Food and service at this afghan restaurant are top notch! The menu is comprehensive, with an array of mezzes, salads, kabobs, vegetarian entrees and drinks. The complimentary bread brought out was warm, chewy and delicious. My companion got the kabab-E-Gosfund, which consisted of grilled lamb chunks marinated in spices with saffron rice and chickpeas. Meat was tender and flavorful, rice was aromatic. I got the combination vegetarian platter, which was a choice of 3 vegetarian entrees served with spinach rice. One choice I got the zardak chalow, which was a stew of prunes, chickpeas, tomatoes, and carrots. It was sweet, savory and a little tart. Very unique and delicious. Another choice was the banjan chalow, which was eggplant, onions and garlic in a savory brown sauce topped with yogurt. Eggplant was tender and soft. Yogurt was creamy and complemented the dish. Rounding out the veggie trio was the sabsi chalow, which was pureed spinach with onions, garlic and spices. A side of spinach rice came with the combo platter, also yummy. Will definitely be back! read more

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

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

We absolutely loved eating at Panjshir! I got the Combination Vegetarian Entree and chose the kadu chalow, banjan chalow, and buranee -e- kachalow as the entrees. All three were very good and my favorite was the kadu. Prior to the entrees being served they provided us with some bread and the most delicious sauce. The green sauce was so delicious, so amazed at the flavors. Everyone there was so friendly and our food came out pretty quickly! I will definitely be back to try out more of the food :) read more

Panjshir - Complimentary Bread and Sauce - Afghan Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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First dining eating Afghan food and wow it was delicious! We were seated in a booth by the window. The host walked us through the menu and shared the popular items. We started with the Muntoo appetizer which was dumplings with beef and yogurt sauce. For dinner we enjoyed Kadu Palow and Quabili Palow. The lamb was the same in both dishes and was delicious. I really enjoyed the pumpkin in the Kadu. We ended the meal with the baklava served with raspberry sauce and pistachios. Very friendly service with parking! read more

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The restaurant was packed on a Sat night and opted to get takeout instead. We tried three dishes, my absolute favorite was Bulanee Gandana. It was different from anything I've ever had, and absolutely delicious. I loved it with the yogurt sauce. I ordered Kadu Palow because of all the raves about the dish amid the reviews. I don't know how I feel about it, the pumpkins were very very sweet and it feels more like a dessert, rather than a savory dish. It was a very divisive dish among my party, half really liked it, while the other half was confused by it. Overall, the meats were absolutely delicious and flavorful, and I would definitely love to come back again. read more

Panjshir - Kadu Palow Entree, Combination Kabab & Bulanee Gandana - Afghan Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

We made a return visit to Panjshir after a few years' absence and were reminded of all the good food and warm hospitality we had been missing. We introduced another couple to the restaurant. We were reminded of the glorious vegetarian entrees featuring pumpkin, apples, and a multitude of additional fruits, vegetables and nuts. The saucing makes the dishes! The vegetarian combo platter allows sampling of three at a time with a side of rice. Not to be missed! It's one of Falls Church's hidden restaurant gems, in a side street strip mall close by The Falls Church. read more

Panjshir has been a favorite restaurant of mine for 25+ years and the food is still outstanding. When I worked in the area my colleagues and I would go every week. The food is outstanding and if you haven't been there you should really frequent this fine restaurant!! read more

Great place for Afghan food. I no longer live in the area, but I make sure to go back anytime I am in the area. Absolutely no Afghan or decent middle eastern food in Colorado. read more

I treated my mother and her neighbors to dinner here; they had all been before, but I had never been since I no longer live in the area. They love it here, and I really wanted to try Afghan food. The ambiance here is wonderful. It is elegant and tasteful, yet casual. I believe it was the owner, Mr. Niazy, that first came to our table, who was very friendly and welcoming. I found the cardamom tea to be excellent and worked well with my meal. In the combination veggie platter, you can choose three of the items, which was a great way for me to get a little taste of different dishes; I can never choose with such a great looking menu! The spinach, potatoes, and aubergine... all wonderful. We all felt our dishes were appropriately sized to be satisfied, but not overly full. Clean plate club. read more

Panjshir - Combination Vegetarian Entree (Sabsi Chalow, Banjan Chalow, Buranee e Kachalow, spinach rice) - Afghan Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

I'm a bit shocked that I haven't done this review long ago, having been a fan for about 30 years. The food has consistently been great for that long; the service ALWAYS gracious, professional, easy and friendly; the owner cordial and interested most in you having a great experience. The ambiance is easy and calming. I've always had a lovely time; always had a great experience. The only problem I have is that it's so hard to order anything other than the mushroom palow. Yum! read more

Food - amazing!!!! Soup! Wonderful lentil soup! and a noodle soup! Come for the perfect soup. Amazing vegetarian dishes! Unique and uniquely good! Service - out of this world! So good. so friendly, helpful, genuine. Ambiance - lovely. Bring a date here!!! Bring your friends for an evening of conversation and fabulous, exceptional, interesting food, with warm service! We have been here three times and every time is is fabulous! What a find! read more

Panjshir - Quorma Chalow (beef) - yum!!! everything here was fantastic! - Afghan Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Enjoyed our visit to this family owned restaurant serving good Afghani cuisine. We tried few of their dishes- -Bread and dipping was warm and tasty. -Aushak Appetiser was unique and I enjoyed it. -Combination Vegetarian Entree-I loved the kadu chalow the most,rice was perfectly cooked and flavourful. -Quabili Palow-the meat was tender and had good flavor. -Phirni-this dessert was exceptional. I would recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for good Afghani food. read more

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My first time trying Afghani cuisine! This place was amazing. We popped in for a quick lunch and we're positively surprised with how delicious everything was. Food came out quick, there were plenty of tables and space, and the service was quick and helpful! read more

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Great food and service. We had an excellent meal and our server checked in with several times to ensure we had what we needed. We will be back. read more

I'm still new to Afghani food but am very excited one is within walkable distance to me. We ordered the mantoo, kadu palow, and the lamb shank. Everything was so incredibly delicious! I'm absolutely in love with the kadu palow. The flavors in the dish worked so well together: lamb, yogurt, tomato sauce, and pumpkin. Ugh, I've been craving it ever since. My boyfriend's lamb shank was fork tender and also delicious. I was really impressed with their muntoo (dumplings). Not only was the food delicious (including the bread and jalepeno sauce), but the owner was really friendly. We were the only ones dining in and it felt like our personal restaurant. read more

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Went to Panjshir last evening (June 22, 2025) on advice of friends. The food, service, and ambience were great. Highly recommend. Definitely going there again, going to be one of our "go to" restaurants. read more

Went here with my in laws who go a lot. The ambiance here is great and the food was good! We did the aushak and the bulanee gandana for appetizers. We had wanted the aushak without meat as one of our party was vegetarian. Luckily we asked but they fixed it super quick. Everyone enjoyed their main with the highlight being the kadu palow. I will say the my leftovers the next day of the shalgham palow was even more flavorful the next day. The service was ok. They basically left us alone (but with good water refills) but it would have been nice if they checked if we wanted another glass of wine. Overall a good meal and will most likely be back. read more

Five stars. The food. The ambiance. Decor. Service. Bathrooms. Everything. Sauces have depth and exceptional flavor. They have vegetarian options too. Muntoo Appetizer - Think of an Afghan Ravioli. Perfectly seasoned. Better than its Italian counterpart in most places. Kadu Palow - Spinach "Mother" Rice and sauteed lamb. Being a lamb fanatic, I know my lamb. This is soft as if pressure cooked. Who knew a pumpkin and yogurt sauce would be the perfect accompaniment to bring it all together? Apparently they do...hence it being part of the dish! It's particularly good mixed altogether with the rice and lamb. A delicious menagerie. My guest and I were there at opening so it was just us and we were being served by the owner, Esmat. TERRIFIC personality! This place would be terrific to host a small gathering, business meeting, or for an intimate date. The furnishings and interior actually looks like someone cared enough to put some thought into it, and it's beautiful. The tables are lacquered. The booths have pillows. Even the bar is organized perfectly by bottle height. Pride in ownership permeates the decor and extends to the food, obviously. Ample parking outside within the small strip mall the house this little gem. Glad a business partner of mine turned me on to this place. It's definitely a winner! read more

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This is a really enjoyable neighborhood type Afghan place. The service is really friendly and they have a little bar in the back along with a large number of tables. I wasn't familiar with some of the menu items so I appreciated that they did a great job of providing descriptions along with the item name. Portions are okay but not as large as some Afghan places so you'll probably leave full but won't have leftovers for a week like at some places. I enjoyed the Bulanee Gandana (turnovers filled with scallions, herbs, minced and ground beef) and they weren't greasy at all which was appreciated. The Kabob E Gaow (Marinated chunks of beef served with saffron rice) was very tasty and lean. It came with grilled onions and a tomato type sauce with a little kick that I really liked. Also, the bread they bring with all meals is very tasty and could probably be the base for excellent pizza. Prices are a tad high for the portions but the food is excellent and I'll be back here in the future since I really enjoyed it. If winter ever ends, I'll even be able to walk here for dinner. read more

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Another great meal from Panjshir! It was not a night for eating in for us so we picked up to take out. As usual the food was ready and fresh when promised and very well packed for take-out. And also as usual the owner was warmly genial and welcoming. On a chilly night, the hearty aush soup was really welcome. And the classic quabili palow with lamb blended richly subtle flavors. It's really amazing how consistently delicious their food is. I've been eating it for thirty years and never tire of it. read more

Another of my favorites in the DMV area. The service is prompt and welcoming. The food is delicious, fresh and unique. I'd recommend either the Muntoo (beef filled dumplings with yogurt sauce and mint) or the Bulanee Gandana (scallion turnovers) as an appetizer. If you're looking for something fried, the Sambosay Goshti (fried dumpling with meat, chickpea and parsley) are really good. Definitely try the spicy sauce with any of the above, and the free bread. My favorite dish is the Kadu Palow (lamb and pumpkin). The pumpkin here is unlike anything I have ever had. It's so flavorful. Sweet with a tart sauce that really pulls it together. I'd also really recommend the vegetarian combo. The apples are sweet and delightful, and definitely don't miss the turnips (I know, not usually the top of my list either but it's awesome)! If you're in the mood for a more meaty dish, go for the lamb shank. It's very tender and moist. The rice (with raisins almonds on top) is super good with the meat. Whatever you choose you will enjoy here. We have not had a bad dish and we've tried a fair number of dishes off the menu! read more

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Thank you Panjshir Resturant for having us last night. I had an amazing experience at the restaurant with my family. The food was absolutely delicious, authentic Afghan food with each dish bursting with flavor and prepared to perfection. What truly stood out, however, was the impeccable customer service. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly and made to feel right at home. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure we had a fantastic dining experience. Additionally, the ambiance of the restaurant was inviting and cozy making it the perfect setting for a memorable meal. . I highly recommend it! it truly exceeded all expectations..!! read more

The food was amazing but I told the owner that my daughter has Celiac disease and he immediately pointed out all the options on the menu she could have and recommended a potato side dish as an appetizer. She was so happy and enjoyed a great dinner as we celebrated my Moms 88th birthday! One of my parents favorite restaurants. read more

Excellent food especially the vegetarian dishes. I went there for the curry pumpkin and it is fantastic but the other veggie dishes are equally good. Great service. Worth driving for. read more

The appetizers were good: aushak and mantu. The chicken kabob was ok. Unfortunately the kadu palow was ridiculously cheap on lamb. There were about 6 small marble sized pieces of meat served with a mountain of rice. Disappointing for us and our guests read more

Great food and amazing service!! The chicken and mushrooms was incredible. Came with a large party and had such a great time had to come back for a friends birthday. read more

First time getting Afghan food. I got the aushak as an appetizer and the Lamb Quabili Palow. The ah Aushak was really interesting and tasty- it's a dumpling with a meat and yogurt sauce. The dumpling is more like a very thin and tasty pasta with a little meat inside. The Lamb Quabili Palow was my entree and it was alright. It reminded me of Ethiopian and Indian foods that I've had in the past. Strong flavors buts not overwhelming. read more

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Excellent food and service. Nice selection of appetizers and entrees. I had a lamb shank that was excellent and fell of the bone, wife had pumpkin and lamb which was very tasty. Both entrees were right sized enough but not too much and reasonably priced. We started with two types of steamed dumplings which were also very good. The table gets a basket of bread with that spicy green dipping sauce. As a bonus they have a selection of beers and a large selection of wines by the glass and bottle. There was a desert menu but we were too full to try - maybe next time. Nice interior and a few outdoor tables under a canopy. Parking lot part of a strip mall. read more

As always, service was impeccable and food was truly delicious! We had a combination platter of vegetarian entrees and a Kadu Palau (lamb). I am SO happy to have them in Falls Church. read more

Panjshir - Vegetarian entree combo with eggplant, spinach and pumpkin - Afghan Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Best Afghani Food ever!! I have been to this place 5 times within the last 10 days! The food is consistently wonderful every time I order it. I have ordered delivery and take out and the food is always delicious. I would highly recommend trying this place. The soups are extremely reasonably priced and the food is heavenly! read more

Food is very tasty, good services, attentive owners. Conveniently located in buzzing Falls Church. They can offer more dishes with vegetables, it would increase patrons. read more

I believe this restaurant has faked its reviews because I am very disappointed from panjshir restaurant food. I ordered a qabuli palao and soup. I Paid over $35 received this kid size meal box. This is the kind of box u get to pack your leftovers. If this is normal then customer have to order 3 of these for a single person dinner. Future customers please beware of their scams. read more

Panjshir - So called qabuli palao - Afghan Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Surprisingly, this was my time trying Afghan food. It was wonderful. And a special thank you to the team at Panjshir for their hospitality. Our party asked many questions, some of which were misguided or highlighted our own ignorance. But the servers patiently answered questions, and offered recommendations for sides and sauces. The food was excellent, so much so that I forgot to take a picture! I had the turnips with lamb, and others in our party had the beef kebab, chicken kebab, and mushroom palow. I'll definitely be back and we are looking forward to visiting again. read more

Panjshir - Afghan Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Excellent food and great service. We enjoyed our dinner very much. Lovely dining room. Will be back. read more

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Very good tasting Afghan food. The tea and bread were excellent. Hint: Don't park in the back, park in the front. The back belongs to a different shopping area and I understand that they tow. read more

We go to Panjshir fairly often and are never disappointed. They make a wide variety of authentic Afghan dishes. We vary our orders and always find the food fresh and delicious. My son eats vegan and likes it that he has no trouble finding excellent vegan dishes. I'm very fond of lamb and they have a number of marvelous lamb options -- as well as beef or chicken. (No fish, so far as I know.) Everything is well described on the menu and the servers are very knowledgeable and very ready to give information or advice. The service always seems to be top-notch, even when the restaurant is busy. It's basically a storefront but very nicely decorated with items from Afghanistan. Guests always comment especially on the colorful Afghan kites suspended from the ceiling. The seating is comfortable and not tight. The only thing I miss is they have no tandoor and thus no naan. read more

The inside of this restaurant is really cute! The decor is nice and cozy. Overall this is a pretty good Afghani restaurant and I liked the food and the service is pretty fast. However I would not rank it in the top three or even top-five afghani places in nova. I tried the appetizer that was a fried Samosa type food with leeks and beef. It was really good and was served with a really yummy yogurt sauce. The main course was very simple but fresh and healthy. I tried the chicken which came in a curry sauce that was tomato base but very simple and not as flavorful as some other restaurants. It came with spinach which was delicious and sautéed and very fresh. I also like the rice. I would come back here and try something else but if you were looking for a really awesome Afghani place I would recommend Afghan bistro, Aracosia McLean , or Mazadar! read more

I can't believe I've never been here before! Everything was delicious! We got the vegetarian platter with amazing and sweet pumpkin, spinach, and eggplant- with a side of carrots. We also got salads, free bread, and - yummy chocolate pudding for dessert! I highly recommends! The service was outstanding as well-very accommodating for our unique needs. Can't wait to return soon and try more delicacies! ! read more

I'm not feeling it here. I had a craving for some Indian Samosas but figured this afghan restaurant might have something similar. Considering I pass by this place everyday I figured I'd give it a shot. I looked at the online menu and see Sambosay Goshti which is the closest thing that looks like the familiar Samosa. After picking it up I remember thinking, gosh this is awfully tiny for an appetizer...(well at least for American standards)...is this even gonna whet my appetite? Anyway I was very disappointed to see 4 small, light-as-air, triangular fried dumplings. I guess I was expecting something a little more 3-dimentional or tetrahedral like your typical Indian samosa. As for the taste...it was just alright. I didn't realized the lack of potato feeling really does make a difference in taste. I'm not going to write this place off just yet, but I'll definitely have to satiate my samosa cravings at an Indian restaurant. read more