We've been to Sameem's about 8-10 times over the years. The food experience has always been a solid 4.5-5.0. Super flavorful, freshly prepared food. We usually go as a family of 4 (all adults now; although we started to go when the kids were in high school). We love the Lamb Curry (both my sons' favorite), the Beriani, the Qabelli Palau, and Chicken Teekha Masala. The Sambosas are great starters. The chutney they serve with bbq the Naan is a family favorite. To steal a line from Frank's Red Hot Sauce "We put that sh*tuff on everything ". Finally, when we have room (and sometimes even when we don't), we get the rice pudding. The service is usually good, but not necessarily great. It's always personable and genuine; just sometimes a little slower than expected. Also the place (opened circa 2005) is showing its age a bit and needs a little TLC. It's very clean; it just needs a little refreshening in certain high traffic areas. The takeout/delivery business seemed good on the Sunday night we went there, but the in-store business was pretty quiet. However, it was one of those sub-20 degree nights, so I'm hoping that was the reason for the lack of in-person dining. Go there are experience some really great food and let's keep this gem of a locally owned restaurant in business. Based on food alone on out most recent experience, I'd rate it 5 stars; service and ambiance probably should drag it down a bit, but I'm still going with a 5-star review, because for the food and flavor it produces, it deserves a strong review and some positive energy to keep people trying this great food and supporting this local business. read more

I love Afghan food a lot and I enjoyed Sameem and would recommend it but will say it's not going to be a mainstay restaurant like the Afghan Kebab House restaurant that's my favorite Afghan/Mid-Eastern food in St. Louis although Sameem is not as expensive and is still very high quality. I enjoyed my Spicy Chicken Soltani kebab platter that came with a spiced biryani rice with raisins and very good. I started with Pashtun salad that was small but fine for the $5 price. The naan bread on the side is different than the typical type of Indian naan but still tastes good. The service was pretty slow and I wasn't in a big rush but was getting ready to walk out after almost 15 minutes of waiting when a server came by. Good thing because 2 more minutes of waiting and I would've been out the door. The restaurant isn't the greatest inside but will do, nothing fancy. read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Spicy Chicken Soltani kebabs - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

My husband and I tried Sameen for the first time via DoorDash. The serving sizes were a bit smaller given the price but the food was flavorful, I'm hopeful that it will be more worthwhile in person, it overall it was easy to order and they offer a lot of variety on their to-go menu. read more

Sameem Afghan Cafe is known for serving up great halal food in the Grove. You can taste the authentic Afghan flavors in every dish, perfectly spiced, and beautifully presented. The lamb kabobs were tender and juicy, and the bolani was perfectly crispy and flavorful. The portions are generous, and everything tastes homemade with care and presented at an affordable coats. The inside is quaint and the staff are friendly, attentive, and genuinely interested in ensuring you enjoy your meal. Whether you're a fan of Afghan cuisine or trying it for the first time, Sameem is a must-visit in STL for middle eastern food. read more

Very disappointed with the food! The bolani was just full of oil...the food did not taste fresh, and the meat in qabuli was burnt.. nothing tasted good. read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Lamb Qabelli Palau - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Easy and quick place to get decent halal food. The butter chicken was a 3/5. The chicken tenders 3.5/5 . It's my go to place when I can't think of what to cook. read more

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In a prior life, I lived off South Grand, we are practically every nationality had a restaurant. Walking by many times, I would always see their sandwich board sign advertising, their lunch, special of butter chicken and chicken, tiki masala. Eventually, I got curious and wanted to stop in to try that lunch special, and it was amazing! From that point on I ate there many times until one day I saw they had closed. I very disappointed, I realize that operating an ethnic restaurant within a sea of other ethnic restaurants is hard to compete. After a while, I heard that they had relocated from Tower Grove South to Forest Park, Southeast, a.k.a. The Grove. Very happy to hear, I stopped by several times after that. They no longer have the lunch special, but make it for me when I order off menu. If you're looking for ambiance, this isn't your place, but good food good service and kind ownership is more important to me read more

When we arrived at this restaurant, we honestly thought it was closed because there was not a soul visible in the window behind the counter or in the dining room. The only indication that they were open was the "Open" sign and a bag with takeout food on the counter. But there is a side dining room that's not visible from the entrance. The decor is simple and a bit primitive. The service was wonderful and the food was delicious and very plentiful. We had leftovers for at least one more day afterward. It was our first experience with Afghan food and we were not disappointed. It's probably too primitive for anything romantic or a business meeting, but for casual dining it was great. read more

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I love Sameem's. Their food is fire and everyone that I have gone with loves it. Everything is tasty and delicious. I had Sameem cater a wedding event of mine and have gone to the restaurant on a number of occasions and thoroughly enjoy the food every time. The staff is so knowledgeable and kind. I can't wait to go back! read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

We've never had Afghani food before and we were not disappointed. We enjoyed the SLU special and chicken broast. Both were tasty and huge portions (which we finished). Don't expect a 5 star ambiance Rather, it's a nondescript place that serves good food. read more

The service is ridiculous at this place. The server/ owner was very rude from the time we entered the place and was almost completely uninterested. read more

The best! Hands down, one of my favorite menus in all of St. Louis. These guys put their all into their dishes. Offerings are affordable and plentiful. You'll have leftovers for the next day! read more

We were driving home to KS from Atlanta and decided to stop by St. Louis for the arch and lunch. Kids decided to eat something Indian and we were so glad we went to Sameem Afghan Restaurant. All the food we ordered were delicious, the staff were great too. It's a gem, you must give this restaurant a try. Very worth it. read more

Run! Don't walk to Sameem!! You'll need the extra calories and, trust me, you'll want to order the whole menu.. and you should! The no-frills restaurant is welcoming, clean, and nice. The staff is great and super helpful! The food is amazing and super flavorful! We got the Mid Eastern Feast for the appetizer and it was a great portion and allowed us to try (and fall in love) with everything! For entrees we got the Chicken Beriani (delicious rice dish) and Chicken Teeka Masala (incredible sauce with decent sized portions of chicken). Everything was plate-licking good! I can't wait to go back!! read more

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My second Afghan restaurant experience, with the first being Afghan Kabob House. I liked the Kabob House slightly more for its dining atmosphere and spice variety, but both were excellent choices. We had the Bolini, Lamb Shank and chicken beriani. Good choices, but if you were sharing, I would only order one of them, since both the lamb and chicken had similar rice. The server was excellent and the food arrived quickly. read more

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We wanted to try this place out for a date night and we were happy with our decision. The ambiance was a little off because they didn't have any music playing so it was a bit quite when we first got there. When we got there we got to go plates, plastic silverware and bottled water for our drink. We ordered the the Traditional Afghani Bolani for an appetizer and really like it. The sauce that this app comes with is comparable to a chimichuri and is absolutely delicious! My fiancé ordered the spicy beef kabob and I ordered the chicken teeka masala. We were both pleased with our meal. Overall the food was good! read more

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The food at Sameem is great, always fresh and flavorful. It's my daughter's favorite restaurant in St Louis and we've been there many times. They never disappoint. The prices are good too and servers are friendly. read more

Have been to Sameem a number of times and they always deliver good quality food. This time I tried the chicken soltani (one skewer of chicken kabob, one skewer of Koobideh) served with rice and grilled tomato. The chicken is hit or miss, I have had it a little bit dry and other times better so it kind of depends on the day. The koobideh seems to always be really good so I'd recomendable that one more. Also tried the homemade hummus with pita which was good but a little bit oily. Overall this is one of the better Mediterranean places in the greater STL area and worth a try! read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Chicken Soltani - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

My bestie and I ordered the muntoo, mixed grill, and chicken tikka masala, and mixed grill entrees. They were all delicious! The only downside was we were expecting to have leftovers and we didn't...if you're going with just one other person, I suggested splitting 3 entrees like we did since they are kind of small. read more

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Food was OUTSTANDING! Every bite was and explosion. It was served warm and fresh and quickly. Can't wait to come back. read more

A hole in the wall type of place that serves both Indian and middle eastern cuisine. The homemade hummus tasted fresh and was delicious, highly recommend as an appetizer. The chicken tikka ("teeka") masala was bursting with flavors, though at times a little too spicy for my liking. I'd order both of them again. The portion sizes are decent, though other Indian food I've had usually includes more meat in the dish. All of the dining happens upstairs and water is served in plastic red solo cups. Not the most environmentally friendly to have single-use plastic and styrofoam to-go boxes, but that matches the vibe of this place. We had a young man as our server who was attentive and kind. Overall, a good experience but not anything out of the ordinary. read more

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Good service, attentive. Cute small cozy spot. Food was amazing! Great spice but not spicy and good portions.

I've always wanted to try something like this and I was not disappointed. Loved the food. The sauce that comes with the chicken masala is one of the best sauces I've ever had. Highly recommend the chicken masala and dip that naan bread in there. I had to order another side of sauce because I couldn't get enough of it. Only down side is that I wish there was more help for them! I got neglected a little because it got busy. read more

Quaint, authentic, with good food. What more could you want?! Feel free to dress casual, it's got a hole-in-the-wall feel. We shared the sambosa & pakora for an appetizer and it was pretty good. Then I had the chicken Karachi and that was also really good. You simply can not go wrong. read more

It was good! Very unique experience. Food is kind of a blend of middle eastern and Indian and a bit of south east Asia. Not a very fancy place, in fact I was a bit confused when I entered the door. But the food was definitely with it. Street Parking is free after 5 on Friday night. Service was fast but they used disposable cups. read more

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Great food and drinks; clean place easy to find. Samosas are must try and chicken biryani read more

Great Afghani food. Owner is great guy. Place is nice. I like many dishes. Rice and kebabs are tasty. Eggplant dish is very good. Must try

Hello deliciousness. Legit and great prices and quality delicious food. Period. Food was fast and hot and flavorful. All of it. Can't wait to go back and happy we came here for lunch. read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Sambosa - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Had the lamb shank and it was awesome! Tender lamb prepared in a delicious base. Very friendly environment and good service.

I had the mixed grill, and it was absolutely delicious. All the meats were flavor and tender. The yogurt sauce I used for dipping. I hope to try other menu options later! read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Mixed Grill - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

The basics nice and clean. The price was good and the food and service was great. I am looking foreard to my next visit.

We wanted to try this Afghani place for awhile so glad we finally got a chance to try it. It wasn't too busy on a Friday night and they took their COVID-19 precautions seriously so that was a plus. The food itself was very average. I love lamb so I was looking forward to the lamb shank dish. While the meat itself was moist, it lacked flavor so it was less enjoyable. The rice also, while colored a beautiful yellow, lacked any spice so the dish itself was quite bland. The lamb kabob had a similar problem; it largely lacked any true flavor. The high point of the meal was the appetizer; the Bollani (stuffed bread) was delicious and had me wishing for more. Overall, an underwhelming meal. The service was fast and the workers were kind but not sure if I'll come back to try the other items. read more

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I love Sameem!! I first tried their food when they had a pop up in my office building. The staff was unbelievably friendly and helpful!! The food was delicious. Strong flavors and a great variety! I enjoyed it so much that I decided to go check out their restaurant. We had no trouble getting a table and the service was good. I don't believe they have a parking lot, but street parking was not difficult to find. Everything on their menu is delicious and I cannot wait to keep trying new dishes!! Highly recommend read more

Wow I think this tops Ethiopian food as my favorite! I wish we had one near me in Clearwater, Florida! St. Louis has such diverse food options! Check it out! read more

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Driven to Sameem after realizing there's no real Afghan food in Los Angeles, their offering of some of the traditional dishes is what made my trip to St. Louis truly great. Sameem is a low-key but popular place for Afghan, Indian and Pakistani style dishes, much of which reflects traditional Mughlai cuisine. Lamb Qabelli Pulao - this is easily my favorite Afghan dish because it boasts the usual pulao characteristics that includes fluffy basmati rice with a great aroma (unlike biryani, which can be peppered to hell), and in this case a lamb shank that melts right off the bone. The two are cooked together and steamed up to provide a fluffy disposition that can only be contrasted with the carrots and raisins that define quabelli pulao. I do think you'll find that the carrots and raisins are put on haphazardly, but the core taste profile is definitely here. The oil on the rice will leave you savoring for more as you mix ingredients to dish out a savory meal. I would certainly come back, likely 30 minutes before closing, or better yet at least an hour as they can close early. Would I order the same dish over and over? You bet. read more

Great Resturant. Great service. Owner is always there and provides the best service. Every thing they make is delicious.

Just go here and eat a few things, you don't have to read any further. Everything is very delicious here and I highly recommend this restaurant!!!......... The food is amazing here, the flavor they offer up is so on point. I personally don't love hummus all that much and I don't really like eggplant, well here I really liked both a lot. They took two diff things I don't care for and made me really enjoy it, that's when you know someone can cook. Of the familiar dishes I tried, everything was made so flavorful. You'll be wanting to try other people's food once you sample some stuff here, they really have a fun menu that isn't found everyday on the restaurant scene. I know I was ready to try everything they offered, such delicious food here. As I said before, just go eat here! read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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This place is still OPEN for takeout and delivery through Dashdoor and Postmates in case you are wondering!!! I called them to have the order ready in an hour and it was made on time. You just entered at the front door and someone will get your order. I never had food at Sameem so I was not sure what to expect. The food really hit the spot for me. I love Middle eastern food so it was very delicious in my opinion. The portion was big and filling. We ordered the Mid East Feast for 4 people and the Lamb Qabelli. I highly recommend the Mid East Feast because it gives a good variety of options. It is like an appetizer platter. The Lamb was very soft and the rice was nicely cooked. I have been to a handful of restaurants and I can tell you that if the rice is cooked properly that restaurant sets itself apart from others. The price was very reasonable as well. In general, I am very happy with my decision. And I would come back at another time. I also highly recommend ordering takeout and delivery from this place during the COVID19 time because I feel like this is the kind of restaurant where ordering in and taking out does not make a difference. read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Mid Eastern Feast (4 people) and Lamb Qabelli Palau - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

It's a hit or miss. 2 out of 3 times the food was bad. Naan were super hard and not fresh. Everything else was not so fresh.

So overall this was the weirdest dining experience of my life!! To the point that my friend and i can't stop laughing about it because we were so confused by our service we thought we were on an episode of Punk'd... To start with the pros: the food here is AMAZING!! Like so delicious and everything comes fast... LIKE REALLY FAST. I actually looked at time stamps on my phone cause it was insane how fast it was but our appetizers and dinner were SIX MINUTES APART! It also wasn't super busy or crowded too on a Saturday morning which is great because the dining room isn't super big. But the cons... oh boy. First was kind of a small thing but we weren't given cups, instead they give you red solo cups which was kind of odd for sit down dining but we ignored it and thought even though there are only 2 parties dining (including us) maybe they didn't have anyone on dishes so whatever. But the real kicker was the service... our service was bad. And i mean REALLY bad. There was another family there that finished their meals and took their time to chit chat after and weren't rushed at all, but that was not the case AT ALL for us. When i tell you they literally came to our table every 2 minutes asking if we were ready over and over again from the moment we sat down and basically were like well at least tell me what appetizers are you getting so we quickly ordered some. Then they bring them out and continue coming every 2 minutes asking are you ready yet are you ready over and over (keep in mind we had 2 servers coming to our table at this point too so it was like double distracting because we couldn't even scan the menu long enough). We were finally just like okay yeah we'll take this and ordered our entree. After we get our food they stop for a bit (maybe for like 10 minutes) and continue again. "Hey are you done? Do you want boxes yes or no? Are you ready yet?" To the point where it got so pushy and aggressive we just ate quickly to try to wrap up and leave (keep in mind they didn't do this to the other large parties that we saw were there with us). Finally she comes to our table and says "are you doing okay? I'm just your waiter you know ... so I'm going to keep checking on you" and while it wasn't objectively rude it hit a point where we couldn't even take a bite of food before they were back at our table trying to make us box things up. My friend ended up boxing up half her rice and i just left what i didn't eat and we asked for the check thinking it can't get worse... BUT IT DID. She almost immediately brings the check and doesn't even set it down for us to look at and basically just takes my friends card from her hand and walks away (doesn't ask if we want to split or anything) and then comes back 30 seconds later. My friend (who paid) was still boxing up her food since it was so quick that she SHOVES THE CHECKBOOK INTO MY HAND TO AVOID WAITING 10 SECONDS AND WALKS OFF. Overall the food was sooooo good but the service made us so uncomfortable we just burst out laughing, packed up, paid, and left. I don't know what we did as a party of 2 in their empty restaurant to annoy them so bad but man did they want us gone immediately!! Overall, I hate to leave bad reviews especially on a small family business but I don't think I'll be coming back again. I'll probably just keep going to Sultan instead since it's literally right around the corner and the service is so much better. read more

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