I'm not sure how this restaurant got so many good reviews. Went here tonight because of the great reviews so naturally I had high hopes. However both the food and service were absolutely terrible. For the appetizer I ordered the Falafel - which was bland and just not worth the $5.75 price. For the entree I got the jujeh kabob and my wife got the kabob barg. The jujeh was again just bland, as if the chicken was not even marinated. I guess the "lemon" marinade was suppose to come from the lemon on the side of the plate because clearly it was tasteless. The kabob barg which was supposed to be spicy was really more of a joke... cracked pepper has more spice than this dish. Its hard to image a restaurant could go so wrong with a kabob especially when it is supposed to be there specialty... but clearly this place did. Worse yet, not only was the food despicable, the service was just non-existent. The waiter did not once check up on us and did not offer to refill our drinks. After we asked for our check, we literally waited over 20 more minutes until we finally walked up to the counter and asked another waiter for our check. Definitely will not be going back to this place. There are tons of great kabob places in the area, but this is just not one of them. read more

The kabob here is amazing, especially the beef. These guys are at least one notch ahead of other Persian eateries like Moby Dick.

This place is the best! I appreciate that they always use high quality ingredients, the service is good and unpretentious, the price is very reasonable. I always enjoy it. read more

the food here is good; if i don't eat here more often, that's because persian entree set tends to be too carby, eg too much rice, and being chinese, i feel guilty about not eating all the rice that is served. obviously this is not an issue specific to this restaurant. i won't go into detail about the dishes, i usually order the grilled meat, which is cooked "good," ie moist and not overcooked. the bread here is awesome -- it's one of the best you can find in the area, of a quality on par with two amy's pizza -- and it's free and comes with heaping basket of herbs. tea? forget tea! drink doog to wash down the yummy food! i'm going this week to celebrate no-rooz :-) read more

Love, love, loved it. We had been looking for a good kabob place since moving to D.C., and we finally found it. My only disappointment is that we have to travel to Arlington to get there. We had the kaftah kabobs and the filet kabobs, along with hummus. Everything was top-notch. read more

Food is pathetic. We ordered Chicken and Lamb Shish Kabob but it was like rubber. Rice was blend. Service is ok. i would not recommend food from here. read more

I really, really like this place. It's cheap and yummy. Try the kubideh sandwich and cornish game kebabs. And if you like rosewater (and I mean like it a lot!!!), go for the desserts. Otherwise, the desserts are a little too floral for my taste. read more

Amazing place to eat some authentic iranian food. Zereshk polo and the one with Dill and fava beans were very good. Their Sunday special chicken in stewed sauce was off the charts. So soft and tender. I was visiting DC when I found this place in Arlington and decided to go there again go have Lamb Shank the next day. They also gave me free iranian tea. read more

Probably the best under $15 dinner in Clarendon. Substitute the saffron rice for the regular dill rice for a couple bucks--delicious!

Excellent Persian kabob! Extensive menu, with a healthy options. I get the salmon skewer salad with a kabob of veggies. The appetizers and condiments are all very good. The all-Asian staff is a little off-putting, but don't let it get to you. On weekend nights, there's a guy playing live synthesizer music. He does strange versions of familiar songs, like an Arabic-style version of the theme from the Pink Panther. If it's your birthday, he will sing happy birthday along with your friends, just not to the same tune. He's a little too loud but very entertaining. You can ask for tahdig, which is the crunchy rice from the bottom of the pot. It's not on the menu but is considered a treat. The shireen polo (basmati rice with saffron, carrots, pistachios, marcona almonds, and candied orange peel) is delicious. read more

I've been wanting to try out Kabob Bazaar for a long time because I've heard good things and love Middle Eastern food. This place is a hit. We did take out on a weekday night, which they filled fast (they also deliver). The decor is nothing to write home about but it's ok. I had the chicken kabob over salad and my friend had the spicy chicken with rice. The chicken kabob was nicely seasoned and juicy. The salad itself was very plain. The yogurt sauce it came with was good, but would have liked the whipped garlic spread some Lebanese restaurants give you. Prices were very reasonable. read more

First let's get one thing out of the way, I am Persian and for as long as I remember I've been having Persian dishes on a daily basis so my standards are pretty high and I am biased because I love my mom's cooking and nothing is (or will be) as good as hers, but I also am realistic and recognize that Kabob Bazaar (KB) needs to be compared to other options in DMV area not my mom's cooking and not even to what is offered in LA or Toronto! All that being said Kabob Bazaar comes as close as Persian home cooking as you can get when it comes to their daily (and weekend) specials. Items such as their various Ash (Ash-e-Reshteh and Ash-e-Anar), Persian Stews (there are too many to name), Zereshpolo-ba-Morgh (berberis white rice with chicken in sauce), Dizi (made with lamb, chickpeas, white beans, onion, potatoes, and tomatoes, turmeric, and black lime served in stone crocks), and Kaleh Pacheh (is a dish of boiled cow/sheep parts such as: eyes, feet, brain, and tongue) - all items I mentioned are part of the "Specials" and are not offered on a daily basis (you should check with the restaurant or their website to find out). I also highly recommend their Zaboon (tongue) sandwich, it's absolutely delicious. One thing I do not believe KB does a particularly a good job at are skewed Kabobs (I realize the irony of their name) Specially the red meat skewed Kabobs. read more

Kabob Bazaar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

When you are just in the mood for kabobs - this is about as solid and authentic as you can get. All of the ingredients are fresh, the spices are just right, and it is absolutely guaranteed that the meat is grilled to perfection - never overdone and perfectly marinated! If you happen to be in Clarendon and have any kind of appreciation for good Kabob, this place is a must. It really does remind me of the Kabob I eat when visiting my relatives in the Middle East. There are also items on special that are for the more experiences - all of the different stews especially - absolutely delicious. The portions are very generous and the prices are excellent. They should definitely hire an interior designer unless they are satisfied with the gaudy-looking designs straight from a cheesy Persian reality show. read more

Great food but awesome Persian Saffron ice cream! Cozy atmosphere and good service.

I love this place- I used to work near by. The first time I went, I had the salmon kabob, and I have never been able to get anything else. The rice is always nice, and the serve the bread with a great yogurt and a practical garden on a plate worth of greens.... Service is always nice and prompt. read more

This place has really good appetizer dishes and the kabobs are really juicy and tasty. I really like the food here. The breads are soft and chewey, like naan bread. The portions are really nice. The parking stinks and the place is a bit tight. They make the bread in one of those brick oven deals like back in the old country. read more

Bad bad bad! We sat in the restaurant for 20 mins and no service. No even a "Hello! I'll be right with you". I would understand if they were busy but they had more then a few tables open. If you want horrible service and being ignored, you should waste your money here. read more

Their black tea is amazing with sugar cubes:)))) and olivier sandwich is good:)

If you want to taste real Iranian food you have to go and discover it in Kabob Bazaar. This is one of the best.

An outstanding place for Persian food. I have always ordered the combination chicken soltani and it has never disappointed. The wait staff is also attentive and nice. read more

Everyone in the group had Kubideh Kabob with rice and it was juicy and cooked just the way we liked. My husband ordered the Soltani (kubideh and chicken) and he also raved about the flavor of the chicken. Haven't been here in a couple of years so they have changed it a little but the only complaint would be the tables are so small to fit comfortably and the decor needs a pick me up but otherwise it's a nice place for Persian kabobs. Would come again and hope we get Olga as our waitress again. She offered such exceptional service, answered our questions and even gave us great recommendations. read more

Kabob Bazaar - kubideh Kabob with rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Bumping back up to three stars. I've taken to calling ahead and picking up my falafel sandwiches to eat at work. Totally reasonable and tastes good. The sandwiches are actually so huge I just eat half for lunch and save the other for the next day. read more

This is my go-to Persian food spot over Moby Dick's. I can't count how many times I've been here, but every time I enjoy it and every time it's exactly what I've asked for! This is the perfect place for take out. I usually get either the Kubideh or Jujeh Kabob w/ rice. It's delicious comfort food for me and definitely worth trying out. read more

I recently had the beef stew special. It came in a small soup bowl. I paid full price and left starving. I wouldn't have mind the small portion but it was bland and quite forgettable. I'll stick to the regular menu next time. read more

We don't usually go to iranian restaurants, because I love cooking and I can make any kind of kabobs or traditional foods. Anyway, we ordered koobide, joojeh and barg. Koobideh and joojeh were completely dried like jerky. I couldn't eat them. Barg, I would say was ok and at least we could eat it. I believe you can find better choices with half price in Arlington. read more

KB will serve you the best 2 skewers of kubideh outside of Iran! I love how they also serve the greens that you can mix in with the meat and rice. The bread is ok -- sometimes it's really fresh and tasty other times it's kinda stale. The yogurt is delicious! Ambiance is kinda cheezy but I think that's what gives the place some of its character. The service is good --seems like most of the servers are Mongolians who always seem very friendly. read more

As a picky Persian eater, I Loved This Place. We stopped here after our flights and we were tired, hungry and it was an odd time: 4:30 in the afternoon. We started with tea and appetizers. The service was friendly, kind, and they checked on us several times. We ordered our main dishes with the help of the server. My hubby ordered a dish I'd never heard of, and it was delicious (from the specials menu) and I had the lamb and loved it. They gave me extra tomatoes! The food was just delicious, the ambiance so calm, and we were able to relax. The meat was extremely tender and fresh, and I enjoyed everything. Price was just right. I wish the tea were a bit stronger, but maybe that's how they make it. Thank you and can't wait to return! read more

In my opinion the best kabob place in the DMV area. I have been going here for over 8 years and I go at least twice a month. Over the years the portions have been decreasing but overall it is my favorite Persian restaurant. read more

This place is GREAT. Just went for the first time tonight and the service was good and quick. The food was really delicious. We got hummus which was pretty good, the yogurt sauce with cucumber which was really nicely flavored (not the same as the yogurt that comes with the bread), and then the the beef steak (Shish Kabob) with veggies and spicy chicken kabobs (Chicken Barg Kabob). The beef was perfect - great cuts with little to no fat, tender, and cooked just the right amount. The chicken was a little dry and not spicy at all but it was nothing yogurt sauce can't fix! The veggies were also cooked to perfection. To end the night we got Baghlava and the Paludeh Shirazi which we tried for the first time. It was interesting and a perfect refreshing way to end the night. Looking forward to going back for the lunch specials! read more

This small restaurant doesn't necessarily visually stand out among the other restaurants on Wilson, but the food sure does. Kabob Bazaar serves delicious authentic Persian cuisine. My favorite meal here is the chicken kabob that comes with rice and bread. The marinated chunks of boneless and skinless breast of chicken are very juicy and not tough. The rice that comes with the chicken if very flavorful and not bland. this meal is very filling and will leave you very satisfied. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone. read more

I've eaten here numerous times. Today though the Asian woman at the register (don't know her name) was rude. I was a little hesitant with my order and changed my mind from chicken to beef before paying. She rolled her eyes, looked very annoyed and asked me "so what do you want" with a mean tone. I apologized for the major inconvenience I caused her and ordered anyways. She was bossing customers like she was the captain of a ship. This service is something I can live without. My friends and I will never return unless we know that the mean robot is gone. read more

Top go-to place for Persian kabob in Clarendon/Arlington. The best Mast-o-Khiar (yogurt and cucumber) and definitely order the Fesenjun when it is available on certain days as their special. (Fesenjun is a pomegranate and walnut stew with chicken). So delish! read more

I LOVE Kabob Bazaar. I probably order from here once every month or so, as I work in Clarendon. I found my perfect meal the first time I went, so I can't really speak to anything else, but the Chicken Shish Kebabs are fantastic. It's a pretty big meal, and you can order it with a generous portion of rice, a salad, or bread. I personally always get half-salad, half-rice. The grilled veggies are fantastic, and I rarely like onions or mushrooms, but cannot stop myself from eating them. The yogurt they give you (along with a side of nan, so no need to order it with the actual meal) is amazing. It's always pretty crowded around lunch, so I usually call ahead. read more

I eat kabob's at least 2-3x a week from moby. i love the rice for some reason. and with all the hype from this board, i decided to give KB a try. i'm kind of disappointed. the chicken was dry and the rice was not up to snuff. the bread was hard and dry and the must-o-keyar had a strange after taste. it's not bad, i just expected to be blown away b/c of what i was reading on this board. I think i'll stick to mobys'. read more

The food here is excellent and the prices are moderate. I've enjoyed the chenjeh kabob, the kubideh kabob, the chicken kabob, and several others. To date, I have not been to a better kabob place in Arlington or DC. I have one constructive criticism. They should offer free refills on coke. As of now, they don't. read more

My friend and I drove for over 25 miles to go to the restaurant yesterday, just because of the recommendations on this site! When we got there, it was cold and they told the new customers to stay outside till we sort things out. While there were enough space for 10 people to stand inside, they let us and 5 other customers outside for 15-20 minutes. 3 of them left after the first 10 minutes. Eventually this guy who appeared to be the owner/manager showed up and invited us inside. He gave me and my friend the sit right in front of the entrance door and it was really cold there! I asked a server that we want our table to be change, and that we are not comfortable here!!! He said ok and disappeared for 10 minutes... Another server showed up I repeated my request and she did the same as the first server. I ended up asking 5 different people and overall it tool us 30 minutes with no result. They all promised that the first table that gets empty will be ours! And in this time over 7 tables got free and they disregarded our request and moved the ones who just moved into the restaurant to sit there! I thought talking to the manager is a good idea so when he was passing by, I asked him if we can change to another table that is free now and no one is sitting there, instead he told me that, "I will close the restaurant door, so it wont be cold anymore!" He said that and disappeared like the other folks. During the next five minutes, the door was opened/closed over ten times and we were getting cold/warm rapidly! Guys, it is not so cool to put a table right by the entrance door!!! its not cool!!! It was suddenly so serious for me that why the hell these dudes are not honoring our wish? We are not here for free! and we are paying for this food like everyone else! Thus, this time this rude guy showed up, I told him again that we are not comfortable here and give us another table... he didnt even say anything and left. So I told my friend that lets go... I dont wanna eat in here! we got ready to leave the restaurant and I called a server and asked her if I have to pay for the bread and vegetables stuff that they are providing before the actual food gets there... Before she answers my question this rude guy showed up again and asked me what happened? I told him that we are leaving and if I have to pay anything for the stuff :) he said is there any problem? I told him, yes we are not comfortable here and we asked you guys 4-5 times but no one seemed to care, so...! he suddenly started arguing with me as if he wants to get into a fight. He raised his voice and said,"there is no empty table, what you wanted me to do!?!?!?! I dont even know why he was so pissed off when he already knew what was the one and only problem! and that the only thing I was asking was that if I have to pay anything for the bread and stuff before I leave... So I responded to him that there were a number of free tables during the past almost 40 minutes that we were here, but you didnt care, and I told you few times about the nature of the problem... and since our food is not ready after this period of time, we decided to leave... he was that angry as if I insulted him!!! he wanted to get this to a verbal and probably a physical argument and I prevented that and said I dont have any problem with you and we just want to leave if you "let us".... and he with his angry loud voice said OK GO!!! So this is my experience from this place guys-based on a true story!!! Personally, food quality is as important as customer service for me. I do not want to go to this restaurant again and I have already recommended all my friends the same thing. And the way we were treated there, not only we felt the lack, but we felt disrespected as well. I only wish that if the manager dude reads this comment, thinks about it and try to improve his services to attract more customer rather than being a knucklehead mumbling around. ok over and out read more

Just plain bad. Bread: tough Yogurt sauce: bland and nasty Chicken kabob: no flavor, tough Beed kabob: overcooked, no flavor Rice: super weird Service: fine Price: rip off Stay away. read more

I had the best kale pache and dizzy here for breakfast. Everyone was friendly and made us feel very comfortable. The food was A+ :)

This place was decent enough. I was unimpressed with the salad dressing and the hummus though. Hummus could've used more garlic. However, the chicken was delicious. It was pretty expensive for the food I got too. read more

I had the pleasure of dining here on a thursday night. Growing up around persian food it was nice to have fresh food. The white rice with adas( dried berries) is definitley great for any protien. The soltani combination is great ( chicken, steak, and ground chuck) kabob is very good and fresh. The staff was very friendly and made sure we were happy. Parking is a bit of a pain, so plan accordingly. read more