Aracosia is a treasure. From the moment you step in, everything feels indulgent in the best possible way. Each and every member of their team is warm, professional, and attentive. The food is flavored to perfection and their deft use of spices lends the dishes a quality that is both comforting and invigorating. The atmosphere is cozy and the service is impeccable-- food arrived quickly and piping hot. We picked this place to dine since our daughter recently became vegan and we wanted a place with more than one option for her. Not only are many dishes vegan friendly, but they have a special menu for vegans filled with literally dozens of options. And they carefully delineate between vegetarian and vegan dishes. For example, many vegetarian dishes use yogurt, but for vegan dishes they sub this with almond yogurt. It is hard to believe a place like Aracosia exists. The atmosphere feels both upscale and welcoming, the dishes explode with flavor and yet still are light enough to feel healthy, and those with food restrictions are valued and not treated like an afterthought. We have dined in many, many restaurants over our decades living here. This might be our favorite place. read more

Hands down, the best Afghan food I've had! (And it's safe to say, I've had more than most) Since we only dropped in for a light meal, not much to review BUT the food was so good we're trying to drive the long distance back just to make our way through more of the menu! We ordered only vegan options- the kadoo (pumpkin) turnover and the Nakhoud & Mushroom Lawaan I believe (it might've been the Nakhoud & Mushroom Sabzi Lawaan, I can't remember and both are very similar). Everything was cooked to perfection and each bit was incredibly yummy. Textures were on point and mixed with the assorted of chutneys they offer, it was heaven! Easy to (happily) overeat here Décor was pleasant, the restaurant is spacious and every staff member was gracious. We felt very welcomed and, again, looking forward to going back! Can see why this place is a neighborhood favorite! You will NOT be disappointed here. read more

Had a really wonderful lunch here before heading to the National Cathedral. Both of us had the Mini Taste of Aracosia and bread with 4 different chutneys for dipping. We weren't sure it was going to be enough food but it was plenty. Beef, lamb, chicken and veal dishes were served with a chickpea and lentil sides and two kinds of really tasty rice. One had shredded carrots and raisins. Service was super friendly and attentive. I'll definitely be back. Everything was really flavorful and tender. read more

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I dream about their stews. Can't wait to come back. Impeccable service, fantastic flavorful and unique dishes.

We just had an amazing lunch at Bistro Aracosia!! The food was delicious. Our server, Isaac, was awesome!! He was friendly, attentive and knew the menu well. He just added so much to our experience. They are lucky to have him. Thanks so much! read more

Perfection. Everything I have tried in this special Afghani restaurant is done perfectly. 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! read more

Bistro Aracosia - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We were seated in a cozy small dining room with a modern Afghan art and colorful lighting. The waiter was attentive and helpful in explaining the various entrees. The dumpling appetizer was incredibly delicious- we got a combo of pumpkin,beef, leek/scallion so yummy. I had the Lamb shoulder with okra - do tender and the tomato okra sauce had fragrant spices. My dinner guests had kabobs and saffron chicken stew. All the food we was fresh with high quality spices and care in preparation. Portions are generous- could do family style. Love this place read more

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Vibe: 8.75/10 Service: 8/10 Value: 7/10 Complete taste of Aracosia: 7/10 Overall: 7.69/10 (3.84/5) [To clarify our review system: 10 = we'll never have anything else as good as this in our lives (we use 10 very sparingly!) 9 = extraordinary 8 = great 7 = above average 6 = average Anything below 6 is being critical] read more

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I've visited bistro aracosia twice. The food is always amazing and the service is also great. 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:) read more

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Fantastic restaurant which is always crowded. There is a front room and a back room called the Poets' Room. The front room is brighter and the Poets' Room is warmer. The Afghani menu is very deep with something for everyone. Our server Adelso took very good care of us. I have enjoyed every single meal here and I look forward to the next time. read more

Bistro Aracosia - Qorma with Veal & Mushrooms & Sabzi - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wow. And again, Wow. This is without a doubt the best Afghani restaurant in the greater DC area. Great digs, great service and wonderful food. I am normally quite chatty in my review, but this time, I'm going to let the food do that talking for me. I do want to highly recommend the Pumpkin Dumpling and the Saamarooq Dumpling appetizers. Amazing! We visited on a cold January night for the first time. Then again on a lovely Spring evening, and a hot summer late afternoon and again as the leaves turned in the Fall. Oh my, this is food is for all seasons! read more

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A fantastic Afghani restaurant in DC! Although on the expensive side, the portion sizes, were large, the service and ambiance were fantastic, and the food was delicious. I recently went here for a weekend dinner with two friends and we were seated soon after our scheduled reservation time. We were able to order and receive our food in a timely manner despite a nearly full restaurant. Bistro Aracosia provided complementary Afghani bread and dips to start off the meal. The bread was fresh and delicious and the dips flavorful-I especially liked the mango-based sauce. I got the Spicy Shinwari Karahi as my main and loved it. The lamb was perfectly cooked and seasoned, falling off the bone. The lamb paired perfectly with the fresh-baked bread and had excellent spice levels. The onions added excellent freshness and crunch. I would highly recommend Bistro Aracosia for your next night out! read more

Bistro Aracosia - Bread and dipping sauces - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My whole family LOVED the food and the ambiance! So many vegetarian options that can easily be adapted to vegan, as well as loads of meat options- great for a diverse crowd. Also beautiful decor on the walls and chandelier, and a very cute bar in the middle. My only recommendation would be for them to prepare staffing a little better before holidays- we came on Mother's Day and overall had an amazing experience but some asks took multiple reminders. read more

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Bistro Aracosia had an excellent environment and nice atmosphere. They have a full menu of cuisine and I had the butternut squash with yogurt, beef, eggplant, and rice. It was one of the best meals I've had in the D.C. metro area. I highly recommend this restaurant for adventurous people. read more

Bistro Aracosia - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Terrible terrible food. Bad flavors. The worst flavors I've had in DC and I've lived here for years. Get a far better chef and offer real nan bread, hummus and Tahiti, none of which you offer. The mantu tastes awful and the vegetarian dish was like bad Indian food. The chef does not know how to combine flavors. read more

Came here for dinner one night and had a very nice experience. You can tell it's a very homey restaurant that looks like it's been around for a while. They don't really have a lot of frills which can be nice. We started with the mantu appetizer which was really tasty. I wanted to order the kabobs but they said they were out of all of their kabobs which was a bummer. I ended up getting the saffron chicken qorma which was very tasty as well. read more

I'll preface this by saying I'm not the biggest fan of this type of cuisine, kabobs in particular. This used to be the old listronis which I used to love but unfortunately they closed. This is a Afghan joint. It's been around for at least a decade. Brittany, okay. Solid food. Nothing spectacular and it certainly not meeting my price expectations given the rent in the area. I understand but the food really needs to be amazing for me to justify those prices. Parking is on the street and service there are no issues. Everything on the inside was clean. read more

Came here for a late lunch/early dinner. Always love Mediterranean food since it mostly gluten free. We sat outside as it was a nice day and the service was good. I had a steak kabob which I enjoyed. The sauces were good although a few were too much on the sweet side. Overall this is a nice place for Mediterranean food in the Palisades. read more

KenScale: 8.0/10 Visit: October 2023 Throughout our culinary journey together, my wife Jun and I have tried so many delicious dishes from all over the world. One cuisine that has escaped us was that of Afghanistan. Perhaps due to the country's history of tragedy from the Soviet invasion in the late 1970s through the rule of the Taliban (with the post-9/11 U.S. invasion and occupation in between) that made the country inaccessible to most outsiders, Afghan cuisine does not seem to have found a footing in the United States (at least in big cities, but I am happy to be corrected on this one) as prominent as, say, Middle Eastern or Indian from countries nearby. What our recent visit to Bistro Aracosia has taught us, however, is that Afghanistan's food should be much celebrated with enthusiasm for its diversity of influences and flat-out delicious dishes. When we sat down and started browsing the menu at Aracosia (we visited the original DC location but the restaurant has another location in McLean, VA), we were quickly overwhelmed by the number of dishes. We pleaded our server for help and she suggested that we try the Complete Taste of Aracosia tasting menu at a generous price of $50 per person. After we chose that option, we were greeted with an assortment of dumplings. Jun, having tasted delicious dumplings from all parts of Asia, initially looked at these dumplings with skeptical eyes but was immediately won over after she got a bite of leek and scallion dumpling. Other dumplings with spicy beef and pumpkin inside, respectively, were also quite delicious and set a great tone for what's to come. The subsequent assortment of dishes, called Mini Taste of Aracosia, turned out to a great introduction to Afghan cuisine. You get solid meat dishes like the skillfully grilled lamb chops and boneless chicken thigh in a garlic yogurt-based stew, but it was really in the vegetable section that we ended up focusing, from chickpeas to squash to lentils, all in different types of stew with aromatic flavor. We were so preoccupied with digging into these smaller plates that we barely had room for the larger lamb shank in spicy tomato-based stew that came separately. What we discovered from Aracosia was how diverse the Afghan cuisine was in the flavor of dishes; Jun remarked that she was able to taste a bit of Middle East and a bit of India here and there to create a distinct culinary identity and I couldn't agree more. After our feast, we ended our meal with a light milk pudding called firni with rose water and cardamom that offered a nice break to our palate after all the rich, savory dishes. Getting a reservation at Aracosia won't be terribly difficult as long as you plan a few days ahead; the restaurant was pretty much packed by the time we finished our early dinner, so I do suggest booking in advance if possible. There is a full bar with a surprisingly diverse wine list and playful cocktails using ingredients used in the country's cooking. I also liked the décor of the restaurant with colorful photos of Afghan people back in the days that made me wonder what the country's capital Kabul would've looked like back when it was a thriving city. Aracosia is a great introduction to explore Afghan cuisine, and Jun and I are happy to go back again (or even order delivery) to try more dishes in the near future. read more

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I will say I've done more takeout from here than dine-in, but I've never been disappointed. Well-appointed space and a great menu. Service has always been good. The family story behind it is always phenomenal. Do yourself a favor and go. read more

Wonderful Afghan food especially for lamb lovers. The appetizer dumplings were outstanding too. Service was friendly, efficient and not intrusive. read more

I am very impressed. This restaurant has it all - location, ambiance, foods, specialty drinks, great service! I have had Afghan food only once before and it was good, this had a very comprehensive menu with lots of options, especially if you love lamb like I do. The sides were excellent. Especially loved the saffron rice and another rice with carrots and raisins. The bread with dip spices was off the chart, somewhat spicy, but excellent. There was one I really liked that I think was mango based. Outstanding. Suggest you make reservations. Very popular in Palisades. read more

Great tasting food and very cost friendly. This place is a hidden gem located in the Palisades on MacArthur Blvd. Big serving and amazing food. Highly recommend this if you are looking for a great afghan food. read more

This is a true DC gem. That legendary lamb shank is beyond delicious, dining room is tasteful and cozy, bathroom is spotless and beautiful, service is handsome and charismatic. The ones in the know bring their pups to outside terrace and enjoy beautiful views of this quaint neighbourhood. Love you, guys! read more

This restaurant is a great spot to get a sample of Afghani cuisine, as there are more than one option to taste a plethora of dishes this place offers. Friendly service, great menu, delicious food, and good selection of wines. My least favorite part of the meal was the dessert - there may be better, but what I had was similar to the more ubiquitous tres leches cake. I recommend trying something else - but otherwise the meal was worthwhile. The manti (dumplings) are delicate and worth ordering, for sure. read more

Bistro Aracosia - Do the complete taste of aracosia! - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is ranked nationwide and they deliver every time. I haven't ordered anything here that was not fantastic. So close your eyes and pick something, but out go tos are the Lamb Shank dishes and Lawaan (sp?) chicken dishes. The servers are attentive and super friendly. I always make reservations, but they have seating in 2 rooms. Tips 1) Ask for the new lamb shank dish; it's the spicy one with the bread 2) The mixed grill is a must, whether as an appetizer or main; we get it every time from all 3 of their restaurants 3) They have tow other locations spread over the DMV, which are just as good - look them up; Afghan Bistro, Aracosia McLean - largest Loc and best for big groups 4) The lamb chops are typically cooked Medium, you may want to ask them to cook them longer if that's not your thing 5) there is usually parking on the street on the side of the restaurant if not the main street. Bonus: no matter what get the mougli (greens side) even if you have to order a side of it read more

Bistro Aracosia - Chicken Sabzi Lawaan - Wife Lamb Shank Sabzi Moghuli - Me Lamb Shank (New Spicy Version) - Patna' (Not to be confused with partner) - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My normal place was closed, so I tried out this spot. I opted for delivery because who wants to drive into the city on Sunday/first pro football day of 2024? I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! The food was perfect! I opted for vegetarian dishes so I could take them to work throughout the week with the middle eastern meatballs I had already prepared. The pairing and flavors were amazing. Would I order from therm again? ABSOLUTELY! read more

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The food and service are both excellent. There's always a nice confirmation of new items and old standbys.

TL/DR: Great food, and amazing customer service! Will definitely be back! Full story: The manager (Abdullah) really stepped up and created a a stellar experience for us when one of his staff erroneously confirmed our appointment for 7 people. I had another reservation at a different restaurant in DC, booked a few weeks ahead of time but was on the standby list at Bistro Aracosia (my wife's first choice for her birthday celebration). I was called by Bistro Aracosia, telling me something had opened up and so I cancelled my other reservation immediately. Shortly after, Abdullah calls me and tells me (apologizing) that he was not able to get us in for our time slot. I explained that I had just spoken to his staff and cancelled my other reservation. Instead of cancelling our reservation, he says "I'm not going to give you the run around. This was our error. It's your wife's birthday, I will work something out. See you Saturday." It was a gorgeous day in DC, first day of the Cherry Blossom Festival and large crowds were expected. This was just the epitome of customer service in my mind on top of delicious food and so many options to choose from, we are going back soon! [Highly recommend the pumpkin dumplings and any of the qorma/stew dishes!]. read more

Everything was good - food, service, ambiance! And the price was reasonable for nowadays - I do not mean it should be increased :)!

My friends and I came here and we absolutely loved this place! We got the vegetarian platter and the vegetarian dumplings. The dumplings were delicious and so was the platter. It comes with delicious complimentary bread and sauces as well. The ambiance of the restaurant was really nice and the waiters were all helpful and friendly! Everything tasted great and I will definitely be back! read more

Bistro Aracosia - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Nestled in the quiet residential area of Palisades, Bistro Aracosia is a fantastic little neighborhood spot serving up traditional Afghan cuisine packing a punch of flavor. I made a reservation for one on a Saturday night at 7pm, and I'm glad I did - at that time, the restaurant was completely full, with a line of over 10 people trying to get a walk-in table. The unassuming black awning hanging over the restaurant's exterior (which also has a small patio) hides the lavishly decorated interior (with hardwood furniture, a rich scarlet-and-black color theme, and velvet decorations), complete with two different dining rooms that are much larger than expected. While the restaurant was packed, the atmosphere was buzzy, not overwhelming, and guests ranged from older couples to university-age students. I was immediately seated at a small table in the middle of their entrance dining room, and their menu is extensive: from traditional Afghan dishes such as Aushak (Afghan dumplings stuffed with leeks and onions) and Ryehaan (garlic-yogurt based stew) to modern twists on classics such as Chicken Aracosian Boneless (chicken thigh in a spicy tomato based stew) to Americanized-Afghan fare (Afghan Bistro Burger with tomato-based chickpea qorma, anyone?), the wide variety ensures that even the pickiest eater will find something to delight their taste buds. On top of that, most of their prices are quite affordable (pro tip: dishes are $5-10 cheaper at lunchtime, when they aren't as crowded, so if you'd like a large lunch or plenty of leftovers, this is a great option), given the D.C. area, as well as the large portions of food that they serve. I was first brought their complimentary bread service: just the fact that it was free was quite nice, but beyond that, it actually exceeded my expectations. The warm, freshly-baked, pillowy flatbread was paired with an array of four delectable sauces. The sauces weren't on the menu, but they could be described as a roasted red-pepper sauce with a smoky flavor, a sweet mango-chili sauce (this was almost too sweet for me, bordering on a dessert sauce), a deliciously tangy and herbaceous cream sauce (my favorite to pair with the bread), and a green sauce that tasted similar to pesto. They gave me two large pieces, which was more than enough as a solo diner. For my entree, I ordered the Qabuli Palou ($27.95, additional $3 if you replace the lamb with veal), which is "braised bone-in lamb shank served with seasoned rice topped with carrots and raisins and a side of roasted eggplant topped with garlic yogurt, dried mint and cayenne." Firstly, the portion was huge - I'm a university student, and I couldn't finish all of it. The lamb shank is fall-off-the-bone, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and I'm not just throwing those words around: the meat was literally barely clinging to the bone when they brought it out. The lamb was an amazing combination of pull-apart meat and succulent fatty pieces, and paired nicely with the sauces for the bread as well. The carrots and raisins added a lovely color and textural contrast to the sauteed rice, but also provided a subtle sweetness to complement the decadent richness of the lamb. Finally, the roasted eggplant served on the side added a smoky, spicy flavor to cut the indulgent feel of the rest of the dish, and the garlic yogurt adds a nice creamy zing as well. All in all, my meal at Bistro Aracosia was one of the best that I've had in D.C. - delicious food at an affordable price, fast and friendly service, and a cozy atmosphere - what more could you ask for? I'll definitely be returning time and time again with friends to sample a variety of their other dishes, and I highly recommend you do the same. read more

Bistro Aracosia - Qabuli Palou ($27.95) - lamb shank served with rice, carrots, raisins, and roasted eggplant topped with yogurt, mint, and cayenne pepper - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely wonderful! The food is delicious with rich flavors, the service was excellent. The restaurant is decorated with rich colors which goes well with the overall motif. Regarding the food, I really like the sambusa. They were crispy and delicious with a seeet and savory flavor. I had ordered the special. I can't recall the name but it was a lamb shank that came with a spicy sauce (not really spicy, but extremely flavorful). I loved the dish. My wife ordered the Palau, which was a rice dish with cardamom and nuts and also came topped with a lamb shank. Again outstanding. For dessert we shared their rice pudding which came with saffron and pistachios. read more

Just adding onto my review to comment about our last visit on March 22nd. You need to check the place out, the food is lovely and flavorful, service is prompt and ambiance, like the food is homely and exquisite. read more

Phenomenal! We did the tasting menu and our favorites were: pumpkin dumplings, veal, butternut squash, beef kabobs and lamb. Service was great too! read more

Bistro Aracosia - Tasting menu - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Our first time trying this place. The ambiance and location are very nice and comfortable! We didn't have a long wait and we're seated pretty quickly. The service is great and brought out the food quick too. We loved the sauces that were served and the appetizers were really good! The Qabuli polao however was a little oily to our liking. The seasoning and flavor were really good! The kabobs were pretty good but felt that they could be seasoned a little more. Other than that we had a great time! read more

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Decorated like a homey living room, Bistro Arcosia was a delightful stop for lunch. The service was attentive, the waiter was very friendly and provided recommendations. Dishes came out perfectly prepared and tasty. Love the little ramekins of sauce provided on the side. I wish I could learn to cook vegetables the Afghan way! Highly recommend for a cozy and delicious meal in a small group. read more

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Bistro Aracosia offers a gourmet Afghan fare in the Palisades 'hood, having both a lunch, dinner, and a bar menu. Our group came here for dinner to check them out, as we had heard about their marinated meats. We first started off with the Bistro Signature Mix Grill Mazza, that included marinated and charbroiled lamb shoulder chops, lamb rib chops, lamb tenderloin, and beef tenderloin, served with a spicy herb chutney. We had to try their Hot Mazza Assortment (aushak, mantu, baadenjaan, and kadoo, topped with garlic yogurt and dried mint & cayenne), as we love spreads and dumplings. We felt that the dumpling skins were a little thick, and the items were more on the bland side, albeit looking very savory and tasty. I am a sucker for turnovers, so we tried the Sabzi (stuffed with slow-cooked greens), Potato & Leek (stuffed with potatoes and leeks), the Samarooq (stuffed with mushrooms), and the Sambosas (stuffed with minced beef and lentil qorma); these were served with an avocado yogurt sauce. These were enjoyed by our party. The starters were more than enough food, but we had to get a couple of entrees to share - we tried the Lamb Shank Sabzi Moghuli (bone-in braised lamb shank in a spicy tomato-based stew with slow-cooked greens; served with a saffron-infused basmati rice) and the Chicken Aracosian (boneless chicken thigh in a spicy tomato-based stew with eggplant and garam masala; served with a saffron-infused basmati rice). Both of these entrees had a nice kick, with the lamb being super tender. Service was very welcoming and kind. The restaurant itself is spaced out well, dimly lit, and seemed like a favorite for intimate meals and get-togethers. +friendly service read more

Dined here recently to celebrate a birthday. Got the tasting menu and it was more than enough food for two, and not terribly expensive given the quality. Service was fast and friendly. They even allowed us to stay for desert after the restaurant was technically closed and they were cleaning up. read more

We made reservations on January 2nd, forgetting that DC is empty over the holidays. But any other time, even on a Tuesday, this place would be packed more than it already was, deservedly! So, reservations recommended. The place is warm and cozy. We were seated in the back room, which was quiet and the lighting was perfect for being bright enough to read the menu but not too bright that I could see what was in everyone else's plates on other tables. The wait staff were very attentive and shared tables (so someone was always making sure we were taken care of). One gentleman helped us pronounce the menu items with patience. Kudos to him for reinforcing our wanting to learn! We had the Kichir-e-Quroot (eggplant) special and Afghania Nakhoud Chalou, as well as the best side dish, Qabuli Rice (with carrots and raisins). Husband ordered beer and I had cardamom green tea (so good). To wrap up the evening, I had the sheer birinj rice pudding with pistachios on top. Nice and cold, too! The tab came in under $100 before tip, which was a nice surprise considering how much food we took home to eat the next day! We will definitely be back! read more

Bistro Aracosia - Afghania Nakhoud Chalou - Afghan Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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