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Sami’s Kebab House

4.4 (663 reviews)
ModerateAfghan, Kebab, Halal
Closed • 11:30 am - 10:30 pm

About Sami’s Kebab House

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SAMI’S KEBAB HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Sami’s Kebab House

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Pretty afghan painting
Amelia D.

My friend who is local to the neighborhood brought me here; I was immediately impressed with the decor and the spaciousness of the restaurant relative to how it looked outside. The food outshined its reputation and the service was great, very friendly staff with even a free milk pudding dessert! We got the traditional Uzbeki Qabili Pulao - THIS DISH my goodness, both my friend and I were thoroughly impressed by how the lamb was seasoned and cooked to perfection, we really enjoyed the rice with the carrots and raisins - even if you aren't a fan of those two items I would try the dish as it's meant to be prepared. For appetizers, we got the Sabzi which was a nice vegetarian option with spinach, as well as the small afghan salad (normal diced cucumbers and tomatoes), the mantu dumplings which were pretty good and the Afghan naan which is just a vehicle for eating the dips. I would 1000% come here again and bring a friend if I were in Astoria. It seems popular with both locals and larger groups of families; lots of the tables inside had kids. It appears to be BYOB though we stuck to sparkling water.

Mantu Dumplings, eggplant
Cece L.

Delicious meal. Big fan of the mantu and lamb chops. And I liked the rice with the addaon sweetness. Eggplant appetizer was good too. I do wish there was more protein in the mains. They are generous with the rice though. Really appreciated the dessert they gave us on the house. Milky and delicious!

Chicken Afghani Kabab
Rob M.

Sami's is a neighborhood mainstay and a cozy and inviting crown jewel of Dutch Kills. The food is excellent--you can't miss with any of the platters, though I'm partial to the ultra juicy Afghan chicken--and comes in solid portions. And, somehow, it maintains a 'grandma's cooking' kind of irresistible homemade quality. It is, by the way a family operation. And it feels like it in the best ways. It seems wrong, for instance, to describe the 'service' rather than the hospitality. All in, it may be the best and most unique restaurant in Dutch Kills.

Kassie E.

What a wonderful lunch experience I had. I came with my team and we truly left feeling so happy and full with the authenticity and plentiful portions. We were greeted with a big smile and such hospitality. The guy who seemed to be the manager and the waiter during lunch constantly checked in on us, gave us suggestions, and made sure we left completely satisfied. This experience truly felt like I was at someone's home. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes.

Mantu Dumplings
Elizabeth S.

The lamb practically peels off the bone with a single nudge. The rice is cooked in the halal meat. You have to order the lamb pulao. It was the highlight. This restaurant is also beautifully decorated and cozy. Such a fun place to go with friends and sit, with beautiful sunlight streaming in. The kabob and dessert was also delicious and everything we ordered was great. They give you a free dessert! If you order a plate like the qabuli palau, it comes with salad and bread. The mantu dumplings have a thin wrapper and the yogurt sauce adds a lot of flavor. I would love to come back. Update: I came back for takeout and it was just as good. I swear they gave more food just because we went close to closing. This is a family-owned small business, and it's delicious. You won't be disappointed here! Such good value.

mantu
Matt S.

Had a community dinner here Eggplant Okra Mixed Grill Lamb shank my favorite was tandoori chicken and the salmon kebab

Plate of kebabs and Uzbeki Pulao!
Shefali L.

Sami's Kebab House was warm and inviting, service friendly, and food delicious. We started off with the hummus and mantu and ended up doubling our mantu. order because they were so good. We did a plate of mixed kebabs but the star of the show was the Uzbeki Qabuli Pulao. The white sauce was also bomb sauce. I would definitely go back!

lamb kebab entree with qabuli
Suzy P.

We popped in late one night, about two hours before they closed. They were super welcoming and sat us down and were very attentive and friendly. The service was great and our food came out almost immediately. We started with the bolani kachalu which was so good. Super crispy and flaky, and tasted amazing. Then we shared the lamb kebab entree which came with qabuli. The Afghani spices were so flavourful and we loved the sweet carrots and raisins. The portions were great, and the prices were fair. I def recommend trying this spot if you're craving kebabs!

Firnee

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2 months ago

I love this food. I haven't came here in about a couple of years and it's still delicious. Never disappoint.

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Sami’s Kebab House Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Sami’s Kebab House

Is there a party room?

The place is pretty much divided in 3 sections (cuz they slowly procured adjacent space). I suppose they could totally seal off parts of it and use it as such.

Can you bring our own beer or wine?

Yes! Sami's is BYOB. My friends and I brought some wine and they opened it for us :) It is halal so they don't serve alcohol but you can bring it with you

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Kabuli Grill - Afghan Bread 4/$3.50

Kabuli Grill

3.8(22 reviews)
0.2 mi•Astoria

This fairly new Afghan restaurant is located in a residential area of Astoria, which is great since…read morethere was plenty of metered parking. I was really surprised when I entered the restaurant because there were only two customers in the dining room, and absolutely nobody to greet me. I stood there for a little while but still, nobody came out. I had made reservations for 8 ppl, so I just grabbed a menu and seated myself at a table for 8. Well .... Turns out that their wonderful employee, Manuel, was a jack of all trades! He was the server, and the cook, and everything in between! Give that hard working man a raise! Kudos to Manuel for doing a wonderful job, with a smile on his face the entire time! Honestly, I would have been a big ole grump if I had to hustle that hard. lol The owner showed up towards the end of our meal, so Manuel did eventually get some help. Great service & hospitality! Again, Kudos to Manuel! The rest of my party arrived, and we placed our order. The food came out at a nice pace, and the food was delicious! We ordered all of our Afghan faves. Menu shared by 4 ppl: -- Mantu (steamed beef dumplings) 4/$8: these were small dumplings but just delicious. -- Ashak (steamed leek dumplings) 5/$10: we liked these delicate silky dumplings even more than the Mantu! -- Burani Banjan (eggplant) $9: I thought this dish should have come with complimentary bread. We had to order a side of Afghan bread. The eggplant was good though. -- Sabzi (spinach) ($9): this dish also didn't come with bread and we had to ordered bread on the side. It was a little bland and could have used more seasoning. -- Lamb Tikka Kebab w.Brown Basmati Rice (6pcs/$22): we ordered these done "medium" but they came out pretty well-done. Still pretty tasty and tender but would have been better if done medium.The brown basmati rice was fantastic! -- Beef Kofta Kebab w.Brown Basmati Rice ($18): These kebabs were very flavorful and tender. Great dish! And again, the brown basmati rice was fantastic! -- Kabuli Lamb Shank w.White Basmati Rice ($24): The lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone perfect! The Pulau (carrots with rice) went really well with the lamb shank. Greay dish! -- Afghan Bread 4pcs/$3.50: toasted to perfection and went really well with our appetizers. This was a really satisfying meal! A great addition to the neighborhood. I look forward to a return visit to try other menu items!

I love it here. very clean restaurant and very comforting ambience. Many tables to fit parties of…read moreall sizes. I also love the late hours. The service is always quick and very amazing. Dining Inn is always a wonderful experience. The food is very delicious and very comforting. It is a good portion size for the price.

Photos
Kabuli Grill
Kabuli Grill - Ashak (steamed leek dumplings) 5/$10

Ashak (steamed leek dumplings) 5/$10

Kabuli Grill

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Afghan Kebab House - Sambosa

Afghan Kebab House

3.9(266 reviews)
1.4 mi•Upper East Side, Yorkville
•$$

A compilation of things warrant my five star rating. Food is delicious, the owner friendly,…read moreprices reasonable, ambience sedate, AND -- not typical for NYC -- BYOB without a corkage fee. This evening I ordered chicken kebabs. There are two versions with identical marinades -- one prepared spicier than the other. That's the one I went for. T had lamb kebabs and was as pleased as I was. Entrees come with salad, made special with their homemade dressing. I'm not alone in squirting this on more than just my salad. (It's presented in a squeeze bottle left on the table.) Afghan Kebob's rice is excellent. High end spices come through with this side. I'm more a vanilla girl than chocolate -- but their chocolate cake, made by an outside baker, is rich and delicious. One slice for two people is plenty. By mid-fall my daughter will be moving across the street -- another reason I'll return to the Kebab House. Note that the restaurant is casual and reservations, while accepted, aren't necessary.

I came to this establishment based on amazing reviews from @KarissaEats…read more https://youtube.com/shorts/E_IKrKDdrQg?is=WMA4l_401vrFaGBU. And let me say, first, a shout-out to KarissaEats for the recommendation of this place. The owner of this establishment is very, very nice and values his business. I went here to try the food, which, let me just say, is very authentic Afghan food. I tried the rice palou with raisins and shredded carrots, and it was good. The rice was perfectly cooked and had an amazing, fragrant taste. Very good. I also tried the sampler of the appetizers, which was mainly vegetarian, but it was still amazing, especially with the homemade yogurt sauce. But what makes this business unique is the owner's story. It's a struggling business, but the unyielding, determined spirit is there, and it shows in their food. What I have an issue with is how some people can be petty about alcohol. Based on what the owner told me, people complained about not having alcohol in this establishment, which I will say, who cares? If you want alcohol, go to a nearby bar and liquor store and get alcohol. I did my research, and I respect the owner's belief in his religion. Under Taliban rule, there is a zero-tolerance, absolute ban on the possession, sale, manufacturing, and consumption of alcoholic beverages for all people, including foreign nationals and non-Muslims. So, yep, kudos to the owner who stands firm on his beliefs.

Photos
Afghan Kebab House
Afghan Kebab House - Naringe Palau- chunks of spiced lamb with brown basmati rice topped with orange rind, pistachios, and pine nuts. $31.95. Tasty. Good meat

Naringe Palau- chunks of spiced lamb with brown basmati rice topped with orange rind, pistachios, and pine nuts. $31.95. Tasty. Good meat

Afghan Kebab House - Inside

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Inside

Yaar Indian Restaurant - Chicken Tandoori (Bone-In)

Yaar Indian Restaurant

4.5(482 reviews)
1.6 mi•Astoria
•$$

First time coming to Yaar but it will most likely not be our last! We came in around 4:00pm for a…read morelate lunch. The food was delicious and the only thing better than our butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and shrimp biryani was the people! I highly recommend Yaar if you want delicious Indian cuisine. Conveniently located right by a train station w/ a municipal parking lot directly behind the restaurant. Inside there many tables where the ambience in warm and inviting and very friendly staff. We are from the north shore of Long Island and our favorite Indian restaurants are located in Hicksville but no more. We now have Yaar in Astoria to go to. Run don't walk to Yaar. You can thank me later. We ordered the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and shrimp biryani for the 3 of us. Everything came out piping hot and delicious. The portions were very generous and the wait staff was very attentive and friendly. I highly recommend Yaar Indian Restaurant. I forgot to mention come in at 12:00pm and enjoy their all you can eat lunch buffet. I believe the buffet is offered weekdays ftom 12:00pm to 3:00pm.

Yaar is conveniently located right by the Ditmars Boulevard subway station. We went on an early…read moreSaturday evening. The staff is very friendly and we were seated right away. We happened to be dining there during a World Cup game so there was a TV on in the back (not sure if that's their usual setup). I ordered the chicken tandoori (bone-in), my SO got the chicken tikka masala, and we shared a garlic naan. I got a masala chai to drink and my SO just stuck to water. We did not have to wait too long for the food. My chicken tandoori came out on a sizzling plate with a side of rice. The chicken was so tender, juicy, and flavorful. I ate the slices of onion on the sizzling plate with the chicken and rice. The garlic naan was nice and hot, crisp on the outside, studded with plenty of garlic, and soft and chewy on the inside. It was good for sopping up the chicken tikka masala sauce. My SO felt that my bone-in chicken tasted better than the chicken that came with the tikka masala, so he would consider ordering one of the other bone-in options next time (butter chicken (bone-in) or chef's special chicken (bone-in) biryani). Service was attentive. The servers refilled our water several times and checked on how we liked our dishes. We didn't have dessert this time, but we might next time we come because there will definitely be a next time.

Photos
Yaar Indian Restaurant - Interior

Interior

Yaar Indian Restaurant - Chicken Tikka Masala, lamb spicy something..

Chicken Tikka Masala, lamb spicy something..

Yaar Indian Restaurant - Outside

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Outside

Sami's Kabab House

Sami's Kabab House

4.5(96 reviews)
1.5 mi•Hunters Point, Long Island City
•$$

Three of us came here for dinner last night (Tuesday). At 7:00 pm, place was pretty quiet. The…read morerestaurant is small-ish and it looks like most tables are for 2. We got a four-top at the front of the place. The restaurant decor is pleasant. It's a bit dark inside, but welcoming. Our server was very friendly. We started by ordering three starters - Mantu Dumplings (described in the menu as: steamed dumplings w/ beef, onions, cilantro + spices, topped with garlic mint yogurt sauce and garnished with lamb gravy and yellow split peas), Borani Banjan (eggplant) and Bamia (okra, stewed with tomato and onion sauce). Each of the starters was great. I think my favorite was the dumpling, followed by the eggplant and then the okra. Although the okra dish was delicious, it seemed like the simplest one, and one I could make most easily at home. The server suggested we get an order of Afghan Naan to go with the starters. The Naan was "OK". I would call that the weak part of the meal. It was fairly flavorless and didn't really enhance the flavors of the starters. The three of us shared two entrees - Chicken Afghan Kabob and Salmon Kabob. Each comes with a large side of rice. We also ordered one Qabuli (a rice topping made of raisins and carrots, sautéed in a cardamom syrup). The Qabuli is an extra dollar. The server said he would put it on the side, which was an excellent suggestion, because the rice was flavorful on its own and the Qabuli on its own made an excellent, sweet side dish. The Kabobs were both very good. The chicken was moist and tender and nicely seasoned. But the salmon - oh my gosh - the salmon light, flaky texture melted in my mouth. I couldn't stop eating the salmon. The rice was flavorful and the texture consistent. Before serving the entree, the server brought over a small salad to share, which was refreshing - lettuce and tomato and cucumbers. We didn't order dessert. But the server comped us a Firnee (homemade custard), which was very good. We were so full we couldn't finish it (or most of the rice from the entrees). The portions here are a nice size. Bottled waters were $2 each. They were ice cold and a good value for a restaurant. Honestly, the prices here overall are very reasonable. The food is good and nice portion sizes.

Food: I ordered the Mixed Afghani lunch special from here for $12.99. Lunch specials are to go…read moreonly. The lunch special included a few pieces of chicken kebab and a ground lamb kebab along with salad and rice. The rice was very flavorful and delicious. The meat was overall good, but some pieces were a bit dry. Overall, I really enjoyed the flavors of the food and would get it again. Service: Staff were really friendly, but the service was quite slow considering we were the only ones ordering food at the time. I wouldn't come here if you're looking to grab a quick lunch to go. Ambiance: The restaurant is small but has tables for you to eat at. They automatically charge a 20% gratuity for parties of two or more if you want to dine in. Overall, I would recommend this place!

Photos
Sami's Kabab House - Chicken thigh kebab

Chicken thigh kebab

Sami's Kabab House - Beef kofta

Beef kofta

Sami's Kabab House - Afghan naan

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Afghan naan

Ravagh Persian Grill - Mediterranean Chopped Salad (~$11)

Ravagh Persian Grill

4.3(500 reviews)
1.5 mi•Upper East Side
•$$$

Very rarely do I give a place 5 stars, so when I do, you bet I felt the place deserved it. We…read morestopped by this place last weekend as we were nearby. There were other Greek style restaurants nearby but felt this place may just be a tad better than the rest. We were quickly sat down and the interior of the restaurant was very clean looking, pleasant, and bright. They started off with free warm bread and two types of dipping sauce (tzatziki and some type of cilantro sauce). Both were bangers and the bread was soooo warm. My wife ordered the Khoresh Bademjan $26 which was chunks of boneless baby lamb stew with eggplants and tomato. It was not spicy which was to my wife's liking and the food was soooo tender and scrupulous. I ordered the dark meat chicken kabob platter which came with saffron and whole pieces of tomatoes/onions grilled. The chicken was amazingly soft and love the large chunks so you can really taste it. The saffron rice they give for each portion was very plentiful and definite leftovers for sure. Both dishes far exceeded our expectations and we will definitely return. FYI - there are other locations of this place as well.

Really liked this spot for a Valentine's and a birthday party we had missed in February with my…read morepartner. Everything was nice, including the decor. The Persian lamb kabab, Sulton Kabab and Zereski rice were delicious and we will be back in the near future

Photos
Ravagh Persian Grill - Nice  and chic place to sit and spend a night with your family or friends.

Nice and chic place to sit and spend a night with your family or friends.

Ravagh Persian Grill - Babaganoush Lunch

Babaganoush Lunch

Ravagh Persian Grill - Ambiance

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Ambiance

Darjeeling Kitchen & Café - Himalayan Curry: I don't typically like mushrooms but these were divine and the hint of carmelized onions on the Chinese broccoli was great!

Darjeeling Kitchen & Café

4.8(65 reviews)
0.2 mi•Astoria, Long Island City

LOVE these momos! Probably the best I've had so far…read more The curry was so flavorful and the pan fried momos were 10/10. The skin of the momos had a perfect texture and the fillings hit the spot. It's a small family owned spot in Astoria, but super close to the train! Our servers were very friendly and service was super quick. Will def be back!

Best Momos around!…read more If the title doesn't tell you everything, this review will. I found out about this place months ago and it was finally time to give it a try. My spouse and I are always down to find good momos, and this being close by and Tibetan cuisine, it was definitely a must. Ambience: It seats a decent crowd. It has nice Tibetan artwork and you feel the warmth from the owners. It's cozy and it felt great. Service: Top notch. I don't say this lightly. The server sat us down and was just so joyful. Her smile and demeanor made you feel welcomed. Brought us water and asked the usual and offered to explain any dishes. Now we are onto the good -- might I say great -- part. THE FOOD. We didn't order momos on our first visit. Food: My wife got the Himalayan Rice set (chicken) and I got the Rildok. We also got the Shabhaley -- from the description I thought it was literal meat. The Shabhaley, to put it, looks like an empanada. It was far from it in the best possible way. The pastry was crisp but soft and the beef filling was divine! Seasoned with so much flavor and it was paired with a beautiful sauce. The Rildok was exquisite. In my opinion -- I even told one of the servers, whom I now know is one of the owners, that the flavor profile reminded me of a cheeseburger, and it's my favorite new dish. The Himalayan Rice set was awesome. The chicken was tender and flavorful. The tingmo (like a bread) was soft and delicious, paired well with the chicken. The dal reminded me of my own homeland's dal. We've now been back here multiple times. My goal is to try the entire menu. The vegetable khoty momo was surprisingly my favorite, and I'm someone who loves meat. I've now had all the flavors and preparations of the momos, and you can't go wrong! This place is a gem. Their quality of food is top notch, and their actual aunties are in the back making this with so much love. I want everyone to try it. The owner and his staff are amazing and welcoming. They remembered me from my second visit, and that speaks volumes. They're all down to earth and it shows. The passion they have for their food and their kindness shines through. Parking: Can be rough depending on time of day.

Photos
Darjeeling Kitchen & Café
Darjeeling Kitchen & Café - Jhol Momo,  Darjeeling Thukpa

Jhol Momo, Darjeeling Thukpa

Darjeeling Kitchen & Café - Of course I had to have Darjeeling tea at its namesake. It was delicious.

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Of course I had to have Darjeeling tea at its namesake. It was delicious.

Sami’s Kebab House - afghani - Updated October 2026

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