Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Afghan Cuisine

    4.5 (38 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Afghan Cuisine Takeout or Delivery

    Afghan Cuisine Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Afghan Cuisine

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Yvonne Yiyao X.

    I came here after hearing a lot of good things about this place. I'm not very knowledgeable about Afghan food and this was probably my first time trying it. I can't speak on whether it's authentic or not, but I personally really liked it. I tried the lamb shank with rice and the beef kabob. The lamb shank was tender and fell off the bone, without the strong gamey flavor lamb can sometimes have. The beef kabob was juicy and cooked well. I asked for medium and actually got a medium! The rice with the lamb shank had raisins and carrots. It reminded me of Uyghur rice pilaf because of the ingredients, but it was lighter and more moist. Service was friendly, the restaurant was clean, and the vibe was relatively casual. They also have AC, which was nice these days. I would definitely come back again to try more.

    Smrithi S.

    We were happy to know they moved to Kirkland (we thought the original location had closed). This interiors of this location is much nicer than their old location. We got Pakaura to start, and then got Qurme-Murgh and Chicken Shami Kabob. The Pakaura were good, I loved the Chicken Shami Kabob. The Qurme-Murgh was good, our first time trying it. Overall, a great meal with great service.

    Chicken kabob
    Anhaita J.

    Great food, large servings, fast service, and ideal location next to DT Kirkland. What's not to like?! Went here twice in a week, it's that good.

    Hanna S.

    Great new place in Kirkland. They have a sister restaurant south and Kent and their are previous location was in Bellevue. The interior is warm and welcoming. Plenty of options for vegetarian and vegan.

    Borani Banjan and Qabili Uzbeki
    Hayley M.

    I think I've found a new favorite cuisine of mine! My friend and I ate here for lunch because the place we were going to eat at nearby was closed, and it was such a happy accident. Neither of us had ever tried Afghan food before, but it was amazing. The flavors, the texture, the complexity and the tastiness... we didn't know what to expect, but WOW was it delicious. We shared the borani-banjan eggplant dish which was incredible. Creamy, spicy, flavorful and savory, it went great by itself or with the flatbread. But the thing that really blew us away was the qabili uzbeki, which was a lamb shank dish. When I tell you the meat fell right off the bone, I mean it. I could've used a spoon to get it off there; it was so perfectly cooked I didn't even need my knife. The rice pilaf was so yummy as well (who knew that raisins paired so well with it?!) and all in all, a great experience. Our server was so attentive and polite, and there are so many other dishes I want to try now! You can bet I'll be back here again. There are a lot of vegetarian and gluten-free options (yay for rice!) for all your friends with dietary restrictions. This is totally a new gem in the downtown Kirkland area that I think is going to be a new fave of mine. :)

    Boran potato dish and basmati rice
    Shannon C.

    Came here with friends last night and it was very good. The food was flavorful and fresh. The potato dish had delicious spice and flavor and the yogurt sauce was a lovely tang. The lamb shank dish my friend had was truly amazing, fall off the bone meat. This is a nice new place in Kirkland that folks should try out.

    Qabili Uzbeki, $23.99 - 4 Stars
    Eva M.

    I was familiar with Afghan Cuisine from their previous location in Bellevue. I was looking forward to dining at their new location in downtown Kirkland. At 8pm on a Sunday, the restaurant was still full. We were directed to the last available table. One server covered the restaurant plus one older gentleman assisted with clean-up. Our entrees were delivered, but our appetizer was still missing. I gave them some minutes before inquiring. When I did ask the server, he forgot we ordered it and had to verify it was in the system (it was). He went to the kitchen to check. More minutes later, he returned to say they are out of the ingredients to make it. He offered to take it off our bill, as though he is doing us a favor. (This part irritated me the most.) He never apologized for forgetting our order. He didn't ask if we want to order something else. He didn't offer anything for the mix-up. His brain was clearly shut down for the day. Minus 0.5 star for service. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated. Oddly, the tables and chairs look worn. Parking is street parking only or nearby lots and garages. The Food: Chicken Shami Kabob, $21.99 - 4.5 Stars Two skewers of ground chicken are wonderfully seasoned with Afghani spices. The Afghan yellow rice is perfectly seasoned with turmeric. Both are very flavorful and wonderfully delicious. The rice in particular is cooked just right with the touch of oil and turmeric. Qabili Uzbeki, $23.99 - 4 Stars The menu states this is "Afghanistan's most famous dish - a marinated lamb shank slowly cooked to perfection". Despite being marinated, the lamb didn't have obvious flavors. The green chutney and spice available on the table improved the flavor. The lamb shank is very tender and sizable. The rice is as pretty as it is tasty. The cost of this dish is quite reasonable.

    Mantoo
    Angieee N.

    Summary: authentic afghan cuisine at this halal restaurant. The lamb shanks, dumplings (mantoo), sliced fried potatoes (pakaura), and stuffed paratha (bolani) are amazing. Pros: * family oriented ambiance * large portions * delicious food * halal meats prepared in house Cons: * street parking can be limited in the area

    Shami Kabobs
    Mo Y.

    Very nice restaurant. The food was Ok. The Shami kabobs were cold and dry. Nice design and friendly service. They need to improve the service skills and the food quality. It did not taste anything like the previous Bellevue location.

    Mandoo
    Audrey S.

    Theres only street parking here, so it might take a bit to track down somewhere to park. This place was fantastic. I absolutely recommend trying their Afghan dumplings -- do not miss it.

    Quabili Uzbeki A+

    See all

    Photo of Larry J.
    224
    20
    2

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Faisal I.
    110
    24
    2

    27 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mo Y.
    3084
    852
    1117

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nora S.
    268
    2348
    399

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bez A.
    0
    20
    0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Oleg M.
    1
    15
    68

    5 months ago

    Very well cooked dishes - we've had Uzbeki style lamp and manti. The food arrived very fast

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Robert L.
    196
    26
    4

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Salar T.
    26
    12
    13

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P H.
    0
    1
    0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Naz M.
    0
    17
    10

    11 months ago

    Very friendly people. The check/cook personally comes out to check on you. My first time trying Afghan food and it was delicious.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Haley A.
    163
    26
    12

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Food was amazing, staff were friendly, and prices were fair. Nice spot in downtown kirkland that i'll fs come back to no bap

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    food was amazing, so was the service. the ambiance was calm and pleasant. I highly recommend !

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Afghan Cuisine

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Afghan 476 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Kabab House - Chicken Handi: boneless chicken chunks cooked in tomato sauce with traditional Pakistani spices and cream with perfection ($19.99).

    Kabab House

    4.0(111 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    The wait staff was amazing. They helped answer all our questions and helped us differentiate…read morebetween all the chai tea choices. I loved how authentic this restaurant felt. As I'm not from their culture I cannot say with certainty it is authentic but the food was certainly delicious. If you're looking for modern and shiny, this place isn't for you. They are going through renovations but it's obviously not an establish trying to impress by interior designs, but through your stomach. Everything was well seasoned. The garlic naan was perfect thinness. The samosa chaat was delicious. The chicken Biryani was one of the best I've had. This place exceeded my expectations.

    Stopped by Kabab House on a week night for dinner. There have alot of seating so getting a spot was…read morenot an issue. We ordered their chicken seekh kebab and goat biryani along with dum chai. The seekh kebab was flavorful but ive certainly had better. The goat biryani was delicious and the goat pieces would melt in your mouth and it was perfectly marinated meat. I ordered their dum chai but I guess I got the regular chai which tasted a little watered down but was still decent not bad. Now I will give them 10/10 for their service. So we had asked for spicy goat biryani but apparently they messed it up and made regular so the person stopped by informed us and said they are remaking the spicy goat biryani and would like to compensate for this slow service by offering dessert on the house. While it was not needed, it was certainly appreciated. They got us rasmalai which was good. I have been here before and felt the food during my prior visits was a tad bit better as compared to today. All in all good food, pocket friendly and great service. The ambience is basic and they have ample parking atleast at night. Would recommend if in the area.

    Photos
    Kabab House - Interior

    Interior

    Kabab House - Chicken Seekh Kabab

    Chicken Seekh Kabab

    Kabab House - Goat Paya: soupy curry made with goat trotters & few special spices. The juicy marrow & cartilaginous joints of the goat trotter ($19.99).

    See all

    Goat Paya: soupy curry made with goat trotters & few special spices. The juicy marrow & cartilaginous joints of the goat trotter ($19.99).

    Bella Balducci's Mediterranean Cuisine - Chicken Tenderloin

    Bella Balducci's Mediterranean Cuisine

    4.4(367 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Wow! My sister in law was NOT joking about this place. It's small, but right when we walked in,…read morethey were bustin' out orders like nobody's business. We were seated right away and shared The King's Platter. Portions were HUGE and delicious, I regret eating it all in one sitting because I was still craving it the next day. I loved that we casually came in, but it was still an immersive experience - it was my first time having the sheets, mint, and butter as fixings. Not a scrap of food left between my fiancé and I. On top of that, the cook was super speedy and also was showing off his vocals. It was a vibe.

    This restaurant is hands down one of the best Persian restaurants in PNW. From the moment you walk…read morein, the hospitality is warm and genuine, the staff treats you like family. The service is attentive, professional, and always consistent. The food is absolutely outstanding. I actually order the same dish every single time because I love it so much, and what impresses me most is that it tastes exactly the same every visit. The flavor, the seasoning, the tenderness, the freshness, it's consistently perfect. That kind of consistency is rare and shows how much care and pride they put into their kitchen. If I had to drive two hours just to eat here, I would do it without hesitation. That's how good it is. Amazing food, incredible service, and an authentic experience every time. Highly, highly recommend.

    Photos
    Bella Balducci's Mediterranean Cuisine
    Bella Balducci's Mediterranean Cuisine - Mirza Ghasemi

    Mirza Ghasemi

    Bella Balducci's Mediterranean Cuisine

    See all

    Zeitoon Grill House - Zeitoon palace platter (mixed kabab) Ghormeh Sabzi Barberry rice  Mirza ghasemi

    Zeitoon Grill House

    3.9(311 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    We were in Kirkland overnight on Easter for an early surgical appointment on Monday. After walking…read morearound to stretch our legs from the drive we ducked into Zeitoon Grill House for some Persian cuisine. Based on decor I wondered if it had been a pub or steakhouse once in its life: lots of paneled and coffered wood, chandeliers, and wooden booths with coat hangers. We started with the baba ghanouj and ordered the fesenjan and a beef kobideh for meals. The meals came with a salad to share rather than small individual salads on the plate which was a nice touch. The staff was able to provide some veggies with the baba ghanouj since my partner in crime can't have bread. The baba ghanouj was great - exactly the smoky eggplant flavor I was craving when I saw the sign for Persian cuisine. The kobideh was nice and tender - you could taste the onion. The fesenjan was also extremely good. One question: Who eats this much rice in one dish? The rice was very good - but it is a lot of rice. I haven't had Persian like this since we had Persian neighbors who invited us over.

    Zeitoon opened in downtown Kirkland many years ago, replacing the Central 21 Steakhouse. Much of…read morethe interior still has the original dark room steakhouse décor. The center area hosted a huge group with multiple tables pushed together. I have avoided Zeitoon all these years because they are higher cost, not necessarily justifiable since there are lower cost Persian foods or similar Mediterranean restaurants in the area. I finally decided to try them. Our server answered my questions, including his favorites. Two questionable/sketchy things happened: 1. Our server recommended the Mirza Ghasemi, which he said is great with the optional soft-boiled egg. Sounds good. We ordered it. The optional egg is $2, which is not identified on the menu. (See photo) 2. When he recommended the Mirza Ghasemi, we asked him to remove the Mast O Khiar which we initially chose. I said we only want one appetizer. He nodded and said OK. When the Mirza Ghasemi arrived, so did the Mast O Khiar. They put both on the table and immediately left. I flagged the original server to remind him we said to remove it, but a different person showed up instead. He: "You want to cancel this? No problem." and took the yogurt away. I did not order this; it is not me canceling. Minus 0.5 stars from overall rating. The Food: Mirza Ghasemi + egg, $14 +$2 - 2.5 Stars This eggplant dish is the one recommended by our server. We do enjoy eggplant dips, especially warm versions. The optional "soft boiled egg" is not an American version but tiny threads of yellow egg bits mixed within the eggplant mixture. Honestly, we cannot taste the egg. It is borderline a scam. This dish would be 3.5 stars if it was $14 at the menu price, which is already on the high side. A $16 eggplant dish is delusional. Lamb Shishlik Kebab, $36 - 3.5 Stars Menu: Lamb rack marinated and chargrilled (see menu photo) I knew I would not see a rack of lamb on my plate. I got four lamb chops. Meat quality wise, this is excellent. It comes with a ton of basmati rice and a salad with a refreshing light dressing. This is a bit spendy for the quantity of meat, but taste is good. Soltani Shishlik, $42 - 3.5 Stars This is the exact same dish as above except add a skewer of grounded beef kebab. This kebab, and I quote my hubby, is "not that good". Same comment for the rest of the dish. A basket of lavash bread arrived at the table. I believe it came with the Mirza Ghasemi. We have eaten many lavash breads, commonly used as wrap so it is grilled and/or heat-pressed with oil on the surface. These lavash breads are simply warmed. I learned they taste terrible that way. The surface has a sandpaper texture and still taste like sandpaper when eating it. If I paid for this separately, I would be upset.

    Photos
    Zeitoon Grill House - Interior

    Interior

    Zeitoon Grill House - Top Sirloin Kebab (Called Barg, or Soltani)-- Tender prime top sirloin beef marinated and chargrilled...zoom

    Top Sirloin Kebab (Called Barg, or Soltani)-- Tender prime top sirloin beef marinated and chargrilled...zoom

    Zeitoon Grill House - Persian tea!

    See all

    Persian tea!

    Noon Cafe - Ab Havij Bastani

    Noon Cafe

    4.3(104 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    Noon Café is a family-owned Persian/Iranian eatery in a plaza called Totem Square with plenty of…read moreparking. Noon Café is a casual family diner offering traditional grilled kababs (aka kebab), appetizers, sandwiches, and pizzas - all Persian/Iranian style. The interior is basic, decorated with photos of Iranian landmarks (I assume). Currently, they have a memorial due to the ongoing war. (Peace to all...) Service is warm and friendly. Be sure to ask questions if the dish names are unfamiliar. The Food: Soltani, $32.99 - 4 Stars Soltani includes one skewer of Koobideh (ground beef) and one skew of Barg (flank steak). Both are well-seasoned with excellent flavor. We ordered the flank steak medium rare, but it was medium with no pink inside. The steak was tolerable, not as tender as it could have be. This dish was served with rice per the menu. After I saw another table has their kabab served with a bread, I asked the server. She said other than rice, there is a choice of Persian bread (flat bread with sesame) and salad. Curious that wasn't in the menu nor did she say it. Not a dealbreaker. Her reply did raise my eyebrow. Zaboon, $16.99 - 3 Stars Menu: Veal tongue, simmered and fried, tomato, pickles, parsley Based on the description, the texture completely threw me off. The meat is mushy to the point of spreadable. The flavor is light with minimum seasoning. I applied hot sauce liberally to the sandwich. Portion size is large. I ate only half. Fries, $6.99 - 3 Stars Menu: Golden and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside Some pieces aren't crispy enough. Some pieces are too thick such that the inside has the potato gritty texture. The sauce is a house-created flavor. We like the sauce more than we like the fries. The food is closer to 3.5 Stars. I like the family vibe and am rounding up to 4 Stars for the overall rating.

    Food :5/5 Ambiance : 5/5…read moreService :5/5 We actually came across Noon Cafe by accident while looking for another nearby restaurant where we were supposed to meet someone. When we realized we were at the wrong place, we informed the staff. They were incredibly polite and friendly and didn't show any irritation at all. They kindly said it was no problem and were very understanding. While we were there, we took a look at the menu and decided we should come back and try the food another time. A couple of months later, we returned to give it a try. We ordered the non-mixed grill, and it was absolutely delicious. The beef was cooked perfectly--juicy, tender, and full of flavor. The chicken was also excellent. The rice was perfectly cooked, and when we added the butter, it tasted amazing. They also had a special Persian spice that elevated the flavor to another level. The service was warm and welcoming. Our server took the time to explain how Persian food is traditionally enjoyed and described the purpose of each ingredient. We followed his suggestions, and the experience was even more enjoyable. The ambiance was simple and modern, and the place was very clean and well maintained. Definitely a must-try.

    Photos
    Noon Cafe - Another view of front counter (4/23/23)

    Another view of front counter (4/23/23)

    Noon Cafe - Generous amount of fries for $6!

    Generous amount of fries for $6!

    Noon Cafe - Hummus

    See all

    Hummus

    Afghan Cuisine - afghani - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...