4. Restaurants

Kabul

106 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA, 19106
  • (215) 922-3676
  • Store is closed

Kabul Menu

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  • Krista B.

    My husband and myself think this restuarant makes the BEST TASTING food in Philly. The place is small and cozy and nothing fancy for sure, but the food is always cooked to perfection and full of wonderful armoas and flavors. It's not too pricey; not cheap either. I consider it middle of the road in terms of cost, but for the food, I think its a great deal. We go heavy on the appetizers- they're all great. So are the desserts and Turkish coffee. My favorite entree is the Noregne Pilav- on the sweeter side with candied orange rind, saffron, pistachios and almonds. Its best with the chicken. The food in thise place will not disappoint. They're also on diningin.com , and we order from here several times a month. If you're eating in, this place is a BYO and there's a liquor store just around the corner.

    (5)

  • Jonathan A.

    They have this one dish called Norenge Palaw -- "Skillfully seasoned chucks of lamb under a heap of saffron rice, topped with delicate strips of orange peel soaked in rosewater, pistachios, almonds and cardamon." It's soooo delectable, I've been searching the San Francisco Bay Area to find anything like it, but in vain. If you can get to Philly, I highly recommend going to Kabul and having the Norenge Palaw.

    (5)

  • Aileen K.

    Fantastic Afghan food in a wonderful neighborhood. The ambiance is comfortable and intimate. I highly recommend any dish with their specially marinated lamb. The flavors are teriffic. I'd give this an additional two stars, but the service was really discourteous and they attempted to overcharge us. Hopefully this has improved as of late.

    (2)

  • dave c.

    want to know a secret about kabul? go to their website and poke around... those of you that are moaning and groaning about the price will find something very helpful. :)

    (4)

  • Rosa C.

    I wish I had reviewed Kabul right after our visit, but it completely slipped my mind and now a year later, I've moved out of Philadelphia. Darn! Basically, Kabul has great service, is a BYO restaurant, has cool cushion seating in addition to traditional table/chair seating, and has delicious food. I will definitely be back to Kabul the next time I'm in Philly, and I promise to write a more helpful review beyond giving them a deserving 4-stars.

    (4)

  • Matt D.

    We've been to Kabul a few times, and it's a solid four star establishment and pushing five stars. We always get really good service here, and both of us have mentioned feeling relaxed during dinner. There's something to be said about that. It's a very dimly lit, small space with no frills on the decorations. We always start with a few of the hot appetizers, and I highly recommend you do the same...particularly the turnovers with pumpkin. They're delicious! We've tried a handful of dishes here, and I think the lamb with spinach and Mantu are the best. We really liked the unique flavor profile of the chickpeas, carrots, yogurt and other ingredients that topped the Mantu. All of the sauces go very well with house made bread. The only thing that keeps this at four stars is the dessert. I thought the milk pudding and baklava were just average. (For those of you that complain about prices, I don't agree. There's a 20% off coupon on their website, and the regular prices are fair for the quality and size of the portions.)

    (4)

  • Bryce B.

    I never get to Olde City. I used to for the bars and the girls and whatever I was in my 20s. At Kabul, I thought the service to be attentive and courteous, and the food to be soulful and delicious. Not quite sure how this place has earned it less than 4 stars because it has everything it I want from it: things that will see me back to Olde City again and again. Byo. Credit cards accepted.

    (4)

  • Saifeldin M.

    Nice food. Good amount. Restaurant is clean and close to river. I will come back again for sure

    (4)

  • Leila A.

    We went on a Thursday night around 6pm and there was only one waiter. He did an okay job but quite a few times we had to ask for service. The room was a little too dark, but nothing too off putting. The food was pretty good. I got the chicken and eggplant dish and I liked it fine. My vegetarian friend got a should-have-been-cheaper lentil dish (cost the same as my chicken dish). We had a bean appetizer but it was a bit on the small side. Overall, I would have felt overcharged if I didn't have a Groupon, but with the deal and BYOB factor, it worked out well!

    (3)

  • Jeudy T.

    This was the first time my family and i have been here. My mother in law wanted to try it because she spent 6 months in Kabul. The restaurant isn't too large but it has a cute home feel. The decor is authentic afghan decorations and you smell inscents right away. We asked to be seated near the window which they put 2 tables together to accommodate us. Our server was an older gentleman who was very nice. We ordered the kabuli combination appetizer to start off. It allowed us to choose 4 different appetizers for a set price. We choose appetizer #4,#5,#6,#12 which were all very good. I don't remember the exact names but one was a feta cheese turnover. Another was grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice. Another was a pic pastry stuffed with meat and veggies. The last one was a puff pastry filled with seasoned veggies. I asked the server to recommend a traditional dish and he recommended #17. I got it with lamb. I was hesitant because i came with raisins which I'm not too fond of but it was very delicious. My fiance got a lamb and tomato dish with the sweet saffron rice. It was tasty as well. Our daughter got chicken with tomatoes, onions and brown rice. The flavor was savory and tender. My fiance got the carrot cake for dessert. It was different but still very good. Our daughter got a dessert that was a flaky pastry sprinkled with sugar, pistachio and cardamom. The place is byob and it's mostly street parking in old city. That was a minor issue because there is also a parking lot across the street. Needless to say we will be back.

    (4)

  • Fahad A.

    Afghan food delicious and the decor of the restaurant wondrous. Liked so image of a man with a beard and sharp eyes like a hawk

    (5)

  • Rome S.

    My mom always wanted to try this place out so we finally made reservations after about a year. Definitely bring your appetite as the food is very filling probably due to the large portions of rice they give. The place is byob so this helps a lot as you can bring your favorite alcoholic choice. The service was very good and even let my daughter switch from her saffron rice to brown rice because crazy as it sounds she didn't like the saffron rice. I personally thought the saffron rice was very good especially when you mixed lamb and their hot sauce with it. Great service, very good food and traditional middle eastern atmosphere. Will be back again.

    (4)

  • Suman D.

    I've eaten in a number of Afghan places across the states and this is hands down one of the best - they have an extensive menu, run by a friendly Afghan gentleman and the kabobs are the most tender that you will find in any place. Recommend: Chicken Kabob.

    (5)

  • Tim A.

    This was a good Afghan restaurant. They had the typical decor you see in Afghan places all around the east coast. The food was really good; especially the pumpkin soup with meat. This was one of the best soups I've had before. The only I didn't like about this place was the use of the Brooklyn lantern.

    (4)

  • Tj T.

    I have eaten at Kabul in the past and enjoyed it but last night my family and I went and it was a disaster- we sat for 20 minutes before we even spoke to a waiter then we had to ask over and over again for water and a cork screw for our wine. Finally a cork screw was dropped at our table and we were left to deal with the wine ourselves- We ordered appetizers and dinner then waited 30 minutes for that- finally the appetizers showed up and 2 minutes later our meals appeared- I said to the waiter we had not had time to eat our first course and was told us that the chef was in a hurry and wanted to go home- our meals were dry and over cooked and when I mentioned that I was told that I should have asked for some sauce. All in all a very unpleasant experience- won't be going back

    (1)

  • Brian S.

    Love this place. The food is outstanding and the owner and his staff are amazing! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

    (5)

  • Hesham E.

    The place has authentic decorations, music and food and I would have given him 4 stars, but they imposed on me to pay a tip of 20% on my bill without telling me in advance of such a high tip amount. I consider this a kind of cheating. The waiter even gave me the bill with the total amount without explaining this imposed tip, till I double checked with him thinking there is a mistake in my bill. Also, the lighting is very dim for a place lime a full service restaurant.

    (3)

  • aredee d.

    We ordered a variety of appetizers as we were in a hurry but wanted to sample the cuisine. The ingredients were similar to Indian cuisine but prepared very differently. We loved all the items and now can't wait to go back and have a full meal. The staff was very welcoming and friendly.

    (4)

  • joy g.

    I love this place! I've been coming for years and the food is consistently terrific! Everything is made fresh, and, the service is always spot on. The surroundings are a little dated but it lends itself to the Middle Eastern feel,

    (4)

  • Sophia I.

    If you prefer eating pumpkin in dimly lit places with funny little placards in the bathroom, then Kabul's the joint for you! We had a groupon & girls night out planned, so Kabul fit the bill. Literally, the bill was quite reasonable. We had fun sharing the appetizer sampler, which you get to customize, so that was nice. Pretty much everything we ordered that had the word pumpkin in it was delicious. The room was so dark that it almost made me nervous though, like what exactly are you trying to hide, hmmm??? But a trip downstairs to the bathroom restored my good humor. SO much so that I had to upload a photo. The prevailing gripe is that the entrees are on the small side, really, served on the side in a lttle bowl with a dinner plate of rice. But it was more than enough for us. Ask for extra meat for $2 if you're a big eater. They have a fun floor eating spot than could be fun if it didn't look so darn uncomfortable to us lazybones. All told, it's a good night out without breaking the bank.

    (3)

  • Carol K.

    If it was an option, I'd give this 4.5 stars. We've been going here for years, and the food here is consistently great. Everything is made from scratch, on the premises, and it shows. The lamb is tender and tasty, the saffron rice is perfectly (and sweetly) seasoned. Lots of vegetarian friendly options, and spiciness can be customized to order. Portions are good-sized and I don't think anything on the menu is over $18. The decor is refreshingly old-school: Textiles, photos and other art from the mother country. Service is efficient and not chatty but they are truly dedicated to making sure you are happy with your experience. Best item to get is the Kabul appetizer combo: You can mix and match any four of their appetizers. Having cycled through them all at this point, you cannot go wrong ordering any of them -- but the meat- and veggie-filled fried turnovers (several varieties) are out of this world. This is a solid place to keep in your dining rotation.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    Been a couple of times, each was fantastic. This last time was a bit rough. Service was extremely slow (I think they were too busy our under staffed?) and some of the wine glasses were questionable. Maybe try and go on an off night? However, the food was on point. Anything with kadu (pumpkin), or norenge (eggplant) should be a sure fire hit. Sweet saffron rice is something you need to order. The Kabul combination for appetizers is a good deal for a group, and you can order all of the different stuffed pastries.

    (4)

  • Jordan S.

    This place is pretty overpriced and drab. There are several great eats within two storefronts and I don't see myself every coming back. If you are hungry and in carnivore mood, get ready for a zen garden experience minus the zen. Mounds and mounds of rice with little scraps of meat. Not fun. The grape leaves were delicious but do people really spend $8 on an appetizer of just leaves? I don't get it. Everything did taste good but just not worth it at all. Rice for days.

    (2)

  • Erdem V.

    The food is nice, decor is nice with a lot of pre-taliban Afghan relics. I had the chicken shish kebap with Afghan pilav, it was pretty good.

    (5)

  • Michelle A.

    This is my favorite restaurant in Philly, by far. The food is exceptional, and the ambiance is perfect. I bring all my tourist friends here! My only complaint is the waiter. He's a little icy, especially when I bring my toddler. So 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Bri C.

    I love Kabul! Delicious, perfectly seasoned food, and nice ambience. One of my favorite places in Philly. A bit pricey but they offer coupons and groupons! And definitely worth splurging for date night or other special occasions. I love going just for their vegetable sambosas and mint salad dressing. So tasty.

    (5)

  • Lilly H.

    This place serves authentic Afghan cuisine. Their bolanee and sambosas were ok for me, but the chicken tikka kabab I can't stop raving and craving. IT WAS SIMPLY AMAZING! The pieces were HUGE like 3 times the size of a regular kabab. It was enough for two people. Would definitely come back here again. Very nice owner. There is no parking lot, street parking only. I would suggest they be a little more abundant with their white sauce.

    (5)

  • Jessica G.

    This restaurant is my first venture into Afghan food. I will start by saying I love the mango dough. It is a thicker mango drink (not a smoothie but not a juice) with cardamom and goes really well with the spice in the food. Most things on the menu are kind of what I would describe as a stew, and come with a plate of rice to mix with. I have always ordered the chicken and eggplant. It has really great flavor and cooking the chicken in the sauce makes it really tender. You can chose between a basic rice (I think its basmati) or a sweet saffron rice. Everyone is my party raved about the saffron rice..and it was delicious...but I'm not crazy about having that much sweetness in things that aren't dessert, so I would tend to stick with the plainer rice. The service is very attentive and the decor, although a bit cluttered, it really interesting and gives the place charm.

    (4)

  • Sahar A.

    Great ambiance, service and above all food! The best afghani food I've ever had :) My mom and I had number 17 kabuli pulaw with chicken, my cousin ordered number 54 and my husband ordered 19 with lamb. All these dishes were cooked to perfection! The meat and chicken was so tender. I really like the mint yogurt they put on the side salad. Can't wait to go back! Oh and incase you have a preference for halal food, their food is halal.

    (5)

  • Jonas O.

    The only Afghan restaurant I have been to so far. Definitely a fan. The decor was really nice and the place was totally empty on a Tuesday at 7:30. That's a shame since this place is good, but it was nice and quiet and we really enjoyed the Afghan music. For an appetizer we had the Bulanee Kadu (turnovers w/ spiced pumkin) which was incredible, and quite a deal at $4. For entrees we had Chalaw Sabzi (cooked spinach dish) and the Norenge Palaw (chicken w/ saffron rice, etc.) and we really liked both. The Norenge Palaw is a bit sweet which is a really interesting taste for the rice. It's not something I'm used to, which is cool. At $17 and $15 they were moderately priced, and the portions were quite large. We took some of each home.

    (4)

  • j a.

    I was surprised by the generic salad w/ranch or blue cheese dressing, not an Afghan salad and then the tiny pieces of cold bread, not the usual hot fresh baked Afghan bread I am used to. This was redeemed by two wonderful eggplant & lamb main dishes served w/excellently prepared rices.

    (4)

  • Debbie A.

    Overpriced. Understaffed. I use to come here a lot, but the quality of the service has gone downhill. We waited 15 minutes just for water, and ended up staying there for 1.5 hours with only two of us. There was only one waiter with no manager on duty....and if he was, he wasn't helping at all. The food was okay, but nothing exceptional.

    (2)

  • Prasanna R.

    I always wanted to try Afghani cuisine. So stopped by here one weekend afternoon, after a movie in Ritz. I ordered the Sambusa and Kabuli Palaw. Sambusa was really good. Its like Samosa but better. The worst part for me is Kabuli Palaw. It was very dry and I had to get Dal to compensate the dryness. And it is really expensive. I would maybe stop by again for Sambusa. 2.5 stars

    (3)

  • E A.

    Mid week visit to this restaurant with friends was a surprise. The food was good, but the attitude of the owner/waiter was totally off Standish..............at first. He warmed up to us towards the end of the meal. The fried variety of appetizers was a pleasant dish with yogurt and coriander dips. My husband had Norenge Palaw ... $17.00 Deliciately seasoned chunks of lamb under a heap of saffron rice, garnished with rose water, flavored orange peel strips, almonds, pistachios, and cardamom This was a sweet dish and everyone liked this.... My friend had Chef's Aushak ... Scallion filled steamed dumplings topped with garlic yogurt and ground beef sauce sprinkled with mint and paprika .....this was not what we expected, but it was also good. Her husband had..... a meatball dish.............this was not very good-pass on it. The only thing that was really weird was the bread that was served.....it was not good and it looked like something that would be served at an Italian restaurant. We couldn't figure it out. With all the other restaurants in the area it will be a while until we come back here, but I do recommend this place. There is only one section in the back of the restaurant that is partitioned off so that you can experience the Kasbah sit down family feel.

    (3)

  • Majlinda K.

    This restaurant is a must-try in olde city. It is one of the very few restaurants in olde city that offer BYOB option. The service was great and they really took care of us. The food was tasty and delicious and they had healthy alternative options to afghan food (like chicken or fish with eggplant and mushroom sides). It is a nice place if you're up for something different for date night and enjoy food over candlelight.

    (4)

  • Fallonious F.

    I would like to start off by saying that after reading the reviews on here I have a feeling that many of the negative ones are coming from people who are unfamiliar with this type of cuisine. Kabul is the best afghan food in the city. My family is from Kabul and I took my grandmother there. She is the pickiest eater in they world and she loved it so much she jokingly stated she would help wash the dishes! I often get homesick. And one trip to Kabul fixes it. The decor is beautiful and not cheesy but filled with authentic afghan antics. I'm def thinking about having my birthday here.

    (5)

  • Mohsin B.

    Came here as a group with friends. The food was quite good. The staff here was amazing, they catered to our every request. The atmosphere is casual. We plan to be back soon.

    (4)

  • Nikitha C.

    I truly enjoyed the dinner there. Sunday eve, wasn't crowded. Waiter was very attentive. Wish the table was a bit bigger. Don't remember what I ordered anymore. Place was nice!

    (5)

  • Gib B.

    I give 4 because I was recommended to have the 2 most famous Afghan food, they were so nice. The first appitizer on the list was good too. Just small thing, the napkin smelt weird.

    (4)

  • Katie R.

    This was a great choice for my birthday dinner this past year. The food is very different, a cuisine that I don't get a chance to taste very often, and the restaurant was very accommodating for our larger groups. We all shared the mixed appetizer plate and then shared each of our entrees - very good way to taste the whole menu! Extra points for being a BYO as well, and the waiter wasn't pushy about getting us away from the table.

    (4)

  • Tuff Cook E.

    the atmosphere is nice and the afghani music was a nice touch, but all in all, i was very underwhelmed by Kabul. I had a groupon, thank god, because paying double for what we got would have been painful. We got a sampler of apps, some called something like a samosa, but it was skimpy and not yummy like its Indian counterpart. The portions are VERY small. the piece of bread that came with one of our meals was literally about the size of 3 postage stamps. Salads were included in our meals, but its just iceberg lettuce with ranch. we got chicken meatballs, but only 4 and they were not very big. the sauce was good, but again, none of it to write home about. It was all very unremarkable, that's not true, we did remark- "this is like Indian food, but not nearly as good". our server was very nice, and they are definitely hurting for business because there was only one other table with patrons. i dont enjoy writing a non-praising review, but that is what yelp is for...total honesty.

    (3)

  • Tatyana N.

    Disappointed. Got a $25 gift certificate for this place. Our bill was way higher then expected. Even with the certificate we paid $40 dollars instead of $20 for our meal(2 entrees and 1 appetizer). The server was very slow and not attentive. We were not asked how was everything not even once. Had to wait to place our order for 20 min, and then another 20 to get the check after it was requested. The same song was playing over and over again which became very annoying after 1 hour. The server did not ask us about preferred rice options, no extra meat was added to the sauce even though we paid for it; the portions were small for the price, a lot of rice, not much meat. The food is good, not great, not worth it, one can find similar much better and cheaper middle eastern options in Philadelphia. Overall very disappointed, will not recommend and will not be back.

    (1)

  • Megan H.

    I would probably only give this place 3 stars if it weren't a BYOB. I always add on an extra star for BYOBs. The appetizers were great! The highlight of the meal was the Bulanee Kadu which is a pumpkin flatbread thing with Afgani yogurt as a dip. We also tried the Sambosa, Sambosa Goushti, and the Aushak which were also very good. For dinner I had the Korma Tilapia, a house specialty and it was a perfect balance of tasty and spicy (I did ask for it spicy though so I'm not sure how it is normally). My big negative comment is that the portions are so small and at $17 for an entree it's overpriced. I don't understand why they give such a huge plate of rice too. All entrees come with a salad though which had a great mint/ranch dressing on it. Overall good experience and will probably go back just for appetizers the next time!

    (4)

  • Danielle A.

    Loved this place.. Honestly, when we first walked in, i was a little skeptical. It was quiet and dark and there were 3 big parties seated. After we sat, we immediately were greeted by the man who seemed to be in charge. We were both eating this for the first time so looked over the entire menu. Everything seemed pretty clearly described and it was easy to narrow it down to what we wanted. Two appetizers, two meals, one dessert + coffee/tea was around $60. We brought red one (a delicious cab sauvignon) that went with every bite perfectly. I was expecting something similar to indian but was pleasantly surprised to find something very different. I will now find myself craving indian or afghan style from time to time (: Definitely worth a visit!

    (5)

  • Tiberiu T.

    I went here with a GroupOn after having tried Afghan food in Boston and really liked it. This place was good, but not as good.

    (4)

  • Briana C.

    One of my favorite byobs. The Kabuli Palaw and Chef Aushak are my favorites. Be sure to get a lamb dish and the appetizer pastries are all great. Their ice cream dessert is awesome too. Entrees come with a salad that is pretty standard issue but the dressing is tasty. The owner is great and the service is always good. Great place to take family and friends.

    (5)

  • Dave N.

    I don't understand the poor reviews. I have been to this place on 3 occasions and drive up from Newark, DE. Food is excellent and the wait staff is very friendly and helpful in making selections. The lamb dishes are phenomenal. Very tender and tasty. It's a small place that is well appointed. I highly recommend this place. I think the prices are fair .... maybe a tad high, but that is common in Old City area at any restaurant. If you want to go cheaper don't go to a restaurant in Old City. Pick some strip mall. I highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Lauren H.

    I was very excited to try Afghan food for the first time, but left after my dinner Saturday night feeling more than a bit disappointed. My chief complaint was that the prices of the entrees in no way matched what my friend and I were served. The entree dishes themselves were very good. I ordered the Bandenjan-e-Murgh (chicken and eggplant cooked in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, etc.) and my friend ordered the Norenge Palaw (chicken under saffron rice with rose water, flavored orange peel strips, almonds, pistachios, and cardamom), which she found overly sweet, but to be fair, she was warned by the waiter. I finished my entire bowl of Bandenjan-e-Murgh, plus a full plate of saffron rice, and was still hungry. That was on top of the clearly out-of-the-bag iceberg lettuce salad and the two small squares of chewy underwhelming flat-bread that were served along with the entrees. $17 for a sad little salad, sliver of bread and an entree (with rice!) that left me, a short petite woman, still hungry? The atmosphere was pleasant enough and the service was average. Kabul is a BYO so you are saving a few bucks there, but that doesn't make up for the other deficiencies. And there is a $20 minimum for credit cards.

    (2)

  • Gerard Z.

    Great BYOB with reasonable prices for old city. All the turnovers and pastry appetizers are great. Get the combo if its your first time. For entrees, I recommend the chef's aushak or any lamb dish. The sheer-e-yakh is a pretty basic ice cream dessert, but with interesting afghan spices that really makes it delicious. The owner is very attentive and courteous as well.

    (5)

  • Annie W.

    I love to try new food. This is the first time I had Afghanistan food. The menu is similar to Indian, Turkish, and Ethiopian food. For appetizer, we had Aushak - Steamed scallion-filled dumplings topped with spiced meat sauce, yogurt and sprinkled with mint. It's absolutely delicious - full of flavor. For entree, my husband got lamb and spinach with rice and I have Lamb and eggplant with rice...The lamb is very tender. We taste both dishes and I what I order is the winner. His dish is just sorta blah flavor, but nonetheless the lamb make up for it. We like food that have a lot of flavor and spice. I wish they have given us more lamb and veggies though, it was just a lot of rice. We did have some teas and I though it just ok...nothing special.

    (4)

  • Salem A.

    You get what you ask for over here. Very close to Authentic and prices are reasonable compared to other places in Philly. Service was great and food was flawless taste wise. Although portions need to be a bit bigger its still better than other places I've tried so far! I ordered the mixed Kabob and my friends ordered chicken and lamb bukhari. Meat was tender and juicy while the fluffy bukhari was light and flavorful. Highly recommended for Afghan/Pak food!

    (5)

  • Karen F.

    5 stars for food and value - 2 or 3 for decor. When I moved here from NYC about 3 years ago - one of my favorite restaurants in NYC - Afghani or otherwise was Pamir. So 2 or 3 New Years Eve's ago we went to Kabul - and what'd'ya know? The owner is the cousin of the man who owned Pamir (which, alas, has since closed in NYC.). The menus are nearly identical and oh, how I love the fried pumpkin turnovers (Buranee Kadu). In fact, anything with pumpkin is a yummy choice here. The service is good - very friendly but they can seem aloof - so if you WANT more water/sauce/napkins - you need to be pro-active (some may see this as a bad thing.). It was also a great place to have an un-crowded experience. The place is rarely crowded. (Possibly because it is a bit old and grungy looking.) Don't let the crummy decor dissueade you - TRY THE FOOD - terrifc Chalau (stews) and Pallaus (Pilafs/Rice dishes). I love Afghan food and I love the food at Kabul. And it is a GREAT value for very little money. Maybe they'll re-decorate some day? (Not likely. *sigh*)

    (4)

  • Story B.

    Probably more like 3.5 stars. I LOVE afghan kebabs, and while these were tasty, the food I wanted to rice/bread ration was less than ideal. More expensive than it should be for so much rice and so little meat/veggies. Regardless, the good food that comes is good - great flavor. I'll definitely go back.

    (3)

  • Wei T.

    Might want to make reservations. I wasn't impressed. The sweet saffron rice tasted like candy... and not in a good way. They do have some pretty interesting entree choices but I probably won't be going back. So sad.

    (2)

  • Joy C.

    They have some good flavors here - the pumpkin with meat sauce, norenge palaw, kabuli palaw - and the saffron rice is sweet and fragrant. Good for when your BYOB-loving group of friends wants to try something a little different, and the 20% discount coupon on their website helps offset the price. However, most of the time you feel like you're eating a big plate of rice. As much as I tried to stretch out my pumpkin pieces I was still left with half my rice by the time the pumpkin was gone. And then there was nothing to dip the stale flatbread in either. Doesn't make me excited about coming back.

    (3)

  • Mike G.

    Kabul is like a delicious vacation for your palette. I went here on date night and enjoyed sharing some really tasty dishes and it was really affordable as they are also a BYOB. To keep it simple, we started with one appetizer, the Sambosa, which was so interestingly flavorful, we could've eaten a big bowl of it. It was perfect for starting with as it whet our appetites. For main courses, we ordered something that came with delicately seasoned talapia with chick peas and a mixture of savory spices that really bounced off each other. The Norenge Palaw was also delicious but more a sweet lamb dish with saffron riced flavored with rose water, orange peel strips, almonds, pistachios, and cardamom. These two dishes, #'s 19 and 21 on their menu, complimented each other well. We were pretty full by this point, though I want to go back for more and with a bigger appetite to try their desserts. The service was quick and friendly. Over all the experience made me wonder why it's been over a decade since the last time I ate here. I'm a renewed fan.

    (4)

  • Ariel D.

    I've had Afghani food before, so I was expecting a bit more when my partner and I came in for a Friday night meal. We were seated promptly, which was nice. But the rest of the night was a disappointment. The food was good - not great, not spectacular, but good. The big issue we had was the price; we could get the same food for half the price elsewhere, so it seems like they're just taking advantage of their Old City location (then again, I'm sure rent ain't cheap in those parts). We had to flag down the servers to get water refills, and the salad that came with the meal looked like it was poured from a pre-made bag. While our entrees were fine, by the time we left we both had stomachaches from the grease. Its not the worst place I've ever been, but I likely won't go back.

    (2)

  • Farah D.

    The food was great and the service was good, too. The restaurant is a small place and dimly lit, which I had not problem with. The food isn't expensive but its not cheap either. It was cooked great and tasted delicious. Also, its BYOB so come prepared and plan ahead. Since I was visiting, I didn't know that the liquor & wine stores close early on Sundays =/ Oh well, next time. I would recommend this restaurant if you like afghan food or something similar (Persian, Indian, etc)

    (4)

  • Josephine W.

    I loved Kabul. I went today for the first time. My waiter was very attentive and the food arrived quickly, which was nice because I was rather hungry. I ordered the Sambosa Goushti for an appetizer. Very tastey. I loved the coriander sauce. For my entree, I had the Kofta-E-Murgh. I liked the taste of it alone, but I added their hot sauce and coriander sauce and it was fantastic. I am very full and satisfied. I will be visiting Kabul again.

    (5)

  • Diana P.

    We got the Groupon deal and we loved Kabul! We went on a Monday night and initially there was no one in the restaurant. We were greeted and seated properly. I ordered the chicken skewers, which were amazing and my husband got a lamb dish. The food was very tasty, we had a great time and have no complaints. For those unhappy with the 20$ minimum charge, c'mon guys, in many places in Center City it is cash only, not a big deal. Just have some cash and keep your expectations realistic and you will enjoy this cuisine!

    (5)

  • Kris G.

    Bad service, inattentive servers. Food was ok, but the ports were small and the waiter didn't warn us. We paid for extra meet, but received extra sauce and mushrooms instead in a small bowl. They played the same song while we were there, it was very annoying. Bathroom is clean with cheesy pictures. The service is very slow, it took a while to order and to get the check. The amount on the check was wrong, after we paid they try to kick us out right away. I am not coming back here !

    (1)

  • Lisa M.

    I had the Sabzi-Murgh and it was amazing. Everything from the dinner to the desert to the mango dough drink was awesome. Sybil K. pretty much named everything so I'll just say I think this is a new favorite and worth many repeated visits.

    (5)

  • mike v.

    This place was good and the service friendly, but it is definitely not as good as Sansom Kabob. Their kabobs themselves are almost as tasty, but everything else falls a bit short of Sansom. The grilled veges, rice, bread, etc... not quite as nice. That doesn't make this place bad, it's pretty good, but Sansom gets the 5 stars.

    (3)

  • Preety S.

    The food and service were ok. The best way I can think of to describe this experience was "dry". The service was dry and not freindly. The food was dry and not moist. Not sure what else to say....

    (2)

  • Polly H.

    It's Saturday night, and this entire street(Chestnut Street, that is) is packed with locals and tourists who want the real Philly experience. Bar hopping, tapas, and full meals all are to be secured on these roads. I believe that after realizing the wait for Amada (Spanish Tapas bar) was 2 hours and usually takes reservations, we opted for an Afghani cuisine style restaurant down the block called Kabul which had a wait of 4 minutes total. Adorned with traditional clothes, rugs, and random decorations from the mother country, it is definitely a home-feel to this place. The noise level is low and great for having a conversation. Most likely a great place for groups(seating is over 40 people), an intimidate date, and some tables are set up for group of 4 or 6. There is also a communal booth in the very back which seats groups up to 12 from my random mental calculation, but it is not like a chair, more like cushiony pillows to eat traditional style. The waitstaff and servers are extremely hospitable and friendly. They refilled our water in a timely manner and asked us if we would like drinks, recommendations on the meals, and also if we wanted to know what is available for dessert. With this welcome, I would love to come back. I had not tried Afghani food before and it was very pleasant. We got the Aushak which are these dumplings(of lamb meat, total of 4) which taste more like ravioli with mint and scallion yogurt dressing. May I say that the Aushak were huge as an appetizer occupying the entire platter. My husband got the lentil soup which was dense with a strong spices and herbs which was rather filling in itself as a dish and it already came with a side salad. I also had the lamb platter which came with pistachios, raisins and carrots on white rice and two pieces of shortbread. After we finished our dinner, we made sure to have the vanilla ice cream with rose syrup and freshly grated ginger. Oooh I must have swooned after eating this. They also have a lavatory, yet it is a travel, so do not wait to the last minute. One must go down some stairs and careful if you are a tall person and then turn to go the women's. I'm not sure about where the men's room is exactly, but it is downstairs. Did I mention that this place has toothpicks and starlight peppermints on the way out? They also accept credit card. =)

    (5)

  • Kimberly S.

    Kabul has been on my to-do list for 3 years now. As I find myself falling more and more in love with Middle Eastern/Eastern Mediterranean food, I finally crossed it off the list last weekend. I'm a newcomer to Afghani cuisine, but I found the menu to be similar to Turkish and Indian food. Service was very slow in the beginning. My friend and I waited for them to open our wine, bring an ice bucket and take our orders for 15 min or so. Not cool in my book, but my food made up for it. I had the Aushak for an appetizer. The scallion and yogurt dumplings were good, but nothing to rave about. My entree was amazing though. The Norenge Palaw is a flavorful mix of saffron rice, tender lamb, flavored orange peels, cardamom, pistachios and almonds. It's as if Savory and Sweet fought a war on the battlegrounds of my tastebuds and Savory eventually surrendered to Sweet. I will be returning to Kabul because of this dish. My friend ordered one of the chicken dishes which was reminiscent of Chicken Korma in both appearance and flavor. His dish was boring in contrast to mine though. The atmosphere is rather casual and the restaurant is a bit dark inside. Prices are fairly reasonable and it's a byo!

    (4)

  • Kara S.

    4.5 stars. This place was really good. It was my first Afghani cuisine experience. It wasn't quite mind blowing, but it was pretty close. Located at Chestnut and Front, it's a great place to grab a lovely meal in Old City. It's BYO so unfortunately you won't be able to try Afghani spirits, but the food here is more than enough to keep you satisfied. The entrees start at a little over 10 bucks and go up from there. The chicken dishes are pretty yummy. I ordered the chicken and green beans, my brother got the chicken and eggplant, and his girlfriend ordered the chicken and tomatoes. We did a little pass around so we could sample each of the dishes. All were very good in their own right. The entrees come with bread, white rice, and a salad. My only complaint was that the size of the dish was significantly smaller than the portion of rice. That being said, I'm only complaining because it was so good, and I wanted more! :) Overall, it was a great experience and makes me want to try more. Go check it out!

    (4)

  • Marla M.

    After reading reviews about this restaurant that were all over the place, I decided to give Kabul a try to see for myself. The service was great, and food was super yummy (though the portions could have stood to be a big bigger). All I can say is, get the Pumpkin w/ ground beef entree. It was so superb that my boyfriend went up to a table of ladies who were undecided about what to order, and proclaimed they had to try it. It's that good!

    (4)

  • Tim P.

    Went there last night with my girlfriend for dinner and was not very impressed. The salad was decent but the main course was not up to pair. As many people said they don't give you much meat at all. The rice was ok but most of my plate was cold. The only good thing about it was being BYOB

    (2)

  • Alix H.

    This place was tasty but I didn't feel like it was a very good deal. I got the weekend special with the apples and lamb and it was the BOMB but i got a massive plate of white rice and a little bowl of main event, and it felt like I was being ripped off for the $17 bucks I spent on it, even though it was yummy and left me full. I think if they might have plated it differently I never would have noticed. It was a nice cozy meal to beat a surprise chilly day though and I think I will go back if I get a hankering for a down home afghan meal hehe. The service was nothing to write home about, but whatever.

    (3)

  • Alyssa F.

    Went there with my boyfriend last night, and we loved it! The service was great. Very courteous, speedy, and helpful. Everything was delicious. We tried 2 apps and 2 of the house specials, and they were just amazing. We both had lamb, which was tender and juicy. I got the brown rice and he got the saffron and both were wonderful, though once you taste the saffron you don't want anything else ever again. Yum yum yum. High quality, high deliciousness, 5 stars. I will be going back.

    (5)

  • R T.

    We have been coming here for years, but find that the portions and service are going down, and the prices up. After we got here, we waited quite a few minutes before the server (who was the owner himself) sat us down. The restaurant was not very busy, but rather than seating us down, he kept clearing another table even though he saw us waiting. After we sat down we realized that he sat us at one of the same tables as the previous guests and left the dirty table cloth there with stains on it. That was not cool with us. But we let it go. My husband ordered a Tilapia dish ($17 - which on the menu made it sound like there were chunks of fish in it) and I ordered a chicken kabob dish with brown rice. I also ordered extra chicken for $2 more. There was a complimentary salad that came before the meal, and the dressing tasted like mayonnaise with dill and lime in it, and it was actually tasty. The Tilapia arrived in a tiny bowl with a huge plate with a bed of rice spread all over. Although the tilapia dish was tasty, it had not more than "one small" chunk of fish and a few small pieces of potato along with a little gravy in it. How could such a tiny portion of the entree be enough with a huge plate of plain rice! It came with a side of plain bread. Meanwhile, my kabob dish was also tasty, and because I paid an extra $2 for more meat, I got a good portion of chicken. As for the rice, I ordered brown rice because I did not want the white rice. Well, the "brown rice" was brown, because it was flavored with cinnamon and cooked in something that made the white rice brown! Interesting! It too came with a 2x2 inch piece of plain bread. Overall, food is not bad, but portions are very small and prices are high.

    (2)

  • John M.

    Tiny little small entrees makes me hungry. Go to Trader Joes and get a frozen rice package and add some chix or lamb and you'll be better off. My pricey entree had a good bit of rice but where was the lamb. Hey lambie, I can't see or taste you.....good thing though is that it's a BYOB.

    (1)

  • Nadeem M.

    Pretty decent Afghan food. Lots of traditional dishes and all are prepared fairly well, but a little on the pricey side for what we got. I've had much better Afghan food in DC for less. And no you aren't paying for ambience or presentation because this is a pretty basic restaurant without a lot of frills. Overall pretty decent, wouldn't mind going again but wouldn't go out of my way to stop by.

    (3)

  • Kaz H.

    The food, decor, atmosphere, and service was excellent. I ordered one of the lamb dishes and it was awesome. I would give 5 stars, but it's a little overpriced.

    (4)

  • Zoey T.

    Their sweet saffron rice is delicious. Very good service and food overall.

    (4)

  • james g.

    I'm going to buck the trend here by saying: A. The food here is great. B. Kabul is in Afghanistan, not Persia. Afghani food does have significant Persian influences (expected given that the Daris are closely related to the persians), but also has noticeable Moghul and Central Asian influences. This shouldn't be surprising given the geography. The food is great. Be adventurous, try the pumpkin. You'll be pleased. In fact, i'd say that in almost any afghani restaurant, you should try the pumpkin. The bread is great, the lighting is low, the bathroom is deep below the earth. The salad is a bit out of place, i'll admit. But i can get past that.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth R.

    Perhaps food is food and shouldn't be based on taste vs. price ratio. But when it comes to my experience at Kabul, I have to look at ratios. Neither was I wowed nor disappointed. I'd wanted to give it a go for about a year, and when I finally tried it one Sunday evening, I found it a pleasing and warm atmosphere, yet I found the cuisine a hit/miss. I enjoyed my vegetarian entree, but was puzzled at the salad that began the meal. It seemed more like a miniaturized version of a starter salad at your local Bennigan's. The service was adequate. The price was a bit more than I would have imagined for the quality (and quantity) of dish. I enjoyed the dining experience, but was not overwhelmed with joy. I liked the place. But that's as far as I go.

    (3)

  • J B.

    Romantic BYO Adventure For those of you who haven't tried Afghan food, don't be afraid - it's delicious! I have been to Kabul many times over the last few years and have never once been disappointed. The location is fantastic if you want to bar-hop, check out a nice view or grab a drink nearby before or after dinner. This dimly lit restaurant is adorned with brightly colored Afghan decor and makes you feel as if you've left the Philadelphia city streets and entered a secret romantic spot to rendezvous. There's unique items including piercing artwork and bright clothing adorning the walls for you to look at. You can sit at a table, or in a special area with pillows on the floor. As I mentioned, I've never been disappointed by the food at Kabul, and I've tried many things. My must-have's are the Buranee Kadu (pumpkin with meat sauce & yogurt) & Dal (yellow lentils with onions & spices). Then I always like to choose one lamb and one chicken dish and split everything with someone else. Some of my staples are Korma-E-Murgh (chicken with tomatoes, onion, garlic and afghan spices) or Korma-E-Grossfant (lamb with tomatoes, onion, garlic and afghan spices), Bandenjan Chalaw (lamb & eggplant with tomatoes, onions and spices), and Dal-E-Murgh (chicken with lentils, onions, garlic & spices). You can choose white, saffron or brown rice to acompany your meal. I've tried the saffron and white, and although I typically always gravitate toward saffron, here, I now always choose white. It's cooked perfectly and a delicious side! My favorite appetizer is the Sambosa Goushti (fried pastry with ground beef, chickpeas & spices - amazing coriander sauce). I would recommend getting 2-3 appetizers your first time though because there are so many good ones! The sauces really make them special, so don't forget to dip or drizzle! The salad is so good! Again, the dressing is what makes it with some combination of mint and maybe lemon. I like to save some of the salad until the food comes, which is a very tough feat because it's so good, and then sprinkle some white rice on it. It may sound weird, but it's worth a try. I've never saved enough room for dessert, but they have things like baklava, carrot cake, Afghan puddings & ice cream to add a sweet ending to a fabulous feast. It's a cool spot, with interesting decor and delicious food. It's definitely worth checking out!

    (4)

  • MsPandora P.

    Kabul is my current favorite restaurant in Philadelphia, and probably the best Afghan restaurant I've ever been to. It's a popular spot that fills up quickly on weekend evenings. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, even romantic - but what keeps me coming back is the food. From the appetizer list, try the Bulanee Gandana and Bulanee Kadu - fried turnovers filled with scallions and herbs, and delicately spiced pumpkin, respectively. They remind me of fried wontons. The complimentary salad is rather unpretentious - iceberg lettuce and sliced cucumber, with a few carrot shavings tossed in. The dressing makes it special, though. It's a zingy, tangy, yogurt-based concoction that tastes of garlic, mint, and I think cilantro... very tasty. The menu boasts many vegetarian entrée options, which makes me very happy. One favorite is the Norenge Palaw - chunks of eggplant simmered with tomatoes and spices, covered by a mound of sweet, cardamom-scented saffron rice, and topped with almonds, pistachios, and slivers of candied orange zest. Another favorite is the Chalaw Lobya - kidney beans simmered with onions in a wonderfully spiced tomato sauce, then topped with a touch of yogurt and a dash of green powder, which I think may be finely ground mint leaves; this dish is served with a plate of deliciously spiced white or brown basmati rice. I also love the Chalaw Sabzi - spinach cooked with kidney beans and spices, with a touch of tomato, also served with white or brown basmati rice. Another winning dish is Facillya - green beans cooked with onions in a tomatoey sauce. This dish is more subtly spiced than some of the others, but it's a bit spicier in heat level. Not hot, mind you; just enough to make it interesting. Simple and flavorful. This is home-style cooking at its best. Luckily they also bring you Afghan bread, kind of the Middle Eastern version of focaccia; it's perfect to sop up all that delicious sauce. And if you can't choose from the lovely selection, don't fret - you can order side dishes of most vegetable dishes for $4! If you have room for dessert, do try the Sheer-E-Yakh - vanilla ice cream topped with almonds, pistachios, and a pink rosewater-flavored syrup. It's divine. For the record: I have dined here with omnivorous friends as well, and they've all proclaimed the meat dishes to be as tasty as the veggie fare. Also, a note on the prices: Yes, they are a bit high when you look at the food-per-dollar ratio. But honestly, the food is so well prepared and so extremely flavorful, that I still feel it's worth every penny. And I have never, ever left this place still hungry. In fact, I always end up with a container of leftovers to take home and enjoy the next day.

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    I enjoyed dining here and would go again. They have a really cool seating area in the back for sitting on big pillows and eating traditional style. You have to call in advance to reserve that area. If you like saffron you will like this place. A lot of the meals are served with a saffron rice. I enjoyed their lamb very much. Reasonably priced and very friendly waitstaff.

    (3)

  • Sarah B.

    The pumpkin turnovers were fantastic, the helpings large and the staff knowledgeable but aloof. I liked the decor, the music, the location, and the overall atmosphere. The menu was decently priced for the food.

    (3)

  • TD L.

    Don't let the star rating fool you. If you are one of those willing to overlook poor service to eat good food, this restaraunt is will reward you for your wait and/or tolerance. I went there with a friend, and perhaps our age (early 20s) was a contributing factor to our poor service, but I don't believe that anyone should be treated like we were at $18 a plate. Salads which were supposed to be complimentary with every entree were forgotten, just as it felt like we were. About 15 minutes after finishing our appetizer, our first contact with the server was for him to come over and ask "So, can I get you anything else?" I was shocked. Also, the supposed "choices" of rice type, were not so much as mentioned. Now, the food (when it finally came), was excellent, though clearly the aesthetic is NOT priority. The dishes appeared to come from a country diner, and the overall decor looked haphazard and cheap. Upon further reflection, like a recent debate I watched, I wonder if the quality of the food was surprisingly good because the experience up to that point had been mediocre. I ordered a "weekend specialty": chicken in a yoghurt sauce with onions, lentils and a hefty amount of paprika, served with rice spread on a plate. It was somewhat like an Indian take on Hungarian goulash, but it worked quite well. My friend took the safe route and selected a more traditional dish, in which the lamb was "tender and delicious" (according to him). The appetizer was excellent, sort of an Afghani dim sum, dumplings stuffed with scallions covered in a yoghurt/lentil/ground beef sauce. I might consider going again, but perhaps on a weekday, when the waiters will HAVE to pay attention to us.

    (3)

  • Andreas W.

    Do not eat here! Period! I found hair in my food and after hassle and 20 mins they took it back. The door was wide open and bugs were everywhere. I've never been somewhere this disgusting. Please do yourself a favor and stay away!

    (1)

  • Kaitlin L.

    A friend and I have been meaning to go here forever. Last night was finally the night. Dimly lit and quiet, Kabul sort of feels like a date night choice. However, as the night progressed, more groups came in although it was never full (we went on a Tuesday at 6:30, so no surprise there). You are immediately greeted with an amazing aroma of delicious food and spices. The staff is very warm and welcoming. When asked about his favorites, our server picked out a few from the menu and then answered "everything is good!" We ended up getting B. Shorba-E-Kadu, a pumpkin soup that was really tasty (and a bit spicy!), Norenge Palaw, lamb with saffron rice, orange peels, pistachios, and almonds, and Bandenjan Chalaw, lamb and eggplant over white rice. Kabul allows you do decide how spicy you want your meal, so we let the server know we'd like a bit of a kick to our food. It was delicious! Although you get quite a bit of food, I couldn't stop eating until my plate was gone. Kabul is on par with Ariana's. I'd say the lighting might make this better for a quiet crowd while Ariana might be best for a larger group.

    (4)

  • Sybil K.

    Big Fan! I had the Kabuli Palaw ...Delicately seasoned chunks of lamb under a heap of brown rice, garnished with carrot strips, raisins, almonds, and pistachios. It was amazing. The meal came with a salad that was perfect with a yogurt dressing. My dining partner had the Sabzi-e-Murgh ... Pieces of chicken cooked with chopped spinach in a delicately flavored tomato and onion sauce. She was wowed! I had the Afghani Iced Tea - tea with lime and hint of cardamom that had a flavor of drinking rose water. Heaven. My dinner companion had the Mango Dough (Afghani version of a Mango Lassi) Perfect. Dessert was the Sheer-E-Yakh Afghan ice cream topped with saffron syrup, sprinkled with pistachios, almonds, and cardamom and it was awesome. Needless to say I will be back.

    (4)

  • Maria E T.

    The lamb with mushroom and saffron rice was very tasty. I love the mix of the lamb with the sweet rice. I recommend this place. It is a must try.

    (4)

  • Samantha H.

    Mad tasty! A friend took me here a few years ago and I've been coming back since. I always order some dish that's a buncha tasty meat and stuff with rice. I'm not sure what it is, I just know it's super delicious and it's been too long since I've had it! They also have great drinks, appetizers, and desserts to share. All for totally reasonable prices! Though maybe prices that should be saved for special occasions. The atmosphere is nice too, with dim lighting and sweet middle-eastern jams.

    (4)

  • Liza B.

    My best friend and I went to eat at this Afghani restaurant in the old part of Philadelphia. We were first asked whether or not we had reservations to which we said no. He then said that it was okay, that there was an open table (I actually saw several). We were thrilled, not only because we were both ravenously hungry but also because I had heard such good things about it from my friend. So, we ordered two rice and chicken dishes, one with slices of oranges over saffron rice, and the other with onions and some other vegetables that I cannot recollect at the moment. As we waited for the entrees, the waiter brought over a very non-Afghani style salad with iceberg lettuce and ranch dressing. The main dishes were not bad but I have to admit that it left me craving Persian food.

    (3)

  • John B.

    This has been one of my " go to " places for more than 10 years. I use to live Old City and loved the food and atmosphere. The owner is great and has a good memory for regulars. Good vegetarian selections too. Prices are very good especially considering the overpriced restaurants in the area. I am getting hungry thinking about Kabul - might go tonight.

    (5)

  • Frank Z.

    Kabul is an inexpensive Afghani BYO that has been around for awhile with a very low profile. This variety of Persian food is interesting and somewhat exotic; a bit like Indian, but not as spicy. A well made salad (if you can tolerate iceberg lettuce!) with yogurt dressing and Afghan flat bread accompanies all meals. Try the turnover appetizer - a light pastry filled with coriander flavored potatoes and vegetables. A kebab entree (choices include lamb, chicken, or vegetarian), all served with brown rice, is a good way to sample this kitchen. Classic pilau rice dishes are all flavorful with seasoning unique but approachable for most palates. The service is courteous and friendly. This is a great place to be introduced to Persian food. Try it.

    (3)

  • Jonathan G.

    Unfortunately I can't be sure what I had here because I'm pretty sure I got the wrong dish. What I ordered did not have lentils in the description and I know for sure that the dish that I ended up getting had more lentil than chicken. So I think I had got Dal-E-Murgh when I really ordered Korma-E-Murgh. When I asked my server though he said that I had the right order. Either way the dish wasn't bad --- just unimaginative with none of the deep flavor that you would expect from an Afghan restaurant. It came with a salad which I could probably have thrown together at home in about half a second. The server was pretty friendly though.

    (3)

  • Megan L.

    Really good food: nicely spiced and leaves you enjoying the flavors for hours afterward. (This is a good thing in my book!) Recommend the appetizers and lamb with saffron rice and orange peel.

    (3)

  • Amy B.

    I like Afghan food a lot. I remembered seeing this place a few blocks from our hotel and when the gal at Zahev laughed at me when I asked if they could accommodate a party of 5 that night, I figured Afghan would be a great alternative. We ordered a sampler of appetizers, including the balunee kadu (I love anything kadu) and the aushak, both of which were great. We ordered norenge palaw and the Kabuli chalaw and both were very good. The portions were huge and I was almost stuffed after just the appetizers. Our waiter was very nice and explained the menu to us thoroughly. It is a BYOB, so make sure you bring your wine with you. My only complaint is that the music was so loud with so few people in the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Jessica T.

    My fiancé and I love Kabul! The rose, orange lamb dish is an explosion of flavours and we order it EVERY time we come. The apps are delightful followed by a salad. The yogurt dressing is tangy and fresh! Yes, they sell it if you ask. The table by the front window is the best or the table in the back if you are with a group. The service is always top notch and the food comes out with perfect timing. They are a BYOB and don't forget dessert! Cardamom ice cream with rose!

    (5)

  • Matthew N.

    There are no wrong choices on the menu. I was skeptical because I don't always like middle eastern food, but we ordered several items (4 apps 2 entrees and 2 desserts) and they were all delicious. Wally was excellent at recommending dishes and was very friendly.

    (5)

  • Olesya P.

    4 stars for quality and taste. We ordered chicken from weekend specials and lamb with pistachios, raisins,carrots and brown rice. Food was cooked perfect, also it was fresh and very tasty. You get salad and bread with entry, so it what we got. Unfortunately, service was very slow. The place was full of people and just two waiters. We had to ask for waiter couple of times. The place also is not very clean and modern. It is definitely needs some innovations in the design. I understand that they want to keep it authentic, but it still can be nicer. Bathrooms were creepy, and candles on the tables were like from cemetery. Since we had groupon 15$ for 30$, it was not expensive, but we would not come here for full price. There are too many great places in Philly that charge similar money but nicer inside and with better service. So, we liked it but we will not come back without a groupon.

    (4)

  • Andrea V.

    I have always wanted to try Afghan food and Groupon conveniently supplied a way to do that this past month. I was wondering what kind of experience I would have after reading reviews here. Fortunately, everything turned out nicely! I had the potato and green onion turnover as an appetizer, which was a good, flavorful starter. My friend had the yellow lentil soup, which was also a hearty start for a cool night. I don't recall the exact names of what we had as entrees, but mine was lamb with saffron rice, pistachios, and rose-water marinated orange peel. I recall that it was one of the house specialties and now I know why! It was delicious. I couldn't have left a speck of it on the plate if I tried. Of note, I did ask for my lamb to be prepared spicy, so it gave it a good kick. Next time, I might ask them to omit the orange peel, because the sweetness of the saffron rice plus the orange peel became a bit overwhelming. Problem solved with picking out the bits of orange peel. Other reviews have said the portions were small and the meat/rice ratio was off, but I got a good amount of tender lamb to go with my heap of rice. My friend got one of the rice and veggie dishes and cleaned her plate. She had eaten only a few hours before but loved her meal so much that she found room. Throughout our dining experience the staff was attentive and polite. We never wanted for water or anything else. Overall, our experience was delicious and a fun change-up. Prices are a little steep, but it's definitely worth it once in a while. Plus, you sound super cool and cultured when you say you ate Afghan food for dinner last night. In all seriousness, think how many people will never be able to try it! Get there.

    (4)

  • Jason R.

    Came here the other night and I have to say that it's the best afghani food I've ever eaten in my life. Give the food a 10/10 and the decorations were very cool to say the least.. Service was great and I will definitely be coming back in the near future!

    (5)

  • Shereen C.

    Food is not bad, but Expensive for portion size. Worth it at third-price. 2.5 stars

    (3)

  • Christopher K.

    Excellently prepared basmati rice, with delicately prepared lamb and condiments. BYOB is a plus.

    (4)

  • daniel a.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Philly. Great food that you can't get anywhere else. Great service. Fantastic vegetarian options. Go here now. Yes, you.

    (5)

  • Jamie S.

    Good dinner, quirky ambiance, very affable service. Consider the 4 appetizer sampler ($15); we enjoyed fried turnovers stuffed with feta, meat, and scallions (separately, though stacking them in to a turnover sandwich with the green dip in between is recommended... by me) plus meat dumplings. For the main, the lamb chops are really well done. My lamb over saffron rice was almost as good. They give you a ton of rice and a reasonable portion of lamb. All mains come with bread and salad. If you get an app, save the dipping sauces that come with it for the bread that comes later.

    (4)

  • Jesus R.

    My sister and I came here for our annual quirky Thanksgiving meal. The service was great, the atmosphere was very nice and the food was delicious.

    (4)

  • Sarah F.

    My boyfriend and I were pleasantly surprised by Kabul. I had purchased a groupon a few months ago, and with the expiration date just around the corner, it was now or never. The restaurant is warm and cozy, and I'm nearly certain it hasn't changed much since it first open. (22 years ago, this place is almost as old as me!) You should definitely make a trip down to the bathroom, as I really enjoyed looking at the photos and Afghani goods in the stairs. The owner was serving the entire restaurant by himself, but we never had to wait for or ask for anything. It seemed like a few of the diners were regulars, and one couple even offered some suggestions to us. Since we've never eaten Afghan food before, we went all out. We ordered the appetizer sampler with numbers 3,4,7 and 12. Number 3, some kind of pumpkin turnover was phenomenal, as was number 12, dolmas. I've had dolmas from many different places, and I've always felt kind of "eh" about them. These were so good, I contemplated an order to go, but I wasn't sure how well they'd keep overnight. Appetizers down, we were excited! My boyfriend ordered a lamb and tomato dish and asked for it spicy. I ordered an eggplant dish with sweet saffron rice. The saffron rice is extremely sweet (they were not kidding in the description), however I really liked the meal. When the owner checked back, he even made sure that the lamb dish was spicy enough for my boyfriend's liking. On to dessert. I got the carrot cake, which wasn't too much different than the carrot cake you're probably used to, but it did have cardamom and a few other unique touches. My boyfriend ordered the ice cream which was also good. It was a little bit expensive, but a great experience. It isn't often I say this, but I would go back even without a Groupon.

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    Pretty expensive for what turned out to be a pretty bland and small portioned meal. Bread was overly dry also. I ordered the Sabzi Chalaw, and it just left no impression. However, the interior is pretty and the staff is friendly, which brings it up to two stars.

    (2)

  • Brian C.

    I was here the other night with some friends, and had a pretty decent meal here. The restaurant itself is small, but I appreciated the decor and the feeling it had. I had the Kofta-E-Murgh, seasoned chicken meatballs with rice. They were pretty tasty, but it was a large plate of rice and a few meatballs in a small bowl on the side. I thought that the price was a bit much for this. The service wasn't bad, but they miscalculated our bill... that's okay though, mistakes happen. I would come back, but I feel that the food is slightly overpriced.

    (3)

  • Albert S.

    The food was really good. Had the Sambosa's, a Turnover, and the Egg Plant with safron rice. We also shared the pumpkin with white rice and fish kebab. All were very good and the service was nice. Only criticism would be the large amounts of rice per dish. Other than that, would recommend. .

    (4)

  • Ray L.

    Restaurant.com brought me to this establishment (since I purchased a $25 gift certificate on the cheap). I otherwise probably would not have ever tried this restaurant, so in that sense Kabul Restaurant, the Restaurant.com gig totally worked! This was my first time having Afghan food so I don't profess to have a lot of knowledge in this area. I thought the food was well seasoned, but like others have mentioned on this site, I think overpriced. My entree (lamb & eggplant) came in a bowl along with a huge bed of rice. I can't say that there was very much lamb (although I thought that it was good), but I wasn't still hungry at the end of the meal so that's good. Maybe in this day and age of ridiculous portion sizes at restaurants, this is probably a good thing for us. Still, $15 for that amount of food is a bit much. On the other hand, maybe there aren't that many Afghan options in the city, and in that case, one might well (happily or unhappily) pay $15 per entree. In sum, a decent experience, but I don't know that I'll go back unless the prices are lowered (or I get another gift certificate).

    (3)

  • Ed C.

    This place is very charming and quiet and has a lot of vegan food options. I had several different vegetable dishes and all were very tasty. However, some of the dishes are served with yogurt, so you have to make sure you ask for it without!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth P.

    I came here after buying the groupon deal. It was my first time checking out Afgan food and overall, I thought it was an okay experience. My general impression of the place is... it tries too hard. To explain, let's start with the menu. The menu is quite lengthy and gives the impression of a great number of dishes and wide selection. However, it seems like it's basically the same type of food with slight modifications listed, one after another. *Okay, here I must 'fess up and say, I haven't tried all the dishes and am not a connoisseur of Afgan food so I may be wrong* but I say this because (perhaps out of ignorance) an entire section of the menu with 4 or 5 different dishes would be dedicated to your choice of chicken or lamb with a) white rice, b) saffron rice, c) brown rice -- basically listing these possible choices. The dish I ordered was actually really good, but I think the portion was a bit on the smaller side. Oh also, I'm not a huge fan of lamb because of the smell/aftertaste but they cook it with spices in a way that engulfs all the pieces that keep me from ordering lamb. As for the service, I thought they were courteous, but a little awkward at the same time... Oh, and it really annoyed me that they have a $20 minimum on credit card purchases. Ironically, on the door of their storefront, they plastered stickers of different credit cards as if to announce that they accept all kinds of credit cards; but, in reality, they have a minimum purchase. lol.

    (3)

  • Casey A.

    I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. Came here because I absolutely loved the food I ate in Kabul, Afghanistan. They did not disappoint! If you want traditional afghan food come here! It's amazing! The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is traditional and inviting! If you don't know what to order the wait staff is more than willing to help you! This place is a must go!

    (5)

  • Katie L.

    Kabul is understated and wonderful. Needed a place to grab a bite before a film at the Ritz, so we tried this on a whim. Didn't have a reservation, but arrived early enough that it wasn't a problem. Service was either cool or warm, depending on who came to the table, but the food took center stage. Would definitely recommend even for folks not familiar with Afghan food - if you like India, this isn't far off. Solid dishes (we had sambosas, dahl, and kofta) and fast service. We'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Soy L.

    It's been 13 years since my previous visit and that's far too long. The food is still great and the ambiance is wonderful. The rose water and cardamom combination is heavenly, both in the entrees and the desserts.

    (5)

  • Sara P.

    Omg. This is spectacular. It is near Front Street where we found on-street, kiosk- cheap parking. We went inside and loved looking at the Afghani clothes that adorned the walls. We were served by one of the most lovely waitresses I ever met; she was sweet and really listened to what we wanted. She picked up on a few of my eating dislikes/likes and double-checked with me before giving me a salad that she thought I might not like. I ordered the combo where you select four items. The carrots were sweet. The beans were hearty. The eggplant was super. The meat eaters and veggies were equally happy with the meal. By the way, the carrot cake is very good and in my view was the best dessert offered.

    (5)

  • Christina S.

    I gave it a three-star instead of two-star because truthfully I don't have prior experience to compare the quality. Let's start with decor which I found to be very authentic and exotic. It definitely gave the restaurant a nice touch. Once you are seated, they light the oil candle on your table. Overall, the environment created an atmosphere that coincides with the cuisine. Staff was accommodating and considerate. My friend and I picked out two dishes. Each dish is served with your choice of white, brown, or saffron rice. I chose the saffron rice which is made from sweet potato and was of course sweet. The portions are odd in that the rice was spread out on a ~10-12 inch plate and actual dish is considerably smaller (slightly bigger than the size of my palm and I have asian hands if that means anything). (1) Korma-e-Samarock ($17) had lamb and mushrooms. The sauce was too diluted for my taste and I couldn't taste the spices. (2) I can't remember the second dish name but it had tilapia with tomato based sauce ($17). This was my favorite dish out of the two because I just love fish. Two pieces of break also came with the meal. Overall, the price was outrageous for the portions. Luckily, we had a groupon deal. However I dont think I will return with another groupon. If you are interest in trying out Afghan food, try another cheaper place before coming to this one. It's really hard to gauge the quality and the expectation.

    (3)

  • John D.

    Always one of my favorites, have been going here for 20yrs now. The food is unlike anything you will find anywhere else and will not disappoint. Start with appetizer sampler. Kadu, a turnover filled w/pumpkin is the best and make sure to also get Sambosa Goushti stuffed with meat and chick pea. I can taste the lamb Kabuli Palaw rite now. It is chucks of stewed lamb in a mound of rice with pistachios, carrots, raisins, almonds with some of the sauce from the lamb on top. Family always love the Lamb Chop Kabobs and Aush which is a veggie soup w/meat a bit of mint and yogurt. I love this place and have recommended it to so many people thru the years. I have yet to hear anything but positive things. Ask for Walid - a great guy.

    (5)

  • Kristin W.

    After seeing a deal on BuyWithMe, we decided to try Afghan cuisine and loved it! -Bulanee Kachaloo (turnover stuffed with spiced mashed potatoes and chopped onions) and Bulanee Kadu (turnovers stuffed with spiced pumpkin and onions) were both tasty, but we loved the sweet pumpkin Kadu more than the Kachaloo which just tasted like seasoned mashed potatoes. -Kabuli Chalaw (chicken under white rice, garnished with carrot strips, raisins, almonds, and pistachios) doesn't have a large portion of meat, but you can order extra meat for $2. The chicken was a little dry, but had a rich flavor without being heavy. Entrees come with a salad that is a little too generously doused in something like ranch - I'd request the dressing on the side. You can save 20% off your meal with this coupon after buying 2 entrees: kabulafghancuisine.com/c…

    (4)

  • Carolyn L.

    meh. My visit was fine, but I wasn't impressed. The server was very kind and always on top of water refills. I ordered saffron rice and a lamb dish, but was presented with white rice and a chicken dish. I was ok with the rice, but sent my chicken back for lamb; I want the animal that I asked for. The problem was fixed without any fuss and in record time. No Problem. My entree (Lamb and eggplant in a onion-tomato sauce) was enjoyable, but nothing amazing. The lamb itself was super tender and very flavorful. There just wasn't enough flavor overall to me--in hindsight, I probably should have asked for it to be spicy. The Afghani bread that accompanies the meal was tasty as well (kind of buttery, kind of sweet, a little dense, great for sopping up extra sauce). Apps: Grape leaves with red pepper sauce and Aushak (dumplings filled with scallions and smothered with some kind of yogurt sauce). The grape leaves were good, quite acidic, but otherwise they were what one would expect. The dumplings were forgettable, there was literally no flavor...at all. Really weird because they look like they have a lot going on. Turkish coffee...blurgh! Not my thing, but I won't knock them for it. It's just not my taste. I had a coupon from restaurants.com ..paid $3.50 for $25. The bill came to $30.00 including tax a gratuity. I was OK with this, but I don't think I would eat here at regular price. If I did, I would only order entrees.

    (3)

  • Sunia T.

    Cute little Afghan place. The servings were huge, you could definitely order one dish and share with two to three people. There was a lack of seating so we sat on the ground in this separate boxed area with pillows and had to remove our shoes, it added to the authentic feeling. Everything was really just A-Ok, nothing more and nothing less.

    (3)

  • Jessica M.

    I absolutely lived this place! We were first timers, taking advantage of a spontaneous Groupon purchase. It's in Old City area, very close to the waterfront. It's a small, hole-in-the-wall sort of joint, which is my favorite. It had a small intimate atmosphere with lots of authentic Afghan artifacts and such in the walls to look at, as well as traditional music in the back ground. We had the Aushak appetizer and it was phenomenal. I had the Norenge Palaw and I absolutely loved it. The flavors were unique but harmonious. The lamb was very tender and everything was seasoned well. Everything, sauces and all, are made in house and you can taste the authenticity. All in all, I will definitely be returning to Kabul and highly recommend it to any and all adventurous foodies who appreciate good ethnic food.

    (5)

  • debbie a.

    Coming to Kabul for dinner was my first experience with Afgan food. To be honest, as a huge fan of Indian food, I was expecting something just like it because of the similarities in the spices used. Needless to say, I was abit off. There is something about Afgan food that is more delicate than the super, seasoned food of India. The décor was minimal, and the bathrooms were located downstairs (not so fun to go downstairs), but the restaurant was pretty quiet and enjoyable to be in. We ended up ordering: 6. Sambosa... $4.00 Deep-fried pastries stuffed with vegetables, chick peas and spices, served with Kabul sauce These were MUCH smaller than I was expecting. They were about the size of Japanese Gyozas with the nod to the Indian Samosa without the punch of intense flavor in your mouth. The kabul sauce tasted like a mint-cilantro sauce that usually is served with Indian cuisines as well. Pretty good, but could have used some more. House salad (comes with food) made from fresh lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers with yogurt house dressing I don't know how they make this dressing, but honestly falls into one of my favorite dressings =) not being a huge fan of mayo leaves me with very little dressing that taste creamy - this was amazing the perfect rich creaminess that I've missed in all those vinaigrettes I opt for over mayo based dressings. 28. Korma-E-Murgh... $16.00 Delicately seasoned boneless diced chicken with tomatoes, onions,, garlic, and selected Afghan spices, served with white rice This dish was delicious! I could not stop eating it. There was something about the balance in this dish that made each element come through. I tasted it all of it instead of a mouthful of coriander/cumin. Very Nice. 41. Chalaw Sabzi ... $15.00 Cooked Afghan style, chopped spinach topped with seasoned sauce, served with white rice Being Korean American, I have a fondness for spinach that is not pureed to oblivion, but I make the exception here with Chalaw Sabzi and with Saag Paneer. I keep on mentioning this, but the balance of the spices in this place is great! I loved this dish. 54. Buranee Bandenjan ... $4.00 Sauteed eggplant, topped with meat sauce and yogurt Yummy. This eggplant was fried with the sauce on top, it was perfect. Def try this. SAFFRON RICE: We also ordered 1 dish of saffron rice - A big hit with the toddler, but far too sweet for me. I think this would have been a better accompanyment if the dishes had been spicer. Overall: Server was polite and helpful Décor was minimal, but I never really cared that much about décor anyway - food is key. Food - pretty good, but I have no reference to draw from. May have been overpriced. Will try other Afgan restaurants out there and re-review.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

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

Kabul

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