Always love this neighborhood gem Fantastic Aushak…read moreLove all of the other menu choices too The owner is also always very nice

Panjshir is gorgeous and I'm still not over it. I'm also sad I had never visited before. It was the…read moreperfect place to grab some lunch after an appointment. I really enjoy Afghan cuisine. Service was friendly. I ordered the eggplant and the stuffed bread. The eggplant was so fragrant and I could smell it before it arrived. The stuffed bread was addictive. I wish the complementary bread would have had the mango sauce, which is my favorite, but I still appreciated it. Everything was good and I had leftovers, which made me happy. I'm looking forward to returning and trying more of Panjshir's offerings.

Aracosia has been a stellar Afghani food staple for Northern VA since they opened. Their tender…read moreLamb shanks--both Sabzi and Moghuli are hit with family and out of state visitors. So is the Vegetarian platter and tasting menu, aushak, quroti, and turnovers. You cant go wrong with saffron rice or the rice with carrots and raisins. Enough reviews already mention the four dips and soft bread, a cross between middle eastern bread and focaccia. Non alcoholic drinks are not an after thought, the sour cherry rose lemonade is liked by kids, adults, and seniors. Service is warm and welcoming, the Rumi quotes on the walls and turkish lamps add to the ambience, parking is easy and aplenty. A few tips: 1. Go for the lunch menu if you are feeding a large group. It is cheaper. Or consider making the trek to where it all started, Afghan Bistro in Springfield. 2. Ask for the daily selection of cakes. The pistachio and cardamom are the best, not too sweet, light, moist, and fragrant. Of course we devoured the food before taking pictures but a couple attached.

Overall it was a good experience! We absolutely loved the bread and the difference sauces that…read morewent with it. The pumpkin dumplings and pan fried veggie filled dumplings were great as well. I thought my salmon wrap and the chickpea side was ok. Interesting flavors for sure. As for the service, there was always someone filling up our waters and our waiter was very nice checking in every now and then. The only downside of the experience is at the end when the waiter was boxing up all the food for us. Very sweet that they do this but when boxing up my partners food, they only boxed up the rice and they got rid of the lamb that he was looking forward to eating more of later. So that was kind of a disappointment for us. I think if we go again, we would request to box our food ourselves since I'm not sure why they decided to get rid of all of his lamb.

High Protein, Strategic Eating…read more If you are navigating a serious health journey or, like me, currently in the middle of a "Biggest Loser" contest to start the year, Arlington Kabob is a strategic goldmine. Under normal circumstances, I would happily indulge in their fragrant basmati rice and that delicious, fresh-baked tandoori naan. However, staying disciplined requires a different approach, and the team here makes it effortless. The High-Protein Order Hack: I ordered the Chicken Shawarma platter but requested a total carb-swap. I asked to replace the rice and naan entirely with a double portion of vegetables. I went with the chickpeas (channa) and the sautéed spinach. The result is a nutrient-dense, high-protein win. The chicken is lean and perfectly charred, the chickpeas provide steady energy and fiber, and the spinach adds great flavor and micronutrients. The 50% Strategy: Even without the bread, these portions are significant. I ate exactly 50% of this platter for lunch, which provided an estimated 38g of protein and 450 calories. It is the perfect meal for someone who wants to feel satisfied but stay strictly within their caloric and macro goals. Community Inspiration: I have to give credit to local Northern Virginia foodie Mya Yoon. Her social media posts documenting her own health journey and "smart eating" choices inspired me to start looking at local menus through a more intentional lens. Following the modifications she shares online has been a game-changer for my own progress. Service & Vibe: The staff here deserves a specific mention. Despite my request to skip the core staples of their menu (rice and bread), they were helpful and happy to modify the order to meet my goals. It is rare to find a spot that is both a neighborhood staple for comfort food and a reliable partner in a weight-loss journey. Everything was delicious as always. If you are looking to stay on track without sacrificing quality or flavor, this is the place to do it.

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

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!

The chicken bowl was amazing. Friend loved the spinach and we got the chickpea. The star of the…read morenight was the eggplant dish! We have had it at other restaurants but this place topped it!! Way too stuffed to get dessert but the ice cream looked phenomenal!

Omg what an experience…read more Truly some of the best food I've had in a very very long time. The shrimp dumplings really stole the show for me. They were melt in your mouth good and I really enjoyed that the shrimp was the main flavor I could taste in the filling. Sometimes that can get lost. The dough itself too was rich and full of flavor, as well as the sauce on it!!! The lamb tikka was also delicious. The lamb was cooked to absolute perfection and that paired with their rice? YUM!!!! The ambiance of the place was also super unique and cool, we got sat downstairs which I was a bit hesitant about because of the no windows but it was such a vibe and I really loved it. The service was fantastic. Our waiter gave us many recommendations and explained many dishes which was super helpful. Our table was always clean and our water cup always full. If you can come here I definitely recommend

Food was very good. Service was pleasant but waited too long for attention, drinks, food, etc. Not…read moreawful. Just too long. Noise is the biggest downer. We were in the basement. Could barely hear people at my table. We had three deserts. The pistachio cake was very good. The rice pudding was tasteless. Then there was this warm, gelatinous dome that I could not swallow. But the sliced almonds on top were okay. The people at the next table left without eating theirs. That should have been a clue. Also, make reservations.

Craving lamb. Submitted my order via their website. Arrived at the restaurant and we were greeted…read moreas we walked in. The restaurant's decor is culturally appropriate. We arrived early evening and they had a candle and tablecloth on each table. I ordered Baadenjaan Bouranee, luscious eggplant dish; Frenched Rack Of Lamb, perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful; and Pumpkin Dumpling Entree, perfectly sweet, smooth interior and perfectly steamed dumpling wrapper. I will continue to support this establishment.

We were able to get reservations to this restaurant earlier in the day, but I would highly suggest…read moregetting reservations ahead of time because we saw people get denied when they just walked in. When we walked in, we were greeted very nicely and sat quickly. Our server was new and it was her first day so she couldn't really give any recommendations which wasn't the best, but the manager came out and was able to help with describing some of the dishes and giving great recommendations. Most of the people that we ate with ended up with some type of lamb dish and the lamb was phenomenal. The rice was delicious. The eggplant was delicious. We got a bunch of appetizers. Everything was on point. Everything tasted super fresh and overall we had a very nice experience. The food also came out very quickly. The overall ambience was very nice very home type vibe and it is a smaller restaurant for limited tables One of our friends that we went with since we haven't seen each other for a long time was really craving a beer and kebabs which sometimes a little bit harder than one would anticipate but they served alcohol as well as delicious food so win-win here. So overall, I would highly recommend this place if you want delicious Afghan food, but of course remember to book in advance .

We catered for an event and it was the most amazing dinner, everyone loved it! The flavors in every…read moredish came together beautifully, and you could really taste the care that went into the cooking. From the meats to the curries to the sides, everything was authentic and delicious. The only issue we noticed was that a few dishes had a faint fish taste, which makes me think the same oil may have been used for both fish and meat. If they adjusted that, it would be flawless. Overall, though, the experience was incredible and I'd highly recommend for both dining in and catering. It made our event unforgettable, and I'll definitely be coming back!

The cleanses is totally awful and the food , as we order Charsi Chicken Karahi with Afghani Pulao…read morewith Lamb Shank , the karahi had a bad smell and the worse thing was afghani Pulao , they can not cook afghani , it's like punjabi they should change afghani name.

Just moved to the from Ballston to Courthouse and tried this Afghan kebab spot and it was great…read more Generous portions with the kebabs and sides when getting the "Kebab Combo for two." The Chicken stew (extra) and the eggplant were the highlight side dishes. Naan was nice and thick with a crispy crust. Extra sauce, no charge Used to be a regular at Kebab Garden on Quincy which was solid, this place definitely competes.

I randomly stumbled across this place and so glad that I did especially since I'm very rarely in…read moreCourthouse. The restaurant is nicely laid out with enough space and extremely clean. The wonderful lady at the cashier station walked me through the menu and gave me suggestions. I ended up going with the chicken and beef kofta combo platter and was not disappointed. It's a seat yourself restaurant and by the time I was seated, water and pita was provided for me while I waited for my food. The pita was fresh out of the oven and delicious. The food itself was very tender and well seasoned. I also got some eggplant on the side and ate that with the rice and meats.

I've visited bistro aracosia twice. The food is always amazing and the service is also great…read more Everyone is kind and friendly. The bread comes out with four different sauces in the beginning which is nice. We got the assorted dumplings which were very flavorful and delicious. The lamb rack is to die for and the saffron chicken is also very good. I preferred the other two entrees over the lamb moghuli but it might be because I'm not a huge fan of the smoky flavor. The restaurant has a cozy and comforting atmosphere and is pretty quiet. Will be going back again:)

Perfection. Everything I have tried in this special Afghani restaurant is done perfectly…read more Delicious, fresh, beautifully presented, colorful, nice atmosphere and very clear and friendly in regard to vegan/ vegetarian and other dietary options. I highly recommend this restaurant to vegetarians and vegans. Excellent service and the food is truly mouth watering. I love their outdoor patio and they have heaters outdoor for cooler weather. A must try for sure! My general rating system: 1 star: I would stay away 2 stars: Has some good things about it but I generally don't recommend. 3 stars: Pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but a decent place 4 stars: Great place. I would go back. 5 stars: I highly recommend stopping whatever you are doing and making plans to try it out! An Evie favorite!