier (one guy, who works very hard) served us rice with our meal and only later did we notice on the bill that rice is a dollar extra per serving -- it's not included.
The chappali kabob is gristly and greasy, and not recommended at all.
So our little "cheap" meal for two came to $33. If you saw this place, you would not believe it could be so expensive. But there it was.
Now I am in a quandary. Most of the food deserved four stars, but the ambience and general unsavoriness of this place deserved two.
So there you have it -- a three-star review of De Afghanan Kabob House.
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I'm going to be straight up with this one. Dry flavorless meat on a stick over a bed of rice. Want flavorful Kabob with awesome service and good side dishes? This is NOT the place. Go to Mr. Kabob in Union City. Here comes the straight up part. It has a serious Al-Qaeda feel to it. The people behind the counter seemed unfriendly and certainly unwelcoming. Mr. Kabob all the way.
The first time i actually went there, i was like wtf is this place? Its a straight hole in the wall place. I have only tried a couple afghan restaurants but this place ROCKS!! The platter combos come with rice,naan bread,garbanzo beans and a salad.The kabobs,either chicken or beef are to die for.Hella juicy.The chaplis are good too,kinda reminds me of hamburger meat with green onions added to it.The place itself is really small and they only have like 2 or 3 tables to sit at.I would recommend to call in your order and just eat at home.
We went for the combo kabob plate and tried beef and chicken. They weren't the most tender pieces but they weren't bad either. It could have used more seasoning though. The green sauce and the cold garbanzo bean salad seemed to have a prevalence of vinegar, which I haven't noticed in Afghan food until now. I prefer Salang Pass across the street for my Afghan cravings.
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This place has great kabobs, generally. There have been a few episodes where it plain is not good. But this is a major, major hole in the wall. If the owners were a bit wiser they would open up some seating area. Half the time I go somewhere else just because there is no seating there and I like sitting down and enjoying a meal.
One other thing, they are terrible on time to prepare. Don't know if this is only done to Afghans (cuz foreigners tend to get better treatment by Afghans than their own ppl) but they always give you a false time. "It will be ready in 15 minutes". You go there, they haven't even started.
Good kabobs, bad service, crappy place.
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Ok so I am completely new to YELP and I am so extremely appreciativve of t his site because it definitely made my life easier considering the fact that my life is on the run and I am always in search of fine dining. I recently moved to the city of Fremont about 8 months ago and I have not been too familiar with the restaurants. Since in town, I have heard De Afghanan Kabob House's name over and over again for some time, but have not had the chance to stop in a grab a bite until recently that is! I came on yelp and thanks to the reviews I finally went and since last Wensday, I have gond 4 times and have tried a new dish each time. The chicken kabob is out of this world delicious, the chaplee is perfect, the bolani is satisfying and the beef kabob is (probably the best beef kabob I have ever had in my life). The service is great cause the owner is very welcoming and friendly. It seemed as if I was the only newcomer to the place because people were coming in and out like a fast cash machine. The place is highly recommended by me. Oh yeah and Price is really generous and worth the bite. You really get what you pay for. The Chicken kabob and the Chaplee is what I think anyone for hte first time should try. Im getting hungry just writing about it. Cant wait to definitely go back.
At first I was a bit skeptical about this place but they sure do have some good kabobs. Sometimes the beef or chicken seem to be a bit dry but for the most part they are really good. I LOVE the rice, it's nothing special, just plain basmati rice but it compliments the kabobs and potatoe side salad really good.
I'm from Santa Cruz so Fremont to me is just a blur of strip malls off 880 where MC Hammer used to live. At any rate, after eating at De Afghanan earlier tonight I now have another reason to go to Fremont - bringing my total number of reasons to go to Fremont to two. (The first is BART).
But really, the kabobs here are delicious - succulent, juicy, and flavorful; and the portions are big enough so that two people can split one dish. Contrary to other reviews, we just walked in and ordered, no waiting. Maybe Sunday nights are slow. And I suppose the place is hole-in-the-wall-ish, but I've seen more cramped. Food counts more anyways, and De Afghanan pretty much nailed it. Next time I have to take BART, I'll give myself some extra time to get a little pre-public-transportation snack here beforehand.
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I DO NOT understand how any person can write a singal bad review of this place. The only conclusion I can come up with is simply....they DONT have good tast in food!
...I have tried all types of foods throughout the bay area especially Fremont and overall the KABOB HOUSE is by far the # 1 Restaurant HANDS DOWN!!!
...The other Afghani places near by or far have no comparison to it because I have tried them all and this is 100% the most delicious!
...The greatest feeling a person can have when dining out is sensing confusion in time for ordering because of the fact that everything offered is extremely and deliciously drop dead amazing!!!!
Wether it is the Chapli, chicken, beef or lamb kabob...or the bolani...everything is mouth watering.
IF THERE IS ANYONE REVIEWING RESTAURANTS IN THE BAY AREA REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM...DO NOT MISS OUT ON EATING AT THE DE AFGHANAN KABOB HOUSE!!!
Ummm yea...this is definitely a hole-in-the-wall. I think my bathroom is bigger. There are three tables that really shouldn't be able to fit inside....but they somehow do...shoved in the left side of the "restaurant". When we got there, there were two families eating at the tables at each end...so we were forced to take the one in the middle. They actually had some of their food/drinks on our table...that gives you an idea of how close the tables are to each other...and the funny part is, once we sat down...they didn't move their stuff...HAHAHA.
You aren't really sure what to do when you walk inside...are you supposed to sit down? Are you supposed to wait for the cook who ignores the fact you walked in? I wasn't sure what to do, but it didn't look like he was planning on leaving the grill anytime this month, so I just stood in front and waited for him to acknowledge me so I could order. After a few minutes, he took our order and went back to cooking.
We ordered the combo beef/chicken kabob and lamb plate. We wanted to eat the bread with the potato and leek inside, but they ran out :( We ordered the version with no potato instead.
We waited quite a bit for our food...this place is busy...the tables (all three of them haha) stay full and people are constantly coming in picking up to go orders. Oh but let me tell you...it was definitely worth the wait.
The bread w leeks and yogurt sauce was DELICIOUS. Flavorful and perfect to pair with the meat.
All three kabobs were perfectly cooked. The portions are huge. Plates are accompanied with a cold potato/garbanzo salad, onion/cilantro/tomato salad, basmati rice, and bread.
This place is definitely not a place to come for atmosphere and service....the food, however, is simply amazing.
*cash only*
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Definitely a hole in the wall as everyone else has attested to. We got the combo kabobs so we were able to try the three most commented on items and my personal preference goes to the Tekka. In a close second is the chapli (ground beef) and last is the chicken.
I need to go back to try the lamb but Fremont is a wasteland after 6 pm.
The only things in the neighborhood seem to be passing cars and sketchy people lurking.
De Afghanan is far and away the HOLE-Y-EST hole-in-the-wall restaurant I've ever witnessed. The other reviews were spot on in terms of describing the atmosphere inside. Let me explain. No. Let me sum up:
Cramped
Hot-Dog-Stand-esque (but indoors)
Cash Only
Dirty
Small
Touristy Decor
Beyond the actual ambiance, the food was divine! My brother, the NYG, and I ate here one a Wednesday evening at about 8:00. Since we picked such an odd time, we had no problem getting one of the three tables inside. The problem with this of course involved the fact that I was constantly scooting in and out to let people by to the back table.
INSIDER TIP: If you're going to dine in, try and grab the last table so you don't have to deal with people squeezing past you throughout your meal.
The food as I mentioned, was exquisite. The Tekka was the clear winner, but the NYG was delighted with all of her meat. Chicken, Beef Tekka, etc. The rice was seasoned perfectly and complemented the meat, and everything just..worked. The prices were very reasonable considering portion size, and in retrospect, we definitely ordered WAY too much food. It's arguable that the average person could share most of these dishes between two people and still leave satisfied. Normally I'd deduct a star for cash only, but the food was just so damn good that I don't have the heart to say anything bad.
The service was fine, and friendly. The chef/owner was really chatty, and since he and his staff (family members?) were literally 2 feet away in the open kitchen area, there was no mystery about how our food was prepared. I'd go back again, but damn if there isn't a thing to do in Fremont at 8:00 after you finish eating. Lame. The theater next door needs to expand its hours.
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One of my clients turned me on to this place. It is definitely a hole-in-the-wall. It is a tiny place, so it might be better for take-out since you might not be able to get a seat. I like the lamb and beef kabobs. They are tender and flavorful. The portions are big, so come hungry. A lot of Afghans eat here, so it's gotta be good.
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THERE IS A DE AFGHANAN OPEN IN SAN FRANCISCO NOW!
it is on the corner of BUSH and POLK!
I just went there last night and the food was just as AMAZING as the one in fremont!
I got my favorite, chicken kabob, my co worker being a vegetarian could not decide between the spinach or eggplant dish, so we tried both!
They give you a LOT of food, for a very LOW price! i was surprised to see so much! However, I cleaned my plate! The dishes were served with a serving of rice, afghani salad, garbanzo salad....yum!
For those you love the De Afghan in fremont, and for those interested in trying FLAVORFUL afghan food, GO THERE!
There is just enough amount of herbs and spices to not over power the dish...It is simply PERFECT!
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Atmosphere: Complete hole-in-the-wall. Note: It takes about 20mins for an order (call ahead). 2 tables and can be very busy.
Food: Outstanding. They offer lamb, chicken, and beef. I ordered chicken hoping it would really let the flavors exhibit themselves. It definitely did. The chicken was barely noticeable with all of the exotic spices in the kabob. Quite simply: this is one of the best kabobs I've ever had (comparable to Turkey, Greece, etc)
Price: ~$10 and more than worth it.
Will return and recommend it to many friends.
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Everyone is way wrong when they say that this spot is a hole-in-the-wall. It really isn't... its more of a walk in closet. One of the reviews mentioned that it looked what used to be a ticket window for the theater next door that seems about right on... There are the infamous 3 tables on the left side of the entire closet. I think what the owner should do is start charging $40 dollars a plate, change the name to "Three Tables" and start seating reservations once a night. Talk about exclusive! I'm sure with in the year it will hit Forbes 10 toughest spots to get reservations.
So the kabob house is small, cash only, pricey, family owned and some of the tastiest kabobs I've had! Yes there's a little bit of a wait, yes it seems a bit dirty, and there is all these weird pictures on the wall. But if you order to go, like all the rest of the smart people that eat here, you'll be all good!
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I'm no ethnic food connoisseur, but I know when I like food. And I like the kebabs at De Afghanan. Their meat is grilled nicely, not overcooked. They give great portions for a big appetite and that potato and garbanzo "salad" is my favorite thing to eat there. All I suggest is to call ahead because it does take some time. We prefer to get take-out because as all of the other reviewers have mentioned, there's not much room inside. That would probably be the only downside to this place.
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The food was great like all the other Yelpers claimed. One caveat, the wait was horrendous.
Make sure you call in advance and place an order to avoid a 45 minutes wait! I guess on the plus side, it did make the kabob even tastier. Hunger = best spice.
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It's like a down and dirty Asqew or Buckhorn. The Afghan equivalent of a hot dog stand indoors. I got the lamb chops kabob and Lawrence T. got the combo plate that came with the chicken, spicy and flavorful beef patty (my favorite), and the beef kabobs. Enjoyed the unusual tart potato and garbanzo bean salad. Rice and Afghan bread were just filler for the other good stuff. We slathered all the meat with a special green magic sauce they had on the table - yummo! Takeout seems like the way to go. But if you want to feel transported away (don't think we're in Fremont anymore Toto), eat at one of the three small tables tucked to the side. Good portions - stuffed us at $14 bucks a piece. Next time I want to try that special bread they put in those pizza boxes!
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This place has awesome afghan kebabs!!! But be aware that this is as hole- in-wall as it can get!!
The menu is a mere 5-6 dishes.. chicken kebabs, beef kebabs, combo kebabs, chapli kebabs [flat ground beef patties, spiced up], bulanee [indian style bread filled with potatos / leeks].
My favorite is the Chapli kebabs and the bulanee. The quantities are huge. Everything is made write in front of you as the place is REALLY tiny. I usually call ahead to order and then come pick up and eat there if there is a table there. The hole in the wall ambience seems to add more flavor to the kebabs :)
It is a cash only place. If you are into kebabs, you gotta try this place!
Don't even think about eating here... No, I mean, in the restaurant - it's too small. A definitely blink and you miss it driving by kind of place. I've heard its praises sung here on Yelp, so I decided to give it a try for lunch.
I ordered the chapli kabobs, and for some reason, was expecting something on a stick, or at least being cooked on a stick. But no, the guy grabs what looks like giant meatballs, puts them on the grill and puts a weight on top to flatten them. The longer they cooked, the better they looked (groan, sorry didn't mean to do that...). I was a bit disappointed that the homemade bread that I saw go on the griddle didn't come with my order. But they serve with rice and a slice of Afghani wheat bread. The basmati rice is flavorful and not too dry.
The chapli definitely lived up to the hype. Very tasty. That kind of tasty where you're like "Oooh, I'm full, I should save some of this... Well, just one more bite - well, now it's almost gone, I might as well finish"
I mean, it's a hole, but at least you can see what you're about to eat and how it's being prepared and handled. No mystery in the "kitchen" here - you are standing in the kitchen.
I will definitely come back and order some of that stuffed bread - whatever it's called.
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Some of you won't be able to handle the hole-in-the-wallness of this place. It looks like it used to be the ticket booth for the movie theater it's adjacent to and while they squeeze in three tables, it's a very tight fit. Anyway, if you're not into hole in the walls, don't come here. This is as hole in the wall as it gets.
I love how it's just like a street food place, but moved indoors. There's one grill where the cooking occurs. You can watch it happens while you wait. The entrees are $10-$13 each but they are massive. You get two large kabobs, rice, side salad of garbanzo beans, and Afghan bread. You could feed two people with one order.
I thought the chicken kababs and homemade yogurt sauce were particularly good. I didn't like the specialty, the ground beef patties, as much. The potato bread is amazing. It's huge - like a foot long and filled with mashed potatoes. To call it bread is a little misleading. I think they call it a dumpling on the menu, which made me think of small dumplings. It's like Armenian bread (very thin), soft with mashed potatoes inside - like a samosa but flattened and with a soft non-fried shell. Instead, they put heavy weights on the bread when it's cooking on the grill. You have to try it.
Also, I was pleased to see jalapenos in the dishes...I didn't expect it. The food wasn't hot/spicy though. Most people would be able to handle it.
Sitting here and eating, you don't feel like you're in Fremont but you're in some far away country enjoying their tender kabobs and the desert scenery.
It's cash only and they seem to do a brisk takeout business with the local Afghan population.
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The downside of De Afghanan is that it's harder to find a place that's more hole-in-the-wall-ier than this. You wait around 15 minutes for your order, hoping one of the 3 tables opens up. And when it does you inevitably have to give it a good scrub down yourself.
Their kabobs (accompanied by a cilantro tomato salad, some onions, rice, and bread) are amazing, but only if you get the chapli beef kabob (the chicken kabob is just okay and our friends weren't big fans of the lamb). Their potato bread is worth the $8. You get a huge serving that's so big it fills up a pizza box (they actually give you a pizza box). One order of kabobs and the potato bread is enough for two (with leftover bread).
TOP TEN BITES OF THE YEAR - JULY 2006 - JUNE 2007:
Potato Bread (Chapli Kabob is up there, too.)
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This hole in the wall is EXCELLENT! Except it was a lot pricier than I expected but they do give you a lot. I ordered the De Afghanan Combination ($11) which consists of two kinds of pickled veggies, 2 skewers (1 chicken, 1 beef), and rice. This is enough for 2 moderately hungry people.
Our food actually took a while to come out because I guess a lot of people phone in their orders. There are literally 3 tables that can fit 3 people each and it's your typical hole in the wall environment.... cozy, lots of pictures everywhere and even a little dirty. They grill the meat right next to you and you can see it right when you enter.
It's located right next to a theatre and across the street from other Afghani restaurants... if you get a chance, check out Salang Pass across the street... it's almost the same price but there's nicer ambiance. The food is good with great variety but kabobs are still not as good as De Afghanan's.
**UPDATED 2/12/08: Finally tried the bulani today! It was $8 and they put it in a medium sized pizza and boy do they give you a LOT. This can feed at least 4-6 people. It was so delicious. It's like a samosa smashed into a palata (both Burmese dishes). It comes with a side of yogurt which is very chunky and sour but good nontheless. If you're not into the yogurt, that's totally fine because the bulani is seasoned enough to stand alone.
**UPDATED 5/20/08: I had the lamb and I can honestly say that I will never go back to the beef/chicken here. It was AMAZING. On the oustide, it looks just like the beef and is probably seasoned the same but the inside... oh the inside is so tender.
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This is a very special Afghan style kabob place! Small? Super TINY!!! They only have 3 tables (there is only room for 2 tables). If you don't like to eat while being squeezed by strangers, this place is not for you (perhaps do a takeout).
Food was delicious and plentiful. I am not Afghan food expert, but many of the customers were Afghan and they said it's authentic.
Based on their decor, you might be surprised that food here is not so cheap. Expect to spend $12-15 per person. It's worth it!!!!
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Cheers for tons of meat. Peg S. and I were lucky to find this nondescript place on the side of the movie theater. Walking in your are hit with the smell of charbroiling meat, literally right in front of you. I wouldn't get the lamb ... a little fatty but tasty. If I went again I would get the beef patty and the chicken as a combo. The potato salad Peg S. loved was not my taste BUT, the green goo in the bottle was. They need to bottle this stuff in jugs and sell it.
Order take out and ask for a jug of the green stuff.
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De Afghanan Kabob House is the place to be,
for its authentic kabob, a dish emersed in honesty.
It lacks ambience, yes,
but on your frequent late nights,
craving for the tasty ethnic food proper,
the atomosphere, does not matter.
Especially,
when you take home the salad,
the perfectly grilled meat,
and oh don't forget,
the signature Bolani --- fragrant and crispy.
Your stomache will thank you,
for the bites to remember,
and a place to go back to,
when your hunger's renewed.
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I went this afternoon for lunch at this place. It is essentially as described below by others. A smallish family-managed restaurant. The woman is in the back making bread and potato mix and the man is manning the open fire grill...making sure that the kabobs are not overly cooked. For a while, I was the only one there even though a couple of guys came for they takeaways and a few people were calling in their orders. The owner had a tough time explaining to one of the callers that they don't accept credit cards, only cash or perhaps a check. The place was fairly dirty, and the floor was quite slippery. Finally an afghani couple came and start speaking in afghani with the owner. I was surprised that they were immediately served something that looked like a potato pancake, some sauce and drinks. By that time I have already been waiting 15 minutes and I was getting hungry. Finally after 20 minutes, I got my combo of chicken and beef. The kabob is served with rice, a green salad, a potato/garbanzo salad and some yummy afghani bread. The salads and rice were nothing special, but the beef had a great smell and taste to it. Immediately, I thought about asking the owner for the recipe, but backed off my thoughts and focused on eating my kabob. The chicken tasted good but was a little bit tough, probably because it was cooked the same length of time as beef. In summary, a good place for a takeout or if you are not in a hurry.