Afghan Restaurants near Alexandria, VA

“We were visiting from California and came across this restaurant near our hotel. The food and service was great, the portions were large and the price was very good. We loved the food and the traditional afghan ice cream (house made Sheryakh). Very friendly staff.“

“So glad I found this place. The food was delicious & flavorful, very authentic. The portions are very large & worth the price. The gentlemen at the front were very helpful & polite when I picked my order up. The inside had beautiful tapestries & decor & nice music playing. I definitely will return.“

“The lamb was the best I’ve ever had I’ve had lamb from Norfolk but the one I had from Norfolk wasn’t as good as this this lamb was top tier along with the rice and spinach everything was perfect as well as the shwarma I’d definitely recommend to everybody solid 10/10“

“We had never tried Afghani food before, and I am so glad we did. The staff was so friendly and helpful with any questions we had. They recommended the Mini Taste of Arocostia for our first time. Everything was FANTASTIC!!! The food was cooked perfectly. The service was great! We never had to ask to have our beverages filled up, because they were already on top of it before we had to ask. They packed all our leftovers into boxes for us for our way home. We will definitely be going back!“

“First time here today. The food was amazing! Service was excellent! ❤ I love Afghan food.“

“I had been to the sister restaurant Aracosia in McLean many times. We were in the Georgetown area and were excited to try this place and see how it compared, as Aracosia is one of our favorite restaurants in the DMV and the menu here seemed very similar if not almost identical.

Everything was mostly the same, such as the complimentary bread and dipping sauces. I believe it is the best complimentary bread I have had anywhere and there are even very few breads I have paid for that I would put above. The lamb here was just as delicious and perfectly cooked as well. The sabzi and baadenjaan also seemed exactly like what we had before. Service at both places was friendly and attentive.

A couple things we noticed was a bit different here was the carrot rice here seemed to have an extra spice here that Aracosia didnt. I couldn't tell you what it was exactly, (cardamom?) but I thought it overpowered the rice a little. The chicken thighs here seemed not as juicy as the Aracosia version with the slightly smaller pieces being on the overcooked side.

On the positive side, the nakhoud seemed better here, although I could not tell you why. They also gave us a complimentary rice pudding dessert which was really good.

I would say Aracosia is still our favorite Middle East/West Asian restaurant but as this place is almost the same, it is a close second. We will not hesitate to come back if we are in the area and want this type of food.“

“Loved every thing about my experience at Lapis. Our server, Diana, was top-tier! She recommended dishes and every one of them were perfection. Go with an appetite and friends/family so you can order several different dishes and taste them all. Sambosa trio, mantoo beef, kofta...taste it all! Save room for dessert because the Sharbat may have changed my life. Wish I lived nearby instead of just in town visiting family!“

“what were some of the highlights at big red halal you ask?? THE CHICKEN.. and the red sauce🤤“

“I have been to this kabob house multiple times per recommendation from a friend and every experience does not disappoint. After experiencing multiple Kabob houses throughout the NOVA (Northern Virginia) region including Prince William, Fairfax, and Loudon counties I have to say that the kabobs at food corner house kabob house (FCK) are some the best bar none. The pita bread is soft and doughy, the kabobs are all seasoned and cooked to perfection, and the salad dressing and sides are top notch. The kabobs are consitently tender and nor hard or old and I know they are cooked correctly because there are grilled in such a way that there exists and exterior crunch followed by and explosion of moist flavor. The portions are stll substantial and the owner offers free soup and tea alongside the main meal. Speaking of the owner and crew, they are wonderful to deal with and its always a good conversation. They always listen to customer concerns are readily available to create custom meals on the fly. This place is a true gem, and I would be one of the first to recommend this kabob house if you are ever in the area.“

“Panjshir is one of our favorite restaurants. For years, we used to regularly go to their Vienna location but after it closed and we moved further out, it was a challenge to go to the Falls Church restaurant. With that said, we have missed their delicious food so we decided to brave the traffic and go. Even after all these years we were not disappointed. The quality and consistency of the food is exactly the same. I'm a vegetarian and their vegetarian offerings from kadu chalow to seib, plus several others are a vegetarian's delight. Their aush soup was delicious. My husband ordered an appetizer of bulanee kachalu and enjoyed every single bite of these fried potato and ground beef turnovers.
We definitely plan on going back.“

“Service was exceptional and very catering to us. Sahid was so nice and even brought water for our dog while we were sitting outside, really caring. The food was really good and flavorful, loved the pita and the chickpeas. I could eat a whole bowl of chickpeas and pita bread. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good kabob place!“

“We had a team dinner with 10 people. We had a back area all to ourselves. The food was amazing and we got to meet the mother / daughter cooks that made it. We had all the desserts and a combination of appetizers and entrees. There were varying dietary restrictions but we were able to get something for everyone. Will definitely consider again for other events.“

“Bamian is a fantastic Afghan restaurant! The staff is extremely professional, friendly, and welcoming, which makes the whole dining experience even better. The food was absolutely delicious, flavorful, and tasted authentic.

I was also very impressed with the portion size. The serving was more than enough for one person and felt like a great value for the price. Everything was fresh, well-prepared, and satisfying.

Definitely a place I would recommend to anyone who enjoys Afghan food. Great food, generous portions, and excellent service!“

“Courthouse Kabob has hands down the best Afghan food and service in the entire DMV area. Everything is consistently fresh, flavorful, and authentic, and the prices are amazing for the quality and portions you get.

What really sets this place apart, though, is the hospitality. The staff are incredibly warm, welcoming, and genuinely make you feel taken care of every time you come in. Courthouse Kabob has easily become my go-to spot for Afghan food in the area. I can’t recommend them enough!“

“wonderful gem of a spot! delicious cocktails and food. extremely knowledgeable staff“

“Best Kabob House in the town.“

“I had the chicken kabob plate. In the picture there's white rice on the plate (under the naan bread). The chicken, both types of rice, and the bread were my favorite parts!! It was delicious and very filling. I didn't eat the salad (I don't eat salad, and I didn't know it came with the meal). I also tried the chickpeas, but I didn't finish them. They were ok.“

“The best breakfast in town! The food simply delicious. Highly recommend it.“

“I ordered DoorDash had the Combination of Quabili Palau and Chalau, served with meat sauce and one skewer each of shami, chicken, and lamb kabob, and it was outstanding.

Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The Quabili Palau was rich and aromatic, the Chalau was delicious, and the meat sauce tied everything together beautifully. The kabobs were all excellent—the shami was tender and well-seasoned, the chicken was juicy, and the lamb was flavorful and perfectly grilled.

The portion size was generous, and the quality of the food was exceptional. The staff was friendly, and the overall experience was great. If you’re looking for authentic Afghan cuisine, I highly recommend this place. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“I’ve been coming here since 1999, and I must say, this place serves the best Kabob I’ve ever eaten. The food is delicious, and the sauces truly elevate the dish. The service is phenomenal, and they cook the food fresh on the spot. If you’re in the mood for a great Kabob meal and find yourself at Springfield Mall, you must try this place. I highly recommend the chicken—it’s amazing.“

“Second time here and it was even better than the first! The chicken and beef kubideh kabobs were succulent and flavorful! The qabli pulao was aromatic and with the perfect amount of sweetness from the carrots and raisins. The grilled tomatoes and the sauces were the perfect accompaniments with the correct amount of heat. The lady at the counter and the chef were warm and very accommodating with multiple requests. The prices are much more reasonable with generous portions, especially compared to the other Afghan restaurants in town and the taste is superior. Kabul Castle Kabob is one of the hidden gems of DC!“

“I had a great experience, the service and food quality were amazing. I got the best fish kabob and I can’t compare it with any other restaurant. The food was very tasty, good quality, good quantity and overall 10 out of 10. I will definitely visit again.“

“One of the best restaurants in the country, excellent food, terrific service and beautiful environment.“

“Food was just perfect and the staff is very friendly. The lamb was just amazing!“

“Highly recommended .. great service“

“Awesome customer service and food“