4. Restaurants

Kamdesh Afghan Kabab House

346 14th St, Oakland, CA, 94612
  • (510) 286-1900
  • Store is closed

Kamdesh Afghan Kabab House Menu

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  • Ed U.

    This is only the second time I've tried Afghan cuisine, the first time was last March at the Helmand Palace on Van Ness in San Francisco. I liked that place, but I think I may like this one even more. It's on the most nondescript corner in Oakland appropriately on the edge of Chinatown. Easy to miss if you're not looking for it, Kamdesh is overshadowed by the popularity of the Brown Couch Cafe next door which is admittedly a more user-friendly place to grab a bite. No, eating Afghan food requires a commitment to sit down and eat something hearty and delicious. In that respect, Kamdesh doesn't disappoint. Afghan food is a blend of northern Indian and Mediterranean flavors that brings a tantalizing twist to home cooking. What was a bit sad, however, was that I was the only one dining there on an early Saturday afternoon, a shame since they appear most eager to serve. Even though the vast variety of lamb dishes provided great temptation, I was trying to be mindful of my flexitarian diet but was only partially successful. I ordered the Afghani Salad, a steal at $2.95 for a small bowl, as it was a refreshing mix of red onion, cilantro, chopped cucumber and tomato, and mint all in a special house dressing that tasted a bit like tzatziki sauce (see photo). It was quite delicious that I finished it in record time, something that didn't go unnoticed by the waitress in traditional Afghani garb. She was kind enough to give me a complimentary second bowl. I know I should have gone with the Eggplant Borani if I was being true to my diet, but instead, I ordered the $11.95 Chicken Thigh Kabob, boneless thighs marinated and grilled nicely and placed on a huge bed of their brown rice. It wasn't really brown rice. It was rice that was obviously cooked in some kind of stock (my guess is lamb). The dish was hearty and tasty although I wished there were more vegetables to offset the poultry than the solitary tomato half. I would definitely like to come back and try some of the other dishes like the $13.95 Sabzi Challow which sounds like an Afghan-style osso bucco with spinach, scallions and spices. But alas, I'll need to save up my calories for that one. In the meantime, you really need to give this year-old place a try. FOOD - 4 stars...excellent Afghani salad and hearty, succulent kabobs AMBIANCE - 3 stars...quite compact and low-key SERVICE - 4.5 stars...she had me at the second bowl of salad TOTAL - 4 stars...uniquely authentic cuisine offers delights at this corner spot

    (4)

  • Christopher K.

    I highly recommend this place. You should definitely try it. But if u are not specifically ethnic and you are driving a luxury car or wearing a suit. Eat before sunset. When u walk in its like being in Afghanistan minus a dirt floor. The staff is friendly in their own way. They don't ask how u are or if u like the food. They just give u a glass of water with no ice and stare at u until u order. When u leave, keep your head up, walk briskly and look behind u at least once before u get to the car. Packing heat is not a bad idea.

    (4)

  • Fernando H.

    I think i had something with lamb i don't remember specifics I was slightly buzzed.. But What i did have was amazing. My indian friend loved this place. Will be back

    (5)

  • Mo K.

    Weekly stop when I am working at my Oakland site. Brown rice and Chicken Breast are amazing. Good stuff!

    (5)

  • Rob Z.

    I'm stingy with the 5 stars but this place deserves it for one dish alone: quabili pallow. Not only is it mind-blowingly good, but every time I get it (maybe ten times now) it's the same level of deliciousness. And the mantoo and the bolani are comfort foods I'd been deprived of my whole life due to not being raised Afghani. Of course this place is a hole-in-the-wall on a deserted downtown Oakland street. The service is hilariously indifferent. There's no air conditioning. There is no alcohol. But the food is so good and inexpensive that we eat here more than any other place in Oakland.

    (5)

  • Joel Y.

    The lamb shank rice is amazing!

    (5)

  • Deane M.

    Best afghan kabab house. The brown rice is amazing. Friendly service. This was a great experience for my entire family. What else can I say. ..definitely a do again. Wish they had better baklava. Good size portions.

    (4)

  • Jennifer L.

    Great hole in the wall that serves yummy Afghan/Persian food. Complete with Kubideh and brown rice. For the amount of food you get, the prices are reasonable.

    (3)

  • Richard L.

    I just went there for the first time for lunch with colleagues. We had the dumpling appetizer (really good) and the Afghan wrap lunch special (chicken and beef, both really good). The prices were quite fair for the quality and quantity of food. The service was prompt and friendly. I will most certainly be back. In terms of what you get for the money, it is hard to beat. Yum.

    (4)

  • Dave F.

    Had the quabili pallow (lamb) that came with brown rice and the Afghani salad. After reading all the glowing reviews I may have been set up for disappointment. I don't think I got this place's best effort. My meal - the actual one I was served - was definitely ready and set on the counter to be served while I finished ordering. I think they must have made an extra and just served it to me. Odd, but it was still warm - not piping hot, but hot enough - so I went with it. Good flavor and interesting spices, but not as good as I hoped. Tender, but less so than imagined and definitely not as tender as lamb shank could/should be. Price was fair given the amount of food and overall quality, but between the oddly quick meal, less than attentive service and noisy setting (endless chopping and silverware crashing) probably won't bother again.

    (3)

  • Ryan B.

    solid food here.

    (4)

  • Vanessa S.

    Best baklava I've ever had for starters. My partner loves the quabili pillows. Consistent, clean and relatively prompt. This is my go-to take out spot in Oakland. I have also witnessed a lot of beautiful moments here whether it was a large group of people tremendously enjoying their dinner under the mural - the manager kindly walking outside to sit with a homeless beggar who refused to leave without free food (and he didn't) - to great customer service measures. This is really what they mean when they talk about the heart of Oakland.

    (5)

  • Moe O.

    Awesome food! came here for lunch with some coworkers....ordered the following: * Lamb shank with brown rice, raisins, shredded carrots = YUM - falvorful, great texture and cooked perfectly * Bolani - potato pancake - huge portion (feeds 5 people!) - YUM, nicely spiced * Chicken kebab - cubes of chicken...tender, not dry with brown rice Service was great, flavor, and pricing are great.

    (5)

  • Julia D.

    Kamdesh is really, really good. The service is good, the restaurant is cozy and comfortable, and the food is delicious. I got the chicken kabob and they let you substitute the rice for the afghani salad at no charge. It was wonderful (hot, tasty, well seasoned). The eggplant borani was good (I make it a rule to get the eggplant dish at any place I go to). However, they were out of bolani so we just had it with flatbread. It would have been nice if they had toasted the bread or heated it before serving. All in all, great food, and reasonable prices. The only reason I give it four stars is because of its location; downtown Oakland makes for a seedy ambiance.

    (4)

  • Natasha H.

    After subsisting on hospital food (I have meal tickets to use up) and Trader Joe's for the past month or so, Kamdesh was a welcome & much needed change. Located on the corner of 14th and Webster, it may be hard to spot initially as we almost ended up at Aria, another Afghan restaurant a few storefronts away instead. It's a rather small restaurant too so probably not the best location for a large gathering, but for all other non-formal occasions, Kamdesh would be a spot I'd recommend (if you want to gorge on some delicious, ethnic food at a good price point -$10 to $14/entree- that is). As my first real experience with Afghan cuisine, Kamdesh literally had me at first bite. We started with the Bolani appetizer and this is a must! Just trust me on this one. For the main entree I went with the Quabili Pallow and this was another hit. The lamb was juicy and succulent and falling off the bone. The rice was cooked with raisins, carmalized carrots (tasted that way at least), and nuts and was just as amazing. Despite the generous portions, it took some serious self-control to save enough for leftovers because I did not want to stop eating. In fact, I want to come back here and order the exact same dishes just so I can re-live this culilinary experience all over again because it was that close to perfect. 4.5 stars!

    (5)

  • Jessica J.

    Everything was really good, especially the mantoo appetizer. Little pockets of deliciousness! The kabobs were perfectly grilled and great with the brown rice. I always love that they come with grilled tomatoes. The salad was good, but the cucumber could've been a little fresher. Overall, very tasty and a great find! Probably good for takeout too!

    (4)

  • Shanthi G.

    Wow, this place has great meat dishes. I love the kubbideh and chapli kabobs. The portions are very generous and the food is very fresh. The kubbideh portion is huge; I always have leftovers, and is usually served with rice and grilled tomato. I am on a low-carb diet, but they are always willing to give me the cucumber-tomato-yogurt salad instead. The chapli kabob portion is not as generous, but is super tasty and spicy, which is unusual for Middle Eastern food. The service is usually pretty quick and attentive, and they are also good with to-go orders. Parking can be tough in downtown Oakland, depending on when you go, but I can usually find a spot within a block of the restaurant - bring quarters or debit card for the parking meters! The only drawback for me about Kamdesh is that for some reason, the staff keeps the restaurant freezing cold in the winter. I went here on a second date once in the winter, and OMG, I almost got frostbite. Thank God they serve hot tea. In the summer, it is very warm inside and in the winter, freezing cold. Maybe they don't have AC or heat? The drink selection is also very limited, which is frustrating as someone who doesn't drink regular soda. My options are water and Diet Coke. Well, and hot tea. They don't have iced tea, sparkling water or other diet drinks. Still this place is awesome and I would recommend it to anyone who loves Middle Eastern foodl

    (4)

  • Megan L.

    #NAME?

    (4)

  • D A.

    Stop in by chance to kill some time before going to EBMC.Got chicken thigh kebabs with brown rice. since I never had Afghan food I had no expectation to what to expect. Food was simple yet amazing plan to stop in again and again....

    (4)

  • Andrew Z.

    I went back here for a take out dinner. The service was unfriendly, the food not nearly as good as when it opened, and the price was over 20 bucks for one entree and an appetizer. I would not go here again particularly for dinner prices. There are several other places nearby that are superior for similar menu items.

    (2)

  • Greg F.

    I could eat two dishes there in one sitting. The brown rice is unbelievable, I had the lamb tikka = excellent succulent / gimme more!

    (4)

  • Neal M.

    Every meal here has been an ecstatic, amazing experience. This is not for those who like mild foods, but if you are a spice girl or boy, this will rock your world.

    (5)

  • Lauren C.

    I wandered in here tonight looking for a good quick meal thinking it would be good but this place was seriously phenom. I got there late, around 9:30p.m., and being a former server and remembering the wrath I experienced when serving people who just HAD to be there that last hour, explained I would gladly take food to go but they were very sweet and insisted we sit and took our time. Chicken kabobs, white and brown rice, and lamb were amazing, and they served huge portions which for the price makes them extra amazing. Love!

    (4)

  • Devin N.

    This place has it going on when it comes to the food! Service? Not so much. Hence the 4 stars. Our water glasses were half full of lukewarm water when we got them. It also took the guy a while to refill them. Please get the Quabili pillow - lamb shank, hidden within basmati rice, raisins, and carrots. The menu said it is the most popular dish in Afghanistan and I can see why! The food definitely makes up for the shoddy service! I shall return!

    (4)

  • Leah S.

    Can't say enough about this restaurant. It's not much to look at, but if you get past the run down exterior, and slightly shady neighborhood, you will find a true jewel. The waitress we met was bubbly and welcoming, and had many suggestions on the menu and notes for us about certain foods. We settled on the highly recommended Mantoo starter, which was like a blessed fusion between a ravioli and a wor-wonton, filled with a savory goodness, topped with a killer yogurt sauce, and a sort of vegetable chili with corn and peas and tomatoes. I was immediately impressed by the distinctively fresh and clean flavors. We then ordered the chicken tikka kabab with brown rice, and the quabili pillow. I was curious after my dining companion remarked about the oddity of brown basmati rice, as we were offered white or "brown." After chatting with the waitress, we were informed that the rice was not actually brown, but was cooked with the lamb broth, and made it a brown color and gave it a wonderful flavor. The chicken was perfectly cooked, juicy, and delicious. I topped it with the afghan salad, which was a yogurt with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and a host of other yummy characters. My companion had the quabili, which was essentially a lamb shank covered in rice and goodies, and was falling off the bone delicate, and quite delicious smelling. I have never been a fan of lamb, and will actually go out of my way not to eat it, but after repeatedly annoyed to try it, I did, and it was exceptional. The rice on the quabili was topped with raisins, slivered almonds and carrots, which added a sweetness that perfectly accentuated the rice and lamb. We were both immensely satisfied with our dishes. My companion even ordered a staw to suck the marrow out of the lamb shank, and the waitress did not blink an eye at it and thought it was a great idea! We ended our culinary adventure here with their Firnee, which was a delicate and refreshing pudding with rosewater, cardamom and pistachios, and cleaned the palate leaving us feeling quite fat and happy. I wish I lived closer, as I would put this squarely on my go-to list for dining. My only negative was the location, as I requested to sit at the window for I felt a looming fear my Mercedes would be in danger...maybe next time I'll take something less conspicuous....

    (5)

  • Yelp My B.

    These guys are rude as hell. They let two people order in front of me, cutting -- even though I ordered online -- and then they argue with each other for two minutes before I can even pay. All of this is going on while my food is already done, sitting on the counter getting cold. They say Persian, but it was more like Indian tandoori chicken, and I didn't even taste a gram of saffron.

    (1)

  • Mel M.

    There is a lot of hype surrounding this place and it is all well deserved. I ordered the kofta/ ground beef with spices kabob with brown rice. My dish came with a fire roasted tomato and an cucumber salad. The kofta was juicy and I like how I can see the chef prepare them fresh. The rice was very flavorful and tender. I enjoyed the freshness of everything. The decor is basic, but there is an overall warm, cleanliness feel when you walk in. Out server as well and the staff were all really nice. I will definitely come back as it was a great introduction to Afghani cuisine.

    (5)

  • Jake W.

    Amazing food. I got the lamb shank and it was some of the best Afghan food I've ever had. Four stars instead of five only because the price I was charged didn't match the menu. But it was worth the extra money.

    (4)

  • Seth D.

    this place rocksssss great food wonderful service I had the lamb kabob... Haven't had a juicy lamb kabob in a while I will always return!!!!!

    (5)

  • Debora L.

    Authentic and comforting Afghan food. Service was nice, and there weren't many people as it was a holiday today (this also meant free street parking). We started with the bolani - which tastes different than that sold by those East West Bolani guys at the farmer's markets. This is not as flaky; a little more doughy, evenly stuffed with potato and onions, and cut in strips. It tastes a little bit like a Taiwanese green onion pancake, except far less greasy. It really needs the table's cilantro mint sauce for a bit of heat and flavor, otherwise it's a tad bland. The salad was also quite good, smothered in a light thin yogurt sauce. Hubs had the beef tikki kabob lunch special, which came with a huge serving of Persian brown rice (each kernel is separate, rather than stuck together like Asian rice) and a charred tomato. However, the meat was a bit tough and there were only 6 cubes, so he was still hungry afterwards. Total for all 3 items including tip was about $25. I'd come back for the bolani. It seems that most people come here for take-out given the location, which seems reasonable.

    (3)

  • Suavecito m.

    Very cool spot that only has a couple tables on the inside so plan on getting there early. The wait staff is nice but they seem pretty stressed with the heavy workload. I enjoyed my kababs and also the baklava was so delicious that I decided take an order home.

    (4)

  • Ruby L.

    Good but not great. We had the lamb shank and beef koobideh. We liked the meal but service was indifferent and bill with tip came to be $36 - rather pricey for somewhere this part of town. Don't think it was as mindblowingly good as made out to be in other reviews.

    (3)

  • Shelley K.

    First of all this place is on the intersection of WEBSTER and 14th. There is another kabob place on Harrison & 14th that had us confused because of the map.. Also, I am not into any sort of middle eastern food. I can't handle it usually.. but this place changes everything. Small interior, so I think the biggest party should be like 6 people. Luckily we got there around 7:30 and managed to snag a table! We got the mantoo appetizer, which are dumpling/ravioli-like things that were smothered in sauce and spices. SO. DAMN. GOOD! I think it comes with 5.. so if you come with another person, you'll have to fight for the last one. Beef tikka kabab was a bit dry, but seasoned well. White basmati rice was delicious and grilled tomato was so juicy. Chicken breast kabab is HIGHLY recommended! Chicken is moist, juicy, soft.. flavorful.... and makes me never want to make chicken at home again. Super delicious. Got the brown basmati rice but I don't think it was the brown we are thinking of-seemed like it was cooked in some spices and sauces. Very good! Also, I am a baklava fanatic. The minute I walked into the store, I saw baklava and got very excited. $2 for one and $6 for a box of four!! And man.. these are pretty damn good. Not super sweet like a lot of baklava I have tasted in my time. Perfectly crunchy, yet moist, and soft.. and awesome. Great service, attentive workers, and another plus-the bathroom is clean.

    (5)

  • Foodaholic G.

    Called in a takeout order for kubideh kabob and had my husband pick it up. When he got there, it took a few minutes for someone to approach him. Once someone helped him, it turns out the order was never placed! So hubby waited for them to start cooking the food butt once it was cooked, the food sat on the kitchen counter for a long time before the front house person went to retrieve an already late order. No apologies from them whatsoever. After much waiting, I finally got to try the food. I'd have to say it was just ok. If the service weren't so poor it may be worth another try. Not missing out on much here as there is another Afghan restaurant that serves much better food and makes your food on time!

    (2)

  • Alyssa H.

    Loved it! Fast service, sauces that I wanted to put on all the things (so I did), and a good menu. Even the brown rice was delicious. Definitely get the mantu (dumplings with beef). There is some outdoor sidewalk seating, but not a lot.

    (5)

  • Calvin J.

    I don't mind paying for a good meal, but for the price, it didn't seem all that great. Food was decent, but $14 for a small meal that didn't fill me up? Not a fan.

    (2)

  • Zainab B.

    I ordered food for 8 people to pick up and they had everything ready to go in family style trays right when I got there. They threw in extra rice, bread, and salad on the house and the owners were extremely friendly and helpful. Can't go wrong with any of the kabab plates with brown rice. Great food and service!

    (5)

  • S I.

    Mantoo -- delicious Kiboodeh -- delicious and juicy AND the brown rice is BOMB. Love this place!!

    (5)

  • Dominick O.

    This is the first review I've ever written on Yelp, and unfortunately I'm writing because of an incredibly negative experience my wife and I had at this restaurant. First off, this review is not about the food, the food is amazing. My wife is a vegetarian and ordered the Vegetarian Sabzi Challow. The cook made an honest mistake and made her the Lamb Sabzi Challow, not a big deal, the manager took it back and had him remake it. She gets the new meal, it comes back faster than expected, there's some hesitation, but she goes ahead and starts eating. Shortly enough, she finds lamb in her dinner. It was blatantly obvious that the chef had just scooped out the majority of the lamb from the original dish and tried to pawn the new dish off as vegetarian. Anyone in food service knows that this is a huge deal as food service is predicated on trust. This restaurant has a long road to travel in that department. The manager accepted the dish, apologized for the mistake, and talked to his cook. However, it's important that folks know that tonight was a super sketchy experience that should never happen in food service, and inspired me to write my first Yelp review for a restaurant that I otherwise really like.

    (1)

  • Linda L.

    Best chicken BBQ I have ever tasted. The rice with raisins & carrots are so delicious. I can eat here every day. Staffs are very friendly.

    (5)

  • Doggie D.

    This was my first time trying Afghani cuisine, so I didn't know what to expect. My initial impression is that it's similar to (Mediterranean / Middle Eastern) cuisine, with greater use of spices. I started my meal with their Eggplant Borani appetizer, which is like a baba ghanoush with the addition of spices (guessing paprika, chili powder). It's served warm, with some Afghani flat bread, which is reminiscent of Italian focaccia. A delicious start to the meal. For my main entree, I ordered the Beef Tikka kababs - flavorful, marinated chunks of beef, charbroiled, and served up with a generous portion of rice pilaf and a broiled tomato. You also get a refreshing side salad of diced cucumber, tomato, and red onion, dressed with a yogurt-herb dressing. Another delicious dish - my one nitpick would be that I thought the beef chunks were a bit chewy and tough (but still very tasty). Side note: on each table, there's a small container containing this tasty green sauce, which works with the beef chunks, rice pilaf... I think it'd go well with anything! It's very similar to a chimichurra sauce, but a bit more piquant (there's vinegar in it) and has some "heat" from added peppers. Poking around the web, I believe this is what's called a "chanti sauce". Service was prompt and friendly, and my appetizer and entree were served-up in a timely fashion. In summary: very tasty food, a pleasant dining experience, and I plan to return to try other dishes on their menu.

    (4)

  • Angela L.

    I absolutely love this place! I think it's family run and everything about it is awesome (except maybe the wait during lunch hour, but it's totally worth it). Their lunch specials are great - I always get either chicken breast meat kabob or beef kabob and both of them are super tasty. Portions are big so sometimes I even have leftovers for dinner. THE GREEN SAUCE is sooo good. PUT IT ON EVERYTHING! Also, I hope they get their soup back.

    (5)

  • Rochelle P.

    Excellent Service Amazing Food With Clean Eat Options. -YELPA! My family and I came here to have dinner since we've been craving Persian food. The restaurant is fairly small, simply decorated in earthy tones and very clean. Totally mom and pop hole-in-the-wall gem. We were warmly greeted, seated immediately and served cold glasses of water. The menu offerings are small yet wisely chosen. We decided to family style in and ordered Mantoo, Roasted Butternut Squash, Chicken Breast Kabob with Brown Rice and Sabzi Challow (lamb) with Brown Rice. The Mantoo was absolutely divine. The finely minced beef enhanced with fragrant spices of coriander, garlic, onions, tomato sauce and yogurt brought satisfying smiles to our faces and a clean plate. As was the Mantoo, the Roasted Butternut Squash was just as sinful. The sweetness of the squash combined with the savoriness of the spices topped with their delicious yogurt also didn't last too long at our table. It's a perfect vegetarian dish for a vegetarian, omnivore and a sweet tooth! Sabzi Challow. Sabzi Sabzi Sabzi! Wow, the lamb fell right off the bone and the bone was cleaned out by my older son who's fallen in love with this dish! Slow cooked in their special spices and served with spinach cooked with cilantro and scallions and a side of their brown rice makes this dish a sure winner on every dine-in or take-out visit. I was very pleased with this dish made with a lot of love I take it. Chicken Breast Kabobo was wonderfully grilled. Tastily marinated and cooked thoroughly yet juicy and tender. I was in heaven. The brown rice is specially yummy cooked in a spiced broth once you start eating it, it's really hard to stop. They also served us with a cold tomato and cucumber salad and naan. At each table is a cilantro chutney- spicy and addictive you want to top it with everything at the table. We really enjoy dining here. The services is great even when busy and the food is unmatched in the area. I love that they serve brown rice too. Although overstuffed by the time I leave I don't feel to guilty because its pretty healthy!

    (5)

  • Adelina G.

    Came here for the first time, the eggplant dish was perfect! But I think I made a mistake by ordering what I did. I'm not much of a lamb fanatic, let alone meat in general and I probably messed up there when I ordered the lamb chops. Something about them caught my eye, so I took the chance and ordered them. Eh, honestly not much of a fan of gamey lamb, it was very mushy and had a strong odor. I probably will return and try something else, I heard so much rave about this place I figured I'd give it a shot. Next time I'll be sure to try something else.

    (4)

  • Narmi I.

    The Food Here Is OK Not Great Not The Best The Best I've Ever Had Is My Wife's Cooking A ND She Is Afghan No Exaggeration I Don't Understand This Place Because The Food Is Not All That Great And The Prices Are Just Worst Then The Food Nothing To Eat Then It's OK Otherwise Not My Type Of Food Served Here

    (3)

  • Arzo Q.

    Walking in this place it's pretty small but has a nice environment. The service was mediocre at best, the staff was not too attentive when I was there. The food takes a good while to get to you but that's perfectly fine with me because the kabobs are made to order. If you've never had authentic Afghan food or never been to other restaurants in the Bay Area this would be a good spot to check out. Was not a big fan of the bolani because it was pretty bland which was a bummer because it's usually my favorite and has always been good at other restaurants. I ordered the kubideh kabob which was good but cooked more in an Iranian style than Afghan style but that's pretty common. Would go again if I was in the area.

    (3)

  • Tracey M.

    Kamdesh is one of those places you go to because the food is so good; those hole in the wall treasures that you'll disregard long waits and semi-rude service for. Mind you, my last sentence was focused on my sit down experiences, which is up to three times (as Kamdesh is on the pricey side). My take out order experience was much better. I treated myself due to a strugglesome day and to commemorate the last time I would be able to walk there on my lunch break from school; my campus moves to Harrison street next week. Took my brothers Frank and Calvin. *(The next few lines go into my ghetto fab voice) As soon as we walked in the door, the brother Frank said: Dayum Tracey. You always know these crazy lil secrets; like where to get HELLA good Afghan food, and what the best rum is (*Sailor Jerry- which he so lovingly refers to as "Jack Sailor"). The man has never tried Afghan food and proclaimed he would return with his wife: Frank: Bout to take Diamond out for some Afghan food... Fo show. Gonna get our eat on smells so good! The dessert is so good, I risk dying (*lactose intolerant) to eat it. It's a custard with cardamom and I believe cinnamon, with pistachios on top... if you eat it, don't try to share it with someone. TRUST ME. The green sauce? SMOTHER it all over your brown rice (the white Basmati is HELLA dry). In fact, smother the green sauce on EVERYTHING. I have yet to try their signature dish because they put raisins in the rice. Ew. Raisins. Bleh. Don't go if you are already having a hypoglycemic temper tantrum. You will go into bitch-shock and start convulsing from the uncontrollable urge to throw your empty water glass at the waiter after thirty minutes. Baskets of naan for a dollar. Eggplant is cooked to perfection (which I feel is really hard to pull off), and the ambiance, when not over crowded, is enjoyable. Don't expect to be treated like royalty; just go because you like to eat good food.

    (4)

  • Richard G.

    A small group of us had lunch here. Get there early as the place is small and fills up quickly. The wait time is another factor if you're trying to have a quick lunch; the service isn't slow but leisurely shall we say. The table tried the lamb shanks, chicken kababs, eggplant and the spinach. The Eggplant and spinach dishes were OK but not anything special. The chicken was spot on; grilled but still moist. The lamb shanks were excellent. It comes with a massive pile of rice. I would ask them to hold the raisins: Their sweetness combined with the carrots is a bit much. All in all a good experience.

    (3)

  • Chris M.

    Kamdesh is a gem of a place in the heart of Oakland. If you disregard the neighborhood around 14th/Webster, you'll find one of the best restaurants in the city. What makes me come back here is the food - it's delicious. I've tried a few things on the menu, but I'd have to recommend the Eggplant Borani starter, and the Beef Chapli entree. Each meal is served with brown or white rice, and usually comes with grilled tomato. The flavors in the Borani are wonderful - if you're a fan of eggplant, its hard not to love this dish. The portions are generous, the service is friendly, and the prices are very reasonable ($10 lunch specials, $12-15 for dinner entree). The only downside is the small dining area, so it's not ideal for large groups.

    (5)

  • Vladimir G.

    Tried their lamb kebab, it was very average and lacked juice. Meat was little dry. Eggplant spread, however, was very tasty and juicy, 5 stars for the eggplant spread and 1.5 stars for kebab.

    (3)

  • Genevieve S.

    The diced cucumber salad with red onions & tomato was on point. The light dill yogurt dressing was also the bees' knees that tied the salad together. Thankfully, this came with each dinner entree. We ordered the chicken breast & Quabili Pillow. Both were very tasty (we did wish there was more meat & less rice) and the raisins that were sprinkled in the Quabili rice was a sweet & chewy touch. The lamb was very tender and paired great with their cilantro chili sauce that sits on each table. Next time I want to try the Mantoo (dumplings).

    (4)

  • Easwud C.

    Love this place. So good I don't even care the veggies on the mantoo came out of a freezer bag. Everything we've tried is excellent except perhaps their bread. They also have some hot sauce that will burn your face off.

    (4)

  • The S.

    I wanted to like this place. The food lacks enough spices to make it stand out as something special and is a little too pricy for the small amount of meat you get with the rice. Overall, its different.....but bland.

    (3)

  • Annie B.

    I've really hesitated writing a review for this place. I love it. It's probably my favorite place to eat in Oakland. But I don't want it to get to busy!!! So, you can eat here, but just not all on the nights I want to eat here ;-)

    (5)

  • Hien D.

    Came here for lunch with two co workers. We order three entrees to share and all three were good. Service was superb and attentive. One single lady managing all the tables and she did a wonderful job. Will be back!

    (4)

  • Greg T.

    Yummy chicken (breast and thigh), beef, lamb, abd fish kabobs. Try the eggplant dish too...it's awesome.

    (4)

  • Jacob R.

    Came here on a whim with my girlfrined when we got hungry late at night but were sick of the usual. We were blown away by the Quabili Pallow and have been coming back since. The kabab we got was OK, but all of the lamb dishes are spectacular. Oh, and always get brown rice!

    (4)

  • Farrah J.

    My dinner was off the hook! I ordered the Chicken Breast Kabob w/ brown rice. The service was pretty quick. I went after work to get take out. Parking was fine since it was around the evening on a Thursday. The guy at the counter was very welcoming, helped me order and told me my order would be done in about 10 minutes. & he was correct! The food was delicious! The kabob was marinated and seasoned very well. It was also done very very good, it wasn't dry nor was too juicy; just perfect. The brown rice definitely went well w/ the succulent chicken. Definitely coming here again!

    (5)

  • Matthew P.

    Quabili Pallow is unreal. Atmosphere isn't great, but that's not why you should go.

    (4)

  • Lesley R.

    Very good food.. the service was good. The lamb was amazing. Even the rice was cooked to perfection. If I lived in Oakland I would go to this on a regular basis.

    (5)

  • Arkady I.

    Some of the best and most delicious afghan food I have ever tried in a very traditional, family style setting. The lady that served us wasn't the friendliest and the most eager to please, but that only added to the authenticity of the experience. I highly recommend salmon kabob dish (it literally melts in your mouth) and dumpplings that are served as an appetizer.

    (5)

  • Tina S.

    Double plus YUM! After visiting a higher priced Kabab joint at 11th and Broadway, I tried my luck at this hole in the wall. But, what a hole it is! The food is fabulous, fresh, tasty, generous and cheap. The service was attentive and nice. And, like others, I ordered substitutions for rice/bread without a hiccup. Very neat and clean in a kind of strange set up. But, plentiful seating and homey atmosphere make this a place I'll be coming back to again and again. I don't eat lamb, but there is plenty to eat without it. OK, it's 2 pm and now I want to eat there again...sheesh...

    (5)

  • Kapil G.

    Smaller place, though food was good. Though this place is for food only and nothing else. The quantities were good. The most surprising part was very very reasonable pricing. I will suggest this for try once for sure. If you are driving from Sacramento to Bay Area plan to have lunch or dinner here, won't regret that...:)

    (4)

  • James A.

    Ok so tonights service wasn't that great! First time ever since I've been going to this place! The dinner I actually ordered wasn't so great either, I can't remember what it was called but it was lamb with spinach and brown rice. Ok so the lamb was great and so was the rice but the spinach was absolutely disgusting. Everything else was great. I brought 6 of my friends with me too, not only did the waiter forget my food after I told him what I wanted he repeatedly hit on two of my friends that were with me! In front of me and their parents may I add! How rude, needless to say I was not pleased with tonights service. I guess this place is more for a two person or even 3 person venue. Well I'll try again, just not with him again and or my friends!

    (2)

  • Jason S.

    juicy juicy chicken thighs, yummy yummy grilled tomatoes, delicious delicious rice I am so bummed I only discovered this near the end of my Oakland internship. Maybe for the better, else I'd be packing in those meats and carbs all day. The chicken thigh, marinated and grilled to divinity, with perfect moisture and flavor. Some of the best kabobs ever.

    (5)

  • Nim D.

    I love when folks allow for "substitutions". I am going more on the gluten free side which means, NO RICE and they allowed for a salad as my substitution. Now, the question is, how good is the salad? Is it iceberg lettuce which has nothing in it for you or is it a salad to brag about. I'll let you know!!! Also, my rating will change then as well. 5-13-12 The food was fabulous and the salad, I could not get enough of it. The whole meal was truly delightful. This is a great place to order to go. It's very warm inside the place as it is small and heat is not my friend. I will always get it to go.

    (5)

  • Joe L.

    Delicious food, generous portions, and super friendly waitstaff. We accidentally left our card at the table and the guy ran 4 blocks to bring it to us. They cook their meat perfectly and the bolani is delicious. I don't think I've had a bad dish at this restaurant. We have had visitors who we have brought to a lot of places in SF and East Bay, and this is usually toward the top of their lists.

    (5)

  • Oaklandish a.

    This place was quite a let down. The seasoning and marinade were top notch, but the meat was WAY overcooked. The grilled tomato that comes on the side was black on the outside, but not cooked through. In addition, I wouldn't have minded something green to go with my pile of rice and overcooked meat (they give you cucumber, but a salad, or some other type of vegetable would be nice. It's a shame: the price is high, but hey, so is saffron. They've got to refine their grilling technique and use a meat thermometer. Without that, they are hosed. Last but not least, the naan wasn't very naan like and tasted a couple of days old.

    (1)

  • Noor M.

    Kamdesh is a testament to the expression, "good things come in small packages." Seemingly inconspicuous at a street corner in Chinatown, Kamdesh beckons to lovers of afghani food - kebabs, green chutney and seasoned rice. A friend and I decided to go to Kamdesh for lunch. We were ushered to our seats and while the ambiance was nothing to write home about, the staff was very sweet and eager to please. We decided to try the lunch special as it seemed the most economical; each entrée was about $10.00. I got the lamb with brown rice whereas the friend got beef with brown rice. Our food was served fairly quickly and the portions were BIG - enough to keep you full for the day! The lamb was extremely well-seasoned, which is something hard to come across and the rice was absolutely delicious. Just the thought of the rice is making my mouth water right now.. yumm. The lamb was tender AND chewy at the same time (is that even possible?!). My friend reported that the beef was absolutely scrumptious and was the perfect ratio of meat to seasoning. This is a typical family-owned restaurant with fresh ingredients, well-cooked food and friendly service, the prices may seem a little steep but keeping in mind the generous portions, this place deserves a solid 4 stars!

    (5)

  • R O.

    Strolled thru the other night for a quick dinner. Ordered up the beef and chicken kabab. Was offered with either white or brown rice. Quality wise the food stood out. For the chicken they used chicken thigh meat which cooked up nice and tasty. The beef was grinded down and formed but still held well given the chef's charring skills, in a good way. I think the chicken was better. What's cool is once we ordered he busted out the skewers and dropped em on the grill. You could hear the sizzle and see the smoke signals of good times to come. also tried the mantoo for an appetizer, small dumplings filled with ground beef, another winner here, probably a good idea to skip this if your gonna try and kill your plate, good luck Serving portions are large side so sharing is a good idea Comparing to other places this spot is true contender, small, corner spot, in the city. Menu it's pretty straight forward. Customer service was on point and their plates were clean and water glasses were see through. skip the naan! Big plus- quality of the food and cleanliness of the set up $15 per meal with a drink

    (4)

  • Andy N.

    Awesome food! I live right around the corner and everything I've had from here has been delicious. The menu is not huge, but includes some great regional dishes. If its your first time get the Quabili Pallow, you can't go wrong with that. Its a small restaurant, but never seems to be so busy that you have to wait long. I have recommended this place to many people and will continue to!

    (5)

  • Catt G.

    I ate one of the best meals of my life there! Get the quabili palaw (lamb shank, basmati, carrots, raisins), it comes with cucumber salad (but you may want more), and definitely do not skip dessert -- they have just one (some sort of cardamom rice pudding is my guess?? Anyway, it is extraordinary). This food was so good it has me fantasizing about going to Aghanistan. The neighborhood is better for having Kamdesh there.

    (5)

  • Connie Y.

    i love their chicken kabob with brown rice (which isn't the healthy, whole grain kind of brown rice, they just call it that) and their amazing cilantro sauce. i can use that whole bottle of cilantro sauce all on my own! their eggplant appetizer is also very good. i've also tried the beef kabob but thought it was a bit tough. i'm not a fan for lamb but it seems like it would be good there because I had just a taste of it and it was not too gammy. if you're in the mood for some afghan kabab, it is totally worth a try!

    (4)

  • Ifred M.

    Amazing food & service. The Mantoon is to die for.

    (5)

  • Evon D.

    yummy!!!!!!!!!!!! the rice the kabobs the hummus the eggplant everything s sooooo yummy. def recommend this place

    (5)

  • Gowtham Y.

    The bolani with Yoghurt and mint chutney was excellent. Tried the Fish Kabob with brown rice. The brown rice is very good. They have one dessert which is worth trying. I was very happy with the service too. I am definitely going back.

    (5)

  • Liz L.

    Great food and very friendly service. The eggplant dish rocks!

    (5)

  • Sal A.

    Great afghan food, kabobs are very juicy. Warm family environment. Great service.

    (5)

  • Bonnie B.

    Eggplant appetizer, lamb kebab, lamb shank with spinach stuff, bread, it was all really good. I had never eaten Afghani food, but the staff were helpful and made sure I got something I liked (well, it turned out that it was all good, so I guess it was easy for them to suggest something tasty....)

    (5)

  • Brandon T.

    good for lunch. i'd go back.

    (3)

  • Lisa S.

    I usually drive all the way down to Fremont (Salang Pass) for Afghani food, but am glad this place is here to satisfy my cravings when the mood strikes. This is a great place to get kabobs -- the meat was really juicy and the brown rice was super flavorful...and plentiful! One of the better dinner spots in the downtown Oakland area -- especially after a drink or two over at Disco Volante across the street.

    (4)

  • Cazsh R.

    I have eatern here several times since the first few days they opened. They have start up issues like all new restaurants have - things getting better each time I visit. Lamb great. salad great. Chicken skewers moist. service works hard to please. I love new flavors and a small family restaurant.

    (4)

  • Donald W.

    Another stumbled upon, fantastic find! The food is all fresh and filled with amazing flavors. The staff was friendly and helpful. We had tried a dish at an Afghan restaurant in the city and didn't see it on the menu. We asked our server if they had a dish that was similar. He in turn asked his dad, who was cooking in the back, if he could make it and he said he would. It was delicious. The entire meal exceeded our expectations. Can't wait to go back. Don't miss mom's home made chutney sauce on the table either.

    (5)

  • Marina S.

    Kamdesh Kabob House's food is simply mouthwatering. This place gets very crowded, so a wait will be expected. I ordered their chicken kabob with rice-soo good! I also ordered the mantu, and it was so delicious! I'd recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Ting Z.

    Awesome food, great prices, nice people!

    (5)

  • wanda r.

    The food is good, but nothing extraordinary. Liked spinach(sabzi), bolani, rice. The beef kabab was a little bit chewy. In general nice restaurant and nice people;) I'll be back;)

    (4)

  • colin l.

    Just had lunch here with a small group. Everyone was blown away. The smells coming out of the kitchen had our mouths watering. All the staff were really friendly. I got the lamb shank. It was as good as the other reviewers say. Delicious, great texture. The rice with almonds and carrot was dynamite. My wife got the kofta, which was even better than the lamb shank. Really juicy, *lots* of flavor. nicely spicy. I'll definitely be back. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 is that they seem to still be working out some of the kinks around timing - the food seemed to take a little long for lunch, with only three or four other groups there.

    (4)

  • Jonathan P.

    Delicious kebob place right in down town. This is what I'm talking about! Not pretentious reasonably priced. Just with the meals had some vegetables on the side or something...

    (5)

  • Cory H.

    this place is great! I work just around the corner so I thought I would check it out, and I'm pretty sure I just found a new favorite restaurant in downtown oakland. The food was excellent, especially the cilantro chutney (made by the mom)! The restaurant was run by a family, and they were all incredibly gracious hosts . They just opened, so there were a few items on the menu that weren't in stock, but I guess I'll just have to go back and try them at a later date!

    (5)

  • Emily D.

    I'd been looking forward to Kamdesh's opening and it certainly did not disappoint! The chicken and beef kebabs were tender and delicious, served with fluffy rice, cucumber salad, and rice pudding for dessert. The service was also exceptional - family owned and operated, and a really welcoming vibe. I will be returning often!

    (5)

  • Jessica G.

    Yum. Chicken kabob sandwich was delicious. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Realand T.

    The best Afghan food in the East Bay, LOVE their Salmon kabobs! Their mantu beats the mantu from the couple of other Afghan restaurants in the East Bay. Their lamb qabuli palow is excellent as well :) Would love to see them include a few more Afghan dishes because I know it will be DELISH :)

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    I'd say 2.5 stars, really, pushed into 3 by its charming staff and by being open in an area with few affordable restaurants open on the weekend and in the evenings. Food: 3 stars. The lamb kabab was delicious: juicy but crispy. The eggplant borani was also tasty. The downside was the lack of veggies with the meat entrees and the truly lousy naan. Value: 2 stars. The entrees are filling, but partly because of the mountains of rice. On the other side of the lake, Bacheeso's is serving equally tasty kababs for the same price--but with ethical meat and lots of awesome organic vegetables on the side.

    (3)

  • sara n.

    I'm Afghan and have grown up eating afghan food both at home and restaurants. This is by far the best Afghan restaurant in California. The qabuli (brown rice with carrots and raisins) is cooked to perfection. Same goes for the lamb and chapli (ground beef) kabobs. Highly recommend this place if you are in the Bay Area.

    (5)

  • Lo B.

    Great spot. The food is delicious and the people are absolutely adorable. I have not met the entire family yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Glad to have this new little gem as my neighborhood restaurant. The eggplant borany is worth the detour, portions are hearty, and if you are real hungry, try the lamb shank!

    (5)

  • Laurence L.

    Easily some of the best lamb I've ever eaten. Extremely courteous and kind staff. A little on the pricey side (lunch deals are only offered Mon-Fri) but I thought it was worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    I ate there with a large groups of people and the restaurant was very accommodating. The food was delicious and priced well. They even let us pay with several credit cards which is sometimes a problem when you have large group of people. Overall it was a great meal.

    (4)

  • Raffi M.

    This is a very cozy, modest place in downtown Chinatown Oakland, CA. We ordered takeout with the process being fairly quick. For around $12, I received the ground beef kubideh, white rice, and a tomato/cucumber salad. It was delicious with full skewers of meat. I'm a fairly big guy and I could not eat the whole meal (the rice, mainly). I appreciated the simplicity in the food and the down home feel of the actual restaurant as we waited for our takeout order. Recommended.

    (4)

  • M M.

    Kamdesh is AWESOME! We had never been and needed to pick-up something quick after 9pm, so I called and asked for an online menu. In the same breath that informed me that they didn't have one online, she offered to talk it over the phone and when asked, gladly made recommendations based on popularity. Not only was she friendly, she wasn't annoyed that we were placing an order right before closing. In fact, when we called 10 minutes later to ask if she could add a dish, she did it without any issue. 15 minutes later we had Bolani (Afghani flatbread stuffed with potato), Eggplant Borani, Beef Kubideh (ground beef), and their most popular dish, Quabili Pillow (rice with lamb shanks, topped with raisins and carrots). Needless to say, everything was perfection. Seasoned impeccably, bolani was warm and delicious, rice with carrots and raisins was an incredible combination with a hit of sweetness, lamb melted off the bone and into your mouth, beef was moist and cooked just right, even their white rice was amazing, but we fell in love with their eggplant borani which was unlike anything we've ever had. They are definitely on our speed dial from now on and a copy of their menu is on now our fridge. We will meet again, Kamdesh Afghan Kabab House.

    (5)

  • Sharon M.

    Their Quabili Pallow (brown basmati rice with slivered almonds, raisins, and carrots) is so delicious! Wow!

    (5)

  • Anita B.

    Their quabili palau was amazing - juicy carrots, tender rice, and a huge, whole lamb shank in the middle. $11 for lunch, which was on the high end of the menu pricing. Love it!

    (5)

  • Erika B.

    amazing, incredible food. the quabili pallow and eggplant appetizer was ridiculous. go!

    (5)

  • H G.

    Just went here with a group from work for lunch. It was definitely good and the service was quite friendly. I don't really know anything about Afghan food, but it all seemed very good. We shared the eggplant borani appetizer (very good), and I had the lamb kebab with brown rice (tasty, but needed some veggies on the plate). My favorite things were the cilantro sauce that is on the table as a condiment (I pretty much drowned all my food in that stuff) and the cucumber dill salad. Very good, and a nice contrast to the heavier lamb. Everyone in my group seemed to enjoy their food. There were several things on the menu that weren't available that day, but the staff promised that they would be available once they hold their "grand opening". Not sure when that is. The space is a little small. It's narrow and the ceiling is pretty low. You feel a little like you're in the hold of a ship or something. But they decorated nicely with colorful paint on the walls The small space certainly won't keep from from enjoying some good food there. I have to say, that the 11 five-star ratings in the first two weeks look a little suspicious to me. Some sound a little like maybe they were planted by friends and family of the owners. I'm just saying, it was good, but not 5-stars-all-the-way good.

    (4)

  • matthew A.

    really good kabob!

    (5)

  • Jon G.

    Had lunch here today and positively loved it. Lamb shanks that were the very definition of tender, a simple side of cucumber and yoghurt (much like Indian raita though a tad sweeter) and the main set on a luscious bed of rice and raisins and topped with tiny, diced carrots. The staff were exceptionally friendly. If I didn't live so far away I'd be back here very soon. An unexpected treat on the edge of Chinatown.

    (4)

  • Jill k.

    yay, an afghan place in oakland! decent prices for dinner (approximately $10 - $15), with good sized portions, and friendly service. i ordered the koobideh with brown rice (which isn't exactly brown rice), which was great!

    (4)

  • Faith A.

    The place is tiny, the menu limited, but it made for fun take out (something to surprise and please a West African & a Maltese & a foodie palate). Got the dumpling appetizer, an eggplant & potato bolani (love these--wish they had more filling options!), the eggplant entrée (the fun counter guy and I had a big argument about whether or not eggplant should even be allowed to exist, and he swore this would make a believer out of me, which it kinda did), and the national dish/lamb shank-and-rice, which was fall-off-the-bone tender. I was flirting with a kebab (I don't really like them but thought that 2 men might require more meat options for dinner), but the guy suggested a side of rice instead (which lost him a potential $10 more in sales). Still looking for that luxurious, gourmet Afghani dining option, but in the meantime, I'm happy to add this to the rotation of casual ethnic places to support.

    (3)

  • Jeanne C.

    Hooray! I love it here! A small, family run operation that is very simple and no-frills, with excellent quality food served by the sweetest, most good-natured people. When we first went, we went a few times that week (it was that good) and saw a "regular," a man who uses a wheelchair and required significant assistance. The whole family took care of him like he was a member of their household. The food is so good, and they have the delicious, amazing green chatni sauce that I haven't been able to find since Bamyan in Marin closed. Decor is simple, painted cinder block and tea lights, but what makes the place shine is the love and care they share with everyone. No booze (for spiritual practice reasons I think?), but the better to savor your food with a clear head. Love. them. Yum!

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    Really, really excellent food. The Chapli kebab is wonderfully seasoned, but you MUST have Quabili Pallow - leg of lamp with rice, raisins, carrots, and almonds!

    (5)

  • Fred C.

    If you are in Oakland and want a good tasty meal do your self a favor and get the Quabili Pallow. Lamb, rice, carrots, raisins. Lots of food, more rice than I could finish. The place is small and not fancy but for the price I was well satisfied.

    (4)

  • Cameron D.

    I live right down the street from this hole in the wall, and every time I have enjoyed my experience here. The food is great and reasonably priced, and you will leave the restaurant full and content. All the kebabs are good, and the bolani is an excellent starter - try with the chutney on the table. This first time that i went to the place it didnt feel like a restaurant, more like a cafeteria, and there was a stark amount of disorganization, but concurrent visits have shown me that they have quickly gotten their act together. Staff and the owner are always friendly and gracious, and i will continue to visit Kamdesh for an excellent and affordable quick eat.

    (4)

  • C S.

    Most authentic Afghan food I've had since leaving Afghanistan. The Kabuli Palau with almonds, raisins, and carrots is amazing, as are all the Kabab dishes. I love the Doogh - a salty yoghurt drink with cucumbers and mint. Big plates of food for the price too. Nice, family-run place with great food.

    (5)

  • Carmen M.

    I had the Lamb Tikka Kabab lunch special with brown rice. The lamb was cooked just right. The basmati brown rice was very flavorful but a little on the salty side. Definitely squeeze a lot of lime on both and it makes the dish a whole lot better. Service is very minimal and the restaurant itself is very small.

    (3)

  • Jennifer C.

    I love family run restaurants, and I love Afghan food. I was very happy with this place! I had the Lamb Tikka Kabob for lunch with the "brown" rice. The lamb was tender and very flavorful, the rice was fluffy and delicious, and the green chutney-ish hotsauce was so good I got some to go! The service was friendly and personal - so glad I gave it a try!

    (5)

  • Martin Z.

    Don't expect fabulous service from this "hole in the wall" restaurant. Just enjoy the great food at very reasonable prices. One of my favorites in Oakland.

    (5)

  • Osman Q.

    I don't like exaggerations in either direction... positive or negative; so i'll keep it simple, honest, and straightforward. If you want excellent food, very warm and friendly service, and unbeatable prices, then this is your go to spot. You can't go wrong!!! If you want a large restaurant with a high end appeal, then this is not your spot. For me, great food and great people at an affordable price says it all. What more could you want?!

    (5)

  • Raheem P.

    LAMB LAMB LAMB Shank.... the lamb shank with rice is dank as pho all i know is this place does it right, delicious, filling and well priced they shake your hand as you come in and as you go, real people and a real place of business best believe you I will be back....

    (5)

  • Maria H.

    Kamdesh is an Afghani gem. They have delicious offerings that are packed with flavor. This small little place is tucked away in downtown Oakland and can be easily overlooked. Unless of course the wind carries a hint of the rich spices of the food to tickle your nose and entice and lure you in. Lunch time was approaching and a Yelp search in downtown Oakland quickly produced a most-wanted list. My eye settled upon Kamdesh. Afghan Kababs? In downtown Oakland? With over 150 positive reviews? I knew I had to check it out! I read Kite Runner and Three Cups of Tea over 3 years ago and that's all the knowledge I have on Afghan cuisine. But the pictures Yelpers provided made this place look way too good to pass up! My coworker decided to get the Quabili Pallow and I went with the chicken thigh kabob and brown rice. We walked over to pick it up and eat back at the office. As soon as we walked in, I wished we had time to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. It's a cute, bright, little restaurant with only a few small tables so at lunch time it was a bit of a squeeze. There's a nice view of the cook grilling veggies and meat. The woman behind the register was friendly and quickly checked us out. Once we returned to the office to dig in, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the meal comes with a side of spicy green sauce and crunchy cucumber and tomato salad. The cucumber and tomato salad is so good and loaded with fresh dill. I absolutely love dill so I was in heaven. My chicken thigh kabab was moist and well-seasoned. The brown rice was pretty good but not outstanding, especially compared to my coworkers mixture of carrots and raisins in his rice. That combination sounded strange to me at first but I was definitely envious of his choice. I snagged a bit of the lamb shank and exhaled a round of Mmms and Ahhhs. It was perfectly cooked and some of the best lamb I've ever eaten. I have 100% confidence that I'll be back to sample more of their food. Oh! One small minor complaint would be the lime wedge. One yelper did comment that he consistently received dry lime wedges and I thought he was one of those Yelp divas but I was disappointed to discover that my lime wedge was dry too. I mean like I was busting into a sweat trying to squeeze a tiny drop of juice from this thing. My one suggestion would be for them to invest in some better, juicier limes.

    (5)

  • Mike G.

    Simply amazing! Try the Quabili Pallow lamb dish. (SO GOOD) Their bolani bread makes me melt. The staff is very welcoming and attentive. They should open more of these in the bay area. I'm a huge fan (i tipped 110%) and will definitely be coming back.

    (5)

  • Sunny P.

    Friendly service, awesome food. The Chicken with the brown rice is the best, chutney is soo good. Totally a fan.

    (5)

  • Yalda A.

    The food is really good no question but I only give it 3 stars it is for the service which is sucks

    (3)

  • Ellen N.

    Incredible. Everything that we have ever eaten here has been completely delicious. The staff is generous and very friendly. The restaurant is clean, as is the bathroom. I cannot stress enough how delicious the food is and how much we have enjoyed every meal that we've had. A delight to eat here. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Jon C.

    One of my favorite places in Oakland. The flavors burst from every dish and the lamb dishes are phenomenal. Nondescript from the street, but cozy and welcoming on the inside. Can't recommend Kamdesh enough. Make the trip!

    (5)

  • Dela S.

    I've been here twice now and I absolutely love it. This is also my first times having Afghan food. I'm just a chicken breast and rice kinda girl and the Chicken Kabob with Brown rice is theeee bomb! I also get the side of Green Sauce and the Cucumber salad. The owner and his daughter are very friendly. Love it here! I'm going to start hopping off the bart on my way home from work and making a detour just so I can bring some home for dinner.

    (5)

  • Janett R.

    Short menu; Quality food. Kamdesh is one of the best value meals you'll get in Downtown Oakland. This tiny hole-in-the-wall kebab place serves delicious kebabs, and even the brown rice must have some crack cocaine sprinkled on it since I keep coming back for more. Juicy, cooked-to-perfection meat.

    (5)

  • Chelsea H.

    Eggplant and squash (pumpkin, I think) were both out of this world. I'd say that the eggplant (I ordered it as an appetizer) was in the top five eggplants I've ever had. (And I've eaten a *lot* of eggplant). My suggestions to the management for improving: 1) Improve the quality of your bread. The bread I had was on the dry side, and seemed a little old. Fresh and warm bread would be amazing. 2) Add a veggie lunch special! They actually have one on the menu, but when I went in today they said that they no longer serve it. What?! They added quickly however, that they have a number of veggie appetizers (one vegetable + bread) for $6 each.. I convinced them to give me two of the appetizers for $9.95, which is how much the veggie lunch special was listed for. Seems like this would be a no brainer for them, especially because they could downsize the portions a bit since two appetizers is a *lot.* Regardless of these suggestions though, I highly recommend this place! Ambiance is great as well. Cozy, good music, clean, unpretentious.

    (4)

  • ron c.

    The chicken thighs were off the hook. It had the perfect amount of char, moistness and juiciness. I thought the brown rice was going to be oily but it was perfect and cooked in good lamb juices. The mantoo was excellent and the chutney was fresh. I will be back often.

    (5)

  • Dree W.

    I'm so impressed with this place. My co-worker and I ate here and ordered lunch specials: eggplant borani and chicken kabob. They were both fantastic. The brown basmati rice was perfectly cooked and pillowy soft, the eggplant borani was bursting with flavor and the chicken kabob was so moist and flavorful. The small place was packed to the brim with the lunch crowd. They had so many different types of meats on skewers on the grill and you can tell they know what they are doing. Good quality, good customer service. I will certainly be back.

    (5)

  • Allie H.

    Went here for dinner last Friday after reading all of the stellar reviews. Kamdesh is tucked away in Down Town Oakland, it is a small hole in the wall family owned restaurant. The ambiance is very casual. There are probably eight tables, then the open kitchen that runs parallel to the seating area. I would probably have enjoyed it a bit more if they had some music playing instead of Entertainment Television running - but you can't have it all. The staff was friendly and the service was very prompt. There were only a couple other people dining when we arrived, but more trickled in as we ate. It seemed like many people ordered to go. The food is delicious. We ordered the Mantoo - beef dumplings topped with Afghan style curried veggies and amazing yoghurt sauce. I had the Eggplant Borani with brown rice - the eggplant is stewed/shredded and served with tangy yoghurt sauce, it was really good and different from any other eggplant dish that I have had. My fiance ordered the Lamb Tikka Kabob. The lamb was perfectly cooked and the spices were phenomenal. My one comment for this dish would be that they did not give him very much lamb, for $13 I felt like they should have served two kabobs instead of just one. They do include a huge portion of rice though. They also served us a cucumber and tomato salad with yogurt dressing - this was really fresh and tasty, I put it all over my eggplant and rice along with the cilantro chutney that they have out on each table. Overall we both enjoyed our food and would probably come back again. Ambiance - 3 Food - 5 Portions (of actual menu item not rice) - 3 Service - 5

    (4)

  • Alex W.

    I had a chicken dish here, (forget the name!) cubed, with a side salad and brown rice the server, possibly owner, recommended it as popular. It was delicious, the flavors are just amazing here, highly recommend trying this place.

    (5)

  • Gene H.

    Food is delicious. Rice is very good quality and perfectly prepared. Quantity is smaller though for the price and location. Order the lamb shank and the mantoo and you cant go wrong.

    (4)

  • Carl T.

    They must mix their food with crack because it's that good. Perfectly cooked, spiced food that is out of this world! I have no idea how they do it? I will be back, a lot.

    (5)

  • Cheryl M.

    Decent food, friendly staff but a little pricey for lunch....basically, a kabob (lamb, chicken) on top "brown rice" (spiced rice). I had the cubed chicken which was juicy and not overlooked which is always a plus. I've had better Afghan food in the Fremont area but will definitely come back (as i work downtown) to try other dishes and update my review.

    (2)

  • Simone F.

    Finally, an Afghan spot in the area, not just any Afghan food but a VERY good one!! I got the lamb chop entree for $14.99 comes with 4 perfectly cooked, juicy, super flavorful chops with brown (or white) basmati rice. A few aqueeze of fresh lime juice and a lil' of their chutney sauce. I was happy! Staff are super nice. Believe to see me there often!

    (5)

  • Victor G.

    Kamdesh Afghan is across the street from disco volante and where the bulgogi burger place was. the interior may have had a fresh coat of paint but the basics look the same. only a couple of tables available for sitdown. menu: lunch specials ($2 less), kebabs of beef, chicken, lamb and salmon, appetizers, deserts. and side dishes. sampling: *lamb tikka kabab(lunch 10.95) "chucks of lamb marinated in herbs and spices" -tender medium grilled lamb chucks, tasty, not juicy wtih lots of spice/herb infused brown long grain basmatic rice. rice very tasty. a meal in itself. -tart dipping sauce provided -came also with 1/2 grilled tomato. gone in 2 bites. *firnee" (3.95) :"afghan pudding topped with cardamon and chopped pistachio" -pudding tasted like vanila, butterscotch or some rich semisweet yellowish pudding. similar to american puddings. foodnotes: -meat grilled in plain view, took about 5 minutes -courteous, prompt, efficient service. -excellent for a change of pace. 3.5 stars

    (4)

  • Omid M.

    You know its good Afghan food if it tastes like your mothers cooking! Tastes just like home. I have tried a few different things and its always good. Been here three times and the food and service is always consistent.

    (4)

  • Me J.

    I had an amazing burger there. Spicy, filling, just right for something unique (as a burger). YUM YUMM

    (4)

  • Tito Y.

    Showed up on a late evening of Ramadan.. had the lamb shank had the yogurt drink had a blast...ate so nicely.. servers are wonderful!!!! - so so so good... my word...you won't find anything disappointing in this place the food was very authentic...saving me all that hassle of jet lag, passports and luggage... Just pretend you are in Afghanistan...and have some fun. It would be nice if there were much more references to the interesting aspects of the restaurant such as the history of the foods..artifacts, customs... I want to know!!! This is a certain gem of Oakland.. I am not kidding..its that good. Well deserved 5 star.

    (5)

  • Stephanie F.

    This place was to die for. The waiters were very nice, The atmosphere was welcoming and The food was amazing and flavorful! I will spread the word of how delish this place is to everyone I know! The flavors of my meal really made my dinner perfect!. PS- the quabili pallow TRULY IS THE BEST!

    (5)

  • Mr. And Mrs. G.

    Excellent lunch today! Was waiting for my iPhone to be fixed across the street and was pleasantly surprised to find this place. The service was super friendly and I felt like I was hanging out with my best friend's family. We had the chicken breast kabab plate and the beef tikka kabab plate--both excellent. The brown rice was super tasty--scented with cardamom, I think. Best of all, besides the excellent meal, was that my 2 year old was totally welcomed there and they were so nice to her. She was really tired and kept dropping food and silverware and being kind of silly and the staff was just so accepting and playful with her. They also have booster seats (no changing table though, so beware).

    (5)

  • Joanna M.

    I was at the gym doing a marathon workout when I realized suddenly that I was running on fumes. Luckily my amazing boy has a sixth sense for these things and texted me asking if I was free to meet up for dinner. Umm...yes. He threw out some ideas and my stomach screamed 'Afghan' as soon as my eyes saw Kamdesh as a potential lifesaver. Somehow I arrived in one piece, and even if I had not been famished the spicy and savory aroma wafting down 14th Street would have lured me in. My only experience with Afghan food had been via bolanis at the farmer's markets, but once I feasted my eyes on the menu I knew that I was in comfortable territory, with supreme comfort food. There seem to be elements of Persian and Indian cuisine in their dishes, and the entire menu is a meat-eaters Halal dream. VaHALALa! The koobideh are extremely juicy, and are served with a heap of brown rice (no extra charge) and a grilled tomato. The boy got one of the lamb shank dishes, and the shank was so large that Fred Flinstone would have been envious. The lamb was also cooked perfectly to fall of the bone status. Both dishes made cameos the next day in the form of leftovers, and being able to eat this delicious and somewhat hard to find cuisine for a second time made me really happy. Service was to the point, not avoidant nor overly effusive. As I was googly eyed over the food and company, I probably could have been served by a snail and not cared. Already plotting future physiological meltdowns, so I can return with a huge appetite again and explore this amazing place more.

    (5)

  • Yoko S.

    Yum! We ordered a dumpling appetizer and the lamb dish, was enough for 2 of us. Too bad they're out of eggplant dish that day. Will try eggplant and kabab next time! I actually went back to this place and they forgot about our eggplant appetizer, it came after the main dish. He comped us for it, that's very nice of them. It was Sat night, around 7:30, my friend asked for dessert and he said they're all out. I guess they're not very consistent with the items on their menu.

    (4)

  • JA C.

    i love you kamdesh. lunch at least once a week, consistently delicious. fair portion size, if theres a wait its worth it. of the 4-5 things i have tried, i can only assume everything is good.

    (5)

  • Jim L.

    not very friendly staff! super expensive!! all dishes come with ONE kabob only. period. The girl told me at the register, "NO COMBOS". you want two kabobs, ante up another 8 bucks for a total of 21. Aria down the street has a two or three way combo, order two or three kabobs no problem, also better setting, better service.

    (3)

  • Eliza M.

    Some of the best food I've ever tasted. All the food is fresh and clean both veggie dishes and meats. Delicious. Potato bread, yogurt sauce, eggplant dish = awesome.

    (5)

  • Zenoni A.

    I was obsessed with Afghani cuisine during my childhood and went through a phase where it's all I would eat for dinner. We would go to the same restaurant in Richmond, VA, night after night after night. Thankfully, my parents are pretty big fans of Afghani food also. I haven't had Afghani food since we left Virginia, so I was ecstatic about discovering Kamdesh. The food was extremely delicious, but fell a bit short of superbly scrumptious. However, to be fair, I think it ranks with the best one can probably get in North America. One of my dinner companions was an Iranian who had spent a long time living in Kabul, so she knows the real deal of Afghani cuisine. The mantoo and butternut squash dishes were probably my favorites, particularly because I love the way Afghani (and Persian) cuisine uses yogurt in their dishes. The mantoo is a dumpling stuffed with tender ground beef, covered in a tangy yogurt sauce, and topped off with a sort of mixed vegetable curry in tomato sauce (but not actual curry - Afghani seasonings are different from Indian curries). The tanginess of the yogurt and the sweetness of the tomatoes play off of each other really well. Also, the yogurt is not just plain yogurt. Oh no. It's got shredded cucumbers, dill, mint, cilantro, and possible a little bit of cumin. My main course of Qabali plow was loaded up with fresh, juicy, shredded carrots and raisins and nuts on top of brown rice accompanied by a lamb shank. It's been a long time since I've had properly cooked rice, where each grain is distinct from the next, instead of being all mushed together. I don't really like lamb at all, but I thought I'd give it a try after reading all the reviews on here about the lamb. My conclusion: after peeling off the layer of skin, the lamb meat was probably the most tender and flavorful I've ever had. I definitely suggest the lamb meat with the not-so-spicy-mint chutney. The one thing that would have topped off the night's meal was a cup of well brewed, properly cooked chai, or tea. To my disappointment, all they had was a percolator and tea bags. The service was quite a bit slow, less than attentive. We had to ask for a quite a few things a couple of times. All of this to say, definitely visit Kamdesh at least once, even you vegetarians. You're bound to find something you love on their menu.

    (4)

  • Laura J.

    This place is YUM! I wasn't sure about this place, but I'm sure glad I gave it a shot. Their Salmon dish is DELICIOUS! My fav. Highly recommend Kamdesh!

    (5)

  • Paul M.

    The food is just delicious. Maybe the kabob was a bit salty or something when compared to what you can get in the mideast, but it was super tasty. I will definitely go back to Kamdesh.

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    I used to come here all the time becuase it's so delicious and had amazing portions for the price. but this year they have the same prices and a third of the portions. its still delicious but still. One plate used to be served family style now its just a single portion. This made me mad I will not return to this resturant even though i used to be a regular

    (1)

  • Randy W.

    Came into Kamdesh with no expectation and left wowed. What I liked: - had the dumplings and squash appetizers and they were wonderfully spiced - salad was refreshing and fresh - lamb main dishes were wonderfully spiced and good quality meat - the basmati rice was delicious - waiter was very friendly and helpful with selections - portions were well-sized and prices reasonable No downsides as long as you realize its a casual, family run restaurant. This is not Faz down the street where you would go for a first time business lunch. Go!

    (5)

  • Emily D.

    Oh sweet Lord this was incredible. The service was awesome---those girls know how to make customers feel like friends. The ambiance was great too: we ate outside in the shade, watching the sun. And the food was nom nom nom nom nom nom tasty. The mantoo ($6) (ground beef dumplings covered in yoghurt sauce) was heaven in my mouth and sliding down my esophagus. I also stole bites of the chicken kebab wrap (lunch special: $10), and the boneless chicken kebab (lunch special: $10), and those were delicious as well. But seriously, get the mantoo. I ate it for the meal and it was enough, but I'm one of those girls that inhales too deeply sometimes and fills up on air. So, take that for what it's worth. Side note: I went at 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon, and the waitress told me that it had been a zoo earlier, but we would never have known it. So...watch out for the lunch rush.

    (5)

  • Muhi K.

    I pulled up with my friends at 9:30p and the door was open. We walked in and they said they were closed even though we called earlier and online it says it was open.

    (1)

  • Patrick S.

    I'm usually a sucker for kebabs but I may have to keep looking. While adequate, I think the kebabs were nothing to write home about and the only thing I really remember about the food here was their brown rice which I liked a lot.

    (3)

  • Mark G.

    Kamdesh serves up excellent and authentic Afghan fare. It seems like they're pretty much always open and the prices are very reasonable. The service is prompt and while it isn't exactly touchy-feely, in their own way they're happy you're there and interested in making sure you enjoy your meal. If you love Afghan food, I don't think you can go wrong at Kamdesh.

    (4)

  • Bay C.

    Surprisingly good low-cost meal at this little hideaway gem. Vegetarian eggplant best

    (5)

  • Kate W.

    my friend and i stumbled upon this place when we were going out for drinks down the block. it smelled so good that we decided we would go there after drinks if they were still open. it's a tiny place, but it's clean and the food is very tasty. this was the first time either of us had tried afghan food and we were both pleased. the only downside was the service. it wasn't really bad service, it was just a bit confusing and communication was a bit lacking. other than that it was great, and i will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Judy N.

    Thank you again, Yelp! We came here for the first time last night for dinner and brought along my parents. Bringing my parents was a risky move because they are very traditionally Vietnamese and never (yes, never) eat anything other than Vietnamese food, with the occasional Chinese and generic American (ie. diners). Oh, and Thai a few times but only because I dragged them there. So Afghan was completely new/different for them. But it paid off because each of the 5 dishes we had was excellent. Mantu - dumplings stuffed with a little ground beef, a bit of carrot pieces and peas on top, in a ragu-like sauce with yogurt dressing. I ordered this only because it seemed like every other yelper who reviewed this restaurant ordered it. There were 5 pieces for $6. Sort of reminded me loosely of ravioli but waaaaaayyyy better. Delicious. Lamb tikki - cubes of beautifully seasoned grilled lamb. Probably our favorite entree. Chaple tikki - chaple is like a hamburger patty but is seasoned with spices and in this case, mixed with some veggies, so that it is nothing like hamburger. Our 2nd favorite entree. But somewhat spicy! Quabili pallow with lamb shank - this is brown rice mixed with raisins, carrots, onions and seasoning so that it's a sweet version of rice. I personally don't like sweet in my savory so I ordered this for my mother who I had a feeling would appreciate it. She loved it. I had it as leftovers the next day and I thought it was great too. I still don't think I would order it for myself because there are other things on the menu that are more to my individual taste but this was still fabulous. The lamb was very tender and juicy, meat was falling off the bones. The meat here was not as heavily seasoned as the tikki so expect a more subtle flavor with the natural lamb flavor being the primary driving force. Challow with lamb shank - same lamb as the quabili pallow I think but it was topped with a short of stewed spinach that had a very light tart/sour twist. All the entrees came with a huge side of white or brown rice (we got brown). The rice is long-grain Basmati and is flavored with something (broth? butter?) that makes it better than just plain brown rice. Every dish was a success and there was enough of a variety to flavors to accommodate a range of personal preferences. My parents both enjoyed every dish. Each entree was average $12-$14. Our entire bill was just under $65, which I think is very reasonable. I'm blessed to have a great little Afghan restaurant closer to home in Brentwood and I have to say that both my boyfriend and I think Chaman Kabab in Brentwood is a slight notch better in terms of flavors, but Kamdesh still rates 5 stars for us. Service was ok. Our waiter was polite, our food came quickly, and he adjusted the blinds when the sun was getting in my face. But he never came by to refill our water, but that was about the only minor downside.

    (5)

  • Kevin B.

    The lamb kabob was good but not great. I was expecting the lamb to be a little more tender. The brown rice that came with the kabob was excellent. The lunch is a good value but the little restaurant is in a seedy area near the lake.

    (3)

  • Matvei L.

    Pros: -Warm and welcoming service -Nice owner -Interesting ethnic ambience -Very accommodating to our party of 8+ -Dishes are authentic and possess awesome flavor -Meat dishes are cooked to perfection with excellent texture Cons: -Due to the nature of the food, service takes longer than expected, so if you are going for lunch on a work day, keep this in mind

    (5)

  • Emma H.

    I only ever get the afghan chicken wrap here at lunch, but it's amazing!!! Great service!!!

    (5)

  • Nancy T.

    Okay alternative when you're tired of the same-o same-o.

    (3)

  • Tori Q.

    I can't say this enough but Oakland has got some of the best food varieties in the bay area. Within a few block of one another, you can get Chinese food, Mexican food, American Food, Afghan food, Soul food...the list goes on and on. I've been wanting to try to this place for some time now because all my coworkers raved about it. So my friend and I finally went during our lunch hour with expectations that were met. We shared the mantoo, Afghani salad, and Quabili pallow. I accidentally ordered the quabili pallow thinking that is was the Sabzi Challow with lamb. Whoops. No biggie though because the quabili is still very good, just be prepared for something a little sweeter since it has raisins in it. I highly recommend getting the mantoo and Afghani salad as they were savory and refreshing, respectively. I would definitely go back to try the other foods as well. Service was great too as our water cups were constantly refilled to the brim.

    (5)

  • O F.

    The kin of place you want to call yourself a 'regular' at. With friendly and encouraging staff, wonderful food, and great ambiance, this is certainly the place I'd want to hold a party, bring my grandparents, go on a hot date, or all at once! I'd recommend the lamb with long rice...can't remember what it is called but the servers are so kind. I'd gladly pay more for that great meal I always leave satisfied with, soul and stomach alike.

    (5)

  • the truth w.

    Warning !!!! Do not eat at the restaurant when a 30 something y/o afghan dude is working!!!! Why? Bc he'll dig his nose and serve u with the same hands.. Touch his hair, face, and dig his nose again then serve u. Must've been a subconscious thing Bc he did it all while customers were looking. Like he had no shame!!! Gross. Might want to call ahead to mAke sure he isn't working. I almost barfed mid way the delicious meal that turned sour...

    (2)

  • Alex B.

    Best restaurant in Oakland

    (5)

  • Pakiza S.

    This is absolutely the best spot for afghan food in the BAY AREA! I recommend their Mantu, Qabuli Pallow(lalmb shank is to die for), Banjan and Kubideh. The service is great (shout out to the ladies that serve lunch) and they bring the food out pretty quick. The Manager is a super cool guy who has some pretty cool stories to tell, so if you see him take a minute and chat. One thing i absolutely love about this place is the food taste is consistent and fresh. I don't really understand some of the reviews about the food being expensive (they obviously haven't eaten very many places lately). So if your looking to have some good homemade Afghani style food then this is the place to go!

    (5)

  • Chris L.

    I had the eggplant dish and it was unremarkable. The rice with the raisin was pretty good. The pancakes were good and had some onion in it. The yogurt cucumber mix was fresh. There is plenty of street parking and the restaurant is small and cozy. This place is really casual. I'm surprised they have wait service here. Our waiter gave us the bill within minutes of giving us our entrees. It was tacky and annoying. Otherwise the staff was nice.

    (3)

  • Noojume N.

    Visiting from the LA area and we don't have anything like it down south. Cozy place and delicious Afghan food.

    (5)

  • Audrey G.

    I've never had Afghan food before, but I decided to try the Quabili Pillow since it was so well rated, and I must agree it was delicious! The lamb was very tender and flavorful, and the rice mixture it came with was so flavorful! (Although it got a bit too salty towards the end) And the portion size is HUGE! They literally gave me a whole lamb shank! The cucumber salad and bread it came with were also very tasty, and I loved the cilantro-pepper sauce. Definitely worth giving it a try!

    (4)

  • Kevin D.

    Talk about a pleasant surprise. I ate a whole bunch of stuff that I've never had before, and it was AMAZING. You have to try the brown basmati rice, unless you're vegetarian. We started with bolani, which was delicious. The cilantro chutney on the table was totally new to me. It's sort of like Indian chutney, only different. It's particularly spicy, and tastes very fresh. We got a salad with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, which was seasoned with fresh dill and had a yogurt-based dressing, which tasted completely different than the yogurt and cucumber dipping sauce for the bolani. The sauteed greens on top of the lamb shank were so good. They were sort of analogous to collard greens, only much better than any collard greens I've ever had. And of course, there's unctuous marrow in the lamb shank.

    (5)

  • Michelle Y.

    Bomb dot come. Seriously. Bf and I come here on a whim after searching for a restaurant in yelp and boy were we pleasantly surprised. Friday night, parking was easy. Was seated right away. Kinda sketch neighborhood at 9pm but the bf was seated right next to a window (to keep an eye on the car). The only bad thing I have to say about this is that although the waitress is nice, she is a little abrasive and there's a lot if banging pots and pans and her yelling for the food to come out quicker. I guess it added to the ambience... All in all, I'm definitely coming back. Probably for lunch tomorrow.

    (4)

  • Kimo B.

    Buckle your knees good. Lamb Shank, Chicken (dark or white meat) kabob, or my favorite, the ever juicy goodness of the Koobideh kabob. BEST brown rice ever... I agree with other posts... there must be crack or something in it, cause you just can't stop eating it. Lunch under $10, but I get the dinner portion when I go... it's THAT good! Get there early for lunch or you'll be waiting... take it home for dinner, it's just as good, heck I'd eat it cold.

    (5)

  • Georgette G.

    This is absolutely the best spot for afghan food in the BAY! I highly recommend their Mantu, Qabuli Pallow, & Borani Banjan. The only thing I wish they would change is their tea. Currently, they have tea bags instead of traditional tea, but it's understandable due to size of their restaurant. Other than that, it's absolutely GREAT!

    (5)

  • Persimmon V.

    A total dive restaurant with really good food and nice owners. My friend Patrick and I drove up here for an art event and then we just drove and took a chance.

    (4)

  • Jenn D.

    Got take out lunch here after walking the lake and was happy with the food. We got the ground beef kabob, the veggie special & the appetizer stuffed bread. All hit the spot, but didn't blow me away. The veggie plate was sautéed spinach w/ rice which was good & spicy. The brown rice reminds me of Rice a Roni a bit. Also had the Baklava which was pretty yummy. Iwould return if I were in the area, but wouldn't go out of my way to come back.

    (3)

  • Andrew K.

    Ordered to go on a Friday night. $15.17 for lamb kabobs. They were good, but I was disappointed it was so expensive. The dish consisted of five pieces of lamb and a huge pile of rice and a small cucumber salad. The bread on top was stale and dry. Considering the price, I would expect a bit more. At least give me fresh bread!

    (3)

  • Foz F.

    Went on a Tuesday night, needed some Afghan food. Restaurant is small so it fills up fast, and I had a table next to the door which was left open along with the windows on a cool breezy night in Oakland. Had a small wind storm blowing across my table but weighted everything down so it would not blow away. It did cool the food down quickly. Service was okay but slow. They are not really equipped to handle many clients at one time I wanted a combination kebab - one skewer ground beef and one skewer chicken. A normal order comes with two skewers but only of the same kind. The chicken and ground beef are the same price, BUT because I wanted one of each I was charged a premium of 27% on my order. Bulani was good but the kebabs and rice were pretty much forgettable. I have eaten in Afghan restaurants throughout the middle east as well as Eurasia and it is just not comparable. Its okay but I would much rather go to Kabul in Sunnyvale if I had time.

    (2)

  • Daniel L.

    Delicious. I love the eggplant dish and the rice is amazing. Get the baklava too. The staff is great.

    (5)

  • Deniz U.

    First time, the lamb was great. 2nd time, not so much. Also, the first time, with just the young woman working, service was great, when it was the father and son team, I had to go searching for my own knife and fork well after the food arrived and the father and son stood outside. *Edit. I think I've been spoiled by the exceptional service I've enjoyed at high scale places and lost sight of the fact that Kamdesh is a wonderful, neighborly spot. While they'd do well to keep mindful of providing competent service, the food is fantastic and I find myself coming back again and again.

    (3)

  • Ogechi K.

    Delicious eats, with authentic tastes. Not to mention the evening staff is super nice. Wasn't expecting that here in Cali... So YES, u should eat here!

    (5)

  • Albara A.

    I love this restaurant and I wish I could come all time from San Francisco to eat in this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Wendy K.

    One word: dam. Dam, this place was good! This was my first time trying Afghani food and it definitely won't be the last. My party of three ordered the mantoo appetizer, eggplant borani, and chicken breast kebab. I personally didn't like the mantoo (tasted too soggy and beefy for my taste), but the rest were good! Chicken kebabs were tangy and abundant in flavor. You can tell because the inside of the chicken was stained with saucy goodness! The eggplant is not something I would usually order, but it was good as well! I'm used to harder eggplants, and this was kind of mushy, but so good when mixed with the yogurt sauce on top that I didn't mind the baby food consistency. Oh, and the brown rice was hella dam good. Like, hella. Don't forget the complimentary green sauce! I mixed that in my rice and dangggg, game over; so good! Service was great, and they were attentive in filling our glasses up with water and making sure we were satisfied. I can't wait to try the other items on the menu!

    (4)

  • Wilson T.

    There's not much to say, but the food is pretty darn good. I read some of the reviews and some seem overly generous and others seem like they're complaining about service. Honestly I class being left alone being decent service. I don't see how it's a problem to tell the waiter you're ready to order. I came here with a friend for lunch. We walked in grabbed a menu and sat down while the waiter just stared at us until we informed him we were ready to order. Awkward? Sure, but far from the crappy service some people are crying about. We ordered the Beef Tikka Kebab and the Chicken Thigh Kebab, and I can't say that I'm disappointed with either. It was flavorful, but a bit charred. However, I figured that was common and it was simply how this stuff is served as most Afghan/Persian food I've had came this way anywhere else. The bottom line is the food was good enough for me to decide to come back for the lamb next time.

    (4)

  • Darcy L.

    Sweet fancy Moses, is this place ever delicious. I came here for dinner last week, and we were seated in about 15 minutes. The server/hostess told us right off that they were out of white rice and the "brown" rice (which must mean they cook it in butter and maybe a little ambrosia of the Gods) would take about 20 minutes. It took a bit more than that, but man, well worth the wait! We ordered the bolani (one of my favorite foods on this earth) while we waited for the rice, and it was crispy on the outside, tender with potato and onions on the inside. So good! We then had the chicken thigh and lamb tikka kabob (the chicken thighs won for me, hands down). The service was a little, what's the best word...maybe distracted? But very nice and accommodating just the same. Great experience, overall.

    (4)

  • James K.

    Really tasty food. Be sure to pick brown rice (more like seasoned white rice) over white rice.

    (4)

  • Matt W.

    Shared the beef and chicken wraps for lunch. So good. Love the two hot sauces. Afghan bread was super tasty. This place is great. Next time we'll try the spinach lamb dish that everyone is talking about.

    (5)

  • Samantha G.

    The mantoo is amazing!! One of my new favorite foods!

    (4)

  • Bushra G.

    Nice people, but slow service. Kabobs was overcooked & dry. Prices high for what you get. We prefer Chopan in Concord...

    (3)

  • Ron G.

    Leave the knife off the table. Lamb so tender, you can eat it with a spoon. I try to go to Kamdesh at least once a month. Their food is excellent and the staff is wonderful (read: waitress crush). The lamb shank is what you want here. You don't need a knife, and the bone is mostly for decoration because the meat just falls off it. The Persian brown rice is a great side, and they load it up generously. The dining room is small and always full, but the wait is quick if you have to wait at all and it's really worth the 10 minutes to read through the menu -- ask plenty of questions if you're new to this genre of cuisine, some of the names are familiar but the flavors and forms may be different than what you expect. I only dropped a star because I'd like to see a little more vegetable matter on the plate. As in most Persian places, it's mostly meat and starch. If I order a dish without any veggies except a grilled tomato, I often leave feeling guilty that I didn't at least eat a little green stuff. VEGETARIANS: there is hope for you here. The spinach dish and a few of the appetizers are awesome. With a little creativity, you'll walk away with full belly and a smile on your face.

    (4)

  • Marianna K.

    Amazing. They're rice is literally the best rice I've ever had. An d cucumber salad. And the meat is so good. 5 stars fo sho

    (5)

  • Iftikhar K.

    The real deal but didn't blow me away. We are Pathans (afghans) like the owners, and so we enjoyed some of our traditional food. Outdoors it's straight up Oakland (trash everywhere) but indoors they've done a nice job with the small space they have. A nice mural takes up the back wall. My first impression looking at the menu was how it was a bit more expensive then it should be. The food is good, but not any better then any other place. I was really hoping something unique would be presented. That said i wish this establishment well and judging by the reviews, they are doing okl!

    (3)

  • Jackson D.

    Been a customer several times. Mostly take out. Friendly staff. Excellent food. Flavorful and properly cooked each time.

    (5)

  • Darrell D.

    Authentic Afghan food that warms the palate with spices descending from Kandahar itself. Recommend the beef wrap and egg plant dish as an app. Hole in the wall place, outside looks rundown because of the steel covered windows and off orange color...but like Oakland, goodness lies within.

    (5)

  • muneet g.

    Went here for lunch today and ordered the chicken breast plate, with brown rice and naan. Their naan is more like a pita bread but it was delish! The chicken came with a green sauce which helped with the breast being a bit more on the dry side (not their fault--just the type of meat). I will definitely be coming back here.

    (4)

  • Kathryn E.

    Mouthwateringly delicious grilled meats and stellar hot sauce--to be enjoyed with caution. Get the brown rice (it's white rice cooked in lamb stock, not the healthy stuff). Winning.

    (5)

  • ARIeL P.

    I AM A FAN! Always driven by this place so me and friend decided to come here. I ordered the Salmon Kabab and I have to say, it was pretty delicious. It came with saffron brown rice (you have a choice of white or brown rice). I saw other customer's orders, they look good. They cook the kebabs over open fire so be prepared to wait for some fresh food. The owner and son runs the place. I have to say, they are both cool people. The father is respectful man which he runs a respectful business. When it comes to pricing, portions and flavor, this is a place to go. I will make the effort to go here again to try other entrees.

    (4)

  • Navid N.

    I'm Persian, so I grew up with a lot of the same foods as our Afghan neighbors. However, the folks at this this spot have done something genius. First off, they master the essentials and their koobideh is perfectly cooked. But the real beauty is this green sauce that they use. It's like a spicy cilantro chutney. Spicy things don't exist in the Persian version of koobideh kabob, or in Persian cuisine at all If you're from the Middle East/Central Asia/Caucuses, you'll probably have some familiarity with a yogurt drink. The house yogurt drink here (called "doogh") is incredible with just the perfect amount of mint and salt) Finally, their "Mantoo"- it's kind of like a cream and tomato sauce ravioli. Definitely recommend. Hit this place up. It's incredible

    (5)

  • Lauren W.

    The rice with the carrots is DELICIOUS. I am very happy to have this place in my neighborhood. Really nice owners and service too.

    (4)

  • Melissa K.

    My dad suggested we have dinner here, and weeks later I'm STILL savoring the eggplant dish, as well as the squash. And the rice pudding......Mmmmmmm. This place is small and homey and the staff are super friendly. No alcohol, but you can get drunk on the spices instead.

    (4)

  • William N.

    Really good!!! Very tasty and quick lunch service. I would definitely come back. I had the chabli kabob with brown rice (white basmati rice soaked in meat juice... Yum!!!). It was very well done, good amount I spice, and filling.

    (4)

  • Carlos V.

    I've tried the chicken and the lamb. Both were good. My favorite...dish is the salmon-absolutely delicious. Fairly easy seating on weeknights, but expect a wait to get a table for dinner on the weekends in this small restaurant.

    (4)

  • Rowena R.

    Great "whole-in-the-wall" gem located 15 - 20 mins (walking) from the Fox Theater. The food was quite flavorful and abundant. I enjoyed the eggplant dish with their home made brown rice. It was quite authentic. Also, the bolani was yummy. My friends had a lamb shank and it was very large portion and quite tasty. I've gone back a second time in one month because it was that good. Ambiance - 3 Food - 4 - Flavor - 4 - Quantity - 5 - Quality - 4 - Appearance - 4 Service - 4

    (4)

  • Juliette M.

    Just returned from Turkey and had a craving for some Turkish food. It was a slightly different selection than what we ate through Istanbul and western Turkey - reminded me more of Persian food to some extent so possibly was more Eastern Turkey -- but absolutely wonderful meal...good rice and baklava too! I had the most popular dish (can't remember what's it called, but had incredible lamp and spices). Will definitely swing by for takeout again! Plus, the men there were super sweet. Missing Turkey!!

    (4)

  • Alan M.

    I don't know about you, but I fell in love with Afgani cuisine the moment my lips touched the wonderful spiced dishes with an unforgettable subtle sweetness. my first experience was in Baltimore at the Helmand; a relatively small, quant restaurant that served some of the most amazing dishes ever eaten. It's there that I found my fondness for the cuisine that I describe as soft; food that comforts you, with no intention to assault your senses. So the Downtown/ Chinatown Oakland area is a bustling area of town with some Landmark Architecture, and that's where Kamdesh is located; on a prominent corner with a bright tangerine storefront and colorful Arabic mosaic trim. And as you enter, you immediately notice the great aromas wafting from the open grill where all the Kebabs are laid out for grilling, ready at moment's notice to be consumed. Menu Roundup: Drinks: Doogh: Yogurt with Cucumber & Mint Appetizers: Mantoo Eggplant (Bon Jon) Borani Mains: Quabili Pilaw Starting off our Lunch, we begin with the drink, Doogh: a Yoghurt drink with Cucumber and Mint. This drink is definitely and acquired taste, due to it's more salty flavor and watery consistency....the cucumber doesn't help either, (it's similar to the Salty Lassi in Indian cuisine) When you're used to a sweetened version (like Mango Lassi) it does take some getting used to, but I will say that it does go well with the food. There were two appetizers that immediately brought me back to that restaurant in Baltimore and just knew it would be good; the first one being the Eggplant Borani-with chunks of Eggplant, Onions and Garlic accompanied with a tangy yoghurt on the side, it's a great to spread with Afgani Naan. The other to-get dish is the Mantoo: razor thin Dumplings filled with ground Beef, Onion and seasonings topped with sautéed Vegetables and Yoghurt Sauce...you can't find a more subtle, sophisticated dish that blends ingredients and herbs together in perfect synch. For the Main Course, we decided to go big and order the Qualibi Pallaw, Braised Lamb Shank with Flavored Brown Basmati Rice on top, it was an incredible dish more than enough for two! The lamb meat just fell right off the bone, it was tender and just right with the sweet flavored rice with Carrots, Rasins, Cumin, Cardamom, Cinnamon and Saffron. Rick says it's one of the best dishes he's had in a while! Rating (Out of Five Stars) Food: 4.5 Ambience: 3.25 Service: 4

    (4)

  • Deborah H.

    I love this place. My boyfriend and I go about once a month. I love the mantoo...it's so good! Every dish we've had though has been great. They also stay open pretty late which is awesome.

    (5)

  • Erica H.

    I came here one Sunday evening with a friend - We casually walked in without and expectations. We just wanted to relax with some good food. Service here is great - It definitely has that family-owned feel to it. We were greeted kindly and shown our seats. Food wasn't too cheap, but it wasn't unreasonable and we did get good portions. I ordered a lamb curry dish and it tasted amazing. Food came with flatbreads and it was definitely necessary - dish was very heavy, but it comes with the territory. I will definitely come back there again - if not for the good food, but the also for the great service and comfort I felt there.

    (4)

  • Mickey D.

    Love the Chicken thigh w brown rice . staff is very friendly and . service could be a little faster but the taste of the food is definitely worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Vanessa D.

    this is a very casual hole-in-the-wall joint. don't expect ambiance. the perfect trifecta: - bolani - koobideh with rice (i'm a total white rice person, but the brown rice is outstanding as well) - firnee dessert this fed 2 very hungry people and left them stuffed and happy. i ordered extra charred tomato because i'm a fiend for it. nice people and very good service.

    (4)

  • Annie R.

    Came here for lunch and left very impressed! -Great food, great service and family owned. -Good for vegetarians who are okay with dairy (yoghurt sauce). We go the vegetarian Sabzi Challow, the Squash Borani and the Afghani salad. That was plenty for two people and there is also eggplant borani on the menu, which we did not try. Our server was very nice and let us know that the brown rice is cooked in lamb so we went for the white rice--very considerate and very appreciated! Definitely recommend!

    (5)

  • Ricardo C.

    Smack your own a$$ and dry hump the table folks, your in for a friggin treat! If you eat lamb you must .... *MUST* eat the lamb shank... I think it's called Quabali Pillaw. You know what... I butchered the name but F@ck it! Get the lamb shank with the rice w/Raisins. SOoooooooo good. The lamb shank is fall of the bone tender. I mean... it really really really falls off the bone. The flavor is great. Little bit of sweetness from the raisins (but not too much) and savory goodness from the lamb. Add a little bit of their side sauce and your taste buds have bust a friggin nut!

    (5)

  • Lauren J.

    I've been here twice, great food both times! I let them tell me what's good. I've had something that involved ground beef patties and also a chicken dish, both with brown rice, one had yogurt sauce. Both were so good I gorged myself, and yet both times, I still had enough left over for a to-go box. The girls that run this place are super sweet and always make me feel welcome, giving me a 4-person table even though I'm eating alone. Best brown rice I've ever had!

    (5)

  • Robert C.

    This corner restaurant is not bad at all. I had a late lunch today of mantoo and quabii pallow. The food was good....surprisingly good. The interior is nothing to write home about but I was quite full when exiting. Four stars for sure.

    (4)

  • Patricia M.

    Definitely try the quabili palaw, the cucumber salad, and the afghani ravioli appetizer! Coworkers and I came here after 5pm one Sunday afternoon and what a warm atmosphere and good service. Our waiter was friendly and told us about the hidden special of the day. Some days it is meatballs, some days it is fried chicken. My other friends got the pork chop and chicken. Portions are huge and can be split. Don't miss the potato stuffed bread and the green sauce in the jar is Spicy with a capital s, just how I like it.

    (4)

  • Zach P.

    Amazing lunch special today. Flavors all melt together perfectly.

    (5)

  • Lydia M.

    Get the qabili pulao. Do it now, it is amazing. The seekh kebab and side salad were well executed but not as memorable as the pulao. The bread which came with the kebab was actually a bit disappointing, I don't think it was made in-house. No real complaints, though, because: Qabili Pulao Husband grew up eating this stuff, he vouches for its deliciousness and authenticity.

    (5)

  • Kristin S.

    Amazing food! Great service! This was one of the best dinners I've had in a while. I highly recommend the chicken breast and fish kabobs as well as the eggplant and mantoo apps. Even the tea was delicious! A must visit spot for sure!

    (5)

  • Jeri J.

    I've been meaning to review this place since my first visit there- a welcome treat for my birthday. Originally I'd wanted something else, but all the restaurants were closed. Yelp led my date and I to Kamdesh. I've subsequently been there probably a dozen times in the last 9 months. The quabili pallow (lamb shanks) is as delicious as everyone raves. I've also tried the eggplant borani, the more savory lamb shank dish, and some assorted beef and chicken entrees, as well as their delicious rice pudding dessert. Try the brown rice with their house chutney- YUM. A jar of that is always demolished if I go with a couple of friends in particular. Seriously, it's all excellent. Not vegetarian friendly, but for those who care, it is halal. I've come in at truly odd times so the service is sometimes off, but the food (and the ridiculously low prices for the gigantic portions of food you get) makes the minor annoyances of the wait truly worthwhile. Since they offer takeout, you can always call ahead and enjoy it at home.

    (5)

  • L C.

    We just grabbed food to go, but I was very impressed. The quabili pallow that everyone mentions is very good, with the lamb falling off the bone. I was actually more impressed with just the chicken kabob dish though. It's such a simple dish, but they made it amazing. Big juicy chunks of chicken, well flavored and cooked just right. The mantoo were fine, but I might try something else next time. The staff were nice and the food was surprisingly good and reasonably priced. I'd make an effort to head back there if I were in the area.

    (5)

  • sabrina a.

    DELICIOUS food (we had Mantoo and salmon kebabs with brown rice). Excellent service (that perfect combination of helpfulness and let you do your thing-ness). Super lovely and friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Woobie W.

    Yummy kabobs and wraps. Super friendly staff. Get here early for lunch, it fills up fast. Recommending to my coworkers and will be back for sure :)

    (5)

  • Daniel K.

    Quabili Pillow was incredibly delicious. The lamb was very tender and the basmati rice mixed with carrots and raisins was packed with tons of flavor.The restaurant is small so it can get packed very quickly.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    Fast, inexpensive, and delicious. 6 of us came in about 12:45 on a weekday. It was busy but the staff made us feel like they were setting a table for us in their home. The salmon kebab with brown rice and the green sauce on the table is not to missed. Order a side of the cucumber salad and enjoy!

    (5)

  • Kat N.

    This restaurant is amazing. Went in for lunch with a friend and we ordered Bolani, Mantu, Qabuli (Lamb) and Chapli Kabob and it was delicious. Service was great. Ambiance was nice. It got really busy, which was not to my surprise because I had read great reviews coming in. I am planning many more trips in the near future. Gotta love my Afghani folks, they can cook!

    (5)

  • Eva Leona Lerriqs S.

    I appreciated that the restaurant allowed me and my cohort to sit and write, despite the fact she ate dinner and I did not. I had the nan. The chicken kabab looked fabulous and I can't wait to return.

    (3)

  • Suraya A.

    Being Afghan, people are always asking me about good Afghan restaurants. I finally tried Kamdesh and thought it was great! All the kababs are juicy and tender, not rubbery and dry like other places. Mantoo and eggplant are also delicious - though the eggplant was slightly overdone. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to try out Afghan food.

    (5)

  • Adora D.

    I went in after reading all the reviews to give it a shot. The whole microwave situation I read about was a little off putting, but figured I'd start with something small like the dumplings. After definitely hearing the microwave door open and close, and along with the boop boop of the buttons, I knew it was true. I had gotten it to go ,and upon putting my fork in, they were rather soggy and not much meat or even onions in them...mostly wrap and salsa that was on top. Sorry guys, not impressed. I'm going to give this place one more try another time when I'm not hungry to try a kabob. After that...I wish you luck.

    (1)

  • Scott S.

    Really great Sabzi Challow and chicken kabob. I love Afghan cuisine, and am thrilled to have found them! I am definitely bringing this home from work one night, and would love them to prepare food for a party.

    (5)

  • Alvin D.

    3/5 ehh. i think it's a little pricey to begin with, and the overall taste felt like it was a little underwhelming. also, we came by later in the evening one time, and the ambience was just a little too casual (as in i didn't feel we really go much service). i ordered the lamb, which was a heaping plateful of food. didn't expect to get that bone-in yumminess. what was a little offsetting, though, was that the carrot/almond/raisin came out of a tupperware that i think also came out of the microwave. sigh.

    (3)

  • Albertino M.

    I think Kamdesh got it on the spot for Oakland. As couple of businesses went belly up here in the past. Today was a nice day for walking over not hot or cold just the right temperature. Walk in and was greeted right away handed a vinyl double bi fold menu. I saw items that I was familar with right away and went ahead with order. I got the dough drink and to my suprise it was delicious. It consist of cucumber and mint leaves with consistency of yogurt like. Order bolani appetizer it was also delicious this is different from the ones being sold at farmers markets the price is the same around $6. Mines was fill with chicken neatly cut into cubes is not on menu but I ask for it made like that just pay extra $3 they will do it. Main entree I got was lamb tikka for $10.95 it was market price to me but well worth every penny. I ask him what spices they put on it and owner thought I didn't like it, I said no not like that I love it. He didn't really want to say and I will honor his rights. All in all for all two items and one drink total came out to $20.53 after taxes again well worth it. This place dosn't close early like most other just open for the lunch crowd here it's open til 9pm mon-wed and thur-sat 10pm (sunday closed). I might come over here on the weekends too just for here within 1 block of 12th st Bart. *Do not wear your best clothing here small stuffy kitchen airs out the aroma to clothing articles.

    (5)

  • Emin M.

    Woohoo! As good as it gets!

    (5)

  • Svetlaners B.

    The kubadeh kabobs here are really good! It comes with basmati rice with raisens oh my!, yogurty salsa type afghani salad, and a grilled tomato! The meat is really juicy and flavorful! With the cilantro side sauce WOW! My bf got the lamb he said it was really good. Friendly family owned. Possibly the best kabobs in oakland. Avoid those mantoo dumplings they are the only bad thing on the menu

    (4)

  • Damon L.

    Once you walk in, you'll get smacked in the face by the delicious aroma of spices and grilled meat. I ordered the Beef Kubideh over the phone for pick up, however I ended up with the lamb instead. Although I was a little disappointed, it was still very delicious. The lamb was extremely flavorful and cooked medium rare, which I really enjoyed. I don't think I can find a replacement for Kamdesh around the bay.

    (4)

  • Marie T.

    *HOLE IN THE WALL GEM* Decently priced for portion size. Lambchops were delicious. Bolani was good too. Eggplant is a must. Will definitely be coming back for more.

    (5)

  • Melanie K.

    Kamdesh, I really, REALLY wanted to like you. Really. I wanted a local, nicely-priced, mom and pop place that served great Afghani fare. Alas, it's not you. The staff was great, friendly, and had suggestions... But the food? I expect so much more... I saw *a lot* of food going in and out of the microwave... I wish restaurants outlawed microwaves. The aushak dish was soggy and the vegetables on top tasted like frozen peas and carrots and were mushy. The lamb was cooked well, but the dish was too sweet. The kubideh was chewy. I will give 5 stars for the rice and another 5 stars for the hipsters sitting near us who commented on how "this is the best brown rice ever, omg, it's so good." Um, because it's white rice that's been seasoned... and yes, it's much MUCH better than brown rice. No surprise there :) 1 star for the mint tea being a lipton tea bag (?!). Anyway, I'd rather drive to Fremont or San Carlos for excellent Afghani cuisine... Finally, the prices are very reasonable - to the yelpers complaining it's expensive... um, no, it's not. Kamdesh, please get better.... Throw out the microwave, use some fresh vegetables and get some nice tea.

    (2)

  • Mei W.

    Thank you Yelp, for helping me find this superb afghani restaurant! Friendly and warm service, even for my take out order. Had the lamb shank with carrot raisin rice. So nicely seasoned and cooked to perfection. The dessert, which reminds me of rice pudding, is fragrant with cardamom and pistachio sprinkles. I am going back this weekend for more of their delish food.

    (5)

  • Vivian C.

    Amazing!! I randomly decided to stop at this place while walking through Oakland. I believe the name of the dish I got was Quabili Pallow (Ghabali Polo). The rice was seasoned with spices and was perfectly cooked with raisins and julienned carrots. I'm not that much of a meat person, but the meat in this dish was falling off the bone and deliciously flavorful. I definitely recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Anita W.

    finally tried a local afghan restaurant and it has become a favorite. they dont overdo it with the spices in their delicious food. came in to dine on a weekday afternoon with my sister since it was a little too late for dimsum in the area. we ordered the mantoo (beef and onion dumplings, which had a lot of onions. not sure if i would want to order this again) as an appetizer to share. i sampled my sisters chicken kabob plate and i had the lamb kabob plate. both were served with a choice of brown or white rice. i wonder if there is such a thing as brown basmati rice, because the rice that was served seemed like plain basmati. i really enjoyed our lunch plates and we finished off with firnee (afghani dessert that is similar to rice pudding). i would recommend this to those who like cardamon. we ordered a second firnee to go.

    (4)

  • Mariposa Michelle M.

    This place is wonderful

    (4)

  • Charles R.

    Yes, the service at times can be slow. Pretty much one guy serving, seating, and answering phones. He was pretty good when we could get his attention. Parking right out front has a 30 minute time limit, you will definitely be here longer. Park around the corner or be prepared to visit you car a couple times during the meal. The good however was very good. Some of the best kabobs I've tasted in a restaurant. My friends dad makes the best, but I was finally not disappointed at the restaurant. The spices are just right and the meat is cooked well. The kubideh and chicken kabobs were good, as was the lamb dish, fell right off the bone. If you're in the area, check it out.

    (4)

  • Mysterious Q.

    Normally, I have to head down to Salang Pass in Fremont to get my Afghani food fix. No longer. The best kebab joint in the Bay Area is now in downtown Oakland. Started me out with their house salad--a lettuce, tomato, olive affair that will be very familiar to American taste buds. Great dressing. Doogh, a yogurt, cucumber & mint drink was light and very refreshing. I didn't mess around and ordered the koobideh (ground beef kebab) with brown rice, which was fantastic (they grind their own meats). Best Afghani kebab I've ever had and it would go head to head with the best Iranian in my experience. They serve it with a sour cilantro sauce that simply rocks. The kebab was formed like string of meat balls, rather than the flat shape I'm used to, which gave it more surface area to develop caramelized bits. Yum! Note: Afghani brown rice is not what we typically think of as "brown rice" in the US--it is white basmati rice that is cooked with a sauce that gives it a brown color. They'll give you half white/half brown if you like, but I suggest getting 100% brown. Light, fluffy, heavenly. Portions are quite large and I couldn't finish mine (a rarity). The dinner serving of kebab could easily feed two people. They gave me a complimentary smooth, cardamon-flavored rice pudding for dessert that I eagerly scarfed down. My only complaint was that the green tea served with the pudding was Lipton in a bag. Ack. No excuse for bad American tea in Oakland where quality loose leaf varieties can be easily and affordably sourced. All the folk who work here are friendly and eager to ensure that you are happy with your meal. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Teena B.

    Went here with the family before a trip to the oakland ice rink. The place is small, but very clean, the staff was helpful, but the food was just OK for the price and they did not have or offer lunch specials or a kids menu. I enjoyed the chicken kabob the most as well as their brown rice, the kubideh had A lot of gristle which totally grossed me out so I just stayed away and their naan was not made in house so it was quite dry and was not at all what i was expecting. I was very dissappointed with my trip here especially after forking over 50 bucks for not so great food.

    (2)

  • Martin F.

    Went with a friend and had the Kabili Pillau (braised lamb shank with basmati rice imbued with lamb drippings and carrots and raisins -- called brown rice for that reason) and a roast eggplant dish with the same rice. Also had the bolani (a flat bread baked with mashed potato and onion on the inside; it was accompanied by a yoguert sauce, which in a Greek restaurant, would be called Tzatziki or in an Indian restaurant, Raita.. There was a green sauce on the table which seemed to be both mint and a mildly hot green pepper, very much like an Indian relish. A sald of diced tomato, cucumber, yogurt and fresh dill was served on the side. Very nicely prepared and ultra-fresh food with a homemade quality, although I think they go a bit light on the spicings. The setting is simple and comfortable with a cooking area (including a charcoal grill for the kebabs) whose marvelous cooking aromas permeated the surroundings.

    (4)

  • C R.

    I really, really want to give them 5 stars. The food is mouth-watering delicious and the family that runs the place and serves, is sweet and intending to please. But i had to deduct a star (would be 1/2 if that was possible) because there is just 1 vege dish, and its pretty cramped in there with only about 8 or 9 tables very close to each other. But what they do have in the minimalist menu is worth every visit. My go to is the eggplant borani. Huge offering with delectable spices. Always get the "brown rice" (yup, it ain't the health-food kind). I've heard that the Quabili Pillow is also delicious. They offer yogurt and green chutney on the table, which i often drizzle over the borani. Its addicting! You don't go here for ambience. Yeah, the wall paint and structure offers character, but the lack of adequate lighting, cramped surroundings, and noise, and you'd think twice about taking a first date here to impress them. The family who owns the joint is sweet and works hard. They also serve most of the time. Very willing to please. If they only had slightly better seating and more vege options, i'd be here every day!

    (4)

  • Mandas F.

    the best! hands down. mantoo is a really interesting and well done mixture of flavors. we always take out of town guests here, and everyone loves it! no alcohol served here, of course... but you can always go grab drinks somewhere else after. the food is worth it!

    (5)

  • B G.

    I can have this everyday. My favorite is the chicken kabob with brown rice! It is a family owned restaurant. All very friendly.

    (4)

  • M M.

    Believe the hype! Amazing meal - even the rice is delicious and flavorful! Definitely try the mantoo appetizer

    (5)

  • Ruth M.

    This place is totally excellent. My bf and I ordered the chicken thigh kebab and quabili pallow (lamb with fancier rice). Both meats were unbelievable tender and juicy. Normally I sort of pass over rice, but even the plain brown rice was delicious. The quabili pallow rice had carrots and raisins and was really good. The entree was good. Even the house salad was good. The salty yogurt drink thing was interesting (as for a sample first). But the dessert (a pistachio rice pudding) was delicious. I didn't realize how hard it is to find good rice pudding in Oakland, but this place nails it. I'm willing to start running around the lake if it means I get this rice pudding on my way home. Salads, a yogurt drink, two entrees, and dessert samples - $22. Not bad, considering it easily could have feed three people. I'd be interested in getting half orders from here - they're very generous with the portions. We went the second day it was open, and the place was hopping. It's neat that the place seems to be run by one family. The kids (about my age) take orders and seat you, and the parents cook. Everyone was super friendly and just really appreciated that we were there. One of the guys remembered me from the previous day (they're first day), when I told him I would come back. They were grateful for our business. I really hope these folks do well out here. I'm really excited to see what sort of schedule these folks agree to keep. The guy I talked to said they were planning to stay open until midnight most nights. I'm thrilled that so many places in Downtown Oakland are staying open later, but I'm glad that it's not just trendy places like Disco Volante and Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe. It's great that Oakland is still a desirable location for family-run businesses. Check these folks out! I expect the chicken wrap and rice pudding will be my new Monday lunch special.

    (5)

  • Saliha B.

    If I hadn't been led here by some friends following Friday prayers in Oakland I doubt I would have come. I'm rarely in Oakland unless it's for a specific reason so I usually get my Afghan food fix in Fremont, which is much closer to where I live. Nevertheless I'm so glad I chose to come to Oakland that day. My friends who live in Oakland are all regulars here and I can now see why. Lovely Afghan food in a cozy, homey setting served up by a super nice family - what's not to love??? When we went last Friday they had been really slammed at lunch time so some of their specials were out by the time we came around 3pm, so we didn't get to have any Kabuli Palau (the Afghan rice with meat, carrots and raisins) and I was kind of bummed about that but I settled for some lamb kabobs and my friend got the beef tikka kabobs. Both kabobs were cooked really well and were juicy and soft. I do wish the platter came with some other veggies besides a lone, roasted tomato, but I settled for dousing my rice and meat with a healthy dose of the tasty green chutney on the table. If I come here again I'll be sure to order some veggie dishes or a salad on the side to balance out the carnivirous experience. Not sure if I'll be back simply because I'm rarely in Oakland, but if I lived there I know I'd be a regular.

    (5)

  • Bill C.

    After being disappointed to find the Brown Couch Cafe wasn't open after 7 p.m., we decided to give this new joint next door a try. What a great find. The service was friendly--almost absurdly so. There were a few "we just opened" quirks (e.g. the cash register wasn't 100 percent operational), but they ended up just contributing to the sense of it being a pleasant, family-run joint. The food arrived promptly, in plenty of time for us to dash off to the movies even though we'd been running late. And the food! I can't say I've ever had Afghani cuisine before--for all I know, it's all this delicious--but it was full interesting spices in gigantic portions. Unless you're near starvation, you'll definitely need a friend with whom to share a dinner entree.

    (5)

  • Elina R.

    I'll start by saying the food was really tasty. Food = 4.5 stars I'm not that familiar with Afghani cuisine, but our meal was really good. We had the dumplings (forgot the name of the dish) and salad as appetizers. The dumplings were especially good. I might just have a double-order of those for dinner next time. And we shared the lamb shank for dinner--also delicious. The only food complaint I have is that the naan was cold and dry. If you're going to charge extra for naan, it should be made fresh. At least heat it up. The ambiance and interior of the restaurant needs some work though. They must have a very small kitchen, because they store all the food in boxes and bags out front. It's a bit unappetizing. We sat in the back of the restaurant, where they have an old, incredibly loud, dripping ice machine right on the dining floor. I will forgo ice in my drink than eating near that thing again. It's the little details that could be improved. The back of the restaurant is dark, in large part due to the owners leaving the security bars drawn even when the restaurant is open. They also have clearly never washed the windows. We ordered appetizers to share, but were not given small plates. I will probably return for take-out, since the food was great (get the appetizer dumplings!), but I might not eat-in again until I see some improvements. I hope this place makes it. They seemed really nice, and 14th Street could use more dining. I will add for my vegetarian friends: this place is probably not for you. I don't recall seeing many vegetarian dishes. Lamb-eaters: get in here! LOOKING FOR THE MENU TO CALL IN AN ORDER? IT'S HERE: a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/…

    (3)

  • Ava C.

    I ordered the "most popular dish in Afghan--" it was a bone-in leg of lamb with brown basmati rice, raisins and carrots. OMG am I glad that I did. The plate is HUGE and enough for 2 people or 2 meals. Meat was cooked to perfection. The real highlight though, is the chutney. Best chutney in the world! Wouldn't recommend the Afghan Naan though. It's not similiar to Indian Naan, more like toasted thick flatbread.

    (5)

  • Bahar O.

    $8 beef wrap lunch special is bomb

    (5)

  • Mesha H.

    I love this place. I live in the area and it's nice to have non-fast food choices after a certain time. Everything I've had has been delicious. My favorite is the Quabili Pillow. The lamb chops are good as well and definitely try the mantoo for an appetizer. If you order firnee, order 2 because you will probably inhale the first one and want a second for savoring. The only dish I was disappointed in was the fish entree. It was disappointing because when I went I only got 1 chunk of salmon :( Otherwise the dish was good. I've only gone for carryout but the service seems friendly enough. It seems to be a family style business so I wouldnt expect there to be break neck service.. it's more homey and relaxed if anything.

    (4)

  • Jen E.

    This place is really, really good. I've liked everything I've tried and I'd go there every day if it wasn't weird of me and so expensive. (It's kind of pricey if you don't get the lunch deals.) Only bad side, not a lot of veggie options at all. If they had more vegetarian options I'd give them six stars.

    (5)

  • Mark W.

    Authentic afghani cuisine, love the spices. Definitely worth getting the doogh (yoghurt drink) too.

    (5)

  • John A.

    The lamb shank and rice dish is ridiculously good - fall-off-the-bone and flavorful...the salmon kabob is surprisingly good - mild and tender...the chicken thigh kabob is preferable over the breast kabob...the service and atmosphere is excellent - friendly and accommodating.

    (4)

  • Benjamin C.

    this place is good but the food does not back up it's price. The food here is inconsistent. Sometimes the food is moist and juicy but sometimes it is dry and bland. its alright, and i understand that some of you may enjoy it, I guess the food that was served here wasn't what i had expected. I would not let this hinder me from coming back. I will come here again for sure.

    (3)

  • erin c.

    Had the ground sirloin patty and brown rice. Rice tasted great but was very oily and sirloin patty was mushy and oozing with grease. Flavor was good, however. The meat kebabs look divine so I'd come back to try them. The firnee dessert was delicious!! I could've eaten 4 of those and been happy.

    (3)

  • Srikanth V.

    Best Lamb Shank I've ever had. The lamb is tender and tasty, with spinach. the rice is flavorful and non-sticky.

    (5)

  • Marium J.

    The food is ok but the customer service is horrible. The guys are rude & sexist. They never say Please or Thank you. They are particularly rude to Persian or Afghan women. They seriously need to learn how to be more professional & learn some manors. If they've never once said thank u to a repeat customer then there's something really wrong these people.

    (1)

  • S Q.

    The food is great but the servers are not friendly. The place is tiny and they don't take reservations! They never offer the specials or educate you about the ingredients. I often feel rushed when I come here. If you are familiar with the food then I recommend it but if not, I suggest do your menu research before stepping in.

    (2)

  • Laurie L.

    I had never eaten afghan food and my boyfriend too me here. It was incredible! I had the chicken breast kabob with brown rice... excellent! The bolani was great too.

    (5)

  • zahra b.

    Totally a gem in downtown Oakland! Great food and service!

    (5)

  • Miranda E.

    Friendly people, lovely food, veggie friendly. The tomato/cucumber salad thing they give you is so lovely! Support this ish please.

    (5)

  • Matthew M.

    Went there with my sister for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I had the beef kabab and my sister had the lamb shank. Both were excellent! Portions were good as were the prices. Only downer is that they don't have a liquor license. So, no adult beverages. Oh well... Still a great place for some Afghan food.

    (4)

  • Jeremy R.

    The Lamb Tikka Kabob will blow your mind. The rice is really good too.

    (5)

  • L T.

    Excellent food & service!

    (4)

  • Andrew T.

    All dishes were top notch, I highly recommend for any adventurous eater.

    (5)

  • Connie Y.

    so far, i've liked everything i ordered here. loved the chicken breast kabob with brown rice (not talking about the healthy whole grain brown rice) with their special cilantro sauce. their cilantro sauce is bomb! it's also because it's sour..so if you don't like sour, you may not think so highly of that sauce. i've also tried the eggplant borani and thought it was good. it tasted even better when you add the cilantro sauce to it. the beef kabob was not as good, it was too hard.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth J.

    I just love a small family run place like this. I got hooked on Afghan food while living in Fresno and was just waiting for something like this to open so I don't have to go to Fremont. I had the dumplings and the the chicken breast kabab. Both were fantastic and the hot sauce on the table was amazing. I would give them 6 stars if the had some sort of salad....

    (5)

  • Javi M.

    The lamb kabobs are the best item on the menu, a must try! The cilantro sauce is a great compliment. Prices are reasonable. Location isn't the greatest for an evening dinner, but you won't be disappointed with the food quality.

    (5)

  • Kyle F.

    One of the few places open on a Sunday in downtown Oakland. Small, family owned restaurant with friendly staff and a quaint, homely atmosphere. Prices are reasonable for the dishes, though one would certainly expect a side of vegetables or a bit more presentation. We ordered the eggplant borani and chapli kabob with "brown" rice (white basmati soaked in chicken broth and spices). Everything was fresh and delicious, but as others have mentioned they do a lot of cooking in the microwave and there isn't much else on your plate except rice and the main dish. Having become accustomed to having fresh roasted veggies with my middle eastern cuisine, I was a little disappointed there weren't any and overall the presentation of the food was bland. It really did feel like a home cooked meal, though. Overall, I'm glad this place exists and wouldn't hesitate going there again. I appreciate their good food and hospitality, but it certainly could be improved.

    (3)

  • Rick M.

    Okay, gave Kamdesh another try. We called-in to ensure that lamb kabobs were available. The person who answered the call actually took our names so we were guaranteed to have them available. While the kabobs were small, the meat was juicy and well seasoned. No salt bomb! Delicious fluffy rice and a grilled tomato surrounded the kabobs. While Kabul Afghan Cuisine remains my gold standard for lamb kabobs, Kamdesh will make for a quick backyard fix.

    (4)

  • Philip W.

    Great food !! All of the kabob are very good my favorite is beef and chicken the afghan wraps is fresh and you can see it cook in front of you.there sauce on the table is great with the food Great service!!!!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth E.

    Been here THREE times in as many weeks - and we NEVER eat at the same place two weeks in a row, let alone three.Kamdesh is good and it's different and I don't have to cook it. Win, win as far as I'm concerned! Both my bf and I are fans of the mantoo (dumplings) and the quabili pallow (lamb shank). Portions are extremely generous, especially on the mains. We've also tried various kabobs and the chicken thighs, which are good but won't make a believer out of you like the lamb shank will. The lamb chops (when available) are right up there as afghani ambrosia as well... Service can be a bit relaxed and casual, but a nicer group of folks can't be found. Friendly, funny and always willing to help. And be sure you put some of their special green sauce on your meal. Elevates to a whole new level. Just sayin'.

    (4)

  • Mayraa E.

    I came here earlier this year and didn't know at the time that I'd be moving to the Bay, let alone live less than a mile from here. Came back today and WOW! Still so good!! mmmm and still 5 stars!!!!

    (5)

  • Thom N.

    Great sitdown lunch in Oakland. The dumplings are excellent and way different than any dumplings I've ever had before - nice and spicy but the yoghurt sauce cuts the spice. You should get brown rice rather than white rice because it is cooked in a yummy flavorful broth. All around excellent. I recommend the eggplant birani.

    (5)

  • Kris I.

    If it were not for the horrible service, I would have given 4 stars. First, they held our appetizers until all the food was ready. Second, one of the main dishes literally sat in the front counter so long by the time the waiter brought it out, it was practically cold. It's a shame because the chicken kabob would have been delicious, had it just been served warm. The waiter even failed to bring the drink I ordered and I had to ask him again once all the food was there. The food was good overall, but the service was so bad I would never come back.

    (2)

  • KimchiKraut K.

    Had the lamb shank with rice and salad along with mantoo appetiser. All delicious!

    (4)

  • damien w.

    yeah, absolutely delicious. super nice guy up front. even when he was observing Ramadan and fasting in a kitchen full of great smelling food all day he kept smiling and treating everyone with an admirable level of patience and good spirit.

    (5)

  • Vanessa L.

    so happy to have found this place. i loved my meal, great quality foods. feels like homestyle afghan goodness.

    (4)

  • M.T. C.

    I absolutely love this place - it's too bad I moved out of Oakland a few months after they first opened. This is my go-to place to eat when I come back to visit. Their service is friendly and fast. The meat is delicious and tender. The rice is exquisite. The price is affordable. What more can you want?

    (5)

  • Jocelyn W.

    AWESOME! This place is a gem, I went here last night and will defintiely go back...like, today! Ordered lamb shank plate (quabili pallow?) Eggplant dish (don't know the actual name) Sweet pudding-like dessert (again, don't know the actual name) To sum it up, every plate was basically licked clean, or wiped clean with the naan. DELICIOUS. The lamb shank was cooked so well and tasty it was falling off the bone and it was a good sized shank. The rice dish had raisons and carrots which was cooked perfectly and super flavorful. The eggplant was like a puree that came with rice and a yogurt sauce. WONDERFUL, i'd really like to know how they make it, flavors just popping in your mouth and all cooked well but NOT greasy/oily. a lot of times I feel eggplant has a tendency to be very oily at restaurants but not what I got. the dessert was also phenomenal, it's like a yogurt/pudding but of a much thicker consistency, and there is a spice in there i can't remember the name of but basically it's delicious. Additionally, the bottle of the green hot sauce, not the jar they put on every table, but there is a squeeze bottle of green hot sauce that is KEY....if they sold that by the bottle I'd buy a few. The flavor is refreshing, and hits your palatte quickly, there is a nice heat to it but not overwhelming so you can eat a lot of hot suace because the flavor is so good and not burn your face off.

    (5)

  • Tad B.

    Delicious food. Get the Kabob and the Mantu.

    (4)

  • alex c.

    I visited a month ago or so. The service was great. The staff were super friendly. It has a family feel to it. It's great to see multiple generations working so effectively together under one roof! I had their lamb kabobs. It was moist and well-seasoned. I also had their rice plates. I had so much on my plate that even I couldn't finish it all. And I can chow down. I'm no expert on Middle Eastern food but this place served some delicious goodys. Overall, a hugely positive experience for me. I think it's a great addition to the Oakland area. I hope they will continue to do well. Best of luck to them!

    (4)

  • IP B.

    I've eaten here three times in the past year. Once for lunch on a weekday, once for dinner on a weeknight and today (Sunday) for lunch. I've enjoyed my food each time. The chicken kabob is very tasty and juicy and the brown rice is so delicious. The side of cucumber, tomato, red onion and dill in yogurt sauce is also tasty. The yogurt sauce is a little too runny for me, but it adds such a nice flavor and texture to the entree. Today we also had the beef tikka kabob and unfortunately the beef was tough and dry. The flavor was very good though. The staff and/or owner are always very friendly. We'll definitely return!

    (4)

  • Mala D.

    It was my Mom-In-Law's b-day and we intended to go to Disco Volanti for their yummy hamburgers, but alas, they were closed. We crossed the street and smelled the most delicious scents coming from Kamdesh. We fell instantly in love with the staff and their MARVELOUS food! The food were excellent with homemade organic ingredients. The bolani is delicious and the mantoo was very good too. We fell in love with the Aush soup! It was simple divine made with homemade noodles, broth, yogurt, dill, and pieces of ground meet. It was perfect for a cold winter day and a true comfort food. It's a specialty item so you may want to call in advance to see if they are offering it for that day. Their kababs and brown rice are wonderful too! Love Kamdesh and will be highly recommending it to friends and family! Look forward to eating their again.

    (5)

  • J. M.

    One of my neighborhood favorites!! The eggplant is ridiculously delicious and my new treat is the bolani appetizer (bread filled with potatoes and onion). When I walk in, they always say "its nice to see you again". I appreciate the friendly, neighborly attitude and loyalty to costumers

    (5)

  • Farhad F.

    Excellent food! Not many vegetarian options, but I got their Eggplant Borani, and it is fantastic. Plus, their rice is great, they have a great atmosphere, and are very friendly.

    (4)

  • Adrianne S.

    for no other reason than the lamb shank hidden under a pile of basmati with carrots and raisins.... go to Kamdesh. I've been twice now and both times were delightful and I was happy with the kabob I had the second time I visited. Clearly a small-business, not a lot of tables inside. First time, I sat in the back at a large table. My friends each had the yoghurt drink and liked it. We finished our meals with the pistachio dessert, which was delicious. A little pricey for lunch, but that's what happens when you get special drinks, appetizers and a dessert. Second time I went, I sat outside in the sun on the sidewalk. I expected to get some harassment from the people wandering on the street, but didn't. Pleasant surprise. All in all, a good experience and I will probably put Kamdesh in my regular workday lunch rotation.

    (3)

  • Erik N.

    The lamb shank + spinach dish is fantastic. You dig into the spinach with a fork and find the lamb falling off the bone as you go.

    (5)

  • Hatice G.

    The food was great. We had the quabulli pallow. Probably the best rice and lamb ive had ever and i have had a lot of it. The service on the other hand was probably the worst i have ever experienced. The veiled woman/ girl was extreemly rude and seemed to be in a really bad mood. My tip indicated what i thought of the service :-) i would eat here everyday if i could but it will have to be take out. Still highly recomended - get the quabuli pallow.

    (4)

  • Fresh K.

    Amazing Kabobs! Everything about this place was amazing. good atmosphere, great service and even better food. The prices cant be beat! They give you a generous amount of food for the price you pay!

    (5)

  • Brian P.

    Great food all around. The bolani, the mint sauce, the leg of lamb, the rice...even the side salads with cucumber and tomato in a yogurt sauce...all of it delicious. Makes me upset that I didn't find this place earlier, since I've spent a number of lunches eating at flavorless places in this neighborhood. If you're bored with the other international food options around, and you've never tried Afghan food, then check this place out.

    (5)

  • Eric T.

    This could be the start of a beautiful relationship. Friendly and helpful service. The lady in charge is quick with a smile and a very gracious hostess. The setting is cramped but clean and welcoming. The food was inexpensive yet delicious. I only tried the beef koobideh but I'm hooked! The brown rice is definitely not the healthy variety I am used to but it was tasty! I need to try several other dishes so I'll definitely be going back for more!

    (5)

  • Chris R.

    Delicious quabili palaw - lamb shank, basmati, carrots, raisins. Definitely going back.

    (4)

  • M T.

    Great Afghan food! Very flavorful rice--best rice I have had in any Afghan restaurant! The kabob was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The service is pleasant but the ambiance is curtailed by the limited size of the restaurant. A great lunch and casual dining spot.

    (4)

  • J.A. K.

    A 4.5 for the food. But it's a tiny place (7 tables) and parking can be very difficult (lots of 30-min meters, try 13th St. instead), so that plus a limited menu gives them a slightly lower rating than Kabana/Berkeley and Oasis/Pleasanton, two very different 5-star Afghani restaurants. But what Kamdesh does, they do very well indeed - in fact, better than any other kebab place we've tried. The mantoo are very simple ground-beef/onion wontons, with a mildly spicy tomato gravy on top, over a bed of luscious yoghurt. Mixed frozen veggies are stewed in the gravy until tender, making them surprisingly tasty. The lamb chops are the small New Zealand porterhouses - 4 of them! - marinated two days in a salty but delish yoghurt marinade, then grilled nicely (medium; never expect medium-rare from any ethnic chef) and served with their marvelous Basmati. An amazing bargain! The lamb kabobs are small dice but very tender. An excellent addition, if you're a gravy lover like us, is the eggplant borani. A tasty eggplant puree, slightly spicy tomato sauce, and a heap of that thick rich creamy yoghurt, makes a dynamite gravy with the meat and rice. For a hotter kick, use the cilantro chutney the waitress brings you - tart and hot, it's great with just about everything. It should be noted that 'brown' rice here is NOT the chewy unhulled brown rice of health food addicts. At Kamdesh, 'brown rice' means the same high-grade Basmati, but cooked in a toasted cumin broth. Even my DH, who doesn't love cumin the way I do, thought Kamdesh's 'brown rice' was so good, he's going to order it the next time. And there will be a next time. This is a great little restaurant, and they definitely deserve to be supported by locals!

    (4)

  • Basil B.

    We decided to check this place out on a whim, left grinning ear to ear! Beautiful building/interior, sweet staff/cooks/owners, DAMN-delicious food, fair prices (considering quality and portions), and overall quick and pleasant dining experience. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Ankur S.

    This place is phenomenal. Food is delicious - their chapli kebab is one of my top 5 dishes I would take with me if I were stranded on an island. Yes it's that good. The owners are also hella friendly. Every time I eat here, and I do that frequently, I come out with a big ass grin on my face because I know I just had the best hour of my day.

    (5)

  • Toni G.

    I had the Chicken Naan lunch wrap and it was a nice light lunch to split between two people. The wrap was on the dry side, luckily I asked for extra yoghurt sauce on the side and that helped. The chicken was dry and over seasoned, not really anything to special. I definitely plan to check this place out again for a dinner and som apps. If anything, it's a great alternative to McDonalds if you need quasi-fast food.

    (3)

  • Emma C.

    This spot is in my neighborhood and I've been here a number of times -- both for dine in and take out... Dining there has worked well for me in a couple or a group of like, six. Um.. I just love how yummy the food is. I mean, it's so yummy. Portions are huge and good for splitting. The ambiance is great -- warm yellowish walls and all that... And I can't say enough good things about the presence and service of the owner and his family. As far as I last checked, Credit/Debit Card minimum was a little on the higher end, like $20 or $30

    (5)

  • Tom B.

    What a surprise! Decided to stop in for dinner and it was fantastic. We had the eggplant appetizer and it was excellent. I had the lamb shank which was covered in delicious rice and shredded carrot and raisins. The lamb was a little on the greasy side, but not unexpected for this type of dish. My partner had the chicken thigh kabob and I tasted some. It was wonderful! We also had a side of cucumber salad with yogurt, also good. I'd definitely go back. The service was friendly. The food was worth it. The place is small and a bit intimidating at first, but very clean and efficient.

    (5)

  • Darren G.

    I really want to love this place because it is right down the street and when Afghan food is good, it can be a real treat. The waiter was very nice and the restaurant feels very cozy. I ordered the matoo and eggplant borani with a side of naan. The naan was kinda stale and seemed store-bought. The eggplant was a little flavorless, but the matoo was good. The food was presented very well and came quickly. I finished off with a tasty pudding topped with cardamom and pistachios. I will make a second visit and order the fish kebabs and rice to round out my opinion. 3.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Mimi C.

    I had the privilege of being able to have a meal here on the first day of opening! This place is absolutely amazing. They really transformed it since the last restaurant (Don Day). It's still cute, small, intimate but more homier. And the food - absolutely amazing. Between three people, we split the beef and chicken kebab plates with both brown and white rice -which was more than enough. The meats were flavorful and the rice was fluffy, warm, tender...probably the best rice I've ever eaten. Their cilantro chutney sauce is out of this world. The service was great as well. We also were able to have the house salad - on the house- and it was delicious! They're trying to cater their hours to more of the locals in Oakland instead of the 9-5 crowd, which is what I really appreciate. Will be coming back soon!

    (5)

  • R. L.

    Saw the yelp reviews so we thought we'd stop in on a Sunday afternoon. Quiet - just 2 tables occupied. We started with the flatbread stuffed with potatoes and onion. Really quite tasty and a large portion for the price. A solid kick to the mint chutney - very nice and flavorful. Wonderful cucumber, onion, yogurt and dill salad. We both had the chicken kabobs and white rice. Meat, rice, side of grilled tomato - all very good. We'll definitely be back to try other items on the menu. Service was excellent. Kind gentleman waited on us - telling us not to skip the mint chutney. Took his suggestion and really glad we did.

    (5)

  • Danny S.

    Yummy! Had the Aush soup!

    (5)

  • David F.

    Just had lunch there. It is a little place on the corner of 14th street and Webster. Owner and staff very warm and friendly. Food is excellent and reasonable price. Great place for Halal food in downtown Oakland. I am looking forward to exploring the rest of the menu. I highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Rob M.

    My girlfriend and I have been wanting to try this place for a bit and we finaly got the chance. The food was amazing great flavor and beautiful presentation. The service was excellent our waiter was polite and attentive. We live very close and will be making this a regular spot.

    (5)

  • Zari A.

    A little bit of Afghanistan nudged in Downtown Oakland. Found out about this gem through word of mouth and planned to have my business errands for the day taken care of near this place just to try their food. Wanna know how it turned out? Keep reading. The parking was easy and after 7pm the meter is free. It's only a couple of blocks from BART. I went on the 3rd day they opened and had dinner. There were 5 or so people already dining when I walked in, so it wasn't busy. Ten minutes later a Nigerian couple walked in and I heard the woman speaking to the man, "I'm so grateful we have something different in this part of town and you know what? I know it's going to be delicious." She asked the server to have her food spicy hot and the chef came out and took their order himself. How often does that happen when you order food? ****Disclaimer: If you're Mexican, Indian, Pakistani, or Nigerian you'll want to have extra spices added to your kabab and what not. **** I'm neither of the above so it was perfectly seasoned and spiced for my palate. The chutney was excellent, tasted freshly made. For Appetizer: had the Mantoo (a dumpling with meatballs and onions covered in a savoury lentil sauce). YUM! I've had this at other places and the onions always overpowered the dish, but this was well balanced and lovely. The dough wasn't too soft or tough...slightly leaned toward al-dente in some parts which added a subtle layer to my chewing experience. Entree: Kabab Kubedeh w/1/2 white & 1/2brown rice = D to the E to the L I C O U S!! My meal was soooo good that I wanted to give someone a hi-5...and they kept bringing out more food... ...tried the house salad, another salsa type salad that came in a bowl, the rice pudding, and I have to admit that while I was full, I just couldn't stop. (I'm only 107lbs. by the way) So great was the meal that I just had to order another one to go. Also, this place supports local artists. The artwork on the exterior of the building is done by native David Platford. And in a conversation w/one of the servers they will be working w/a local farm to use organically grown produce in their menu. How great is this little place? Just go and try it.

    (5)

  • Ali K.

    there is food so energy ..I like it each food to this restaurant ,

    (5)

  • Pervies M.

    This restaurant is a reasonable place to me. I usually dine in to enjoy Afghan food, rt! It is within walking distance from the place where I workout. After doing a core workout, I get as hungry as I feel to eat the whole lamb, lol. So I head to this place to feel content and relax. My favorite kind of Kabob is Chopan, but in this restaurant all of its kind is pretty good. The last time I visit, I fancied something different and something I'd not tried before so I had "KoFeda." It was just............ "Ahpela Wokhra Yaw Zally." Besides, the waitress is so knowledgeable. She always takes out my thirsty with a nice looking glass of water. Ya Lateef! Next time I will try the Qabilly Pallwo with an apple pie.

    (2)

  • Joyce S.

    Kamdesh is a welcome change. The short version: Great service Positive vibe Delicious food Generous portions Reasonable prices The longer version: Walking into the restaurant is like being invited into the kitchen/eating area of a kind, caring family that has invited you to be their guest. Experiencing the family members working together in a genuine and positive way was apparent even from the beginning of our visit. Lulu, our main server, did a good job of making sure our beverage and other dining needs were taken care of without hovering, and even the master chef stopped by to see how we were enjoying the meal. : ) My beef kabobs were so good my eyes naturally closed as I savored the deliciousness. My hunger was satisfied after I had eaten about a quarter of my meal; however I continued eating until I was beyond stuffed because I was enjoying the entire experience from the atmosphere, watching the family members working successfully together, to the delicious food. I would absolutely recommend the beef kabobs and definitely order the brown rice! I absolutely and without hesitation recommend this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    High quality, delicious food. The brown rice was amazing (I usually prefer white and if u do too, be sure to try the brown here). Chicken was tender and packed with flavor.

    (5)

  • Paul A.

    Nice addition to the downtown area. Went here for dinner on a Friday night. The food was amazing. The service was outstanding. A nice family run business that now has a regular. Yum.

    (5)

  • Stacey S.

    This place was really yummy! The Chapli was super moist and just a little spicy. The brown rice that came with it was delicious, simple but flavorful. The Quabili pilau was the perfect mix of sweet and savory. The spinach retained it's natural taste, but enhanced. The portions were ample and the bill was surprisingly reasonable. Atmosphere - clean and nice. And the service made you feel like you were in someone's home. Great experience- we will be going back!

    (4)

  • Jason T.

    Great experience! Nice and cozy decor facing open kitchen. Friendly service and excellent food at Chinatown prices.

    (5)

  • AnneMarie W.

    I ordered the lamb tikka kabob and it was super good. I just expected more. My BF got the beef wrap and really liked it. It is a quaint restaurant with a family feel. The servers were friendly and caring. It's best to get there before the lunch hour rush because there's limited seating. There's a cheap parking garage across the street if you are just visiting Downtown Oakland and want a healthy place to eat.

    (5)

  • Brice H.

    Friendly service, they let me friend bring her quesidilla in from next door so we could have a late lunch together (albeit it was around 3:00 p.m. and the place was empty at this point, and she warned me they probably wouldn't allow it if it was busier, still, bonus points). Food was pretty solid but did not get much meat on my beef tikka plate.

    (4)

  • Sam J.

    My new obsession. I normally get the Lamb Kebab with the Mantoo. The rice is divine. Make sure to mix some of the green sauce they leave on the table with the rice and you'll by flying on cloud nine! It's not the most attentive service in the world... but the taste constantly brings me back regardless.

    (4)

  • Thielson D.

    Big fan of this place. I've never had anything i didn't like and the staff is really friendly and accommodating. With that said.. service can be kind of slow, but the food more than makes up for it. Just this week I stopped by here to introduce someone to Afghan food and everything we got was amazing. Bolani - get it!! Eggplant app - get it!! really good and comes with awesome bread. Mantoo- Make sure to get! this is my favorite thing here probably. On to the main course... we got the Kubideh (which is really well seasoned and comes with brown rice. Very good! I got the Qabili Pallow, which regularly comes with lamb (which I do not eat), but given that it's Afghanistan's most popular dish (according to the description on the menu) and seems really good they were able to sub chicken instead of lamb, and it was delicious. Your dishes come with a side of cucumber and yogurt salad that is really good as well. I left extremely full to say the least but extremely satisfied. The food very well done and not greasy so I had no regret in eating the insane amount of feed that I did here. Also, the prices are very good for what you are getting. Everything I listed above only came out to about 50 bucks. Win!

    (4)

  • Valid H.

    My favorite afgan restaurant around bay area. Delicious food and friendly service. Koobideh is my favorite. Love dough.

    (5)

  • Susan C.

    Must Love Meat. Meat + Rice= Once of my favorite combos ever. If I have to pick between Meat with anything else, I'd pick rice. So when the kebabs are this good and the rice is this good, I'm a happy camper! I used Yelp to stumble into this place after some moderate drinking and I have to say, it really hit the spot. I had left overs for 2 days. I'm glad Oakland his hidden gems like this one. The only problem I had was with the service. Our server just wasn't on top of it. Almost like they didn't know how to do their job and there was nobody there to help him. Other than that, I liked it!

    (4)

  • joyce c.

    I was a little hesitant to try afghan food because for one I dont like charred food and for 2 I dont like the smell of these establishments. Surprisingly, this place was really good! The brown rice had a lot of flavor and so did the chicken. The place is a little small and warm inside but for lunch it's fine. I would come back here again!

    (4)

  • Rob R.

    I don't know if it's authentic. But it a) tastes different than other places, and b) is really good. That's either authentic, or close enough. We tried two different lamb dishes. I can't remember how to spell their names, but one had a carrots and raisins on top, and the other had a spinach-y sauce. They were delicious. We also had a chicken dish chosen by the staff, which was probably the eponymous "chicken breast" which was decent. Plus yogurt drinks with lots of chunks - which I liked, but which my companions were less into. Overall, solid. The portions are big, but the place is small, so consider takeout.

    (4)

  • Junayd L.

    Today, my family and I went to Kamdesh for a family lunch. With lots of Kababs to choose from their could be some mental thinking involved. With a if our food devoured we all were satisfied with our meal. Then, came what some people say the most shocking part of the meal the check. For seven meals and an appetizer it costed bout 80 bucks. That seems bout right I guess. Maybe. This is why I rated Kamdesh 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Liz O.

    I love this place!!! I ate the beef kubideh and it was so lovely the eggplant borani was tasty! I had them add the carrots and raisins to my brown basmati rice (because I like it like that) I look forward to coming back!! Keep up the great work!

    (5)

  • NewtoIthaca N.

    I tried their kadoo (2 orders) and it was delicious! My review is based on just this one meal.

    (5)

  • Faeza M.

    Wow. I love the family that owns this restaurant and the food is great but WTF is up with the waiters not letting us order food at 930? It closes at 10. Walked in at 930 & was like you know, I'll just go somewhere else. They actually smiled and said, "yeah ok." You know the owners entrust them with the business and this is how they treat customers. Yeah...this is why I normally eat in the city, despite being a regular at this joint.

    (2)

  • Michelle C.

    Delicious! Knocking down a star due to slow service. It took over 20 minutes to get our food. The cashier even noticed they forgot our order and never even apologized for our wait. I understand lunch time gets busy but even after the rush, they were busy socializing and forgot about us. The food however, was amazing and will keep me going back. Ordered: Chicken thigh with brown basmati rice Brown rice wasn't hard and grainy tasting like regular brown rice. Came out fluffy and tender. The chicken was cooked to perfection! So flavorful and juicy...balanced with the cooked tomato and rice very well. Glad they have a variety of lunch specials. Will go back for more.

    (4)

  • Joy S.

    Just an update, the food is as great as ever! Gets crowded on the weekends, but that is ok. We usually order takeout anyway. The lamb is delicious, and the service is quick and courteous.

    (4)

  • Amber S.

    After reading the reviews and hearing good stuff from Hub's co-workers it was time to give it a try. I called in our to-go order and Hubs picked it up. We ordered the chicken breast kabob with brown rice. It was ready within the 15 minutes as quoted. Hubs chatted it up with the employees and said they were friendly. The chicken kabob was seasoned nicely a tad over cooked (little dry) but still good. The rice was delicious I couldn't stop eating it even though I was getting stuffed. The naan bread was thick and chewy with a nice flavor. The portion was plenty. I could have made two meals out of it if I wasn't being a fatty. Price seemed high at first. After enjoying it I don't think so anymore. Two meals at regular dinner price was $28.00.

    (4)

  • tuan t.

    Another hole in the wall! Thank you yelp Friendly and fast service. Generous serving. We ordered the kofta kabob and lamb kabob with eggplants borani. The food is flavorful. Next time we will order the full size eggplant!

    (4)

  • Yong A.

    Been here for lunch a few times. Delicious!!! I especially like the Quabili pillow - lamb shank (unearthed from within) with basmati rice, raisins, and carrots

    (4)

  • Noelle H.

    Maybe cause I'm not a big meat eater. But I didn't find this to be anything notable. We started with their version of naan. Eh, don't get. It was just cold, dry bread that had no flavor. I ordered the grilled chicken dish with brown rice. It's a pretty good portion! Chicken was juicy, but I didn't find it to be anything exceptional. The brown rice tasted a little different...almost gamey. Is it cooked with the lamb? I wasn't really a fan. There's a lunch menu that looks pretty decent, so I'll probably stop by and try that out next time over dinner.

    (3)

  • Gabriela W.

    3 stars. If I'd never eaten at De Afghanan Kebab House in San Francisco, I might think more highly of this place. Shady hood, but the restaurant is quaint and clean. We started off with the squash with yogurt sauce. Good. For my entree I had the eggplant borani. It was cold, which was odd because I've always had this dish served hot. It didn't even halfway compare to borani I've had before. Aside from it being cold, it lacked flavor and the texture was thin and stringy. Absent was the thick and flavorful sauce I've had with this dish before. It barely had any yogurt sauce drizzled on it, and the yogurt sauce was thin and runny. Thumbs down, way down. The bolani we ordered was fresh and tasty. It was slightly toasted on the outside, but filled with steaming potatoes. Good. I wouldn't go back. De Afghanan WINS. Please take me there now.

    (2)

  • Nico S.

    Great service, yummy food! Although the yogurt drink has about half a cup of salt- wouldn't recommend that.

    (3)

  • Meliza M.

    The Mantoo was delicious! My expectations of the dish was that it would taste similar to Asian dumplings, but I was wrong. The tomato yogurt base threw me off, but it was still delicious and had that hint of spice.

    (4)

  • Eli Y.

    I found my dinner spot in downtown Oakland! I have a few friends who live DT and therefore have been engaging in culinary exploration. Thus far my finds had not been stellar. But in came Kamdesh to the rescue! The place is definitely a hole in the wall, so that was a good start. I ordered the Lamb tikka but was on a low carb kick so asked to sub out rice for Eggplant Borani. I fully expected to pay extra and even said I would. The food was AMAZING! The spices, the freshness, everything. I've actually had dreams about eating that dish again. When it came time to pay I was super surprised to find that they hadn't charged extra for my substitution. Not only the food will make you cry tears of joy BUT they are beyond generous! I officially have a reason to go to DT Oakland! (Oh...right...and to visit my friends of course...)

    (5)

  • Muhammad A.

    Great food. Love it . So tasty Location is not that great but trust me it's worth it. Service is good. Nice people and good manners.

    (5)

  • Jeannette W.

    When I walk in, I feel like I have been transported out of Oakland to a foreign land. The quarters are tight and the staff speaks a language I have rarely heard before, even in this diverse city. This small, smoky restaurant serves some of the best kabobs I have ever had. The lunch kabob special comes with rice, a protein and a grilled tomato. My favorite is the beef cubes. There are also two different types of ground beef and lamb offered. But if you prefer chicken, the thighs are a great choice because they have that nice charred flavor without being dry. If you are going at lunch time, you should get there well before noon because it gets crowded and there is often a wait. Even on a recent Sunday night, I was lucky enough to be squeezed into a table after waiting over 20 minutes for a table. There is no waiting area in the restaurant, so be prepared to wait on the street.

    (4)

  • Nina M.

    While I came here during a traumatic time (day 2 of the bar exam), I was still able to enjoy a delicious dinner here. My bf got a kebab and I had the Kuabilli Pillow (lamb shank). The bf's food was just ok, but he ended up sharing the lamb shank with me and we were both satisfied. I highly recommend the lamb shank but can't speak to the rest of the menu. Also, the atmosphere is just so so but I would definitely consider this spot for take out.

    (4)

  • Joe S.

    The restaurant is quaint and the staff friendly. I was there with a friend for dinner. We had the lamb kebab and eggplant. While it was delicious, the portions seemed really small. The lamb just one modest skewers-worth of not-so-tender meat. The rice is really light. I felt like I had an appetizer, and I needed to eat another dinner later. I can be a glutton, but I'm not a buffet king, as far as I know.

    (3)

  • John C.

    Excellent food. Bad location. Good service. I'd recommend the Chicken Kabob plate with Brown Rice for Lunch. They raise their prices for dinner. I wish they wouldn't, since it's exactly the same meal. I always get it to go, because it's not in the best part of town.

    (4)

  • S M.

    Dry lamb kebabs, miserly amounts of rice and vegetables, and a terrible hole in the wall setting. Maybe I caught them on a bad day. But for the $12+ entree prices I expected better !

    (2)

  • Sara F.

    First time in here the other day for a bite to eat before a movie.. the food was excellent! The place itself is a misnomer from the outside.. kinda grungy, but don't let that scare you away.. the food is Afghan deliciousness through and through.. kind of a diamond in the rough.. Not sure if this is a family run restaurant or just a bunch of happy Afghani dudes who decided to go in together on a venture.. but whatever it be, they be cranking out some epic Kababs, the lamb kabab was spicy and filling served with their Basmati Brown rice pilaf which is so fluffy and light you would swear it was white rice. They also had my favorite Middle Eastern Dessert rice pudding dessert.. So good.. I will be back!!

    (4)

  • Cyfairee G.

    Everything is so fresh n flavorful!! Everything on their menu looks amazing--i went with their lamb dishes n their desert was so good n cardamom fire that I had to order two to-go. This place is a treasure. If you havent tried it, you r most definitely missing out. Their service is incredible.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    Was waiting for our gig at the Awaken Cafe and tried this place out. 7:30 on a Friday night, but not very busy. The Quabili Pallow was really great--brown rice was perfectly cooked, and the lamb shank was practically melting off the bone. My band mates said the chicken kabobs were very good as well. A small, spartan place, but a decent vibe.

    (5)

  • Muy S.

    The lamb was delicious and definitely the best dish out of the bunch we tried. It was served with rice mixed with carrots and raisins. Top it with some of their green sauce and it's amazing. The meat falls off the bone and overall the dish is packed with flavor. We also tried the kabob, which was not bad, but did seem more plain in comparison to the lamb. The rice did not have the other goodies mixed in. As for the appetizers, the squash was surprisingly better than expected. I would recommend that as well. The reason why this place does not get 5 stars in my book is because... they were out of so many things we wanted to order!! including a dessert we were looking forward to. I never had afghan food before so that was a big disappointment. And we had ordered the dumplings as appetizers, and mine was still frozen............ oh yea and the toilet was nastily clogged... hahaha Almost, almost...

    (4)

  • Matthew M.

    the reviews on this place are deceiving. NEED to know; Chicken good, beef not. Dinner not a good idea. it's one of those places that has a concept for the dinner menu which is to charge double. Store bought Naan. Cold and dry. Service? well. that's what tips (or the lack of) are for. The area is resplendent in brand new and "tried and trued" restos, diners, cafes... when you come upon this place... keep walking.

    (2)

  • Kat T.

    I had a minced beef plate for lunch and it was a bit oily, but full of spices and quite good. My favorite part was actually the green sauce on the side. Delish! Dolloped a lot of that on top of what I was eating--but be warned, it was pretty spicy too! I drank a ton of water during and after that meal. Im probably just a wimp, but this is a word of warning for those who cant take the heat: be careful, the food + green sauce is addicting so just be aware that you probably wont be able to stop eating. You can nurse your tongue back to health later though, it's worth it.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth M.

    Wow! Delicious, healthy, affordable, exotic, what more do you want? We had a selection of appetizers, the beef dumplings, butternut squash, and salad. All succulent! I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Ray B.

    These 3 stars are strictly for the food. As far as service, consistency and ambiance this is not the best place. I have to admit, the place is a little sketchy. The cook always looks like he has one eye the grill, one on the door and another on a weapon under the counter (that's right -- the cook has 3 eyes ;-P) -- and the door is always open no matter how cold or hot it is outside. Over the years I learned one thing about Afghan food: not all restaurants make signature dishes the same. For instance, two of my favorite dishes kadu and mantu are both made differently at almost every Afghan restaurant I've been to. I don't know why this is, it's just something I've noticed. It's probably worth mentioning that the mantu here is quite good. If you're in Oakland (and don't want to drive to Fremont), this place is most likely your best choice.

    (3)

  • Alanna K.

    Perfect steamy tasty seasoned rice and delicious meats. Pleasant and tasty.

    (4)

  • Kimby T.

    consistently excellent braised lamb shanks over rice! definitely better when you eat there vs taking away. their dumplings are delicious as is the secret ingredient in the restaurant - the green herb sauce on the tables. solid 5!

    (5)

  • Alicia P.

    Delicious savory afgan food. Huge portions! Fast service. Great little neighborhood secret! Tip: get the brown rice You will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Hui C.

    Awesome food. The eggplant starter is amazing. For entree, try the leg of lamb special. It comes buried under a pile of seasoned rice. Delicious.

    (4)

  • T D.

    Excellent place to eat for lunch or dinner. The fish kabob with brown rice is my favorite item. Things to know ahead of time: Seating is quite limited during peak hours and the establishment is poorly ventilated in general. During the day outside seating is preferred and available. 2 people is easily 30$ if not more so don't go looking for a bargain.

    (5)

  • Aselle N.

    This Afghani place is like home. Very tasty food, talented cooks, fast service and warm people. Mantoo, Bolani, and Aush are my usual orders. But I've seen other dishes and they look unbelievably delicious.. Thank you guys for making it affordable to everyone! I wish they had another store in SF! I'll see you soon!

    (5)

  • Zara Y.

    I walked to this restaurant on my lunch hour and wanted to dine in. I ordered a koobideh kebab with palau rice. The koobideh kebab did not taste fresh. It had the consistency and flavor of the frozen koobideh kebabs you can buy from a Persian store and heat up at home. The palau rice tasted nothing like palau and it had a different consistency. The man that greeted me was very nice, we talked in Dari but he didn't ask me if I wanted a table, neither did the girl processing the orders. Although the place was packed, there was a vacant table. My order was processed to go - I assume because I was a party of one and they wanted to reserve the table for a party of 2, 3 or 4 to cash in on their busy lunch hour. There's nowhere to sit inside while you wait for your to go order. I sat down and waited at one of the tables outside but that particular street corner has a few loiterers, not-so-friendly looking men with a lot of time on their hands. Not ideal if you're a woman on your own. These random men approached my table several times and made inappropriate comments while I waited for my food. At least the owner brought my to go box out to me, hence the one star!

    (1)

  • Tania L.

    One of those times when Yelp does not steer your wrong. This place earned their good reviews. It is tiny, and does the 1 thing right that it needs to do, excellent food. Their special, is amazing. I would eat it every day, several times a day. Sadly I am doing that no-carb thing where I dont eat rice, which sucks, because the rice is amazing. Lamb that falls apart its so tender. A beautiful, beautiful thing.

    (5)

  • Mariam H.

    Fantastic find. Thank you yelpers! We started with the mantu (dumplings with beef. Topped with tomato sauce and yogurt). If you haven't tried this at an Afghan place you are missing out. The mantu here was spicier than what I've had in the past. The eggplant was to die for. One of the best I've had I just wish we hadn't ordered the appetizer portion. The flavors were complex and tasted incredible. I could have this as my main. We shared a koobideh plate with brown rice. The rice is killer. Very good. The man loved the Kabab and the green chutney. We also ordered the potato Bolani. Excellent as well. I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Tuwie N.

    delicious place for a fun lunch with my dear friend. I feel like this place is kind of a secret, especially with it being a small space with an unassuming exterior, so I'm telling you now: look out for it and give it a try! :) Portions are big, food is packed with flavor, and staff are super nice. The mantoo (afghan dumpling) is a must-get. The texture of the wrapper and dipping sauce just went so well together. The afghan bread was amazing as well! Everything on the plate goes so well together, don't stress over deciding what to get - everything is delicious. ESPECIALLY THOSE ROASTED TOMATOES!!! omg the warm tomato bursting with flavor and juice is such a treat for your tastebuds!

    (4)

  • Chagan L.

    great food!

    (5)

  • Jennifer A.

    I didn't have a fabulous time unlike many of the reviewers here. We got here around 7:30pm on a Tuesday night and we have plenty of available seating despite the fact the restaurant was small. My boyfriend and I both had lamb dishes. I thought it was just... okay. He seemed to like his. Even the brown rice wasn't anything amazing and the salt content was through the roof. But it wasn't the food that I'd mainly complain about. It was the service. We never got checked on. I had to grab the waiter, literally, each time I wanted a water fill up. I had to manually get the carry-out tray because he wouldn't be talked to. And the check, we had to ask for that too. We had to ask for everything. They never check on you. It would be more efficient if you just ordered at the counter and had a water station. Also the bathroom... the floor was wet. I didn't know why. I didn't want to know why. Not like the "just mopped" wet either. I really get the feeling that Yelp is being too generous here.

    (2)

  • Faith L.

    The first time I went the beef kabab was soooo good. The second time, I got a salad and it didn't taste fresh as if it was from the day before, the beef tasted okay but not like the first time. The restaurant does not have the capacity to take much people for dine in so I would suggest taking food to go or you may have to move out of your table onto another one, for a bigger party to be seated, while you're already having your meal.

    (4)

  • Jay K.

    Starting to question the sanity/objectiveness of Oakland reviewers... The food was BLAND and the portions/price are genuinely ridiculous. Maybe an 8th of a pound of dry, disgusting lamb for like $14. Wow.

    (1)

  • Caesar G.

    Love their chicken kebab plate with brown rice. Very delicious and filling. Fast service and a great take out meal.

    (4)

  • Joshua W.

    Great food. Was a slight bit pricier than I expected but not expensive. The thigh kabobs had fantastic flavor.

    (4)

  • Roxanna T.

    Busy, packed, and still attentive to your needs are the makings of a great experience. I ordered the Kubideh and it was great! Three other people ahead of me had ordered the same, so you can't miss with that dish. The place is really small, so I would advise that take out be the better option. It is definitely family run and owned so you feel even better for choosing to dine there. I plan on going back for sure!

    (4)

  • Jillian R.

    Straight to the point service with wonderfully refined Afgan dishes and delicious seasonings.

    (5)

  • Linda L.

    this place is delicious and they are super nice. i could probably eat here everyday. it's a small spot though.

    (4)

  • Alice L.

    Lamb Kabob with Brown Rice = So freakin' good!!! I've had a great experience every time I've been here. The service is wonderful and I love that beautiful mural painted on the back of the wall. To top it off, they have the best home made green and red sauce!! I'll put that sauce in the rice, on the meat, on everything and anything and I'll eat it! :)

    (4)

  • Sofia A.

    If you eat meat the food here is amazing. If you don't you are limited to vegetables with rice--no dal. I know dal is not naturally part of kabab cuisine, but please would love to see it on the menu so vegetarians can come here with their kabab-loving friends.

    (3)

  • Kristin N.

    This place is so delicious! The ManFriend and I also get the mantoo (Afghani dumplings) and the lamb shanks with basmati rice. The dumplings I can't even describe because they are so tasty! Just a hint of spice with the sauce. The lamb shanks are fall off the bone and cut with a fort tender. The tendons and ligaments are also super tender and delicious. The rice is mixed with almond slivers, raisons and sautéed carrots for a sweet and savory mix. Then, the lamb shanks are just big enough and usually cut right so that you can dig out the marrow for an extra treat!

    (5)

  • Sayed A.

    I usually always dine in. Today I ordered Togo for lunch. The food was just as good but of course when you pick it up 20 mins after it's been cooked it taste a little dry. I would defiantly say for your first experience dine in! There's nothing like fresh kebabs right off the grill! The service was awesome the man working greeted me as always. Love this family runned business! Will be back for my usual!

    (5)

  • Matthew D.

    This place is so so epic!!!! Number one.... food = super super delish. The lamb chops, the steak, all of it is amazing. You can literally close your eyes and point and you'll love what you get. Number two: Some copycat dorks opened up their own Afghan place three doors down. This one is more delish and they're the OG. So go here! Number three: They once offered to donate rice and Afghan naan to my Capoeira event. They support local non-profits. Number four: Even my 60-year old Jewish mother loved the food. And that's incredible on several levels :)

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    Kamdesh is smaller than it appears from the outside with a long narrow space with one side taken up by the kitchen and food storage areas. I ordered the Mantoo ($5.95, dumplings filled with ground beef, onions and seasonings, topped with a special yoghurt sauce and sauteed veggies) and Afghani Wrap ($7.50, choice of chicken or beef wrapped in Afghani Naan with a special yoghurt sauce) with chicken. I was interested the similarity in names of the Mantoo and the Korean dumplings called mandu and found both originated from Turkish Manti dumplings and spread across Asia via Turkish migration. These look to be popular as I watched a woman hand-make these the whole time I was there filling more than one large sheet pan. Anyway, I digress. The mantoo come in a serving of five topped with the yogurt sauce, a small amount of tomato-y sauce and some veggies ( yelp.com/biz_photos/kamd… ). The dumplings are delicious with a nicely spiced meat filling. The yogurt sauce had dill and also very good. The veggies looked and tasted like they were from a bag of frozen veggies. The Afghani Wrap is filled with chicken, yogurt sauce, and a veggie mix of cubed cucumber and a smattering of tomato ( yelp.com/biz_photos/kamd… ). I was worried on first glance that there was not much chicken, but it just wasn't right in the middle where the wrap was sliced. The chicken was tender and moist with nice char marks and flavor from the grill and the marinade ( yelp.com/biz_photos/kamd… ). The minty green sauce ( yelp.com/biz_photos/kamd… ) on the table made a good addition to the wrap.

    (4)

  • Julia B.

    This restaurant is absolutely delicious and such a good find! I ordered the chicken kabob plate, and everything was on point. The chicken was moist and flavorful, the brown basmati rice was super hearty and yummy, and even the little salads were good. I'll be back often!

    (5)

  • Rena J.

    The brown rice is actually rice marinated in lamb juices. :D hehehe Get the lamb shank and eggplant. I've been told to get the dumplings. It's a small restaurant but a good flow of people in and out. Groups bigger than 6 would be rather difficult to fit and I would recommend booking reservations.

    (5)

  • Cindy F.

    This place is AWESOME! Love the kabobs here. There kubideh is moist and super tasty. The chicken thigh is also very tender and juicy. Lamb kabobs are flavorful too. We ate in once, but now I've learned I can take out and I do it all the time, since my kids love the food here. The place isn't that big and it gets a bit hot inside. Also, don't forget to get the brown rice. So gooooood. Another thing to try it the Mantoo dumplings. Never had these before, but our server suggested them. They're really good. One thing not on the list is the naan. Not a favorite, since it's really dry. Not like indian naan. Overall though, give it a try. I've been to many kabob places, and this by far is my fav for Oaktown. Service is good, but order early because they do sell out of certain things.

    (4)

  • Anthony R.

    Some nice skewers over here..although I preferred the flavor and char level of SF's afghan kebab house. Still, a good value and nice stop when hankering for afghani food in downtown O.

    (3)

  • LAIKA K.

    YUMMM!!!!! I thought my mom made great Chapli Kabob until I came here for lunch today. Some of the best Chapli Kabob I've ever had. I also had the Bolani which was great as an appetizer. My co-workers had the chicken tikka and they all enjoyed it. I'll be back next week!

    (5)

  • Ali B.

    So far so good. The doogh is top of the line if you like yogurt drinks. The guys here are not phony but they are friendly. The kebabs are very tasty. I tried lamb, lamb chops and beef. The quantity is adequate and it is cooked evenly. It could be a bit more subtle in flavor. It is marinated in saffron and perhaps yogurt. They ran out of yogurt drink since we wanted the second round. Nonalcoholic drinks here only although some of these Kebabs would taste great with some food Cab or Pinot wine. So if you like strong flavors which is typical of middle eastern food, this is your place to try out. Looks like your kind of place if you don't mind not being tampered too much.

    (4)

  • Richard F.

    I'm going to dive right in into the review, crap of a place with crap service and over priced food!!! The service is not welcoming and the dude serving is a pervert who followed a young lady outside as she left. I don't understand why the owner/ cooks of small restaurants have to eat out in the floor. Just witnessed the cook scratch his balls under either his apron, wtf?!

    (2)

  • KungFu P.

    Best chapli and chicken kebabs of the Bay Area. Try brown rice and green chutney. And yes... Phirni and baklava is the highlight.

    (5)

  • Mariam A.

    The food was ok, I'm a bit partial to afghan food since I grew up in Fremont and have the best food at my disposal at any given time. I think my biggest disappointment was the boloni...it was essentially a tortilla bread with flavorless potatoes in it. The kabob was decent, the place seemed fairly clean and the staff was friendly. I would give 5 stars for service. I don't think I would come back here.

    (3)

  • Julia S.

    I ordered the lamb shank, yogurt sauce on side, and the brown rice. It was simply amazing. The portions are huge. The woman kept laughing at me when I ordered and I didn't really get why.. but when the food came.. zomygah.. they literally gave me this huge lamb leg or something. it was as big as my femur. Oo! I am a fan of spicy food and they have this spicy red jabanero sauce which goes so well with the food :) Loved it!

    (4)

  • Hira M.

    Kamdesh is always on my go to list! Great service and amazing food! Everything I've ever tried here is incredible. I've brought friends here, recommended it to people, all of them have loved it. This place has become like a second home to me! Too good!!

    (5)

  • Farashta A.

    So my little brother decided to grab us dinner tonight, and let me say what a disappointment! I see it is a diverse group of reviewers raving about this "food" but coming from an AFGHAN this food was sub-par and lacked real flavor. I admit that I am spoiled by having great cooks in my family that make amazing afghan food but that is what allows me to judge good authentic afghan cuisine. So this is what my brother ordered: -Chapli Kabob -2 orders of bolani -order of Lamb kabob -chicken kabob Reasons for my one star review: 1) All the meat was charred and burned to a crisp on the outside; the meat was so burned that it gave off a nasty taste. 2) Although the outside of the Chapli kabob was a black char, the inside was kinda mushy and flavorless. It had no onions or anything in there to give it some taste. 3) there was a burned tomato on the side as garnish? Like seriously they even burned the tomato! 4) the potato bolani was a joke! There was not even enough potato in there to call it potato bolani...they should have called it naan smh. Potatoes cost like $0.25 a lb, you can afford to put more potato and not just smear a tiny bit in there. 5) the Maas (yogurt sauce for bolani) was overly salty...we added water to make in dough (traditional yogurt drink) 6) the chicken was dry 7) the chutney sauce was watery and not spicy at all 8) the man who too my brother's order had the audacity to tell him that "my food is better than de afghanan restuarant" sorry sir you are obviously in need to get your taste buds checked 9) over priced food for the horrible quality 10) I'm only giving one star because I can't leave a review otherwise Maybe they had a bad night for who ever was working the grill but I will NEVER go here again and I will make sure to inform people to stay away! I hope the owners read these reviews because this was a complete disaster. For a customer to spend that much money on food and as a business you can't deliver good food that should be a sign to change things up because you are losing potential loyal customers. I rather drive the extra miles and go to de Afghanan Restuarant in Fremont than to subject my taste buds to that food again. It sucks because I always want to support my fellow Afghans but this was just a complete disappointment and let down.

    (1)

  • Donato J.

    This place is amazing, and the customer service is very warm: feels like you're with family. Get the lunch wraps with beef: they are huge and awesome! Note: the "salty yogurt" specialty drink is definitely an acquired taste. I'd say PASS on it if you are new, but if you were raised on the stuff then I'm sure it's great.

    (5)

  • Terry T.

    First time eating Afghan food. Very tasty. Restaurant has good service. Definitely worth a try. I'd try it again

    (4)

  • Yna D.

    This is an authentic AKH. A clean small place owned and operated by friendly afghan family. We always enjoy Mantoo ( meat dumpling appetizer), squash borani ( small serving of squash serve in yogurt sauce), lambshank topped with rice mixed with shreded carrots and raisins, chiken breast kebob with brown rice or you can ask for white rice. Food here is consistently good.

    (4)

  • Aaron S.

    Wonderful lunch spot in downtown Oakland. Will return. The lamb and salad were both amazing.

    (4)

  • Barbara B.

    Amazingly delicious! Friend and I were looking for some place really ethnic and unique that I definitely couldn't find back in NC and I found this place on Yelp. And WOW, it was probably one of the best dining decisions I made while visiting the Bay Area. We started with the Eggplant Borani, which was delicious with the Afghan style bread they brought out. For my entree, I got the Quabili Pallow on the recommendation of our server and it was so indescribably good. The rice was fragrant and wonderfully seasoned and came with raisons and carrots, which were a great sweet compliment to the lamb and the rice as well. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in the area and I've looked up a recipe to try and recreate this dish at home. PS: Make sure you try the cilantro sauce that's at the table as well! Food: 5/5 Other: 5/5 (Service: 5/5, Value: 5/5)

    (5)

  • zeenat s.

    I use to work on 20th st where I would order from here at least couple times a month. If your looking for good afghan food! This is the spot.. I love their Chapli dish. It's similar to a kabob but with a little kick and shape of a patty.They also serve brown rice if your trying to go the healthy route. Everyone that works here are so kind and helpful.

    (5)

  • Charles C.

    A great tiny spot. Portions are large. The beef kabob was tasty, the nan like bread is a bit heavy. Overall a pleasant diner.

    (3)

  • J s.

    Great food, friendly staff, generous portions. Not a fancy place, but the food more than makes up for the decor. Chicken thigh kabobs are moist and grilled to perfection, with delicious spicing. Also highly recommend the squash, dumplings, eggplant, and brown rice. The borani was the only thing I thought wasn't fantastic--it was just average. But overall, I found this little place to be a gem of a restaurant in an area that doesn't have a lot of great options.

    (4)

  • Salikea T.

    Wow! Did not expect to be delighted when I ordered a vegetarian dish at a kabob place but was pleasantly surprised! Ordered caryout: Eggplant Borani with brown rice and afghani salad: topped with yogurt and spices bursting balanced flavors and creamy texture...simply amazing! Subtle heat pairs well with the cucumber salad. A bit in the oily side if that matters to you...but it's supposed to be that way. Service: Friendly gentleman at the register, food was ready in 5-10minutes. Can't get faster than that! Will definitely return to try the salmon next time

    (5)

  • Aub W.

    I love this place! Its probably my favorite place in the area, my boyfriend and I come here all the time. The food is always amazing and the staff is super nice. The woman that works here (and at Brown Couch) is very sweet and is always on top of her game! I usually get the Chapli Kabob with brown rice because it really can't beat! The green sauce they give you at the table (I don't know what it, and it doesn't matter) is always almost gone when we leave too!

    (5)

  • Vici P.

    The food is okay. The rice is very oily. Looks like they put lots of oil on it after making it. Cute interior and nice service.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
  • Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Kamdesh Afghan Kabab House

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