A1 AFGHAN RESTAURANT AND GROCERY — Restaurant in Roanoke

A new Afghan restaurant in Roanoke. It's attached to a small Afghan/persian grocery and today was the second day the restaurant was open. It's a private parking lot only for the business, but there are no designated parking spaces. The owner told me that you can park anywhere, but the problem with that is people are parking anywhere making it difficult for people to find a spot without, having difficulty getting out. He said they were working on a designated disabled spot. Walking in, the room was very hot. It appears they have some sort of a problem with air conditioning. They do have a small portable unit, but you have to sit exactly in front of it to get any sort of cool. I was directly in front of it and I would estimate I was still sitting at about 85°. It is a small menu with mainly lamb dishes. They have a few vegetarian options as well as chicken and beef. I ordered the chicken tikka kebab. It came with Afghan salad, the chicken soup, rice, bread, and three skewers of cubed marinated chicken. It took about 20 minutes for the food to come out. It was definitely worth the wait and the portion size was much larger than I anticipated. The chicken kebabs were tender and juicy and deliciously seasoned.. The rice was also delicious and had a bit of seasoning in it. I am thinking they were mustard seeds, but I could be mistaken. Whatever they are, they were very aromatic and added a nice touch to the rice. It also had oil so caution beforehand if you're watching your oil intake. The salad itself were strips of different colored peppers, some Romain lettuce, some banana, peppers, and a wedge of lemon. The chicken soup was delicious. It had a bit of corn and had a very aromatic flavor. You can tell they used quite a bit of black pepper, but it worked out deliciously. There was also a small container of sauce. It reminded me somewhat of a spiced up tzatziki sauce. It was delicious as everything else was. The only thing that was forgettable was the bread. It was Barbari bread that was untoasted. It wasn't bad by any means, but I would have preferred it toasted instead of cold. Overall the plate was very tasty and I would definitely get it again. At 12.99 it was a steal. I do want to try some of the other dishes. Some are recognized Persian dishes but they contained lamb and I am not a fan of lamb meat so I will skip those. I would like to try their preorder mantu. The grocery side was pretty much standard for your typical Afghan market. It has a lot of spices and several tableware options, including coffee and tea sets. It wasn't very stocked, but it did contain many of the essential items. You can see that there are some kinks that need to be worked out. I wasn't sure where to order and if I should seat myself or what. Luckily, the owner did see me wandering about an told me that I could have have a seat if I was dining in. I always prefer dining in my first time at a restaurant and it did not disappoint. They use plastic utensils, and most of paper. I hope they can get the air conditioning taken care of because it was very hot for the 45 + minutes I was in there and I can only imagine how hot it was behind the grill. There was one person manning the store and restaurant front so it may take some time to get your order taken and checking out. The owner was very friendly and gracious and welcoming. They are closed Thursdays and I was told to call ahead for the mantu a day ahead. It’s one of my favorite Afghan dishes so I am really looking forward to it. I’ll be back soon. Will post...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at [Restaurant A1 Afghan restaurant ], and it was an experience worth remembering. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the warm, welcoming atmosphere. The decor is a perfect blend of modern chic and cozy elegance, making it an ideal spot for both intimate dinners or a fun gathering with friends.

The service was exceptional—attentive without being overbearing. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to offer recommendations, which really made a difference when choosing from the diverse menu. I opted for [specific dish], and it was absolutely divine. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the presentation was top-notch—every bite felt like a little celebration. My dining companion had the [another dish], and they were equally impressed.

What I appreciated most, though, was how every dish felt thoughtfully crafted. You can tell the chef takes great pride in their work, using fresh, high-quality ingredients. The wine list was also well-curated, with several excellent options to pair with the meals.

As for the ambiance, the vibe is relaxed yet sophisticated, making it easy to lose track of time. It’s the kind of place where you feel taken care of, without the fuss. I left feeling completely satisfied, and I can’t wait to return. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy a memorable...

My husband and I accidentally found this restaurant while driving on Williamson Rd. and I’m so happy we did! What a delicious surprise! It’s a small, clean restaurant attached to a larger grocery which carries lots of unique foods, spices and other goodies. We ended up ordering the Chicken Karai and the Shulla. While we waited we were served a small bowl of the most unassuming but flavorful soup! It was spicy and delicious! It was like chicken soup met hot and sour soup with lots of black pepper! The chicken dish was incredibly seasoned and flavorful! It was served with a basket of bread that we dipped in the sauce. The Shulla rice dish was just spectacular! There were so many flavors that worked so well together. It’s served with a yogurt sauce, I’m usually not a fan of yogurt but my goodness, it was a perfect compliment to the rich rice! One of the owners kept checking on us and seemed so invested in our experience. We are so happy to know that this restaurant is here and cannot...