Afghani Food International Market & Restaurant

I went there for lunch. There were only me and another couple the whole time. The waiter spent most of his time in the kitchen, not in the front. When I finished my food, I waited for a while but he did not come out so I went to the restroom. While I'm in the restroom, the waiter came knocked loudly on the door and asked loudly several times if I was in there. I found this very rude and told him that. He then said sorry and said it would not happen again if I come back. I don't think so.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 2

Recommended dishes: Chicken Kebab

I don't usually write reviews but this situation affected me. The food here is delicious and that is not what this review is about. I've lived in Clairemont for over 20 years and I often take walks around my neighborhood with my elderly parents. We walk by this little shopping center quite often every other day and I've actually taken my mother to this restaurant before.

This evening however on another walk with my parents I briefly entered the store looking for a quick canned drink while they waited for me outside. I didn't find anything interesting though as I wanted something unique specifically from Afghanistan - but all I saw that they had today were sodas and energy drinks I could get literally anywhere else - so I left the store empty handed quickly as to not keep my parents waiting too long.

The shop owner aggressively chased my parents and I down - we were already making our way toward the 6 Motel by the time he caught up to us - asking if he could "help me" even though it was obvious this guy was pissed off and angry.

He thought I had stolen something from his store. I hadn't even opened a fridge while I had been in there. I pulled everything I had from my pockets - which was literally only my phone - and told him straight up I hadn't stolen anything from his store and he finally disengaged and left us alone.

This experience made me feel extremely uncomfortable and unsafe and I am genuinely deeply offended that me and my elderly parents were stereotyped in anyway to have been chased down from this store and indirectly accused of stealing - the owner was in such a rage he didn't even recognize me or my mother when we have spoken to him previously and had been in that store multiple times before.

If you have issues with theft maybe you should hire a security guard who actually knows what to look for and what they are doing - because the owners of this shop acted extremely unprofessionally and was clearly only judging a book by it's cover (incorrectly might I add) with no actual direct evidence of any wrong doing - you just lost a faithful customer and someone who genuinely really loved the food here and planned to come back many more times. I will never step foot in this place again and I will discourage anyone else who asks from doing so too.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 1

We made the trip out here, drove 2+ hours to eat here only to be blamed for ordered entrees we didn't order. The server said the extra food he mistakenly ordered was on the house, then we started eating, and he came back and said we might not put it on the house. Then the manager/owner comes and yells us at "nothing is on the house. Nothing is free." But we never asked for anything for free his server left it on our table saying it was on the house!!! It was so terrible the way he spoke to us and then walked off as if we were his kids, who he just scolded. It was very sad to witness what happened. They really need to understand how to treat Customers. FYI, the server picked up the food and put it right on the trash to throw it away. We been here previously with bigger group and the same owner was nice to us maybe because we spend more money. But never coming back here. The guy needs to learn how to speak to his customers.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Excellent food. Very welcoming staff.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Top quality….

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best Afghani food in San Diego. Vegetarian options are very good, but we didn't try the meat dishes. Family run restaurant owned by a husband and wife.

Vegan options include:
$17 - aushak (chive dumplings with lentil topping)
$22 - bolani (flatbread stuffed with chives and potato)
$10 - sabzi (spinach stew)
$16 - borani bodenjan (eggplant stew with tomato and peppers)

Vegetarian options: Ask the owners about the vegetarian options, which include bolani (flatbread), aushak (dumplings), spinach, eggplant, and falafel plate.

Dietary restrictions: Most of the food is made without dairy and you can ask for any yogurt toppings on th side

Parking: Strip mall parking next to plenty of other venues, there are always some open spots

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Authentic Afghan food
The best Chapli kabob we had in a while everything was perfect
Great customer services

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The best Afghan food in California. We loved our food, the ambiance, and the beautiful family working hard to make this wonderful restaurant the success that it is. You can taste the love in the food. Eat here- you will not be disappointed.

Not to mention the Afghan market that is fully stocked with all of the groceries you could need. Definitely worth checking out! I wish I could give them 10 stars because 5/5 isn’t enough. :)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Please please don’t go, you can’t find parking we went there and waiting for a 10 maintes no one come to service as actually only one lady was working on the kitchen entire restaurant and than I went to kitchen to call some to help as she was came out and said sorry I am working alone and it take while to have you food and we were come from San Francisco so we had bad experience we didn’t eat very bad experience

I love this place , everything is perfect the food is amazing and delicious it's like my mom's cooking. Lamb shank is my favorite

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ordered chapli kabob and it was so juicy, fresh and delicious. I'm glad I found this place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Grilled Chapli Kabab

The best chaplai kabob in San Diego...great food....

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best food experience and the young guy who was serving us he was polite and right on point, very clean environment, we recommend this place

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wonderful experience. Presentation appealing to eye, aromas very pleasing, taste well balanced. Will go back for other dishes they offer. Cook, staff makes customers feel like family. Cost reasonable especially amount of food given.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Quabli Palaow

The food is authentic and tasty! I took my first bite and it immediately took me back to my time in Afghanistan. The food was delicious and plentiful.

It came with a side salad, and the hot sauce had some good flavors heat.

The owner/ chef checked in and was very warm and friendly.

The server was young and is still learning, so service was a bit slow, I waited for several minutes before my order being taken, and again waited to get my bill and had to ask a few times to get my to go box.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 3