Afghan Kebab House — Restaurant in New York

I’ve had Afghan Kebab House on my must-try list for ages, and I finally had the pleasure of visiting this exquisite restaurant on a chilly Saturday evening. After spending a fun day with friends, there was no better way to cap it off than indulging in some of the finest Afghan cuisine in the city.

I had originally made reservations for myself and my Afghan friend, and despite running late, the restaurant was wonderfully accommodating. From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted by a warm, inviting atmosphere reminiscent of the heart of Persia. The interior was adorned with Afghan rugs, antique decor, and stunning artwork that beautifully showcased Afghan and Persian heritage. The ambiance was soothing and instantly made us feel at home.

We decided to go for a mix of traditional Afghan stews and kebabs, ordering:

Aushak Ghoshti Kabuli Palau Naringe Palau Chicken Korma Doogh Every dish was exquisitely prepared. The meats were tender, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The Aushak Ghoshti stood out with its melt-in-your-mouth texture and unforgettable flavor—it’s still etched in my memory! The rice dishes, Kabuli Palau and Naringe Palau, were a perfect symphony of spices, with the latter showcasing an incredible blend of sweet lamb stew and zershek (barberries), paired perfectly with barbari bread. The Chicken Korma was rich, hearty, and deliciously satisfying.

The authentic flavors felt as if they were lovingly crafted in a traditional Afghan home, staying true to their roots. Afghan Kebab House has set a new benchmark for Afghani cuisine for me, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

Special shoutout to our amazing servers, Izmar and McKinsey, who were kind, attentive, and incredibly helpful with recommendations. Their warmth and positivity truly elevated the dining experience.

It’s surprising that this gem only has a 4-star rating on Google Maps—it deserves nothing less than a full 5 stars! If you’re searching for authentic Afghan flavors in the UES, look no further. Afghan Kebab House is a must-try. I’ll definitely be coming back...

Walked into Afghan Kabob House on a Friday evening with a party of two. The place was completely empty, and no one was there to greet or seat us. Eventually, the owner came out from the back, but unfortunately, there was zero hospitality. He seemed overwhelmed, doing a dozen things at once, and without any explanation asked us to move to a different table “for expected guests”—even though the entire restaurant was empty. It felt unnecessary and unwelcoming.

After we placed our order, he began making awkward comments, then said he was “not going to say anything,” which made the interaction even more uncomfortable. When the food was finally brought out, he practically threw the plates on the table with no warmth or friendliness—first the appetizer, then the mains.

That said, the food itself was excellent—fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The kebabs were juicy and perfectly seasoned, and the bolanee appetizer was delicious.

I’d absolutely recommend this place for takeout. The quality of the food deserves recognition, but the service was a 0/5 and really brought down the entire experience. I hope the owner can take this as constructive feedback—when the restaurant is empty and customers walk in, it’s a chance to make a great impression, not drive...

Overall Rating 6/10.

Solid place overall, just has some flaws. I’m going to break down this review into four parts.

The Atmosphere: immediately when I walked in, I was greeted with a nice atmosphere filled with traditional paintings and nice wallpapers. It was surprisingly empty for the dinner rush, however. The place could be bigger. Service: mediocre at best. Took around an hour to get all our food. Apparently you have to bring your own beer in, which was weird. But, I gotta admit, the food was pretty delicious, so I would say it’s worth the wait. Food: we started off with the dumplings, which were alright. The sauce that came with them was excellent. We then moved on to salad, which was refreshing. Then, we got our entrees. The lamb was nice, but the lamb chops were surprisingly gamey. The lamb kofta was very good. The eggplant was stewed in tomato gravy, and had a touch of spice. My chicken tikka breast also had a hint of some special herb, which differentiated it from Indian food. The rice was good and the bread was excellent. Now, the thing stopping this review from being 4-5 stars was the price. Crazy! 25$ for each dish, which were small and definitely not worth the price. The food is great, just be prepared for prices that you...