Heard good things about this place, decided to give it a try. Wasted 3 perfectly good hours in here. I went on a Friday evening with a reservation at 7:30 for 7. Arrived at 7:30 there were only 3 other tables with guests. Barely got greeted at the door, we had a reservation for 7 people and when they take us to our table it's a table for 4 with 7 seats in it. There was problem number 1. Problem number 2- we ordered drinks, i ordered water and one of the servers just brought out 1 glass AT A TIME. Not even complicated drinks - A soda and sparkling water. OH, did I mention it was about 80 degrees in there? So waiting for our drinks was hellish. It took a while for our server to take our order. Then he finally came around, took our order and then we waited. And waited. And kept waiting. It's 9pm and none of our foods have come out yet. 2 tables already ate and left. The other table that arrived after us got their food and were getting ready to leave as well. We waited. We call the server down and he says "food should be out in a minute" ......still waiting. We see the owner or maybe the manager pointing to our table and then our server runs up to the counter to see that our food ticket WAS NOT DELIVERED TO THE KITCHEN. You must imagine how my jaws dropped. If it weren't a birthday dinner for someone else I would have left. I wanted to leave. It was hot and I was bothered by then. They offered more free salad that we didn't want, I asked for bread at least to feed this hunger, he brought out ONE bread for a table of 7. We kept waiting and finally got our food. Chicken was still raw. Sent it back. They comped us with other plates but at that point nobody was hungry anymore and we just wanted to leave. No patience for dessert at that point. Worst experience ever. read more

I went with my dad last night, as we were both craving kabob. We were the first two people in the restaurant that night. Service was abysmal and the food was marginally better than okay. My dad and I ordered the same thing, chicken kabob. He got rice and I got a pita bread with some grilled veggies. He also ordered a chai tea with an appetizer, both of which never arrived. The food was okay but my dad had about six bite sized pieces of chicken and like ten cups of rice (not kidding). The owner - who was also our waiter- forgot our appetizer despite having to go back into the kitchen to ask if they had the one we wanted. He said no, then came back and made a suggestion he didn't fulfill, i.e. bring us the food. The restaurant is so cheap it won't hire waiting staff. He didn't bother to ask us about the meal and made us wait about half an hour for the check. Let me tell you, he didn't mind serving the other four tables. Don't come. Go to the better Kabob Bistro read more

Does not even deserve one star. Went with my wife to eat around evening time, ordered chicken boneless and ground beef. The Guy asked me twice to confirm the order and still messed up the order and brought lamb kabob instead of boneless chicken. Ground beef tasted horrible that I could not finish even one quarter, lamb kabob was tasteless. I remember old management were making so delicious kabob that I went this time time to find this disorganized management. Restaurant employees were eating their own lunch inside the restaurant, which seemed very odd. Coke can which was warm, replace old management which used to bring coke with ice in glasses. Everything in this restaurant looked upside down. I will not go there again and will strongly caution friends and family to avoid this restaurant to save your money and to avoid making yourself upset. The old owner, Hashim should visit his old restaurant to see how badly it is managed now. read more

I was in the mood for kebobs, and my friend suggested this place. The outside is very unassuming, but the decor is beautiful inside! I agree that this is a hidden gem. I ordered the Super Dish because I couldn't make up my mind which kind of kebob I wanted. The Super Dish was very filling, and I had plenty left over. Our server was very attentive and accommodating. The wait time for the food was average. The soup/salad helped hold me over while I waited for my food. The only downside about this location is that parking is tight! The restaurant is in a shopping center and it's very congested. I actually tapped my bumper on the pole backing up because the parking lot was so small. read more

I think they might have changed the management of this place. The food used to be really really tasty and the service was good (nothing to complain about anyway). However, the last time I went was a real disappointment. First off, the restaurant was so dark that it was difficult to see much. Secondly, our waiter left much to be desired. We decided to come here since we found a coupon in one of those mailing advertising things. After we ordered two plates of kabobs, we showed the coupon to the waiter and he said (matter of factly), "we are not required to take your coupon since you ordered kabobs and not entrees. you have to order entrees so we don't have to honor your coupon." now i understand the reason why we couldn't use the coupon, but i really think the message could have been relayed in another way. Also, when my dining mate was ordered the chicken kabobs, the waiter asked him several times, impatiently, breasts or thighs? breasts or thighs? now that i think back to it, it's pretty hilarious, but the fact that the waiter didn't give us any time to actually decide what we wanted left a sour note on the dinner. the food itself was okay. it wasn't like what i remembered from dining before. rice was not included in the meal and there wasn't a kabob entree (which we would have chosen if we could). the dinner ended up being much more than we expected (especially since we wanted to use a coupon!!!). bottom line: they seem to have sacrificed taste and service for a "fine dining" atmosphere. very disappointing since we used to like eating here. next time we want kabobs, we'll head to the mall (surprisingly grill kabob is really good and a great deal) or to springfield plaza for flame kabob. read more

We just moved into the area and we were driving around looking for somewhere to eat since we were hungry. At the time we didn't even think of searching yelp we were so hungry, however we saw a big sign that said Afghan Kabob. I was like "Oh yeah" Kabobs, gotta try that place. Upon driving into the parking lot we saw All You Can Eat buffet, I thought even better! We got in my wife told the host, "there are 4 of us we have 2 kids one is 5 the other is 1". The hosts response... "what do you mean?" We were confused, don't you need to know how many people are in your group to be seated? Well, he eventually brought us to a table. We walked to the buffet and saw literally 7 dishes. That's counting the rice and the lettuce they call salad. There was 2 meat dishes and the chicken kabob was empty when we got there. When they did refill it, they put 5 pieces out. So whenever you see them put it out you have to get there before everyone, or else they are all gone. The food was very subpar, we have moved to several cities in different states and we haven't been more disappointed in a Kabob place than this place. Not only was the food not so great, but you are totally ignored by the serving staff. There was literally 3 groups of people there. No one brings you water, and one server was even sitting at a table... just sitting there. The final straw was when we were going to pay the bill. The guy tried to charge me 4 full meals at $10 each! I was like uh I have a 5 year old and 1 year old. They barely ate. So he said okay 3. So apparently they have no pricing for kids. But to attempt to charge me for a 1 year old who ate a handful of rice. Is ridiculous. After we left the place we were like, wow, who even goes to this place. When I finally looked them up on Yelp I was surprised. 4 stars. No way. Even the people who have more than 1 star says the service is bad... to me there is no excuse for bad service. From the 5 states I've lived in. This is the worst Kabob place. read more

Ah, another one of those wonderful yet hidden places. If you've never been before it might be hard to find just because it's in the very back and not very well lit area of this shopping center. If you see the Einstein Bagels, it's in there next to Jaxx Night Club. It's not fancy or anything but not super casual. Surprising considering where this place is situated, you never would've thought how awesome this place is inside. It is dimly lit for dinner, which I don't really like, but oh well. When you walk in, you'll see this cool miniature displace of an Afghan town. In the front right corner you'll also notice this old fashion stove with a bunch of tea kettles around it. Not small by any means but you will definitely get a cozy feel from this place. The hosts and servers are all dressed up, some in a dress shirt but mostly in traditional Afghan clothing. I've always been greeted so kindly when I come in, with family or friends, if I'm dining in or carrying out. If you do carry out, whether you've called ahead or ordered right then, they show their hospitality by making sure you are served tea - even if you're waiting for a couple of minutes. It's stuff like this which makes me always want to go back. If that doesn't get you in then know that their kabobs are really good too. I'm a huge fan of shami kabobs and theirs are really really good. The spices are perfect. And I ALWAYS get a side of their rice with shredded carrots and raisins - LOVE that stuff, good mix between sweet and salty. The Aushak is okay, too much yogurt for me but their Boolawnee is so so good! Their naan is pretty good as far as naan goes - large and soft! read more

Excellent kabob. Chicken and lamb are phenomenal here. Get the soup, not the salad. Meatballs were bland, no flavor. Phenomenal service and atmosphere. read more

Afghan Kabob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

No. Don't do it. Avoid this place if you can. I once had a good meal at this place, but it was years ago. On a recent visit, literally the only redeeming quality was the bread. Literally. Everything else, from service to taste to food quality was lackluster. Restaurant was nearly empty (one other table) when we walked in, yet they seemed flustered to seat us. When we were seated, the table was set, but there were no linens or napkins. No big deal, assumed they would come with the meal. Ordering was challenging; the server didn't seem to understand our (native) English. He came back out to check on my order, so kudos for not serving me the wrong dish and at least getting it correct. We had the aushak appetizer, which was okay but nothing spectacular. The real fail, though, was the dishes. Neither of us liked ours enough to finish them, though I was hungry enough that I simply ate bread. The lamb-in-rice (forgot the name) was uninspired and the lamb was right at the point that I wondered if it shouldn't be thrown out. Our other dish - chicken with peppers and onions - actually came out as onions and peppers, with an occasional piece of chicken. The ratio was way off and I couldn't bring myself to simply eat a dish full of satueed onion (note to Afghan Kabob - onions are for adding flavor, not for making a meal out of!) and the chicken alternated between dried out and excessively chewy, depending on the chunk, which was disconcerting. The kuda pumpkin was OK, but very sweet. Might recommend as a semi-dessert. Our server was literally running around the restaurant and was extremely brusque with us, but seemed less so with the Afghani patrons. I don't have much stomach for treating customers differently based on demographic characteristics, so this wasn't cool. The server never once asked about our meals (which, as mentioned, were mediocre). I asked for our check when he came by. I never got it. We waited. Waited some more. And then waited longer. The check literally never came. After about 15 minutes, we did the math, ourselves and added tax and left the money on the table. I will not go back, and recommend you don't, either. read more

"Unassuming" comes to mind when you arrive at Afghan Kabob. Alright, this shopping center is a hot mess -- the restaurant is located directly behind the gas station. This whole place really needs to be updated. I have lived in Springfield for most of my life and, to my knowledge, it has always looked like a dump. Yelp, and the urging of my Mom, a culinary adventurer of sorts, brought me in. The entryway is awkwardly configured and you proceed to a very traditional dining room with appropriate colors. The issue with middle eastern restaurants is how formal so much of the tablecloths and settings appear, yet the cuisine and diner attire is much more casual. Whatever, just a weird observation. On to the food. We started with an appetizer, I can't remember which one, but it was good, and a large size. We all ordered entrees, which came with side salads. Really great! We ordered a side of naan as well, which was steaming hot and delicious. At this point, we are very satisfied, when our entrees arrive, with more naan and plenty of food. I had the vegetarian sampler plate, with great pumpkin, better spinach, and another dish. So much flavor going on here, even better the next day with leftovers and the rice as well. What makes this place jump from 3 to 4 stars for me are the prices. The entrees are all around $10 and we got out for under $50 with three of us -- PLUS four to-go boxes. Let me know where you can do this in Northern VA, and I'll start going there. Get over the exterior and enjoy all the warm flavors coming from this place. read more

The location that this place is located in is a little bit on the ghetto side but as soon as you walk in your initial impression of walking into a slum quickly vanishes. The decor in the inside is beautiful, it's not over the top but it's still fancy. I love the beautiful water filled vase candles they have on the tables as decoration. The have their plates and dinnerware set up in a very elegant manner. It looks very nice on the inside. They offer a long variety of afghan food. We had chicken on naan, and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken literally melted in your mouth and had the perfect amount of seasoning on it. I also ordered bolani with potatoes and that was incredibly delicious as well. However once I started eating the chicken I couldn't go back to the bolani, or anything else, the chicken was that good. I was so full I was about to burst but I was still eating lol Overall it's a really nice place with good service and good food and I'm definitely going to go back. read more

We came here via the recommendation of the seller of our house and the Yelp reviews. This was our first time trying Afghan food, and it was a great experience! The outside of the restaurant isn't anything special, but don't let that deter you. The inside is nice with Afghani decorations and clothed tables. One thing to note is that if you get cold, I would suggest trying to get a seat away from their large windows in the winter. The waiter started us off with a complimentary soup or salad. My husband and I both ordered a salad, and the salad came out immediately. It was lettuce, carrots, with a yogurt dressing. Simple, but refreshing and delicious! For our entrees, I ordered the vegetarian curry, per the recommendation of the waiter. My husband, not sure what to get on his first trip to an Afghan restaurant, ordered the Super Dish (similar to the Happy Family meal at Chinese restaurants, which features a little bit of everything). In fact, this caused him to comment that every restaurant should serve a Super Dish or Happy Family type meal with a fork, which allows you to sample many a dish. The food took a little bit longer than anticipated (the carry out at this place was as busy as a pizza place on a Saturday night!), and the waiter was very attentive, took note, and brought us a complimentary appetizer in the meantime - a very nice gesture. I forget what he said they were called, but they were fried pastries - two with beef inside and two with potatoes (nice of him to remember I was ordering vegetarian!), and served with a very tasty mint yogurt sauce. The mint yogurt sauce was absolutely delicious with just a hint of spiciness to it (it was a little too spicy for my husband). Our food arrived shortly thereafter, and I dug into my veggie curry. The curry was good, with just the right amount of spice, and the veggies cooked tender, but not soggy. It had a great variety of veggies - green pepper, onion, cauliflower, broccoli, etc. My husband enjoyed the Super Dish, as well. His favorite was the chicken (next time, he said he would order the chicken kabob), followed by the shami, and then by the lamb. He was very full after this meal! The naan was fabulous. After recently eating at a local Indian restaurant that had hard, partially burnt naan, it was a true pleasure to enjoy some light and fluffy naan. The naan was probably a foot long, and more than enough for the two of us. I could have ate the naan as my meal During our meal, our server was very attentive, and refilled water glasses and sodas, as necessary. It's rare to find such good service in the DC area! For just over $30, we had two delicious entrees, two salads, and drinks. We both left full and with leftovers. That's a good price in the DC area! We will definitely be back, as I look forward to trying some of their other vegetarian options (they have a whole page on their menu!). I also hope to try some of the tea when we come back, as that seemed to be a popular choice. Other popular choices from others in the restaurant were the gyro and the palau. Great service, great food, great price! read more

Don't be fooled by the outside appearance! The food is absolutely delicious and the customer service exceptional. We felt as if we were having lunch an Afghan family home. Aside from savory deluxe kabob, we were pleasantly surprised Aushak appetizer and the Mantu entree. We have found our go-to Afghan restaurant! read more

Great food. We just got our kabobs from here for the first time. The lamb kabob was served with rice pilaf, onions, limes, two yogurt sauces, chick peas & nam bread. Everything was excellent except that the bread was a little chewy. The rice was delicious, so the lamb and all the dressings. There was plenty of food for the two us us. We finished off the meal with delicious baklava. The honey was very light and delicious. We called in and then took our food home. The restaurant had interesting models of the Afghan hills The servers were friendly, but not many people were there read more

I absolutely love this restaurant. They offer the best service and amazing food! Hands down the best Kabob place I've even been to. read more

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I really enjoyed the food-it was good. Especially the naan-it was huge lol. The portion size was sufficient. Overall we were happy with what we ordered. The service was a little slow, which made no sense because they were not busy. It does tend to be a little towards the pricey side. Will probably look elsewhere before coming here again. read more

Afghan Kabob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

I'm not sure how this place has such high reviews. I was craving Afghan food and decide to try this place based upon the number of reviews and high rating. I was very disappointed. I ordered the kabob deluxe and sambosay goshtee. Both left a lot to desired. The meats were overcook and dry. The accompanying rice was bland and the garbanzo beans tasted canned. The sambosay goshtee was the worst I've ever had- it was rubbery and tasted old. The good was the service. Although I placed a takeout order, the customer service was pleasant. Unfortunately, due to the food quality- I would not recommend and will not return. read more

I took my wife here for a surprise birthday party and it couldn't have been better. They do not have a liquor license but were gracious about letting us bring our own wine. The meals for 8 people are huge and two of those fed more than 20 people with plenty of leftovers. They even have coupons online but I was embarrassed at how little the party cost so I didn't even use them. Many guests told me they'd loved the food and I know some of them returned. read more

What a wonderful restaurant. My husband and I went there for dinner. The ambiance is set with authentic Afghan decorations. This was the second time eating Afghan food, and I must say the experience was delightful. I had ordered the boneless chicken kabob and my husband enjoyed his mantu and lamb kabob. The staff were friendly, the food was extremely tasty and they even gave us complimentary green tea at the end. I would highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys ethnic dining. read more

The new owners of this place are awesome. I hadn't been here in over a decade and we decided to take our whole family for mother's day. It was a group of 19 people and we called ahead, they were very accommodating and attentive. Everyone loved the food and the overall service was excellent. The price and portions were great. We've catered some family events since then, because of their great food and prices. Highly recommend checking them out. I must say I do love the new decorations and interior colors that they've used, it's a lot nicer than it use to be. read more

It's more like 3.5...The food was pretty good, especially the lamp kabob (MUST order). The side soup, bread and the fried eggplant dish were also very good (although eggplant was dripping oil...I was able to eat around it but I can see how others would not want to have to)...The spinach and the pumpkin (included in the veggie plate w/eggplant) were OK. The service needs improvement...I mean everybody was nice and polite, just not very efficient. And although I loved the music, we were sat under the speakerphone and the bass was so strong in some songs that it made it difficult to enjoy my bites. I would go again though, cause I love that type of cuisine...almost as much as Greek and Japanese... (BTW, I didn't know Afghan food is so similar to Lebanese, duh) read more

Thought we would try this place for carry out based on the reviews. Got the lunch special: rice was good, lamb was good, chicken had good flavor but was dry and the bread was horrible. Hard as a rock. I generally love bread from kabob places and was very disappointed. If I was dining in it would have been sent back. Wont return. read more

Love the service, the food, and the ambiance. Wish they'd bring the carpet back :( BTW white sauce is off the hook. Excellent read more

Enjoyed my visit to the Afghan restaurant in Springfield. When you see tons of Afghans eating there, you know it must be good. For appetizers, their aushak was amazing. It's basically Afghan version of a 'samosa'. Delicious. For the entree, our group got a variety of dishes. The Peshwari chapli kabob was made very nicely. Plenty of seasoning and tasty combination of ground beef/fat.. Quabili Palau was fantastic also. It's a rice dish with heaps of lamb, raisins, w/ sweet sauteed carrot strips. The mantu was great. Lightly filled pasty with beef served w/ yogurt sauce. Really enjoyed my meal here. Will be back read more

Nice restaurant in a small strip mall with other eateries and ethnic food markets. Interesting area. Friendly wait staff dressed in ethnic garb. I got the deluxe kabob, a combination of chicken, ground beef, and lamb kabobs. All were tasty, tender, and juicy. We rushed through dinner a bit, because we arrived after 7 pm, and they were closing the place for a wedding at 8. Good sign when the Afghans hold their weddings there. read more

3.5 stars. Not much ambiance but good food. Our faves are the lamb chops and the chicken thigh kabobs. I appreciate that they'll let you bring in your own wine (but ask you to be discreet) with no corkage fee. We've used them in the past to cater dinner parties and they've done a nice job with that. I like the food a lot but the prices have gone up substantially over the past several years.( I know food prices have gone up everywhere but their prices have almost doubled!) Also as other reviewers have mentioned they really will come up with any excuse NOT to honor their own coupons. read more

Friend and i have talked about trying this place for a long time. Finally came together today. We met up at 11:30 here, were the first two diners in the place. We ordered the $9.99 lunch specials, chicken kabob with rice and sides. We were greeted immediately and cordially, no problem with service and space was very clean. Food portions for the price were HUGE but my only reservation on stars was the lack of flavor overall. Chicken was very tender but i like more spicy flavors, so to me lunch was rather bland. Wish I could give more kudos but I've had better more flavorful similar foods. read more

BLUF: Amazing food, wonderful service. Slightly pricey, but worth it. Also, right next door to the Empire venue, so it's perfect if you're headed to a show. My friend and I went to Afghan Kabob Restaurant mostly due to its proximity to Empire music venue. First, let me emphasize how greatly we were treated. My friend arrived well before me and was having problems contacting me because his phone was about to die. Our server noticed this and brought his personal charger out for my friend to use for the duration of meal. This was extremely helpful, and not the type of hospitality I'd expect to encounter at most restaurants. Besides this, our server was otherwise extremely friendly and helpful in the ways you'd expect to hear about (kept drinks filled, knowledgeable about the menu, etc.) I ordered the deluxe kabob (two skewers each of chicken, shami, and lamb, 3-4 pieces of meat per skewer), which was fantastic. All the meat was very tender and perfectly cooked. I also ordered a yogurt-based drink called "doth", which was very unusual. It was thick and tasted mostly of cucumber; I didn't care for it, but I think that was a personal taste issue and not a preparation issue. My bill was a bit over $20 (the deluxe kabob is the most expensive kabob they offer). This seemed slightly high for the amount of food I got, but the quality of the food and service as well as the nice appearance of the restaurant very easily made up for that. Wonderful place, and definitely one I would visit again. My friend remarked that if there was a comparable place where we live (Lynchburg, VA), he would likely be eating there at least once a week, if not more. read more

Absolutely delicious . Got the lunch special. Chicken with the rice with raisin and carrot on top, which was fantastic. It comes with a sides of spinach and chick peas cooked the middle eastern way and delicious bread. Tea is also great. Will be back to try other dishes, would return just for the rice as it was one of my favorite rice dishes. read more

Afghan Kabob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

Just had an amazing lunch with friends at the Afghan Kabob in Springfield. They never disappoint. The welcome and service is warm and kind. The food is spectacular. They have also catered but big and small events at our Church. Get here as soon as you can for food you will not forget. read more

We have been wanting to try this place for a long time and after tonight's visit I feel that we have been missing out on some fantastic food. To start the moment you walk in the door the smells hit you full force and are absolutely great. The atmosphere is very casual making you feel comfortable and at home. Our server was very very pleasant and gave us the proper amount of attention. Now to the good stuff and why I am leaving the review.... This is some of the absolute best kabobs we have ever had and is the mother of all comfort food. I had the lamb chops with Man bread. The lamb was so tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. One of my favorite parts is the juice soaking into the bread..... My wife ordered the lamb and rice dish that read more

Wow. Afghan kabob is rockin it. Kabob palace, in your face! Had the chicken and it is just amazing. Amazing. Um. Amazing. The chickpeas were great and the bread...oh the bread! Fair warning: The green sauce, whatever it was, was a bit on the hot side. read more

Bad customer service. Order from door dash Complain about missing Nan , hang up on me.

I had the lunch special, which includes lamb kabob, nan, rice, chickpeas, and spinach, as well as a green spicy/tangy sauce and a creamy/tangy white sauce with a mayo-like consistency. While the lamb was not super tender, everything was very flavorful. Their nan is better than Moby Dick's, but the meat isn't quite at the same level, yet still tasty. The sides were awesome; they had really unique flavors and went well with one another. I waited about 12 minutes for a carry out order I placed when I arrived, so not an awful wait. I will be back for sure. read more

Overcharged & Unimpressed. $16 for a chicken kabob with a small portion of rice? You are better off driving to Annandale and trying the Food Corner Kabob in Annandale, exact same chicken (very tasty) more rice and also offer sides like salad. The dining area is very nice a lot nicer than most kabob spots but the creepy cashier guy just did it for me. Never coming here again. read more

Afghan Kabob - Chicken was good, but very little rice. Over priced! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

We going this place because of another kabob store is full. When we get there it's noisy because of some anniversary going on. Almost full and we think come back. But all the servers are very good and polite though they busy. After ate the chicken kabob and lamb pulao , we must say this place is gem. Food is too good and price less. This the best kabob place in this area. read more

Ordered take-out. Meat was cold and over cooked. Raw red onions and jalapeños may be traditional with the dish but I found it barely edible. I prefer Flame Kabob in Springfield nearby the K-mart. read more

First time having afghan food and was really amazed. Great customer service and the lamb chops were cooked to perfection

Another wonderful meal at Afghan Kabob! We were glad to get in the restaurant before the mob that came through right after us. We usually get the "dinner for four", but with their serving sizes, it would have been too big for our family of 6! So we ordered side salads, 2 Entrees, 2 Sides, Naan, and two desserts and we left full. 'Twas a great Father's Day dinner! Thank you! read more

Excellent dinner Bone in chicken is delicious and so is the garbanzo side dish! We normally order take out. I'm yet to order something that we don't enjoy! read more