| Address | 2700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Alexandria, VA 22301 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon-Sun |
| Phone | (703) 548-0022 |
| Fax | (703) 548-0673 |
Dollar for dollar, might be the best value in DC -- a phenomenal restaurant.
I absolutely love afghani food and this restaurant is right by my house, so I was so excited about it. The appetizers were great-those scallion raviolis with yogurt sauce. I had the vegetarian combo (which sounded fabulous) but I was so disappointed when my waitress set it on the table-it was literally floating in oil. There had to be at least (not exaggerating) one to two cups of oil in my meal alone. I could hardly touch my dinner and I will never go back to that restaurant.
I had the vegetarian combo, with five middle eastern salads along with their great naan bread, friend went with the kabob. The kadu bouranee here is much better than other Afghan restaurants in the area -- made from big chunks of fresh pumpkin, not a wet puree that you suspect is canned. Their two desserts (baklava and a pudding) are simple, but good. Not much to see from the outside, but inside, the atmosphere goes well with the food -- walls are covered in murals of Afghani landmarks, linens are bright, and all tables have authentic sumac seasoning. Also, it has its own parking. Recommended.
Eat here. Eat here often. The bread is some of the best I've had in the area. The meat is always tender and perfectly-spiced. I salivate just thinking about the appetizers (esp. the boolawnee). I love the Afhgan Restaurant.
The Afghan Restaurant surprised me. I live very close by and was afraid to eat there because of its sketchy appearance, and only made the adventure after reading the rave reviews on this site. It was definitely worth the trip, and I will be going back! Although sketchy from the outside, I thought the inside was quite nice. (white tablecloths, nice wine selection, etc.) The decor didn't bother me as it seems to have bothered some people. I had a sampler platter of Afghan food, which was a great deal for the amount of food, although it did not come with the wonderful bread everyone raves about. (so I ordered some on the side! it's worth it). The bread seriously is the best bread I've ever had, and the kebabs are wonderful. The yogurt dip is so good I think they must put something in it to make it addictive. I'd go back just for that.
We ordered wine, two dinners, an appetizer and dessert and came out at about $65. Pretty cheap compared to other area restaurants, but not as cheap as I thought it would be. But worth it!
We were looking for a new place to try in the Del Ray area, and decided to try the Afghan Restaurant based on the rave reviews of other raters. We are thrilled that we did! Yes, the outside is suspiciously plain, but inside the ambience is much "classier" than expected (never mind the oddly-painted ceiling). The service, although not legendary, was friendly and prompt. I ordered the chicken kebob and my companion had the lamb kebob. My chicken was moist and flavorful, but I found myself begging my companion for more than just a sample of what was THE MOST tender lamb I've had in years. Yummy! Finally--and hopefully taken as a mere observation, not a complaint--is that there is a kebob place in Annandale where you are served just as much meat and bread, as well as rice and a side dish, for about 3/4 price as Afghan Restaurant. The former is not a true sit-down restaurant, though, and my newest "discovery" makes up for it in superior lamb.
After an intensive, week-long kebab quest of the greater Washington area, it is my opinion that the quality and flavor of the meat used here, as well as the superior bread (I'll come back to the bread) put Afghan Restaurant at the top of its peer group - surpassing Bread and Kebab, Moby Dick House of Kebab, Kebab Palace, and a long list of other complete hacks in the meat-on-a-stick dining subsector.
The Bread: This stuff deserves its own paragraph. While most places like this make some kind of round, unremarkable, white flour disk called naan to go with your meal, Afghan Restaurant is cranking out 6 by 18 inch boards of some of the tastiest baked dough I've ever had. It's a little bit crusty on the outside, a little bit soft on the inside, a little bit wheaty throughout, and I may have detected a hint of sourness that could suggest its made from a sourdough-type, natural starter, rather than packaged yeast. Its baked in their giant clay tandoor oven and comes to the table hot and fresh out the kitchen. I want to talk to the dough man back there. I'm intrigued.
The interior of this place feels like a low-budget remodel of a Long John Silver's seafood house, so if you like to go to restaurants for atmosphere more than for the taste of what you're actually eating, go somewhere else. If you like charcoal grilled kebabs that are tender and delicious enough to make your mouth water every time you think about your last meal there, then this is your kind of place!
Everything we ordered here was pretty tasty. My favorite was Boolawnee--a potato-filled bread from the appetizer menu. Their kebabs were among the most tender I've ever had, and their naan bread had a distinct & pleasing flavor.
Afghan Resturant is a great place in a weird location off of Route 1. It's not so appealing from the outside, but the inside is homey (if a bit strange with the faux "rock" on the walls).
But the real reason to go here is the Afghan food. We LOVE the grilled skewered meats--the chicken and lamb are both favorites. The Afghan bread (sort of like Indian naan) is amazing, and comes with every dish. It's also a huge piece of bread, so don't be shocked. It's practically the size of a 2x4. Other Afghan specialties we love include the meat and onion filled "raviolis" called aushak--they come smothered in a tangy yogurt sauce and spices. Oh lordy, I call this comfort food at it's finest. One word of caution--it appears that many local Afghan families use the resturant for HUGE parties and wedding receptions (there's an attached banquet hall). This is a great indication of the food's authenticity, but it can be next to impossible to find parking on the weekends, as the lot gets full quickly.
I think this is a great restaurant and very good value. I have been eating there for almost 5 years. The bread is excellent and so are the meat shishkebabs and the yogurt sauce. The restaurant also offers vegetarian options. The service is always friendly and we have never had to wait. The restaurant is family freindly and there are always Afghani or Pakistani families who eat there (which convinces me that food is not only good but also authentic).
I love this place...it is unique, the food is always superb, and the wait staff is friendly. It's a great deal, and fabulous for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. We spent $38 and that included entrees, a shared appetizer and shared dessert, and one beer each. The ambience is mediocre and from the outside the place looks terrible, but it's the best surprise inside. I especially like the pumpkin entree...yum!
From the outside, the Afghan Restaurant looks like a dump. From the inside? A slightly nicer dump. But one bite of its succulent kabobs and, especially, its wood-fired-made naan (flatbread) will make you forgive any concerns you had about ambience (or noise -- the restaurant's large, curtained-off hall frequently hosts spirited wedding celebrations). Lamb is the standout, although chicken is also excellent. Non-kabob offerings are limited but equally tasty, particularly the mantu, ground beef and scallions stuffed into pasta-like shells. Vegetarians also have 5-8 choices. Beer and wine.
Where else can you get a dish that has pumpkin, spinach, and egglant? And it's yummy! Plus, the yoghurt dip sauce is splendid.
Extremely good value for money. Why would you ever want to go to Appleby's when you could go here?
