Afghan Bistro

Very nice place! Staff was kind and helpful, service was quick and the food was great. Their ‘mast-​o-​khiar’ is delicious, and I can’t wait till we get to discover the rest of their menu. Definitely worth your time and money!

Good Service. Check!
Chill Ambiance. Check!
Delicious Food. Double Check!
What more can I ask for?
Upon entering, we were warmly greeted and seated immediately. We came at an off time so the restaurant wasn’t all that packed. I can see this place getting packed though. This family run business is excellent. The ambiance is laid back and cozy. Our server was incredibly friendly, knowledgable, and attentive. He patiently went though the Specials, explaining everything in such detail. During our meal, we were asked if we enjoyed everything a few times. I love that they give you a big glass filled with cold water, it’s perfect for those of us who drink a lot of water. The family here is so sweet, they would hand a glass of water to customers who were waiting for their take out order.
First of all, they will refill your rice, bread, and sides for free. How generous is that? Their portions are generous and we enjoyed every dish from start to finish. Their homemade sauces are amazing, they should bottle it and sell them. Goes great with rice, bread, or meats. Their rice was cooked perfectly, fluffy and fragrant with a nice bite. The meats were tender and flavorful. Their vegetarian dishes are excellent, with so much flavor in these dishes it’ll make any meat lover forget they are eating veggies. Ended our meal with Cardomom Ice Cream and Sheer Birinj (rice pudding), which was a perfect ending for a wonderful meal.
With such warm/​humble service, great attention to detail, food made with heart, how can I not give this place 5 stars?
Free Appetizer with Unilocal Check-​in.

Everything was amazing. Literally. And the service was outstanding. Great little family place. Must try.

Fantastic food! Service was great and the staff was very attentive and educated us on the different sauces and menu items.
We will definitely be back!

This location was so unassuming I never even notice them until I was researching for new lunch spots. Boy, am I glad I gave them a try.
Lunch special: beef tenderloin with seasoned rice and squash. Comes with bread, spicy & non-​spicy dip, some fresh chutney. Also ordered a black tea with cream, all to go. This beef tenderloin, OMG! Calling it beef tenderloin is like calling Michael Jackson a singer, understatement of the century! Its a perfectly cooked, pre-​cut, Afghan flavor NY-​strip steak.
I knew the squash was going to be outrageous before my first bite, yet I was still blown away by the layer of taste bud explosion it provided. Sweet squash, tart and light yogurt, lightly sprinkle with some chili powder and herbs that brings it home with fragrant and just a touch of heat. I think I will have to order a double of that next time. Seasoned rice (pilou?) was not my fav, a bit too greasy, but the suggestion of pairing it with the fresh chutney helped with the issue.
My tea was the perfect finale to this delicious meal. I’m already eyeing the rest of the menu for my next visit.

I love the food here. One time, my bf and I were looking for something new to eat for dinner, we looked on Unilocal and found this place. My favorite is white Chicken kabob and I highly recommend it. It’s juicy and flavorful. His dish was lambs and beef tenderloin. Lambs were a little too salty but it tastes good and beef were delicious.
For sure that i will be back ;)

No wonder this place has 5 stars on Unilocal.Amazing food. Apparently it a whole family working it. Guy runs it. His mom is the recipes. His cousin was waiter for me.
My lunch was $ 9.95. And had bottom less rice, bread, and potatoes.
Just go check it out.

When we went there for the first time, we got spicy beef mantu, saffron tea, lamb chops and terderloin kebob.
Spicy beef mantu tasted like tasteful dumplings– extremely moist and flavorful… really delicious.
Lamb chops were so tender and moist. terderloin was so juicy and tender… sweet potato dish which came out with… was so delicious.
They were the best kebobs ever I had.
We came back for the second time today. We got spicy beef mantu, saffron tea, tenderloin kebob and chicken kebob.
I hate chicken… until I had their kebob chicken today.
So moist, juicy and so true to its taste. it was the best chicken ever I have ever had.
I am a very picky eater– I think its almost better than Rasika or any other Indian/​Kebob place. Give it a try. You will come back again.

Nothing makes me more proud than to see my fellow Afghans succeed! With that being said, growing up in an afghan household with an amazing chef (aka my mom) I had some high expectations of this place. To start, the service here is phenomenal! You really get the true meaning of Afghan hospitality here which you don’t get in even the top star restaurants. The owner of the restaurant is extremely polite and well mannered.
I came here with my family and noticed that when the server brought out the food for us he kept coming back to our table and asked us if we needed anything and if were HAPPY with our food. What restaurant does that? None that I’ve gone too that’s for sure.
I ordered the beef kabob which comes with a side of chalou (white rice). You are given an endless amount of bread and chutney dip. My favorite chutney was the mango sauce, it had the perfect amount of spice with a slight sweetness to it. The combination of the oiled bread and mango sauce was delicious. The rice was fluffy and very tasty and the kabob was out of this world! The kabob was well marinated and melted in your mouth. Everyone at my table was extremely pleased with their food.
The ambiance of this restaurant is very nice. The decorations are beautiful and they have different Afghan paintings. They also had live music in the background with a man playing the sitar. The relaxing music added a nice touch.
Overall, this place is amazing. My family and I were very pleased with the quality and service of this restaurant.

This place was absolutely amazing! The customer service was great, and the food delicious. There traditional green chutney was so amazing that I literally stuffed myself with just the afghan naan and chutney! I was going to grab a coffee after lunch, but our server was incredibly generous and had great hospitality and offered to make me a coffee and even though I declined because I wasn’t sure how it was going to be, he made a cappuccino for me anyways on the house and I felt incredibly touched leaving the restaurant because I haven’t seen customer service like this even in like a 5 star over the top kind of restaurant. Everything about this place is amazing

I happened to stumble upon this place today and could not be happier!
Everything on the menu sounded so good that I had a very difficult time making my selections. I decided on a couple of appetizers; the potato & leek turnovers, the spicy meat dumplings, and the Quroti. For my entrée I choose the Chicken Lawaan.
I was AMAZED at how perfectly prepared the food was. We were first presented with a basket of fresh flat bread and a variety of chutney; each was delicious and unique to the next. The turnovers were crisp and light, accompanied by a wonderful avocado chutney. The dumplings; YUM! And, the Quroti is a dish incorporating minced meat, garlic, onions, and yogurt; absolutely amazing! The Chicken Lawaan especially was moist and is probably my favorite dish now. I seriously ate every morsel!
My overall impression is that the staff takes great pride in what they prepare and serve. They were attentive, accommodating, and gracious. Though the location lacks in appeal, the menu more than satisfies.
I’m upset there was no room for dessert because I would’ve loved try the cardamon ice cream. I did manage to enjoy a cup of the black tea with cardamon.

This time Afghan Bistro delivered a 4.5 experience, so I’m rounding up to 5.
The food was delivered promptly and everything was at the right temperature this time. The shank was tender and delicious, as were all of the sides (greens, rice, potatoes). The bread-​based appetizer – forgot the name – was an explosion of flavors. The chutneys and especially the avocado seemed fresh and were tasty.
We were also told that we could enjoy as much of the sides as we’d like. If I had known this at the outset, I would have swapped my rice for the power greens because they were (1) delicious and (2) low-​carb.
In other words, with a bit of adjustment and skipping the Afghani bread – although delicious – one could possibly have a paleo meal here!
The staff checks in frequently but wasn’t intrusive. My only suggestion would be that the staff exercise restraint with wearing fragrances. Especially for sensitive individuals, this can really negatively impact the ability to enjoy the meal.
We will definitely be back!

Very happy I have always tried new types of foods and am upset it took me so long to try Afghani food because this place is delicious. I just got what I thought was a simple dish with their sirloin and chicken kabob for lunch and all I could say is WOW! It was bursting with flavor and everything went magically together. I will definitely be back! Highly recommend.

My girlfriend and I were looking for something different than the local pizza or bar food that plagues the area. So we found Afghan Bistro through Unilocal and its terrific review. Super happy we came to try them out.
Atmosphere was fantastic. Very clean, minimalistic décor, and wonderful art depicting Afghan culture. The service was impeccable, warm, and friendly. The owners were there when we dined (or at least someone who cared so much you’d have to believe he was the owner) and was over the top accommodating — super impressive!
Food was amazing. Full of flavor, spices sensational, herbs danced in your mouth, and everything made with TLC. We had the chicken thigh dish and lamb chops. The owner came out and gave us a try of their signature Barg beef kabob… everything was fantastic!!!
We will definitely be back and bring family and friends!

I love Afghan food, so I was so excited to try this restaurant out after it came highly recommended from a good friend of mine. I’ve since been here a few times, and I am a huge fan! I came after DC’s first 2016 snowstorm finished up and again on Valentine’s Day.
I’ve had all of the vegetarian items, from appetizers to main entrees. The boulanee (turnovers) and aushak (dumplings) were tasty and good shareable apps. The avocado «chutney» is creamy and refreshing; I wish they sold it by the jarful! You could put it on everything. The other spicier chutney is also delicious and pairs well with every dish on the menu. So typically, the aushak is offered with a beef topping, but I don’t eat beef. The service was impeccable — they suggested a vegetable topping instead, and it turned out really good! On one occasion, my group and I ordered one app of the aushak and then I got the hot mazza sampler as my meal. To avoid double-​counting of the aushak, I was allowed to make a substitution for the pumpkin dumplings. The owner, Omar, gave me the idea and made it happen! It’s really nice when people in the restaurant business actually use their heads.
All of the vegetarian entrees involve at least one of the following: pumpkin, potato, eggplant, various greens, and butternut squash. Everything is consistently cooked well no matter what you get. Pair a veggie with risotto for a heavy and filling entrée or with regular rice for a more manageable meal. Always add those chutneys! Plus, we got some pickles which added some great tanginess to the meal.
When I came on Valentine’s Day, two of us got very lucky — Afghan Bistro is not usually open on Sundays and we simply called ahead without making a formal reservation. We were still taken in for dinner while others were turned away. This is when I tried the meat dishes, and they were awesome. First we were offered a special dinner menu of small plates with dessert — a great idea and perfect for one person. I ordered the chicken kabob but also got to try this special. I cleaned out my plate! The chicken was superb, and the portion was perfect. From the special, both the lamb and salmon were tender and wonderful. I didn’t eat the beef, but it apparently was divine. The meats were cooked so well, just under «well done.»
Dessert-​wise, the cardamom ice cream is a pass — powdered cardamom is dusted on top of vanilla ice cream, so the flavor doesn’t penetrate throughout. The rose ice cream is better and more satisfying. Drinks-​wise, I’ve had two cocktails that were reminiscent of white Russians but infused with Afghan flavors (like rose/​cardamom). So delicious and unique!
Bottom line. JUST GO. This is such an amazing dining experience for anyone, I can’t get over it. The hospitality is truly fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant!

Great place for date night! Delicious food, attentive service, and cozy elegant ambiance. And nice background music.
Loved the Seekh Kabob and Spicy Beef Dumpling appetizers. Both were flavorful. The dumpling skin had that appetizingly chewy and homemade texture — reminded me of Korean steamed dumplings my family makes!
The Tenderloin kabobs, chicken kabobs, and lamb chops were tasty and moist. You can’t go wrong with any of these! Lamb has been an acquired taste for me and I don’t always enjoy it, but I liked their chops. Not gamey, and perfectly cooked.
Their sweet potato and regular potato sides that come with the entrée were delish. Even the complimentary bread with avocado chutney and spicy jalapeño chutney was so good, I couldn’t stop eating it.
I’ll definitely be back. The food is great, and the service and elegance is what makes this Afghan restaurant one of a kind. *Free appetizer with your Unilocal check-​in*

Great first experience! My friend and I tried the Spicy Beef Dumplings (Mantu) appetizer (free if you are checking in with Unilocal!), Chicken and Ground Beef kabobs, and Boneless Juicy Chicken Thigh kabobs. Firstly, the workers were all so friendly and paitent. Secondly, the food was greatly proportioned with the price. And third, the menu was actually really helpful for new comers (like my friend and me) who are unfamiliar with Afghan food. The english names were very helpful.
The appetizer was very interesting. The dumplings were juicy; there was vegetables and spicy sauce over the dumplings and inside there was the meat. The presentation of the dish was also impressive with all the spices and sauces decorating the dish. And for the kabobs… They were great! It comes with seasoned rice (brown or white) and boiled but not mashed potatoes on the side. I had the chicken thighs kabob and that was very good. It wasn’t juicy but it wasn’t dry either. I still really liked it. My friend’s ground beef and chicken breasts weren’t bad either! The beef was on the dryer side but the chicken breast was not dry at all.
Definitely coming back:)

Afghan Bistro is located in a small strip mall located on Alban Road. Upon walking in I was surprised at the décor this place houses. The restaurant is pretty small with approximately ten tables but it definitely it has a very warm and welcoming ambiance. Alexis K and I ended up here on a Friday around 6 P.M. and i would highly recommend making reservations if you are coming in a bigger group. We were greeted by the owner and seated immediately. Hands down this restaurant puts a huge emphasis on service. Their service is very good and since it’s a family owned restaurant there isn’t a large surplus of staff. However they spend their time catering to every single table to see if things are going well.
Alexis K and I ended up getting the quroti for our appetizer which consisted of beef topped with yogurt sauce on top of bread. It was a special for that day. Unilocal tip: If you check-​in via Unilocal you get a free appetizer with a purchase of an entrée. Fresh baked bread is also provided complimentary with two chutney sauces. The bread was very good especially dipped with the two accompanying chutney sauces. As far as main entrée goes I went with the Braised beef with greens. I also got to try my girlfriend’s beef tenderloin kabob with quabuli rice and potatoes. Now if I ate that dish then I would have given this restaurant a 5 star rating. It was extremely good, very flavorful and the ingredients were very fresh. My braised beef dish fell a bit short. The meat was tender however it did not have a very distinct flavor to it. I personally felt it tasted a bit watered down and the greens did not help out with that cause.
Overall, I will definitely be back to try out the other items on their menu. However after my first experience I think I will be sticking with one of their kabob options. The service here at this establishment is what tipped my review to 4 stars. The staff is very attentive and work hard to wait all the tables. I look forward to coming back to this place in the near future.

Seriously delicious food, awesome service.
I’m not very well-​versed in Afghan cuisine, but I can say without a doubt that my boyfriend and I really, really enjoyed our meal here this past weekend. Located inside of a small shopping center in Springfield, Afghan Bistro is a cozy, intimate restaurant that’s perfect for a meal no matter what the occasion. The restaurant has about ten tables, so seating is tight. It also got pretty busy, so I suggest that larger parties (4 or more) make reservations!
We started off with one of their special appetizers called quroti — clumps of minced beef in yogurt sauce over bread. It’s difficult for me to explain what this dish tastes like, but it was so fragrant and had a very lovely smell. I’ve never had anything like it before, and I highly recommend it! For my entrée, I decided to go with the beef tenderloin kabob (filet mignon — very well-​seasoned, quabuli rice, and a small side of potatoes). DAT MEAT was GOOD. The beef was cooked to a perfect medium and was slathered in a bunch of different spices. I also really enjoyed the rice which was slightly sweet/​fragrant and topped with julienned carrots and raisins. The meat and the rice made a really good pair. Oh, and I can’t forget about the potatoes. They had a very strong, curry-​like taste, which I absolutely loved.
Service was extremely attentive! Afghan Bistro is family-​owned and they genuinely care about whether or not you enjoyed your meal. The owner checked up on us multiple times and our waitress thoroughly explained the specials to us. You also get complimentary bread and chutney at the start of your meal; I believe we had jalapeño and avocado-​yogurt. Both were delish.
We left Afghan Bistro feeling full and satisfied. I will definitely be back for more!

What a GEM!!! Afghan Bistro is a family-​owned modern/​casual Afghan restaurant nestled in Springfield. The menu offers daily lunch specials and dinner offerings, including items such as appetizers, soups, salads, kabobs, burgers, wraps, and even vegetarian options. The hubs and I came here for an early dinner, and we started off with: a Potato & Leek Turnover (the Boulanee, which is a fried dumpling filled with sauteed potatoes and leeks, served with a side of avocado chutney; these were not overly greasy, and light and crispy); one of their appetizer specials, the Quroti (a rendition of Afghan bread pudding, topped with minced beef and yogurt — this was SUPER DELICIOUS! Generous mounds of savory meat with a lovely soft bread underneath (reminded me of a garlicy/​butter bread)); and, a Hot Mazza Assortment (a sampling of the spicy beef dumplings (the mantu; minced beef with carrot and peas qorma sauce on top), roasted butternut squash (the kadoo bouraanee, with a slight demi-​glacé), roasted eggplant purée (the barta — this was super delicate, savory, and oh-​so-​yummy!), and the leek dumplings (the aushak; steamed and filled with minced beef and lentil qorma)). Comlimentary bread is given, which is warm and slightly toasted. For the main entrée, we shared one of the house specialties, the Beef Tenderloin Kabob with the Qabuli rice (chunks of tenderloin with a wonderful covering of spices, charbroiled, and served with a side of moist yummy Qabuli rice; there were also some stewed potatoes that came with). There were a variety of sauces/​chutneys, but honestly, none of these were not needed as the food was just that flavorful and seasoned perfectly! I also liked that we received warm (hot hot hot) plates for the appetizers and for the entrees — it really keeps the food warm! For dessert, we tried the Cardamom Ice Cream (comes in a martini glass! Freshly-​crushed cardamom topped a vanilla-​flavored ice cream — the ice cream was very soft and fresh) and the Firni (an Afghan pudding infused with cardamom and rose water, topped with some finely-​crushed pistachios; loved the flowery rose water; this will probably be even more delicious with the rice!). Everything was super tasty and delicious, as you can tell that they put a lot of heart into each of the dishes, as well as being small portioned (but allows you to sample more items) :D Service was super wonderful — cousins Wais and Taliha were both so welcoming, friendly, and super kind, and checked up on us frequently to make sure that everything was great! The restaurant itself is small, but intimate, and very cozy and chic — perfect for dates or a little family get-​together! Definitely check this place out — I can’t wait to go back and try out their Risotto with the Beef Shank, the Lamb Chops, the Rose Water ice cream, and the Sheer Birinj. Just a note — they have BYOB for small corkage fee on Mon-​Thurs!
+Quroti :D
+Barta :D
+Kadoo Bouraanee (butternut squash)
+Qabuli rice! :D
+Beef Tenderloin
+Cardamom Ice Cream
+rose water!
+warm (hot) plates!
+ask for Wais and Taliha: D :D :D
+friendly staff!
+BYOB Mon-​Thurs with a small corkage fee
+plenty of parking in shared lot!