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    Zarak By Afghan Kitchen

    4.5 (149 reviews)
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    Sarah T.

    Came here on a Saturday for their brunch menu. It was fully booked for the time slot I wanted in their online reservation but was able to call in and accommodate for the time that I wanted. Despite it being really busy, food arrived quickly. Their brunch menu is Afghan fusion. I got the beef kebab and egg skillet and my friend got the Fall Afghan. Really enjoyed my dish. The highlight was the beef - it was tender, seasoned well, and not overcooked. Eggs were perfect and the spiced yogurt is a nice compliment to the hearty meal. Very filling and so much leftover to take home! Perfect high protein meal after my workout in the area. The Turkish coffee is pricey for what is essentially black coffee. It came with Turkish delight which my friend and I both really enjoyed. It was lively inside but not too loud I couldn't chat with my friend. Cute trendy place that I would bring my friends to. Would love to try their other menu items.

    Jen H.

    This restaurant has been on my bucket list for a while and I am so glad to have finally been able to go. Went for a birthday celebration and it was the perfect place to get together over delicious food. I like going with a lot of people so that we can all share a bunch of different dishes at the same time and everything tasted wonderfully! They can get busy so I do recommend making reservations or preparing to wait if you are just going to walk in. The full Afghan breakfast and chili chicken is so good and available on weekend brunch. I can't wait to go back for dinner to try some of the other dishes! Staff were very nice and courteous.

    Crystal Z.

    I haven't been back in a hot minute, but am happy to say that their quality of food & service has not degrade in anyway!!! What we ordered: - full afghan platter (hearty plate with a bit of everything) - chicken and waffles (sooo much chicken lol, it was very crispy but was a bit dry bc it's chicken breasts? lots of flavour though!) - turkish coffee (first time having it-- lovely presentation but very bitter and $ for the small portion lol) - matchatini (matcha and vodka was both strong!! but prob wont order it again for a morning drink lol) - pear matcha punch (11/10 sooo refreshing. the pear is subtle but matches the matcha sooo well) Their service was amazing!! they're so attentive & patience!

    Mushroom kebab, salad disguised as burrata, mediocre Brussel sprout dish
    Emily S.

    Ambiance was nice Waitstaff was friendly and highly recommended the naan. Food was somewhat confusing. Things just weren't what was described; which left a lopsided experience. The burrata was described on menu as served with fresh tomato's and zatar and some fresh herbs. It arrived as a salad with tiny bits of burrata, beets; but was mostly quinoa. The Brussel sprouts were cooked well, the hummus was rather bland, and the naan was undesirable. My companions mushrooms tasted great but we couldn't find any of the pistachio or cardamom that was mentioned on menu. Serving size was also small for the price. Honestly if I hadn't tasted the mushrooms this would be a much lower rating. But my friend was frustrated because she was very excited to try the candied pistachios.

    Maya Mayuko T.

    Nothing Vancouver is plant based pop up shop inside of Zarak restaurant. They usually have pop up every weekend. So I had a chance to visit here. what I ordered: Dubai Chocolate matcha Dubai chocolate matcha came with kataifi and chocolate form on the top and melted chocolate in the cup. It was very unique presentation. I like to have matcha , kataifi and chocolate form together. I stirred well to taste sweetness. I just wish matcha flavor could be a bit more stronger. Masala Chai and Dark chocolate hojicha It was unique combination. At first, I could taste masala chai strong flavor, then melted chocolate in the cup. Subtle Hojicha came later. Chai flavor definitely dominant more than hojicha. It sounds very unique, therefore, i ordered this item, yes, it was very challenging item. Overall, i enjoyed their macha/houjicha items. We can't find some flavor in other places and would like to try different item next time.

    Cornbread
    Sophia M.

    Zarak is the brunch spot I bring all my foodie friends. Both the service and the ambiance is inviting and warm. All the servers are super knowledgeable on the brunch items and describe each dish as it comes out. I normally order the Afghan platter but opted for the kebab skillet and corn bread this time. It was such a filling meal! The kebab is on the denser side but pairs well with the rest of the skillet. The cornbread is one of the best I've had - so flavourful and absolutely delicious!

    Summer L.

    Had a really great experience here. The food was full of flavor and clearly made with care. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and perfectly seasoned. I especially liked the balance between the spice and the sauce on the side. It did not overpower the dish and actually made every bite more enjoyable. The eggs benedict was also excellent. The eggs were cooked just right, the hollandaise was rich but not too heavy, and everything on the plate felt well thought out. Portions were satisfying, presentation was beautiful, and the overall vibe was warm and welcoming. This is the kind of place you come to enjoy your food slowly and appreciate the details. I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone looking for good food and a relaxed atmosphere.

    Sheelz J.

    The food is thoughtful and full of flavor. Dishes highlight Afghan traditions with a modern twist, look at the photos, beautifully spiced, hearty without being heavy, and plated with care. The lamb and chicken are especially tender, and the cocktails are as much a feature as the food. Portions lean toward the refined side, so this is more of a dining experience than a place to fill up cheaply.

    Black Sesame Matcha (by Nothing)
    Dana S.

    There are 3 experiences on offer at Zarak: Afghan dinner all week, Afghan fusion brunch on the weekends, and a pop-up matcha bar on the weekends (formerly just under the Zarak name, now called "Nothing"). I've stopped by the matcha bar a few times and most recently tried the brunch. Whether dining in or taking out, the staff is exceedingly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Brunch: I got "the brick" stuffed French toast and a karak chai. The French toast was visually arresting - it was this huge cube of two slightly hollowed-out thick slices of bread filled with mascarpone, topped with apple ginger compote and a few pistachios. Despite its size, the bread and filling were very fluffy so I was actually able to finish the whole thing, but I was very full! It was so good that I didn't want to stop eating! Aside from the very compelling presentation, the flavours were really interesting and the bread was done well with none of the oily residue left over from frying. The karak chai was also really good - rich and smooth, a little sweet but not too much. My friend ordered the chicken and waffle and said it was great - it definitely looked great. Even though it wasn't cheap, I felt like everything we ordered was reasonably priced considering it was really nice food and the portions were generous. A nice touch on the service that I appreciated was that as our dishes were brought out, the waiters took a minute to walk us through the elements of each dish. It was mostly information that was on the menu, but it was nice to have a refresher with the food actually in front of you. Nothing: If I was reviewing the matcha bar alone I think I'd give a high 4 stars, but it's sort of a separate thing so I'm going to keep it out of my Zarak star rating. The matcha bar, Nothing, features unique iced drinks made with matcha, hojicha, and coffee, plus some baked goods, with a rotating menu. Everything is plant-based. I really appreciate the plant-based menu as well as the thought that has gone into it - the drinks are served unsweetened to encourage you to appreciate the bare flavours, but syrup is available if you want it, and each drink is made with a specific type of nondairy milk chosen to best complement its flavours. The drinks are expensive, but they are pretty elaborate. I tried the black sesame matcha and the ube hojicha. Both the matcha and hojicha themselves were very good, but the overall winner between the two drinks was definitely the black sesame matcha. The swirls of black sesame paste and the umami matcha played off each other very well. In the ube hojicha, I found it harder to make out the flavour of the ube paste through the hojicha. I wonder if the ube would come through better when paired with matcha. They accept personal cups for drinks to go which is always appreciated!

    Lilla C.

    Ordered the following: - Chili Chicken and Housemade Cornbread - Pulled Lamb Shoulder Benedict - Beef Kebab We went for brunch on the weekend and got seated immediately at the bar. Surprisingly, my favorite bite was the cornbread! Being raised in the US south it was very good. Service was great. Interior was nice and clean. They were also running a matcha pop-up that weekend and the drinks were great!

    Henry Z.

    Food and drinks were amazing. My party of 5 ordered the special platter, where the chef would surprise us with a variety of dishes. They also accommodated for any dietary restrictions and allergies very well. Our server was kind, friendly, and funny. The restaurant had a cool layout that felt both modern and traditional. It's a place I would recommend to anyone visiting Vancouver

    Fish Curry

    Wonderful meal. One of our favorite restaurants. Service was exceptional--Katerina was fantastic. Drinks were amazing. Everything was wonderful but the dal-e-nor was a surprising stand out; it was the best dish of our trip. The fish curry, too was amazing. Lamb was very good but overshadowed a bit by the others. Perfect meal.

    Cocktails
    Audrey T.

    March 2024 update - still a lovely and delicious spot on Main Street! The mantu remains my favorite dish here - I could probably even eat it as my main! Also got the chance to try the cornbread and eggplant skillet. Cornbread was really nice and shareable. I liked the spices in the eggplant skillet and highly recommend ordering a side of rice with it.

    Beets & Burrata Salad

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    2 months ago

    It was my first time at this restaurant. I had a chicken kebab and it was really good, so juicy and delicious.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Zarak By Afghan Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

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    Zarak By Afghan Kitchen - afghani - Updated May 2026

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