Great food and great customer service from,Samir. Juicy, flavorful kabobs with perfectly spiced…read moremeat--total crowd-pleaser!" A+

We were in the area and wanted to grab a quick lunch. Since I had this place marked down to try and…read moreit was literally a few steps away, we walked over. Entry into the counter and buffet with the seating to the left. We almost used the kiosk but I wasn't clear on the buffet options (guess that one was dine-in and one was takeout. But it didn't specify.) We ordered at the counter and sat down. They said the bread would be a few minutes. I went with the buffet, my wife ordered the chicken shawarma wrap, and we got an order of hummus so baby had something. Buffet isn't huge, but it has a good variety. I started with a little of almost everything. The two rices, spinach, chickpea stew, okra stew, chicken curry, beef stew, salad, and pickled veggies. I recommend trying a little of everything because it was all good. Maybe could have used a bit more salt, but better to let someone add seasoning than to be overly salty. I think my favorites were the beef stew, chickpea stew, and seasoned rice. The flatbread came out hot and fresh. Slightly crispy on the bottom and chewy inside. My wife really liked her shawarma wrap. I only took a tiny bite of chicken, but I thought it was good. The hummus seemed fresh with a strong, nutty flavor. I think maybe extra tahini? Price wasn't too bad. Maybe a little pricey, or I'd at least say it wasn't inexpensive. I we did leave quite full. The man working at the counter was extremely friendly. Walking me through everything on the buffet and making recommendations.

I've been coming here for over 25 years, and it has never once disappointed. From the perfectly…read moregrilled kabobs to the fresh, fluffy naan and the flavorful sides everything is always consistent and absolutely delicious. The family who runs this place is incredibly generous and kind. You can feel the love and care they put into both the food and the service, and that's something you don't find everywhere. Top-tier service every single time. It's also heartwarming to see the new generation working here. It shows how much pride and dedication goes into keeping this tradition alive, and it honestly gives me hope that this place will still be here serving amazing food for another 25 years (and hopefully much longer). If you're looking for authentic, flavorful, and consistently great food, this is hands down the spot. Places like this are rare, and I'm grateful it's been a part of my life for so long.

The best central/south Asian food in the DMV…read more Get the Haleem, and the eggplant side.

Really good, but next time I want to try some different items…read more I ordered the Garlic naan 6/10 not much flavor and the Briyani butter chicken. Although good, I really love saucy rice so I might have to try the Butter chicken independently. I'm also going to try a more standard briyani like the goat one. Overall, I will definitely give this spot another try. We ordered a to go meal. It took around 10-15 mins to prepare. A very casual looking spot.

BEWARE: This restaurant is extremely DISHONEST and is all about false advertising - so gross in…read morethem being super deceiving to its patrons! Their site clearly states that they have dine-in lunch special where one could 'order any of your favorite entree items & get $3 off) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, between the hours of 11 AM and 2 PM. The staff, however, argued that it was for 'online orders only' (come on, no where on their site does it state this), and that since 'management was not present', they could provide a discount for 'one entree only' (while continuing to repeat that it was for 'online orders' only, as if they were doing a service for us - please). Meaning, they weren't willing to own up, honor, and rectify their false advertisements. Make this make sense, folks. Not sure if their recent renovation situation went to their heads, but shady and super sus business practices. Shame on you! This is not a good look, Charcoal Chicken, so no thank you - you lost a longtime customer. +DISHONEST +POSTS FALSE ADVERTISEMENTS

My buddy and I have been wanting to go here for a while now and have finally gotten the chance. The…read moreambiance in the place is wonderful; it really makes you feel welcomed. The staff was really nice and was there to help with any questions. We ordered the Brisket and the Short Ribs with the Smoked Rice. The food came out quick which was great. But it was not smoked in a smoker. The meat had an artificial smoke taste to it, which was fine but we were looking for smoked meat smoked in an actual smoker. The brisket and short ribs seemed to be baked in an oven to a well done, a tiny bit dry. They were still a bit moist but a lot of that comes from the fat. The seasoning didn't seem to be there. I'm not sure why other reviewers are not catching the artificial smoke, but it was basically "liquid smoke". Which is fine, if you're into that, but I want the real deal. There was no bark. The meats and rice tasted as they should but didn't have anything special to it. Nothing from Pakistan was added. The 4 sauces on the side seemed to be from a grocery store, the BBQ sauce tasted like "old baby rays" and the buffalo sauce tasted like "franks red hot" sauce. We tried very hard to find what everyone was raving about, but we didn't seem to find that. Ambiance 10/10 Customer Service 10/10 (the staff was truly amazing. Please do not think that because the rating was low because of the staff, it was not that at all. The chef's did great too) Food 6/10 - (liquid smoke versus true smoking) I really enjoyed the customer service, the staff and ambience however for BBQ I'd rather stick to Monks BBQ. Don't always trust the 5/5 reviews in Yelp.

We recently visited Kanoon Smoked Meat & Steakhouse with my nephew's family, who were visiting from…read moreNew Jersey. We were looking for something different from the usual halal kebab restaurants in the area, and Kanoon--a relatively new Palestinian restaurant in Herndon, Virginia, specializing in zabiha halal smoked meats and steaks--fit the bill. The highlight of the meal was the quality of the meat. We ordered the beef brisket, smoked lamb ribs, and a mixed grill platter. Everything was tender, juicy, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The hummus was excellent, the French fries were fresh and crispy, and the portions were generous. The restaurant was modern, clean, and inviting, with a comfortable atmosphere. Although we arrived for our 7:30 p.m. reservation on a busy evening, we were seated right away. The dining room felt welcoming and family-friendly. One thing that stood out was how quickly the food arrived after we ordered. While the prompt service was appreciated, it made us wonder whether some items had been prepared in advance. The service was courteous, though there is room for improvement. Our server was friendly and eager to help but appeared relatively new, which may explain why we had to request a few basic items, including water, napkins, serving utensils, and steak knives. The biggest drawback is the cost. Our party of five spent more than $40 per person, including the mandatory 18% service charge and an additional 15% tip. While Kanoon is not inexpensive, the quality of the food, generous portions, and atmosphere help justify the price. We also appreciated the complimentary baklava. Overall, Kanoon offers a distinctive halal dining experience that is hard to find in the area. It is an excellent option for meat lovers, families sharing platters, and anyone seeking halal steaks and smoked meats in an upscale setting. We enjoyed our visit and would return for another special occasion. Zafar Iqbal, PhD

Kabob food truck that comes to your workplace... that's just the best. The Lamb Kabobs over rice…read more... side of chick peas were very tasty. If I had one suggestion... a little bit spicier would make over the top delicious. The Tzatziki Sauce is quite delicious. The rice was good not overcooked... just right. Good food.

I've been grabbing lunch from here on and off for three years now. The service is always amazing-…read moresuper friendly. The food is fresh ingredients, cooked to order with flavor that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. The chicken over rice with chickpeas and a soda is only $14. I can never eat it all, but I always try. I've tried several others menu items and love them all. Be warned- if you order it spicy you'd better be prepared for some heat. Love this place and it will always be a part of my lunch routine.

TLDR: Great Turkish food with standout chicken kebabs, flavorful rice, generous mezze portions, and…read morefriendly service. Bonus points for the relaxed patio and late-night Sunday hours. Taste of Istanbul was a delightful experience. I ordered the combination kebab platter to sample a bit of everything, and not a single item disappointed. The real standout was the chicken, it was cooked to perfection, incredibly juicy, tender, and full of flavor. Even the rice exceeded expectations, as it was well-seasoned and genuinely delicious rather than just a side dish. The service was attentive, with the staff offering thoughtful recommendations and ensuring we had everything we asked for. The ambiance is relaxed and inviting, and the outdoor seating makes it an especially enjoyable spot when the weather is nice. The mixed mezze platter was another highlight, offering generous portions that were easily enough to share among a few friends. The bread was fresh, warm, and crisp. It's also worth noting that they're open until midnight on Sundays, making Taste of Istanbul a fantastic option for a satisfying late-night meal.

The food was lacking the authentic Turkish flavors and atmosphere that I had anticipated. The menu…read morewas not as traditional as we had hoped. However, the service was exceptional. A hardworking young girl behind the counter efficiently took orders, served food, and cleared tables. I hope she knows her work is appreciated by customers and that she's running the place incredibly well on her own. It was frustrating to see others mingling with customers while she was so busy. The place filled up quickly during lunch, and things moved too slowly for some of us. I hope they can provide her with some assistance to help her manage the workload better.

The service was amazing! It does look like it's one guy working the front so give some grace with…read morewaiting. But we're not rushed diners so it was perfect for us. He was attentive to our toddler and made our meal easy. He caught on to what she wanted and had her preferences made earlier so she didn't have to wait. The food itself was also wonderful. The portions are good. We got the veggie combo (pumpkin, spinach, and eggplant) as well as a side of Sieb (apple). We also got muntoo and kebab gosfund. The meat was well done but not overcooked. It cut easily too! Everything was flavorful and the bread was delightful to scoop everything up with. We finished with the milk pudding which was a delightful dessert. He brought it out for our daughter and was again super sweet. The restaurant itself is relatively small - lots of tables and not too much walking room. There are long tables so it works for large parties as well. We went for an early dinner on a Monday so it was really quiet. I did see someone's walker in the restaurant but I wouldn't bring a stroller especially if it was busy.

Food, ambiance, and a smiling server; Niyaz the owner!…read more We make ZAMAROD a must-visit when we're in town. The Afghani food is incredible, with fresh herbs, spices, and vegetables. My favorite is the salmon kebab. Recently tried the rack of lamb, heavenly!!!! Enjoy

I'm not usually a buffet person, but having skipped a meal, this made an excellent stop. It's a…read morevegetarian restaurant that offers a lunch buffet every day. You have to come hungry to be worth the price, but I got my money's worth. There was a chaat station, several appetizers, and numerous entrees. Some were labeled as being free of onion and garlic and there were certainly vegan options as well. Having said that, I like garlic, and the Indo-Chinese noodles appealed to me. The signage promised a dosa, and I was beginning to wonder if it was true but they make them in batches I guess, and eventually a fresh masala dosa was brought to my table. I got a day's worth of food and probably two days' worth of salt (as is typical for the cuisine), but it was a great mix of flavors and textures.

Went here around 2pm and they had a variety Indian vegetarian selections like samosas, pani puri,…read moredosa/masala dosa, chow mein, Naan, Paneer Butter Masala, Vada, Gobi Manchurian, Idly, sambar, etc. They also had dessert- Gulab Jamun, Payasam, and Carrot Halwa. For drink they had Apple Juice and Mango shake. Service was good and prompt. It was a pretty neat restaurant. The Buffet was only $20.99. For the price and the variety that was available I'll say it was more than worth it. You can also not do the buffet and order individual items.