Aria Afghan Restaurant — Restaurant in California

I was craving mantoo and this restaurant popped up on my nearest location and although I thought their prices a bit expensive I still went ahead and drove there. I arrived and had front parking and as I got out of my vehicle I noticed a homeless man asking for food , I asked him if he wanted to eat there and he accompanied me inside. Unlike other restaurants that refuse them service the young man and his younger sibling (not sure if it was a sibling but I’m assuming) had no issues and went ahead and took his order and mine with no hesitation. I was a bit shocked because usually really nice restaurants usually take an issue in this situation (which by the way the interior inside the restaurant looks so nice and modern and very welcoming with tables large enough to accommodate bigger parties). As the young man took my order he let me know that I was not the first person to bring the man inside and if I felt uncomfortable or pressure that I could let him know. I think he picked up on the man being a bit aggressive and so he asked me if I needed help. Anywho, long story short the young man delivered the homeless man’s order to him outside very politely (since the homeless man ran outside in anger of not getting everything he wanted ) and the young man returned into the store and was kind enough to help me bring my order and myself to my car for safety. Honestly, the best customer service I’ve received in a long while. The food was also more than satisfactory! I ordered an order of mantoo (so delicious and savory), bolani (not salty or oily like in other places and there was actually potato in it!) and a chicken gyro (chose spicy and it was actually spicy! 🥵 ). Every item was savory, juicy and still hot to the touch by the time I got home. Overall, you won’t be disappointed by the customer service, location and or the food. I would definitely recommend this restaurant...

Aria Afghan has some of the best lamb shank and kebab I have ever had (including the Mediterranean / middle eastern available in Dearborn, MI that’s 40-50% Arab American and Pedro’s House of Lamb in Queenstown, NZ). They’ve also managed to do it at very reasonable prices by keeping the decor and seating area utilitarian.

You know the lamb shank (qabili palaw) is amazing when it sells out before close (we got the last one for the night about an hour before close). Between that and the beef chapli kebab, my husband and I were extremely pleased.

I particularly liked how the rice that came with each dish was seasoned and prepared to match the protein of the dish. I rarely see that level of detail in rice that come with mains. The rice that came with the lamb was sweeter with carrots and raisins while the beef was more savory with sumac and other herbs / spices.

Since moving to California, this is the best kebab and lamb shank...

This is the best hidden gem in Sacramento. The food is very fresh and delicious here, compared to all the other restaurants that we have been to in the area. We ordered Mantoo, Chicken Kabob(cooked to perfection with excellent spices), and our favorite Qabili Palaw (It is a traditional rice dish with carrots, raisins, and a lamb shank cooked to perfection on the top of it. This was a highlight for the table). The spices they use can't be more authentic, and just the right perfect amount. The owner and staff treated us very respectfully and provided the best customer service during our visit. Amazing quality and service. The area is a bit rough, but the place itself is clean and absolutely worth the drive. We will highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves to try new and...