Afghan Caravan — Restaurant in London

When contemplating a new cuisine to try your thoughts may not go to that of Afghanistan. Due to its location I had subconsciously categorised it with other South Asian and Middle Eastern countries in the region. I was proven very wrong in this thinking.

Upon arriving at Box Park I browsed through the vendors as I usually do until I arrived at Afghan Caravan. Firstly I was greeted by the radiant smile of the lady behind the counter, who I now know to be its Founder and Creative Director. I was captivated by the interior with its warm colour pallet and textural design, also displaying some cultural artwork, textiles and plants.

I’ve now had the pleasure of enjoying their food on two occasions where I had the Kabuli Pilau and the Lamb Mantu Dumplings. The Kabuli Pilau was delicious with all the elements working together harmoniously from the sweetness of the carrots and raisins, to the tender lamb shank and fluffy aromatic rice. For £12 I guarantee you will not find better value for money in or around London as the portion size is brilliant easily feeding 2 people. The Lamb Mantu Dumplings were equally enjoyable with the best presentation I’ve come across from any restaurant dish I’ve ever had. Bursting with colour and flavour for £9 they are a great option for lunch or dinner. I was also given a complimentary piece of saffron cake which was just the sweet treat I needed. (Highly recommend)

In summary this establishment predominantly run by the mother-daughter duo is exceptional in all aspects and will leave you fulfilled in heart and stomach. Supporting a business that values family and authenticity as much as Afghan Caravan is so important to the local community as well as giving positive representation to the nation of Afghanistan which presently and historically faces much hardship. I’m already anticipating my next visit and I hope to learn more about this incredible business and it’s ambitions ...

The best BOLANI in the GALAXY!!

If you haven't been to Afghan Caravan to try Khala’s bolani, let me tell you, you are MISSING OUT on a dough-filled revolution. Picture this: you bite into a warm, crispy, golden-brown bolani, and BAM! Your taste buds are suddenly transported to a world where carbs rule and vegetables aren’t just tolerable – they're downright irresistible.

First of all, let’s talk about the bolani. I don't know what kind of sorcery is involved, but this place takes flatbread to a level that will make your naan cry with envy. It's stuffed with things like potatoes, spinach, and other healthy nonsense, but I swear, it tastes like a hug from a carb-loving grandma who knows exactly how much butter your soul needs.

I ordered the potato bolani, expecting a subtle carb coma, but what I got was a potato party that had my brain yelling, "Stop! You’ve had enough!" while my mouth was like, "We’re just getting started malgary!"

Their sauces? Oh, don't get me started. That spicy chutney? Bold, fiery, and confident – probably the coolest condiment I’ve ever met. I now aspire to be as bold as their chutney in all areas of life.

The service? Stellar. The mum and daughter were soooo friendly, I could see the twinkle in their eye as they handed me my order, fully aware that my life was about to change.

In conclusion, if you like food that tastes like pure joy wrapped in a crispy, delicious blanket, you NEED to go to Afghan Caravan. But beware: once you start, there's no turning back. You’ll be daydreaming about their bolani in meetings, in traffic, and probably even in your sleep.

Afghan Caravan, you had me at the first...

Finally you can now get some Afghan delights in Croydon without going to Harrow or up North or even the far East like Ilford. Satisfy your fix at Afghan Caravan at Boxpark and for pastries there is a small bakery in South Croydon. They have the usual suspects like Mantu dumplings but I had the Chapli Kebab in Fresh Naan. I was captivated by this because of the chips which look hand cut and fried to order from the colour and the way the surface is different with some wrinkles and gloss. As expected, it was to my liking. The chapli kebab was visually like a smashed beef patty but it was not as beefy as I expected which was good and it was green in the middle with a soft texture. Beneath it was the delicious chips I was looking forward to which were soft and tangy from my favourite sumac. Along with that, there were pickled onions and all that which made it moreish. The crispy lamb and caramelized onion bolani was a bit disappointing because it was too soft and the filling was mainly silky mashed potato and not much of the onions or minced lamb hence I would have been better off with the feta and spinach or the leek. I was really lucky to get to try their different batch of sauces. The second batch was my favourite as it had more of a tangy kick, the first batch was too bitter. Overall,...