Khyber Pass Cafe

My sister and I decided it was time to try something new. We came across this little gem while shopping on Grand Ave.
It can be tricky to find something that both of us can have-​she is vegan and I am allergic to dairy. We figured if worse came to worst we could have hummus and wine. We were very pleasantly surprised that they have several vegan options and many dairy-​free choices for me.
We actually both ended up ordering vegetarian dishes. We had lentils and curried potatoes over rice. Very hearty and satisfying. My only complaint about the food is that it was quite one-​dimensional. I wish there was some spice or complexity to it. Next time I will try a meat dish to see if that adds to the flavor experience.
The service was exceptional. Our water glasses were filled regularly, our dishes were cleared soon after they were finished, and everyone was very friendly and welcoming. I had the impression this was a family owned restaurant.
Parking is ample in both a free 2-​hour parking lot-​near the building, and on the streets surrounding the café.
The ambiance of the restaurant was very comfortable and cozy. Small but with plenty of space… if that makes sense. We came when it wasn’t so busy-​but soon after we arrived it filled up.
I really liked it. Even for just the ambiance. I will definitely try it again.
Prices were very reasonable.

Not from around here and just driving around in search of something I wouldn’t get at home. I found this little gem and only had a few minutes before heading to a mtg. I asked for something I could eat on the road and the woman suggested getting the buffet to go. I filled up my carton, and it was easy to do. Everything looked and smelled delicious. There were helpful little signs saying «this goes with that», or «meant to be eaten with…» As a typical Midwesterner, I really didn’t know how to assemble Afghan food so I appreciated that.
Amazing food– fresh, flavorful, interesting. Super nice people. I wish I would have gotten more to go!

It’s okay. The food is good but the service really needs improvement. There was almost nothing left from the «all you can eat buffet» and the waitress kept rushing us because she wanted to clean.

Sabzi Korma was very bad. Poor quality lamb and the spinach was terrible. Bread was the only star. Not big on wasting food but this went mostly to waste. Go to India Palace (Roseville) or Darbar Indian instead to get your fix of this regions food.

I was so excited to try their food but was disappointed-​the food is a little on the expensive side and they only give small portions. They also took really long to get my food ready. Not likely to go back unless I have a ton of extra cash laying around

I absolutely love this place. Every time I’ve eaten here I always try a new dish and I’m always impressed. Tonight I was hoping for a good vegetarian dish and asked for a recommendation, the owner mentioned that their Kadu Borani (butternut squash braised with onions, tomatoes, brown sugar and spices, topped with their yogurt sauce) was available and that it is a favorite. If you like butternut squash, you gotta try this!
I don’t think there was one bite left on my plate. Of course my husband helped clean mine up after finishing his plate of Kabuli Pilau. Oh, and I better not forget to mention how delightful the chutney sampler was!
We tried mango, apricot, and the cilantro & walnut. It’s great to get these with the fresh pita as an appetizer but they are also a prefect accompaniment to your meal.
My fav was the cilantro & walnut… so good!

I went here a while ago and it’s a nice middle eastern restaurant right on Grand Ave. there’s a nearby lot you can park in which is awesome for those driving. While I enjoyed my food and would go back again, the menu is definitely overpriced compared to similar restaurants. I’m not sure if it’s because they once were the only restaurant offering what they do, but with all the other great and cheaper options I don’t need to frequent here.
Unlike some other spots the food here isn’t as spicy either. It’s definitely catered to the MN palette. I’ll probably go back to try a different dish but not anytime soon.

Happened n this restaurant while in St Paul, loved it! The chutneys alone are enough to bring me back every time I’m in town.

I loved the lamb shank special; and on past visits, I’ve always enjoyed the lunch buffet. The completely unpretentious atmosphere makes for a comfortable, casual meal.

Although I was expecting something much more spivey, this place was delicious nonetheless. Lamb was tender and ver flavorful. Their form of nan was great. Nice free parking next door on Grand. Couldn’t be easier and tastier. We’ll be back.

Love Khyber Pass! Food is fantastic! The seasoning is perfect and can’t get enough of the cilantro chutney! Delish! Atmosphere is great as well.

Mehhhhh.
Came here with my boyfriend for dinner last night and was less than impressed. My first impression of the menu was that everything seemed wayyyy overpriced. The leek dumplings cost $ 10 for three so I assumed we would be getting some massive overstuffed dumplings. They were small and limp. I was astounded that they were so expensive!
I ordered the Murgh Kebab and he got the Kofta and Aloo. My chicken tasted fresh but lacked any discernible seasoning and honestly, I could have made a better kebab at home. I subbed salad for rice for an extra $ 3 so my one kebab plus a wimpy salad of some cut up romaine, tomato bits and a few onions came out to around $ 17. My boyfriend’s dish consisted of 4 small, dry meatballs and 3 chunks of potato for $ 15ish. The humanity…
The bright spot was the chutney sampler, but the bread it came with was clearly store bought and they charge extra for more once you’re done. Service was fine. We won’t be back.

This is one of my all-​time favorite places. Their lunch buffet is unreal. The cilantro chutney is out of this world!

I came here in wet frustration (literally, it was pouring down rain) after getting bad service at another Middle Eastern Restaurant. I should have just came here first! I had the Daal Korma with lamb. It was delicious and I was stuffed by the time I finished it. My only complaint is that I asked for extra bread, and there were only three pieces. But that’s probably just me being greedy.

I’m so glad a friend introduced me to this place. The food was exotic and excellent. We had the chutney sampler and it was perfect: Cherry, Mango and Traditional. That plus an amazing squash appetizer and lamb curry with mung bean. Yum! It was so good that I had them cater my birthday. Go!

I came here for the first time last week with my dad, he comes every Thursday night for their music. I love the atmosphere; the venue is small, cozy, and beautiful. The sauce served with the naan was one of the best things I ever tasted.
We both had the Aloo Korma and it was delicious. Next time I will be sure to order a chutney – the cherry chutney in particular looked appetizing.
The owner was there and greeted us warmly, he checked on our table a few times to be sure we were enjoying ourselves. Our server was always nearby in case we needed anything; I never had an empty water glass!

I go here with friends sometimes because the food is great and at a good price (don’t forget to show school IDs for student discounts!).
I brought my grandmother and she could not stop raving about the restaurant atmosphere and the food. It’s an awesome winter night destination because it’s warm and cozy inside.
We both got Murgh Korma, which is a delicious chicken dish served on a bed of basmati rice with potatoes and a small salad on the side (This dish is great for those who are not so adventurous in taste). The portions are great too!
There is a free 2 hour parking lot really close and it’s close to the neighborhood as well.

A brief preface. My hometown in NJ has an outstanding Afghan restaurant! Both veggie– and meat-​based options are very well-​seasoned with cardamom, saffron, and other «exotic» spices., their fragrant rice dishes were leagues ahead of standard basmati, and the naan was always warm and fresh from the tandoor. Needless to say, I had developed high standards for Afghan cooking…
At Khyber Pass, we opted for the Saturday buffet lunch. A head-​to-​head look at off-​menu ordering vs. buffet might be like comparing apples to oranges (which, by the way, happens to be an entirely feasible undertaking). Unfortunately, KP fell a few notches short of the gold standard.
The buffet selection was fairly limited with approximately 4 hot stew-​like veggie dishes, 3 meat dishes (including kofte/​meatballs), naan, a simple salad, hummus, and a custardy cardamom & rose-​water dessert.
I can tolerate few options, if the offerings are quality. Not the case. The naan didn’t strike me as freshly baked; the 4 veggie dishes were nearly indistinguishable in terms of flavor, or lack of; and the kofte was too dry for my liking. A heavier hand with the delicious spices of the Afghan cuisine would make a major difference, as would more effective buffet burners to keep the food sufficiently warm.
Given the favorable ratings from other Unilocalers, I am clearly an outlier in my initial take on KP. I’m hoping my experience is not representative of their usual performance and they were just having an off day.

I don’t know too much about Afghan food so I was intrigued when my friend suggested meeting here. Luckily there is free parking in a lot nearby the neighboring Dunn bros. Usually I shy away from parallel parking by grand ave and park in the neighborhood but I didn’t have to this time which was nice because it was pretty cold out. I enjoyed reading the story of the owners before my friend arrived. Our server was super sweet, offering to snap photos of the front of the store for me if I felt awkward doing it.
The menu options weren’t overwhelming. My friend got tea while I tried some sort of yogurt drink. It was pretty unique. Not something I loved but an interesting experience. I’m usually pretty picky with curry so I decided to go with something else which helped narrow down the selection. In the end I went with a lamb kebab which was delicious. Overall a good experience. Would probably venture trying a different kind of meat and drink next time.

I just happened to be in the neighborhood. It’s Friday during Lent, so I went with the veggie shola. It was tasty. It didn’t look like a lot of food, but I was full by the time I left. They are pleasant and efficient.

The owner and waitress were extremely efficient. The restaurant is pristine, the food is amazing, and I loved the Chai! I will continue to eat here as long as I live! Thank you!

This place makes me consider why I do not venture out to St. Paul more often for dinner/​lunch. The restaurant is situated right next to a free public parking lot. Yes, 2 free hours of parking.
Inside, it is a quaint, appropriately dimmed restaurant. I thought the menus were sort of cute because they have a brief narrative about afghan cuisine and history. My friend who is a vegetarian loves it here and tried nearly everything so I knew i was in good hands.
I came here with two girlfriends for a girls night out sort of deal. We tried the chutney sampler: the cilantro with walnut, red hot chili pepper and tomato and cherry. All three were so good that we asked for more pita bread because we finished them so quickly. The chili one has a nice kick to it.
I got the Kofta and Aloo (beef meatballs with red curry potatoes), my friend got Kofta and Daal (beef meatballs with lentils) and my vegetarian friend got a bunch of appetizers (Borani aka eggplant with yogurt, and shola which is mungbean with brown sticky rice). We tried each others and all of them were so good. I must say that these beef meatballs were the best i ever had. They were so tender and airy! I can eat a bowl of these balls without shame. The portions were reasonable for the price ($ 13 for the meatballs with basmati rice and salad).
We were stuffed but being the fatties we are, we decided to split the rice pudding with rose water ($ 4). It was very fragrant but the texture was not what I expected. I thought it would be more like tapioca pudding but it was like a jello type of texture. My friends liked it, but i thought it was average… not something i would get again. That being said, i just dont really dig flowery scented food in general. I would have taken a picture but my full belly was in the way of me bending over to get my phone from my purse.
In terms of service, i was pleasantly surprised. Few of the reviews noted how the service is terrible but we had a really good experience. the only minor hiccup was that my vegetarian friend ordered leek dumplings and they made the last batch with meat by accident. So, she end up with one appetizer less. However the owner came and apologized, and they caught it before they served it. He was also super nice and helpful in answering her questions since she needed to make sure her food did not have meat/​meat-​based stock in it.
Overall, I would come back again. and probably get those balls again.

Sweet spot for homage authentic tasty food. Casual and comfortable with high quality ingredients.