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awwww yeaa first DC review!!!!
and it's for a 24 hour kabob place. Perhaps this is the promised land?!
I'm used to different types of kabobs, the spices here were noticably different from the lebanese and other middle eastern market lunch counters I've been known to frequent in Cali. It's spicier and saltier for one and it comes with naan and curry for two. (does that work rhetorically?)
Anyways it's good. You can get it all all hours. It comes with curry and naan. Go eat there. I got combo #9, which was kefta and lamb. Lot of ppl get chicken tho so i'd check that out.
also kefta over lamb
Yet another 5-star rating for The Palace.
Since I had to work on Thanksgiving this year (boo!) I was fortunate enough to have a DCA overnight. The next morning my coworker and I walked through a deserted Crystal City and into The Palace.
I decided to mix it up a bit this time and have the boneless lamb. I must say I was a bit disappointed by the lamb-a bit overcooked, no real seasoning and a slightly gamy taste. The chicken and chick-peas, however, more than compensated for the sub-par lamb. I should also note the boneless lamb combo is a bit more expensive around $16.
Anyways when all said and done The Palace still serves unbelievably delectable authentic kebabs.
On a cold, wet rainy day, your correspondent decided he wanted kebabs.** He therefore braved the… Read more »
Best kabobs in Arlington. (Ravi Kabob off of N. Glebe and Food Factory off of Fairfax in Ballston are close though.) The place is always packed with cabbies, and that means it's the best around. Meals are just over $10, and they're both delicious and filling.
I usually only get the "white guy special" which is the boneless chicken, but I absolutely love it. Their chick peas and rice are amazing as well, especially with the yogurt sauce and spiced chicken.
I hear that the lamb is delicious and will try it the next time I go.
You can't go wrong here for great Afghan food, but don't go if you are in a rush because the lines are long and it does take a while. It has taken me an hour to get my food before on a really busy evening.
Meat on a stick. That's the only reason to come here.
The lamb (combo number 4) is perfectly seasoned and grilled over a very very hot flame. The bread is prepared authentically and becomes a pillowy mattress that your meat (on a stick) is tucked into in your take-away box. A note to first-timers: skip the salad, you came for meat on a stick and the sides, remember? The chickpeas, served as a side are spicy, hearty, and somehow transcendental. The spinach breathes air back to your lungs after aforementioned chickpeas have taken your breath away.
Another note: they make delicious tea with old world spices to be enjoyed next to the plastic utensils in the corner. First, its delicious and reminds me of the stuff you get served on the other side of the world. Second, its free and no one seems to find it, know about it, or try it.
5 stars because I've been coming here since 2004 and every year the meat on a stick gets better and better.
The food here is always really great. The lamb and boneless chicken are my personal favorites. I also always make sure to get the chickpeas.
For a take-out place, it does sometimes take a pretty long time to get your food. Lately I've been calling ahead and placing my order for pick-up.
KABOB PALACE HAVE MY BABIES
So, I am obsessed with this place. It may or may not have been why I moved to Arlington. Shhh.
Kabob palace is magic. It both prevents and cures hangovers. The staff are awesome. The boneless chicken kabob and the chapeli are my favorites, but I can't really choose between my babies. It is open 24hrs and you should go there all the time.
If you have to choose, you should go there around 3am so you can revel in kabob palace's power to bring together the danced-out gays from Freddie's and the local pakistani cab driver community. Kabob palace heals all wounds, overcomes all cultural divisions.
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Me ten pounds fatter
This place was worth all the extra weight! If you're a kabob snob like me, come here! They have about a dozen different kabob plates, ranging from kubideh to barg to sultani. Each entrée comes with warm naan, basmati rice with chickpeas or spinach, cucumber yogurt sauce and green salad. About $8-10 for the plate, which is a very reasonable price for such tender and succulent kabobs. The rice was aromatic and the saffron that topped it made me feel like I was back at my Iranian mother's supper table. No one tell her I said that though or the belt comes out. They have new and different vegetarian combos available depending on the day you go, so it is quite vegetarian friendly. Try the eggplant on Wednesday or cauliflower on Thursday. I've only been to Arlington twice now and this place will definitely have me coming back!
Had the lunch buffet for $10.50. Tasty food at a decent price. Naan bread was a generous size. I tried a little bit of everything... I would say the chick peas and spinach were both good along with the mixed veggies. The chicken was nice and smokey. Rice pudding was good. Slightly on the oily side but pretty good food. Parking is limited with a few spots in front. Not sure if this place is open 24 hrs (as mentioned) as I saw a sign for store hours (close at 11p).
my guy friends absolutely love this place and always suggest eating here. it's open 24 hrs so a convenient fix for late night hunger pangs. usually i let the guys order cause i've never had middle eastern food until i moved to the area. we usually get #7 , #8 or one of the ones with all three (forget what number) - it's good but one of the skewers is a little too spicy for my liking. the food is good but i've never grown to LOVE it like the guys.
we had friends in town and of course, the guys recommended getting kabobs. i ordered on my own for the first time ;) and got the lamb chop! i love it! i wish i had tried this on all my previous visits. i've always felt it was too expensive for food that i consider mediocre in an okay looking restaurant. but the lamb chops were really good and i would eagerly pay over $10 for it. some of the other popular boneless chicken and skewer pork thing... not so much..but the LAMP CHOP IS EXCELLENT and i now can say i love kabob palace, too :]
A big thank you to the Yelp mobile app for guiding me to this place at a recent conference at Crystal City.
Conference was one of those new age affairs with a twitterfall and a hashtag, I tweeted this place and then a whole bunch of the attendees came - and all enjoyed it.
Phenomenal value, phenomenal food. Kabob is definitely something I associate with 2am in the morning and a bellyful of beer. This food is just delicious.
Chris: Dude, I gotta take you to Kabob Palace when you get here. That place is so good.
Me: What is it?
Chris: It's a Kabob Palace. Best Kabobs.
Me: How good can it be?
Chris: I take all my dates here. They like it.
Me: ...1 Hour Later - Oh man, this sh*t is good!
This was the first stop on my Visit to DC. I was starving getting off the plane. My friends picked me up and took me to eat some lamb.
All i gotta say, Chris did not disappoint. The food here was great and the chick peas over rice made the meal complete. The meat was a bit on the dry side, but the sauce they give you made up for it. i'll keep this one short.
the food looked good, and it tasted even better. All in all, wrapping those little chunks of meat with pita and dipping it in the sauce was worth being delayed in chicago for an hour and a half. go here. its good. try for yourself.
I dunno what the big hype is about? Because it's open really late? or Because the place is always a zoo? Or what?
I do not get it? Another overrated place jus like Ben's Chili Bowl. They do not do anything special to the kabobs and my chickpeas side stole the show of the way undercooked lamb on the stick. I am lost. Can please somebody point me in the right direction of rightful 4.5 star Kabobs?
I will stop with just the rating..
The food was Awesome, but, i am full now to do a write-up on it
YES YES YES! Amen praise Jesus this place gets it right. Located in the "Red Light" district of Crystal City, it's a no frills Kabob heaven. Open 24 hours, I am usually stumbling here after a night of drinking (the food tastes JUST as good when I'm sober thank you very much). The kabobs are made to order, so I would suggest keeping their number on speed dial cause I know you'll be back. I usually get the chicken kabob with a side of rice and chick peas (although i LOVE spinach, they make it a little too spicy for me). Oh. My. God. It's soooo good, but you will feel like a complete fat ass after eating here. The food is super heavy and sits in your stomach for a while. Kabob Palace makes me feel like Kate Gosselin pregnant with sextuplets. Bravo KP!
One of the best kabob houses in the DC area
The boneless chicken kabob was $$$
I also enjoyed the delicious combo of the chick peas and rice.
This place is SUPER crowded and in my honest opinion... A bit dirty...
Also... The guy who was was pouring the food was rude and dirty looking... But at least the cashier was cordial
U will definitely enjoy the food despite the minor gripes I had about the staff and the overall cleaniness of this shop.
The food here is super for the money. It is reliable and good all around. The ambiance is not great for a date. Lots of people appreciate this place, from typical DC types to students to the taxi drivers. It is busy round the clock.
The meat is good, the bread is good, the rice is good, the sides are good.
Where do I start with KP???
I've been going here since I was in high school with a lot of my Paki friends. They say, hands down, it's as home-made as it gets -- and I believe them after being in so many Paki households of friends.
I've pretty had everything on the menu, so recommending just one combo would be like picking which Michael Jackson album was the best -- it changes by the day because they're all great. For most visits, however, I'd go with the #8 - a combination of the boneless chicken and ground beef - the one that I can consume all the way through in one sitting, amazingly. My "Off the Wall" if you will.
I'll admit, the food is heavy, but when you're hungry, heaps of rice, bread, salad and kabob hit the spot like no other. They're open 24 hours and accept call-aheads. You'll appreciate this around 2-4 AM when the club zombies come around and fill the place.
Pros: Best kabobs in Arlington/Alexandria, open 24/7
Cons: Everyone knows that they have great food, 24/7, so the place tends to get a bit crowded.
A dear friend, based on his many visits here, told me that he believed world peace could be achieved through delicious spiced meats. Kabob Palace attracts a veritable rainbow of customers day and night who eat side by side in this cramped spot happily munching on succulent lamb, chicken, and beef. Is this not utopia?
The wealth of cab drivers outside this place should also tell you all you need to know about the palace. A cabbie who's NOT trying to run me over in the DC area is a wonderful thing.
World peace is possible, folks. Well, here anyway.
Great food. Just get there early. It was mad-packed when i went for lunch.
My first 5-star review. This has been a favorite for years...comes as close to tasting as it does in the home country as any restaurant I"ve been to. The charcoal-grilled meat is to die for, the rice is perfectly cooked, and the beans on the side are nicely spiced. The bread is made traditionally and is hot and crisp right out of the oven. And the spinach side...who would have thought such a nicely spiced vege side dish could be so heavenly?
In addition to the usual kabobs, give the specials a try. My favorite is Tues and Fri: chicken jalfrazi(sp)....tender chunks of chicken with green and red peppers and onions.
The price has gone up a bit over the years, but still a steal for a full meal at under $10. Best hole in the wall in town.
I don't get it.
Yes, the chicken is pretty good. Its orange-ish color slightly threw me off because I kept thinking sweet and sour and kept tasting slightly tangy, more than slightly spicy. The impressive thing isn't its flavor, but its ability to be both tender and dry at the same time -- no savory juices, but not tough?! HOW?!
Yes, the naan is huge. And yes, it's cool that you get to choose 2 sides. For around $10/entree at a hole-in-the-wall place though, you BETTER get more than just naan and roasted meat. I got the spinach (mushy, bland) and chickpeas (had a slight kick and decent flavor). Kind of underwhelming, but probably my fault for choosing 2 mushy sides.
It's filling. It's more exotic than the Chevy's a few blocks down. It'll make you smell like you spent a few hours marinating in a bazaar. But Kabob Palace is nothing to write home about. It's just A-OK.
Kabob palace is as good as it gets. I found it because it was close to my hotel and gave it a try. Damn. I was there four more nights and ate there for three meals. I still daydream about the place.
I got the lamb kabob with chickpea curry and an extra side of dressing to help cool off my mouth (I am a wuss).
I hope someday I can find a restaurant that has meat on swords near me. Until then I dream...
The best kabob place in the area hands-down. I've been there a few times now and it never disappoints. I ordered the chicken (also known as the #1) this time and it's what I stick with.
The platter comes with huge chunks of perfectly cooked, moist, flavorful chicken, and salad, and rice - then you can choose 2 other items. I always get the spinach with potatoes and the chickpeas. NOM. Everything from the kabob to all the sides are amazing.
I've been to other kabob places, but they just don't match the variety of sides or the flavor here.
Best kabobs ever.
The rice and chic peas might even be better than the chicken or kubideh kabobs and that is saying a lot.
so... dont get the spinach. get the rice and chic peas and pass on the salad.
There are two adjoining restaurants. One is more formal but closes around midnight, the other is more casual and stays open.
The first time I went here was after a day trip to Annapolis. We arrived around midnight, all of us hungry. The week after, when I told people what I did over the weekend, i would say "I went to annapolis etc etc, But OMG, then we went to Kabob Palace and that was the best!" Also the portions are large, and prices low.
They also have this funny sign on the women's bathroom door that is something like "In America, Men do not use the Women's bathroom"
great place
This place is one of those hidden gems that you wish no one knew about at times. It's fast but great food, easy on the wallet, and you can satiate your craving whenever your heart (or stomach) desires.
Stop reading the reviews and head down there!
If there is a better Kabob to be had in the DC area please tell me! The Kabob Palace is a small room with great big flavors. The bread is to die for, but be careful not to fill up on it! I have tried all of their kabobs and find it hard to say which is best. The chic pea are a must have no matter what you set!
Remember to eat well and live well and please no chains!
Open 24 hours and the food is outstanding and they give you huge servings of it too. I've ordered many diffrent things there and have not once been dissappointed.
The only thing I don't like is the long wait. Also, please make sure you are parked legally. Last time I was there,within the hour I was there, three people got their cars towed. That area is very quick to tow, especially on Friday nights.
This is the best place in DC/MD/VA for kabobs at any time of day or night. I usually go with the #10 Palace Combo which lasts me for at least 3-4 meals (though I know some folks who are able to polish their meals off in 1-2 sittings).
The prices have definitely gone up over the years - I used to spend around $12 here, and now it's around $16-$17 without drinks (a little steep for a 'hole in the wall' if you ask me....). Still, definitely worth it - maybe just not as often as I'd like to go. Oh yeah, try to avoid the bathrooms if you can. They're usable but only under dire circumstances.
Don't mistake this place for the family restaurant!!! Though owned by the same people, the food is definitely better at the 24 hr location.
My only gripe is that it can take well over 35-45min to get your order during Fri/Sat/Sun nights when it's jam packed in there. If you're planning to go there at that time, just be sure to allow for some extra time to get your order. Otherwise, happy grubbing!
so freaking good. really. combo #1 with boneless chicken, chickpeas and rice on the side is what i get every time. it never disappoints.
I found this place while my friends and I were driving around in the middle of the night at 3 a.m. looking for a place to eat. When we saw that this place was full of people, we had to go check it out. And this place did not disappoint. I have kept coming back for the past two years. This place has become the default place whenever I feel hungry and want a satisfying meal. It is also the standard for kebabs! My usual is the boneless chicken kebab. For 10 bucks, you get plenty of chicken and a couple of side dishes. I take all my friends from out of town to this place and everyone has liked it. It's a great little gem.
I came, I saw, I ate!! Finally, after so long I got to try the famous kabobs here. It was 2am on a Sunday morning, coming back from dancing in DC. Thuy and I decide to split #10 with double rice! They also gave us a heaping serving of the garbanzo's. The portion was HUGE and a perfect portion for late night eating for two.
#10 consists of a kubideh and dark meat chicken on the bone. Everything was flavorful and delicious, I can't wait to go back, this place definitely lives up to the hype food wise.
As a side note, because it was late, there were all sorts of characters there, and it was jam-packed with people! One dude couldn't take the very obvious hint that we didn't want to chat with him, we were there to eat. We had to be a bitchy to get him to leave. So ladies, if you go here after partying in dc, lookin' cute, beware!
Yesterday I finally did it. I'd wanted to do it for a few months, but was anxious about it. I came close a couple of times, but always backed out. I wasn't sure I would know what to do, I wanted to do it with the right person, I wanted it to happen spontaneously, and I didn't want to feel scared when I finally went to Kabob Palace.
After biking 13 miles we needed some nourishment and we were apparently close to KP. I'd never been, I had actually never eaten kabob, but I felt that it would be okay since I was with the kabob king himself (Jeff W.). We arrived and I quickly looked to Jeff to offer guidance. What should I order? How does this work? He informed me that Emily and I could easily share something and make sure to order it without salad.
We decided on the No. 5, and it was delicious. No salad, no spinach, no problems! Emily and I devoured it quickly and it was just the energy we needed to get ourselves back on the bikes to ride home. Carbs, I love you.
My first time was actually a great experience and I definitely want to do it again. I'm sure it will be even better now that I know what to expect.. I thought waiting was the best thing to do, but now I wish I would have done it sooner. I was missing out on an amazing time.
Coming from NYC so high expectation with Afghani/Pakistani food. This place was great. Super crowded (Mon night) which is a good sign.
Food was excellent. Prices are ok. Service is a tad slow (at least this night it was).
In walking distance of all the Crystal City hotels - and worth the walk for something different.
I kept hearing about this place so I had to go. By far the best I've ever had! The combo #9- the lamb and ground beef- is my favorite but everything on the menu seemed just as good. I think it's open really late too... like until midnight. The food usually takes a little while but it's well worth the wait- always hot, juicy, & tender...never dry.
I finally got my chance to try the famous Kabob Palace recently and to rate it against some of my favorite kabob places. And like most of the Yelpers, I have to say that it compares favorably.
I was just wowed by the perfect char the well-marinaded chicken and lamb had. It had a real homemade charcoal-grilled taste, one that I have never quite had in any of the other kabob joints I have been to. The boneless chicken was moist and juicy and the lamb had a pronounced flavor without being too gamey.
The brown basmati rice and chickpeas were excellent too, but I did not detect any cinnamon in my mildly-spiced chickpeas. I just wish the chickpeas had come in a separate bowl (like the picture on the wall) so I could have gotten more of them. The included salad was pretty basic - mostly lettuce with some tomatoes and cucumbers. Raw onions and chili peppers were available to add to it. The naan was fluffy and light, but I would have liked it a little more well-done.
But these issues were quite inconsequential compared to the expertly prepared meats I was served. They do just a few things here, but they do them very, very well.
After hearing how Karman L., PC W. and Jeff W. among other people rave about this place, I finally succumbed to the Yelp pressure and tried it out. Under the tutelage of Jeff W. I finally became enlighted to the glory taht is Kabob Palace.
Situated in Crystal City not far from the Eads St. "strip," this cramped eatery looks great for late-night munchies. Place is questionable in cleanliness, but lines wrap around the place and almost out the door and seating is wherever you can find it.
Under Jeff W's instruction I made absolutely sure to get NO SALAD with my chicken and kubideh combo platter so I would have room for extra rice and chickpeas. Them rice and chickpeas complement the meat very well, and the meat was EXCELLENT. The chicken was flavorful and tender (hard to find places that don't dry out chicken meat) and the kubideh was equally flavorful. Both kicked a nice punch of spiciness that left my mouth burning yet not uncomfortably so. If you need more kick, the side bar has Thai chilis you can add on. All that with a piece of pita/naan left me completely stuffed. I don't know how I finished the plate, but it was THAT GOOD.
Open 24hrs, so this place is great no matter what time of day/night you go. If I'm in the neighborhood and in a mood for some good kabobs, I know where to go.
Had lunch there today. Very good Kubideh, moist chicken and excellent bread. Not much for atmosphere, but for a good inexpensive meal, it's on my map!
I am still thinking about the meal I had here with Karman on my return trip from PA.
I had the lamb chops, bread, salad, rice and spinach. No, I did not get the chickpeas. I really don't like chickpeas so the spinach was a perfectly good substitute. It was very tasty with lots of flavor.
The lamb chops were quite good and they cover the bone with a bit of foil so you can easily pick them up. Full of flavor - nice spices and there's a bit of a kick that makes me reach for some water.
This is one place that may bring me back to Virginia over and over again even though I try to resist.
[See Business Photos.]
Arlington, VA
Category: Afghan
Arlington, VA
Category: Pakistani
Arlington, VA
Category: Middle Eastern
Arlington, VA
Category: Middle Eastern
Springfield, VA
Category: Indian
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