Zarak by Afghan Kitchen — Restaurant in Vancouver

Wow. The owner just responded by accusing my review being AI generated. It was written to be comprehensive, detailed and reflective of my personal experience. Instead of inquiring and understanding more about specifics for improvement, you dismissed it and dehumanized it. I didn't comment on the service level but now you just proved it.

Critical Review: Zarak Afghan Kitchen, Vancouver

Zarak Afghan Kitchen in Vancouver has built a reputation as a go-to spot for Afghan-inspired cuisine, but upon closer inspection, it falls short of the hype. While it presents itself as an upscale take on Afghan food, the execution leans heavily toward Westernized fusion, catering more to expectations than authenticity.

Food: A Safe, Westernized Take on Afghan Cuisine

For a restaurant that claims to celebrate Afghan flavors, the dishes at Zarak feel like a diluted, Western-friendly adaptation rather than a true reflection of the cuisine’s depth. The seasoning and spice profiles are toned down, and the dishes seem tailored to Vancouver’s trend-driven dining scene rather than offering an authentic experience. While some menu items are enjoyable, nothing truly stands out as exceptional. At best, the food is average—certainly not justifying the glowing reviews it often receives.

Ambiance: Tight, Uncomfortable, and Overcrowded

The space itself is another drawback. The restaurant is uncomfortably tight, with tables crammed together in a way that makes for an unpleasant dining experience. Given the premium pricing, one would expect a more thoughtfully designed layout. Instead, it feels more like an exercise in maximizing capacity rather than creating an inviting atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for a cozy high-end experience or a bustling, lively setting, there are far better options in the city.

Price: Overhyped and Overpriced

Even by Vancouver’s standards, Zarak is overpriced for what it delivers. There are numerous restaurants in the city offering more authentic, flavorful cuisine at a better price point, with a superior dining environment. The cost might be easier to justify if the food and experience were truly remarkable, but when both are middling, it simply feels like you’re paying for hype.

Why the Hype?

Much of Zarak’s popularity seems to stem from social validation rather than the actual quality of its offerings. It has become one of those places that people feel compelled to praise—either because everyone else is, or because they assume they’re supposed to enjoy it. The reality is that Vancouver has plenty of superior options for those seeking a truly authentic dining experience or a high-end meal that actually delivers on its price point.

Final Verdict

Zarak Afghan Kitchen is a textbook case of style over substance. The food is passable but unremarkable, the space is uncomfortable, and the prices are excessive for what you get. If you’re looking for authentic Afghan cuisine, you’re better off elsewhere. If you’re looking for a great high-end dining experience, there are far better options in Vancouver. Zarak thrives on perception rather than genuine excellence, making it one of the city’s most overhyped...

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...

Zarak had been on my “must try” list for a while now, but my first (and likely last) visit was a major disappointment. Things like management style and customer service don’t normally bother me to the point of complaining, but my experience here felt particularly rushed and suffocating.

Let me start with some pros:

The food here was quite good. Nothing to write home about, but it reminded me a lot of my mother’s cooking and felt very homestyle. Our main server was genuinely very sweet. He was kind and knowledgeable about the food. My complaints about the service here are more so about management style.

Now the cons:

Zarak imposes a $50 late fee for each member of a reserved table. Just to be clear, my two friends and I arrived on time, but we all agreed that the late fee was overkill. The service felt suffocating rather than attentive. My friends and I were interrupted quite often, and not 10 minutes after receiving our entree, we were told that the next reservation was in about 20 minutes. Mind you, nearly half the restaurant was empty when this occurred. And before we’d even called for the bill, someone had come by and started wiping down our table, lifting our still-full drinks and plates in the process. It seemed clear that we were being rushed out, so we began brainstorming where to go next to chat and hang out. I guess they heard this, because they approached and asked if we wanted dessert, which we declined and just requested the bill. Upon paying, we were asked by a different server if we were “in a rush”, and I desperately wanted to ask “I don’t know, should we be?” It all just felt truly bizarre. The restaurant’s whole ethos (shared with you after being seated by your server) is about dining being a collective, welcoming, and warm experience. Sharing the food is encouraged and everything is prepared homestyle. However, this ethos and the uptight management style completely conflict. They make no sense together. If you want me to enjoy my food with my company, at least give me some adequate time to finish my meal before you rush me out the door or before you begin wiping down the table and preparing it for the next reservation. I think this is what truly bothers me about Zarak. It tries to present itself as one thing, adopting parts of a culture hailed for its warmth, togetherness and humility, but then imposing a very strict, procedural, and dare I say, culturally-insensitive and nonsensical style of management.

If you’re looking to try Afghan cuisine for the first time, or simply looking for a relaxing dining experience, I would recommend some place less known (not popular on Instagram) and family...