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Lovely Afghan restaurant. Owner was super nice. No wait on a Wednesday at 7pm. Total $85.90 (including tip) for dinner for 2. * Borta $8.95 - 3 stars. Dip was good but the pita bread was dry. * Sambosa $8.95 - 3.5 stars. Good with the sauce. Nice crisp. * Yaqoot Chalow $22.95 - 4 stars. Tasty and so good mixed with rice! * Qaebli with lamb shank $24.95 - 3.5 stars. Good flavors but very dry!
The first word that comes to mind is- YAY!!!! I took a little field trip down to La Jolla, and was on the prowl for some nourishment after receiving a very excellent massage (check out my review for La vie day spa). First of all, the interior is decorated beautifully and is so very serene. You can really take your time and enjoy your meal. The food was absolutely delicious!!! I had the chalow banjan, which is kind of like an eggplant stew, or curry. Unlike many other eggplant dishes I've eaten, this had very generous portions of extremely fresh eggplant. And while I would not classify it as spicy, there was this subtle and lingering heat that I imagine most anyone could enjoy. I'm not typically a big fan of baklava, but I decided to be bold and try it. And so glad that I did! It is made fresh in house, and unlike other baklavas I've had, this was not overly sweet or syrup-y, and had a perfect amount of chewy texture. Of course, I had to have some of the cardamom coffee to go with! Diba on service was so lovely and kind. You'll also be very conveniently located near the Cove, so you can walk off dessert if you want! Please come here!!!!
This place is a hidden treasure, a little off the beaten beach path and not too far from the CVS. We initially came here because Yelp said they had outdoor seating. Unfortunately, they did not - must have been a temporary pandemic thing. Since there weren't any other customers, we decided to brave the indoor seating and eat here anyway, and we're so glad we gave it a chance. We ordered the cherry blossom tea, kofta chalow lunch special, the mantu, and the yaqoot chalow. Everything was amazingly delicious and so different from what we normally eat. Why are there not more Afghan restaurants??? Loved the strong cardamom profile of the tea. The kofta were quite possibly the tastiest meatballs I've ever had in my life with a complex flavor. The mantu were delicious - so different from the Asian dumplings that I'm accustomed to. Even the kiddo loved them, and she usually avoids food with yogurt. The yaqoot chalow was also tasty, though the spice profile didn't seem quite as complex. We loved how generous they were with the cherries. The baghlawa was quite good as well, though I didn't think it approached the level of amazing the rest of the food did. Bottom line - if you haven't tried this place, you're missing out
I can honestly say this was one of the best meals I've ever had. We ordered the lamb kabobs and added a chicken kabob both were delicious. The Mantu is so tasty with flavor and perfect texture. The sambosas to start were a huge hit at our table. We also got a side of the borani banjan and I loved it. The owners are the ones taking your orders and cooking your food and they were such nice people! Will be back!
YUM!!!!! I would give them 10 stars if I could! Great ambience, service and food! This is true homemade Afghani food. It's not bland or over spicy, it's just incredibly flavorful. There were three of us and we shared 3 dishes: Zardaloo Chalow with lamb, Mantu, and Sabzi Challow with chicken. We almost licked the plates clean. Such flavorful sauces and meat was tender and delicious. Don't miss this restaurant, you have to give it a try. I've been wanting to try it for years and I'm so happy that I finally made it there! Just delicious!
My husband and I tried Pamir Kabob for a date night dinner, and it did not disappoint! I've never tried afghan food before and really enjoyed it. Pamir is family owned, and every person greeted & served us warmly. They had so many regulars come in that they were chatting & catching up with which we thought was sweet. We ordered: - Hummus - Pamir Special Kabob - Sabzi Charlow (spinach & meat stew) I was initially a bit cautious because I don't eat cilantro and our server told us that almost all of their dishes include coriander (dried seed of the plant cilantro comes from) in the spices. But, she recommended a couple dishes that use it the least and everything tasted AMAZING. I didn't get any traces of cilantro flavors and ate everything with no problem. The meat was so flavorful and tender, and the stew wasn't like what you'd normally think of for a stew - it keeps its shape on a plate and was so delicious. My husband was so happy and has been raving about this place to many of our friends. We will definitely be back!
Nice family run business which serves yummy dishes in large portions. Really appreciated the wide range of food on the menu. What I ordered was especially tasty. Bolanee: Looks like a quesadilla at first glance, but filled with a thin layer of leeks and potato. Nice thin dough that is slightly crispy. Pairs perfectly with the spicy herbal sauce and the soothing yogurt sauce. Reminds me a bit of a stuffed Indian paratha, but with thinner dough. Really enjoyed it. Mantu: I was hoping to get the Qaebli Palow, but they were out of lamb shank. So got these cute little pasta packets instead. Reminded me a bit of beef tortellini in a meat sauce, but with Afghani spices. Also, the rich yogurt sauce made it clear this wasn't Italian. Not as large a portion as the other mains, which was actually a good thing given how filling the appetizer was.
Stumbled upon this place after the farmers market in La Jolla and wow, was I impressed. Great service and delicious food. We had the eggplant dip, kobideh kebab and tandoori chicken kebab. All were amazing and super flavorful. The prices are a little high which might be why this place was so dead for Sunday lunch but it's definitely a hidden gem. Highly recommend!
Excellent dinner. Friendly service. Meals prepared promptly. Prices reasonable. We've been meaning to try it for a while and it's terrific. Afghan food shares similarities to A number of Mediterranean cuisines. Also some similarities to Indian food. It's very appealing and is worth your time and money to try. They serve beer and wine. Restaurant is pleasantly decorated. Take out available. Only thing I'd change is that they included a 20% service charge and our party was just 4 people. They earned a good tip but I'm not a fan of mandatory service charges. Street parking.
Food was great - very happy with the chicken kebab and lamb shank weekend special. The rice was flavorful and lamb fell right off the bone. So juicy and tender. The chicken kebab was just as juicy and tender, not dry at all. Salad is big and fresh. Appetizers were great too. Can't wait to come back and try the lamb stews!! Service was a bit slow but very welcoming (went in the afternoon and only 1 person with 2 tables). Ambiance is elegant, clean and quiet. Such a hidden gem!!
Delicious afghan food that made for a perfect comfort meal picnic. The portions are big and the food was super flavorful and contained just the right amount of spice. We tried the Pamir special kabob, lamb sabzi, and chicken curry. I think the curry was my favorite but I loved it all!
We went here on a Sunday night and the food was really good. My friends got the chicken or lamb kebabs and they raved about them. Another friend and I shared the salmon kebab and it was delicious. The saffron rice was kind of boring. It wasn't as good as usual at places, but it was OK. I ordered a hummus appetizer and the pita that served with it was really nice and soft, but the hummus was kind of bland. We didn't argue about the check because the service was really nice but they charged me $12.95 for a side of rice. I'm pretty sure it was a mistake because the receipt said CHAOW or something like that I don't know that must be something on their menu that cost 12.95 but since we were there a long time we just let it go. Since there were six of us we were automatically billed a tip charge. It has a really nice decor with lights hanging from the windows. I recommend the place but be sure to check your bill for mistakes or maybe a side of rice is 12.95. I don't know it just seems like that would be really expensive. The portion sizes are huge.
3 months ago
Truly a hidden gem in the San Diego area! The restaurant is very homey and quaint. The lady who greets you at the door and serves as the waitress is incredibly kind and attentive. I ordered the zardaloo chalow (stewed apricots) with lamb and the yaqoot chalow (stewed cherries) with lamb. The sweetness of the fruits paired with the savory meat created an incredible balance of sweet and salty. Who knew cooked fruit could taste so good! Such a unique combination of flavors. Both dishes were served with a generous portion of basmati rice. I'll definitely be back every time I'm in La Jolla! read more
The best lunch ever. I had the Zardaloo chalow with the lamb. It was stewed in fresh apricots and served next to fluffy basmati rice. It felt very fancy and was one of the most exotic things I have eaten in a long time. We also got the dolmas (grapes leaves) and the Bolani (turnover stuffed with leek and potatoes) as an appetizer. The dolmas were ok, but the bolani was exceptional, like a leek and potato quesadilla but lighter. It was hard to put into words. Just order it and enjoy! Lastly, for drinks we got a Cherry Blossom Tea (Sheer Chai). Again, it tasted like nothing I have ever ordered before, which is hard to do because we are adventurous eaters. It tasted like cream straight from the cow mixed with a cherry blossom-y and strawberry-ish Chai flavor+ black tea flavor. One of the best drinks that I have experienced in 2025 by far. For the La Jolla neighborhood and how fancy the inside feels, the prices were similar to any regular sit down restaurant. Quite the bargain for the bouquet of flavors and beautifully executed dishes that we had. I would definitely recommend them. read more
Unbelievable!! We ate every last grain of rice-that's how good it was. Try our order-start with the bolani for appetizer, get the combo kebab and zardaloo chalow for entree, and enjoy all of that with the cherry blossom chai. I like it hot but I was told it's just as good served cold. Staff were amazing and the food was impeccable. Can't wait to come back. read more
Lovely Afghan restaurant. Owner was super nice. No wait on a Wednesday at 7pm. Total $85.90 (including tip) for dinner for 2. * Borta $8.95 - 3 stars. Dip was good but the pita bread was dry. * Sambosa $8.95 - 3.5 stars. Good with the sauce. Nice crisp. * Yaqoot Chalow $22.95 - 4 stars. Tasty and so good mixed with rice! * Qaebli with lamb shank $24.95 - 3.5 stars. Good flavors but very dry! read more
The first word that comes to mind is- YAY!!!! I took a little field trip down to La Jolla, and was on the prowl for some nourishment after receiving a very excellent massage (check out my review for La vie day spa). First of all, the interior is decorated beautifully and is so very serene. You can really take your time and enjoy your meal. The food was absolutely delicious!!! I had the chalow banjan, which is kind of like an eggplant stew, or curry. Unlike many other eggplant dishes I've eaten, this had very generous portions of extremely fresh eggplant. And while I would not classify it as spicy, there was this subtle and lingering heat that I imagine most anyone could enjoy. I'm not typically a big fan of baklava, but I decided to be bold and try it. And so glad that I did! It is made fresh in house, and unlike other baklavas I've had, this was not overly sweet or syrup-y, and had a perfect amount of chewy texture. Of course, I had to have some of the cardamom coffee to go with! Diba on service was so lovely and kind. You'll also be very conveniently located near the Cove, so you can walk off dessert if you want! Please come here!!!! read more
This place is a hidden treasure, a little off the beaten beach path and not too far from the CVS. We initially came here because Yelp said they had outdoor seating. Unfortunately, they did not - must have been a temporary pandemic thing. Since there weren't any other customers, we decided to brave the indoor seating and eat here anyway, and we're so glad we gave it a chance. We ordered the cherry blossom tea, kofta chalow lunch special, the mantu, and the yaqoot chalow. Everything was amazingly delicious and so different from what we normally eat. Why are there not more Afghan restaurants??? Loved the strong cardamom profile of the tea. The kofta were quite possibly the tastiest meatballs I've ever had in my life with a complex flavor. The mantu were delicious - so different from the Asian dumplings that I'm accustomed to. Even the kiddo loved them, and she usually avoids food with yogurt. The yaqoot chalow was also tasty, though the spice profile didn't seem quite as complex. We loved how generous they were with the cherries. The baghlawa was quite good as well, though I didn't think it approached the level of amazing the rest of the food did. Bottom line - if you haven't tried this place, you're missing out read more
I can honestly say this was one of the best meals I've ever had. We ordered the lamb kabobs and added a chicken kabob both were delicious. The Mantu is so tasty with flavor and perfect texture. The sambosas to start were a huge hit at our table. We also got a side of the borani banjan and I loved it. The owners are the ones taking your orders and cooking your food and they were such nice people! Will be back! read more
YUM!!!!! I would give them 10 stars if I could! Great ambience, service and food! This is true homemade Afghani food. It's not bland or over spicy, it's just incredibly flavorful. There were three of us and we shared 3 dishes: Zardaloo Chalow with lamb, Mantu, and Sabzi Challow with chicken. We almost licked the plates clean. Such flavorful sauces and meat was tender and delicious. Don't miss this restaurant, you have to give it a try. I've been wanting to try it for years and I'm so happy that I finally made it there! Just delicious! read more
10 months ago
My husband and I tried Pamir Kabob for a date night dinner, and it did not disappoint! I've never tried afghan food before and really enjoyed it. Pamir is family owned, and every person greeted & served us warmly. They had so many regulars come in that they were chatting & catching up with which we thought was sweet. We ordered: - Hummus - Pamir Special Kabob - Sabzi Charlow (spinach & meat stew) I was initially a bit cautious because I don't eat cilantro and our server told us that almost all of their dishes include coriander (dried seed of the plant cilantro comes from) in the spices. But, she recommended a couple dishes that use it the least and everything tasted AMAZING. I didn't get any traces of cilantro flavors and ate everything with no problem. The meat was so flavorful and tender, and the stew wasn't like what you'd normally think of for a stew - it keeps its shape on a plate and was so delicious. My husband was so happy and has been raving about this place to many of our friends. We will definitely be back! read more
Nice family run business which serves yummy dishes in large portions. Really appreciated the wide range of food on the menu. What I ordered was especially tasty. Bolanee: Looks like a quesadilla at first glance, but filled with a thin layer of leeks and potato. Nice thin dough that is slightly crispy. Pairs perfectly with the spicy herbal sauce and the soothing yogurt sauce. Reminds me a bit of a stuffed Indian paratha, but with thinner dough. Really enjoyed it. Mantu: I was hoping to get the Qaebli Palow, but they were out of lamb shank. So got these cute little pasta packets instead. Reminded me a bit of beef tortellini in a meat sauce, but with Afghani spices. Also, the rich yogurt sauce made it clear this wasn't Italian. Not as large a portion as the other mains, which was actually a good thing given how filling the appetizer was. read more
Business owner information
Diba A.
Hello Adam,…
8 months ago
Stumbled upon this place after the farmers market in La Jolla and wow, was I impressed. Great service and delicious food. We had the eggplant dip, kobideh kebab and tandoori chicken kebab. All were amazing and super flavorful. The prices are a little high which might be why this place was so dead for Sunday lunch but it's definitely a hidden gem. Highly recommend! read more
1 year ago
Excellent dinner. Friendly service. Meals prepared promptly. Prices reasonable. We've been meaning to try it for a while and it's terrific. Afghan food shares similarities to A number of Mediterranean cuisines. Also some similarities to Indian food. It's very appealing and is worth your time and money to try. They serve beer and wine. Restaurant is pleasantly decorated. Take out available. Only thing I'd change is that they included a 20% service charge and our party was just 4 people. They earned a good tip but I'm not a fan of mandatory service charges. Street parking. read more
Business owner information
Diba A.
Dear Andrew, thank you so much for your time to write such nice words…
3 years ago
Food was great - very happy with the chicken kebab and lamb shank weekend special. The rice was flavorful and lamb fell right off the bone. So juicy and tender. The chicken kebab was just as juicy and tender, not dry at all. Salad is big and fresh. Appetizers were great too. Can't wait to come back and try the lamb stews!! Service was a bit slow but very welcoming (went in the afternoon and only 1 person with 2 tables). Ambiance is elegant, clean and quiet. Such a hidden gem!! read more
2 years ago
Delicious afghan food that made for a perfect comfort meal picnic. The portions are big and the food was super flavorful and contained just the right amount of spice. We tried the Pamir special kabob, lamb sabzi, and chicken curry. I think the curry was my favorite but I loved it all! read more
8 months ago
Last night we had a dinner in this place as always delicious food great service and very clean and definitely recommend read more
We went here on a Sunday night and the food was really good. My friends got the chicken or lamb kebabs and they raved about them. Another friend and I shared the salmon kebab and it was delicious. The saffron rice was kind of boring. It wasn't as good as usual at places, but it was OK. I ordered a hummus appetizer and the pita that served with it was really nice and soft, but the hummus was kind of bland. We didn't argue about the check because the service was really nice but they charged me $12.95 for a side of rice. I'm pretty sure it was a mistake because the receipt said CHAOW or something like that I don't know that must be something on their menu that cost 12.95 but since we were there a long time we just let it go. Since there were six of us we were automatically billed a tip charge. It has a really nice decor with lights hanging from the windows. I recommend the place but be sure to check your bill for mistakes or maybe a side of rice is 12.95. I don't know it just seems like that would be really expensive. The portion sizes are huge. read more
1 year ago
Yummy yummy yummy lady was very nice quite satisfied with my meal. Feels comforting and peaceful read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
I had such a delicious lunch here! The food is fresh and full of flavor. Chicken kabob lunch special was bomb, and we got naan bread that came with a few yummy dips and pickled carrots. Sooo good. And the woman that took care of us was incredibly sweet. Overall had a great experience and I highly recommend this spot!! read more
Quaint establishment with kind owners and quick service. I'm glad there is a place in La Jolla to satisfy kabob cravings. Afghani kabobs are provided along with other traditional Afghan dishes. I tried their Pamir Special Kabob which includes both chicken and beef kabobs. I found the chicken to be tastier, but their beef isn't bad. Decently flavored kabobs, but I wish it had even more of a flavor and spice punch. It would be nice if a yogurt based chutney or sauce was provided with the kabob dishes. It would be nice if more tomatoes or perhaps grilled onions and tomatoes were provided. Their doogh is very salty to my liking, but it's got good herbs and spices in it. Their mango lassi isn't the greatest, but I'm very picky with Indian cuisine items as I grew up with that stuff. Good to go to if you're craving this type of food when in the area. I would suggest that this place should add more flavor to make it more "authentic" you could say for ethnic palettes too. Overall, not bad. But, this is me critiquing it more as I grew up eating similar kinds of cuisines and have tried better Afghan style kabobs. read more
My husband and I are always on the lookout for good Middle Eastern food! He was recommended this place by a colleague, and we are glad we went! We went early on a Thursday night and found parking right away. It wasn't busy either so we were seated and helped right away as well. Food: 5/5 Everything here is seasoned to perfection. They must use a lot of delicious spices in their foods because each bite was tasty. The borta was so good. It's similar to baba ganoush, and don't let the "spicy" description through you off. It's more of a warm heat, instead of being spicy. I have the spice tolerance of a small child, and I thought it was delicious! I got the aushak and it was good! It's a little more tomato-forward than other aushak I've had, but I really enjoyed it. My husband got the lamb kabob, and it was fantastic! Service: 5/5 The waitress was incredible! She was super friendly and helpful! Ambiance: 5/5 The restaurant was clean and decorated in theme! I also love the set up of the restaurant--you walk up a few steps to get into the restaurant so when seated, you're above the street. It gives the place a fun city vibe! We will definitely be back read more
1 year ago
First time trying Afghan food and it was absolutely delicious. We met the owner who practically runs the place (greets you, takes your order, etc) she was so sweet. The restaurant has a feel of what I imagine, is like home. Aside from the amazing food, the owner does a great job sharing their culture with how the restaurant is set up, the photos of Afghanistan along a wall etc. We absolutely enjoyed our time here. Definitely recommend! read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
Amazing food, service and ambiance. Everything we ordered was so good, and the dolmas were especially delicious. Our server was very sweet and helpful, we had an amazing dinner. read more
7 months ago
Pamir Kabob House is hands down the best Afghani Cuisine Restaurant in the city of San Diego. Starting with a welcoming Afghani hospitality, the wide range of dishes on the menus to the quality of food itself is out of this world. I would rate the top 2 Afghani restaurants in SD as follows: 1. Pamir 2. khyber Pass Coming back to the food here, I tried the borta appetizer with Afghani Naan .. it was served with cucumber slices.. very appetizing!! Next, we ordered the Pamir Kebob Special and Salmon Fish Kebob platters.. the meat was so fresh, and tender, especially the beef kebob and salmon morsels. This was followed by typical Alychee Khahwaa ( traditional Afgahani Persian tea ) , and the amazing Firnee dessert. Overall, must go restaurant! On my second visit, I tried their rack of lamb and mashed lentils/bean soup.. again to die for food! read more
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Truly an incredible and authentic meal at Pamir Kabob House. I would highly recommend this restaurant for their large selection of dishes (including a vegetarian section!) and kind service. Try the vegetarian platter and the bolani! read more
Relocating from Rancho Bernardo, Pamir Kabob House has taken over the spot on Pearl St in the village of La Jolla that used to house a short-lived Peruvian restaurant and before that, a longtime Thai eatery. The interior décor remained pretty much the same, perhaps a bit more understated than its predecessors. The menu had kabobs and curries that you might find at Mediterranean and Indian places respectively, but some unique items represented Afghan cuisine, specifically the stews (qorma). At my lunchtime visit, I started with the Borta which was a baked eggplant dip mixed with tahini, garlic, dried mint, and yogurt. Baby carrots and celery sticks were served on the side. The dip had a spicy zing to it which was a surprise. For an entrée, I picked the Mantu from the list of three beef dishes. Eight steamed pasta dumplings filled with seasoned beef were topped with a savory beef and yogurt sauce with sprinkled dried mint. This reminded me of ravioli but prepared and served in an Afghan style. My server was prompt and friendly as I was their second customer of the day. A few parties rolled in as I was finishing my meal. For those who enjoy Middle Eastern food, you can get that here, but I would suggest trying the less common items on the menu as the flavors in what I sampled were quite good. read more
Someone liked my photo which made me realize I never left a review for this spot. I was unfamiliar with Afghani food when I was invited to join friends here, but I love trying new cuisines. My friends raved about this place and said they used to go here when it was it was in a different location. There were so many different choices on the menu and the sour cherry items, stews and spinach items sounded so good There were 8 of us and we all enjoyed the items we had. So much flavor and very rich. They have lunch specials I would like to try too. I will definitely be back to try more menu items. Even though it's La Jolla I had no problem parking nearby. read more
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More info about Pamir Kabob House
737 Pearl St
La Jolla, CA 92037
La Jolla
Directions
(858) 352-6670
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http://www.pamirkabobhouse.com
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Ask the Community - Pamir Kabob House
Does this restaurant offer wine or beer right now?
Yes, but not until their liquor license application goes through. Pretty standard for opening at a new location. They are fully stocked and ready to go!
Do they offer takeout option? Also, does one still need to make reservations to dine in?
Yes
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29 reviews that are not currently recommended
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