Great afghani and Chinese food. Their specialty is sesame chicken but the rest of the Chinese menu is good as well. On the afghan side I always go with a mixed family platter which is good for 2-3 people as it comes with a decent serving of meat and rice. Definitely recommended if you are looking for a halal Chinese place in the area.
(5)
J S.
This is going to be my go to spot for Kabuli pulau. It is same quality/quantity and half the price of Manhattan. Also the pumpkin bulanee has squishy, oozing pumpkin that is so good that a law needs to be passed that pumpkin bulanee needs to have a spot next to the pumpkin pie at every American thanksgiving;). Also the chicken dumplings were good too.
(5)
Ahmad A.
Very impressed by the customer service at this place. I would recommend this place to anybody. Food is good and fresh. The restaurant is extremely clean.
(5)
Victoria V.
I ordered online, and delivery was super fast. My deliver man is always friendly. I ordered General Tso's chicken and it was great. The outside was nice and crispy (not mushy like other takeout restaurants) and I love their lo mien. Overall, I would say it's a 4.5/5.
(4)
Latif K.
The best food + deal in this area. I've been ordering delivery from them for about 3-4 weeks now about 2-3 times a week, both the chinese and afghan dishes has been consistently good and fresh. Their chinese food is of much higher quality - no mystery meat, rice and noodles are fresh and tasty and use of seasoning is well executed. Much better then you will get from the chinese chinese places where you know that "beef" is not beef. The Afghan menu is pretty good and authentic as well, with everything cooked fresh to order. Great feature of this place is the prices are super easy.. easy enough that you can eat from here a few times a week and not feel guilty about it. In my experience you can feed 3 people really nicely for around $20 from this place. Amazing how a simple concept of fresh food, freshly cooked at reasonable prices escapes so many other restaurants in this area.
(5)
Andrea K.
I went there tonight for dinner. The food was great. We had Afghan food and Chinese food. Both were delicious. The waitress was very friendly and polite. The restaurant has a nice seating and is clean. The portions are big and the prices are fair.
(5)
Kohinoor M.
This is my family's go-to dinner spot mostly just for their lamb chops! I like my lamb chops a bit charred, so I usually tell the waiter/ess to have mine well done, otherwise it's a bit too moist and that distinct 'lamb meat' smell doesn't go away (I don't like the smell..). The chicken karahi is also quite good. Another one of our go to dishes to compliment the drier (no curry, duh lol) lamb chop dish. Last night we tried the butter chicken and it easily beat the chicken karahi!!! The curry is amazingly flavorful and the chicken tender.. Most definitely recommend the butter chicken. And the lamb chops of course needless to say. :) The only reason this place gets a star taken away is the fact that they don't serve tap water. If you just want water to go along your food, they will automatically bring you a bottled water. Not a big deal.. Couple of extra bucks, but c'mon.. It shouldn't always be about making profit. A restaurant should have some sort of standard to keep customers coming back. Next thing you know, we'll be charged for sitting on a chair. :/
(4)
Mo L.
Servers are friendly, polite. I had ordered food for a party of 20 and the portions were big and food was good. They don't over cook the vegis ( Chinese ) like most other places. Delivery guy was nice to carry food all the way upto the my floor. The facility looked clean. Somewhere where they can improve: let MSG be optional!
(4)
Diana B.
i love their bolani and kebabs and curries. their kebabs are probably the standout - the best kebabs i've ever had from any restaurant. they were really flavorful and delicious. their brown basmati rice that comes with all the entrees is the bomb. ordered a biryani from them recently and wasn't in love - but all the other food i've tried there is amazing!
(4)
Jean C.
5 stars for the bolani kadu (pumpkin turnovers), which are relatively sweet and wonderfully spiced, served with a yogurt sauce. But the vegetable biryani was bland, overcooked and full of what appeared to be canned vegetable medley. Our side of dal was alright, but not as tasty as the dal I've had in other Afghan restaurants. Overall, the food seems hit-or-miss, but the prices are not so high that I won't go back to give it another shot. Especially for the turnovers.
(3)
Jon T.
I'm frankly quite surprised that I'm the first to review this restaurant, which is quite possibly the best and most authentic Afghan restaurant in New York City (don't just trust me...check out the reviews in Village Voice and New York Magazine). And I found authentic Afghan food to be quite a surprise as well. One of the dishes, a lamb kebab served in a lemon egg sauce covered with a strong dill flavor, was closer to Greek food than neighboring Pakistan's. The service was very pleasant, although be prepared to wait a while for your food. Afghan food that is this good, and reasonably priced, is well worth the wait.
(5)
Sam B.
solid afghan food, though im not sure what nationality the owners are. place is usually empty when i go, but I think I prefer that with the neighborhood this restaurant is in. all their dishes come with brown rice and i love it! the bread they serve is nice and crusty and they have condiments ont he table thta go with it well, the lamb and chicken dishes are also good but as another reviewer mentioned there is not enough meat for the rice. they give small portions and it annoys me when im really hungry. i also tried some appetizer that had pumpkin baked inside it and it was pretty good
(4)
BAS B.
Just had a great Afghani dinner at Bahar on Coney Island Ave. The food was really really delicious in every way. The service was wonderful- our waiter very sweet. The atmosphere was nice- nothing fancy, but also not a hole in the wall. The pumpkin turnovers were incredible- like nothing I have ever had. We will be going back for sure!
(5)
Martha J.
I just ordered from Bahar for the first time - they kindly delivered even though I was slightly outside their delivery range, and the food came fresh and warm. Had the pumpkin dumplings, chicken and lentil soup, and the lamb kebabs (not all by myself though!). The pumpkin dumplings are quite sweet, but pair well with both the yogurt and the green sauce, and the soup and kebabs were just amazing. The rice that came with the kebabs may prove to be an addiction.
(5)
Cat W.
Do not order from here. The people running this restaurant are rude and unprofessional. They just hung up on me. I ordered delivery from them on Thursday, and they messed up my order-I ordered lamb tikka, and they gave me chicken tikka instead (which was very hard and inedible). Not to mention they were half an hour late in making the delivery. I called and they said they would send me the correct order but on Friday, not the same day because the delivery guy went home for the day. Friday and Saturday, they could not make the delivery because they had no delivery guy available. So today (Sunday), I called and asked them to deliver the correct order, and they said they would. The delivery guy came and only gave me lamb tikka with no rice or salad. They expected me to eat the rice and salad that was 3 days old. Not to mention the liquid from the lamb was leaking all inside/outside the delivery bag. I called to complain and they refused to give me any rice/salad with my order, even though they were 3 days late in making the correction. They also just brushed off the leaky bag by saying "oh the delivery is being made on a bike, so yeah it happens." Then when I asked when the guy would come back with a clean order, he straight up said "we cannot send him back just for you" and when I told them it was their fault in the first place, he said "yeah idk I'll call you when he comes back" and just hung up on me. What?! Absolutely unacceptable. Update: They redelivered and gave me rice and salad with my order, along with dessert (I guess to make up for what happened). Unfortunately, they got the order wrong again-they gave me two pieces of lamb tikka, and the rest was chicken tikka. I never ordered chicken tikka. Also, the meat was very chewy and hard. I give up.
(1)
Jane S.
Have only had one dish so far, but I enjoyed the food here. Side note, I also felt comfortable there as a woman dining solo (as opposed to in some of the other South Asian restaurants on Coney Island Ave, which seem to be run by and and for men). Word to the wise, though - they don't have much of a selection of Afghan dishes. The Google-generated menu that comes up via web search is incorrect.
(5)
Vicky M.
The food was so so. I decided to order in and try this place based on the reviews. I am disappointed. The portions are extremely small. The chicken tikka was very bland. Even the cucumber sauce lacked flavor. Next time I will get up and just go pick up some gyro king. Their food is much better, cheaper and the portions are huge.
(2)
Roshni R.
Me and my friend were really hungry and we ordered from here to pick up. We got the chicken platter and it was 5 pieces of small chicken with a whole lot of rice. The portions are very small! The food was okay.
(3)
Carla G.
Just moved to Brooklyn last night. After moving me in family wanted take out delivered. We landed on this spot and we totally enjoyed the food! Fresh, healthy and delicious. The prices we amazing for the amount of food they give you. My Lamb Tikka was $7.99 no delivery fee. I give it four stars only because they don't take card (this jersey girl has to get used to that) and because it took an hour to have our food delivered. Other than that a very pleasant experience for this health conscious family on a budget.
(4)
Sasha C.
i don't understand why indian restaurants all take FOREVER to bring food out. service was slow. the pics on the outside of the store was what brought us in here although we noticed the "grade pending" sign on the window. first, we ordered the mixed grill.. and it was totally deceptive based on the pics outside. we only got a few chunks of each meat rather than ahuge platter as advertised. next, the chicken tikka masala was not what i was used to. it was extremely greasy. it wasn't bad it was just not the creamy tomato base that i am used to/ was looking for. the samosa, was meaty and decent though. we just wished we weren't conned into going in to try the food. please update your mixed grill picture being advertised outside or give us more meat!
(3)
Neil B.
Tonight I was the guest of a Turkish friend for some Chinese takeout from Bahar Marsala. A review is difficult to write because it is difficult not to hold Halal and Kosher Chinese restaurants to the same taste standards as traditional Chinese food. Halal (and Kosher) meats must have all the blood drained out so they tend to be drier. Interestingly the chicken in our chicken with broccoli was quite moist. The vegetables were overdone (but that often happens with takeout) and the lo mein was pretty good. The sauce on the chicken was a bit different than in traditional Chinese-American restaurants. It was a bit bland and watery. Still the food was fresh and enjoyable. And I am pleased to say, not at all overloaded with oil. During Ramadan the restaurant runs its weekend all you can eat buffet every night for the If-tar (the meal after fasting all day). It is a combination of Chinese and Afghani cuisine. Individual dishes are also offered at special prices. The restaurant is clean and open seven days a week. Service is friendly and I have heard the Afghani dishes are well made and as confirmed by their menu, very reasonably priced.
(3)
Stella G.
I tried this place a few months ago. My friend loves it hands down but I feel I've had better. It was a bit spicy from what I remember even though what I ordered wasn't supposed to be...
(2)
Sam K.
The best one of its kind around this area. Not very busy but taste is good. Must try one time atleast. I love their kofta kabab.
(5)
Sylvia B.
I like their afgani selection and chinese has a little twist to it, its pretty good. However, after going there a few times: they won't give water complimentry, I asked for a glass cup I got plastic instead and then I got a dirty cup which she claimed was just washed. Asked for a cup of ice once, it came when we were paying. They take way too long with appetizers. They basically need to learn how to wait on ppl. If they do, maybe place would be half decent.
(2)
Lindsey J.
Bahar is my stand by take out food in the neighborhood. Being a vegetarian I have been consistently impressed with everything on the menu, although my favorite by far is the lobya challow (kidney beans and onions). Their yogurt and other sauces and chutneys are awesome. They have also recently given the interior a nice face lift. A better lay out, a fresh paint job, and no more blaring TV would make me even consider dining in. If I ever move out of this neighborhood I will for sure miss this great afghani food.
(4)
Bennie S.
I have been going to Bahar for quite a while now. The food is very flavorful and filling. They give what seems to be smaller portions but it's decently priced. For appetizers, the banjan burani (eggplant), mantu (steamed meat dumplings in a yogurt sauce) and beef and veg samosas are great. They also give you bread and a yogurt sauce early on, which I just can't get enough of (probably b/c it tastes like yogurt and mayo with herbs). One of their chais, which has milk and cardamom, was very good. I haven't tried any of their vegetarian dishes, but the curry entrees were good - lamb, chicken and shrimp. Also, the lamb and eggplant entree was good. There were other great dishes, which I cant recall right now. There never seems to be a crowd, and I'm not sure why. While there is only one waiter, we generally get our meal quickly.
(3)
Daniel R.
I used to LOVE this place, but recently they have changed their menu to remove ALL of the vegetarian and vegetable dishes entirely and the quality of the rest of their food has suffered in this transition. I'm not sure if they are under new ownership or have a new chef, but I loved so many of the vegetables and we can no longer get them. They did not even give us a new menu with our last order so I have no idea what they do have anymore, but without those vegetables, I'll make my own banjan burani next time.
(2)
Tamara M.
How lucky are my friends who live right down the street from Bahar! They order take out from here, but this was the first time they had dined in. We ordered three entrees and a couple of appetizers to share. The kebabs were excellent: tender, flavorful meat that made us crave more immediately. The veggie entree came with a sample of eggplant, lentils, cauliflower and a couple of other items, all very good as well. Possibly my favorite were the pumpkin fritters. I love that sweet goodness paired with yogurt. Prices were very reasonable. The four of us were well filled for about $70, including tip.
(5)
Hanna D.
This food is so damn good. Who knew Afghani's could cook so well? The Afghani bread comes with a few different interesting sauce/dip things that smell and taste very good. My dad, cousin and I had three baskets (rofl, it was that good!!). I think they put a little bit of jasmine or something in their green tea and it was really amazing. Really great tea. Then the food came. Holy schnapps. It smelled wonderful. The rice has this wonderful florally spice (saffron I think?) in it, and the meat is freaking amazing. I had it with this eggplant sauce stuff. Its so well seasoned. They give you a lot of food, so come in hungry. If you don't know what the stuff means in the menu, they give you this book with pictures of everything with is great. I also love how many Afghan people are there, makes you feel like your not in New York anymore. Yummy place.
(5)
MJ H.
Not so many diverse restaurants in my neighborhood, so Bahar is truly a great place for me to go when I want something different. The food is absolutely delicious and not too expensive. Kebabs are fire grilled and the salmon is done really well. Most importantly the portions are really good for the money...Try the Bolani Kadoo (pumpkin turnovers) and place it in their yogurt sauce...simply amazing...
(4)
Sonja M.
Terrible food and service. Ordered delivery through Grubhub and the food arrived a 1/2 hr past the estimated delivery time (1 1/2 hrs total). The food arrived cold and was a terrible value for our money. We ordered vegetable samosas, which tasted like prepackaged microwaved food, chicken biryani (basically unseasoned glorified chicken fried rice), the combination shishkebab meal - which was 99% rice with 6 paltry, unappetizing pieces of meat, and the pumpkin fritters (mediocre at best) at a total of about $40. Total waste of our money, would never order from them again.
(1)
Sharon K.
This place gets 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed my main course, but not the starters. I tried the fesenjon for the starter - I didnt like that they used the thigh meat of the chicken and also the chicken itself didnt seem seasoned. I thought the pomegranate sauce was too sweet for my liking. The pumpkin turnovers were tasty, but I did not think they would be deep fried - I had imagined a baked pastry. the batter was kind of like a samosa batter, and there was some sweet pumpkin puree inside. The puree was pretty tasty. I thought the yogurt dipping sauce served alongside was a nice accompaniment. The lamb kebobs were awesome and I really liked the rice served alongside. I was also eyeing the kabli kebob because the rice was served with raisins and carrots on top. yum! I would definitely return, but maybe just to take out. There wasnt much going on in terms of ambience. Service was friendly and prompt.
(3)
Jared C.
A tandoor oven might dominate the restaurant when you walk in if it was not for all the purple neon that lines the windows and beautiful old carpets that decorate the walls. I had some time to look around as I had arrived early and was waiting for a friend. The traditional Afghan green tea ($1.50) and pita bread kept me busy while I enjoyed the room and all the activity of the restaurant. Despite being one of two patrons, the dining room was pervaded with sounds of cooking from the kitchen and the male workers were walking in and out constantly. I was offered a picture menu while I waited, but refused it in shyness, trying to act as if I knew everything on the menu already. I don't know that photos would have helped in the end, but it would have been fun to see anyway. What we did decide on was from very complete (and mouth-watering) descriptions that came under each selection. The sabzymast ($5.95) is an appetizer of spinach, cooked with onions, garlic, and probably many other spices and herbs, all mixed with a yogurt sauce. We were not sure how to go at it and ordered a side dish of white rice. Another appetizer called fesenjon ($5.95) was probably our favorite dish of the day. Tempted by the pomegranate sauce and walnut, the chicken was also sweet and sour, and the dish had a sharp but delicious taste. We finished off this plate first and were both eyeing the last bites but trying not to be rude. Before coming, I was most anxious to try the items listed in the "traditional Afghan pastas" section of the menu, thinking I had never had anything like them. While that remains true, we both felt like the dish we ordered called ashi gooshti ($9.95) was somewhat of a letdown. The homemade noodles were so well-cooked that they had little taste and almost melted in your mouth, while the ground beef, chickpeas, and yogurt sauce on top lacked the kick of the other dishes we had already consumed.
(4)
jay b.
i just visited this coney island avenue establishment after recently reading about it on the ditmas park blog. the writer of that particular post had recommended the bolani kadu (pumpkin turnovers). i went in, got a menu, and saw that they actually had 3 different kinds of bolani. so besides the recommended kadu (spiced pumpkin), there was also potato bolani, and a scallion bolani as well. so, wanting to try them all, i ordered the "mix bolani" - you get 3 of each. i'm glad i went that route and didn't just order the suggested pumpkin bolani - (it was my least favorite of the 3). but this is TOTALLY a matter of taste - (it's not because it sucked or anything). in fact all 3 kinds were crispy, fresh and made-to-order and came with a refreshing yogurt sauce for dipping - i just wanted something savory (and the pumpkin is very sweet). but it was still very good, and if you like that sort of thing, the pumpkin will be your favorite. MY favorite was the scallion - absolutely delicious! the potato ones were good too - savory, but i much preferred the scallion (again, this is all a matter of taste). the restaurant was busy with delivery orders and there was a large afghani family eating at one of several occupied tables in the pleasant dining room (always a good sign in an afghan / "ethnic" restaurant). it's the real deal, complete with the prerequisite cheesy decor, (chandelier, mirrors, huge flat screen t.v., etc.) the ladies working behind the register were super friendly, and seemed genuinely happy and were very nice. the food was prepared / i was on my way quickly. i will be going back - can't wait to try some more of their dishes - i'm going to get another order of the (scallion!!!) bolani, and try some curry next time. i'll let you know how it goes.
(4)
Alevtina V.
I was very excited to visit my first Afghani restaurant. However, I was mildly disappointed when I walked through the doors of Bahar. My boyfriend and I visited during an off-peak hour. That is, we were the only ones there. There was only one waiter on duty... and he took his sweet time with everything, from handing us the menus to taking our orders to bringing us our check. (He was much too mesmerized by the Bollywood movie playing on the large TV in the dining area.) The menu is an incredibly large tome. (It begins with a history of Afghanistan and the surrounding region. Only then then does it go on to list the multitude of dishes.) Seeing that we are not Afghani, the waiter also handed us a second book that contained photos of every item on the menu. We didn't touch this book and, instead, opted to trust the English descriptions found under the names of the dishes. For an appetizer, I tried the bolani kadu (pumpkin turnovers). They were unbelievably good (and plentiful -- I received a whole plate of them that I ended up sharing with my boyfriend). However, they were too sweet for a starter. I would have pegged it as more of a dessert item. Consequently, I ended up saving most of the turnovers for the end of my meal. Based solely on the description ("exotic rice dish cooked w/ orange peels, saffron, almond & pistachios, served w/ charcoal grilled chunks of lamb kebab"), I tried narieng palow for my entree. Well, imagine my surprise when my tongue tasted the overwhelming sweetness of the rice! (At least I'd braced myself before I placed the rice on my fork, noticing that the rice looked glazed.) I tried the lamb with trepidation but found it to be really good. I ended up polishing off the meat and leaving an entire plate of rice intact. Overall, I was turned off by the amount of sugar that went into making my meal. (I can't even put a teaspoon of sugar into my coffee without gagging from the sweetness. How am I supposed to tolerate a whole plate full of sugar-glazed rice?) However, I would be willing to give this place another chance. Like I said, the lamb kebab (the only thing I ordered that was not coated in a layer of sweet syrup) was really good. Additionally, the prices are incredibly reasonable for the amount of food that is spooned onto your plate. Next time I come in, maybe I'll order a salad and try fesonjon chalow (sweet & sour tender pieces of boneless chicken cooked w/ walnuts & pomegranate juice, served w/ white basmati rice), saving all of the sugar for dessert (perhaps opting for gooshi feel, which is fried dough dribbled w/ honey & pistachios). I'll also try to make sure that I come in on a night that promises a large crowd and more attentive waiters.
(3)
Jeff S.
Found this place while wandering around the area. Intrigued by the specials (good prices), I went in. A warning: the specials are on the signs outside, but they're not listed on the menu. (And I can see why...too many things looked interesting...but I was on a budget) My first experience with Afghan food, so I can't say it's better or worse than any other Afghan place...but it was very good. (Speaking from ignorance: Afghan cooking seems to be "Middle East meets India"...as I'm a fan of both, that's a win) I'd say I have to come back...but as I was leaving, I asked what their delivery radius was, and grabbed a menu...
Tamoor H.
Great afghani and Chinese food. Their specialty is sesame chicken but the rest of the Chinese menu is good as well. On the afghan side I always go with a mixed family platter which is good for 2-3 people as it comes with a decent serving of meat and rice. Definitely recommended if you are looking for a halal Chinese place in the area.
(5)J S.
This is going to be my go to spot for Kabuli pulau. It is same quality/quantity and half the price of Manhattan. Also the pumpkin bulanee has squishy, oozing pumpkin that is so good that a law needs to be passed that pumpkin bulanee needs to have a spot next to the pumpkin pie at every American thanksgiving;). Also the chicken dumplings were good too.
(5)Ahmad A.
Very impressed by the customer service at this place. I would recommend this place to anybody. Food is good and fresh. The restaurant is extremely clean.
(5)Victoria V.
I ordered online, and delivery was super fast. My deliver man is always friendly. I ordered General Tso's chicken and it was great. The outside was nice and crispy (not mushy like other takeout restaurants) and I love their lo mien. Overall, I would say it's a 4.5/5.
(4)Latif K.
The best food + deal in this area. I've been ordering delivery from them for about 3-4 weeks now about 2-3 times a week, both the chinese and afghan dishes has been consistently good and fresh. Their chinese food is of much higher quality - no mystery meat, rice and noodles are fresh and tasty and use of seasoning is well executed. Much better then you will get from the chinese chinese places where you know that "beef" is not beef. The Afghan menu is pretty good and authentic as well, with everything cooked fresh to order. Great feature of this place is the prices are super easy.. easy enough that you can eat from here a few times a week and not feel guilty about it. In my experience you can feed 3 people really nicely for around $20 from this place. Amazing how a simple concept of fresh food, freshly cooked at reasonable prices escapes so many other restaurants in this area.
(5)Andrea K.
I went there tonight for dinner. The food was great. We had Afghan food and Chinese food. Both were delicious. The waitress was very friendly and polite. The restaurant has a nice seating and is clean. The portions are big and the prices are fair.
(5)Kohinoor M.
This is my family's go-to dinner spot mostly just for their lamb chops! I like my lamb chops a bit charred, so I usually tell the waiter/ess to have mine well done, otherwise it's a bit too moist and that distinct 'lamb meat' smell doesn't go away (I don't like the smell..). The chicken karahi is also quite good. Another one of our go to dishes to compliment the drier (no curry, duh lol) lamb chop dish. Last night we tried the butter chicken and it easily beat the chicken karahi!!! The curry is amazingly flavorful and the chicken tender.. Most definitely recommend the butter chicken. And the lamb chops of course needless to say. :) The only reason this place gets a star taken away is the fact that they don't serve tap water. If you just want water to go along your food, they will automatically bring you a bottled water. Not a big deal.. Couple of extra bucks, but c'mon.. It shouldn't always be about making profit. A restaurant should have some sort of standard to keep customers coming back. Next thing you know, we'll be charged for sitting on a chair. :/
(4)Mo L.
Servers are friendly, polite. I had ordered food for a party of 20 and the portions were big and food was good. They don't over cook the vegis ( Chinese ) like most other places. Delivery guy was nice to carry food all the way upto the my floor. The facility looked clean. Somewhere where they can improve: let MSG be optional!
(4)Diana B.
i love their bolani and kebabs and curries. their kebabs are probably the standout - the best kebabs i've ever had from any restaurant. they were really flavorful and delicious. their brown basmati rice that comes with all the entrees is the bomb. ordered a biryani from them recently and wasn't in love - but all the other food i've tried there is amazing!
(4)Jean C.
5 stars for the bolani kadu (pumpkin turnovers), which are relatively sweet and wonderfully spiced, served with a yogurt sauce. But the vegetable biryani was bland, overcooked and full of what appeared to be canned vegetable medley. Our side of dal was alright, but not as tasty as the dal I've had in other Afghan restaurants. Overall, the food seems hit-or-miss, but the prices are not so high that I won't go back to give it another shot. Especially for the turnovers.
(3)Jon T.
I'm frankly quite surprised that I'm the first to review this restaurant, which is quite possibly the best and most authentic Afghan restaurant in New York City (don't just trust me...check out the reviews in Village Voice and New York Magazine). And I found authentic Afghan food to be quite a surprise as well. One of the dishes, a lamb kebab served in a lemon egg sauce covered with a strong dill flavor, was closer to Greek food than neighboring Pakistan's. The service was very pleasant, although be prepared to wait a while for your food. Afghan food that is this good, and reasonably priced, is well worth the wait.
(5)Sam B.
solid afghan food, though im not sure what nationality the owners are. place is usually empty when i go, but I think I prefer that with the neighborhood this restaurant is in. all their dishes come with brown rice and i love it! the bread they serve is nice and crusty and they have condiments ont he table thta go with it well, the lamb and chicken dishes are also good but as another reviewer mentioned there is not enough meat for the rice. they give small portions and it annoys me when im really hungry. i also tried some appetizer that had pumpkin baked inside it and it was pretty good
(4)BAS B.
Just had a great Afghani dinner at Bahar on Coney Island Ave. The food was really really delicious in every way. The service was wonderful- our waiter very sweet. The atmosphere was nice- nothing fancy, but also not a hole in the wall. The pumpkin turnovers were incredible- like nothing I have ever had. We will be going back for sure!
(5)Martha J.
I just ordered from Bahar for the first time - they kindly delivered even though I was slightly outside their delivery range, and the food came fresh and warm. Had the pumpkin dumplings, chicken and lentil soup, and the lamb kebabs (not all by myself though!). The pumpkin dumplings are quite sweet, but pair well with both the yogurt and the green sauce, and the soup and kebabs were just amazing. The rice that came with the kebabs may prove to be an addiction.
(5)Cat W.
Do not order from here. The people running this restaurant are rude and unprofessional. They just hung up on me. I ordered delivery from them on Thursday, and they messed up my order-I ordered lamb tikka, and they gave me chicken tikka instead (which was very hard and inedible). Not to mention they were half an hour late in making the delivery. I called and they said they would send me the correct order but on Friday, not the same day because the delivery guy went home for the day. Friday and Saturday, they could not make the delivery because they had no delivery guy available. So today (Sunday), I called and asked them to deliver the correct order, and they said they would. The delivery guy came and only gave me lamb tikka with no rice or salad. They expected me to eat the rice and salad that was 3 days old. Not to mention the liquid from the lamb was leaking all inside/outside the delivery bag. I called to complain and they refused to give me any rice/salad with my order, even though they were 3 days late in making the correction. They also just brushed off the leaky bag by saying "oh the delivery is being made on a bike, so yeah it happens." Then when I asked when the guy would come back with a clean order, he straight up said "we cannot send him back just for you" and when I told them it was their fault in the first place, he said "yeah idk I'll call you when he comes back" and just hung up on me. What?! Absolutely unacceptable. Update: They redelivered and gave me rice and salad with my order, along with dessert (I guess to make up for what happened). Unfortunately, they got the order wrong again-they gave me two pieces of lamb tikka, and the rest was chicken tikka. I never ordered chicken tikka. Also, the meat was very chewy and hard. I give up.
(1)Jane S.
Have only had one dish so far, but I enjoyed the food here. Side note, I also felt comfortable there as a woman dining solo (as opposed to in some of the other South Asian restaurants on Coney Island Ave, which seem to be run by and and for men). Word to the wise, though - they don't have much of a selection of Afghan dishes. The Google-generated menu that comes up via web search is incorrect.
(5)Vicky M.
The food was so so. I decided to order in and try this place based on the reviews. I am disappointed. The portions are extremely small. The chicken tikka was very bland. Even the cucumber sauce lacked flavor. Next time I will get up and just go pick up some gyro king. Their food is much better, cheaper and the portions are huge.
(2)Roshni R.
Me and my friend were really hungry and we ordered from here to pick up. We got the chicken platter and it was 5 pieces of small chicken with a whole lot of rice. The portions are very small! The food was okay.
(3)Carla G.
Just moved to Brooklyn last night. After moving me in family wanted take out delivered. We landed on this spot and we totally enjoyed the food! Fresh, healthy and delicious. The prices we amazing for the amount of food they give you. My Lamb Tikka was $7.99 no delivery fee. I give it four stars only because they don't take card (this jersey girl has to get used to that) and because it took an hour to have our food delivered. Other than that a very pleasant experience for this health conscious family on a budget.
(4)Sasha C.
i don't understand why indian restaurants all take FOREVER to bring food out. service was slow. the pics on the outside of the store was what brought us in here although we noticed the "grade pending" sign on the window. first, we ordered the mixed grill.. and it was totally deceptive based on the pics outside. we only got a few chunks of each meat rather than ahuge platter as advertised. next, the chicken tikka masala was not what i was used to. it was extremely greasy. it wasn't bad it was just not the creamy tomato base that i am used to/ was looking for. the samosa, was meaty and decent though. we just wished we weren't conned into going in to try the food. please update your mixed grill picture being advertised outside or give us more meat!
(3)Neil B.
Tonight I was the guest of a Turkish friend for some Chinese takeout from Bahar Marsala. A review is difficult to write because it is difficult not to hold Halal and Kosher Chinese restaurants to the same taste standards as traditional Chinese food. Halal (and Kosher) meats must have all the blood drained out so they tend to be drier. Interestingly the chicken in our chicken with broccoli was quite moist. The vegetables were overdone (but that often happens with takeout) and the lo mein was pretty good. The sauce on the chicken was a bit different than in traditional Chinese-American restaurants. It was a bit bland and watery. Still the food was fresh and enjoyable. And I am pleased to say, not at all overloaded with oil. During Ramadan the restaurant runs its weekend all you can eat buffet every night for the If-tar (the meal after fasting all day). It is a combination of Chinese and Afghani cuisine. Individual dishes are also offered at special prices. The restaurant is clean and open seven days a week. Service is friendly and I have heard the Afghani dishes are well made and as confirmed by their menu, very reasonably priced.
(3)Stella G.
I tried this place a few months ago. My friend loves it hands down but I feel I've had better. It was a bit spicy from what I remember even though what I ordered wasn't supposed to be...
(2)Sam K.
The best one of its kind around this area. Not very busy but taste is good. Must try one time atleast. I love their kofta kabab.
(5)Sylvia B.
I like their afgani selection and chinese has a little twist to it, its pretty good. However, after going there a few times: they won't give water complimentry, I asked for a glass cup I got plastic instead and then I got a dirty cup which she claimed was just washed. Asked for a cup of ice once, it came when we were paying. They take way too long with appetizers. They basically need to learn how to wait on ppl. If they do, maybe place would be half decent.
(2)Lindsey J.
Bahar is my stand by take out food in the neighborhood. Being a vegetarian I have been consistently impressed with everything on the menu, although my favorite by far is the lobya challow (kidney beans and onions). Their yogurt and other sauces and chutneys are awesome. They have also recently given the interior a nice face lift. A better lay out, a fresh paint job, and no more blaring TV would make me even consider dining in. If I ever move out of this neighborhood I will for sure miss this great afghani food.
(4)Bennie S.
I have been going to Bahar for quite a while now. The food is very flavorful and filling. They give what seems to be smaller portions but it's decently priced. For appetizers, the banjan burani (eggplant), mantu (steamed meat dumplings in a yogurt sauce) and beef and veg samosas are great. They also give you bread and a yogurt sauce early on, which I just can't get enough of (probably b/c it tastes like yogurt and mayo with herbs). One of their chais, which has milk and cardamom, was very good. I haven't tried any of their vegetarian dishes, but the curry entrees were good - lamb, chicken and shrimp. Also, the lamb and eggplant entree was good. There were other great dishes, which I cant recall right now. There never seems to be a crowd, and I'm not sure why. While there is only one waiter, we generally get our meal quickly.
(3)Daniel R.
I used to LOVE this place, but recently they have changed their menu to remove ALL of the vegetarian and vegetable dishes entirely and the quality of the rest of their food has suffered in this transition. I'm not sure if they are under new ownership or have a new chef, but I loved so many of the vegetables and we can no longer get them. They did not even give us a new menu with our last order so I have no idea what they do have anymore, but without those vegetables, I'll make my own banjan burani next time.
(2)Tamara M.
How lucky are my friends who live right down the street from Bahar! They order take out from here, but this was the first time they had dined in. We ordered three entrees and a couple of appetizers to share. The kebabs were excellent: tender, flavorful meat that made us crave more immediately. The veggie entree came with a sample of eggplant, lentils, cauliflower and a couple of other items, all very good as well. Possibly my favorite were the pumpkin fritters. I love that sweet goodness paired with yogurt. Prices were very reasonable. The four of us were well filled for about $70, including tip.
(5)Hanna D.
This food is so damn good. Who knew Afghani's could cook so well? The Afghani bread comes with a few different interesting sauce/dip things that smell and taste very good. My dad, cousin and I had three baskets (rofl, it was that good!!). I think they put a little bit of jasmine or something in their green tea and it was really amazing. Really great tea. Then the food came. Holy schnapps. It smelled wonderful. The rice has this wonderful florally spice (saffron I think?) in it, and the meat is freaking amazing. I had it with this eggplant sauce stuff. Its so well seasoned. They give you a lot of food, so come in hungry. If you don't know what the stuff means in the menu, they give you this book with pictures of everything with is great. I also love how many Afghan people are there, makes you feel like your not in New York anymore. Yummy place.
(5)MJ H.
Not so many diverse restaurants in my neighborhood, so Bahar is truly a great place for me to go when I want something different. The food is absolutely delicious and not too expensive. Kebabs are fire grilled and the salmon is done really well. Most importantly the portions are really good for the money...Try the Bolani Kadoo (pumpkin turnovers) and place it in their yogurt sauce...simply amazing...
(4)Sonja M.
Terrible food and service. Ordered delivery through Grubhub and the food arrived a 1/2 hr past the estimated delivery time (1 1/2 hrs total). The food arrived cold and was a terrible value for our money. We ordered vegetable samosas, which tasted like prepackaged microwaved food, chicken biryani (basically unseasoned glorified chicken fried rice), the combination shishkebab meal - which was 99% rice with 6 paltry, unappetizing pieces of meat, and the pumpkin fritters (mediocre at best) at a total of about $40. Total waste of our money, would never order from them again.
(1)Sharon K.
This place gets 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed my main course, but not the starters. I tried the fesenjon for the starter - I didnt like that they used the thigh meat of the chicken and also the chicken itself didnt seem seasoned. I thought the pomegranate sauce was too sweet for my liking. The pumpkin turnovers were tasty, but I did not think they would be deep fried - I had imagined a baked pastry. the batter was kind of like a samosa batter, and there was some sweet pumpkin puree inside. The puree was pretty tasty. I thought the yogurt dipping sauce served alongside was a nice accompaniment. The lamb kebobs were awesome and I really liked the rice served alongside. I was also eyeing the kabli kebob because the rice was served with raisins and carrots on top. yum! I would definitely return, but maybe just to take out. There wasnt much going on in terms of ambience. Service was friendly and prompt.
(3)Jared C.
A tandoor oven might dominate the restaurant when you walk in if it was not for all the purple neon that lines the windows and beautiful old carpets that decorate the walls. I had some time to look around as I had arrived early and was waiting for a friend. The traditional Afghan green tea ($1.50) and pita bread kept me busy while I enjoyed the room and all the activity of the restaurant. Despite being one of two patrons, the dining room was pervaded with sounds of cooking from the kitchen and the male workers were walking in and out constantly. I was offered a picture menu while I waited, but refused it in shyness, trying to act as if I knew everything on the menu already. I don't know that photos would have helped in the end, but it would have been fun to see anyway. What we did decide on was from very complete (and mouth-watering) descriptions that came under each selection. The sabzymast ($5.95) is an appetizer of spinach, cooked with onions, garlic, and probably many other spices and herbs, all mixed with a yogurt sauce. We were not sure how to go at it and ordered a side dish of white rice. Another appetizer called fesenjon ($5.95) was probably our favorite dish of the day. Tempted by the pomegranate sauce and walnut, the chicken was also sweet and sour, and the dish had a sharp but delicious taste. We finished off this plate first and were both eyeing the last bites but trying not to be rude. Before coming, I was most anxious to try the items listed in the "traditional Afghan pastas" section of the menu, thinking I had never had anything like them. While that remains true, we both felt like the dish we ordered called ashi gooshti ($9.95) was somewhat of a letdown. The homemade noodles were so well-cooked that they had little taste and almost melted in your mouth, while the ground beef, chickpeas, and yogurt sauce on top lacked the kick of the other dishes we had already consumed.
(4)jay b.
i just visited this coney island avenue establishment after recently reading about it on the ditmas park blog. the writer of that particular post had recommended the bolani kadu (pumpkin turnovers). i went in, got a menu, and saw that they actually had 3 different kinds of bolani. so besides the recommended kadu (spiced pumpkin), there was also potato bolani, and a scallion bolani as well. so, wanting to try them all, i ordered the "mix bolani" - you get 3 of each. i'm glad i went that route and didn't just order the suggested pumpkin bolani - (it was my least favorite of the 3). but this is TOTALLY a matter of taste - (it's not because it sucked or anything). in fact all 3 kinds were crispy, fresh and made-to-order and came with a refreshing yogurt sauce for dipping - i just wanted something savory (and the pumpkin is very sweet). but it was still very good, and if you like that sort of thing, the pumpkin will be your favorite. MY favorite was the scallion - absolutely delicious! the potato ones were good too - savory, but i much preferred the scallion (again, this is all a matter of taste). the restaurant was busy with delivery orders and there was a large afghani family eating at one of several occupied tables in the pleasant dining room (always a good sign in an afghan / "ethnic" restaurant). it's the real deal, complete with the prerequisite cheesy decor, (chandelier, mirrors, huge flat screen t.v., etc.) the ladies working behind the register were super friendly, and seemed genuinely happy and were very nice. the food was prepared / i was on my way quickly. i will be going back - can't wait to try some more of their dishes - i'm going to get another order of the (scallion!!!) bolani, and try some curry next time. i'll let you know how it goes.
(4)Alevtina V.
I was very excited to visit my first Afghani restaurant. However, I was mildly disappointed when I walked through the doors of Bahar. My boyfriend and I visited during an off-peak hour. That is, we were the only ones there. There was only one waiter on duty... and he took his sweet time with everything, from handing us the menus to taking our orders to bringing us our check. (He was much too mesmerized by the Bollywood movie playing on the large TV in the dining area.) The menu is an incredibly large tome. (It begins with a history of Afghanistan and the surrounding region. Only then then does it go on to list the multitude of dishes.) Seeing that we are not Afghani, the waiter also handed us a second book that contained photos of every item on the menu. We didn't touch this book and, instead, opted to trust the English descriptions found under the names of the dishes. For an appetizer, I tried the bolani kadu (pumpkin turnovers). They were unbelievably good (and plentiful -- I received a whole plate of them that I ended up sharing with my boyfriend). However, they were too sweet for a starter. I would have pegged it as more of a dessert item. Consequently, I ended up saving most of the turnovers for the end of my meal. Based solely on the description ("exotic rice dish cooked w/ orange peels, saffron, almond & pistachios, served w/ charcoal grilled chunks of lamb kebab"), I tried narieng palow for my entree. Well, imagine my surprise when my tongue tasted the overwhelming sweetness of the rice! (At least I'd braced myself before I placed the rice on my fork, noticing that the rice looked glazed.) I tried the lamb with trepidation but found it to be really good. I ended up polishing off the meat and leaving an entire plate of rice intact. Overall, I was turned off by the amount of sugar that went into making my meal. (I can't even put a teaspoon of sugar into my coffee without gagging from the sweetness. How am I supposed to tolerate a whole plate full of sugar-glazed rice?) However, I would be willing to give this place another chance. Like I said, the lamb kebab (the only thing I ordered that was not coated in a layer of sweet syrup) was really good. Additionally, the prices are incredibly reasonable for the amount of food that is spooned onto your plate. Next time I come in, maybe I'll order a salad and try fesonjon chalow (sweet & sour tender pieces of boneless chicken cooked w/ walnuts & pomegranate juice, served w/ white basmati rice), saving all of the sugar for dessert (perhaps opting for gooshi feel, which is fried dough dribbled w/ honey & pistachios). I'll also try to make sure that I come in on a night that promises a large crowd and more attentive waiters.
(3)Jeff S.
Found this place while wandering around the area. Intrigued by the specials (good prices), I went in. A warning: the specials are on the signs outside, but they're not listed on the menu. (And I can see why...too many things looked interesting...but I was on a budget) My first experience with Afghan food, so I can't say it's better or worse than any other Afghan place...but it was very good. (Speaking from ignorance: Afghan cooking seems to be "Middle East meets India"...as I'm a fan of both, that's a win) I'd say I have to come back...but as I was leaving, I asked what their delivery radius was, and grabbed a menu...
(4)