Maiwand Kabob
6131 Columbia Crossing Dr, Columbia, MD, 21045
Maiwand Kabob Menu
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Address :
6131 Columbia Crossing Dr
Columbia, MD, 21045 - Phone (410) 872-0975
- Website https://maiwandkabob.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Elizabeth P.
ALWAYS YUMMY. Love that this location is right next to major shops like Target, Nordstrom Rack, etc. We've been here like 5 times already and their food is delicious every single time. It's always kind of empty though, which is so strange because their food is so yum! Portions are huge and all their dishes are so fresh and flavorful. This time around, the service was excellent. Definitely our go-to Mediterranean restaurant! I always get the Chicken kabob dish. So nomtastic.
(5)Freddy M.
Not only is the food and location great but the customer service here is amazing location is styled way above other kebab and or Middle Eastern Pl. is like this the Decor is amazing. YOU GET ALLOT FOR YOHR MONEY$$ This is definitely one of my new favorite kebab places and will definitely be returning more often I can eat with a friend we both got the chicken kebab and one of them came with the bread and the other one with eggplant delicious
(5)Carol N.
Food was just okay. Service set up is weird. They serve tables for dinner but for lunch you order at counter and they bring food to table. When ordering I asked for an item twice but when I looked at my receipt I wasnt charged. I asked for it again when wait person came to table to bring appetizers. She didn't bring it. I had to get up and ask again at register. I asked for siracha twice and never got it. Not happy.
(3)Munir P.
PATHETIC SERVICE..!! Highly understaffed.. The genius owner/manager still doesn't recognize the need for labelling their food in their buffet.. Almost ate something im not supposed to due to lack of labels..No plates for 10 mins since we came in..Half of the food is still in the kitchen..BIG RED FLAG !
(1)M M.
If I could good give zero I would. Worse food and service experience of my life. I don't even want to relive it by telling you. Avoid being fooled by the nice decor. The other 2 mainlands are far superior.
(1)Ian R.
Don't come here Friday evening, or Saturday evenings. Weekend is mayhem. They are short staffed. The wait for food is 60 minutes, why on earth do we have to wait an hour for food? 2 people taking orders and inadequate kitchen staff. We've been here during day time lunch and had a better experience. Note to management please have more quicker service, people like you guys. The arundel mills is a quicker service. Dinner tonight was prepared too quickly and didn't have flavor. We won't be back for dinner on weekends.
(1)Aly W.
The food is delicious. I always order the chicken kabobs. There are two things that keep me from giving them all the stars: 1. If you dine in the service is very slow. I only dine in when I know I have a lot of time and won't get frustrated by the long wait. 2. The serving size varies depending on the day. Some days they give a ton of chicken while other days it is tiny pieces. The people who work here are very friendly and I have always enjoyed the taste of the food.
(4)Quin A.
Cute place and good kebabs. I called ahead and made a reservation. When we got there the place was packed but our table was reserved so we were seated quickly. We ordered chapli kebab platter and lamb+chicken kebab combo platter. Kebabs were tender and juicy. Rice were cooked well and I was glad they weren't dry. Salad was fresh and sauce was tasty. Naan bread was also very good and fresh. Servers were nice and trying hard to be helpful but food took a while to arrive at the table. They gave us complementary drinks and fruit to keep us busy while waiting for the main course. Afterwards we ordered the falooda shake, the thing for which I actually went here. It was okay. I was expecting something with more thick and creamy and more noodles. It was just milk, rooh-afza (a traditional syrup), very little noodles, jelly, and chunks of crushed ice. They have to lose the ice chunks because they made the thing watery. They ran out of whipped cream so that was bad inventory. Now that I looked back on the pictures, they skimped on one of the salads too. May be I'll return here but not any time soon.
(3)Sarah B.
We've been ordering carry out from this place for months. I'm not certain if the kitchen staff completely changed or what, but we noticed a huge change in the taste of the rice. It is completely lacking in flavor; so bland my taste buds cried. Everything else was the same, but please do something about the rice! :( ------------------------------- Okay, so I just tried calling to order pick up again and I don't know what in the world is going with their phones, but they did not pick up at all. The phone just endlessly rang without an answer. When I hung up and tried calling again, I got the busy tone. Tried again after a few minutes, same endless ringing, hung up again, called for the last time and got the busy tone again.
(2)Omar S.
Excellent Afghan-style kabobs, sit-down format in Columbia. This is local favorite Maiwand Kabob's first table-service location, it's an attractive space that belies its strip-mall location. There's a couple of semi-private booths for larger groups, also. I've usually done carryout from the original Harper's Choice location, but came here for a minor occasion recently. Attentive service, very good food. Some of the sides are a little different than the other locations, but the meats are similar/identical. Lamb and kofta are my favorites, but all of it's good. Don't pass-up the made-per-order fresh bread. There's a daily special, also. Tip: This location has slightly higher prices than the takeout locations, but they also have additional menu items that aren't available at the other locations. Delicious, authentic kabobs. Highly recommended.
(5)Josh G.
Maiwand Kabob is a nicely appointed restaurant with a good menu selection and reasonable prices. The food quality varies a bit but you get a good portion size and value. I would say this is one of the better kabob places in Columbia, but not a place I would go to consistently.
(3)Johanna F.
What an upgrade in decor from the original Maiwand on Harpers Farm road! It looks fancy but I believe the price is the same. I went there twice. Once I had the ground beef kabob, eggplant dip. It was very good. I tried the lunch lamb curry special. It came with salad and bread. The lamb was tender. I enjoyed my lunch at Maiwand and will return.
(3)Rashanna L.
Service was a little touch and go.. Had to ask for napkins and silverware. My stepfathers meal had more potatoes than lamb, but after asking for more he got more free of charge. I had the lamb and beef gyro and it was excellent. I tried the lamb and it was also really good. Portion sizes great, really nice interior. Definitely will come back.
(4)Danny C.
I could have sworn I wrote a review about this place before.... I see the pictures I've posted up but not my review... Maybe I'm just trippin'.... Out of the 10-20 I've been here since last year, only once did I have bad food and twice service was terrifyingly slow. Every other time I've been there, it's been great. I've had about half of their total menu so far and my favorite dishes there are: Appetizers: Pumpkin, Bolani, and Samosas. The pumpkin is sweet and it comes with a white yogurt sauce and ground beef. Might sound a bit odd, however, just try it. Sweet, salty, and delicious! As for the others, they come great with their counterparts, the sauces. Entrees: Vegetable Platter and anything with Lamb! My taste in food is leaning heavily towards carnivorous eating, but the vegetable platter is so good! I can't explain just how delicious the platter really is. And the rice? MY GOSH. What do they do to it?! The texture and the flavor of the rice, yes the FLAVOR of the rice just.... Mmmmm..... I did try one of their specials twice, the sabzi chalow? First time was great. Goat/lamb curry or something along those lines. The second time however, the meat tasted like old, very old, and overcooked, stringy, beef. Not even what it's supposed to be. Anyways to the BUFFET. Installed on May 1st and is still up and running from Monday to Friday, 11 am - 2 pm. About 12 dollars per person excluding drinks. AMAZING. Basically the whole Vegetable Platter above, is in the buffet line including 2 meat dishes. From the rice to the veggies, from the meats to their sauces. All of it was great. RESTAURANT QUALITY. Seriously. Now don't get me wrong, I went there around 11:45am so the food was probably fresh. It was also kinda busy, about half the room was filled up. Delicious.
(5)Kaila P.
The food here is excellent. Everything I've had here is really flavorful and satisfying. The only major drawback is that it's a little overpriced. The food takes awhile sometimes, and it wasn't always super clear what "sides" to expect with different dishes. The first time we came, my entree came with this amazing rice with raisins and other spices in it, so I assumed that all of the dishes came with this. I was sadly mistaken and disappointed when I ordered the special a few days later and it came out with white (but still tasty for white) rice. I ordered the fancy rice to go, but they actually forgot to bring it out, and I didn't notice till I got home. I've had and loved all of their lamb and vegetarian options, and even came and loved the buffet. Not a huge fan of the salad dressings, but appreciate the freshness of the leaves. They were also very accommodating for my 12 month old on all of our visits. The baby liked the bread so much we might start just getting that for take out. We will return!
(4)Carmen W.
My friend referred me to this place and I actually like the food. Sadly, like many others, the service here is really horrible. She had only had carry out and experienced dine in with me for the first time. It was 6 of us for dinner on a weekday. The waiter, although nice, was SO slow. It took us a total of 2.5 hours to leave the restaurant. I think it was a combination of a slow kitchen and under trained wait staff. He also kept forgetting our drinks and took 30 minutes to get us our checks. The food on the other hand was really great. We started with the Bolani and Samosas, which are really good bets. I had the special of the day, Chicken Jalfarazi. It was delicious and flavorful. Their tandoori bread was one of the best I've had in the area. We were going to get dessert, but seeing how long everything took we skipped and went to get frozen yogurt instead. I think the food is on point. They really need to change this into a carryout restaurant or train their kitchen and wait staff properly.
(2)Jason F.
Not as good as Linthicum, but solid none the less. I would give it 3.5 stars, but I can't so I will give it a courtesy bump. Tried the sausage and chicken. Both were good. The apps were average in my opinion and I find it a waste to have waiter service. Decor is nice like everyone else said. Now to try the other Columbia and Arundel Mills location.
(4)Ron M.
Service here is always good, if not a bit on the slow side. Nothing egregious, but frequently the 15-20 minute quote for carry out stretches to 20-30 minutes. But food is always good. Very friendly staff. Always a favorite.
(4)Kimberly H.
My neighbor talked me into trying this place out on Saturday, August 30th. I received terrible service from inept staff. My order was forgotten, and one item wasn't even available and I was only told after repeatedly asking for it to be brought out with my meal. When I did receive my food, it was lukewarm and looked like it had been sitting under a heat lamp or in a dry oven for too long. I asked that the unavailable item be removed from my bill, and I was told it would be done by a manager at the end of the day. I demanded it be removed immediately. They assumed I still wanted to leave a tip and left it on there without asking me first. This was the most disappointing dining experience I've had in Columbia since I've lived here. Please think twice about visiting this place until they address their staffing ineptness.
(1)Dorie E.
First time here-- fantastic! Pretty decor and atmosphere. The food is wonderful. I'll be back!
(5)Kyle C.
I been here once, I was looking for a lamb gyro for over a month, and I finally found a really tasty one here! I'm definitely coming back!!
(5)Lynie H.
We ordered the weekend special (for 2 ppl) it was nothing special at all!! We ordered 2 orders (for 4 ppl)..the pieces of chicken seemed liked leftover parts after they cut all the meaty part for the kabobs!!! Sooo pissed off about the paltry portions!!! Big pieces of ginger slices also was quite unpleasant when u think its chicken and its not!! It was flavorful but definitely not worth the price for such measly portions!!
(2)Victoria B.
I really struggled with the decision to write this review, because I am not a complainer and perhaps today is a bad day. However, some things the management should really take note of and implement changes. I have never been here before. The decor is warm and inviting. When I walk in, I see registers but don't know what to do. I was expecting a server to seat me. Staff walked by me, one staff member was at the register and I was ignored. I had no idea if this was a restaurant or counter service! I finally asked and was told I pay at the register then find my own seat. So I did. No one ever greeted me or helped me unless I asked first. I was given an empty glass. I was told I can fill it with my own beverage. I chose iced tea, no lemons nearby. The beverage set-up appears to be in the back, since it's next to the kitchen entrance. This isn't a full-service restaurant after all. And then I wonder what the heck did I write in my tip for, if I am choosing my own seat, eating a buffet, and getting my own drink? Shoot, put up a trash can and let me clear my plate and let's call it a day. The buffet. Oh the pitiful buffet. The set-up is confusing and all wrong. Tables were pushed close to the buffet so you had to wait for people to get out of their seats or move. You can't get to one end of the buffet to the other without bumping into people or chairs. The flow is all wrong. The plates were at the end of the buffet near dessert, but you always should start with rice which was at the opposite end. So you get your plate, then go to the other end to get rice, then back to the other end for salad, etc. It is one major traffic jam. I flipped through the contents of the buffet. 3 dishes were empty and 2 were near empty. One being rice - which as anyone will know is a staple, and often a base for many middle eastern cuisine. The salad? Not even a mediterranean salad. It looked like chopped iceburg out of a bag (gag). I asked an employee if they were going to restock the buffet. It is only AFTER I said something he checked the buffet and put in the food order. The rest of the food on the buffet looked just pathetic and unappetizing - and this is from someone who eats middle eastern and indian food on the regular - I fix it in my home and eat it outside of my home. I came to a buffet for quick yummy food on my lunch break. It took me a while to find a seat because of several tables that weren't bussed. I don't get it - they greet you, they don't serve you, they don't fix your drinks, they aren't attending to the buffet, but then tables are full of dirty dishes - what are these employees paid to do? I sat there and waited. For about 10 minutes. Then I asked for a refund and left. I understand if there is a rush before I got there, but staff before should have been on top of checking that buffet and started cooking more food when it was running low, not only after a guest asks if more food is coming out to then BEGIN to prepare the dishes. It defeats the efficiency of a lunch buffet. Perhaps they couldn't GET to the buffet because the set-up of the buffet and the dining area was so scattered and all over the place. There are some amazing small family owned afghan restaurants in the area, my favorite is Mimi's Kabob. This was my first and last visit at this establishment. Hopefully management will read this review and take notes to make some changes. (oh yeah, as I was leaving, someone else went to the counter for a refund, too. They ordered off the menu)
(1)Roger L.
Food - OK if it's hot. Service sucks! Not really pleased..... and extra rice is $4 (Geeeez..)" Went on a Sunday, probably my 3rd visit. I ordered at the counter because they dont have waiters. Apparently they forgot to give me a number (Asian Guy) and we waited and waited and waited for our food, well it seems the girl who delivers the food, didnt see a number on our table, when she came around ------so she stuck the food back in the kitchen to get cold., instead of ask somebody like us or the counter guy..... 45 mins later I went and asked where the food was, and they said OOOh, it's in the kitchen. So, they served it to me, COLD and LATE..... mmmmm.. cold rice and cold chicken, not to tasty. No offer to make it hot or anything. then they forgot the 2 other items I ordered, so I had to ask for them for it (X-Bread/chutney) - The last time I went I had an American Guy who kept asking is everything great? constantly, maybe 6-7 times, really annoying. what a big pain in the a** . The food aint bad (if its hot) but the service suuuucks........Id you want a small bowl of extra rice - it's $4.00 - awful expensive, I wont order that anymore....There are plenty of other Kabob joints around, next time, I think I'll choose one of them..... This was kind of a disater - pretty forgetable experience.
(2)Jen F.
Maiwand Kabob has good Middle Eastern food. They have lots of vegetarian friendly options as well as megaloads of meat for the carnivores out there. At Maiwand Kabob, you go up to the counter to order. You get a number and your food is brought out to your table. The ambiance is both casual with a bit of a Middle Eastern flare. I chose one of these super cool booths behind some curtains. It's nice if you want to have some privacy. As for food, it was hard to choose but the platters really caught my eye. You get a combination of different foods with rice and yoghurt sauce. The vegetarian platter had some great things on the plate although I had no idea what they were.I couldn't stop eating it though! I identified some potatoes, chickpeas, and yams in there. It all paired well with naan. The portions are on the large size and reasonable for what you're paying. I would come here for again for a casual lunch to fulfill my Middle Eastern food cravings!
(4)Jamel H.
I recently ventured out to this new location and despite reading some of the discouraging my visit I would like to say the service and food were incredible. I visited on a fairly busy Wednesday night this week and despite the 2 gentleman working being overworked.... not only were they polite but very quick with all of our demands. I ordered the chicken kabob and my date ordered the beef kabob and needless to say the service was almost impeccable. Both tender and extremely savory. I will definitely be coming back to the location very soon and recommending it to my friends too!!!!!!!! I rate this restaurant a very well deserved 5 stars.
(5)Karen W.
My friend suggested that we try this place for a late lunch (about 2 pm). I ordered veggie kabobs and the hummus platter. The food was just fantastic. Hummus was among the best I've had, creamy and delicious. Pita bread was fresh and tasty. The veggie kabob had a nice selection of vegetables and had been prepared with a nice tasting olive oil. Only the rice was not outstanding -- just regular rice. Unfortunately the service was awful. It took almost 45 minutes for the waitress to bring out our entrees. And we were the only people in the restaurant. (The hummus was brought out after 10 minutes.)
(4)Alicia T.
Love this place!! We do a lot of back and forth from NY to VA, and if Maiwand is open, we stop-- always at the one off of MD 295/Arundel Mills exit. What's not to like? Bread, fresh. Food, good. Chickpeas are my fave, and I'll often order just a side of those and some bread if I'm in a hurry to get back on the road. Only complaint: the tap water is terrible. I figured it was the source, but on a very odd occasion when we were't craving Afghan food, I had water from another business in the same building and it was fine. They claimed they had some extra filter, though, so who knows. As for the food, though: order the specials, and go back often enough to work your way through the menu. Some things I like more than others, but I haven't had anything I haven't liked.
(4)Allison S.
Bad Service, Rude Employees, and to top it all off there was a RUBBER BAND INSIDE my KOFTA KABOB!!! I am not sure whether or not this happened on accident or if they did it intentionally, but either way it is completely unacceptable! I would STAY AWAY FROM this place, way to many other places to eat with better food and service in Columbia!
(1)claudia j.
Had their baked bolani, spinach, chicken tikka kabob, lamb chops. Also had their Baklava. Great ambience, hospitable service, delicious food. Will surely be returning here again
(4)Jarrod F.
This place has gone down the tubes... the brothers who used to run the restaurant are no longer there and things just aren't the same. I've eaten here about a dozen times in the past six months and on my two most recent visits, things have unfortunately taken a downturn for the worst. They have one waitress taking all the orders, which is completely absurd... especially when its busy like it was this past Saturday night. THE waitress (Henna) is very nice, don't get me wrong. But its the restaurant's fault for thinking that one girl can give good service to about 15-20 tables. This is just bad business. They need to either hire a few more waiters or I'm never coming back. Now onto the food... Maiwand is usually always SOLD OUT of at least 3-4 of the appetizers on the menu. I didn't mind this at first but now its just annoying. I'm sick of them being out of the Pumpkin, out of the Eggplant, our of the Babaganoush, etc. There's no excuse to always be out of certain items. The Lamb seek kabob is just bad (used to be good). And the rice is now horrendous. The chicken is still tasty though. But they got rid of the chopped salad and now they just serve a mixed green salad before the entrees are served, which makes no sense to me and is a bad move in my opinion. It's a shame... one of my favorite restaurants in Columbia has reached the point of no return... that period in a restaurant's lifecycle where things go bad and rarely ever go back to good. We see it far too often and unfortunately unless Maiwand does something to get itself back on track, I'm afraid this place will join the restaurant graveyard within a year.
(3)Amanda S.
I'm surprised to see so many negative reviews of this place! Most of them seem for takeout, which I have not experienced. As for the sit-down restaurant, it's very stylish inside, the servers are super nice, and the food is delicious! The chicken kabob is my favorite-- usually I prefer red meat, but whatever lemony deliciousness they marinate the chicken in really works for me! The bread is always warm and delicious and their green sauce has a nice kick to it. The kofta is really good too, unlike at the other locations. The only problem I have with the place is that they do seem to change up their portions/sides quite often, and I'm not sure why. Not every meal is as good as the last unfortunately, and some more consistency would go a long way. Also more consistency across the different locations-- I was shocked to find that the one in Columbia is the only one where I really love the food, even though in theory they should all have the same recipes, right? Anyway, I love this location!
(4)MIchaei G.
Good food beautiful afghan pictures. I really enjoy afghan food it's the best. Healthy tasty and fresh can't ask for anything more. Been eating afghan food for 5 years since my last deployment to Afghanistan and I love the food and the people. Owner Tariq rafiq is the nicest guy ever and very friendly!!
(5)Nancy A.
As a vegetarian, I love this place! Really good quality and tasty vegetarian choices! Loved the decor and the staff was attentive and helpful without being overbearing. Definitely coming back!
(4)Mohammad S.
I usually go to their location at Arundel Mills, however I decided to go to this one because it's more like a restaurant , we were extremely happy, the service was great and the food was DELICIOUS, I definitely plan to visit again!!!
(5)Jesssie M.
I'm so sad about the less-than-stellar reviews this place seems to be getting because I have had nothing but delicious experiences at Maiwand. I was so excited when I was living / working in Columbia, MD and it opened--previously, I had to trek all the way to Harper's Choice. I do agree with other Yelpers that the service is at best "ok" and at worst inattentive or invisible. The speed of executing orders could be improved and would greatly help their overall rep. I have dined in for lunch and carried out for lunch and dinner, and my orders have at least been correct and hot. Also, the décor is SO beautiful. It's clean, open, large, big wooden tables, private booths, nice chandeliers, and overall a pleasant surprise for a restaurant in a shopping center. The star of the show - the food - is bomb. The vegetarian platter is my go-to because you get to nibble a little of everything. Yams, spinach, rice, potatoes, chickpeas, all seasoned to tasty perfection and accompanied by warm Naan...drool. I also have ordered the chicken kebab and chicken salad (same chicken, different mediums). The chunks of chicken are well seasoned and delicious. The serving sizes are huge and certainly could be split/last two meals...but it's so good, I rarely can stop myself in time to save anything for later!
(4)Carissa C.
Management is SEVERELY LACKINGGGGGGGGG there is no consistency or leadership. The staff run around aimlessly and forget everything. But the food is REALLY good. LOVE the chicken kabob and brown rice.
(2)Daniel C.
1. They forgot all the green yogurt sauce 2. This location tastes a lot worse than other locations 3. They charge $12.99 instead of $10.99 and told me they give bigger portion. It was not true
(1)Patrick B.
I've been wanting to check out a kabob place since I moved to MD. Finally got around to check one out since it was local. Thanks to Yelp I noticed it. ;) The place in Columbia is fantastic. Very modern/contemporary/ classic dining experience. That's not over the top. Order and they will bring it out to you. I went for dinner on a Sunday night and there was a small crowd. Farooq was the person who waited on us and he is super nice and friendly. My party and I had the Lamb and Chicken kabob, Chicken Kabob, and Lamb and Beef kabob. All excellent. The chicken is not over cooked and the lamb and beef flavor is good. They did automatically add 15% gratuity to our check but that's not a real big deal.. Just FYI and Heads up before you go in there. I wanted to try that Mango smoothie/shake thing that was on the menu by the portions of food were so much that I was completely stuffed by the end. It is a bit pricey at around $12-19 for dinner. So you're looking at around $20 a person including tip. Definitely worth it to check this place out.
(4)C W.
**Didn't even get a chance to try the food because of the poor service here. ** My friends and I came here on Sunday night after reading great reviews and having a craving for kabobs. This restaurant is conveniently located in the Columbia Crossing shopping center by the Nordstrom Rack. We walked in and there were maybe a total of 5 other tables taken. The hostess sat us in the corner besides the trashcan. Since there were other tables available, we decided to move up one table, to avoid being near the trash--no problem. She said she'd be back with 3 waters. We looked at the menu and finally decided what we wanted. ---10 minutes pass-- There were 2 waiters serving other tables, none of which stopped by our table. I managed to wave down the hostess again who was bringing waters to another table and asked if we could place our orders. She let us know that our server would be with us shortly. (still no water) ---5 minutes pass..--- Our server stops by our table and says he'll be right with us. ---Another 5 minutes....--- He comes back and takes our drink and entree orders and informs us that the food will take about 25 minutes and that'd he'd be right back with the drinks. --15 minutes pass...-- The server has pasted our table atleast a half dozen time, including bringing the check to the table besides us, talking with the other server/hostess behind the register...still no drinks. Having wasted a good half hour+ just waiting, we walked up to the registrar and informed the hostess that we have decided to go elsewhere. She informed us that our orders were placed and being made; however, I explained to her that we have been waiting 20 minutes for just drinks with no acknowledgement by the staff. I honestly believe that the 3 assoicates working there I really wish we had had a chance to try the food, but based on this experience I will not be going back.
(1)Saira M.
Ever since I moved to and started working in Columbia, MD 2 years ago, Maiwand Kabob has been my go to place for lunch. I'm there about twice every month, if not more! Obviously, I keep going back because I LOVE the food. I'm a big fan of the chicken wrap and the chicken kabob platter. However, it has taken me this long to leave a review is because I did not want to leave anything less than 5 stars. I was hoping Maiwand will redeem itself and when it has, I will leave the most amazing review. Well, I don't think they're every going to learn and I am honestly running out of patience. One word: Inconsistency! I always get the same thing here, the Chicken Wrap for lunch or the Chicken Platter for dinner. I know what to expect when I am making an order. However, my food aways tastes different, GOOD but different. The cooks either leave something out or they add something new to the recipe. The chicken wrap, for example, comes with tandoori chicken, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, the white sauce (perhaps tzaziki?), feta cheese on a naan. The cooks will often times will leave the feta cheese out or replace the white sauce with green sauce. I spoke with the server once and asked him exactly how the wrap should be made and he listed the things mentioned earlier. Then why doesn't my wrap come with exactly that each and every single time?! I don't know... Please teach your crew to brew a good batch of iced tea. I don't drink soda or netiher do I wan't juice with my kabobs so all I really have left to drink is iced tea and the fuze tea is not everyones "cup of tea" (pardon the pun) and the "house" tea is weird. Two words: Customer Service! CS is okay at best. Never has it been good. I am not asking for "above and beyond" but atleast "good" will be nice. The servers hear your request but they don't listen. You would ask for one thing and they will give you something else. My husband and I ate at the restaurant on 3/26 at lunch time. I placed the order ahead and said we will eat in the restaurant. The server said our food will be ready in 15-20 minutes. I went to the restaurant with 5 minutes remaining on my wait. We waited for 10 more minutes, then 15 while finally letting him know that our food still has not arrived yet. We wait another 5 minutes and let the lady (We think she's the owner) know our food isn't here yet. Another five minutes later, our food arrives...in carry-out boxes. At this point, my husband had about 20 minutes remaining on his break so we didn't make a fuss and started to eat our food. The chicken was very tender and the rice, as always, were amazing and they actually put white sauce on my salad, which I really appreciated and the naan was great! My husband enjoyed his food as well, except they didn't put feta cheese in his wrap. surprise, surprise. Maiwand Kabob, you have a lot going for you, don't let it go to waste because of inconsistency and okay customer service. Train your servers to provide that GOOD customer service and your cooks to know the recipe! I have over 7 years in customer service, I'll be happy to train your crew for food! Just sayin'
(3)David S.
Excellent service. Excellent Kabobs. Excellent Rice. Salad was decent. I would recommend this to anyone. I was a little hesitant to try it because I haven't had much Afghan food but I'm glad I did so I know where to get a great meal. Great portion size too. Very full after I finished my take out. I would however recommend taking out a meal
(5)Nada I.
I simply love this place. Every chance I get I either eat here or order some food for take-out. The pumpkin dish is absolutely amazing and I really recommend it. It sounds strange, but it tastes great. The chicken kabob is very tender, the rice is phenomenal, and the gyro is well-seasoned. Basically, the food is worth it. I haven't dined in very many times, but I do agree that the service can be a little slow. The staff is friendly, but the food just takes a while. There are lunch buffets for those who aren't interested in waiting.
(5)John D.
Maiwand Kabob has three stores including a "flagship" store in Columbia Crossing. Before, I go on, I'd like to point out that the stores in Hickory Ridge and Hanover have walk up service and the food is excellent. I've been to each several times. Inexplicably, the flagship store, which has by far the nicest décor of the three, also has the worst food. My son and I had the beef kabob. Compared to the other stores, the meat is tough and stringy. My mother, who loves the vegetarian plate, has nothing nice to say about the Columbia Crossing location's food, calling the vegetarian plate greasy. This was our third visit to this location. Maiwand Kabob's smaller locations have delicious, well prepared Afghan food. I'd give either of those locations four stars. Stay away from the Columbia Crossing location until they get their act together.
(1)Bindi D.
Hmm-This is a hit or miss depending on the staff. The Harpers Farm location is much better and we have now decided to drive the extra mile rather than try our luck at this place. The service as well as food at the Columbia Crossing location is inconsistent. As some of the others have said, it is a bit confusing to figure out whether this is a full service restaurant or not. Wait times and sometimes ensuing confusion with what is served are both annoying. They can easily improve their rating if they do the following three things: 1. Better service; 2. Basic signs upfront explaining what needs to be done-for example-"Take a seat. Servers will help you shortly" or whatever they want us to do; and 3. most important-don't forget the food!
(2)Janet D.
I love to eat here! My husband and I come here often... Being from Detroit, I have high standards for Middle Eastern food. That said, Maiwand Kabob never disappoints. The food is always very good. The babaganoush is served warm with fried garlic on top, the naan is always fresh and the meats are always lean and properly prepared. Try either of the Bolani on the appetizer menu, and have a lamb kabob, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Nina B.
Disclaimer- we come here often but only get their daily special or their minced meat kabobs. These dishes are AMAZING. Not sure how the rest of the food is but we have no interest in finding out. Bread is always fresh but not one of the best I've had. Overall, we will return.
(4)Tee B.
Food delicious. Location good. Layout/look good. Tend to order out.
(4)Richie R.
I agree with the other reviewers, the harper's choice location is much better. This maiwand is definitely a lot larger but the quality of food is pretty bad. After ordering, it took 25 minutes before we got our food. I don't know why it would take so long since the place was empty. My wife and i ordered lamb kebobs and they both came over cooked/burnt. We won't be coming back.
(2)Vanessa D.
I haven't been disappointed yet! I absolutely love the veggie platter with an extra serving of pumpkin.
(5)Paul S.
Went for lunch buffet and it was pretty good. Mostly all the same items from the menu, so if you've never eaten here, its a great way to try multiple things.
(4)Saif A.
Dont get me wrong I love Maiwand but I dont think that the prices here are justified. I know its supposed to be fancy and sit down but I think its a mistake. One nice addition to this Maiwand is the extra types of drinks and desserts. Biggest drawback is that the food here just doesnt live up to the one in Harpers Choice or Arundel Mills.
(3)Asim M.
NYC is full of Afghani cuisine choices, bottom line this place is far better than most and a must visit for anyone wanting some great afghani food... On my visit to MD and meeting up with friends, we decided to choose this location as all of us were Afghani Food fanatics. All I've got to say was, boy this was one great experience from beginning to end. First and far most, the place is conveniently located and offers ample parking. As one walks in, one cannot help but notice the ample space that is not only beautifully decorated but offers a lot of natural light through the big windows. From tables to booths, the venue also offers a few private booths, perfect for a meeting and privacy. The Hostess was not only friendly but quite helpful in welcoming and helping us get seated. Since the remaining party was running late, we decided to try out their Falooda Shakes. An instant O.M.G moment as the shakes were not only out of this world, but were delicious, not too heavy and reminded us of the amazing falooda in the home country. It was so good, I had to go for a 2nd round (didn't regret it one bit, lol). Ready for ordering, we decided to choose a few appetizers to begin, which included the Mantu, Baked Bolani, vegetable Samosas. They all tasted great and were definitely of a good portion size. And from the main menu, Shrimp Kabob, Salmon Kabob, Chicken Tikka Kabob and Chicken Kabob were ordered. The portion sizes were more than fair for a single person and was accompained by rice, salad, tandoori roti, and homemade sauce. The meats were seasoned perfectly and cooked just right. Many places tend to overcook the shrimp, yet this place got them just right. Seasoned a bit strong for some, I definitely enjoyed it. Also, the salmon was served with 2 generous portions that not only flaked with the touch of a fork, but was undoubtedly my favorite. Overall, this place is top-notch for authentic AFGHANI FOOD and one shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit this place. Yes, the food wait was a bit longer than anticipated but one has to accept that the food is cooked fresh and that takes time. The service was great with routine visits to make sure everything was well. A great experience from an unexpected visit to Maiwand. I definitely look fwd to visiting here again on my next MD visit.
(5)Novarro R.
Just tried the new Maiwand buffet and it's great! It eliminates the wait for the food, the foods always fresh and constantly being refreshed, and when I have any questions or concerns the staff is always right on top of it! I definitely recommend trying it especially if you're just dropping in on your lunch break or otherwise
(5)Brandi E.
Maiwand has great food and great ambiance. The lunch buffet is also great. That being said, on three occasions, I have called to place a take out order and no one picked up the phone. The one time I went in after to place an order anyways and they seemed indifferent. They chose not to apologize but rather suggested I might have called the wrong number. When I showed that I called the number on my phone, then they finally apologized. Long and the short of it, great food, poor service.
(1)SubUrban D.
I really enjoyed the other restaurant near Arundel mills so I tried the new location in Columbia. Completely different atmosphere than the other. Very nice decor. A little dark but fitting. The person who took my order was polite and efficient. Only issue was the speed. Must have waited 30 minutes before I got my food. Seemed pretty slow since the place wasn't very busy. The chicken tika was good along with the rice and standard salad as a fill in. The pumpkin I ordered didn't have that same beautiful deep orange color I'd become used to, nor did it have as much of the ground beef and yogurt sauce I love so much and had gotten from the Arundel mills location. The baklava was crunchy and sweet. Tasted fresh. Made me wish for a little scoop if ice cream to go with it. All in all a good experience just really slow service.
(4)Fred H.
Inconsistent quality. Sometimes the food is excellent, other times it seems thrown together and poorly prepared. Had a vegetable kabob last night that was so bad we will go talk with the manager about it today. But we will go back because when they're good... They're very good.
(3)Ann K.
This location exceeds my expectation for" Maiwand Kabob". I guess they are doing well enough to beef up this Maiwand Kabob to a well decorated restaurant. It is just a bit weird to have to walk to order at the counter. The food is served on real plates, not the disposable plates anymore. They should have just gone into a full service restaurant with receptionist and waiters.The chow pan is awesome. I wait quite a long time for the food but still get back to work on time during lunch. It is big and good for a big group. I suggest you to order ahead of time. That should cut down the serving time. I would have given this location 4 if they have improved on the service and serving time. Yummy!
(3)Michael G.
The food is very good, but the service is terrible. They mix up orders, the prices on the website are way off from what they actually charge, and they will charge you extra on the check than what they even list on the menu in the restaurant. For example, they list mango juice for $1.99, but then the check came and they charged $2.99 and refused to take it off. Unacceptable. So, bottom line: food is good but get your food to go and don't trust any of their listed prices.
(3)Daniel C.
Maiwand Kabob is ;ocated in a strip mall of sorts near a Target, BAM, and Joann's. There is a cash register up front where you can pick up To Go orders, or you can sit at one of the many small tables. There are a few tables in semi-private nooks that look like they can have the curtains drawn, which would possibly be romantic if you did not have to share the nook with another table at the same time. The tables all have numbers on stands, I suppose to make it easy on the wait staff, but off-putting for a sit-down restaurant. We enjoyed the Veggie Samosas, and my wife liked her Mantu (Beef Dumplings) and Spinach. I found the Chicken Tikka Kabob tasty, if messy to eat. This is a place to grab something to eat while you are out shopping, but not a destination for interesting food.
(3)Elena I.
The better if the two locations in columbia! Fresh and fast I love the chicken tikka kabob dinner with rice and spinach. The beef is good too as well as the appetizer ashuk and mantu. The staff is very helpful and efficient. This is defiantly a regular place we like to get takeout!
(5)Joe A.
I'll give the place 3.5 stars. I travel consistently to the BWI area for work. The first couple times coming to this establishment, the attention I received, I didn't get any attention until I was right in front of the host/cashier. Since then, and after she got to know me, things have change. The food is pretty good. For the only Afghan/Middle Eastern cuisine in the area, it's a place I continue to go to. I typically order in advance as most of the dishes are made to order. The daily entree deals are a steal, and the combo plates are filling. The flavor of the appetizers are very good, but sometimes have too much oil. To keep my weight in check, I try not to order an appetizer and an entree, since I'm a card carrying member of the clean plate club.
(3)Eun L.
The food is good but the reason why I am only giving 1 star is because of the terrible service. It can take upwards of 45 minutes to get your order. This has occurred on several occasions and even had to wait after I called in and order first. The service is slow and they do not apologize for the delays. I will not go back to this location. If you are interested in grabbing lunch, remember to block off at least 2 hours. Not worth it.
(1)Harrison E.
Excellent Afghan spot! Lots of wonderful exotic dishes with HUGE flavors that satisfy. Daily specials and a buffet from 11-2pm with a little bit of everything. Stop by and say hi to James, he's the man!
(5)Leah Z.
Great middle eastern food. The lamb kebabs and chicken are wonderful. If you are a pumpkin fan- you must try the pumpkin. It's delicious. The eggplant is a close second. The only drawback is that there is a lack of seating, so it's better for takeout.
(5)Michael A.
SERVICE IS HORRIBLE. Just a simple appetizers took FOREVER. Then they got the order wrong. It was only 7 of us. They brought out 3 plates and the other plates didn't come out for about 45 min later. The food is good but everything else is an absolute joke. I'll never come here again.
(1)Yaka H.
This new location is going more for a casual sit-down restaurant vibe. There's a much nicer ambiance with servers, actual silverware and candles on the tables. There's even two small alcoves to the side for more private dining. You still order at the counter and after placing your order, take your number placard and seat yourself. Servers will bring out your drinks and salads first. These salads have a creamy ranch-like dressing, different from their light, oil-based vinaigrette. The entrees here are presented nicely and the flavors are pretty much similar to their other locations. This location does offer quite a few more items that are not available at their other locations. SX tried the daily special (which is the same as their other Columbia location), which was lamb curry with potatoes. I tried something new, the subzi challow (cubes of lamb in a simmered spinach with a salad of rice). The rice pilaf was pretty standard and artfully topped with grilled red onion slices. Both of our entrees were served with a small cup of the green yogurt sauce that is a typical accompaniment to their kabob dishes. It seemed out of place with our entrees. In addition, we tried the hummus appetizer, which was rich and creamy with tahini. It's topped with fried garlic pieces which was a nice, crunchy addition. A very rich and luscious spread. For our entire meal, we only received 2 squares of bread which we thought wasn't enough for our meal and for the hummus. Though, we didn't ask for more bread... so I'm not sure if we would have been charged for extra bread. This bread is different from their other location, made with whole wheat and cooked as a large square in the pizza oven that is openly displayed by the counter. It's not popping hot, fluffy, and as large of a serving as their typical naan, so it was a bit disappointing in that aspect. The meal ends with complimentary Andes mint chocolates and toothpicks dropped off at the table. The major differences are: larger menu with slightly elevated prices compared to their other locations, more casual restaurant-style dining, and tipping the staff for service. Located in the Columbia Crossing Plaza, tucked in where the Bam! Bookstore (formerly Borders), JoAnne's and the furniture stores can be found.
(4)Joel L.
Dinner for four last Wed. night. Our second visit here,we love the food. But, the business will suffer if they can't do a better job in the kitchen. Food takes too long to come out and this was on a weeknight. Bad slow service will kill your business in Columbia,there is too much competition. What a shame.
(4)Kalvin K.
Have been to this location (5 stars) over 10 times and the other columbia location (4 stars) over 5 times, this year. Not sure where other poor reviews are coming from... I think most of the dishes at this location are better. E.g. the lamb at the other one is well done, it's medium rare at this one. Service isn't great at either but fine. At the very least they are comparable except this one has nicer decor. Both are very good-- the only ethnic food in Columbia that's excellent, coming from the Bay Area. I recommend: Vegetarian platter (everything on it is great esp. eggplant and pumpkin) Lamb kofta Baklava shake
(5)Erin P.
We have been fans of the original Maiwand Kebab (Harper's Choice) for many years and always had fantastic experiences there. We had one very good experience at the MK in Columbia Crossing soon after the new location opened. Last night we tried to eat at the MK in Columbia Crossing again and it was not a good experience. This was the first time I'd seen MK have actual waitress service - usually we order at the counter and they bring out the food, and the beverages are self-service. Not last night - it was full-service. The restaurant was busy and we waited to be seated (about 10 min). We were finally seated, and the waitress took our drink and appetizer order, which came out pretty promptly. But then 50 minutes went by without our food coming out. We inquired after it several times but never got any info. Additionally, empty tables sat with dirty dishes on them for long periods of time. Finally we left and just paid for our drinks and hummus, and the waitress asked us to pay for the food we didn't even get. Several other families left because they didn't receive their food either. Perhaps it was an off night, and as I said we are (were?) big fans, so we will probably try again, but we may just stick to the Harper's Choice location. Very disappointed.
(2)Marcia R.
I am a vegetarian, so I have never tried the meat dishes, but whenever I bring a friend here, they love it. It also has the best rice pudding I have ever had in my life!!!
(4)Chrissy T.
I dropped by here a couple days ago as I wanted something super yummy for lunch and this was on my way home. I had actually called in this order and the person on the phone said that it would be a 15-20 min. I arrived and my food was ready as stated previously. Overall, it was good service, however, I still think that the Harper's Choice location is better in terms of taste of food. I will say that this location is more spacious.
(5)John R.
Excellent food! Great service personal...overall a wonderful experience. I had the chicken and beef lunch combo and it was superb. Highly recommend. Be wary if you cannot tolerate a little spice.
(5)J J.
This location is SO MUCH BETTER than the one in Hapers Choice Village Center. Avoid that location if you can. They serve their food on Styrofoam plates and plastic utensils, it's tiny, cramped, and they charge you extra for naan. This location however, is new, clean, they bring the food out to you, don't charge you extra for sauces or naan, are friendly, and overall a much better choice to eat. The kabobs are spot on: well flavored, juicy, cooked just right and absolutely delicious. The rice is tasty, the naan is freshly baked, and the green sauce is fantastic. I am never hungry after my meal! LOVE IT.
(4)Amy A.
NEVER COME HERE FOR LUNCH. They take forever. When they say the wait will be 20 minutes they really mean an hour. Blew through my lunch break and still no food. Worst location. I will never come here again.
(1)Tony P.
The mashawa soup is a delicious hardy lamb stew. A perfect respite from the cold weather and one of my regular favorites. The kabobs are a good solid selection as are the daily specials. The appetizers like the aushak and eggplant are excellent. The wait is a little long since they prepare the food to order so you might want to call in the order ahead of time if you're in a hurry for lunch. It's well worth the wait.
(4)Debbie G.
I ordered the Chapli Burger. One of the best burgers I've ever had. The mixture of spices they put in it takes the burger to a whole different level of taste. I love it.
(4)Farha K.
I have to say, the Afghani food scene in the DMV is pretty impressive! Maiwand was a pleasant surprise hidden away in a suburban strip of stores and parking lots. And if you weren't looking for it, you may even pass right by it..but you won't make that mistake the second time around. Once you enter Maiwand you know in you're in for a treat.. the gorgeous waterfall at the entrance sets the tone for a very pleasant experience for you and your party. The staff is friendly and very hospitable..true to afghan culture and tradition of hospitality.. and will answer any questions you may have about the food. Which brings me to the best part.. you can taste the quality of the food served to you. From the fresh baked tandoori naan to the fantastic caliber of meat they grill in house. We ordered the lamb chops (my mom's default favorite), and the chicken and lamb kabob combo, all of which was cooked to perfection. The lamb chops seemed to be marinated in a wet marinade of ginger and mint with ever so light seasonings that complimented the fattiness of the chops really well and had a nice char on the outside. The chicken kabobs were your typical chicken tikka with a yogurt marinade and seasonings accompanied with a ground lamb khoobideh-ish kabob with chopped mint and onions and seasonings. Between the choice of plain white rice and the seasoned rice with raisins we opted for the latter which were incredible! Cooked with raisins and honey pickled carrots the rice was anything but just a side.. and the cucumber/tomato salad served on the side goes really well with the warm rice and kabobs. They change up the salad frequently so you're always pleasantly surprised to see what you get served on each visit. The Firni (rice pudding) is made in house and is rich, creamy and delicious. Do not confuse this for kheer (the Indian/Pakistani version of rice pudding), this is thicker and creamier than it's neighbor's version, more along the lines of the Persian Sheer Bereenj. And.. the finale.. the Bakhlava! It's brought in from Shatila's (Dearborn, MI) !! You can't go wrong with Shatila's.. ofcourse if I could make a suggestion I'd tell them to start ordering their bakhlava from Jaafer sweets in Chicago ;-) (represent!) but I'll settle for a little midwestern loving from Dearborn too.
(5)Becky H.
The chicken and beef kabob is delicious. We can't get enough of the samosas and the chutney sauce, but what stands out the most here is the attentive service. I can't even remember the last time I had such great service! The waiters check on you regularly, and the manager will make sure your food is as expected. This place seems like they're really making service a priority!
(4)Asa B.
This location has opened like 4 months ago, very clean and fancy compare to other Maiwands'I have ever been, the menu seems to be bigger and pricier! They bring you a tasty Salad while you waiting for the food My Kofte Kabob was ready really fast! Well the meat portion was smaller and bigger portion of rice no taste in it, and I had to pick and separate raisin and lil carrots from my rice which was taking me longer time to do it I really hate to have sweet things in my rice! Overall I give the location and decoration 5 star and give 2 star to their food and 3 star to customer service!
(3)Rhonda S.
I am a fan of Maiwond Kabob. I am really excited about this location opening because the one closer to Columbia mall is farther from me, very tiny and always busy. This new location is large and beautiful! The ambience and decor is just outstanding, a huge step up from their other location. You also will pay a bit more because of that decor. Normally we get 2 kabob platters with drinks that total about $23. At the new location this cost us $32. It's a sit down style restaurant with a server. I don't know the name of the server we had on Sunday night, but he was extremely nice, personable and bent over backwards to help. His genuine effort was appreciated. Since I'm not use to Maiwond Kabob having a server, I didn't know to bring extra cash so I couldn't tip him. I felt horrible, because he is the type of server that deserves a nice tip! So when you go in, don't forget about that. All in all, I will be back to this location. I thought the food was great, although the naan here is different. It lacks flavor in comparison to the naan at their other location, but I'm sure they are working on it. Excellent place!
(4)Blue C.
As Good As It Gets!! Awesome Food and Service
(5)Johanna B.
Oh, pumpkin appetizer. You complete me. The special is always tasty and portions are healthy. I will say the naan is a little crispy or burnt, but that rarely puts me off.
(4)Roo S.
Pretty good food. Ambience is nice. Only draw back is that their service is slow/bad (I am not referring to the time it takes for the food to come out...but the server did not check up on us or make sure everything came out). Also, the time I dined in, there was only 1 server to take care of the entire restaurant, which was kind of unprofessional and annoying because we could not get our server's attention. Other then that, food is fresh and great. It is great to take out, just keep in mind it takes around 30 mins for food to get ready. Also, some of the other locations can be cheaper.
(4)Robert G.
Not what I was expecting flavor wise. The food was bland. The service was just Ok. Probably won't be back
(2)Arun M.
The quality has gone down a notch. The regular salad tht used to come with entree has been replaced with something Inferior. Aldo the breads are not fresh out of the oven anymore.
(2)Bee B.
Great service. Great food. Great value! I'll be back!!!
(5)J J.
Chicken Kabob, chickpeas instead of rice, naan, hummus, salad... So great! The seasoning on the chicken is a little different that what I'm used to, but still delicious!!!! One of my go to restaurants!
(4)Keith A.
Tasty food, reasonable prices, great service, and elegant looking, clean dining experience. What more can you ask for. I've been there twice in two weeks and will be heading back for more.
(5)Zabi S.
This is the place to go!!!! Great service and the wait is not bad at all. The food is absolutely amazing and is really worth the price. The restaurant looks really high end and is very appealing. Bottom-line: this is a great place to go for some great Afghan cuisine and i highly recommend that you grab a group of frowns and come down to this MK!!!!
(5)Dee N.
The decor of this restaurant is nice. I have usually ordered take-out using their online menu, but recently dined in with a friend and noticed they had added a couple of new interesting items to the menu. I had a Chapli burger while dining in, and it was delicious. Their menu should be updated on their website.
(4)Justin L.
Consistently good. I love to get the chicken kabob because the chicken is flavorful, the bread is good, the rice is wonderful and the salad is good.
(3)Nancy C.
Okay - gave this another shot but tried the Vegetable Platter. Didn't want anything heavy to eat since it's so hot. Again, tons of food and nothing was overcooked. I'd be pissed if the vegetables were overcooked. It was really yummo-s, I really liked the sweet potato and eggplant. We did purchase the hummus to go with the naan, it was tasty and it kinda had a kick to it. It's alot too and very homemade.. I'll be brave and try the lamb chops next, I just hope it won't be dry as my previous lamb kabob.
(4)Craig S.
As a fan of Maiwand kabob ..this new location did not upset!I I came on a saturday evening was not to busy.I was seated right away and the young gentleman that took our order was really attentive and nice!I got the Chicken Chargah which was two pieces of a leg and thigh and breast it was lightly marinated than lightly friend I am guessing. the wife got the Lamb chops. Both were fresh not over cooked and juicy. I loved it and can't wait to go back!
(5)Tim K.
Mixed reactions here. Food was tasty. Their naan bread was soft. Service was slow. I didn't think it was that busy. Had to wait a while for server to strove at our table. Took longer than 15 min. to get our waters. Takes another 20 min for server to arrive with the wrong food order. Took another 10 min. for the food to arrive but its not hot. Naan bread was soft. Chicken tikka was tender. Lamb meat was okay by my standards. Overall, an okay experience. I may revisit in 6 months for them to improve their service and process. I usually go to the maiwand in linthicum and regularly eat there. I am a litlle disappointed at this one in Columbia. Inside decor is nice.
(2)Jan E.
I was excited for this location to open because it is closer to my house than the one in Harpers Choice. I ordered takeout from the menu I had from the other location (which, by the way, is recent and even lists this location on the back of the menu) so I was shocked to find out that the entree prices at this location are about 25% higher than those at the Harpers Choice location. I felt like this was misleading. The guy said it was because this is a sitdown restaurant, but needless to say, this has no importance to me since I'm picking it up. Though the server was setting my order on the counter when I arrived, it took them more than five minutes to give it to me, even though the server who set it there walked by two more times and did not appear to have anything to do. The food: Overall, the food was tasty. We had the chicken tikka kabob (a little salty)and the chicken and lamb kabob, as well as the fried eggplant and samosa appetizers. The meat was fairly tender and appetizers were good. Rather than an individually cooked piece of bread like I've had at the other location, we were given a bag of 4"x4" bread squares. First, the bread did not taste as fresh and second, it was spongier and thicker than I've had at the other location. I did not like it. My boyfriend described it as "barley pizza dough" though he rather liked it. We were mostly satisfied with our meal, but it was overshadowed by the fact that we paid $42 for a meal we expected to cost $34. Part of what has made the Maiwand kabob at Harpers Choice an award winner is its good value. The 25% price hike erases some of that value. I would say this: we felt tricked by the higher prices, which lowered our satisfaction with the meal. If you want to have a sit down meal, then Columbia Crossing would be the preferred location. If you want to get tasty takeout at a good price, definitely go to the Harpers Choice location (but order ahead, because if you wait for it it takes a loooong time).
(2)tahanny c.
We really like it. Its very clean, great service, nice place...and the food is really good of course. The food is also halal which is great. Not sure what people expect at this price point.
(5)Ryan L.
Unlike other reviewers on here, I had never been to Maiwand's other locations so I have nothing to judge this location on. That being said, it was alright. Generous portions with higher prices although the food took a very long time to come out and the restaurant was not full. Generous servings of naan, even though it tasted a bit too much like pizza crust. Would like to see dolma added to the menu. Alcohol would be nice, too, since it is a sit-down restaurant. It is all halal though, so maybe that's wishful thinking.
(3)Lauren W.
Beautiful new location and a great menu. Best baba ghanoush I've ever had.
(4)Jeremy J.
I'm a huge fan of Maiwand Kabob and have been to the original location and the one at Arundel Mills many times. However, the food at this one is simply inferior. We've been a few times, including yesterday, where our food was cold, and the bread was not hot and fresh like it should be. The decor is very nice, but honestly the food just isn't as good as at the other locations. It's significantly more expensive too.
(2)Reed D.
As pointed out by other reviewers the prices here are quite a bit higher than at Harper's Choice ("HC"). For a party of four including a $5 tip the bill for Chicken Kabob and drinks was about $70 so we had some sticker shock. Also the bread and rice were not as good as at HC, but the chicken and salad were actually a little better. The rice portion was a little larger, and we received free fountain drink refills. Also on the positive side, the decor is really impressive, and there are plenty of tables. We received a lot of attention from the wait staff. We went on Friday night (today) at 7:30, and there was only one other diner in the restaurant which is not a good sign. There were a few folks that came in for carry out. For carryout, definitely go to HC if you it is not too far out of your way to save money. For a relaxed but pricey dining experience, this is a good choice.
(4)Milton F.
I have eaten several times at both Columbia locations of Maiwand Kabob. This new restaurant in their local chain of Afghan eateries, is located at the Columbia Crossing strip mall. It is an up-scale version of their place in Harpers Choice. It is much larger, is nicely decorated, and has table service. They offer all of the kabobs and platters they have at Harpers Choice, at slightly higher prices. In addition they have daily specials, more appetizer choices, and fancier dinner options. They have a BYOB policy. The service has always been polite, prompt, and attentive. The portions are generous. Everything is fresh, and delicious. Their tandoori-style bread is excellent, and their basmati rice is always fluffy and nicely seasoned. Try their lamb curry when available. Their version of vegetarian "Samosas" is outstanding. They are wrapped in filo dough, instead of the heavier dough in the traditional Indian version. The filling is beautifully seasoned with cardamom. Their meat or vegetarian dumplings are outstanding. I felt that the the pumpkin with yogurt was overcooked, mushy and oversweetened (if you like this, try the version at "Helmand" in downtown Baltimore). These folks really know how to cook. Come with a group of friends and share appetizers and platters.
(4)