Talk about a hidden gem! Saying that we enjoyed our time at Afghania would be the biggest understatement of 2026. It's a little higher up than some of the more commonly known restaurants but we are so glad we made the trek. Everything we had was a hit, there were no misses and that's rare- especially since our group totaled 6 people. That's a lot of people to impress. We were only a couple bites into our dinner when my mom said "we have to come back here again, and soon" For starters we had the assortment of dumplings. All delicious but my favorite was definitely the pumpkin. Sweet, and flavorful. If you're not a huge fan of spice, like myself, skip the spicy beef dumplings. I mean, it's in the name. Our table bought a variety of things and sampled all of it as dinner. We got the beef tenderloin and chicken, the chicken and ground beef, the Kandahari vegetarian flights, and the Moguhli (the one thing I hadn't sampled (hint, it was also spicy). The beef? Tender. The chicken? Juicy. The difference varieties of prepared rice? Flavorful. The drinks were also a hit. I had a mocktail that was mild in taste, with a hint of sweetness yet refreshing (the name is slipping me at the moment). Dessert? To die for. The cardamom tres leches was the best dessert I'd had at a restaurant in a while. I would make a trip back to Afghania just for it. The service was also amazing. Our server was very patient (we were a table of six, ¼ bilingual, ¼ just French speakers and the rest English speakers), and also very knowledgeable as everything we ate came at her recommendation. The décor is tasteful and in no way overbearing : white table clothes, artwork that depicts the culture, and it was overall a very cozy and intimate vibe. Hands down, a wonderful experience. read more

See all

The food here is great. We thoroughly enjoyed our appetizer and both entrees. Lots of flavor in each dish and the chicken was cooked perfectly. The portion sizes are large as well so we got to take home some leftovers. However, the service is not up to par unfortunately. The staff all seemed new and there were only three servers for all the tables and they were also serving the downstairs bar. When we arrived for our reservation we had to wait at least 10 minutes for them to acknowledge us. There is no waiting area because of the size and layout of the restaurant so it's probably best to just wait outside. Once seated it then took quite a while to receive water and place our order for drinks and the appetizer. When we were eating the appetizer one of the servers came over and asked if we had the bread yet. We said no and then he went and got us the complimentary bread basket that the other tables already had. I will also note I saw a few cobwebs in the ceiling corners upstairs. If the service improves I think I could give this another chance. read more

See all

This was my third time trying Afghan cuisine. Overall, compared to Persian and Lebanese food, Afghan dishes use spices more aggressively, featuring heavier flavor profiles.The main reason I came there was the assortment dumplings. In general, the food was unique and delicious but the service was disappointing. For food, I tried the following dishes: 1. Assortment dumplings: On the menu, "For X" means there are X pieces of each type of dumpling. I ordered "For 3". The pumpkin dumplings were my favorite. They were packed with sweetened and herbed mashed pumpkin. Paired well with the warm yogurt. The Aushaks had the mildest flavor overall, with just a hint of fragrance and sweetness from leeks. However, there was so little filling that I doubt if each dumpling had 1/10oz leeks... The Mantus were incredibly peppery-spicy. 2. Sabzi: A medley of leafy greens featuring spinach, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, cilantro, dill, and a tiny amount of green pepper slowly simmered for ~3 hours until it reached a texture of Saag in Indian cuisine. It tasted good. 3. Afghan Naan: Golden brown outside and fluffy inside. Served with (spicy) mint yougurt, spicy mango sauce, cilantro sauce and chii oil. However, I found some burnt piece in my Sabzi. I mentioned it to the staff and was told that it was "just" residue from the bottom of the pot that had charred from cooking too long and was "normal". Unacceptable. How could you serve the scrapings from the bottom of a pot to a customer!? read more

See all

Afghania won the 2024 best new restaurants award, and I can see why. The food was very tasty. We started with the butternut squash appetizer and got one of the chicken based tomato stews for dinner. Both were well cooked and well flavored. The place itself is very cute and well decorated. Our server was helpful with giving suggestions based on gluten and dairy intolerances / allergies too. Their online menu also lists allergen info which is really helpful. They include an automatic 20% service charge to provide their workers with a fair wage. Topping is not expected on top of this. read more

Afghania - Menu front page - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Brought a friend from out of town who's never tried Afghan food. This is a great spot, very small and cozy so definitely make a reservation. The staff was really nice and food didn't take long at all. Always get the dumplings and marvel at the sleeper hit of the pumpkin. They're outstanding. The stews are great, hearty but bright. It's a great spot to try if you're looking to appreciate something other than the same old American spots. Nice selection for vegetarian and vegan friends as well! I would say just having been to sister restaurant of this one, I loved Aracosia in McLean. It feels a bit more communal, but the vibes of the two spots are different for a reason! Overall, was really happy with the experience and glad I got to expose a friend to new food! read more

Afghania - Assortment of Dumplings - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food was so great and service was quick. Would absolutely recommend this place. Totally a great date spot too.

If there were awards for the best take out packaging, Afghania would sweep the awards. I was in awe when I picked up a recent take out order to find the sauce cups had been wrapped in foil to prevent the inevitable spill. They had also included table bread with the order, which was thoughtful. Yes, I do realize this extra packaging is not great for the environment, but I don't order take out often. I've been eyeing the photos of the dumplings at Afgahania for a year and finally got to try them. I think they probably are better in the restaurant, because as take out they did get a little soggy. The squash was the winner. The quroti app was fantastic and much lighter than it looked in photos. The eggplant chicken entree was fantastic but extremely oily, which may be a turn off to those trying to avoid such things. The winner of the bunch was the cardamom milk cake. Afghania is a great spot in Georgetown for either dine in or take away! read more

See all

Amazing food. Fun variety. I recommend the tasting menu, which requires only 2+ people to do it. Hot inside the restaurant, unfortunately. Good and friendly service read more

100% would come back again Service is impeccable - lovely hosts. We got veggie platter + veggie dumplings + salmon dish. The dumplings, especially the mushroom one, was divine. Veggie platter was a great mix and each veggie was super flavorful. read more

See all

Afghania is a nice spot for dinner in Georgetown. They have a lovely traditional dining room with plenty of space. I enjoyed a chilled glass of grenache rose with an assortment of goodies. The dumpling trio lets you sample a few flavors. The beef dumpling was our consensus fave, so delicious. These are steamed dumplings covered in sauce, and they were very flavorful. We also tried the sambosa, and their take is unlike any other we have had. It is fried and crisp, filled with very good minced beef and lentils, but topped off with powdered sugar & ground cardamom. You really can taste the cardamom and the sweetness. We had to sample an entree, too. The chicken moghuli hit the spot. Very good, tender chicken that can be easily shredded with a fork, that was really nice. It is very saucy, with a spicy tomato based and eggplant masala, served with white rice. I love soaking the rice in that sauce. One of the best dinner options in Gtown! read more

I was recommended the Moghuli and omg I'm missing it right now. So delicious. The chicken was so tender and seasoned to perfection. The dumplings are good. My favorite was the Aushak for sure. The beef tenderloin knocked me off my feet, it was so good. The tenderness and the smoky char was perfect. We also enjoyed the braised lamb and greens. The mango and saffron lemonade was very nice. Our server (Katherine I think was her name) was outstanding and the manager was also very nice and hospitable. Definitely will be returning again. We did have to ask for new small plates as they weren't so clean but that was an easy fix. We came around 5:40p shortly after they opened and enjoyed a delicious meal before our movie. read more

See all

Just another great food experience from the Afghan family. We had the huge mezza experience.

Everything from the service and ambiance to the bread and desserts was amazing. We loved everything to include the drinks and mocktails. We will be back. read more

Afghania - Lamb shank, rice, eggplant - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good meats. - We were especially impressed by a skewer variety plate, where every cut of meat was expertly grilled to be tender, juicy, and flavorful. It was served with a variety of dipping sauces, the most memorable being a loose green chili sauce - Moghuli with lamb shank was my next favorite. Lamb shank is a speciality of theirs, and it's paired with a tomato eggplant sauce and served with rice. - the dumplings were all right, flatter with a softer delicate skin and topped with a yoghurt meat garnish. I It's at the edge of the main commercial drag of Georgetown. Elegant dining room and ambience, super nice and helpful staff. They were accommodating to us when we brought two babies along read more

Really delicious Afghani food. Super flavorful, the lamb was incredibly soft and fell off the bone. The assorted dumplings included pumpkins, leek, and beef and they were amazing (pumpkin was my favorite). The sabzi lawaan was really great as well! The service was thorough and speedy despite being incredibly busy. The restaurant was very cute and homely as well! read more

See all

Ventured off to Afghania in Georgetown last night. It's fairly new and specializes in Afghan cuisine. It's a cosy little place on M st in Georgetown. Its perfect for a date night or intimate setting. The menu was very expansive so we went with the Afghania Flight, which is their chef tasting that features 9 dishes. The dishes were 3 types of dumplings for the appetizer, grilled meats, stewed chicken, lamb shank, veal, chickpeas, lentils, eggplant, squash, and with a two sides of rice. The cocktails were pretty tasty and ordered the toasted almond cake for dessert. We were running late and the restaurant was very accommodating. Our table was ready upon arriving. The waiter was very knowledgeable of the menu. Provided great service. I would definitely go back! The food was really tasty! Those dumplings, grilled meats, and cocktails were my favorite! read more

See all

I came here Friday night to celebrate my birthday and had a lovely dinner. First, let me start by noting they were extremely busy and apparently their system double booked reservations. Our reservation was for 8:15 and we weren't seated until close to 9pm. Several parties were waiting well past their reservation time. With such a long wait, I'm sure you'd expect some stars knocked off but honestly, the service made up for it. The space is small so space is tight. The manager kept profusely apologizing for the delay and brought us free glasses of wine while we waited. We also weren't charged for the desserts we ordered and the manager brought over a complimentary bottle of champagne for my birthday! Things happen. Screw ups occur. But, how you handle them matters, and they made sure to make up for it. Now to the food. On top of the wonderful service, the food was AMAZING! I've been to their sister restaurant Bistro Aracosia (and loved it) and this new restaurant didn't disappoint. We started with the assortment of dumplings for four- all so good! Our favorite was actually pumpkin dumplings. For dinner, I got the risotto with veal. Two got the lamb platter, and another got the lamb shank with basmati rice. We all loved our meals. The manager recommended I put two of their complimentary sauces on top of the risotto to enhance the flavors and he was right! It was delicious! My boyfriend pretty much inhaled his lamb platter too. We were all very satisfied. For dessert, we got the pistachio cake and almond cake. Both very good. And as mentioned above, to end the evening the manager surprised us with a complimentary bottle of champagne for my birthday. It was honestly the perfect way to end the night. We were the last ones in the restaurant but at no point did they make us feel rushed or unwelcome. I had a wonderful birthday dinner with my closest friends and great food all thanks to Afghania. I will definitely be returning! read more

See all

Food: Amazing. Tastes so good. The chicken and spinach was seasoned beautifully. The Lamb Shank had this nice smoked flavor to it (hard to describe, but delicious). It has a little sweetness to it that I think some may like, but I tend to prefer savory as personal preference. Ambiance: We got a nice table upstairs. Service: Great. No complaints. On balance: The food is incredible. I'm not sure I like the prices, but if I had to spend $30-40 on dinner I will most certainly come here. If each dish was in the $20-25 range, that would make this 6-stars. But I understand inflation is difficult. read more

Afghania - Chicken Saag - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Amazing experience! My wife wanted to try Afghani food and has been craving lamb lately so this restaurant was a huge score. I lucked out at the start of the evening with finding a free parking spot about 2-3 blocks away and made my reservation time. We were immediately seated and found everyone (I mean everyone) to be so welcoming and heartfelt that we felt we were family. It's very nice in the restaurant, with a setting perfect for taking someone special. As for the food, it was absolutely delicious. Everything we tried was so good, with wonderful flavors. We couldn't finish everything so we made sure to leave room for dessert while taking leftovers home. Do not let anything go to waste. We started with an assortment of dumplings, all of which were delicious in their own way (pumpkin, spicy beef, and leeks & scallions). The accompanying sauces were all wonderful, but the mango habanero was my favorite (and no, not too spicy). For my meal I tried the (veal) Afghanistan palou, which had a wonderful smokiness and the most amazing rice. My wife had lamb shank with a tomato based sauce, and loved it. We capped off our meal with a cardamom cake (tres leches style) and sheer birinj, a delicious rice pudding with light airy flavors. read more

See all

Amazing food and service! Everything was so flavorful and they made my friends bday dinner extra special :) the service was exceptional too! The veggie platter was a great way to try a little of everything! The interior was a bit small and felt a bit squished with many tables and chairs but we made it work! read more

Afghania is the closest I will ever get to visiting this beautiful country with its beautiful people. Afghania - the restaurant - is a great place to eat exotic food that is tasty and filling and served by some of the nicest people ever! My spouse and I went to Afghania to celebrate our anniversary. We wanted something different. Well, we got it! The dining room is small and dark. Not fancy but you certainly feel like you are in a nice place. White linen tablecloths, formal place settings, dark paint on the walls, modernized artwork depicting life in Afghanistan (whether modern or old). The dining room is nice. The service is provided by some of the most polite and friendly people I have ever encountered. They are not professional waiters but, in this case, it is NOT a negative. Our waiter, Zak, was the nephew of the owner. He was very helpful in navigating the HUGE menu. He took a great deal of time to help us select some good dishes. And he was friendly, funny and knowledgeable about the food. Kevin, the bartender (and jack of all trades), was likewise affable and all around helpful beyond the normal DC waiter. Great and friendly service all around! The food is earthy, exotic, hot and spicy (some of it) and just unique enough to make us feel like we had been transported to another country. The meat was "fall off the bone" tender with mixes of spices so unusual and interesting. I can still taste the cardamom and cilantro! The yogurt sauce with dill was out of this world crazy good!!! Really delightful tastes! And the dishes are huge!!!! You will not go away from this place hungry. I highly recommend Afghania for a great meal that makes you forget where you actually are! read more

This place looks kind of fancy. It is nicely decorated, and kind of low lit. It's a good place to go for a dinner date. This was my first time having Afghan food. It was delicious. Everything was full of flavor, the portion size was huge. The service was great. Our table was well attended, the recommendations from the server were great too! I will come back here again if I am ever back in the DC area! I took a pic of my meal, but like I said, the lighting was low. read more

Afghania - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Afghania is DIVINE! Made reservations in advance for a Friday night around 7pm and I really appreciated that we were spaced out nicely as opposed to being packed on top of each other during the busy hours. Our waiter was incredibly attentive and kind and offered great recommendations. After we ordered our respective sour cherry and mango mocktails- which were both YUMMY and ice cold- we were served complimentary flatbread with 4 house made dips each with a dominant flavor- cilantro, spicy habanero, mango, and avocado. The cilantro was our favorite, but it did have an after kick! We also ordered some pumpkin dumplings to share- and let me tell you- these were delicious! Small, crispy on the outside, and warm delightful mix of pumpkin, ground beef, lentils, yogurt, mint, and cilantro on the inside. Oh my goodness, we would come back for these alone. Our main courses were the spicy risotto and the ghorbandee- each with a lamb shank added on top. When I tell you I have been raving about this food all weekend and telling everyone I know, I mean it. This food was just spectacular. From the appearance to the taste. The unique combinations of the spicy tomato stew and mint yogurt drizzle with the slide off the bone and tender lamb over some lentils with rice- makes my mouth water thinking about it again. My friend's risotto was also delicious. We both had leftovers to take with us and we were too full for dessert; however, the dessert menu was expansive and I will be back for the rice pudding! 10/10 this place is worth it! read more

See all

Had a wonderful dinner here with a friend. It was crowded on the Friday evening we visited so I recommend making a reservation in advance. The inside of the restaurant is very Georgetown-- old-meets-new modern interior design elements in an old and narrow building. I'm not the biggest fan of the traditional white tablecloths and think those could be done away with. I love the complimentary sauces, my favorite was the avocado yogurt one. I recommend asking the server for an explanation on them if not provided. I also think the menu here could be consolidated or simplified as it appears overwhelming when it's actually just a lot of protein mix and matching. The cocktails were good but not the most memorable- the A Gift to Bring You was refreshing but nothing special, and the Water to the Ocean was a margarita with basil. While the drinks were not bad, I would probably pass on them and just get wine to pair with my meal if I were to return. The dinner was on the expensive side but everything I had was delicious. Assortment of Dumplings - My favorite was the pumpkin dumpling. Nice assortment to sample from but I would probably just get a few of those if I were to return. (4/5) Spicy Shinwari Karahi with Lamb Shank - Hearty and flavorful lamb that fell right off the bone. Not as spicy as I expected. The pickled onions were a nice acidic touch that balanced out the heaviness of the lamb. (5/5) Lamb Chop Duo - Perfectly charred lamb rib and shoulders and buttery rice. Favorite dish of the evening. (5/5) read more

See all

This place was terrific - I went with friends and we shared the dumplings, which were exceptional, as well as the Afghania Palou, a chicken dish, and the chicken and beef kabobs. The kabobs were just ok, but everything else was really wonderful. Highly recommend this place! read more

Afghania - Assorted dumplings - phenomenal! - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Food: infused with so many delicious flavors. Melt in your mouth meat (had goat and lamb). Service: exceptional. Very grateful for guests (even though humming on a Friday evening). Atmosphere: captures romance of Afghanistan with lighting and paintings. read more

Absolute gem. We were so impressed by the service and the food was outstanding. The main dishes were all stars, but the shining bliss was the dumpling trio. Wine was also 10/10! Recommend for ambiance, softer lighting and cater towards the ladies of the house versus the men (our server just talked to my fiance the entire time). Otherwise - 5/5 read more

Finally able to eat here ! What an AMAZING experience! White tablecloth and low light makes this look and feel like fine dining, but the jovial staff , large portions and authentic afghan dishes makes you feel like you're at home with friends and family. I enjoyed the sampler course ($75/person) with my friend and we ate all the top Rated dishes on the menu, with plenty left over to take home!! Absolutely incredible. Not a bad dish on the menu! Service was excellent : attentive, polite, friendly and very knowledgeable. They walked us through details of each dish that I would have missed - flavor profiles to cultural significance. Save room for dessert: the Afghan cake (similar to Tres Leches) was fantastic! read more

This place is so good, I went twice last week and the only reason I haven't been this week is because I'm out of town.

WOW I think this is my new favorite restaurant? My fave dishes: pumpkin dumplings, moghuli lamb shank, carrot slaw. Lamb shank is fall-off-the-bone tender, carrot slaw is soft and sweet, and the pumpkin dumplings pair perfectly with the sauce and meat on top. Bread appetizer was a lovely surprise (really loved the mint yogurt and passion fruit/mango? dip). The ambience is very nice on the first floor w some natural lighting. Service is incredible and feels like an elevated family owned restaurant!! Best afghan food I've ever had in DC. read more

See all

Good Afgan restaurant in Georgetown. The place is small and cozy, with no real bar to speak of. I love Afgan food, especially the kabobs. I was not disappointed here. Since it is Georgetown, it is a little pricier than other places, but if you are a fan of Afgan food, this is a great place to check out. read more

Afghania - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you like exploring new cuisines like I do, this is the place for you! The menus explain all the items well for those who aren't familiar with Afghan cuisine which I really appreciated. They also incorporate Rumi poetry which I just thought was a fun twist. Came here before a show at the Kennedy Center last night with my husband and was very impressed. We argued over whose entree was better as my moghuli was divine. We also got the dumpling assortment and I was pleasantly surprised to find out the one I was least excited about (leeks) ended up being my favorite. The drinks were also really good, I would come back just for those. If they put some barstools downstairs I think it would be some real competition for the other cocktail bars in the area. You get a fair amount of food for the price and the atmosphere is classy but hip. Kind of low-key cloth napkin lounge vibe. The service was great too, would be delighted to come back! read more

Afghania - Cocktail Menu - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We stopped here after considering the options nearby - Ethiopian, Lebanese, Indian, French, all within steps of each other. The service was impeccable - our server introduced herself as someone who had recently started but she gave us spot on recommendations. -Pumpkin dumplings - exquisite. Spicy chicken - delish. And a side of kabocha pumpkin that was sweet enough for us to have as dessert. I'm glad we came early - no reservation but were fortunate to be seated inside by the bar. Excellent view of the food going in and out, and a peek at the variety of folks who came in. We will be back We will be back - when we go back to DC. read more

My husband and I had dinner at Afghania and it was fantastic. It is a great addition to the DC dining scene. First thing is that we have never had the opportunity to try Afghan cuisine before so did not know what to expect. As soon as we walked in, we were intrigued. The aromas coming from the kitchen were rich and fragrant. The restaurant is cozy with a small dining room on the first floor and a second dining area on the upper floor. We sat in the bay window table which gives you a great view of the Georgetown. As others have mentioned, the service is excellent. Our server was patient with us, answering all of our questions about dishes and making suggestions. I generally gravitate toward plant forward/vegan so was happy to see that there were 2 pages of vegetarian/vegan dishes. Winners for both of us: pumpkin dumplings and potato and leek turnovers. I enjoyed the baadanjaan moghuli meal. My husband liked his dish of chicken rumi. Portions are generous so this is a great place for groups of 4 or more. In addition, if you prefer zero proof drinks, they had some interesting options. Their wine list was pretty extensive as well. Ambiance: that night the crowd was international and eclectic from large parties of what seemed like a family, to couples like ourselves and groups of friends. It did not seem like a tourist spot although I am sure that they have a fair amount of out of town diners since the Four Seasons is across the street. Most people were dressed in upscale casual dress. We are looking forward to going back to try other dishes. Highly recommend it if you want to have delicious food, excellent service and a warm, cozy atmosphere. read more

This was my first time having Afghani food and I absolutely loved it!!!! Not only was the interior gorgeous and intimate but the service was also impeccable! Give this place a try when in DC. read more

See all

We had a lovely dinner at Afghania! The food was delicious, and the service was great. Will definitely be back.

Such unique food! Service was very attentive. We definitely over-ordered and overate because the dumplings were just so good!

Amazing food, great service. We will come again. The eggplant dish was amazing and the dumpling appetizers were a treat.

An extremely impressive restaurant. I wish I could try a bit of everything on the menu. The moghuli was very good and the mango chutney that comes with the bread was incredible. read more

Amazing!! The food and the service were so good!! We didn't have a reservation but were able to be seated. My husband had lamb and I had the Baadenjaan Moghuli, the meals didn't disappoint. The bread and sauces were very tasty. We sat down stairs, the setting was sweet and romantic. We definitely recommend and would visit again. read more

Afghania - Bread/ sauces, lamb, and the Baadenjaan Moghuli. - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia