Honestly after 30 years food preparation has sincerely declined. The kabobs were mediocre, haleem was horrible and salad was wilted. Was the best place we went all the time. Now will probably not return because the last few times it's been this quality. read more

Charcoal Kabob - Kabobs, horrible haleem and wilted salad. - Afghan Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

I'm sad that I no longer work nearby, because I ate at Charcoal Kabob once a week. The chicken kabob and the kubedah kabob with a side of chickpeas were my absolute favorite. I've tried many kabob places near my house and haven't found anywhere nearly as good as here. It's not inexpensive, but the food is absolutely worth it. read more

We recently to here for dinner. You order at the counter and sit down or carry out. The portion sizes are big. The food was good overall. The salad wasn't really needed, it wasn't flavorful. The mango lassi was good.The servers were friendly and helped if we have questions. The inside was outdated and very cold. We would come back read more

Charcoal Kabob - Afghan Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

The restaurant was uncomfortably hot until we asked staff to adjust the air conditioning. There was next to no service the whole time. We ordered the family platter with chicken karahi on the side. The karahi was spicy but flavorful, and the chicken, as usual, was solid. However, the beef seekh kabob was disappointing: it arrived broken into uneven pieces, resembling leftovers. The Kabuli Plow also fell flat, tasting closer to plain rice with raisins and carrots tossed in. Overall, the chicken is consistently good, but for a more authentic Afghan dining experience, I'd recommend exploring other options first. read more

2025 and they still get a 5/5 despite not being a Vegan establishment. If you have kept up with The times and have gone Vegan you can still eat here! Hopefully they will put "V" signs but for now you will just have to ask, and as of today many of The sides, including The bread as well as The rice are Vegan! oil used is vegetable oil. go ahead and ask i. e. The chickpea, The lentils, and The potato spinach are all Vegan (for now). They even seem open to switching to plant milks only The objective that it is financially "expensive". Before I went Vegan I rated 5/5s then had to take it down after I went Vegan but now it is back up again! for such a "traditional" place, they exceeded mY expectations for open-mindedness when it comes to both educating themselves, keeping up with The times, and willingness to listen read more

One trillion stats for the best kabobs on the planet. Been going here for decades now- amazing food- lovely owners and bread is made fresh as you order. I could just eat the bread. Top notch place to eat. read more

Charcoal Kabob is an Afghan and kabob-focused restaurant located in the perpetually busy Herndon Center. My wife and I tried this place when the craving for grilled, spicy meat struck. Ultimately, we found the food a little underwhelming. Ordering via phone was relatively easy and our orders were prepared accurately. My wife opted for the chicken kofta and I went for the chicken and lamb combo. Each dish comes with a salad, a large piece of tandoori bread, rice, your choice of meat, and a white sauce. The highlight of our meal was the bread. Our fresh pieces seemed made to order and each measured larger than a dinner plate. The texture struck a good balance between chewy and soft bits with a perfect amount of char from the tandoor. The rest of the items in the meals, sadly, lacked flavor. We felt particularly disappointed by the insipid white sauce that tasted like runny, diluted yogurt and failed to add any zest to the kabobs, rice, or salad. I find the sauces at kabob shops crucial to the experience, so the watery condiment here brought the meal down. While the rice and kabobs were well cooked, both were under-seasoned which was exacerbated by the aforementioned blandness of the sauce. We also found the veggie sides (mixed vegetables for my wife and spinach for me) ho hum and watery. Prices here are on par with area averages and the quantity of food was good for the cost. The guys running this shop are very nice and friendly. That makes the review harder to write, but overall there are better options in the area to get the kabob craving satisfied. Worth a try for the bread, but otherwise so-so. read more

Best since 1995 been going to them... even the unborn child in my wife's belly kicked my wife ate their chickpeas with rice. I always get chicken/lamb kabob/chicken haleem/chicken curry/chicken Biryani/ veggie combo Depending on daily specials. My wife still gets cravings and my son now of 28 still demands twice a month minimum read more

OMA! Absolutely tremendous! We've been eating at this place for at least 20 years and they catered for our wedding in 2011. Amazing food, service, quality and kindness. Store is always clean and welcoming. Will be customers for life! read more

Went back today for lunch and tried the chicken bowl. The flavors and color all stood out on their own. This is a good option if you need that little extra to stick on the bones :) ...btw, still get the chick peas on the side, they taste delicious. read more

Charcoal Kabob - Chicken bowl. - Afghan Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

Good tender meat, Tasty sauces that come with the platter, and fresh bread with each plate. I ordered the lamb kabob and it was cooked well and paired nicely with the bread and rice. The chick peas were a little different than I expected but not bad! A little oily but well seasoned. Would definitely try their other meats! read more

My friends and I have been eating at Charcoal Kabab for years. The kababs and Karahi are the best in the DC area! If you like spicy food you just have to ask them to make the Karahi extra spicy. Lately they have added some new menu options to expand the already very good menu. One of my favorites of the new offerings is this made-in-store Afghan dessert speciality. It is delicious! It's smooth and creamy, and the nuts and cream that are offered make for a complex and delicious overall taste. read more

See all

This is my GO-TO Kabab spot in all of northern Va. Fresh produce and quality meats combined with perfect blends of spices makes for top notch eating! The atmosphere has really stepped up over the years and gives authentic Mediterranean vibes! Staff is always friendly and meal prep is quick!! Give it a try- you'll love it! read more

Charcoal Kabob - Order up! - Afghan Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

See all

I tried their new chicken over biryani rice and was amazed by it. Charcoal kabob does it better than staple chains like halal guys, shah's, etc. The chicken and biryani rice is fresh and exploding with flavor and they are very generous with the portion size. I was thoroughly impressed and will be coming back for sure to try their gyro option I highly recommend!! read more

I have been eating at charcoal kebab for almost 25 years but off late the quality of food has really gone down and the prices have shot up exponentially. We went in earlier today for lunch, and I ordered the tandoori chicken, which was not very flavorful and very dry, my buddy ordered the keema kebab, which was a bit more decent and flavorful but nothing like I remember from the past. Net net, we are disappointed in the lost quality, and I am not looking forward to going back again in the near future read more

Charcoal Kabob - a plate of food and a bowl of salad - Afghan Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

See all

After the good reviews, I wanted to try this place on the way to IAD. Ordered koobidah with chickpeas and spinach. The portions are pretty good as you get a lot of rice, bread, and a few sauces. Unfortunately, my kabob was overcooked and dry, but still pretty flavorful. The spinach and chickpeas however really stand out; both were really flavorful and so good with rice. I'd definitely return, hopefully with better results. read more

You mean Charcoal "Hidden Gem" Kabob? To be clear, I've been eating here for ... ah ... 25 years? Yikes. Well ... ok, so it's not really hidden. But I stand by the gem. I suspect this place did a lot more business back when people ... y'know ... WENT to work. But it still gets busy these days too. Are the kebabs good? Yeah for sure. I don't think you'll be disappointed by whatever you order - the meat is not overcooked and plenty flavorful. The sides are excellent ... most people add chick peas as their side ... but I'd like to encourage you to try the haleem. It's excellent. And if you're willing to expand your horizons beyond kabobs, I cannot recommend the lamb karahi highly enough. Twelve stars out of five. Or whatever. Just get some. It'll feed like three or four normal people or me. If lamb isn't your jam you might try the chicken - it's just as tasty (but y'know, not as delicious as lamb). Is the service going to match western-tablecloth expectations? No. This place has much more a "hole in the wall" vibe. But hey. That's my kind of place. read more

Excellent food, great service. Very kind and friendly staff. Highly recommend kabobs, humus, shawarma and gyro. Never had a bad meal here and portions are very generous. read more

Historically Great food. Prices were recently raised. The flavor has gone down within last year, food isn't as flavorful as it used to be. Otherwise the service is great and original owners are still involved in day to day operations. Seating is plentiful and parking is always available. read more

I've been going to this restaurant for so many years now! Their food is always fresh and delicious. They are very courteous and friendly. Their place is clean and welcoming. I do recommend them to whoever is looking for authentic delicious Afghan cuisine! read more

Been going here for years. Tasty and fresh food. Their tandoori chicken and karahis are good. Also love the music and paintings

This place is amazing! The food is delicious. I got the veggie combo and it's definitely filling! Service with a smile! Everyone is friendly! I definitely love the environment. There is a lot of seating and it can fit big crowds! Check this amazing place out read more

I tried this place out today for lunch. I got chicken and kubediah combo. Mmmm...it looked yummy on the plate but chicken and kubediah were dry. Salad was so little and finished it on 2 bites. Service was ok. The only thing I liked was the fresh bread and rice. read more

Charcoal Kabob - Afghan Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

Came back here after a long time and food is great still. What really stood out was the service the cashier was helpful not only to me and my partner but was guiding other customers and offering a few extra sides to try. Also has new draft sodas that are made fresh! Glad to see they are going 32 years strong! read more

Very nice. Good large servings. Ordering ahead of time is recommended and easy. Delicious food. read more

Just stopped in for Dinner with my wife. The Butter Chicken and Lamb Kabob was incredible! Staff was very warm friendly and welcoming. We will definitely be eating here again! And you must try the Mango Lassie and Baklava! read more

The service was mind blowing! The food tasted incredible! Hot and fresh! Clean, vast restaurant, many delicious drinks to pick from, good parking lot! Had some Kashmiri tea to finish it off and it was out of this world! read more

Charcoal Kabob - Kashmiri Chai - Afghan Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

The guys here have excellent customer service, very friendly, also clean restaurant behind the counter and dining area for customers. The food has been consistently delicious for over 10 years that I've gone here, prices have never skyrocketed like many other afghan kabob joints, they've been consistent all the way around. I go out of my way to visit them and eat here not only because of the incredibly authentic and delicious food but also because the young men running this spot know how to treat and take care of their customers. Well done!! read more

This place is the original Kabob Place in NoVA! They've had their ups and downs, but I had their food just yesterday. We ordered Kubideh, the boneless chicken kabobs, and the lamb kabobs - and I'll tell you they were all good. Only issue was that the chicken was a bit over done and dry - however, they have haleem as a side - which is a bonus in my book. I hadn't been back in years, and I'm glad I tried again. read more

Bad service. They wouldn't let me buy naan by itself. It's bad service to turn your customer away you don't want to sell a few naans to them. It doesn't matter if you're busy or not. read more

I give this review 4 stars because you get a great amount of food for a pretty good price. Unfortunately, the food is really closer to 3.5 star quality than 4, but it is only by a nose. Do not worry, I will explain. The meats are absolutely delicious. Tender and moist and have lots of flavor. You do not feel shortchanged with how much meat you get in each Kabob. Unfortunately after that is when it takes a down turn, save for the Gulab Jamun, that was terrific. With all kebabs you get a side salad, rice, garlic naan, and a vegetable. I will go over each one to emphasize why it was or was not great. The side salad is a dud. Just iceberg lettuce which isn't much to write about. The basmati rice is okay. When you get a sauce with it, the rice improves, but only slightly. The garlic naan is heavy. While chewy, it does not have a lot of flavor. I will give credit to it being a big hunk of bread! The vegetable I got was the curry chickpeas. These have so much potential, yet they are total buzzkill to the meal. Strong sauce, but flat in the chickpea itself. They are also too hot to where you have to wait a few minutes to let them cool down. Otherwise your meal will be ruined because you just burned your tongue. In the big scheme of things, I did like this meal and will come back, but now I know what to expect. It is no Food Corner or Flame Kabob in terms of service (I found the staff to be quite wooden), but the prices beg to differ when looking for a quality meal. read more

Delicious place to eat. Pretty authentic. I'd come back for the hummus alone. People there are wonderful.

Tl;dr version: the portions are ENORMOUS and the food is delicious. What else do you have to know? Go eat! In all seriousness, this restaurant has been a favorite of my husband's for years. The aesthetic used to be firmly workday-lunch spartan, but recently has gotten an upgrade into a quite comfortable lunch or dinner place. As previously mentioned, the portions are enormous (see photo). For context, I came starving and could not finish it all. I've gotten many different dishes through the years, but have settled on their gorgeously buttery chicken masala as my go-to favorite. The naan is always hot and fresh and is almost the best part of the meal. The staff is always friendly and the owner is often behind the counter. In short, it's a great place and one of my favorites. read more

Charcoal Kabob - Chicken masala with chickpeas - Afghan Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

See all

I have went to Charcoal Kabob 10 days ago, I was pleased that the young fellas are running things just like their elders!! The food is still top notch, the menu is even better if you can believe that, and the service is great. They focus on the customer experience. Now getting down to the nitty gritty, the food, it is still excellent. They haven't slacked off on any dish in my opinion. From the Chapli, to the Kabobs, and even adding Haleem as a side dish. AND NOW THEY ADDED CARROTS AND RAISIN into the rice (GAME CHANGER). I had to remind them about the eggplant, that's how long I have been frequenting the establishment and I live in Sterling, but fr N.Y. orginally so I know about Halal food ,this is excellent. The drive is well worth it. read more

Excellent food, staff, and ambiance. I have been going here for years and I can't recommend it enough!

Grabbed carry-out before checking in to my hotel across the street. Hummus/bread appetizer and Fish kabob (with bread, salad, rice, curry side). Very friendly staff. Several groups and individuals inside eating. Bread is delicious. Hummus isn't as thick as I like, but has good flavor. Fish was good. read more

Charcoal Kabob - Hummus and Fish Kabob - Afghan Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

There should be an option for zero stars, called to inform the staff as a courtesy that their food tasted days old and somebody can get sick, all the guy could tell us was "stop complaining" what a joke. Been coming here for nearly 25 years but not sure what happened to them, had the original owner answered my call maybe he wouldn't have been this disrespectful. Never letting my family or friends come back here. read more

See all

The food is really good, but I really dislike the flies in the restaurant. Especially with the sides being uncovered. That alone may prevent me from coming back. No need to have the food openly displayed. read more

We've been eating here regularly for fifteen years, since before we had kids - but it's one of those places we can all agree on. Lately we've been getting it to-go more as it's easy to grab on the way home from work, but we've eaten in plenty of times. We love the kabob combos - all are delicious. Be sure to ask for free onions and/or jalapeños if you need a bit 'more', or dip in the yogurt sauce to cool things down a bit. The chick peas are pure goodness. The Butter Chicken Masala is also favorite. I get it 'spicy' and my son steals some of that delicious sauce for his chicken kabob pieces. Both my kids love the bread. Real food with real flavor at an affordable price - makes this place is a treasure in Herndon for the last 25 years. The owners are so kind and genuine, and it's been wonderful to see the next generation stepping up as well. read more

Very friendly people and pleasant surroundings -- and they let my friend and me sit there for 3 hours socializing with no problem. The decorations of the former Afghan leaders are very cool. The naan and rice were good. The lamb kahari was also good, but even though we ordered it spicy, it was definitely toned down for the American palate. It was not very spicy and had much less ginger than any kahari I've ever had. And it was more of a stew than a stir fry. read more