Late night eating doesn't get better than this!…read more Kabob Palace is downscale. Kabob Palace is legendary. You get more than your money's worth at Kabob Palace, and we are not talking a lot of money. This is a 24-7 Afghan kebab place that serves life giving food at any hour of the day. * * * Kabob Palace has gotten awards from nearly every newspaper and community magazine that writes about food in the Beltway. Washington has a lot of columnists who write about food in the Beltway. These are knowledgeable columnists who know their international food. They rave about Kabob Palace. These are knowledgeable raves. I rave about Kabob Palace. There are huge lines to get in the door. Presumably the customers rave about Kabob Palace. That is a whole lot of people doing a whole lot of raving. * * * I am sure the food critics and the Northern Virginia night eaters are not there to rave about the scenery. I certainly do not rave about the scenery. Kabob Palace is fluorescent lights. Kabob Palace is cheap tables, close to nearly everyone else eating in the restaurant. There is a TV where you can watch Central Asian sporting events. It is set up so the staff can see it rather than the customers. You will crane your neck to follow the game. * * * The food makes the lines and the fluorescent lights totally worthwhile. The menu is medium sized but fairly predictable. You have seen everything here in other Kabob places you have eaten in. They have a few cafeteria serving dishes of pilau. There are also mixed vegetables, and some curried items. Almost everything else comes off the grill or out of their Afghan bread baking oven. What comes off the grill is absolutely sensational. What comes out of the oven is pretty darn good. What comes out of the cafeteria serving dishes is less wonderful. BUT The serving dish stuff is made very interesting by super outstanding house sauces. * * * I did a bone-in chicken kebab that was marinated in an absolutely outstanding spice mix. I sat and marveled at the spices with every single bite. A grim looking spinach and potatoes had a coriander yogurt sauce that was the Taylor Swift of all yogurt sauces. Okay - we are going Afghan here. So it was the Ahmad Zahir of all yogurt sauces. The chicken was too good for me to want to mix it with anything. The spinach and the Afghan bread offered plenty of opportunity for the coriander yogurt sauce to do its thing. People who have read my other reviews know that in general I despise coriander. When I tell you that a coriander sauce is food for the gods, that is like Alexandra Ocasio Cortez telling you about a Wonderful Republican. This yogurt sauce really really is that good. * * * The fun does not stop at the end of the main course. They do a rice pudding for dessert. Afghans, like Iranians, are known for exceptional rice cooking. Afghan rice pudding is better than rice pudding rice pudding. Rice pudding in the hands of the British or in the hands of mid-century Yankee cooks is grim stuff. It is the only dessert I have ever heard James Beard complain about. I share James Beard's assessment entirely. This Afghan rice pudding is nothing like the flavorless grainy custards of my youth. The pudding is mild, but it is quintessential comfort food. Even though I had had that amazing chicken and that amazing coriander sauce, As I walked home, the only flavor on my mind was the rice pudding. I was like a small child who had just been taken care of by Mommy and was now getting in my jammies for bed. Desserts that make you feel happy are a good thing. * * * There are not very many places where you can sit at 2:30 in the morning under fluorescent lights and have an experience that makes you completely happy. Fluorescent lights at 2:30 in the morning usually means going to Walgreens or CVS in the middle of the night. I am currently writing this review at 2:08 in the morning. I am in Austin, Texas. If Kabob Palace was anywhere within driving distance of my house, I would not be in my house right now. I would have gotten in my car about 1:30 and would have driven to Kabob Palace. I would have had to drive and I would have had to wait 20 minutes in line. After eating, I would still have to drive home. This is midnight food that is so good That a 72 year old man would take two hours out of his sleep time just to get his plateful. Kabob Palace is something else.

Huge portions. Delicious food. And its so busy you know the food is always fresh. I was staying at…read moreone of the hotels near by and it was absolutely worth the 10 min walk. Expect to spend 20 bucks plus but you'll get atleast a meal and a half lol. Its no frills, there seating for 30 or so but most people takeaway.

Food is always excellent. The customer service is friendly…read more The location is convenient. The interior is clean. Noise level is low.

About a 2-2.5: We were really excited to check out Arlington Kabob, as this place has been around…read morefor a while, and it seems to be a local favorite. We came here for an early lunch, and we ordered: +a Combo Platter for 2 - this came with chicken kofta, beef kofta, and a choice of chicken, lamb, or beef kabob - we went for the beef; for the sides, we went for the potatoes and the lentil soup, and for the rice, we went Quabli style Out of all the meats, we thought the chicken kofta had the best flavor; both the beef kofta and the kabob were just 'okay'; the beef kofta had a more game-y flavor - not sure if they had mixed it up with lamb first; the beef kabob was overcooked and dried out, more on the chewy end, which was not enjoyable. The Quabli-style rice didn't really enhance anything - the carrots were way too soft, and there were hardly any currants, which was disappointing. Potatoes were forgettable, as they were bland; the lentil soup was piping hot, but could have had more lentils - it seemed like just broth with just a spoonful of lentils in it. The white sauce was more dill-heavy and ranch-like which didn't complement the kabobs and the kofta at all. There was complimentary tea for those who dine-in, which was nice, but the tea wasn't steeped well and was too watered down. Staff were friendly, and there's limited parking in the tight strip plaza lot. +chicken kofta +game-y beef kofta +dried-out/overcooked beef kabob +avoid the Quabli style rice +friendly staff +limited parking in lot available

I honestly think this place may have the best chickpeas in the world. Wish I lived closer to them.read more

A very casual setting with kind staff. Consistent quality of food and amazing flavors. You will…read moreleave feeling very full and satisfied.

I am a big fan of Golden Corral (I know, I know!) but it's pretty far from where I live. This week…read moreI wanted to eat closer to home, and food with actual flavor. LOL. After reading reviews, I ended up here at Akivva Grill. I ordered a bowl with a mix of bulgar pilav and Turkish salad, beef and lamb doner, tabbouleh, onion, chickpeas, beets, and Tzatziki. I also had a chicken Pida. So fresh tasting and delicious! My only complaint is that I was going in expecting to pay the prices listed on the Akivva Grill site, but the actual prices in the restaurant are a bit more.

Another visit and another amazing food and service. Forget about other places, this is the place to…read moremake you satisfied and eat yummy food.

Food was amazing! Service was just as good and prices were great for the amount that was given.read more

Two Haiku Review:…read more Not the best kabob I've had, but the flavor was There and the portions Were quite large. Pretty Fast service and for a good Price, I give four stars.

Friendly service, food prepared to order, fresh flatbread. The dish called "butter chicken" is…read moreactually kabob chicken chunks in a sweet anise-laced tomato sauce that is one of my favorite dishes in the entire DMV. Dining area is small and quiet, nothing fancy, but pleasant.

Ordered the lamb kebab to go, and they've done a really good job! The lamb is delicious and well…read morecharred. This is also probably one of the best pita breads I've received from a kebab restaurant. Very soft doughy and large ! I really enjoy the spinach side as well. Well cooked and pleasant fast service when I walked in to collect! Clean restaurant as well with a very casual atmosphere.

I had 2 vegetarian dishes they were really good. The chickpeas were good but not too spicy. Fast…read moreservice!

A Hidden Hole In The Wall Resturant I Found An App, My Partner & I Decided To Share The Chicken…read morePlatter Came With 4 Pieces Of Bone In Chicken With Basmati Rice Chickpeas & Salad. It Was Made Fresh & We Ate It There. They Had Cold Water Tumblers Placed Near The Buffet Area Which Was Nice To Have Available. The Cashier Was Also The Chef & Very Nice Man. I Noticed They Also Had A Prayer Room Area For Usage. I Look Forward To Trying More Platters & The Buffet In The Future, As My Partner & I Were Satisfied With Sharing One Chicken Platter Together!

Been coming here on and off for months now, owner and front service man always greet and remember…read moreme from previous times, foods great. Food comes out very quickly. I definitely would recommend to anyone looking for food in the Columbia pike area

Who knew Kabobistan had brunch?! I'm a high protein diet kinda guy and this place did just that…read more You get a mix of Afghan brunch menu while also having their regular meat options available.

Came for the Sheeryakh, but had such delicious, authentic Afghan food! I'd give 4.5 stars for some…read moreconstructive modifications to make in the future related to service, but overall amazing food! I left with a full belly and a happy heart. Got a combo of chicken kabob and shami kabob along with a side of their borani banjan/eggplant dish. The eggplant was honestly one of my favorite things- it's a must get in my opinion. Homey dish with incredible flavors! Their naan is fresh and pairs well with it. The chicken was good, but I've had better honestly. The shami was a little disappointing as I expected more flavor and it was slightly dry, but good. Their rice was so tasty and I loved the sweetness coming from the carrots an raisins. Of course, the sheeryakh was great- quite a big portion for one person, but I loved the texture. It tastes very similar to the Indian/South Asian/Pakistani ice cream, "Kulfi." CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK: Service needs improvement. The whole time I was there I had to keep looking for waiters to make eye contact with to ask for menu, water, paying, etc. It took about 10 min or more for me to have to call a busy waiter over just to look at the menu- no one came over on their own. Things just took time for a Saturday night- plus they were hosting an event on top of this. Needless to say, I've never had service like this, but the vibe and food made me be not as harsh. Despite the service, this place is a must try for authentic Afghan cuisine. Can't wait to try more of their menu (and the borani banjan again) in the future!

Unfortunately, this restaurant didn't live up to my expectations…read more When we arrived the dining room felt very humid and sticky which made it uncomfortable to sit and eat. We were also a party of five but were only given one menu to share so not very convenient. I ordered the Chicken & Shami Kabob and it came with a choice of white or brown rice, one side, and naan. The meal looked nothing like the photo on the restaurant's website. The portion was overwhelmingly rice with very little meat. None of the garnishes shown in the picture were included on the rice. For $24 I expected a much better presentation and a more balanced portion. Oh and the meat was kind of dry. Parts of our order were missing, some dishes that came out were incorrect. The experience felt disorganized and the food didn't justify the price.

While DC/Arlington is strong in Middle Eastern food, there are not many classical Persian…read morerestaurant. So I was glad to see this one when I just got out of Clarendon station. This spot is both a restaurant and a small market. At lunchtime, there were only a few guests dining in. The menu features a wide variety of kebab platters and vegetarian appetizers, and the platters were HUGE in portion size. Even the kids koobideh platter -- which was what I ordered although I am an adult -- had one skewer of koobideh, half plate of rice, and two grilled roma tomatoes. The meat in the koobideh kebab was grouned and kneaded smoothly, almost like paste. But I wish it could be more "oniony". I also ordered a grilled veg skewer and it was grilled to perfection. However, the true star was their flatbread: freshly made, warm, fluffy and chewy, and importantly not salty at all! Just like my homemade flatbread. Overall the meal was a good deal. The market was in the back of the restaurant. They sell many Middle Eastern groceries like rice, dried limes (yes there are!), dried fruits, spice mix etc. Not sure about the price. I will visit it again the next time I go to DC.

We had eaten here previously and really enjoyed the food, so we were looking forward to returning…read more Unfortunately, on our recent visit, the grilled meats were not as flavorful as we remembered. Overall, the meats needed more seasoning and more of that delicious flame-grilled flavor. We ordered the combination of Kubideh, chicken kabob, and barg. Of the three, the chicken kabob was our favorite because it was very tender and flavorful. However, compared with our previous visit, the chicken was noticeably drier and lacked the same seasoning and flavor. The Kubideh could have benefited from more seasoning and a little more char and grilled flavor. The barg was tender but also needed more seasoning and more of the smoky flavor from the flame grill. On a positive note, the ghormeh sabzi with tahdig was delicious and was one of the highlights of the meal. The Persian ice cream was also delicious. We especially enjoyed the baklava, which was fresh, crispy, and flaky with beautifully layered phyllo dough and just the right amount of sweetness--not overly sweet. We enjoyed several of the dishes, particularly the ghormeh sabzi, tahdig, Persian ice cream, and baklava. We just hope the grilled meats can return to the more flavorful and well-seasoned preparation we experienced on our previous visit.