Absolutely excellent! Great Hummus, the Mixed Grill was delicious. Service was excellent. Highly recommend! read more

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

Just had the absolute best meal I've had in a long time at Sameen's. First time there and I must say the owner was so kind and generous, he actually brought out some dishes for us to try on the house. Now that's good business! We had an eggplant appetizer, curried lamb, chicken Tika Masala, mixed grill (meat), and some sort of cinnamon, raisin and carrot rice (like a biryani) that the owner brought us. Absolutely everything was so delicious and full of rich flavor. We all kept saying how happy we were at that moment and so glad we had been taking photos in The Grove and just happened upon this place. Nothing at all fancy, just really good food and great service. You must eat there soon! read more

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

After reading reviews, I choose Sameem's for our monthly dinner club this past Friday. They did not disappoint! Their site does state to make reservations during the weekend. It appears they are seeking approval from the city to expand, which is great for them. It is quite small and very simple, enough room for about 6 parties in their main dining area. But please do not let this deter you. At the time of this review, they do not serve alcohol but they do let you BYOB / Wine for NO fee and have glasses for you. Can't beat that! My wife and I both had lamb. I had the Lamb Qabelli Palau and it was some of the best lamb I ever had - no gamey flavor at all nor did I find any bone fragments. My wife had the Lamb Karahi which was also great and I will probably get next time. For those wanting something simple, go for the Qabelli Palau. For something more rich, the Karahi. Another member of the group had the Our Famous Spicy Chicken Pasta. Again, it was great! It does have a lot of black pepper flavor and might be too much for some people. If you like butter, garlic, and pepper - go for it! I have never been to a restaurant before and have the owner shake all of our hands as we left. I got the feeling he was very grateful for our business. It was a great experience! PS, Urban Chestnut brewery is a very short walk away and is a great place to head to afterwards. read more

Food was amazing, prices were good (especially for how much you get) if you come with a large party there isn't much room, might be good to call ahead especially around lunch or dinner time. read more

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

We were in the mood for Indian and this place did not disappoint. We had the Afghan muntoo and the lamb biryani. The Afghan muntoo was a nice starter but the lamb biryani was pure perfection. Excellent basmati rice with a slight sourness that isn't overpowering and a perfectly cooked lamb shank with the meat coming off the bone like butter. This is an absolute must have if you come here. The owner Ayub was really great and he even brought us complimentary kheer. Now if you want to know the taste of real kheer, this is the place to have it. It was smooth and creamy and not too sweet. Being north Indian myself and well aware of how good biryani and kheer should taste, this place is probably the best in Illinois. Well worth the trip to St. Louis. read more

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

Great food. We went there on a late saturday afternoon. Ordered the appetizer for 4, could not pick one better that the other. Had the lamb biriyani. I have not had a lamb shank cooked to perfection the way Sameems has it going. Mind blowing!! The lamb korma and the chicken biriyani was also amazing. Tender, cooked to perfection. I would have given 5 stars if it were not for the tables right next to the restroom, which in itself was by the cleanest. I really hope that they do away with sitting people from the tables next to the restroom and that they install doors which close them self. The only other issue I feel can be improved according to me is the serving size which is smaller than what I am used to, although that might be just me. Overall I highly recommend this place. read more

Sameem is hands down my favorite restaurant in Saint Louis. Everything I have tried on the menu is very good, but the best dish there in my opinion is the Lamb Qabelli Palau. It is fantastic. The lamb falls off the bone, and has such an amazing flavor. And the rice with raisins and carrots is a perfect blend of season and sweet. In addition to the food the servers are friendly and helpful, and the owner is a real great guy who clearly cares deeply about his customers. There's absolutely no way to go wrong at Sameem. If you have not been there, go! read more

After 7:30 on a Saturday night, we got the last two person table upstairs. It was so noisy due to excited diners gabbing away, we asked to be seated downstairs. It was a little cold when people came and went, but it was much nicer for our date. The two of us started with Mid-eastern feast for four appetizer, because we wanted leftovers. That was a great decision that almost didn't work since we wanted to keep eating it! I especially liked all the different flavors of the pakowas (orange fried item in pictures) dipped in the mint chutney (green sauce). The chutney has a real kick, but it really paired well with the pakowa. The falafel texture reminded me of a good fritter, not dry, not soggy, not oily, just right. Afghani Muntoo for me. It was a mild dish, but had many different flavors, which I really enjoyed. See pictures. A guy at the next table said he was a regular and had tried everything. Now he just always gets the Muntoo, because it is the best dish. It seemed like it would be hard to make yourself. Many ingredients and not sure how it was prepared, but it was very good. My man had the koftka meatballs (a special only offered certain nights). It was a bit spicy for me, but not too much. The meat was not dry (like I have had at some other middle eastern restaurants). Served with a good helping of rice. The white sauce (similar to raita) from the appetizer was a nice palate cleanser to offset the spice. I really liked this dish, but it seemed dull compared to the Muntoo. Getting two very different items and sharing made it even better. Had very good food and plan to come back. I see many other interesting things on the menu. read more

We went here with friends after the March For Our Lives in downtown STL. Our companions asked the owner to come over and just sent out whatever he wanted. We first had the most delicious grilled chicken wings followed by naan (bread), samosa, pakora and babaganoosh. This was followed by lamb chops, two different types of kebabs, rice, and yogurt. Finished the meal with excellent Turkish Coffee. Unbelievable service. Food came out with perfect timing. I will go here again and again and bring guests, especially out of town visitors. read more

Great service and amazing food! We took our four kids here, ages 13-5 and the friendly server helped us order food that would appeal to them, and also gave us ideas for more flavorful food that would appeal to us. It was our first time trying Afghani food and we would definitely come back. read more

Went there weeks ago with friends. We ordered the king platter and chicken tikka masala. The chicken was different from Indian version in a good way, with more red color and more creaminess. The king platter is just wonderful. The eggplant salad that comes with it is just delicious. The vegetable salad is mainly flavored with pepper and vinegar, so it feels a bit simple to me. The king platter though, is just wonderful! The chicken feels a bit old, but the beef and mutton are just wonderfully delightful. The basmati rice was half flavored, half plain, with raisins and cilantro garnishing. The left over was enough for two more meals. The only drawback I find is the restaurant floor feels a bit sticky and not so comfortable to walk. Food is wonderful. Unfortunately I didn't take picture cause the plate was so beautiful(I know it makes no sense but I was hungry). read more

I love the middle eastern food at this place. I had it for the first time last weekend and was wondering why it took me so long to order food from here? I got the mixed grill with chicken, lamb, and beef kabob. All the meat was tender and flavorful. My leftovers tasted even better. Although I think Indian samosas are better than sambosas (biased) the green chutney sauce I used to dip the sambosa was perfect. It had the right amount of heat and a nice hint of lime. I will be back soon! read more

Had their food at the "Festival of Nations" in Tower Grove Park. I was skeptical, but OMG delicious chicken masala. Wife, kid (10 months), and I all enjoyed. Defiantly visiting the restaurant if the food is the same quality. read more

This place is REALLY good! Get the sampler appetizer platter so you can try a bunch of stuff and you have to try the SLU special! It's amazing. So flavorful read more

Best Afghani food I have had so far in the US. We made a stop in Saint Louis while on our way to Chicago. We had the Mixed Grill Platter and Butter Chicken. Both came with rice and Afghani naan. Platter also came with a side of vegetable curry. Every single item was scrumptious. The Butter Chicken here was better than we have had at most Pakistani and Indian restaurants. I am a kabab aficionado and the kababs here are just amazing. Customer service is fast and top-notch. I'll surely make another stop here on my way back to Tampa. read more

Went here tonight for dinner. Ordered everything lamb, chicken and beef. All amazing and delicious. The wait staff was informative knowledgeable and very kind. I loved everything and do will you. Priced very reasonable! Owner was very kind! read more

Wonderful authentic food. Generous portions, perfectly seasoned. Staff was friendly and helpful and as good as the food! Had the lamb, wife had chicken teeka masala and loved it. Spicy but not overly. Great location. read more

First time in Saint Louis. Amazing food. Wonderful flavors. Wonderful space. Would recommend to anyone wanting to eat something different!

Ordered take away mixed grill kebab and it was really good. The staff seemed friendly. Looking forward to eating there again. Next time will dine in. read more

Firstly, I was greeted by two wait staff that made me feel very comfortable. I have traveled the globe but was unfamiliar with Afghan cuisine. The staff made my choices easy helping me to choose something other than lamb - not a fan. I chose a combo appetizer and main dish hoping to try as much as possible. Everything was great! The owner even came out to greet the patrons. This should be a good sign to everyone as he is confident that all is done properly but also is checking! Now secondly! I will be back! Even though I had the combos there are a number of other dishes to try. Bottom line: Afghan cuisine is a mixed of middle eastern and eastern flavors which means it is a mix of spices and seasonings and worth the experience. read more

I have been to many afghan restaurants before. This one had a very cheap look and feel to it. As compared to others you wouldn't find their afghan design table cloth. Hookah decorations or any fancy paintings. This is more of a hole in the wall restaurant. The food is average, I have had much better tasting afghani food. read more

The other reviews are right--the Afghan cuisine is excellent. I can't vouch for authenticity, but oh man is it good. Sameem is also one of the best values around. Stop by the Grove neighborhood and check it out! We tried the sambosa, pakora, chicken teeka masala, lamb biriani, chicken and beef kabobs, and curry chicken. The sauces and curry were creamy, spicy, and flavorful. The highlight was probably the lamb biriani--the meat was falling off of the bone. The only area lacking was service, only because the waitress was a somewhat disinterested and rude. No one bothered to refill the water. However, the owner warmly stopped by twice to make sure that everything was to satisfaction. It's a casual place, but the service could benefit from a slightly more pleasant attitude. Overall, Sameem is great and definitely worth a visit. read more

Excellent food and even better hospitality. These guys really try and not try to just live off their sterling Yelp reputation. And that's something to appreciate. read more

Just Go!!!!! All of it, everything we tried was spiced well, fresh and good! Service and the owner were very helpful on our first visit. If you enjoy the flavors of the Afghan fare-this is a must. read more

Holy crap, this food was delicious! My husband and I were staying just down the street from this restaurant on a recent visit to St. Louis. We had our dog with us, so we grabbed a large assortment of things via carry out from Sameem to eat in our hotel room. What a feast. I'm not a huge lamb fan, but I must say that I have never seen lamb meat fall off the bone like the lamb from Sameem. Everything was cooked perfectly. Here's a sampling of what we got, if you are interested in really going all out like we were: ~Aash soup ~Falafel ~Pakowras ~Eggplant ~Hummus with Pita ~Pashtoon Salad ~Lamb Qabelli Palau We had a lot left over to snack on throughout the rest of the trip. I highly recommend this place. read more

Sameem is located in The Grove on Manchester between Tower Grove and Kingshighway. I am a regular and it is by far one of my favorite middle eastern restaurants in St. Louis. I was originally drawn to the great lunch specials, but I sincerely enjoy all of their food. Their most popular dish is the Chicken Teekha Masala, which is a traditional Indian dish. Sameem's Afghan version is more subtle, leaving out the pastes and dehydrated veggies that can cause bloating, etc. It's very good, but I actually love ordering the vegetarian appetizer combo platter to share (falafel and several dips with pita), the sambosas appetizer and the Lamb palau (lamb shank) to share. Order these items together for a small group of 2-3 and you will thank me. Sooooo good. The dishes are cheaper during lunch. It's a bit small in the main front dining room, but the recently added an extra room that seats up to 40. read more

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Today, I tried the chicken karahi. It was delicious! There's no cream in this dish, so if you're looking for something on the lighter side, definitely go for this one. The flavors are simple, but are very pleasing to the palate. The chicken is pretty tender. I like tender chicken. Happy eating! read more

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

We ended up here after looking at rave yelp reviews but didn't find the experience we expected. Afghani chappli kabobs with veggie biryani were great, however chicken karahi left a lot to be desired. Karahi was cooked more like korma with very thin gravy. Afghani naan was good.... Made same day off site, but not fresh hot off the oven. read more

1. The food was VERY good (even so I did not have many vegetables on the menu). 2. It was not comfortable inside. The (who I think was) the owner talked loudly to someone else who I believe worked there, and we felt that we shouldn't be there. There weren't many people when we got there, and it just wasn't inviting. 3. The waiter seemed a bit freaked talking to us. 4. The bathroom was very dirty. (And it was still early in the day.) As I said, the food was good. But I need to enjoy the overall experience, so will not return. Definitely did not expect this. Several people had recommended this restaurant, so thought I would love it. read more

Given that this place is so highly rated on Yelp, combined with the fact that they serve Afghan food, I just knew I had to try it! After reading through all the reviews on Yelp, my friend and I just knew we had to try the Emperor Platter. According to their menu, it is designed for 2 (but could easily be split among 3 people). It starts with an appetizer, including shirazi salad and eggplant boorani accompanied by pita bread. This was actually my favorite part of the meal. The eggplant boorani was so delicious and served at the perfect temperature. For the main course, you get lamb kabob, chicken kabob, and one koobideh kabob (which I'm pretty sure was beef). The meat was pretty good, but nothing amazing. The platter also comes with grilled tomato and rice. In terms of proportions, my friend and I noted that about half of the plate was rice and half was meat. The platter comes with two different types of rice (a brown and a white). I thought the rice tasted really good. Overall, I thought the dish was pretty good but would probably try something else next time. In addition to the Emperor Platter, I also had the mango smoothie, which was delicious (although a little bit on the small side). In terms of service, I thought we were well-attended to. In terms of noise/ambiance, I thought the place was unassuming and pretty quiet. It is worth noting we came in the afternoon on a Sunday, which I would recommend (considering people say this place gets packed). Finally, check-in on Yelp for 10% off your bill. In sum, if you're looking for a new and different place to try, you should definitely hit up Sameem Afghan Restaurant. read more

Seriously under rated. The eating area is small and the ambiance is a little lacking but the food and friendly service makes up for it. The small eating area makes it seem homey in a good way. Kind of like a friend is having a casual dinner party. We arrived just in time to snag a table as we had no reservation on a Saturday night. For an appetizer we ordered: Eggplant Burani - Eggplant in a Seasoned Tomato Sauce, Seasoned with Garlic Yogurt and Dried Mint flakes. Served with Fresh Naan. $4.95 It was fantastically seasoned and prepared well. For our entrees we had: Mixed Vegetables Plate - Traditional Eggplant and Potato, Basmati Rice, and Spinach Served with Naan. $9.99 Everything was wonderful. Aromatic rice and seasonings filled my senses however the spinach was bland but in a nice way. Everything seemed so comforting. & Chicken Teekah Masala - Tossed in a zesty creamy tomato sauce served with Basmati Rice and Fresh Naan. $12.50 I didn't try this as I am not currently eating meat but the bf reported only good things about it. He said it was a little spicy and the tomato/ cream base really brought out the flavors. We will mos def hit this place up again. read more

Had Sambosa, Chicken Karahi and Lamb Beriani on a trip to St. Louis. It was so good, that I actually came back and had dinner from there again after two days! Friendly staff, very family-like and welcoming feeling, which is what I like. read more

Seated and served within a few minutes of arriving. Food came quickly and was hot and absolutely delicious. Wait staff was friendly, prices were reasonable, neighborhood is lively. Parking is tedious but possible. Definitely recommend this restaurant! read more

This place was so good! It was fresh and so delicious. My personal favorite was the afghan muntoo. Seriously one of the best dishes I have ever had. Period. The decor is not much but the food speaks for itself. The beef kebobs I had were also very delicious, my only complaint was I wish I had for meat! Will definitely be a frequent visitor read more

Very pleased with the service and recommendations given to us by the staff. The sampler appetizer platter was mediocre and I wouldn't recommend it. The lamb shank and rice I had as my entree was tender and delicious. I enjoyed this place and I will be back to try other dishes. read more

The place is small and cozy. The service was wonderful. Food was amazingly fresh and unique. Full of flavorful spices and accompanied by red chutney spicy and a green chutney that was good on most everything. I had the muntoo which was dumplings filled with beef covered in lentils yogurt and dried mint. Cant wait to go back and order the butter shrimp. I commented to the server that i loved the chai i ordered and he brought out a ziplock bag of some loose tea and the cardamom powder and told me how to make it at home. Five star service and food. Appetizer of sambosa, drinks, two entrees and one dessert for $37! Loved everything. read more

Found this place on yelp and was not disappointed. Chicken Biriana was the best I've ever had. Same with the Chai tea. Friendly staff-the owner came out and excitedly talked baseball for a while-even gave us complimentary rice pudding! (Which was excellent!) can't wait to come back! Don't miss this place! read more

This restaurant become automatically my favorite...because of the Virus I only order Delivery ! Every plate that I tried is delicious! I am vegetarian and my favorite is the vegetable masala and the eggplants plate ! Totally worth every penny ! read more

Great prices, friendly service, extensive menu. Highly recommend their apps to get an overview of the flavors that other dishes will have.

May Sameem always be blessed with infinite peace, happiness, and prosperity beyond their highest expectations! Their food is seriously the most amazing we have ever had the pleasure of enjoying! I have always cooked everything myself at every party and I had never ordered catering before but when I tasted their food for the first time, I knew my first and every catering experience would be with Sameem. I'm already planning other events now that I know we are blessed to have the world's best Afghani food within driving distance. Their family recipes are true unique jewels! Sameem's food is WAY better than all of the best Afghani restaurants I've tried both on the east and west coasts! I adore their menu and their owner is super nice and accommodating. He kindly took time out of his hectic schedule to discuss the options before finalizing the order and explained how to handle the food before serving at my home. He even went out of his way to check on us the day after our event!Attention to detail is Sameem's specialty and the food is CONSISTENTLY fresh, tasty, and the most delicious I have ever had! I'm so happy with my catering experience with Sameem that I want every potential client to know they can trust Sameem for all of their catered events! MAY GOD ALWAYS BLESS THE OWNER AND STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND HONEST WORK! read more