Recommended dishes: Lamb Kebaab, Hummus, Chicken Manto, Combination Special, House Salad, Marinated Grilled Eggplant, Chicken Kebaab, Lamb and Chicken Kebab
Fred Hawkins
Food was great. Don't be mislead by the prices on the web site. They're 75% higher than what shown. Most meals around $25. But you get snack, soup and a great meal for that. A little loud when all tables are full. We enjoyed your time there. Everyone ordered something different and enjoyed the meal. Those that had salad with as he'd for a little more sauce, but not a big deal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adie Smith
Large portions, great food, and staff is super nice!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Makiya stewart
Amazing food and even better staff! Delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lillian Jensen
This place was amazing! I'd never had Afghan food before, and it was so good! Everything was so flavorful and delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: House Salad, Aushak, Home-Made Soup, Grilled Eggplant and Carrots
Doug
I wish they allowed 1 star. There are a ton of great places to eat in Bloomington, scratch this off your list!!! I'm sure the food might be great, but after waiting 1 hour we never got to try it. There were people that sat after us, ate, paid, etc and left before we might have gotten our meal. Our waiter said there was a mix-up in the kitchen and our meal was next. Then he proceeded to bring out 2 other tables of food. One of them literally sat down 10 minutes ago. We did not order anything special... It was the Kabob combination Special. They just plate it up!!!. After the he proceeded to bring out another table, we left. I do not get it. It's not hard to prepare a dish and delivery it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
kiwi boy
Dishes are high quality and well prepared. Tasted very authentic. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sonia B
This charming restaurant, nestled near the IU campus, boasts a captivating and distinctive decor. The service was great, and we were delighted with the grilled eggplant with carrots and Afghani bread. While the soup was a bit of a letdown, the chicken and lamb kebabs were simply amazing! I highly recommend a visit to this delightful establishment.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Eggplant and Carrots, Chicken Kebaab, Lamb and Chicken Kebab
Connie Cleary
Had the lunch buffet. Some of the food is spicy and it's not marked that. I don't like spicy food. Had little wait staff service. No one asking what we wanted. No menus, no beverage choice. Just lukewarm water. Waitress showed up with our bill quickly. And took payment fast. My friend and I decided we will not return.
We are regulars at this restaurant. Love this place! Food is good. Service is good and friendly. Usually not a long wait for a table. The lunch buffet is great for good fresh food and/or a quick lunch with a very good variety. Dinners are prepared nicely for evening dining.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Brooks
Right on the square, Samira serves several options for vegetarians and carnivores alike. The service was great, and the portions are big enough to share.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zhuoyang Cao
Samira is a solid spot for Middle Eastern food in Bloomington, and there’s a reason it has lasted for so many years in this college town. The menu is simple and straightforward, but the food is fresh and full of flavor. I especially want to highlight the hen—it was incredibly tasty, even better than the lamb or beef options in my opinion!
The beef kebab is about $4 more expensive than the others, and while it’s still good, I found the lamb to be fresher and more satisfying. So unless you’re really craving beef, I’d suggest going with the combination platter or trying something else on the menu.
Even though I’m not vegetarian, one of our friends ordered a vegetarian dish and it looked amazing—clearly a great option even if you don’t eat meat.
Prices are very reasonable overall. The restaurant seems to accept reservations, which is helpful. We visited during summer (which is usually a slow season for college towns), and by 6 PM it was already starting to fill up. So if you’re visiting during the school year or on a weekend, I highly recommend making a reservation.
I’ve included a photo showing the beef, lamb, and hen dishes we ordered—everything looked and tasted great. Definitely a spot worth checking out if you’re in Bloomington and want something fresh, flavorful, and satisfying!
Very tasty dumplings and meat skewers..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lamb Kebaab, Hummus, Chicken Manto, Combination Special, House Salad, Marinated Grilled Eggplant, Chicken Kebaab, Lamb and Chicken Kebab
Food was great. Don't be mislead by the prices on the web site. They're 75% higher than what shown. Most meals around $25. But you get snack, soup and a great meal for that. A little loud when all tables are full. We enjoyed your time there. Everyone ordered something different and enjoyed the meal. Those that had salad with as he'd for a little more sauce, but not a big deal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Large portions, great food, and staff is super nice!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food and even better staff! Delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place was amazing! I'd never had Afghan food before, and it was so good! Everything was so flavorful and delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: House Salad, Aushak, Home-Made Soup, Grilled Eggplant and Carrots
I wish they allowed 1 star. There are a ton of great places to eat in Bloomington, scratch this off your list!!! I'm sure the food might be great, but after waiting 1 hour we never got to try it. There were people that sat after us, ate, paid, etc and left before we might have gotten our meal. Our waiter said there was a mix-up in the kitchen and our meal was next. Then he proceeded to bring out 2 other tables of food. One of them literally sat down 10 minutes ago. We did not order anything special... It was the Kabob combination Special. They just plate it up!!!. After the he proceeded to bring out another table, we left. I do not get it. It's not hard to prepare a dish and delivery it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Dishes are high quality and well prepared. Tasted very authentic. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This charming restaurant, nestled near the IU campus, boasts a captivating and distinctive decor. The service was great, and we were delighted with the grilled eggplant with carrots and Afghani bread. While the soup was a bit of a letdown, the chicken and lamb kebabs were simply amazing! I highly recommend a visit to this delightful establishment.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Eggplant and Carrots, Chicken Kebaab, Lamb and Chicken Kebab
Had the lunch buffet. Some of the food is spicy and it's not marked that. I don't like spicy food. Had little wait staff service. No one asking what we wanted. No menus, no beverage choice.
Just lukewarm water. Waitress showed up with our bill quickly. And took payment fast. My friend and I decided we will not return.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Pretty good
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
We are regulars at this restaurant. Love this place! Food is good. Service is good and friendly. Usually not a long wait for a table. The lunch buffet is great for good fresh food and/or a quick lunch with a very good variety. Dinners are prepared nicely for evening dining.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Right on the square, Samira serves several options for vegetarians and carnivores alike. The service was great, and the portions are big enough to share.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Samira is a solid spot for Middle Eastern food in Bloomington, and there’s a reason it has lasted for so many years in this college town. The menu is simple and straightforward, but the food is fresh and full of flavor. I especially want to highlight the hen—it was incredibly tasty, even better than the lamb or beef options in my opinion!
The beef kebab is about $4 more expensive than the others, and while it’s still good, I found the lamb to be fresher and more satisfying. So unless you’re really craving beef, I’d suggest going with the combination platter or trying something else on the menu.
Even though I’m not vegetarian, one of our friends ordered a vegetarian dish and it looked amazing—clearly a great option even if you don’t eat meat.
Prices are very reasonable overall. The restaurant seems to accept reservations, which is helpful. We visited during summer (which is usually a slow season for college towns), and by 6 PM it was already starting to fill up. So if you’re visiting during the school year or on a weekend, I highly recommend making a reservation.
I’ve included a photo showing the beef, lamb, and hen dishes we ordered—everything looked and tasted great. Definitely a spot worth checking out if you’re in Bloomington and want something fresh, flavorful, and satisfying!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Lamb Kebaab, Hummus, Marinated Grilled Eggplant, Lamb and Chicken Kebab
Best lunch buffet in town. Dinner is great here, too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pleasantly surprised at how delicious the food was. Highly recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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