We drove a little over an hour to Downey to try this and it was totally worth it. We've always found Afghan cuisine fascinating because we see influences from Central & South Asia as well as Persian cuisine. We shared this massive family style platter of kebab that had so much food! Generous portions of chicken, beef and lamb over rice, and even some of their famous Qabuli Polo with the most melt in your mouth lamb shank. The polo is mixed with sweet carrots, raisins and almonds and just soaks up all the juices from the meat - the leftovers tasted even better the next day! We also got some aushak dumplings stuffed with leek and mantu dumplings stuffed with meat. They top them with tomato and yogurt sauces and lentils, and it's so hearty and warming. It had been so long since we'd had bolani, so we got one stuffed with potatoes. It's a thin bread stuffed with potatoes or sometimes leeks, and it's grilled crisp and served with a spicy green sauce for dipping. So tasty! We needed more veggies so we tried the borani banjan - delicious eggplant in tomato sauce. Paired with some delicious Afghan bread it was heavenly! Of course we had to cool down with some house made doogh - this yogurt drink is made with mint in Iran, but the Afghan version has cucumbers in it and it was so refreshing! They served us pretty quickly, and they do have a nice space you can request for a traditional style floor seating for a group, as well as plenty of table seating. read more

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Was in the area and decided to try this place we drove by! The parking was a little small so we parked in the lot next door, this place has nice and clean interior, the staff was very sweet! We got more than we anticipated! Everything was so yummy! My favorite has to be the dish that came out in the hot tin, everything was so rich and delicious! read more

Afghan Kabob House - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

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I have been coming to this establishment for a couple years now. It's one of our faves and we find ourselves here quite a bit. It's family owned and the meat is halal/zabiha. It's located in Downey and the space inside has a decent amount of seating. They cater as well and I am pleased to say their catering food is as good as eating it inside the restaurant. My fave items are : Chapli beef kabob- it comes with rice or bread Mantu (meat filled dumplings) with lentils on top Potato Bolani- potato filled paratha (bread) Qabuli Pulao- rice with lamb shank borani banjan- egg plant dip Def check it out if you're in the area! read more

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I've passed by this Afghan restaurant many times while accompanying my brother or sister to pick up food for my nephews at the Chick-fil-A next door. It had caught my attention before, but we were usually there early in the morning before it opened. Last week, I finally had the chance to try it. While my brother waited in the Chick-fil-A drive-thru, I walked over to give it a shot. I generally prefer sit-down restaurants over fast food, and since I had never tried Afghan cuisine before, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to experience something new. Although I ordered my food to go, I found the restaurant to be small but very welcoming. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Ordering was easy thanks to both traditional menus and a digital screen displaying photos, descriptions, and prices of the dishes. For someone unfamiliar with Afghan food, that made a big difference, and the staff was great at making recommendations as well. I ordered two dishes--unfortunately, I can't remember their names--but both were absolutely delicious. I also tried a Salam Cola and another traditional drink that seemed to contain yogurt and herbs. I'll be honest: that drink was a little too strong for my taste, and I couldn't finish it. But that's part of trying something new! Overall, the food was excellent, the service was warm, and I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. I would definitely come back, and next time I'd stay and enjoy my meal at the restaurant instead of taking it to go. It's the kind of place that deserves to be experienced properly. I'd also encourage others to give new cuisines a chance--you never know what hidden gem you might discover. read more

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I was told about Afghan Kabob House by a friend so I decided to stop by with the family on a Sunday Afternoon. There's a small lot out front but decent street parking and lots nearby. We ordered the family platter for 4, which comes with chicken, lamb, and beef kabobs, lamb shanks, qabuli rice and white rice. It also comes with Borani Banjan and salad. We also ordered the mantu and bolani to go. The platter was huge! Enough for 5-6 people honestly. Their lamb shanks were tender and delicious, as were the kabobs (the beef were my favorites, and the koobideh were also super tender). Their green chutney was superb, slightly spicy and tangy. Their mantu was also spectacular, tender on the outside with an ample meat filling. The borani Banjan was also a favorite, as the eggplant was super succulent and flavorful. Honestly, all of the dishes were exceptional. I'd definitely come back another time. read more

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This was the first, but definitely not my last time trying authentic Afghani food At Afghan kebab house out in Downey, California you're gonna find giant family size platters that will feed generations I'm talking mountains of long grain, rice, perfume, and robust and aromatic spices Grilled kebabs that are season two perfection that are equally as succulent And of course you got the Afghani tendernism with a whole lamb shank buried in all that rice that was mouthwatering, especially with their assortment of signature homemade sauces The Borani banjan (eggplant) was one of the most flavor packed bites of the night and that's saying a lot because everything was on point. You got this intensely, savory eggplant, doused, and yogurt and seasoned oil and when you grab some with some of the homemade flatbread, this is some special stuff right here read more

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This is such a great hidden gem. When you first enter, you are greeted with the nicest staff, and the guy was super helpful and friendly. I got the family feast and it was absolute perfection. My favorites being the crispy potato and leek bolani, chicken karahi, and obviously the kabobs. The dishes are so incredibly flavorful that I didn't even feel like I needed to use the sauces provided. I like how theres a kick to the dishes, but they're cut by the yogurt. I really appreciate that as someone who cannot handle that much spice. The meat is so incredibly tender and flavorful. Additionally, they have a soda fridge to pick your drinks from as well, and they had really good options there as well. I just liked how everything felt so cozy and familial. It is such a great spot to dine at in Downey. read more

Afghan Kabob House - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

I left Afghan Kabob House feeling so full in the most comforting way. Not just from the food, but from the whole experience. It's one of those cozy spots that instantly feels like home, with so much character in every corner. We ordered a family-style spread, and everything hit. The kabobs were juicy and flavorful, but the lamb shank completely stole the show; literally fall-off-the-bone, tender and cooked to perfection. The rice was just as memorable, especially the one with raisins and carrots that added a subtle sweetness. The mantu was also a standout; delicate dumplings topped with yogurt and spices, packed with flavor in every bite. We also tried their stuffed naan and eggplant, and honestly, everything was so well done. If you are in Downey, check out their place for a comforting and flavorful meal, and something you'll definitely be craving again. read more

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Never had afghan food before. So let's see if they're pretty good eh or ew. I got their afghani bread, bolani, borani bajan, beef mantu, leek aashak, and massive platter to try. The bread was fluffy, pillowy, chewy, toasty and yeasty. The bolani had like a thin, chewy, floury tortilla filled with some savory shredded oniony potato. Came with this acidic jalapenoy, a bit spicy salsa like sauce that paired pretty well with it. The borani bajan had super silky melt in your mouth soft eggplant in a tart umami tomatoey sauce topped with some garlicky yogurt. Pure deliciousity. The beef mantu and leek aashak were like dumplings with beautifully thin doughy skins drizzled with a yogurt sauce and some lentils. The beef one kinda actually tasted more like lamb? And the leek one was really fragrant and yummy and kinda reminded me of a jiu cai he? The massive platter came with juicy tomatoes, crunchy onions, chicken and beef kabobs that were kinda dry and tough, juicy flavorful beef and chicken koobideh, fluffy rice, and quabuli rice that was cuminy, savory, had pops of sweetness from some raisins that were mixed in and even had a super tender lamby lamb shank hiding in there too. It also came with a bright creamy cilantro sauce and rich garlicky mayoy sauce that wasn't really for me. But Everything here is made fresh, halal, and is overall pretty good. Bread $3 Bolani $6.50 Borani bajan $12.99 Beef mantu/leek aashak $19.99 Platter $120 read more

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I left Afghan Kabob House feeling so fulfilled and full of comfort in my stomach and heart. It's definitely a gem. Upon entering, it feels very home-y with a vintage soda fridge to maps and Afghan art on the walls. If you're lucky enough to have a moment of the busy owner's time, you'll feel the love he puts into the food just by the way he describes the dishes to you. He's educated me on the beautiful Afghan spread I've ordered all while going back and forth handling bigger catering orders in the back. The family platter had all the classic proteins like beef, chicken, and lamb kabobs, but what separated this from my other experiences was that this came with a lamb shank. Generally not a fan of lamb, this fall off the bone lamb shank was beyond tender and had all the game-y taste cooked perfectly out of it. I love the long grain rice with that there was plain and another signature that came with what I believe was saffron, raisins, and shredded carrots. Another thing I found extremely memorable and interesting was their Mandu/mantu dish which is a meat dumpling finished with yogurt, oil, and spices. It reminds me of how Korean dumplings are also sometimes called mandu and it was so interesting that this was SO similar. My boyfriend and I raved over these mandus and thought they were delicious. I also got their naan with potato filling, the eggplant, and a chicken curry. All were exceptional. Everything was just so memorable and I truly hold this meal so close to my heart. read more

Afghan Kabob House - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

Amazing service matched with amazing food! Took my family of 6 here to enjoy some afghan cuisine and ended up with sooo much food. Got the family platter, bolani w/ potatoes + leeks, and borani banjan. We've all never had experienced authentic afghan food and thoroughly enjoyed everything. The lamb in the family platter was sooo tender and the kabobs were so flavorful. The borani banjan was my favorite by far and I'm not even a big fan of eggplant. If you get anything, definitely try the lamb and the borani banjan. You can't ever go wrong with any of the kabobs either! The interior was clean and there was plenty of parking as well. Family loved this place and we will be back! read more

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We just left Afghan kabob house and WOW! Everything exceeded our expectations! The service we got was more than great ,very friendly and attentive and provided you with everything you needed! The food was absolutely delicious and sooo flavorful ! The mantu beef dumplings were creamy and savory with the yogurt dressing and mixed spices! A hidden gem in the city of Downey! We will keep supporting this business!! read more

Afghan Kabob House - Our delicious spread , yum!! - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

yommy i don't think i've ever tried afghan food but it was very familiar to me. we ordered the family platter for $120 for four -- pretty filling with all the proteins and biryani rice. the leeks pancake appetizer was fire tho and the sauces were a must have. dessert was this creamy milky yogurt with pistachios -- kinda savory and sweet haha read more

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What a lovely little restaurant, authentic, and warm. The service was great very friendly. Our table was given complementary dessert which was so generous of them. Ordered a feast what's new Mixed Kabobs 9/10 Chapli Kanob 8/10 Boloni mixed 6.5/10 (Kelly's is better ) Mantu 6.5/10 Chicken Karahi/Curry 10/10 3 order of bread to go it's my absolute favorite iykyk Anyways, if you are in the area definitely give it a try! Xoxo read more

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*Note: TDLR at the end of the review Chapli Kabob: 9/10 The meat patty had a nice sear and was well seasoned! What seasoning? I could not tell you but it was genuinely really really good. You have a choice between bread and rice with any of the kabob plates. I got the bread and it balanced out the slight saltiness of the meat. I wanna try it with the rice next time fs. Chicken Karahi: 8/10 My grandpa ordered this dish and the meat was very tender! Again, no idea what the seasoning or sauce is, but it's very very good!! It is bone-in so if you don't like bones in your meat, maybe get the beef or lamb. Not at all a bad thing, but just to note. We weren't aware, but it came with a side of bread. Bolani: 9/10 Came out super crispy and fresh. For this appetizer, you get a choice of a potato, leek, or potato and leek filling. We chose the potato and leek. It came with I think some sort of serrano chutney which accompanied great. Doogh (Yogurt Drink): 4/10 It tastes very similar to tzatziki but in drink form. The first sip was definitely confusing to me because it's a salty savory drink, but the more you drink it, the more you get used to it. It's not bad, I just don't think it's my cup of tea. I don't think most people would be adjusted to this drink, but I would order at least one and have everyone at the table take a sip just to try it. Gotta get the whole experience! Service: 8.5/10 Everyone there was very helpful and super friendly. Had to wait for the check a cool minute because sometimes there was no one at the front, but that's not a huge problem at all. (We came on a slow super rainy day). Saw the cashier outside as we were leaving. I think he was out there to make sure we got out the parking lot okay! :000 Ambiance: 7/10 It was pretty nice and clean. It was dead silent so it was a little weird. Probably because it was a rainy day and there was no one but us which probably is why there was nothing playing. Restroom is slightly run down, but had all the necessities and was clean. The -3 points is because the parking is hot fucking ass. There's only a couple spots up in front of the restaurant so you have two choices. 1. Back up into ongoing traffic or 2. Drive into the little alley to the left and make the tightest u-turn in your entire life. I recommend parking in the lot next door or somewhere nearby and walking over tbh. TDLR: Would come back again!! Everything I ate was delicious! Yogurt drink is salty/savory. Parking is hot ass. Park in the lot next door. Very friendly staff. They give you two sauces on the side. White is non-spicy. Green is spicy. Sauce that comes with bolani is spicy. Chicken karachi has bones. read more

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I took my mom here to eat some Afghani food. She really loves Afghani cuisine. The restaurant seats maybe about 20-25 people. The service was fine for the most part. We came in before there was any rush. We ordered the mix kabob plate with bread instead of rice. The portion was really small compared to the pictures and I saw other people in the restaurant get. The meat did taste good, but it was incredibly overpriced for the portion we got so I'd give it an overall rating of 5/10. We also got a chicken karahi at a medium spice level. I'd give it a 6/10 overall. It was okay, but nothing special. It seemed more appropriately priced, but still a bummer. I ordered a soda and asked for a water which never came. I had to get up and get the soda myself from their fridge when they brought the food out. After we finished our food, we did order their dessert and the Afghani ice cream they recently added to their menu (by word of mouth from the server though, not on the menu yet), and even after reminding the server we ordered the dessert, he said "so you guys don't want the ice cream?" I had told him we ordered both the ice cream and the dessert. He eventually brought us the tablet to pay after about 8-10 min of waiting for the dessert so we had to remind him of our desserts one more time. Both my mom and I said we'd probably not come back and find another Afghani restaurant. read more

We wanted to try a new place and came here for dinner. It was really good with authentic flavors! We were warmly greeted and decided to sit at the big table in the back, where we had to take off our shoes and sit on the floor, which was actually very comfortable and cozy. We ordered a variety of dishes to try. Bolani Potato - 9/10 Mantu Dumplings - 8/10 Family Platter - 10/10 Borani Banjan Eggplant - 8/10 My daughter is a really picky eater and doesn't like to try new food, but she loved everything!!! We will definitely come back to try the other dishes! What a wonderful feast! If you are in Downey, this is a must try restaurant! read more

Afghan Kabob House - FAMILY PLATTER FOR 4 GUESTS - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

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Tried the large 6 person platters, bolani, and mantu. All of the food was delicious. Service was quick for such a large group and ambiance was great for a casual dinner. Would definitely come back! read more

Afghan Kabob House in Downey is little but pack a punch in flavor. Their food tastes so good, fresh, and flavorful . Their sauces are authentic and hit the spot. The Qabuli rice is amazing. Went home fully satisfied. If you're craving for some good kabob/kobideh this is the place to go! read more

Afghan Kabob House - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

We just had our dinner here. We ordered eggplant, mantoo, chicen kabob, beef kabob, and lamb karahi. Everything was so delicious!!! We especially loved the lamb karahi. The naan was really good too. The customer service was great!! I highly recommend!! read more

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Late Review. Had this for work lunch while back after re-opening. Was pleasantly surprised at how fresh the food was. Def more than the previous place. Ordered the Kabob plate with an extra kabob, so had both beef and chicken. Also ordered the baab which was yummy and an order of their specialty rice which I cant remember off the top of my head. Pro Tip: the Afghan Yogurt drink is NOT a Lassi drink. This drink is A LOT more bitter and sour with no sweetness. Service was great, owner was super nice and attentive even with my take out order. Place is small but has few tables for group seating. Parking sucks. Only has a few dedicated spots up front that I know of. read more

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The food was sooo good! We got the family style platter with all the different types of meats and rice, the mantu, the borani, and the bolani. Everything was absolutely delicious! The service was great too! :) read more

Small mom and pop place. Not fancy but excellent. Don't go down the driveway to the left- there's no parking there read more

Been wanting to try this place for some time now. The pictures of the menu items on Yelp have always been enticing yet I never visited. Well, that changed yesterday evening. First off. I could see an almost packed house as I pulled up which was a great sign indeed. Another great sign was as I approached the door a family was all filing out and a beautiful woman coming out behind the group held the door open for me. Not often a beautiful woman holds the door for a man and that boosted this places cool points a hundred percent more before even stepping in the restaurant. Got inside and was met by a super gracious host who assisted me with my order at the kiosk. Ordered the Chicken/Beef Kabobs and an order of Bolani Mix Potato/Leeks. There was a group (looked like a family) in the back dining area all with their shoes off placed at the entrance of the space, enjoying their meals conversing amongst themselves that gave a really good casual vibe yet carried an aura of sophistication. Enjoyed that. My order didn't take too long and when he handed it off, it was piping hot. That ensured me that by the time I made it in I'd still have a restaurant quality experience. And I did. Enjoyed the sauces particularly. They were a nice touch of spice and fresh ingredients resulting in good flavor for both dishes. The Bolani had a green sauce full of fresh ingredients that you can see. And the kabobs had a white sauce that is perfectly seasoned, pairing well with the Kabobs. The meal was solid all the way 'round. Will surely be back again. Gratitude and give thanks Afghan Kabob House and Staff for a great meal experience. See you soon. read more

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Super good and authentic Afghan food!!!! I love Afghan food and my boyfriend showed me this place. The kebabs are so fresh and delicious! The pricing is also amazing and the portions are huge. The chicken kebabs were my favorite! They had the most delicious seasoning and tasted so fresh. Service was also really great and the worker (who I assume is the owner or manager) was really kind and checked in on us to see if we needed anything. There is plenty of seating and the tables are clean. Will be back for sure!!!! So good!!! Highly recommend read more

Afghan Kabob House - Chicken and Beef Kabob - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

We've passed this restaurant so many times. World Cup Sunday, we stopped in, unplanned.. So happy we did!!! Menu is small, but, that made for quick decisions!! Beef/lamb koobideh w/rice and the Borani Banjan eggplant entree!!! We bought extra bread. If you love eggplant, this is sooooo delicious!!! The bread is great for soaking up all the yummy sauce in this dish. The kabobs are seasoned with tasty spices and come with a cilantro/Serrano dip...good kick!!! Food is cooked to order, so, a little bit of a wait, unless order ahead. We'll be back!!! read more

All the food is so fresh and flavorful. It was my first time getting Afghan food and the workers were so friendly and explained all the dishes. The rise with lamb shank was my favorite but every dish was amazing. Definitely worth the money and I can't wait to come back! read more

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Been wanting to give this place a try and came here on 08/28 around 2:30, there was only one other person dining in when we arrived. We approached the counter where the worker didn't acknowledge or say anything to us so we ordered through the tablet they have on the side. We were seated, it was a hot day and the ac felt nice. The dining area was clean and organized. The same worker brought us plates and utensils then never came back to check on us, didn't say much at all (I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe there was a language barrier?) didn't offer us any water either. We ordered the lamb kebabs and beef koobideh plate. The lamb pieces were a bit dry but were generously portioned, the rice was cooked nicely and the beef koobideh was juicy and flavorful. We also ordered the Bolani with potato/leek which was tasty, nicely seasoned with spices inside and fresh flatbread. Also tried the dough-afghan yogurt drink, the flavor reminded of tzatziki sauce- savory with bits of grated cucumber. In the end we had to flag someone down for the check and get to-go containers ourselves. Not sure if I'd come back. read more

Came here with my friends, as this place was highly reccomended to me. It was many of our first time trying Afghan food, and our waiter was also so patient with us and gave great service. Everything was super fresh, flavorful, and we all loved the food! If you are coming in with a big group, I would definitely reccomend getting the family platter to share since it has an amazing variety. The borani banjan was such a stand out dish and would reccomend this to everyone coming here. The carpeted seating was also incredibly comfortable and cozy, I had an amazing time here. Will definitely be coming back for the food and service! read more

Afghan Kabob House - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

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We enjoyed our meal here! Came here during the soft opening phase and we basically ordered the entire menu. It's a smaller seating space with the back area being a traditional seating area sitting on pillows. Small parking lot available. Downey was a central location for our group to meet coming from Pasadena, West LA, and Hacienda Heights and we were excited to find this spot on Yelp, trying halal Afghan food for the first time which has similarities to other cuisines. Dishes I would order again: + Afghani Salad - refreshing and a great start to the meal + Bolani - I preferred this over naan to have some extra flavor and I liked the mash potatoes texture here + Karahi (Beef) - like a beef stew, really flavorful, tender beef, slightly on the oiler side so the rice is a perfect accompaniment! We also got the Afghani Yogurt Drink which is a savory drink! It's similar to a lassi but savory and has chunks of cucumber. Reminds me of a cold soup even. Really interesting an dunique to try for the first time! Loved being able to try Afghani food for the first time here! read more

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The food was great and the service was even better. The chapli kabob was the best I've ever had, and I've had more than my fair share. The rice was perfect, and the homemade Afghan ice cream was delicious. Perfect dining area for a large party. The best part: they have salaam cola! read more

Today was my first time trying Afghan Kabob House, and I definitely would recommend it! 5/5 food 5/5 service Thank you for being so friendly and kind Noori‍ read more

Afghan Kabob House - Traditional seating area - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

Best Afghan food in Los Angeles. Super flavorful and authentic. Service was great and food is really made to order. read more

I called the restaurant asking some details about the manue guy answer the call first thing look it on website no enthusiasm for making new customers put me on hold and after 25 waiting he comes and picks up the phone and hangs up waoo what will be the level of service you expect.they need people who should be enthusiastic about the culture ready to explain any questions customer has that is biggest turn off for me they need to do better and inviting and be happy to introduce your food because no one knows like Iran or Mediterranean cuisine. read more

Afghan here.....and let me tell you.....the food tastes like it's right out of grandma's kitchen. We ordered the qabuli, mantu, ashak, chapli kabob and bolani; but I don't think you can go wrong with any dish. It's a relatively small restaurant but it doesn't seem to get too crowded, which is a shame. Highly recommend for those familiar with the cuisine or haven't tried it at all. read more

Afghan Kabob House - Bolani - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

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Delicious food! Great customer service, first time trying this, didnt disappoint definitely coming back! read more

Afghan Kabob House - Food, platter, chicken - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

Gave this place a shot, as the food looked delicious and I was right! The food was very flavorful. We ordered the Chicken Kabobs, the Borani Banjan, and the Qabuli Palao Rice. I just wish the protein portion was larger; I felt like it was mostly a ton of rice. We asked for naan but their tandoori was down so they gave us rice. The chicken was super delicious though! Service was also great! Decor needs some work, as it's very simple right now. But still overall a nice place for some Afghan food! read more

Afghan Kabob House - Qabuli Palao Rice. Delicious! - Afghan Near Me - Downey, California

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Really incredible and flavorful food. Recommend getting the borani banjan dish, but every dish here is really great.

We came here as a family, and I can't say enough good things about our experience. My son has a nut allergy, and the staff was incredibly kind, attentive, and thoughtful. They made sure nothing with nuts was anywhere near his food and took extra care to keep everything safe. That alone meant so much to us. The food was absolutely amazing!! Every single dish we ordered was wow. So flavorful, fresh, and comforting. You can truly taste the care that goes into each plate. On top of that, the service was wonderful: warm, welcoming, and genuinely attentive. We felt so taken care of from start to finish. We'll definitely be coming back and recommending this place to everyone we know! read more

Came here with a friend to try Afghan food for the first time and our experience was amazing! the service here was great everyone here was accommodating and so friendly. when mentioning it was our first time trying , the chef came out to also give us a little introduction of Afghan food from their preparation and a little history! my favorite was the beef kebob with qabuli palao along with the naan dipped with the sauce they give on the side is sooo delicious! my friend enjoyed the Borani banjan which was the eggplant with tomato sauce! thank you Afghan kebob house ! read more