Very unassuming, but don't judge a restaurant by its strip mall! The owners utilize every inch of the small space and for good reason - the place was filled the entire time my family was there for dinner. Really impressive menu, especially the vegetarian selection. All the food was excellent - no one had any complaints. The dessert menu was tempting, and while it wasn't listed (because they had trouble finding someone who made it well enough) the baclava was wonderful. read more

Afghan Bistro - Vegetarian squash risotto - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

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The food was fresh and full of flavor. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was spotless, which made the whole visit even more enjoyable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] On top of that, the customer service was outstandingattentive, and professional. I recommend read more

4.5 Stars for Aracosia's sister restaurant. Delicious Afghan Food. Weekday Lunch: They were out of Mantu, so we got the combo dumplings and subbed pumpkin dumplings instead of what would've been mantu in the combo dumpling appetizer platter. Chicken and Beef Kabob Combo - both of the meats were very tender and the chickpeas were cooked just right. I couldn't finish my massive platter and took it home and was so surprised it was still tender the next day. Service was on the slow inattentive side, but everything else (complimentary fresh hot bread and lunch dishes) was on par. Thank you. read more

Afghan Bistro - Chicken and Beef Kabob Combo - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

This is an out of the way spot worth visiting. It's in a nondescript building with plenty of free parking but what really helps is how your made to feel when entering. Everyone is welcoming and shows true appreciation. It's a decent sized restaurant with a comfortable setting and nice decor. The food is great. We started off with the hot Mazza assortment (assorted appetizers) and everything was delicious. I ate the lamb duo and found it equally delicious (I cleaned my plate). My wife loved her lamb shank moghuli. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Amazing food, service, and ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This is one of our favorite restaurants to frequent. The food is tasty, fresh, and made to order. Every time we show up, the staff never disappoints, and keeps us coming back. read more

DISCLAIMER: This is a review that was stuck in drafts for a few months, but my experience is still useful. I found myself in the area, hungry, late (for COVID times) and found some amazing reviews for Afghan Bistro. After quickly skimming reviews and photos, my hopes were high. After a bit of scrambling to choose the items for an order in the quickly closing 30min window before closing, I called in to place the order. I asked first if it was too late to order as I didn't expect them to have to go to extra effort, and they said it was no problem at all...that I could order anything on the menu. So, I first attempted to order their highly recommended special at the time (I don't recall what it was specifically), but they said they were out. Then I went with the second most recommended, and they said they were out. So, I decided to go with one of my favorites, Mantu (spicy beef dunplings). I am very familiar with Afghan cuisine, and what I received was clearly not what I ordered...nor did I recognize what it was, so I assume it was some non-standard special dish. It was well-prepared lamb tenderloin, on a very small bed of rice and julienned carrots with meat sauce on the side and a sliver of store-bought naan (surprised that it wasn't fresh naan). I suppose it may have been a variant of Qabuli Palao, but it wasn't what I ordered...nor was it recognizably traditional Qabuli Palao - which is one my favorite dishes. While what I received was delicious, it was not what I ordered. It was also way more expensive than expected given the portion sizes and the restaurant location...and posted menu price. I believe that my order was the last order sent to the kitchen - which they said would not be a problem - so I'm not sure how I got a completely different dish than I ordered. Other than that, the restaurant was homey and warm, and the servers were very friendly. I doubt that I will return because I can get Afghan dishes that are just as delicious (with larger portions) closer to home for less - where I know what I am getting - but it was worth a try. For those who are on the fence, it's worth the effort as long as you make sure that your order is correct. Since this was a last minute, to-go order, I had no recourse but to take what was given as they were closing...but I imagine the sit-down experience may be much better. I hold no ill will against them, as it was probably a simple mix up, but I couldn't give 5 stars for a wrong order. Stay safe, and keep yelping! P.S. - Thank you to the business for reading and responding to my review. More businesses should pay as much attention! When I am back in your area, I will take you up on your invitation to try again! read more

I love Afghan cuisine and while I typically go to their sister restaurant in a Aracosia, as it is closer, I have been to Afghan Bistro a few times when in the area. While I miss my beloved Helmand back home, this spot definitely fills that void. It's cute and welcoming with excellent service and food. The first time I visited I got takeout. I ordered the chicken karahi and kadoo boulanee, both of which were delicious. More recently, I ordered the baadenjaan chalou and sabzi boulanee. I love sabzi and stuffed into fried dumplings makes love it even more. The eggplant was tasty with plenty of leftovers. Their bread is great, as are their chutneys. The mango one is my favorite. I want to get the veggie platter and dessert next time I visit. If you are looking for excellent Afghan dishes, Afghan Bistro is your place. read more

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Overall very good food, atmosphere and customer service. Variety of plate menu options; however, pricey even though it is very good flavor and texture. I'll come back as I continue to look for a less expensive option with equal food quality, atmosphere and customer service. Overall solid 4 stars. I recommend Afghan Bistro. read more

The food here is consistently good. The service is very friendly and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambience cozy[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I have been there twice and will probably come back. read more

Oh my god. The food was amazing. Don't let the location in a strip mall turn you off. If you don't have a reservation you're probably not getting seated. Huge group and everyone loved their meals. Also the table bread is to die for and they just kept refilling it. All of the dips for the bread are nice but the cilantro avocado is good to the point I could honestly just eat it straight. It would be a good side dressing for literally anything on the menu. They didn't have baklava when we were there because their preferred baklava guy was out of the country and they couldn't find anyone local who met their standard. So after hearing that I know I need to come back and get my mind blown by this baklava once their guy is back in town. read more

Afghan Bistro - Custards - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

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Delicious fresh food! Very large menu. Great and friendly service with nice servers. Chicken kabobs were tender and juicy! read more

Stumbled upon the gem, thanks always to Yelp, after a great round of golf at Ft belvoir. Just a couple of miles outside the gate, we called around 4 to confirm they were opened We were welcomed and seated;it's an intimate bistro nestled inside a "strip" of unassuming stores. The server was knowledgeable and we let him choose our drinks and took his advice on the food choices. My golfing buddy had never eaten Afghan and is a pescatarian, but had no issue finding delicious options and really enjoyed her food The bread "dips" were interesting and unique to my Americanized palette. No need to ask what they taste like, cause to compare it to American food would be a disservice Actually, if you are American and not used to eating anything but American, I'd highly recommend stepping out your comfort zone and trying something new...this place will not disappoint read more

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Know this place since opened. Fresh cooking always. As of today they still have good quality delicious food. Loved the spices and the tea. Lamp kebabs are the best. read more

This place is a lovely gem and I can't believe it took me this long to find it. It's quite a mix of good solid charming food, along with a lovely authentic decor, as well as great service. The minute you walk in, the ambiance strikes you as something welcoming yet exotic, as if you're transported to a far away place. Now for the food, the hot mazza appetizer is divine. Each of the four dishes - spicy beef dumplings, roasted butternut squash bouranee, roasted eggplant bouranee, and leek dumpling - were so unique and jam packed with flavor that left you craving for more. The lamb chops were also divine and perfectly cooked. Lastly, I would say the sauces are something to be desired. When you ask for a doggy bag, they even pack you more. How lovely! read more

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Afghan Bistro is a hidden gem that offers delicious Afghan cuisine. The staff also provides great service. I highly recommend and plan to return. A few notes: Make sure you make a reservation. This is a small locale, and the restaurant is typically pretty busy. You will not be able to walk in for dinner. The prices are within the limit of what I could call moderate. The average dinner plate costs between $25-$35, so be aware. read more

Food ok. Mock tails are pretty tasty. I got the feeling that a certain clientele is not cared for in this establishment. Their loss. read more

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Let me tell you about the Afghan Bristo and my awesome server Zak!!! If you EVER, EVER, EVER want authentic Afghan food please make this restaurant top on your list. Every dish my table ordered was absolutely delicious!!!! If this would have been take out, I would have been at home licking the containers . Where can I start my description of this fine establishment??? The appetizers were superb.... The pumpkins dumplings were so tasty. I probably should keep this restaurant a secret, but whelp ‍ I let the cat out of the bag! Bon Apetite! read more

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Had a friend and my fiancé take me out to NoVA for an appointment last Saturday and was looking on OpenTable for good brunch places and saw this place. It's not really a brunch place but something new for us to try. We can upon opening and rent may have been delayed a few minutes so we almost tried the Mexican place next door but they soon opened. They were very friendly when we walked in and the artwork and poetry on the menu and inside are beautiful. The food was very amazing! We ordered the Pumpkin Dumplings, Hot Mazza Assortment, Aracosian Lamb Platter, and a Chicken & Ground Beef Kabob. They also give out free bread and dips which were wonderful and we all had the jasmine tea which was very tasty. It was nice having a bunch of meat and appetizers to share. The meal is quite affordable for all we had and we were too full for desert. We aren't in the area that often but would love to return and my fiancé and I will recommend it to our bosses who both live in Springfield. read more

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I remember first discovering Afghan Bistro about a year ago when looking up middle eastern restaurants on Yelp - it had 5 stars with 500 reviews which screamed "must try." It's a shame that this is only my second time back, but it was just as amazing and memorable as my first. You start out with the bread and a variety of dips that range from fresh to spicy. I encourage you to mix and match different dips, and you can also ask for more. For appetizers, we ordered Pumpkin Dumplings and Quroti. The dumplings have a wonderful pumpkin texture with just the right amount of sweetness, steamed perfectly. Quroti has a resemblance of lasagna, and tastes absolutely amazing, creamy and aromatic - the yogurt puree is just . As for the entree, the Lamb Shank Moghuli not only looks spectacular but tastes amazing - the portions are also immense. The lamb is super tender and perfectly cooked - tears right off the bone and melts in your mouth. The cilantro topping adds another layer of flavor. I think an appetizer with an entree is the perfect portion for two people. The quality, service and $$ are honestly as good as it gets. 5/5, I'll definitely be returning shortly. read more

Afghan Bistro - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

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Back again and I am here with Stephen J, another Yelp Elite. Now the bread and dips are great. There were 5 of us and we went through 2 baskets before our appetizers came. The bread is warm and tasty. You could skip the appetizers and just do bread but you would be missing a lot. We ordered Sambusas and spicy beef dumplings for our appetizers. So good. I ordered the lamb shank as did 2 others. Let me say the lamb here is awesome. Truly all of their dishes are good. Now the place is small and cannot handle more than 50 which would be packed. Also be patient the food is cooked fresh. Go to McDonalds if you want fast food. They serve drinks but the bar selection is small. You don't come here for the drinks. Well here come 5 stars. Time to finish my meal. read more

Afghan Bistro - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

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Afghan Bistro was a delight. I was surprised by how fancy it was. The inside was set up nicely with table clothes, candles, and the deliberate decor. We were seated and immediately were served bread accompanied by four different dipping sauces. We got the dumpling appetizer (it was great!) and I ordered the chicken sabzi lawaan (one of the slow cooked stews). For dessert, we ordered the pistachio cardamom milk cake, it was absolutely delicious. I would definitely get again. read more

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Very elegant vibe for newington; definitely recommend a good lamb dish with the 2019 Hermitage read more

Afghan Bistro - Roasted lamb, and rice with raisins and pistachios - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

Amazing and authentic food with such rich flavors and aromatics! I ordered the chicken subzi lawaan which is the perfect balance of spices with the fluffy rice. I also tried the firni as my curiosity peaked to try something new. I will definitely return to try more dishes more their well put together menu. Service is definitely top notch, my only concern is closely situated the tables were to each other for this small location. There is ample parking by the restaurant and it is just off the highway for easy access. read more

If you haven't had Afghan food before, you are in for a rare treat. Afghan Bistro is one of my favorite spots in Alexandria. As a vegetarian, I appreciate its wide variety of vegetarian options. I also like the intimate feel of the small restaurant, which lends itself to long conversations over a delicious meal--and I assure you: it will be delicious. I love a bread course, and Afghan Bistro delivers with thin fluffy bread that you can dip to your heart's delight in multiple sauces, like a spicy. cilantro sauce and a mango chutney. On my last visit, I had the sabzi turnovers with a yogurt sauce. The crispy pastry, the savory interior, and the sauce were an incredible blend of flavors and textures. For my entree, I had the Baadenjaan Moghuli, an eggplant and tomato stew served on a bed of rice. It was packed with more flavorful spices than I could identify--and I loved every comforting bite. I don't actually like rice, but I found myself digging into the m rice again and again because it was seasoned beautifully. I recommend this restaurant often, and I'm looking forward to my next visit. read more

Afghan Bistro - Baadenjaan Moghuli -- simple appearance, incredible flavor - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

I am not the review writing type so it'll be short. Went at lunch for their kabobs and they really were great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The service and ambience were impeccable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The only thing I didn't like was the location. Wish they were closer to Ashburn where I live! read more

Phenomenal. Do yourself a favor and order right now. This is our second time ordering carry out, and I think it may be even better than the first. We ordered: - Kadoo Chalou - Sabzi Chalou - Aushak Entree (Vegetarian) - Baadenjaan - Yogurt with Cucumber & Dill The kadoo is *chef's kiss*, but gets a real challenge from the sabzi chalou. The aushak were also . And not for nothing, the plain saffron rice can stand on its own too! We're definitely repeat customers from here on out. read more

This place deserves a solid four stars from me. Both the entrées we ordered were very delicious and well-made. Think upscale Afghani food. We wanted to order take away on a busy Friday evening. They were nice enough to accommodate our order even though they were extremely busy. customer service was very nice and friendly. My chicken thigh kabobs were well seasoned and thr hus-bae loved his lamb shank dish. Great food, great customer service, whats not to love? We will definitely be coming back here when we are in the area next. read more

Afghan Bistro - Store front - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

This place is amazing and rightfully famous. Everything from the food to the service was a great experience and thoroughly thought-out. When you first sit down, they bring you a basket of bread and four different sauces to try - this was a nice surprise and we had a lot of fun sampling the different sauces. Hot Mazda Assortment ($13) - these were an assortment of dumplings with different flavors and sauces. Perfect for sharing between four people, and really interesting flavor combos. The butternut squash was a favorite here. Lamb Shoulder Chops ($19) - the side of rice, carrots, and raisins on this was an interesting combo but it went well with the lamb chops, which were tender. You can definitely taste the charbroiled part of this as well. Lamb Shank Moghuli ($19) - this was my favorite thing that we got. It's the one with the foil in the picture. The sauce was super creamy and reminded me of butter chicken, which was definitely a plus. The lamb was also super tender here. read more

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Exceptional food and attentive staff. We go often and it never disappoints. We get the combination of dumplings and a lamb stew over rice. They serve warm bread and dipping sauces as a starter. read more

In a simple strip mall with driving the only option to getting to this place in Springfield, but definitely worth the journey! My wife had spent a year in Afghanistan so she knows the food fairly well. She had the Lamb Tenderloin Kabob and I had Afghan Nakhoud Chalou and we both split pumpkin dumplings. Everything was outstanding with amazing portions and a huge helping of bread and sauces. We have eaten at fancy Afghan restaurants in DC and Georgetown, but this place beats them all! To top it off, we told them we were celebrating our anniversary and the gave us glasses of champagne for free. Left a large tip because our service was also amazing despite them being packed at 2pm, when we arrived. We will definitely be returning soon. read more

Afghan Bistro - Decor of the bistro. - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

We celebrated New Years Eve at the bistro. We had an amazing meal. The food is TOP NOTCH. The service was friendly and despite being super busy our food came out perfectly! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is not a fancy place. In a strip-mall adjacent to 95 South. What the space lacks in polish the Haute Cuisine more than makes up for[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. And that is why we love it. I cannot not recommend it. We will be back again!!!! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere & service are excellent.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I wanted something that was not on the menu, so my server, Zainab, offered to substitute the Surf & Turf eggplant kabob with salmon, chicken & the chickpea side. It was perfect, and quite delicious. I highly recommend this dinner. read more

Horrible food. Got salad instead of chickpeas. Bear in mind, I called twice before I ordered. The seekh kabobs are burned to a cinder. Will never order from here again. read more

Stopped in out of curiosity. It's in a strip mall and wasn't sure about the place but went in anyway. Interior was nice, wait staff super nice and helpful. I got the grilled chicken and ground beef kabob. Very good! Recommended highly. read more

Service here is really attentive and friendly! I came here for the first time to meet my dad for lunch and we spent the first about 10-15 minutes chatting instead of choosing what to eat, but this did not bother our server/waiter who still came over a few times to ask politely if we were okay and/or ready to order. My dad got the lamb chop duo and I got the frenched lamb chops. Mine came with rice and chickpeas and his came with an eggplant side dish. His first reaction was not pleasant - he'd never had eggplant before - but by the end of the meal he had eaten the whole thing! I also cleaned my plate bare and my only wish is that I had a better chickpea:rice ratio, but this was a lunch portion and the perfect amount of food overall. After we finished eating and paid we sat at the table chatting for about 15-20 more minutes and never felt like we outstayed our welcome. The hospitality at this place is great. The food is seasoned/spiced well and the lamb chops were soooo tender. Afghan Bistro is a home run In my book. read more

Afghan Bistro - Frenched Rack of Lamb Chopaan - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

I am just updating my review to let everyone know how fantastic this place continues to be- even during Covid! During this time my hubby and I have taken advantage of the early bird special several times! You can order for four and enjoy with a friends/family or treat the other dinners as leftovers. We do the take out option and love tasting a bit of everything. The lamb shanks are my husbands favorite and I love all the eggplant dishes!These meals are the gifts that keep on giving! We love having leftover Afghan food for quick lunches- cold and hot. We will continue to support this great business!! read more

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Solid food and experience at Afghan Bistro. Visited with a friend on Wednesday evening for dinner. I was a first timer but will definitely be back. Bread and dips were brought to our table shortly after we were seated and We started with the Hot Mazda assortment. So many delicious flavors- my favorites were the spicy beef and leek dumplings. We decided to split the main course and followed one of our servers recommendations and ordered the Lamb Shank. Wow. The lamb was cooked to perfection and the sauce was delicious. The portions were nicely sized and we ended up full but one look at the dessert menu and decided to keep going. We ordered the rice pudding and baklava for dessert. I've had messy/gooey baklavas in the past and appreciated that this one wasn't sticky and tasted fresh. The rice pudding was delicious as well. service was great and the staff was very personable. read more

The food was delicious and beautifully served. We loved everything and service was very good. The main thing I would change is the lighting. It creates a rather gloomy atmosphere with the lights emitting almost gray light. In fact, I found it so unpleasant that I will only return for takeout. But I like a cozy restaurant. Others don't mind as much. read more

Charlotte's cliff notes: Well seasoned afghan/middle eastern food with a mid-higher price range. Highly recommend chicken thighs if you juicy chicken. Two things I love: rice and kabobs. I've had a range of kabobs, but I've never had homemade, authentic kabobs so take my review with a grain of salt. My boyfriend and I have ordered from here twice through Ubereats. Both times, the food was delicious. We've only ordered their kabobs, but out of what we've ordered, we most definitely agree their chicken thigh is where it's at. The only con I can think of is that I wish the ratio of rice to meat was a bit more, but what can I say, most definitely a rice girl. Based on the other photos on Yelp, it seems you may get more rice when you eat in person so I'll have to do that one day. They also give you this bread that I normally don't eat at similar establishments as it's not worth the carbs IMO, but I finish that bread each and every time. Recommend reheating it a bit if you're getting it to go. Price is most definitely on the expensive end, but well worth it IMO since I don't have a grill and have no idea how to make afghan/middle eastern food. Mostly definitely will be back but due to price it'll probably only be once every few months...unless Ubereats got a deal going on :) read more

Afghan Bistro - Chicken & Ground Beef Kabob - Afghan Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

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Had the beef and lamb combo and I am already dreaming of ordering it again. Soft, perfectly seasoned, with sweet rice and carrots. The pumpkin dumplings are also excellent. read more