4. Restaurants

Kabul Afghan Cuisine

2301 N 45th St, Seattle, WA, 98103
  • (206) 545-9000
  • Store is closed

Kabul Afghan Cuisine Menu

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  • Abhaya P.

    Went to this place on a Saturday night. Immediately got a table. We got the mushroom qorma which was amazing. Loved the flavor and spices. We then got the murgh kabab and the bara kabab as entrees. I loved the rice! I think it was the first time I finished all the rice on my plate. The kababs were good but i felt they could have been a little softer. Though the best part of the dinner was the chocolate mousse . It was Belgian chocolate and the best chocolate mousse I've had in a long time. 5 stars for that. All in all a really nice experience

    (4)

  • NellieBly W.

    Oh my gosh, this was so good! We shared the combination kebab for two dinner and I couldn't stop exclaiming about how great it was. The staff was super attentive and friendly as well. The only down side was the parking.

    (5)

  • Lizabelle C.

    We've been going here for years and the food is always delicious I love the Kabuli Palaw a sumptuous rice exploding with flavor. And no matter how full I am I cannot pass up the Firni. Add to that a cozy atmosphere and you have a winner of a restaurant. All this talk of Kabul makes me realize I need to go make a reservation to create more great food memories here.

    (5)

  • Ken T.

    I'm so surprised this place doesn't have more reviews as it deserves it!! Easily one of the best meals that I've had in recent memory!! Taste: 5/5 I had the seekh kobab with eggplant, and honestly it was amazing. The rice, the steak, the eggplant all played exceptional well of each other. Flavors were complex, meat was tender and delicious and it all worked fantastically!! My date had the ashak and that was equally delicious! Value: 4/5 Definitely a little bit more expensive but soooo worth it! In total i paid $63 after tax and tip for a glass of wine (riesling) an appetizer, two entrees and a desert to share. Now I wouldn't come and eat here everyday due to it's pricier nature, but it is well worth the money! Service: 5/5 I'm assuming that our waitress was also the owner, but she was FANTASTIC! She was nice, warm and accommodating. Knew the menu inside and out, and made great recommendations. Checked in on us to make sure we were doing well, water was always filled and food came out in a reasonable time. Decor: 5/5 Clean setting, and a very intimate atmosphere! Highly recommended for date nights! If you put great food(unique at that) paired with great ownership and service, that's the results you're gonna get! This place has become one of my new favorites!!!

    (5)

  • Sara H.

    I am perhaps a bit biased. After all, my sweetheart and I fell in love at that little table, right there, in the corner, on our third date. Also, the food is delicious and they stock some unusual (and tasty!) wines. The kabuli palaw is out of this world. I also enjoy the Badenjan Borani immensly. My dining partner enjoyed the flavors of the dish but could not get over the texture of eggplant ("like sucking slime off of bones", he says). The Ash soup and Firni custard dessert were also great. I hear the kebabs are the best in the area, though I'm not a meat eater myself.

    (5)

  • Jessica N.

    Kabul is an all time favorite ...and I'm picky about my middle eastern food! Everything is on point, from friendly service to quality food. Kabobs are always cooked and seasoned perfectly. The rice is SO good. I definitely recommend adding on the eggplant to the dish you order and stick with the kabob plates. I love the chicken and lamb kabob. It's a small, cozy restaurant and gets busy on weekends so you may want to make a reservation. My only gripe is the wine... Not the best. The food makes up for it though so definitely give it a try! Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Aprameya R.

    This was one of my must-eat places in Seattle. It still is, after three years. The main reason for that is the Phirni, which is rather exquisite. It is the right amount of sweet (this much sugar in any other dessert and I would give up but it is the right amount for Phirni and it tastes as it should). The rest of the food is good as well. The lamb kebabs are always juicy and never overcooked. The chicken kebabs don't look like they have the fake artificial coloring or masala on them and taste very nice. The appetizers are decent. I would also recommend the dogh, especially if it is summer day because it refreshes and is nicely spiced. The owner-chef is a really nice gentleman. We've now met on more than one, and at each meeting he has been courteous, inquiring about the food and telling us tidbits about Afghanistan and talking about India. Overall, I would highly recommend Kabul, for just a get-together, or an intimate evening or a casual dinner.

    (4)

  • David B.

    If you eat there after sunset, you won't be able to see a thing: it's very dark in here. You also won't be able to see the sign down at the other end of the block that says you can't park on the streets without a permit. That made this the most expensive meal I've had in a long time. The food was good, though, Indian in general style without being quite the same as at Indian (or other Afghan) restaurants I've been to.

    (4)

  • Mytoan N.

    Each dish typically comes with jewelled rice consisting of julienned carrots, raisins, and spices. The steak kebabs are amazing, chunks of medium rare skewered beef, rice, and cucumber salad. If you like soups order the Ash, it is very similar to the Persian version. Excellent service. I can't wait to try the food here again.

    (5)

  • Isaiah G.

    I spent about a week in Seattle and this is by far the best meal I had. I've been to different countries in rhe middle east, and this is just as good as anything there. Our server was courteous and timely with the food. We were seated right away. We chatted with the owner for a bit, he was very friendly. I ordered the rack of lamb and everything was seasoned perfectly and made fresh. I decided to end the night with tea and baklava, it was over the top. I would recommend anybody this place.

    (5)

  • Shweta J.

    Lovely intimate restaurant. We had an order of the chicken kebab and lamb kebab, both were great. Portion sizes are perfect for one. The pilaf rice is also really nicely flavored. Service was pleasant, not overly attentive.

    (4)

  • Pallavi S.

    The food here is just amazing and the ambiance excellent. Friendly staff as well.

    (5)

  • Yavnika K.

    Kabul was highly recommended by my husband and rightly so. Great to have had such nice kebabs away from home. Phenomenally good in comparison to the local Afghan joint- so definitely worth the travel to Wallingford. We wanted to taste the lamb rack there but it was not available that time. The phirni was greenish in color ( I thought there was food color added to it) but it tasted excellent. I had the chai which was good, but dogh was way better! The waitress was a bit lost and came back several times interrupting us in what seemed like a quite evening for us as a couple. She was quite dazed even though we came on a slow,late night. The owner, spoke to us nicely about the food and New Delhi. The food overall made up for whatever was amiss in the service. We'll return again, assured of tasty treats.

    (4)

  • Sunny K.

    I used to love the food here. We ordered: Mushroom Qorma, which was ok Bara kebab - Lamb was a bit chewy Kebab murgh - pretty ok Firni - a bit too sweet Like the flavor of the rice that comes with these entrees Service on a Sunday was below average. Quality of food overall is not what it used to be for the price we pay. Probably wont come back to this place.

    (2)

  • Mohannad E.

    Suffices to say, the most savory restaurant in Seattle. I know it sounds lame to compare different types of restaurants, but the flavors and spices they use are just fantastic... You will want the taste to last in your mouth till next day. Also, the waiters are extremely nice and friendly.

    (5)

  • Maria B.

    Fantastic Afghani food! I cannot praise it highly enough. We started with jan-i amma which is a thick yogurt with cucumbers, onions, and mint. It was served with pieces of Afghan bread. I liked the yogurt but the bread just didn't taste fresh and as good as at other Afghani restaurants I've been to. I also like my bread hot but can see that it might not go that well with cold yogurt. My friend thought the yogurt and bread was great and said he'd get it again. I had badenjan borani and I was worried because I like eggplant but not a lot. This was so so good that I'm craving it now! A bit tangy from the tomato sauce and very flavorful. I was also pleasantly surprised that it came with a small salad We ended our meal with cardamom tea and it was so so good. I think starbucks should add this to their menu! Lastly, the service was excellent. I cannot remember the name of our waiter but he was so pleasant that it made an unbelievably good meal even better.

    (5)

  • Jennifer K.

    Yum, yum, yum! We've been coming here since 1992. Love the ashak with lamb. My favorite dessert is firni, which is a custard-like dessert with rose water and pistachio. So light and rich at the same time. Go. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Karthik U.

    Came here with bunch of friends and we came in 90 mins before closing time, when we tried ordering more entrees around 8.45 pm the waitress informed us that they closed the kitchen early tonight. But soon a couple came in and their order was taken. Waitress came and informed us the chef can make entrees but they ran out of rice. Well we were hungry and the food wasn't bad, so we ordered a rack of lamb. While we were enjoying the riceless entree, a dear guest of the owner was served a feast with lots of rice, which we paid for. Though the food was good, I m really disappointed with the service. So if you want rice with you entree go in early and make sure the owners guest are not showing up that night.

    (2)

  • Lisa C.

    I first visited this restaurant 5 years ago, and I still can't get over how wonderful food is. I look forward to dining here every time I visit Seattle. The cozy atmosphere and consistent good food make Kabul a true local gem and Yelper's delight!

    (5)

  • Mojdeh S.

    How I heard of this place: I first went to Kabul about eight years ago when a bunch of friends were meeting up there for dinner. I remember being less than impressed with the food. But the last two times I've gone over the past several months, I have greatly enjoyed the entrees ordered. Type of cuisine: Cuisine of Afghanistan's ancient city of Kabul, which "lay at the crossroads of trade between India and Central Asia, where for centuries, merchants, conquerors and explorers passed through, leaving their cultural influences behind, along with the finest delicacies from across the Asian continent". Ambiance: Dim lighting, simple. What I ordered: There were two of us at dinner last night, both of whom were fasting all day (no food or drink between the hours of sunrise and sunset), so we started with water. The ash, a traditional soup with noodles, yogurt, kidney beans and chickpeas, flavored with dill, turmeric and mint was our starter ($4.50). It feels so good to break the fast with a warm, simple soup. For dinner, I ordered the kebab murgh: a tender fillet of chicken marinated overnight in yogurt, turmeric, garlic and a touch of cayenne pepper ($16). My dining companion opted for the seekh kebab: chunks of beef fillet marinated in a blend of ground coriander, garlic and freshly ground black pepper ($17.50). For just one dollar more we were able to add a side portion of badenjan borani: eggplant sauteed and simmered in a lightly spiced tomato-based sauce, served on a bed of yogurt garlic sauce, sprinkled with dried mint. What I loved: I loved most everything! The ash was a perfect starter, warm, light, fragrant and fresh-tasting. The chicken was beautifully marinated and served alongside a large portion of rice, topped with a sprinkling of raisins and julienned carrots. The flavor of the chicken was gorgeous and a dish which I would order again at the drop of a hat. Why I loved it: I loved that Kabul was open on Monday (which many local restaurants are not) and that the food was tasty and satisfying. I also loved that there was no pressure to get us to leave the restaurant after we had eaten, nor were we rushed through our meal. We were able to sit for three hours, enjoying conversation, food, coffee...and even had the opportunity to chat with the owner (who was casually engaging in conversation with his friend at a near-by table) before leaving the premises. The staff were friendly and helpful without needing to pull up a chair (with the number of times they visited the table to ask if we were okay). Cost: low to mid range ($10-$20 for vegetarian and animal-protein options)

    (4)

  • Mario S.

    Highest quality of food, consistency, and kind hearted people. Neat. Neat. Me and my wife celebrate our highlights there for that we feel surrounded by the bests.

    (5)

  • Soren G.

    disclaimer: I don't eat land-dwellers. The meat here might be kickass. I just don't know. I'd heard really good things about the place, can't say I agree. Decor was a bit sterile, though that did have that iconic photograph of the girl whose eyes pierce your soul, so that's cool. Service was fine; she was a little scattered, but nice enough. The food took quite a while for a night that wasn't so busy. Between making our order and getting our food, the owner came in, sat at the table next to us, and was served a meal. Dude can do what he wants at his own restaurant, I suppose, but I found it odd. Food: Mushroom qorma, probably the highlight. Flavorful sauce, juicy mushrooms. I'm into that. Pretty hard to mess that one up though, and $8.50 is pushing it "Special" salad, probably the lowlight. A plate of arugula and cherry tomatoes, nice starting point. But nothing else, just a heaping plate of mostly arugula. Oh, and a pickled jalapeno, which we assumed would magically blossom into an entire salad with compelling ingredients, but it didn't. Our server also dropped off some salt and pepper, mentioning that they complement the salad nicely. Yes, dull uninspired dishes usually taste better with salt and pepper. Qorma-i Sabzi (vegetarian entree). This didn't taste bad, per se, but it wasn't interesting either. Moreover, what kind of entree is a side plate of stewed spinach? This would be more befitting of a side accompanying a substantial entree (which is what you'd expect for $16). All vegetarian entrees had this appearance. We're people too, dammit, not sparrows. Fish Qorma. not awful. Accompanying vegetables were good and well seasoned. The fish itself was exceedingly salty. Why? Probably because salt "nicely complements" tilapia, which doesn't taste like much. It's also just about the cheapest fish you can find which, again, makes the $18.50 pricetag a bit suspect. The owner asked us how it was, venturing that it was too salty before I had a chance to respond. On a different day I might have found this endearing but, as you can see, I was already in cranky-yuppy-bad-yelp-review mode. In summary: nothing awful, but salt is the dominant flavor and it's pretty overpriced.

    (2)

  • David B.

    Always go for the combo. Never been disappointed. Owner is great. Deserts are awesome you have room it is the best Mousse in the city. I have taken over a hundred people here over the years and no one has been disappointed. The chicken and beef are always flavorful and tender. The rice is rinsed so much it is almost Atkins friendly. The Ash soup is so delicious and the eggplant side it awesome. I would eat here as much as I could.

    (5)

  • M P.

    Just get over here and eat. Cauliflower dish with added lamb and the pasta dish - deeeeeeelish

    (5)

  • Rachael G.

    This place was AH-MAZING. I had never had Afghan cuisine before (not much of a market for it in the German-dominated Midwestern city in which I currently reside, unfortunately for us) and was interested to try something new while on vaca with the BF. It was a chilly, rainy Friday night and I was pretty certain we would have to wait FOREVER for a table anywhere; the BF wanted "something ethnic" and I picked this place based on, of course, Yelp reviews. If I had a dollar for every time Yelpers have saved me from a horrible meal in a strange town.... Anyways, the restaurant itself was intimate, warm and cozy (exactly what I was looking for on a chilly fall evening) with no wait. We both agreed it was the best meal we had on the whole trip; I had the eggplant-soooooooo good. I'm dreaming of it still. I wish I didn't live on the other side of the country, but at least I know where I'll be going the next time I'm in seattle!

    (5)

  • Mo S.

    My friend and I came to this place and we got ash, ghorme-i sabzi and Kabul palaw. They were all acceptable but nothing special. Considering the quality and quantity of the food, it was quite overpriced.

    (3)

  • Lisa B.

    It's hard to find Afghan food in Seattle and this place was pretty good! The ashak and rack of lamb were both amazing. Service was find but they seemed a little stressed/rushed. I liked the baklava for dessert - it was not overly sweet like most places and was nicely spiced and very fresh. The only thing I wish about this place is that the portions were a little larger.

    (4)

  • Vivek M.

    This place is awesome!!! I used a Groupon for this location not remembering I have been here maybe 3-4 years ago. I experience was great I was able to make a reservation using the Groupon and they knew who I was did not have to show anything and everything was handled at the check automatically. The food is definitely a little pricey but worth every bit. We had the rack of lamb, the lamb and chicken kebobs. The meat was super tender and well done. Just the right amount if spices. The desert (cannot recollect the name) was so good we might just go back for the dessert. The staff is super friendly and attentive.

    (5)

  • Roydyn C.

    Loved the food. So much good flavor with great fresh herbs. They don't advertise doing take out but they accommodated the request so greatly appreciated. Prepare your nose for a sensory overload when you walk in.

    (5)

  • Ashley C.

    This restaurant is a jewel. My husband and I are always on the lookout for places to take the night off from preparing meals at home without having to drop a couple of hundred dollars to ensure we get inventive and outstandingly delicious meals for our money. Kabul is now on the rotation for our outings. Upon walking in, I was struck with the immaculate and fastidiously clean yet warmly inviting interior. The service was perfection. The meal was tantalizingly mouthwatering. Dessert was otherworldly; a fresh, rose petal laced and aromatic simple custard cup. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. I will be back again and again.

    (5)

  • Ariadne Z.

    This place is great! I had the vegetarian ashak (the pasta dish) and it was insanely delicious; I couldn't stop thinking about it all week. The staff were very friendly and nice, but not in an overbearing waiter-y way. I loved it and definitely want to go back!

    (5)

  • Leonard P.

    I don't know why I put off going to Kabul for so long -- it's just a ways down 45th in Wallingford from my apartment, but the right occasion didn't show up until recently. The ambience is fine, the owner is an incredibly outgoing, fun guy who will give you tons of personal attention and tell outrageous stories, the wine list is impeccable, and the food is simply extraordinary. Definitely the best Afghan food I've ever had; we had a large party, and everyone got something different, and we were all completely satisfied. Fun fact: there's a mural on the side featuring the famous National Geographic Afghani girl, and blurs on Google Maps because they don't show peoples' faces. Anyway, this place is terrific, go there, what do you want, a tour guide?

    (4)

  • Laura T.

    I am giving Kabul 5 stars because my group of 6 had a wonderful experience there. We had a reservation for which some of us were late. The place was quite busy on Friday night so it was nice of the manager to let us trickle in. The vegetarians in the group had a couple of well balanced choices. My favorite appetizer was a mushroom dish (Mushroom Qorma). I thoroughly enjoyed the classic kebab (Seekh Kebab) that was nicely seasoned. My stomach doesn't do so well with garlic so I was a little worried after trying the kebab but all I can say the dish was all taste and no ... stomach problems. I tried the eggplant dish, Badenjan Borani, which was also nicely seasoned. I will definitely come back!

    (5)

  • Sarah V.

    The food is absolutely amazing! Came in on Saturday and it was a packed house. My boyfriend and I ordered the combination kebab for two and the bolani for two. The bolani was pretty tasty. They're turnovers with potatoes, scallions and cilantro, and served with a yogurt dip. I love that the crust is so crispy and yet the filling so soft (like mashed potatoes). The combo comes with 1 chicken kebab, 1 beef kebab, basmati rice, soup, cucumber salad and dessert. Food is pretty pricey here, $20-$25 per individual dinner so plan accordingly. I though that the combo was a pretty good deal at $50; it was more than enough food for the two of us. The ash (soup) was very good. It's got an incredibly distinct and interesting flavor that I've never had anywhere else. It was a little weird at first, but as I ate more and more, the flavors grew on me. The kebab murgh was cooked perfectly on all sides of the chicken; it was moist and tender, which is a feat in itself as chicken breast tends to dry out fairly easily. The seekh kebab was even better than the chicken! Perfectly spiced, cooked evenly at medium with a pink center. The basmati rice is really light with good flavor, but I could do without the raisins. The dessert was my least favorite part of the meal. It tasted ok, but the consistency was just too weird for me. It was kinda like eating yogurt that had gone bad, like super watery.

    (5)

  • Angela B.

    Truly enjoyed my pasta dish called Ashak. It is like no pasta I've ever had before. Made in a delish garlic yogurt sauce. I think next time I'd get the vegetarian version though, as I feel that the ground beef detracted from the quality of the meal. The staff were friendly and extremely helpful. The only thing I didn't like was the price. Kind of expensive, especially since portions are small to medium sized, depending on what you order.

    (4)

  • King C.

    Delicious. Definitely somewhere I would go if I can't get a reservation at one of my other favorites. The rice is sublime. Meats are done well too.

    (4)

  • Vega S.

    Kabul is a great dining experience. I have to say this is mostly because Afghani food is a rarity in the Pacific Northwest. I don't think the restaurant itself is doing anything special except meeting all the requirements of a $$ restaurant. The food is delicious. I had the opportunity to try the sheesh kebab and the lamb kebab and both were tender and had delicious seasoning. I do think that the heat is tempered to cater to the american palette but nothing wrong with that! Over all a great dining experience. I took one star off because the server responsible for refilling water was somewhat surly. He seemed to be the teenage son of the owner who was reluctantly put to work at the family business! :D

    (4)

  • Dimple N.

    Rack of lamb is absolutely delicious. Costs $40 or so but WORTH EVERY PENNY!

    (4)

  • Farnaz A.

    This is a nice place with great staff. We got the combination kebab and everything was so delicious. I recommend trying this restaurant. We'll definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Gwen v.

    Wonderful food and the service is outstanding. This is a great date spot or for just dinner with friends. Get the rose pistachio ice cream and cardamom custard (firni). It's incredible!!

    (5)

  • Pooja T.

    I go here mainly for chocolate mousse. It's heaven in mouth. Perfect blend of chocolate and some alcohol. It's one of the top 10 things in life that I have ever tasted. Must must must try!

    (5)

  • Anna C.

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS RESTAURANT! I come here for special occasions because it is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle (it's also a little on the pricey side). As soon as you walk in the front door, you are surrounded by great smells and cool little star lights that are strung across the walls. The owner is very friendly. The food tastes authentic and fresh, and is visually appealing as well. I love their dogh (watery yogurt drink with mint) as well as the entrees. For dessert I would order firni (rice pudding with rose water), it's SO GOOD. Unfortunately, I am now a vegetarian so I won't be able to order some of the menu items :(. I'm surprised that this restaurant does not have more reviews. Give it a try! You won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Anusha E.

    Kabul Afghan introduced us to Afghan cuisine and every other Afghan restaurant we went to after this was no where comparable to Kabul Afghan. We ordered Bolani, Bandenjan Borani and Lamb kebabs. Everything tasted really delicious and the pulao that comes with the main course is yummy too. Will definitely be going back soon.

    (5)

  • Majid D.

    I had higher expectations. Food options were way pricey! We had ghormeh-I Sabzi and Kabuli Palaw. The portion was not enough and the taste was not that good.

    (3)

  • Anony M.

    This place was fantastic. It was my first time Afghan food and loved it. We tried the combo platter for two people. It came with soup, an egg plant dish, chicken and beef kebabs, rice, bread, cucumber salad, and dessert. The food was just so tasty. It had a unique flavor of mint, cilantro, and many different spices, well marinated. The meat was cooked perfectly for my taste - it was medium, very juicy and full of flavors. We had a reservation on a Saturday night and the place was packed, we ended up waiting for less than 10 minutes, and it was worth the wait. Will be going back.

    (5)

  • N H.

    Always love this place the kebab for 2 is a great option the service has always been excellent every time i have been here plus it's the only afghan restaurant in Seattle I know of

    (5)

  • Avian N.

    No complaints. I went on a Tuesday afternoon to wait out the rush hour. The place is kept very clean and proper, suitable for a first date. The bolani appetizer reminds me of a flat egg roll, it came with a light saffron yogurt sauce that compliments it perfectly. The lamb kebab plate was spectacular. I am crazy about it even though originally I am not a huge fan of lamb to begin with. The rice was soft, compliments by raisins and the eggplant was also delicious. I had the blackberry ice cream and baklava. Both excellent desserts. Baklava has more spicy notes than traditional baklava.

    (5)

  • Jolene R.

    This is a second review just because I can't say enough great things about Kabul. The family atmosphere is great, his story is fascinating and on the website along with some lovely family photos in Kabul. Always great service, always great food! Pistachio Rosewater ice cream! Yum.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    This is some of the best food I've had in Seattle. Kabul is a small family run restaurant in Wallingford, the service was excellent but it's the food that really left an impression on us. We had the Badenjan Borani, which was an eggplant and beef dish, with spices I couldn't identify but it was one of the tastiest things I've eaten. One of those moments where you want to lick the plate. We also had the Ashak which was a delicate pasta, that was also over-the-top great.. Even the rice was perfectly cooked. It is a really special place.

    (5)

  • Maryam H.

    I love middle eastern food. Being Persian myself, I didn't think I could find anything that I like quite as much as Persian food. Kabul is so good. I loved the food and the owner was friendly as well. The kabab was perfectly seasoned, the rice was great and the soup was, perhaps, the best soup I've ever had in a restaurant. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Chelsea S.

    I've only been to Kabul once but I was pretty impressed with their food. They have a very interesting menu with some very delicious items on it. The place is small and was packed for us when we got there. Even with a reservation we had to wait a bit for a table and the service was a bit hit or miss, but mainly just because they were so busy. I had the Qorma-i Sabzi- $18.50, a combination of spinach, cilantro, parsley and scallions, topped with a special lamb sauce, served with Basmati rice. My dining partner had the Bara Kebab - $22.50, succulent pieces of lamb marinated in garlic, onions, coriander seeds, saffron and lemon juice. He also added on the eggplant for a little bit extra. Both of our meals were delicious. The qorma had amazing flavor, the lamb cooked perfectly, and the rice was well seasoned. I liked the bread a lot and I got to enjoy the eggplant because he didn't like it so much. I would go back though I haven't yet because of the service and the prices are a little high.

    (4)

  • Heidi C.

    Seriously beautiful food. My husband and I have eaten here several times and have been blown away every time. I don't often find places where I feel the chef takes such pride in his/her food. The eggplant dish is unbelievably good and so is the mushroom appetizer (and I don't even like mushrooms!) The staff is pleasant, quiet and friendly. When I tried to order a salad appetizer, the waiter reminded me that my entree came with a small salad. Thanks for saving me $5! :) I've long been a fan of Afghani food. I think if more people knew about it, they'd be hooked too. Try it. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • John C.

    My oldest son treated us as we celebrated my wife's birthday. She doesn't really like most curries, but Kabul's blend of spices land about halfway between a typical Indian dish and the milder spices you will find in most Mediterranean foods. Very tasty! The Mushroom Qorma is an excellent appetizer. I wanted more! I ordered the Qorma-i Tarkari, which reminded me of Aloo Gobi (Indian Cauliflower and Potatoes). The cauliflower was cooked a little more thoroughly than I am used to, but Oh, the flavors! My wife had a beef kebab and my son ordered the lamb kebab. Both were juicy and well spiced. And when they give you rice, it's a true bed of rice. Delicious rice! All entrees were served with a small cucumber salad. The waiter was friendly and very attentive without slipping over into being obsequious. The service topped the food. The owner - at least I assume he was the owner - came out and asked about our experience, as he had not seen us here before. The entire staff seems very proud of their offerings. I plan to frequent this restaurant whenever I'm in the area.

    (5)

  • Laura P.

    The food is still awesome, but sometimes the service is...problematic. We hosted an event here, and brought about 20 people. Neither the owner nor his son was on that night (a mistake), and the waitress we had was very ditzy and confused by the orders and the bills. In the end, she over-charged us about $300!!! We ended up just paying it because she was not smart enough to do the math and we were tired of going over it and just gave up in defeat. Really soured us on them and we stopped coming. Really a pity!

    (2)

  • Priyank D.

    For vegetarians, I would recommend to try firni, burta and dogh! Best of all the other places I have tried. Dogh has mint leaves in it which gives an excellent after taste. Firni comes with strawberries and is a good dessert choice here. Will definitely come back here again to try more.

    (5)

  • Sean H.

    I had the opportunity to try Afghan cuisine before and I am now sorry that I have been missing out. The food here was fantastic. I had the Ashak with beef. The flavors imparted by the coriander and tumeric were like nothing I had ever had before. The presentation was also quite pretty. I also loved the cucumber and tomato salad that accompanied the meal. We wrapped up dinner with shared desserts of Firni and Baklava. I would give the baklava a pass but the Firni custard is fantastic. Its unique and not-too sweet taste had me wanting more. It is a small place and the focus is on the food. Staff was friendly and the service was good. It became quite crowded by 7:30 PM or so on this Saturday which is a good sign for me as I hope they continue to be around for years to come.

    (4)

  • Jennifer N.

    This place was surprisingly awesome. I say surprisingly because I did not expect to enjoy Afgan food as I've never had anything like it before and thought it would be strange, but it was absolutely delicious! For an appetizer we had the Jan-i Amma. Basically bread with a delicious dip. It was absolutely fantastic! The dip was very different than anything i'd ever had in a good way. For dinner, my husband and I split orders of the chicken and beef kebabs. The beef kebabs were phenomenal!! The chicken ones were really good too. Highly recommend both of them. They were served with rice, and that was actually the only thing that disappointed me slightly - the rice was a little bland tasting, but it was still good. For dessert I had the chocolate gelato. Not sure it is possible to go wrong with chocolate gelato, but they didn't! It was great. Overall - awesome. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Michael G.

    We came in at 9, close to closing. Food was served fast. The lamb was over done, same for the eggplant. They for sure had it sitting around. Lots of variety to a cuisine similar to general Mediterranean. The rice was especially good. We didn't have any, but a decent beer and wine selection. People were happy and the place is clean. Pricey for most items. We'll give them another go sometime.

    (3)

  • Angela S.

    I took my mom and boyfriend here for dinner on a weeknight. We were seated immediately, and our server was very friendly and helpful. Most importantly, EVERYTHING we ate was delicious. It was pretty much to die for. We got the bolani appetizer, a couple of eggplant dishes (the burta appetizer, and the badenjan borani), and the vegetarian ashak entree. We liked the eggplant dishes the best, though it was all great. I wanted to try a few other things too, so we will definitely have go to again. YUM YUM YUM. You should definitely try this place!

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    Never had Afghan food before tonight at Kabul. Surprisingly good! Had the chicken kebab with yogurt-topped eggplant. Aren't many good restaurants in this neighborhood, so give it a try if you are in Wallingford. Excellent service as well.

    (4)

  • Adam C.

    My wife & I went here on Saturday night. It was busy & there were a couple of loud tables. Normally that would ruin the experience, but the food was so good that we hardly minded it at all. We got the kebab combination for 2 which includes a soup (Ash), salad, Basmati rice with raisins & carrots, bread, and of course, kebabs. We went for the beef & chicken, but we're planning to try the lamb next time. We loved this place so much that we went back again tonight (Monday night) & it was much quieter. The food was just as good. Since last time we had the standard desert (Firni, I want to say?) we asked to substitute the baklava instead. It was excellent! The owner warmed it up for us himself & said that's the way he likes it. We'll be back soon!

    (5)

  • Jenni K.

    Nice place, great service and good food! I enjoyed my eggplant dish, Bengadi Borani (I think). It was really flavorful and came with ground beef and yogurt dressing on top. My husbands entree, lamb kebabs, were pretty good and came with rice topped with raisins. Each entree comes with bread (think flour tortilla like) and salat, which is a small salad of cucumbers, tomatoes and lemon herb dressing. These dishes don't come with much meat. The lamb kebab was one kebab with about 6 pieces of lamb. My eggplant dish had a small amount of ground beef sprinkled on top. The staff was really helpful and friendly. The restaurant itself is clean and dimly lit, there is afgan maps on the walls and middle eastern music.

    (4)

  • Akshay H.

    The rack of lamb is to die for. I believe they recently brought this back on the menu. Also, you cannot have too much of the Mushroom Qorma or Burta.

    (4)

  • Sabine S.

    Best food I've had in a while! Very flavorful, however very garlicky. I had a vegetarian dish with spinach and my boyfriend had a beef pasta dish, both were delicious. My boyfriend especially loved the rice. The service was very friendly and the place itself is cute. My only complaints would be that the water wasn't filtered and that maybe the portions could be a little more generous for the price.

    (4)

  • Pamela K.

    Went with a group of 5 recently and it was delicious! Two of us have eaten Afghan food before and we agreed this place was excellent. Meat-eating friends enjoyed the tender lamb, and vegetarian friends enjoyed the Borani and eggplant dishes. The rice dishes were incredible and the "firnie" dessert delicious. also as a treat "Wali" the owner, who is so sweet and welcoming shared his chocolate mousse - not really a Afghan dish, but it was REALLY good. The flavors aren't exotic and the menu has something for everyone. Our little group agreed we would come here regularly!

    (5)

  • Kristi R.

    The bread appetizer we ordered was cold and tasted stale. The entrees were mediocre. Pretty disappointed. We will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Harshit G.

    Kabul is really authentic place to taste flavors of Afghan. Lamb kebab were just amazing and firni - the dessert was scrumptious. Will definitely go there again!

    (5)

  • Ken S.

    My gf raved about the flavor and quality of the food and I could only agree between mouthfuls of lamb. Service was great and the cost very reasonable. One of the best restaurants I've been to in Seattle, it's a hidden gem and well worth the trip even though we live way over there and up the mountain.

    (5)

  • Kristine H.

    I've driven by Kabul for years, never stopping in for a meal. When an out of town guest requested dinner here, it seemed the perfect opportunity to check them out. The food was excellent but the prices were too high for my personal tastes and the quantity wasn't in proportion to the cost. I wouldn't want more food per se, just a lower cost for the entrées. The food was excellent, as I said. Our group enjoyed the bolani - vegetarian turnovers filled with scallions, cilantro and potato, served with yogurt-garlic dip. I also loved my order of Badenjan Borani but my absolute favourite was the dessert - the pistachio rosewater ice cream with ground pistachios, saffron and rosewater. The flavours were delicate and I could have easily had a second portion. This from someone who isn't nutty over sweets! The dining area is small and intimate. I couldn't comment on the noise levels though because there was no one when our party dined there. The service was attentive and prompt. We never had to ask for refills on our tea or water which is always nice. Street parking only which might be difficult with crowds at the Guild or pub traffic.

    (4)

  • Tom F.

    Everything here was quite good, though I have had better. The rice was, in particular, really scrumptious and added flavor to every dish. I really appreciated the lightness that the mint and other spices added to everything, leaving you feeling satisfied rather than laden down by your meal. However, the service was a bit too intrusive and goofy, and a few dishes were edging towards mediocre.

    (3)

  • Danielle V.

    My sister and I have a love for ethnic food, which drew us to check out this neighborhood spot and we were very excited to do so based on the reviews, and glowing friend recommendations. From the moment we walked in up until the moments towards the end of our 3+ hour dining experience, we were showered with incredible customer service, a warm atmosphere that made you feel like you were at your parents dinner table from the moment you walked in, and truly amazing cuisine. what a find! we had a few minutes wait, due to the energetic buzz of the restaurant, and the lovely host and owner insisted on treating us to a couple of glasses of wine-of-our-choice for the "inconvenience". (which was nothing but a 5-10 minute delay). we will certainly be back. from the hospitality to the quality of food, to the overall amazing dining experience and service: thank you! both the lamb and eggplant entree are a MUST-best i've ever had (everything we had was stand out in flavor to be honest). see you soon :) cheers!

    (5)

  • Rachel C.

    It's very tasty! It was our first time experiencing afghan food! And then, we went for second time! Chinese people would like the taste of their food as well, although it is different cooking style！

    (5)

  • Joa K.

    3.75 stars rounded up...I came here based on Yelp reviews. Maybe it's because I've been spoiled from really good and really affordable middle eastern/mediterranean food in SoCal...but this place is over-priced for what it is. To be fair, the food is decent. But at around $17-$22 a plate, I expected more than just a small skewer of chicken kebabs, raisined-out rice, and a cucumber salad. The chicken was almost dry...perhaps a few seconds overcooked. But the flavor was nice. The rice wasn't bad. Way too many raisins in there. They give you a LOT of rice...probably to make diners full on cheap ingredients (rice) versus the more precious protein (meat)...*shrug* The eggplant was a bit overcooked for my taste. The flavors were balanced but I couldn't get over how super soggy the eggplant was. Though, I tried to finish as much as possible so that I didn't look rude... I walked away feeling alright but I don't know if I'll be back. I think I prefer to go downtown or even just a block or two from here to try something more tasty and fairly priced. The service was friendly and attentive but I see there have been some service issues in the past based on other people's reviews. I didn't experience anything of the sort.

    (4)

  • Irene S.

    I'd give this place about a three stars. Food can definitely be better. The location is great, service was good, and I loved the atmosphere. It was just the food, that was disappointing. I got the Burta for appetizer, and the Bara kebob. Honestly, both were mediocre. Lamb that came with the bara was too hard to chew, and lacked flavor. On the other hand, the rice, was well seasoned, but a little too high on the sodium. Crushed eggplant was plain mediocre, I'm not quite sure what the point of the dish was. I'm not sure if it is simply that I chose the wrong dishes that my experience wasn't as good as others. I've heard so many good things about it, and I just didn't get it. I'll probably give it another try, but won't ever order the two dishes that I ordered again.

    (3)

  • Katie O.

    I had never eaten Afghan food before, and wasn't really sure what they served or what to expect. My friend and I were immediately seated, brought some water, and attended to courteously. Opening the menu, I realized that Afghan food seemed delicious. Oooh, my taste buds were in store for some treats! We split an appetizer that was the Afghan equivalent to a samosa. It was fried potatoey goodness. My friend had ordered the eggplant dish, and at our servers suggestion, I ordered the lamb kebabs. Hers was yummy, but a little too mushy for my taste. The lamb kebabs, however, were extraordinary! I had never tasted lamb like that. It tasted almost beefy, and the spices were perfect. For dessert we split baklava and firni. I've had plenty of baklava in my day, but never with saffron. It really made it a treat. Even better was the firni. It reminded me of rice pudding, but...no rice. It was sprinkled with cardamom and garnished with a strawberry. Mmmmm. Every spoonful was delightful, it cleansed our palates, and our breath smelled sweet after. I am definitely returning to try the other kebabs and get some more firni.

    (5)

  • Juli-ann W.

    Flavorful, rich but not heavy food, with new tastes for the palate. Great atmosphere and friendly, knowledgeable owner and staff. Everything we ate was perfectly prepared, and I don't think you can go wrong with any menu choice! Save room for dessert, though! I loved the Firni and the baklava reminded me of the way my Grandma makes it. Light, flakey and not overly syrupy. Yum!

    (5)

  • Jared K.

    Pricey but worth it. Food - 5/5 - The food is absolutely fantastic. I don't think I've ever had a better kebab than the ones I've had at Kabul. They spice and cook all their meat to perfection, you can rest assure that everything you order will be tasty. Service 4/5 - I don't have any complaints about the service, it wasn't magical however. Price 2/5 - Their menu is probably more expensive than you would think. Most dishes are 16 - 25ish which seems a bit pricey to me. This is the only real complaint I have about this establishment, I will be coming back pretty often.

    (4)

  • P H.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants. I lived down the street from it for four years and couldn't believe it took me so long to drop in. My first experience, and every experience since, was excellent. The service is friendly and fast, everything on the menu is consumed with "Yum" and "Ohhhhh so good." I've tired almost every appetizer and they are all my favorite. I love the vegetarian pasta dish and I now get it every time. If you're unsure what wine will go best with your food, the server is always knowledgeable. But I think my favorite part is the owner. He is a very friendly man with excellent style and class. Most of the people there are regulars and he pulls up a chair to each table to catch up with everyone. It makes the restaurant more cozy and charming. He makes sure to visit each table and even if he has never seen you has kind words and a great sense of humor. He's what a true restaurant owner should be like. Bottom line: Whenever I want to impress, I take them here.

    (5)

  • Y F.

    I'm pretty wary of kebabs and typically stay away from lamb so my five star rating is hard to come by. Kabul blew me away. Meat in large chunks (kebabs, for instance) often suffer from the same problems: improper seasoning or dryness. The meat we had here couldn't have been further from this. Succulent, juicy pieces of meat, full of flavor is to be expected from Kabul. Everything is cooked to perfection---not too rare, not overdone. My boyfriend and I had dinner here and it was the epitome of a perfect dinner experience. Our waitress was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. She gave us great suggestions on what to get. The ambiance of the restaurant was just right--candlelit, perfect noise level. We ordered the bolani to start ("turnovers filled with scallions, cilantro and potato, served with yogurt-garlic dip"). The dip was fantastic and seemed to go with everything really well. Also ordered the kabuli palaw with lamb and the badenjan borani (eggplant and meat). Both were simply delicious. Everything was really well spiced. The salad that the entrees come with is a tiny bowl (more like sauce bowl) of tomato and cucumber chunks in a sauce. Only problem was that their Afghan bread isn't really Afghan bread----Afghan bread is a little like a cross between Indian naan and Mexican tortilla. The bread served here was more like really really thin Lebanese bread. Didn't bother me, it was still tasty and I'm not big on bread with meals anyway. Prices were a little steep but it's not like there are tons of Afghan restaurants in town...they get to charge a premium. We didn't get to try any of the desserts because we were too full though their ice creams sounded delicious. I can't wait to come back here again!

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    I was really excited to try this place. I'm not sure where all these 5 star reviews are coming from. My waiter started out with being unwilling to bring me water with no ice...something that is a bit picky on my part, but still a still a pretty simple request. He was also not knowledgeable about gluten being in the dishes (someplace with this higher price point should be able to speak to what is actually in their food. We waited about so long for our food that we learned how to fold swans out of the rectangular napkins that they use. The lamb was overdone... I was really disappointed. The steak was also overdone and dry. The cuts of meat were very tough.To be honest, it seems like it was all mass produced and waiting in a warming tray. That idea bothers me since it took so long to get our food. The rice was good, but it tastes like rice-a-Roni. The firni was good, but tasted like mostly cornstarch. Something not authentic to the dish. We had to order an additional side of rice to feel like we kind of got our monies worth. My quest for a good kabob will continue, and I will probably not return here.

    (2)

  • Rocktumblers R.

    Excellent service and a wonderful meal with my parents who were in town from Ohio. We loved the lamb and the soup that came with the main course. It was divine. The chicken was not quite a savory as the lamb but would still order it in the future. We were seated, and food started coming out for our hungry kids right away. We devoured the few leftovers we managed to bring home. This is where I'll request that my husband take me on dates in Seattle from now on!

    (5)

  • Jeff L.

    The food was amazing and the staff extremely helpful. I highly recommend this place for dates, groups or even enjoying a meal for one.

    (5)

  • Kate N.

    The staff is instantly welcoming as you walk in, and the rich smells from the kitchen fill the restaurant and encourage your hunger! You can't go wrong with this menu! The Kebab's are to die for.. and the grilled tomatoes... you will crave it!! I didn't think I was a lamb person so I ordered the chicken. So glad that our table also ordered the lamb, it was AMAZING!! The flavors were all perfectly intertwined! Not too overpowering, and it all melts together into your mouth! The portions are generous! The price is on the higher side so you might not want to eat here for EVERY MEAL, but you get what you pay for! THE FOOD IS INCREDIBLE! Great classy atmosphere!! Parking CAN be tough, just pay attention to the signs you should be okay.

    (4)

  • The-Hoa H.

    The service here is excellent. We came in as a group and we were tended to right away. I ordered some ground beef dish called the ashak or something.....it was like a middle eastern version of ravioli and was absolutely delicious.....the price and portion are a bit off edge though......my meal was more like an appetizer and was like 20 bucks. Service-5 Ambiance - 4 Quality-4 Quantity - 2 Price - 2

    (4)

  • Monali P.

    I don't think I've given a 5 star review where service trumps food, but this is my one exception - Stellar service. I got drenched in the rain on my ten block walk there, and was greeted by the server. I had not even taken my coat off when I met my friend and he had arrived with two napkins so I could dry myself off. I get back from the restroom and our server had brought me a complimentary hot lemon tea so I could warm up. I mean, really? Beyond thoughtful! He totally made up for the sky pissing on me. He'd also chatted with my friend while she waited for me, telling her of his travels to Lebanon. We learned he was very well versed in Afghan cuisine too. He made great recommendations and was always there to clear away things and ask us how we were doing, but not in an overly intrusive manner. Ok, ok, I know, I'm supposed to be reviewing the food too, not just the server. So, we had the bolani appetizer. Yum. We were envisioning something akin to samosas but they are more like Afghan rangoons, thin crisp turnovers with a potato cilantro filling, served with a not at all subtle garlic yogurt dressing. Big hit. Next, my friend ordered the veggie Qorma-i-Tarkari and I had the lamb version. If I'm going to have lamb any place it will be at a middle eastern restaurant. Bless our server for trying to suggest we order something different so we could share. I'll take him up on it next time. The lamb did not disappoint, it was tender and delicious, however, I do think the veggies were overcooked and a little too salty and sweet for me. Next time I will ask for them to spice it up. My one other critique is that, while the portion came with some flatbread, rice, and the refreshing albeit tiny side salat, I think it was a bit pricey for what it was. Our server enticed me into ordering a dessert, and I went for the baklava. As he brought it over, he said, "hang on just a minute, I have something that will go great with it." And he brought some delightful cardamom tea which was the perfect complement to the sweet nutty delight that is baklava. This place has understated, simple decor, soothing Arabic (I think) music in the background, outstanding service, and some very decent eats. I will definitely be back to try some more dishes and to get spoiled by the attentive servers and perhaps learn a little something more about Afghan culture. Not your average run-of-the-mill place. Go try it!

    (5)

  • Patricia Y.

    Over the course of about 5 years I've been to Kabul a few times. Each time I've been impressed with not only their food, but also their excellent service. I visited last October and called in the afternoon to make reservations. There somehow was a miscommunication and when I showed up at the restaurant, there was no record of my reservation. It was a full house on a Friday night, so we ended up having to wait 5-10 minutes for the next available table, which we were given priority. The owner gave my party and everyone else waiting for a table a complimentary glass of wine. Now that's what I call good service. The food is consistently delicious and well seasoned.. The menu hasn't changed since I first visited Kabul in 2006, which is standard for these type of restaurants. Why change what you're good at, right? The food is your standard kabobs that you find at most Persian/Afghan restaurants. Sometimes the meat can be dry, like with the chicken. I personally love the rice, probably more so than the meat itself. For all you vegetarians, there is also a nice selection of meat-free entrees. Only downside, I recall they were on Open Table in 2006, but not anymore. :( Despite not receiving 100 pts for my visit, I'll still continue to dine here on my visits to Seattle.

    (4)

  • Bianca R.

    Everything was good. Service was excellent.

    (5)

  • Danielle H.

    Kabul is not bad, but not great either. I wasn't overly impressed with any of the dishes. The eggplant bademjan was a disappointment and the service could have been friendlier. I ordered a soup to go as well because I wasn't all that hungry but wanted to try a few other things and the soup was nice. The food is definitely authentic, but it wasn't a home run for me. I think I might be spoiled with amazing Persian and Middle Eastern food that has skewed my perspective a bit.

    (3)

  • Kirill Z.

    Love their food!

    (5)

  • John M.

    Had dinner here tonight and it was pretty good. We opted for their kabab for two and went with the lamb on both counts on the waiter's recommendation. The dinner for two came with a noodle soup, and also desert. The lamb was seasoned pretty well but was over cooked and fairly tough. Ironically a departing customer asked if we had the lamb, and replied yes. They said it was the best lamb they ever had. Left me wondering if our lamb was an oddity, or their experience with lamb was pretty limited... The soup was interesting, though didn't leave me with a strong impression one way or the other. The desert was pretty good - it was a cardamon custard type deal. On balance I figure this place is ok, but not noteworthy.

    (3)

  • Lindsay P.

    OMG SO GOOD. I am hesitant to give a fifth star because it was expensive and the portion sizes were a bit small, although they were really about the size we SHOULD be eating, not what our Americanized minds think we should be eating. I ordered the beef Ashak, which was sort of like a Afghan lasagna. It had really good flavor and really good texture. They served it with a flat bread (it was pretty much like a tortilla) that it was really good with also. Cameron ordered the Murgh, which was the chicken kabob that came with the basmati rice. That was the BEST rice I have ever tasted, but since I don't eat chicken I couldn't try it. Cam did say that it was some of the best chicken he has ever had. We met a couple friends there who also really enjoyed their meals. One of them had the Seehk kabob, which was the beef and said it was the best thing ever. Her boyfriend ordered some other dish (I can't remember what it was) and he said it was really good, but that the beef kabob was the best thing there. Most certainly spendy. Between Cam and I we each had an entree, I had a glass of wine and he had two beers and our total came to about $56 before tip. But it was good! We will be back!

    (4)

  • SR H.

    Really amazing food. And a ton of vegetarian options. I've never been able to have Afghani food because of being vegetarian, and this place has an entire page in the menu devoted to it! Everything was delicious, and the service was really really nice. We had the Ash, Burta, and Qorma-i-Sabzi. Unique spice blends and beautiful presentation. A little spendy, but such a great experience for a vegetarian to finally get Afghani food!

    (4)

  • Are J.

    Meh. The soup was OK, but it fell far short of the description. Hardly any beans. We had the combo kabob for two. The portion seemed about right. The eggplant was overcooked. The rice was good, but was very sweet. With a combo kabob you only get beef and chicken, no lamb, I was disappointed as at another Kabul, the combo came with all three. To have lamb you to add 12 bucks extra to the combo bringing the price to $62. Plus drinks, etc. and got no beef or chicken. The chicken and beef were fine, if not overspiced, I did not say too spicy, I said almost crusted in salt.. I scraped mine to find the meat, it was good. The "bread" was like a crappy flour tortilla. The waitress was friendly and attentive. She kept the glasses full, and the plates cleared. The bathroom was clean. Overall, it was OK, but we could have done much better elsewhere, just not impressed. They pushed the wine list rather hard, we did not go there..

    (2)

  • Sara F.

    I'm absolutely obsessed with eggplant! To say the least! & this divine place gives me my fix every time!!! I can't say enough about it. Used to live close by & would frequent this gem often, I wish I could have the cooks as my personal chefs! I've ate almost everything here, (except the ashak), & it's all been divine!!!! The bademjan boorani, (with or w/o meat), is so tender, savory & amazing I have dreams about it. They give you a great side of spiced rice with raisins & carrots & a small salad which is all delicious. You also must try their cardamom tea, it's awesome! Always great service & great desserts, (the Afghani style rice pudding w/rose water is the stuff dreams are made of!). I'll be going here often while I visit Seattle! :)

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    I've been waiting to go here for quite some time, and finally did. I've been curious about what Afghan food is all about, but I can't be sure this restaurant satisfied my curiosity. It seems most influenced by the wide variety of spices, fruits and vegetables offered in middle eastern cuisine, perhaps a throw-back to the inflences of the old Ottoman Empire. The food staples of Afghan food include yogurt, lamb, chickpeas, cucumber, eggplant, rice and potato, for example. The food is not spicy hot, like you can find with some Indian foods. But a unique aspect I found of Afghan cuisine includes the frequent additions of cilantro and mint as an ingredient in some dishes. I had the Bara (lamb) kebab "Kabul Special", including Basmati rice, some turnovers, and salad, for $21.50. I also ordered a Moroccan beer -- a kind I had never had, that was crispy and refreshing. The service was polite, but I had a couple of questions about the menu that I didn't think the server knew the answer to, and didn't really care to find out for sure, just kind of BSed it. Also, it took over 15 minutes after I finished to get my plate cleared, and then finally to get my check. The food was ok. The lamb, their pricey specialty (in one case marking up their 2-person dinner by $10 for the lamb option), was not particularly tasty, and a little bit dry. I liked the seasoning and crust on the outside, but just didn't think it justified the price I paid for it. I feel like this restaurant is trying to be something more fancy than it really is. Everything was ok, but just didn't blow me away or anything. Also, be forewarned: Even though you can park on the street during the day for two hours, at dinnertime it requires a residential permit, and 45th street parking can be sparse. I kind of missed (or ignored) this because there isn't really any other parking readily available nearby. Sure enough, I got a pricey ticket. It would have been nice if the restaurant had up a courtesy sign or something letting us know that, as it's an easy mistake to make, the cops are clearly aware its a cash cow, and it made my meal $40 more expensive because of the ticket. I'm sure the restaurant is aware that this happens all the time, but choose not to warn cutomers. No thank you. PROS: Decent food, it's ok. Interesting niche in Afghan cuisine. Nice decor. CONS: High price for the quality. There are many, many places in the U-district that outshine this place, for about half the price. Beware zoned parking!

    (3)

  • Jane G.

    Both the food and atmosphere are terrific. My favorite dish so far is the Ashak (pasta with yogurt garlic sauce and ground beef). The flavors are really fresh and lively; I've always left with a really happy tummy! The servers have always been super friendly! We've tried to go early in the evening with our infant son, and it's worked out great, especially when the sitar player was there, even though the place is somewhat intimate. We probably won't be taking him with us now that he's an energetic toddler, but I'm looking forward to a romantic dinner date here soon.

    (5)

  • Tobi B.

    Not bad but hugely overpriced. I literally paid $23 for 3 slices of eggplant in some sauce. Never again. The boys did enjoy their kebabs though, also overpriced. Next time it will be the Satay place down the road... :)

    (2)

  • Laura Y.

    I know a scholar who studies all things -stan... mostly Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. She keeps a home in Seattle when she is not traveling in aforementioned regions, and this is her favorite place to eat, and she reports that it's nice and authentic. I am inclined to believe her. My scholar friend introduced me to Ashak, which are dumplings filled with leeks. I also eat yogurt like it's going to run out, and yogurt is heavily involved with the dishes here. They also do not wimp out on the cardamom in the rice pudding. All good things here.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    I had never had Afghan food before, and decided to scope it out with some friends and the bf. While this place was a bit pricey, I was pleasantly surprised by the dishes! We started out with these fried turnovers...I'm not exactly sure what was in them, but that plus the sauce was incredible! I wish there had been more of them... For a main dish, I had eggplant with some kind of yogert (sp?) sauce. It was pretty good...had some interesting spices to it and was very flavorful. My favorite was the rice and the cucumber salad. The rice came with shredded carrots and raisins...definitely not something that I'd think would go together, but it was such an awesome mix! The cucumber salad was amazing, too! It tasted like it was soaked in some kind of vinegar with tomatoes with just the right amount of dressing on it. The best part about the experience is that my boyfriend hates ethnic food. He's not big on Indian, Ethiopian, and I actually just got him into different types of Asian cuisine. But he LOVED this place! He normally doesn't like the spices that accompany different types of food, but had the lamb kabobs and downed them in less than 5 minutes! I don't even like lamb but appreciated how good it was. I wish this place wasn't so far away from my house b/c I'd definitely come here more often. It may be worth making the occasional trip to Wallingford for more of this delicious food! :)

    (4)

  • Mitchele B.

    Excellent! That goes for both the food and service. Currently, I can only eat vegetarian food. Which can make eating out difficult and the selections are often boring. That was not the case her. All of the starters are vegetarian and they have several vegetarian entrees. Trust me when I say, there is nothing boring about any of the food here. I loved it and can't wait to go back. P.S. Make sure you get Aman as your server. He is kind, entertaining and makes you feel at home.

    (5)

  • Hamed F.

    It is unbelievably expensive. The food is unbelievably expensive and the quality is not that great either!!!

    (1)

  • Lauren T.

    MMMM...eating the food here is like going down a slip and slide on a sunny day- exciting yet familiar, and at the end, when you're drenched and covered in grass, you want everyone else join in. Eating Afghan food might sound exotic, but the kabobs taste a lot like the kabobs you make on your Midwestern back porch in August. It's just that Kabul's kabobs are made with more flavor and better meat (sorry dad!).

    (5)

  • Kayla B.

    I was a little tentative when we went because I was not sure what to expect for Afghanistan food. Even though the menu and food was very different, it was one of the tastiest meals I have had. They use a lot of great spices that blend really well together and make the food as far from bland as possible. Everybody else in my group was happy with their dishes as well. In fact, the only part of the meal that was negative was that the beer menu was mislabeled, as they didn't have any of a particular type that was listed. Not only was the food great, but the service was continuous and thorough. The restaurant is pretty small but the tables are not crammed together. They also had someone playing live music the whole time we were there, which made for pleasant background noise. My biggest complaint is that it seemed a bit pricey (about $16-25 per plate), but that wouldn't stop me from going there again occasionally because both the food and service were really great.

    (4)

  • Brian W.

    Well, I'm glad I finally tried this place. Why? Because I've been driving by it for 15 years, always thinking to myself "I should try that place". I read some of the reviews on here, which are mixed, but I knew it was going to bug me if I didn't walk in and try it. The end result is that I really agree with you that say this place is overpriced. It is! My wife and I had the Bolani and kebabs and walked out of there for $55 including tax and tip (!). The kebabs are really not that big. I wanted to grab a burger at Dick's down the street for dessert, but sadly I had no cash. Also, I think I'm partially at fault: I didn't realize until after that the gratuity was already included in the bill. So I tipped twice. I should mention I really hate this practice except for large parties (i.e. 6 or more seems reasonable). I really wanted some wine with my dinner, but for $8 a glass you can forget it. And add tax and tip to that? Christ, we're talking about an $11 glass of red. I can get a decent bottle at Safeway for that. Now the food is not bad. But come on, have any of you in the 5-star club been to any other Middle Eastern restaurants in the area? What are you smoking? Have you been to the Mediterranean Kitchen for example? Where you walk out for half the price and three times as much food? There are *many* places better than Kabul, which was frankly pretty average to me. This place was also small and cramped. On a Sunday night it was a full house and they only had two servers. It was a bad sign when we sat at our table and noticed none of the other customers had any food! Either they all got there just before we did, or they were short-handed. We probably waited 25 minutes for our dinner, a little long in my opinion. They were friendly enough, but with the price and slow service, I'll likely not be back. Oh, one other thing that really bugged me. The menu said there is a $1 charge for an extra plate (I didn't want one, but that's beside the point). Come on guys, the food is barely enough for one person and you want to charge me a buck to split it? I really hate places that do this. It's the same amount of food and they're just nickel-and-diming you. It feels cheap and obnoxious. But I've finally tried the place. It was probably worth $55 to not have to wonder for the rest of my life every time I drive by it.

    (2)

  • Becky W.

    I've been wanting to try this Afghan restaurant since I moved to Seattle and the wait was far too long. The food is delicious and flavorful and surprising and every bit of it memorable. The service was attentive and helpful, even with a party of 12 at the next table. Our dinner consisted of: -Ash (Traditional soup with noodles, yogurt, kidney beans and chickpeas, flavored with dill, turmeric and mint, and mint leaves), -Bolani (Turnovers filled with scallions, cilantro and potato, with yogurt-garlic dip) -Seekh Kabob (beef fillet marinated in coriander, garlic and pepper)...one of the most flavorful pieces of meat I've ever tasted. -Firni (Custard pudding flavored with cardamom and rosewater, topped with ground pistachios) We also enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine and resisted ordering more dishes just to keep the flavors continuing... Next time - the lamb; our server said it is their specialty. The only drawback is the price - entrees start at $17 and we split most of the dishes and still left paying a hefty sum each. When you're a rarity in town though, I suppose you can charge for the demand...

    (5)

  • Jennifer R.

    AMMMMAZING! I randomly popped in here for a bite to eat and had my socks knocked off. The lamb kebob was devine and the eggplant was the best I've ever had. Also, try the custard! I wish I could remember the native words to describe these dishes but I can't so ask the server and I'm sure she'll help you out: the service here is amazing too! Camille was incredibly helpful and really catered to my gluten allergy. Thank you and see you again, Kabul!

    (5)

  • Sara L.

    Really interesting flavors -- the lamb kebab was deeeelicious (perfectly seasoned). My family loved the eggplant -- I thought it was tolerable, which is saying something since eggplant is one of my least favorite foods. They somehow cooked it to make it perfectly soft, and put some delicious delicious sauce on top. I'd give this place five stars for food and service, but I can't go the extra mile and give it five because it IS overpriced. The portions are small for how much you pay -- I wasn't paying, but I don't think I'd go back unless my parents were paying again. We ordered two appetizers and three entrees between the four of us, and I was full but not stuffed. Great, interesting food with flavors I've never tried before, I just wish it was a little more affordable so I could try it more often :)

    (4)

  • Michelle F.

    Glorious food and live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It was spectacular. We could barely get all the food to even fit on the table! I highly suggest the spinach-lamb dish! I was quite pleased with our waiter, Eli, too. I made sure we took good care of him.

    (4)

  • Vida A.

    This was my first time at Kabul even though I've heard great reviews for several years, I wish I didn't wait so long! We had the Kebabs for two, which was a bowl of their noodle soup, a chicken kebab, beef kebab, afghan bread, cucumber salad, large plate of rice with carrots and raisins, slice of melt in your mouth eggplant, and a rice pudding (?) for dessert. I'd say for $45, it was a great deal. All the food was full of flavor but also not too heavy. Service was excellent and the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed. I can't wait to try the other items on the menu. I hope this place stays around for awhile!

    (5)

  • S M.

    Finally checked Kabul out after meaning to try it for the last year. Went in early on a Friday night, around 5 or 5:30, so beside another couple, we were the only people in the place. It filled up by the time we left and we were happy to have avoided the rush. First, we were annoyed at the waitress who insisted on taking the other table's order first, having been seated first, even though they played 20 questions with her going back and forth to the kitchen. We were starving and would have appreciated her taking our order. We were so excited when our food arrived. The man had seekh (steak) kebab served with a huge portion of golden raisin-topped rice and flat bread. I had ashak with beef, scallion and leek filled ravioli topped with yogurt and beef, which was also served with bread. Both entrees were also served with a side of cucumber - tomato salad, which was nice and vinegary. Let's start with the kebab. The rice was out-of-this-world amazing. I would totally love to steal their recipe because both the man and I dug its gently seasoned flavor. Then, I got to try the beef, which was cooked perfectly. I must say, at the first moment, I thought to myself, "holy crap this is great!" But then I realized how salty it was. I didn't say anything to my smoker dude, figuring he'd rather enjoy the saltiness. However, after another bite he admitted that he thought it was too salty, a seriously rare event. He finished it anyway. My ashak with beef was presented really beautifully. However, after eating about a quarter of it, I had that horrible salty mouth feeling and was chugging my water. It was good, but they really needed to tone down the salt. Overall, the food missed the mark due to the extreme saltiness. We drank a gallon of water each when we got home and vowed never to return.

    (2)

  • Amanda G.

    The server was very friendly and we had a fun time trying Afghan food for the first time here. A sitar player added to the warm ambiance. We enjoyed the Ashak and the Seekh kababs. Both were very tasty, and I definitely recommend the Ashak, which is a pasta dish with beautiful flavors. I had never had anything quite like it. Next time I'm looking forward to trying their homemade ice cream.

    (4)

  • Rachel F.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle! The lamb kabob is to die for yummmm.

    (5)

  • Chandler G.

    This was my first experience with Afghan cuisine, and it certainly won't be my last. I started with the Mushroom Qorma, which was delicious, and enjoyed the Basa Kebab--probably the best lamb I've ever had. It came with a huge helping of Basmati rice and a nice little salad of cubed tomatoes, cucumbers and onions in a vinaigrette. The service was amazing; the waitress was very personable. The only thing I didn't like, through no fault of the establishment, was the Baklava. Tried it. Not a fan. I'd totally eat here again. The lamb chop is crazy expensive ($45!), but I bet it's worth every penny.

    (4)

  • N B.

    Awesome food !

    (4)

  • Jenny D.

    I've been fighting with myself (Gollum-like) if I should review this place. Of course Kabul deserves 5 stars...but I don't actually want people to know about this place so there will be MORE EGGPLANT for me. But finally my better side caved so here goes: Appetizers: The soup is only ok, but the turnovers are quite tasty. Entree: Oh.My.God. I think I died and went to Eggplant Heaven, where all lambs roll around in eggplant and there are never (ever) any broccoli to get in the way. That is how I feel about the eggplant--seriously. It is the best shit ever. I can't stop eating it. When I don't eat it I take pictures and think about eating it. It's a real problem. I probably need to go to a self-help group about this. So usually I get the combination plate with the rice, eggplant, and lamb. The rice is amazing--it's even better than Cedar's rice (and that's saying something!). It's so flavorful but still light. It even gets my super-picky roommate eating every last bite! The lamb (or beef) is succulent and juicy and tender. Spiced just right. Mmm. Desserts: Our party of 3 shared the specialty ice cream with cardamom, mint, and something else. Heavenly. 'Nuff said. Go get it. Service: The waitresses are really friendly, and sometimes the owner will even come out to check up on you! Bottom line: Romantic dining experience with an exotic tang. Absolutely lovely. Very easy bus ride from the Udist. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

    (5)

  • Joshua S.

    Never having had Afghan food before we went to try out Kabul which was an interesting experience . We went when it wasn't terribly busy so it was pretty quiet. The service was mostly friendly but at times slow. I got the eggplant dish with meat and while not bad it wasn't very good either and considering how pricey it was I was pretty disappointed. Overall it is probably worth trying once if you want to try some Afghan food but mostly I found it disappointing.

    (2)

  • Nick B.

    First review was taken down by Yelp for being "inappropriate" (i.e. hilarious to me but not to people who surf yelp with 15 cats on their lap). But I still think it is my duty to warn people of this place. Allow me to make this review as appropriate as possible, with no jokes, or anything. This place is horrible...why? 1) Service - unfriendly 2) Food - grotesque. I had a goat dish, but you wouldn't know it if it were put in front of you. It was drenched in yogurt sauce, which permeated each and every bite. 3) Price - this place is quite pricey for the bad food and unfriendly service. Let's hope this one stays up so that all of you may be forewarned!

    (1)

  • Josh S.

    This place is excellent. Cozy, friendly and just tasty. You have to try the Bolani and Ashak for sure.

    (5)

  • Trip C.

    My beau tried Afghani food for the first time on a recent visit to San Diego, and raved so much that we simply had to try it when we got back to Seattle. We were searching for a last-minute, local place that offered take-out and Kabul came up in the short list. I ordered Badenjan Borani, an eggplant dish covered in a tomato and ground beef sauce. It doesn't sound like much, but it was amazing! I had enough left over for breakfast the next morning. My beau ordered Kebab Murgh, a chicken kebab. It was good, but I was much happier with my choice. We'll definitely keep Kabul in our repertoire.

    (4)

  • Richard U.

    Have been waiting to try this restaurant out for a while. The only other Afghan restaurant I have tried was in Boston so, I wasn't sure if I was a fan of Afghan cuisine yet. My experience was actually very good here. Some of the reviews I read about this place mentioned some not so great service. Perhaps the staff at Kabul read the reviews and changed some things because the service I had was excellent! I was seated very quickly and after ordering, my food came out in pretty good time. My waitress was very friendly and attentive. From my prior experience with Afghan cuisine, I remembered to get something with egglplant in it (can't recall the name!) and I was glad I did here! I ordered the kabul special with lamb kebab and type of savory rice and some type of savory eggplant side dish ( its horrible I can't recall the name of these dishes!). I guess I am a fan of Afghan food!

    (4)

  • Priyanka B.

    very friendly people and yum food...yum dessert!

    (4)

  • Madey A.

    Delish. I can't wait to go back. I had the vegetarian Ashak and it was full of so many flavors and it was very unique. It was homemade pasta things with spices and veggies inside. It was topped with garlic cilantro yogurt sauce and it was awesome. I scarfed it. The "Afghan bread" that comes with everything are tortillas and the little salads are just cold peppered cucumbers and tomatoes. Very good overall.

    (5)

  • Kim C.

    We went there Tuesday night (which also happens to be their live music night) because we had an expiring Restaurant.com coupon that takes $25 off a $50+ bill. We still ended up with about $45 including gratuity (it's included in all bills automatically, regardless of party size). Otherwise, this restaurant is indeed overpriced for their portions and not very affordable, more suitable for a special date. But I must say the food is very tasty! We both got a kebab dish which comes with rice and sides. I don't usually eat egg plants but they got me to finish the whole borogani (?), which is eggplant and tomato sauce. Don't care too much for the Afghan bread, but I like the rice, tasty... I had rack of lamb WHICH WAS AWESOME, even more awesome than honey bunny's tasty chicken. They also come with a side of 'salata' which is basically salted fresh cucumbers and carrots; it adds an interesting flavor to the overall dish. Parking is a bit of a pain because most of the street parking are zoned in the 10 block area on the south side of 45th + a couple more blocks north of 45th. There are a few non-zone parking on 45th, but we ended up finding empty spots only closer to 47th/ 50th.

    (3)

  • Amit P.

    This is by far one of my best restaurants. It is a small, easy-to-miss place on Wallingford. The lamb kebab is perfect and comes with a hearty portion of rice. You can get the eggplant with $1 more and that makes it even more delicious. I've tried almost the entire menu here and would recommend all of it based on your preference. The bakhlava is the best I've had yet. Not too sweet and gooey but yet very flavorful.

    (5)

  • Paul B.

    The atmosphere was small, dim, and bustling. It actually wasn't what one would expect from a restaurant serving this type of cuisine. Everything from the service to patrons were very Westernized, which begs me to wonder how authentically Afghan this place really was. However the food itself that wasn't bad, though it wasn't all that great either. I ordered the Qorma-i Tarkari for $16 (very...not worth the price might I add) which consisted of rice w/ raisins, fruits, lamb, and a bunch of other stuff in a bowl. Unique taste, but nothing extraordinary that you couldn't get from an Indian curry. We also ordered Dogh, a salty, yogurt-esque beverage that left a horrible aftertaste in my mouth that lingered for what seemed like forever. Perhaps it's an acquired taste, but I don't think I'll ever be in the mood to try. OVERALL: Would I go back? No. It was overpriced for what it was: slightly above-average. Don't get me wrong, it was a charming place with great customer service, but this place was more like a novelty than an experience worth repetition.

    (2)

  • Kim H.

    Try the firni dessert!! Like a lassi but more pudding-consistency, it has the lovely taste and smell of rosewater.

    (5)

  • Anora K.

    a cute, small place with flavors I have never tried before. It seemed like a unique experience, so I stopped in for dinner when walking by. There seemed to be a lot of... how do you say no longer young yuppies? Anyway, it was pret tay pret tay good I can prtty much bet i wouldn't go out of my way to come here

    (3)

  • Elle P.

    This place is crazy good! The owner, Wallid, is the consummate host. He makes excellent recommendations, will generously lavish attention and little extras on you, and treats his staff with grace. The food is an extension of Wallid- excellent.

    (5)

  • Sara H.

    We discovered this place a few weeks ago, it was so delicious and welcoming that we brought friends back the next day! The Kebabs and basmati rice are wonderful, I also love the lamb tarkari! The owner is the best! Very friendly and generous, every time we come we have received something free, even begged to accept free dessert when we were full! (The baklava is amazing, how can you resist!!!) Update, I have been here several times since I drafted this review and my opinions still stand...however going with a group of 6 or more, and adding the gratuity etc. on makes this place pretty pricey for a large party.

    (5)

  • Earnie G.

    Wonderful food, great taste, good and reasonable quantities. Good service. Many choices for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. Give Afghan cuisine a try. You may find you like it. I did.

    (5)

  • Katie C.

    I can't say enough good things about my meal tonight. I went with a friend and split 2 appetizers, one off their specials menu and the other was Burta , both were amazing. Then we split Qorma-i Tarkari (Cauliflower, baby carrots and potatoes, cooked with a blend of dill, turmeric and cumin) which was also fantastic. We were stuffed, satisfied, and paying the bill when the owner sent over desert. Their house made Baklava is a treat but the Firni (Custard pudding flavored with cardamom and rosewater and topped with ground pistachios) was like tasty sweet cardamon crack. We ordered their Cardamon tea which I also recommend. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the staff was very attentive and friendly. I just wish that I lived closer so I could eat there all the time! :D Edited to say: I've noticed other reviews commenting on slow service so I wanted to mention that the place was at least half full and we received our dishes very quickly. Not the quick because its been sitting out way either, everything was hot and delicious. Also the waiter was polite enough to time out main dish just minutes after we finished our appetizers, which is always appreciated.

    (5)

  • David B.

    Spectacular. I love eating and trying new places, but until I went to Kabul last night no restaurant has compelled my to create a yelp account and share my thoughts with random people over the interwebs. I went with my Persian friend who has taken me to a few Persian places around Seattle but said that this Afghani joint was better than any of them. So true. I loved everything about Kabul. The environment was great, nice little place that had very mellow and enjoyable Afghani music playing. The owner and his son work there and were happy to answer any questions and help a first time eater find the right meal. (Side note: I can not stand Cilantro and I made this known to my waiter who insisted I try some dishes with it and I could not taste it at all. Very pleased with that). We tried two appetizers that were great, one was a kind of fried spanikoita and the other was a baked ravioli of sorts. Both were great. I love lamb so I got the lamb kebabs and had a great time mixing it up with the rice, carrots, raisins and eggplant that came with it. The place as phenomenal, a bit expensive but would be an awesome place to take a date for some adventurous eating. I will definitely be back

    (5)

  • Marissa C.

    Great service, amazing food. We tried several dishes and loved them all! We will definitely be back again to try something else on the menu because it was so hard to choose. Save room for dessert, they have a delicious dessert menu!

    (5)

  • Munya S.

    Not too many Afghani restaurants in the Seattle area but this one's a gem- great intimate neighborhood restaurant. I recommend any of the dishes with eggplant. Also the bolani appetizers (like a potato turnover with a delicious yogurt dipping sauce.) Friendly, helpful, and professional service as well.

    (4)

  • Adriana K.

    I had never tried Afghan food before - pretty delicious. Although, I am fairly certain that "Afghan bread" and tortillas may the same thing. Service wasn't especially fast, but I thought the food was tasty. I tried the chicken kebab special - with this great eggplant side. I have to agree it was rather pricey - over $20 each for just an entree. Food quality and taste was great - I would definitely go back.

    (3)

  • Michael M.

    I've been wanting to go to Kabul for years, and last night the three of us went. Never been to Afghanistan, but the food seems authentic except for the Afghan bread, which lets face it, are tortillas. Kind of strange... I don't know why people complain about the service, our waitress was awesome. Attentive, funny and yes, very pretty which never hurts! We had the special mushroom appetizer and bolanis (turnovers), which really tasted great. Now that I think about it, are button mushrooms found in Afghanistan? The only item I wanted to try but didn't get to was another eggplant dish called burta. Then on to kababs of lamb and beef, which could have been cooked just a little less, but in the end had good flavor. They came with rice, salad, and Badenjan Borani which is eggplant with a tomato sauce/yogurt garlic sauce. Delicious! The best single item might have been the dessert, firni, which is a Custard pudding with cardamom, rosewater and ground pistachios. Be sure and try it.

    (4)

  • drie C.

    I was pretty hesitant to come in at the beginning, but my buddy who was leaving the city insisted on trying this place, so I did! I'm so glad that I did!!! Eating here had changed my life. Who knew that eggplant can be such a delicious dish when combined with correct ingredients! (&their eggplants are pretty huge, I'm warning you) THeir kebab is soo yummy too. My friend also ordered another lamb dish which was also fabulous. Can't wait to take other people to dine here!

    (5)

  • Brenda P.

    I am really surprised to read the previous reviews of bad or no service! When I went to this restaurant we got seated right away, water was delivered and after a few moments of looking over the menu a server came by to take our order. The place wasn't busy, but the server was attentive and when our meal arrived (didn't take too long at all!) we were ready to eat. The food was really good! I don't remember the name of the dishes, but I had something with eggplant which I am not usually fond of but it came with the meal, and it was really yummy. I was happy with all the dishes, and the service. I am surprised the place wasn't busier as this we a saturday evening. But that's ok, since we didn't have to wait. The only reason for not giving this a 5 star is the prices. I was a little taken back by the prices. The food was great but it seemed a little pricey for what you get and the location, etc. Although I can't wait to go back, just can't afford it right now.

    (4)

  • Christina C.

    Stopped in here one day on a whim, the food was delicious! I've never tried Afgahan before so I have nothing to compare it to but my husband and I loved it! There was a spinach dish that was to die for.

    (5)

  • Molly Jo B.

    Kabul is an excellent restaurant. I've had 4 dishes and they have all been excellent. Just a heads up, the portions are really small and pricey. I took my father and little brother and they both hated it.

    (4)

  • Danielle B.

    It was my birthday and my momma was paying so I wanted to think of a place outside the box of what I normally go to for my special day. I happen to have an appointment in the U-District area before my dinner and decided to find something close by for convenience. My roommate suggested Kabul which kind of weirded me out at first because I've never had Afghani food before. I surveyed the menu online and decided there were enough things on the menu that I'd eat so I decided to try it out. The food was DELICIOUS! I ordered the cilantro and leek pasta (ravioli) with garlic cream sauce and about died from pleasure once it hit my mouth. It was so flavorful and different I was more than content. My mom was kind of scared at first and ordered something safe (the beef kabobs with a side of eggplant) and was more than happy with her choice. The rub on the beef was spicy but not over powering and the eggplant was cooked to perfection. My only complaint is that it seemed to take awhile for our food to arrive but that might have been b/c I was starving.

    (5)

  • Xav Z.

    Excellent service. Not only the waitress, the friendly owner also came to our table to chat with us. I will definitively return to try something else. Loved the eggplant!

    (4)

  • Cathy G.

    I am amazed that I didn't write my review of Kabul's yet. I lived a half block from them for over 12 years.MMMMMMMM the food. The ambience! Happy people coming and going. A very professional hostess always with a smile as though they ar ejust waiting fo ryou. It fill sup quickly. I liked everything I ever had there.. and truthfully I have forgottne names of many items. Smooth tastes, exotic blends.. plain old great garlic .. always tasty rice dishes.. This restaurant has played a wonderful part also in many Wallingford Dine-out in Wallingford evenings with great cheer.

    (5)

  • Terry F.

    Kabul's a place where food is served, the food both rare and good. And lucky break for me and mine, it's in the neighborhood. But train or bus I'd gladly take if it meant getting there. I'd go there if a pauper, or if a millionaire. No matter what the reason, a romance or soiree, To taste of Kabul's menu is to travel far away. My neighbors all adore the place and go as oft we can And cease to be of Wallingford, but instead become Afghan. The food is so sustaining, so tender, so select Wali's become our superstar, a hero, in effect. We love the chef and waitstaff, in front and in the back, For each and every meal they serve's an aphrodisiac.

    (5)

  • C A.

    Food is fantastic, service is great, prices are appropriate, and atmosphere is pleasant. There's literally nothing not to like about this place. Not a ton of seating and fairly popular, so make a reservation or be prepared to wait a while. Great place for the first half of a dinner-and-a-movie date in combination with the Guild theater a few doors down.

    (5)

  • Tommy K.

    There are people here who've criticized KABUL for being too expensive or for being a rip-off or for having portions that are too small ... whine whine whine, blah blah blah. Personally, I just don't understand it. While this place is not cheap, it's NOT expensive. Maybe people are thrown off by the Wallingford location or the fact the interior was not custom designed by some celebrity interior decorator. Maybe because it looks like a nice, comfortable family restaurant people are expecting $10 blue plate specials. The fact of the matter is that this is a good quality restaurant that serves good quality food and they charge a fair price for their food. A dinner at the Met costs at least $100/person. A night at Nishino's can run you about $70/person. My wife and I came out of here, thoroughly satisfied (albeit no leftovers), at about $35/person (dinner, drinks, desert, tax, tip). Again, I realize that's not "cheap" but it's not out of line with most mid-tier Seattle restaurants. I won't say anything about the food itself since everyone else has pretty much said it already: it's very good (although the salty yogurt drink is something I'll probably not try again).

    (4)

  • Ninja S.

    Every once in a while, you go somewhere that opens doors for what food can be. Tonight was one of those such nights. Never again will I look at kabob places to be all the same. Kabul, truly, showed me the subtlety and delicate nature that can be found in gently pairing flavors in Afghani cuisine. Not only is the food, as I surmise, of the highest order of this style, but the presentation is beautiful and thoughtfully presented. Additionally, the chef here is alive and has higher aspirations than just maintaining what has always been done. Their specials are new and inventive, and the staff is curious for feedback. A wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • Emily H.

    A fantastic dinner! Our waiter helpe guide us through the menu (it all looked so good--how to pick?) and we toroughly enjoyed every bite, from appetizer (bolani) to dessert (baklava--some of the best I've ever had or made). We also greatly enjoyed the Cardomon Tea. Our entrees were superb, prepared in a timely manner and served graciously. The only downfall: we were seated near the open door, but the inside of the restaurant was still a good 10 degrees hotter than outside, and we were both a bit sweaty by the end of our meal. There appeared to be an AC unit above the door, which was leaking on the sidewalk outside but doing very little in the way of cooling.

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    I served 2 tours in Afghanistan, so I like to think that maybe I might know what real Afghan food tastes like. And this place is it! Lamb kabobs with veggies is a savory treat after a long day of shopping Seattle! A bit on the spendy side, but all in all a great atmosphere and an excellent meal! Flavorful, spicy, and a hint of sage... Hmmmm Hmmmm GOOD!

    (5)

  • Sweet P.

    My dining experience was similar to the last person who reviewed this place. We started with the Bolani appetizer--a fried "turnover" filled with potato and scallions with a delishhh yogurt dipping sauce. Amongst the entrees we had Ashak--ravioli-esque dish with the yummy yogurt sauce; the Kabul special with bara kebob (lamb) and badenjan borani--an eggplant and beef dish. All were delicious, well portioned and easily shared amongst three. The food definitely earns itself four stars. The deduction lies upon the odd service. Perhaps because we were the first (and only) customers as they opened for the night and maybe they needed to warm up the ovens...BUT when we placed our order for both the appetizer and then the entrees the waitress/hostess nodded in agreement and then went on stacking menus, straightening chairs and cleaning tables...waiting five minutes before placing our orders? definitely something off in the service. I also found it odd that none of the staff was from Kabul? oh well. Despite a good meal, not worth the price nor the service.

    (3)

  • David B.

    I have been going to Kabul for over 20 years and had the chance to impress new friends and clients with the wonderfully consistent quality. The flavors are basic and fantastic. The quality of the meat superb. Even little suprises like the best chocolate mousse in Seattle. I only wish the space was bigger, but the magic has remained for me and all my friends for years and years. Going again tonight for the combo dinner.

    (5)

  • ellie c.

    AMAZING FOOD!! The best lamp chops that melt in your mouth. The custard desert is also the smoothest custard I have ever had. Amazing service, immaculately clean and beautiful decor make this a beautiful and flavorful date night. The wait staff and owner are the sweetest too. This place is a must for everyone to try and fall in love with!

    (5)

  • Meaghan B.

    The service here was simply fantastic! We had (what I consider) a larger group of six and they managed to not only serve us very well but they didn't appear to be ignoring any other tables, either. My main complaint here is the noise - it got very loud, very quickly. Everything we ordered was fantastic and well-served. The portions were not too large or too small.

    (4)

  • Taryn H.

    Service is always great as is the food. My favorite is this ravioli-like dish. It's "lick the plate clean" good. Last time I tried something different, but it wasn't as good as the raviolis.

    (5)

  • Chenna V.

    "really good food". Amazing chai, it tastes like hyderabadi chai without even adding milk. Good ambience n music

    (4)

  • Venkatesh K.

    This is the best restaurant I have tried in Seattle so far. We took some friends from NYC to this restaurant and they were blown away and so were we. Every Kabab we tried was delicious. The lamb was the best. We also tried their Firni which was outstanding. The restaurant was very kid friendly and had excellent service.

    (5)

  • Kerry G.

    My husband loves this place and insists on going every time we visit Seattle. He's Central Asian himself - Tajik - so I suppose that says something about the authenticity of the food. Since I'm not Tajik, all I've got to rely on is my tastebuds, which definitely approve, and my knowledge of his family's cooking. For starters, Afghan food is a lot more heavily spiced than my in-laws' Northern Tajik cooking. If I had to describe the difference, I would say that Tajiks rely more on the meat for flavor and Afghans rely more on the spices. Both ways have their advantages and disadvantages, as you can guess. The spicing on Kabul's shish kebabs overwhelms the flavor of the meat, a little. Much as I adore lamb, next time I'm going to try to remember to save a few bucks and get beef instead. They also don't attain the height of melt-in-your-mouth tenderness my husband gets with his (my family calls him the shish kebab god, his are so good). However, the spices are excellent, the meat was true medium-rare, and I was in no way disappointed. The pilaf is also much more heavily spiced than Tajik pilaf, and less rich, but probably also much healthier! My husband does a relatively dry version, but a couple of his female relatives overdo it on the oil by quite a bit for American tastes. I absolutely LOVE the Badenjan Borani. One of the tastiest eggplant dishes I've ever eaten, and I'm pretty fond of eggplant in general. It does quite literally melt in your mouth, even the skin. (And what I wouldn't give to figure out how to do that!) Though I'm generally leary of getting desserts that don't match the ethnicity of the restaurant serving them, I took the chance on our most recent visit and the Chocolate Mousse turned out to be fantastic!

    (5)

  • Sara N.

    We really liked this place and would definitely go back. the eggplant dip was really tasty as was my beef kabob and my husbands filled pasta. I never knew Afghani's ate pasta, so I learned something new. If I had to complain about anything, it was the excess of cologne that the server was wearing..and my mountain of rice. I think that I could have been happy with a little more beef kabob and a little less rice, for the high price of the entree. rice cant be that expensive, right? we will definitely go back though!

    (3)

  • Tim O.

    Every time I drive by this place (which is a lot) on 45th, I laugh just a wee bit. *wee laugh* They're still ripping people off in there *wee laugh*. 3 slices of eggplant for $15. WTF? Even my carnivore companions felt ripped off by their small portions. We're not Claim-Jumper-portion type of people either. Staff was friendly and the Afghan bread and salads were, well, there.

    (2)

  • Jane R.

    Food was good. Service was excellent. My 12 year old son ordered a Coca Cola which turned out to be flat and almost warm. My husband and guests ordered beers that were not cold.

    (4)

  • Jamie B.

    Great portions. Very tasty food. Friendly waiters. Cardommon tea was yummy as was the mushroom appetizer and pretty much everything else that was ordered. The meat was succulent and tender. (drool, drool) If I could I would give 4.5. It isn't a 5 because I just haven't found a 5 star-worthy place yet. Try it!

    (4)

  • Ane P.

    it is a MUST to try the eggplant dish that is topped with onions and ground beef. My mouth is watering just typing about it. The kebabs have great flavor, while the hummus appetizer is so very appetizing. Also, ensure that you have time to have some tea..it has a wonderful flare to it. You will not be let down by dining here.

    (5)

  • Lauren D.

    I'd never had Afghani food before, so I didn't know what to expect - now I know to expect flavorful, warm dishes that are perfect for fall evenings. We went to Kabul for a friend's birthday and really, really enjoyed ourselves. Our large group of 11 was accommodated gracefully and happily by the staff of Kabul - they made sure we were comfortable and well fed. I had the awesome cardamom tea (free refills!) and shared the kebab combination - tender chicken, beef with flavors to die for, a ridiculously good piece of eggplant, soup, flat bread...tons of food, and all of it was good. Turns out Afghan food features a lot of dill, and I'm OK with that. Contrary to one of the reviews below, the eggplant was my favorite dish of the evening - the tomato sauce it's served with is so good. I would go back again just for that. The interior of Kabul is totally different than what I expected - not sure why, but I expected it to resemble a sparse and plain teriyaki restaurant, rather than the nice and comfortable atmosphere we encountered. Though we went on a Sunday, the place was full - now we know why it's so popular!

    (4)

  • Stan F.

    I would give this place 5 stars, but I almost always walk away hungry or broke. Most everything on the menu is good or really good. But once again, the portions are small.

    (4)

  • Tonya N.

    I like it! Several people have recommended this restaurant to me and i can see why. The food is surprisingly subtle, focused on simple quality flavors, not trying to hard or over the top spices. We ordered a double order of the potato filled fried wonton like appetizer, very tasty. The Borani with ground beef was delish! i would have preferred a slight hotter temperature but the flavors were great. I like the rice with the raisins. Bf very much enjoyed his lamb kebab however i prefer it more rare. The Firni dessert was creamy and a nice simple finish. Great service, the owner very friendly and fun. I'd come back for sure :)

    (4)

  • Laleh J.

    I love Afghani food. The rice here was delicious. I am looking forward to trying the aushak next time!

    (4)

  • Kelsey G.

    The food is amazing, but they are definitely overpriced. Parking is an issue (it's Wallingford - no surprises there), but it's worth it. I'll be honest, I usually go with a friend and we'll split an entree - the grilled eggplant with ground lamb is unbelievable and the biryani-style rice dish with raisins, almonds and carrots was also fantastic. I would definitely be a more frequent patron if the prices were less ridiculous.

    (3)

  • Aleks V.

    Excellent dinner all around. The lamb special (kebab, eggplant, bread, rice and cucumber salad) was fantastic! I loved the eggplant! The tilapia korma was equally great. A good strong Lebanese red wine complimented the lamb nicely. Service was good. And the pistasio pudding was an excellent ending!

    (5)

  • Laural B.

    Lamb is the new pork. Mmmm. (By the way guys, that "hot chick" was 12 years old. Perverts.)

    (4)

  • Amy R.

    I drove by this place the other night, so when a friend from out of town came to visit, I suggested trying it. We were blown away. It was so delicious. My friend had had Afghan food before but not in a restaurant (more like a fast-food stand in DC). I had never tried it, so we asked the waitress for her recommendation. She was really nice and explained everything. My friend ended up with the Qorma-i Tarkari, and I got the Bara Kebab with a side of Badenjan Borani. The Borani was delicious. I will definitely have that again. My kebab was very simple, but very good. Next time, I'll probably try the Tarkari that my friend had. The only drawback was it was a little pricier than I thought. I saw a review that mentioned $10-15 entrees. They're more like $15-25. Not a huge deal but a bit more than I expected. I will definitely be coming back. It's a quite, intimate little restaurant in Wallingford, and I loved it!

    (5)

  • Ezra N.

    I went here on a week night with my girlfriend and had a great time. We had some sampler meal that contained three seperate dishes. The spices were great in all of them, but the eggplant in one dish was served as a 'cutlet' but had the consistency of cornmeal mush. The servers were really really friendly and quick. They also were very great at describing the dishes so we knew what we were getting. I'd recommend this place but suggest you steer clear of the eggplant. PS The mural on the side of the building is pretty tacky.

    (4)

  • miya S.

    Lamb is so good. tender, tender baby lamb. agghhhhjklhdgnekjr

    (4)

  • Shibumi S.

    One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Great service and atmosphere. I'm looking forward to going back again soon.

    (5)

  • yuko b.

    I haven't been in a little bit and I don't know why, because their food is awesome and they are actually one of the favorite places I've been. Try it, I don't think you'll be disappointed. And it's really approachable food - you don't have to be adventurous to eat here even if Afghan food sounds exotic. My only quibble the last time I was there was that the food was getting a bit cold by the time it got to us.

    (5)

  • Lin T.

    Super good, I went here with my former boss and one of his colleagues when they were in town and we couldn't find a place near his hotel downtown. I'd been wanting to try it, and we were starving, so off we went. I think they were a little hesitant, but it was GREAT, they loved it, and I (the vegetarian) loved it, too. So did my boyfriend who was also with us (and also veg). I believe he and I got the eggplant (Badenjan Borani) and the Qorma Tarkari. Both were delish, and the guests in town got kebabs of some kind. The owners were so friendly and really "took care of us" and made us feel welcome - that's part of the Afghan culture! Everyone loved the mushroom appetizer, except me (I don't like mushrooms, but if I did, I'm sure it would have been amazing!). The rice was really unique and good, too. Don't be afraid of trying a new kind of food, there's not a lot of Afghan restaurants so it can be unnerving for people who don't know what to expect - just dive in!

    (5)

  • Becka L.

    A wonderful find in Wallingford, our first experience with Afghani cuisine, and we've come back a few times because of the food, service, and convenient location. The menu is pretty limited, but what they do have is very good. We have tried the Bolani and Burta for appetizers. The Bolani are deep-fried, thin triangles filled with mashed potatoes, cilantro and scallions, and come with a yummy yogurt dipping sauce. Delicious! The Burta is an eggplant-based dip with many other flavors, including yogurt, mint, and olive oil, and comes with Afghan bread, which is something like lavash bread, but thinner and lighter. In terms of entrees, we have tried all of the kebabs (lamb, chicken, beef), and the Ashak with ground beef. The kebabs are basic kebabs, but whatever spices they put in perfectly complement the meat, and they are marinated and grilled to perfection. No dry, overdone meat at this place! The accompanying salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and green onions with mint and lemon dressing highlights every entree. The reason that we continue to return to Kabul is the Ashak. At first, the description made us a little curious - pasta with yogurt garlic sauce? But when we jumped, we were rewarded. Ashak is flat sheets of pasta layered with a tomato sauce and the yogurt sauce, and is like nothing you've had before. The way that the ground beef is seasoned makes it so tantalizing you don't even think of it as ground beef. The way that the spices are layered, one might expect sensory overload, but somehow, it works! From what we've had, Afghani cuisine uses a lot of yogurt and spices in their food, especially mint. It reminded me of a cross between Mediterranean and Indian cuisine, and Moroccan as well. If you're not used to these flavors it might send you whirling - but in a good way! The waitstaff are very polite and attentive, and the atmosphere is cozy and great for a unique date. I was also told that they only take reservations for groups of 4 or more, but I've never seen it crowded enough to worry about not getting a seat. PS - the baklava is lovely for dessert!

    (5)

  • Jr S.

    Not good. Not a nice owner. Comments below don't surprise me what so ever...

    (1)

  • ben h.

    so yeah...i see that everyone seems to rave about this place. one of the things i've never been comfortable with in life is being a contrarian. NOT. soooo...kabul. man the place gets big time points for ambiance. happy little romantic dining area. affordable wine selection. i really felt like things were headed in the right direction. unfortunately, the service took off at a pace approaching the speed of stupid. even then...i was patient. the place has moxy. our appetizers were great. the yoghurt reminded me of happy times i've recently spent in turkey. (not really the same as aghganistan, but hey...i guess both cultures dig yoghurt...they even have a yoghurt drink very similar to turkish ayran) but...then the unforgivable happened. our kebabs and rack of lamb...chewy, overdone, and overseasoned. wholly unsatisfying. i regret to say...despite all the hype, i can't stand behind this restaurant. if you want good afghani food in seattle it seems your best bet may be a trip to aghganistan:(

    (2)

  • Mason M.

    Having never eaten at an Afghan restaurant--I didn't know what to expect. But the eggplant dish was pretty darn good. And the raisins made me really enjoy it. It has been a while since I"ve been back...so hopefully, it is just as good.

    (4)

  • P H.

    I'm a meat centric eater usually, and the lamb here was good, but the eggplant was melt in your mouth awesome. Everything else was good, but that eggplant, fantastic!

    (4)

  • Jamie R.

    We went here on St Patty's because our original plans of living it up like leprechauns fell through. Kabul is really good, it has great atmosphere and service too. I just have to complain about the prices though. For the amount of meat you get on a Kebab it's ridiculous. It comes out to like $3 for each little square of meat! I have to say the egg plant was to die for! And the Ash soup, mmmm mmmm good! I really want to go back but doubt I will :(

    (4)

  • Paul F.

    I'm just not crazy about it. The service was good, but I really felt the food wasn't tasty, and the portions were small. It just wasn't a positive experience, sorry.

    (2)

  • Libby R.

    Went here with a group of four, and we threw ourselves at the mercy of the server - she brought us four dishes which were to die for. I don't know what we had, so can't list them here, but given the selection I don't see how you could be disappointed with anything! Absolutely phenomenal food, and great service!

    (5)

  • Ruby G.

    My first time trying Afghan food, and it was a very pleasant experience. Firstly, the service was top-notch. Our waiter was friendly and offered some great advice. Secondly, the food was very well-prepared. I also tried the dessert here. The flavors they used were interesting. Maybe not something I would order again, but I'm glad I tried. Overall, this restaurant is certainly a good place to try.

    (4)

  • Mark L.

    Can you say Kabobs? Say it with me... "Kuh-Bo-Bs"... Now, wipe the drool from you chin! This place is amazingly accurate in it's presentation of authentic Afghan food. Trust me, I have had nothing but Afghan food for the last year! I try to eat here at least 2 times a week!

    (5)

  • La D.

    I lived in Seattle for four years and miss very few things about it... but this place is definitely one of them. I ended up there on two consecutive birthdays and one anniversary-- they have a roasted eggplant dish that simply melts in your mouth. The atmosphere is subdued, elegant, and somewhat festive all at once, and my then-boyfriend and I always felt welcome (and remembered!). He was a huge fan of meat, and the steak kebobs were always a favorite. We were shit-broke, but always treated like royalty, and so our dining experiences there were well worth the splurge (Kabul is not particularly expensive, but, like I said-- we were broke. We lived in the U-District over by the freeway... need I say more?). Go. Enjoy yourself. Take a date. They'll love you for it.

    (5)

  • Ian M.

    We tried this place on a whim last night before heading over to the Guild to see a movie, and were pleasantly surprised. In perusing the menu, it is reminiscent of an Indian restaurant to some degree, and since we're big fans of Indian food, we gave it a try. The service was friendly and swift, and the food was tasty. I can't comment on the kebabs since we are both vegetarians, but the menu does clearly point out the vegetarian entrees. We started with some lightly friend turnovers filled with potato and herbs, served with a delicious yogurt-garlic sauce. For my entree, I opted for a homemade pasta dish that was very flavorful. I recommend the house tea, which is a blend of black teas spiced with cardamom, which was a pleasant, spicy flavor the likes of which I'd never had before. We would have tried dessert, as there were a couple enticing options, but we were operating under a schedule. The owner (I'm guessing) was very friendly, and engaged us in conversation on two occasions, asking whether it was our first time in and also discussing the various contributions that Afghan culture has made to even seemingly distant western culture. It's not as though he was hitting us over the head with "rah rah" Afghan promotion--it was welcome, friendly chatter in our opinion. It's not a cheap place, really, but not outlandish, either. If you find yourself hungry in Wallingford, and wonder what Afghan food is all about, Kabul is worthy of your consideration.

    (4)

  • Laura B.

    Story time! In my first visit to Seattle, I stayed with an old friend that I hadn't seen for ages... and wow, those ages sure did distinguish us... see, my hostess friend's idea of ethnic food equals Taco Del Mar, and her culture was Lost + Prison Break... so I sought refuge in Hospitality Club, one of two key traveler's resources that I consider critical (Couchsurfing the other)... I saw this profile of a musician going to culinary school (me being a food whore, this inspired hope) who worked in an art gallery... ok so color me a beggar, but I had to escape the world of "is it okay to put cinnamon in the hot chocolate I'm making from scratch, or is that too spicy?" and experience the Seattle I was yearning for... and he listed Tom Waits for fave music... OK, he's officially got points for that, even if he turns out to think Homer Simpson farts are awesome... So after we went museum hopping and walking around, taking obligatory "hug the stranger you just met in front of the water" photos, at Gas Works... we conveniently enough passed (at 4:30pm, starving entirely by then) Kabul, which made me say essentially "There, pleeease?" in a cool "Feeling adventurous?" manner cause I'm cool like that... well, Kabul... that mischievous owner, darn him... he wooed our curious taste buds... gave us free bolani while not even being discrete in calling talking about how beautiful young lovers are (GASP! scratch that, BLUSH! EYE TWINKLES AND BLINKIES!) and asked us to be patient while the cardamom tea I excitedly ordered was made since we did, after all, arrive just before opening time (oh man that smell.... sigh... if only it wasn't so much work without his equipment!)... So chatting him up a bit, he told us that the combo for 2 with BOTH lamb (only 1 "upcharge" though) is THE thing to order... that yes the other meats are less costly and such but that on lamb, oh that tough-spot-free meat that he so so carefully removes all parts not-perfect-texture from before ever cooking it (!)--that's the cost thing--the time in preparing it--ain't no fondue joint, kids, no chunks of boiled meats with dipping goo... well, when you get lamb for both, assuming the price hasn't gone down for his top quality, meticulously carved meat, he breaks even on the price of that part of the meal--all because he wants to keep the love for it alive without getting so expensive that everyday digging-this-cutie people can't, on such special occasions, have that special ensemble (it would be worth $75 and upwards to me if it came with another eggplant and that bonus bolani to round it off, but that amount would be for starving artists like we were, which he could tell). So, that eggplant is definitely of the devil, I'm certain, and putting all kinds of evil in me when I eat it and have oralgasms repeatedly--did I mention that thing positively MELTS in your mouth?? Eggplant... melting... with that amazing saucey moat... god I am about to drool... ok, my chin's back on my knee to Dam the flood in there)... So on this Thursday at 5, while more patrons quietly followed the scents and joined the orgasmic night... it was clear to him that as we, at the romannnntic little corner window with its blinds and beats and bobbles, analyzed every spice (being supertasters, after all) in the ash and all else... that look of love (for the food, the experience) did transfer to the owner who made sure we felt very special all night--he even gave me, a visitor, and him, a then-new-resident here, Kabul pens and such... I took a menu...circled the drool-creators... stored their # on my cell with "Wallingford near that park with the gas thingy, combo for 2 all lamb" and proceeded to finish falling in love. Whaddayaknow, my friend called as we'd just left, and she got sick. I should find backup hosting. Oh drats. "Let me see if it's ok" with big thumbs up, oh yeah.... Thanks, Kabul. And flu. Moral of the story? Kabul is dangerous. If you are hungry and with someone you are getting along with pretty well, you're asking for it. Go, ASK... Dance with this devil. Be enticed... start with the rugged but gentle pastry filled with potatoes, scallions, and delicate cilantro (I nearly hated cilantro before that day) served with the PERFECT sauce(s--they gave us 2 cause the waiter liked another off-the-menu sauce, and wow, both were amazing, yogurt the best for this combo... to exotic, sensual cardamom tea... to comforting ash soup, mmm how hearty--what perfect minestrone therapy produces in your mind but not in the bowl often enough... (no not the taste, the therapeutic effect)... to meticulous thoughtful lamb, lovely little breads for grabbing... then that sultry, seductive, saucy eggplant... going between lamb and eggplant, the eggplant being that last bite of moist melting that ... yeah. foodgasm. Finish it off like good sex-ice cream. Pistachio rose water ice cream (with saffron?) for us. I go every time I can afford it. EVERY time. I skip other meals to visit Kabul.

    (5)

  • Ava B.

    Delicious and different! I bit expensive, but worth it. The service was excellent and everything we tried was very tasty.

    (5)

  • Eric n.

    From East Coast to the West Coast, I found Kabul Restaurant in Seattle to be the best restaurant ever. Food is authentic and service was remarkable. My wife and I showed up here for dinner on both nights of our stay in Seattle, at Kabul Restaurant. We loved the eggplant, chicken kabab, Ashak and the lamb kabab. It was a great find for us and I am sure we won't miss it on any of our future visits to Seattle. I wish we had a place like this in the Bay Area, CA.

    (5)

  • Astro M.

    A great place for a meal of layered flavors, especially Cardamom. If you are trying it for the first time order the 2 person combo. An Astro favorite.

    (4)

  • Eddy H.

    This place rules! I was listening to NPR on my way to work one day and they were interviewing the owner about Kabul (the place), and they mentioned Kabul (the restaurant). I was so fascinated by the owner's descriptions of Kabul (the place) and the culture, so I decided to go to Kabul (the restaurant). I've tried most all of the entrees at this point, and I would highly recommend the chicken. It is always flavorful and never dry, and it goes great with their house rice. Their eggplant is also fantastic, and I think there is a platter you can get with all of these items, I believe it is called the Kabul Special. The homemade icecream flavors are all very exotic and delicious, but don't be afraid to try some.

    (5)

  • Janelle M.

    I only ate here once on a short trip to Seattle, but it's probably one of my most favorite restaurants. My friend and I showed up around 7 pm on a Friday night. We didn't have a reservation, so we took a seat and waited for an open table. While waiting, the owner came over and bought us all a drink on the house. We ordered the Ash and the Bolani for appetizers, both of which were very tasty. For our meals, my friend enjoyed the Ashak, while I enjoyed the vegetarian versions of both the Quorma-i-Sabzi (spinach) and the Badenjan Borani (eggplant), along with a side of basmati rice. My food was amazing and the presentation was also very nice. The owner, Wali, was friendly, accomodating, and a really nice guy. We received stellar service and stayed long after dinner, enjoying coffee and dessert as well. You'll also notice Kabul's delightful ambiance. I wish I didn't live 2,800 miles from Seattle.

    (5)

  • Sutee D.

    Concise menu, exotic cuisine, well-spiced food, decent service. All-in-all a great package, but I can't help to think it's overpriced. And it's not the kind of crazy unique fare that I would save for out-of-town visitors or special occasion. For me, kebabs is more like street food, but hey there's a ton of Thai restaurants in the US selling street vendor food (equivalent of stadium hot dogs) for lots of profit so why can't Kabul do it too?

    (3)

  • Michael B.

    Kabul is a pretty solid restaurant. It was the first time I've ever had Afghan food and I'll have to say, I'm a fan. In general, Afghan food seems to be very similar to Greek food minus the lettuce and olives. The only negative thing I have to say about this restaurant is that it was a little pricy.

    (4)

  • Carly C.

    This place is expensive for the amount of food you get. The food is good/expensive/small. sad. I'd go back had I not left feeling so ripped off.

    (3)

  • Sweet P.

    the house red wine is pretty good and eggplant dish is flavorful but not very filling if you get it sans meat. get a starter salad or app first. don't expect this place to be a cheap date even if you only have water. service is spotty and not solely dependent on whether the place is empty or busy. for some reason i keep coming back though....

    (4)

  • dean c.

    Overpriced, small portions, still very tasty. Excellent place for a date.

    (5)

  • Lisa B.

    This was the friendliest, best service I have had in - I can't even recall! How nice to be treated as if they're delighted you're there. I have wanted to try Kabul for quite some time. It was delicious! Everything! Try the mushroom qorma appetizer...a perfect starter. They offer plenty of vegetarian choices on the menu, and everything is flavorful and wonderful. Without a doubt we will return.

    (5)

  • SobeOne K.

    I never thought I would enjoy the staff more than the food. The ladies are sassy and nice. Dang it I appreciate someone being honest for a change. So I would give 5 star treatment but the food? It's good. It's not great and if you've had it before you'll know the difference. Also, I have to implore you to not make the mistake we did in ordering the meal for two. You get charged extra for lamb making it an over 50 dollar meal. You're joking right? We got 2 small cups of soup, a timble of salad, a slice of eggplant (THIN SLICE) a plate of plain rice and 2 kebabs. YIKES! I coulda gotten two kebabs to go from Mr Gyros BOOM under 15 bucks! You decide...

    (3)

  • Glen B.

    I know that Afgani food is hard to do, and almost never done right... and this place is, sadly, no exception. I know people always say that the food is better in the country it is from... easy to see why, and a lot of the food was pretty good when I was in Afganistan... that being said, the whole cuisine isn't the best in the world, and you're fooling yourself if you think it is. The fried stuff is soggy, everything is covered carelessly with yogurt, everything. Also, that yougurt isn't very good. The ambiance is nice, and it was romantic enough for the date I had there, but the food was just not that good, the service is overbearing, and it isn't worth the dough.

    (2)

  • Winston N.

    To set the record straight, this place is slightly pricier than you expect only because it looks like one of those restaurants on the ave that sits next to a terriyaki restaurant. However, the food here is well prepared and very tasty!!! Also the staff is inviting and very professional. I always get this pasta dish with some sort of slightly tangy yogurt meat sauce and its unlike anything else I've had. If you like Greek yogurt you will definitely enjoy this place!

    (4)

  • Peter G.

    Great food. Yummy Yummy

    (4)

  • Loriann K.

    I have been eating at Kabul's for over 20 years the food is wonderful and the wait staff is fantastic. I have never had a bad meal there. I go faithfully once a month with my girlfriend and if she is not available I place an order to go for the hubby and I at home.

    (5)

  • Jeremy C.

    According to their waitstaff, Kabul specializes in kabobs. However, I've had much cheaper and much better kabobs at any number of hole-in-the-wall restaraunts within a few blocks of the restaraunt. However, their other dishes are excellent. The food is a bit more than your average restaraunt (around $20/plate) but is well worth it.

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    I've lived in and around New York for several years now as a Seattle transplant, and have eaten perhaps an excessive number of Afghan meals, whether in restaurants or home-cooked, if such a thing is possible. But my first and formative encounter was a good 8 years ago at Kabul. Delicious, fresh (not always found in many Afghan restaurants where the more stew-y dishes can seem to sit on the stove for days before they serve it to you), incredibly warm service, and my entree into one of the finest cuisines out there. It warrants the price, and my gratitude.

    (4)

  • Kris H.

    Some of the best food I've ever eaten in my life, and I'm not exaggerating! I've spent a great deal of time in the middle east and surrounding areas and Kabul's food is so tremendously diverse, authentic and amazingly delicious. I'm hard pressed to think of a restaurant in Seattle I'd recommend more.

    (5)

  • Dandelion F.

    $180 for four of us with one bottle of wine. The eggplant appetizer we shared was nicely flavored but about 2 tbs. total, dwarfed by dozens of little shards of flatbread surrounding it. Entrees were forgettable. The lamb kebabs were average to dry: 5 cubes per serving, on rice. Eggplant entree was a plate of soupy eggplant halves drowning in cheese. The vegetable entree was a greasy mix of overcooked cauliflower and other tired veggies in a thin sauce that could have come out of a Trader Joe's can. The fermi custard for dessert was the only dish whose flavor seemed memorable (strong cardamom). Service was, well, serviceable but not warm. Our server's accent was so strong I gave up trying to understand what she was saying over the din. One wants to like the place, but they don't make it easy.

    (2)

  • Anna A.

    I bet a meat eater would like this place even more but there are options for vegeterians too. The atmosphere is nice with low lighting and the staff is nice. The musician is a nice little add. Do try out something different. Its a little on the pricier side.

    (4)

  • Paula R.

    It's just so good once it hits my lips! Dear Jeeebus, I wish I was employed because I would definitely eat here more often, but it's just so expensive! My dinner buddy and I had their Bolani (Potato turnovers with garlic yogurt sauce) as an app, and I was in lerrrrrrve. Super tender and tasty and the sauce was so good, that after eating my turnover, my stomach took over and my finger swiped the side of the bowl so I could get one last taste. Classy, I know! Our Kabobs came out a bit later and all talking immediately ceased at our table because we were too busy having a foodgasm over how great the food was. My chicken was marinated in yogurt and served with delish rice topped with raisens - Woot!! My dinner buddy had the lamb which was so tender and deeelightful. I'm still not sure how chicken with rice and Afghan Bread ended up costing $17 (that's a whole new pair of jeans from Ross!) but it was really tasty and the waitstaff was super attentive and fantastic and I hope to come back again soon!

    (4)

  • Traci R.

    After wanting to try this place since we first saw it months ago we finally made it in and not a moment too soon. This was such a relaxing and enjoyable dinner, I will definitely be returning here soon. We started with their half price appetizer of mushrooms in their yogurt garlic sauce with mint and cilantro served with bread and it was delicious. I got the house made pasta with spinach and scallions, it was so fresh tasting and the sauces balanced the dish so well. My boyfriend got the lamb sabzi and loved it, his rice was great as well. After the meal the owner came out and talked to us for a bit, very friendly, and since it was our first time there he brought us out some complimentary dishes of dried fruit and nuts in some sweet liquid that is something they traditionally eat. It was really good. We also got the custard with cardamom and rosewater, deeeeelicious!

    (5)

  • eats a.

    excellent meal, service and atmosphere. it was packed and the owner made his way throughout the evening back and forth throughout the tables making sure everyone was happy. the food was great, and we weren't even drinking from the extensive wine menu. the only downside is the entrees are a bit $teep, but that's what happens when the type of food you serve is hard to come by around here. we were told they would be starting a takeout, less expensive lunch service with a drive up window this week - yay!

    (4)

  • Brian S.

    The first and only time I've had Afghani food was at Kabul. I enjoyed what we had enough that I would like to try it again, but at the prices Kabul is asking we just haven't been back yet. The kebabs were a little sweeter and spicier than other middle eastern food I've had, and the use of cilantro was a nice change of pace from similar cuisines. Baklava was as you would expect, the custard dessert with pistachios set itself apart though. If only we could afford to return more often.

    (4)

  • Ms T.

    Possibly one of the best retaurant I have been to in Seattle. The owner is very friendly, he always greets customers and offers them drinks while they are waiting to be seated. The food is excellent as is the service. The Jani-i-amma, the Badenjan Borani and the succulent kebabs stand out.

    (5)

  • Mary R.

    I've been to Kabul with a big group, a medium-sized group, and with just my husband (multiple times). The food has always been exceptional, the service will not disappoint. The owner of the restaurant has been around every time we've been in; he always says hello and stops by the table to make sure everything is satisfactory. Things you need to try at Kabul: 1. Ash soup - it's soup, only way more awesome than any soup you've ever eaten. 2. Seekh kebab - beefy, perfectly seasoned, tender 3. Badejan Borani - eggplant with some garlicy yogurty stuff and tomatoey stuff on it. My husband tried to figure out ways to lick his plate clean without looking insane in a nice restaurant. 4. Firni - cardamom and rosewater-flavored custard with pistachios. Dude, you know everything is better with pistachios. Eat at Kabul. Do it now.

    (5)

  • John H.

    The kebabs didn't knock my socks off, but they were all around solid and accompanied well. I went on a Wednesday night and they even had a Sitar player.

    (4)

  • pongo p.

    a little expensive but very quite. afghan food is similar to indian, with some nice subtle differences. the cardamom tea is good. my old sitar teacher used to play here.

    (4)

  • Katherine K.

    Everyone seems to love this place, but I'm not impressed. I like the idea of an Afghan restaurant, but the experience left me lacking. The food was overprice for what we got, and the portions were small. The food itself wasn't anything too special -- I feel like I could get much of it at any Middle Eastern restaurant for cheaper or make it myself for less than half the cost. My husband got a kabob, and it was just plain rice with a few tiny pieces of meat on top -- and it cost almost $20! I got a vegetarian meal, and it was good but also small and pricey. Give it a try yourself, but don't expect it to blow you away.

    (3)

  • Michael G.

    Delicious food Great atmosphere and service. If you like big portions, beware. Food portions are modest for some selections.

    (4)

  • megan d.

    I had never eat Afghani food before this place and I love it....my only word of caution is dont fill up on the rice. the food can be quit heavy. I would highly suggest any of the vegetable dishes or lamb.

    (5)

  • John T.

    This place is good. I am generally a fan of more exotic food, and this was my first time having Afghan. Since we didn't really know what to order, we decided to get the Kebab combo for two. I was expecting it to be lots of meat, but was pleasantly surprised that while there was meat, and more than the two of us could eat, there were also delicious sides. Since we're on the topic of the kebabs, they had marinated beef and marinated chicken breast. Both were deliciously succulent. The chicken was lighter and a more tender--if we got this again, we'd probably order all chicken. The sides included: -a mountain of basmati rice cooked with spices and herbs topped with carrot shavings and rasins. -flatbread, which was interesting, but unremarkable on the whole -sauteed eggplant which was covered in a spiced creamy sauce and was delicous -cucumber salad flavored with vinegar and herbs They have a small but quality beer selection and I enjoyed one of my favorite lagers in the world, Czechvar, while my date had a 1/4 bottle of sparkling Spanish wine. These European beverages went well with the ambiance, which was 1/2 French bistro and 1/2 (what seemed to me to be) Afghani pictures, cultural artifacts, and even a recreation of Afghan Buddhist statues carved into a mountain in the 6th century that were destroyed in 2001. Nice ambiance. The dessert was really amazing. It was a chilled spiced pudding that tasted like someone's grandmother's recipe. Overall all of the food seemed like a lot of preparation and love had gone into its preparation. The service was superb, and street parking was free and plentiful. The men's room was clean. This struck me as a well-run family business that served interesting, flavorful food. NOTE: My opinion may have been colored by the wonderful Groupon deal that we got on this place. However, I'm sure we will be back. We wouldn't have tried this place if 2 friends hadn't recommended it to us, but we are glad we listened to them.

    (5)

  • Saejin K.

    Seriously delicious. We got the combination plate for two with lamb and chicken and everything was amazing. Only docking a point because I think the price is a little expensive. We had a groupon but otherwise it would've been like $40 a person without drinks. I definitely recommend it for a special occasion though! Ps. Don't come here if you are vegan or allergic to dairy. The vegetarian eggplant dish is excellent though.

    (4)

  • K P.

    The owner, Wali, is very welcoming and generous. They have the best chocolate mousse I have ever had, and I've tried my fair share of chocolate mousse around the globe!!

    (4)

  • Rayyan J.

    According to the waiter, all their plates have substantial amount of garlic. If you are allergic to or do not like garlic, this place might not work for you. Onions and cilantro appear on most of the plates as well. The waiter was understanding and polite when we decided to leave and have dinner elsewhere with more options. I didn't try the food obviously. I am giving it 3 stars because Yelp won't let me leave it blank, and because of their limited options.

    (3)

  • I-Wei F.

    So fresh and so good! I've had Afghan food before, but not like this. Let me just preface this by saying that I went to Kabul with a friend from Afghanistan who was familiar with the menu at Kabul, so I relied on her to pick the dishes. It's a dark intimate restaurant, with a lively yet soft spoken crowd. We ordered the food to come out in this order: ash - tomato broth soup with pasta. I could have this everyday ashak - freshly made sheets of pasta filled with meat and scallions. This is so unmistakably fresh. combination kebab for two - it comes with giant pile of perfectly cooked, well seasoned basmati rice. The kebabs were beef and chicken, a little on the tough side but well seasoned and well done. There was a chopped cucumber and tomato salad as well as flat bread to go with it too. There was enough for us to take home and eat another full meal. firni - cardamom flavored custard. This is a great palate cleanser The flavor profile of Afghan food at Kabul is very distinctive and well rounded. Dill, turmeric, and mint are liberally used and so well balanced. The details though, is where Kabul really shines so you know how much care they put into their food. The seasoned basmati rice, usually an afterthought for most restaurants, was so perfectly made and stands on its own. I would love to know how they make the basmati rice. The service is great, the waitress was very patient and answered our many questions, and explained to us what we were eating since my boyfriend hadn't had afghan food before. The food came out promptly and our glasses were filled at a regular pace. I'm still dreaming about the ash, ashak, and basmati rice.

    (5)

  • J R.

    After a very dissapointing dinner at Satay we decided to walk into Kabul to create some better memories for the night. What a delight this place is! Cozy and authentic, beautiful atmosphere, excellent customer service. Because we just had dinner we only shared one appetizer - the mushroom qorma. DELICIOUS. I would have preferred it had a little heat but otherwise very flavorful. We had the sparkling wine and the Malbec by the glass. Pleasantly surprised by the wine. We will definitelly return for dinner. No wonder this place has been around for years, they are doing everything right!

    (5)

  • Chantelle E.

    We had a pretty fantastic experience here. We came in after waiting over an hour by a nearby restaurant, so we arrived very hungry and thirsty! We ordered the pasta (very unique, a must try), the lamb chops, and multiple kebabs. Everything was fantastic, lots of new flavors to enjoy. Everything also came with a rice dish on the side, I actually think that was my favorite part!! Missing star? Call me crazy, but I felt like it was a little overpriced, over $25 for an entree!!

    (4)

  • Rachel M.

    Finally got over to Kabul and have to say it was amazing. We had Afghani food in New York a few years ago and have been looking for it near us since. Parking is a little tricky, but once you get there the food is amazing. We had the beef kebabs and lamb qorma. Nice tip - they have an amazing yogurt garlic sauce which is incredible mixed in with the rice or for dipping the kebabs. Wine list not great, but you can bring your own bottle for a $10 uncorking fee.

    (5)

  • Haseeb R.

    NEVER EATING HERE AGAIN! Last time I ate from here I got food poisoning. I have been to this place about 2-3 times, and the food has been good. However, the last time I ordered delivery from this place, first of all they got the order wrong so I had to wait for them to get it right the second time around. Even though they ended up not charging me for the meal, I have been extremely sick and vomiting for the past 2 days. I cannot trust the food here anymore. I ordered the Bolani (which I think is the culprit) and the Murgh Kebab.

    (1)

  • Daisy S.

    Very friendly staff and cozy atmosphere. Be sure to try their badenjan borani (eggplant side-dish) and their Pistachio Rosewater Ice Cream! The ice-cream tastes like authentic Persian ice-cream, much better than the ones you can find in LA! A great find, I'll be back! :-) (p.s. I'd probably re-name the ice-cream on the menu to Persian ice-cream or Saffron ice-cream!)

    (5)

  • Anne N.

    I've never had Afghan food before but if I were to describe it to someone ...I'd say it's... like a hybrid between Indian & Mediterranean food -- both which I love! There were some dishes that were GREAT and some that were ...different and I didn't enjoy it as much (but perhaps that's only because I'm not familiar with it). Here's a breakdown of what we had: 1) Drink: "Dough" (a cucumber-mint-yogurt concoction): our sweet waitress gave us a little to sample before we ordered a glass of it...and thank goodness that she did! Although it was ...refreshing...it was like drinking salty milk. 2) Appetizer: "Jan-i Amma" - a dip made of yogurt, cucumber, onion, and mint (very similar to tzatziki sauce) was served with Afghan bread. The "bread" was more like a tortilla...in my mind, I was hoping for something with more substance. A little disappointed here. 3) Entrees: "Qorma-i Tarkari" - small hunks of lamb cooked with veggies including potatoes, carrots, and cauliflower - served with a deliciously seasoned basmati rice with raisins -- I loved this dish! I would order it again and again and again... "Seekh Kebab" - beef fillet marinated in a dry rub and "Bara Kebab" - similar dish to the Seekh Kebab but with lamb. Both dishes were great and my friends are still raving about them. Prices were a little steeper than I expected. Average entree is $17-22. Overall, this was a great place - good service and decent food. It's just a little pricey.

    (4)

  • Sanobia H.

    Just got back from dinner and it was amazing. I had the lamb kebab and rice and it was delicious. Try the Bolani as an appetizer. The waitress is nice and the service was pretty fast even though they were packed.

    (5)

  • Bobby N.

    Actually 3.5 stars. First time eating Afghan food and unsure what to make of it. Indian cuisine has a special place in my heart and I expected Kabul's to rival it, which may have skewed my experience. Regardless, I found mediocrity with the Ashak, Qorma-I Tarkari and the Seekh Kebab entrees. The taste wasn't savory or memorable, but rather plain. On the other hand the experience is romantic and the service is notable. There's a musician that, as J.T. puts it, sets the mood right. I would be willing to come back. If there's one recommendation, you MUST try the DOGH drink (no, not pronounced Dog! but Dough). You won't forget it!

    (3)

  • Tom B.

    This is another one of those places that just hits me right where I live on so many levels. It's a simple, humble space and it's held that space for years and years--right away, I love that. Seattle has so few restaurants that qualify as institutions and this one seems to have nearly cornered the market on Afghan cuisine. Next, it smells great before you even get to the door. The dining room does not show any evidence of their wasting time or cash by overdoing it--everything's functional and clean, and there are decorations that definitely set a tone. But it's not like they have footbridges and koi ponds to liven up the lobby. In fact, they put up a couple photos of the old country in the lobby, and the history lesson you get with the long captions under them is what sets the tone for the joint. Continuing on to the next things they do just right, the staff is clearly very present and super focused on what they're doing, but they're very approachable and relaxed in conversation at the same time. They just have that restaurant disposition that's not as common as you might think. The owner comes around personally. he's very opinionated, very outgoing, very (rightfully) proud of what they have put together here. He's what I, when I was growing up, always thought of in the way of a successful restaurateur's disposition. Almost flamboyant, almost a little too "on," but charming and funny and completely up to speed on everything that's going on around him. Most importantly, the food. The food's amazing. We had a great little savory pastry appetizer, along with a pretty amazing eggplant yogurt concoction called burta. Entrees were beef and lamb kebabs, with intensely savory and delicious flavors. He explained that he pays five times what lamb typically goes for, so he can get local and very fresh meat. His kitchen makes the extra effort of cleaning what's served down to absolutely fat-free super-prime cuts. You can tell the difference on the plate, that's for sure. He said "there's no gaminess to my lamb, none at all. That's what people who don't like lamb dislike about it." He was right. The gaminess of lamb never bothers me, though what he served is clearly a cut far above what many other places, even decent places, are serving in the way of lamb. He drew a careful distinction between the savory seasonings always present in his dishes and the spicy heat that they can bring out on request. Their hot sauce is a coarsely chopped salsa with jalapeno, habanero, and three other peppers. He spoke passionately against drying and grinding peppers, saying fresh peppers are much easier on your system. The logic made sense to me, but I've not heard that elsewhere. The salsa (I am sure there's a more accurate word) was delicious, and packed plenty of heat. In truth, the kitchen seasonings really were much more savory than hot and spicy, but adding the fresh peppers really livened things up. The basmati rice was pretty spectacular. Chowing down on a bunch of starch is something I try to be mindful of overdoing these days, but the rice here was just irresistible. I was chasing grains around with my knife to shove onto the fork. Delectable. Desserts, on the house, were a great little cardamom custard and some mango sorbet. Both delicious. Great, great meal.

    (5)

  • Liz S.

    Their vegetarian cauliflower dish and rice is so tasty! Love the refreshing cucumber and tomato salad too. The kabobs (for meat-eaters) and pasta dish are supposed to be good as well. Worth trying if you haven't been already.

    (5)

  • Sara F.

    My family dragged me to this restaurant because they are big fans of Afghani food, and to be honest i never tried it !! but this place was really good, the bolanis were amazing and so many other things that i can't remember their names!! The waiter was very friendly and fun, he made us feel like home (seriously). I will go there again for sure :) PS: The rice is sensational !!!! Best rice i ever tried in my life (seriously)

    (5)

  • Raghad A.

    I had dinner with some friends here couple of nights ago. The food was Amazing ! All if us finished the our plates ! The owner was very friendly and so was the waitress, until we mentioned that we wanted separate checks, that's when she started being a bit rude (that's why I gave them 4 stars instead of 5). But if it wasn't for that waitress they would have deserved a full 5-stars on the super delicious food and the friendly hospitable owner.

    (4)

  • Reagan T.

    I can't say enough good things about this restaurant, although I can't speak to it's authenticity, as this was our first time trying Afghan cuisine. The menu sounded promising, so we made the dive and were richly rewarded. After spending a week in Seattle, eating at many different establishments, Kabul was the standout winner. Our server was kind and helpful without being pushy or hovering too much, ready to answer any questions we had or make suggestions. We went with a mixed lamb and chicken kebab plate and the eggplant dish, both of which were absolutely delicious. The eggplant almost melted in your mouth upon contact, and the sauces complimenting it were perfect. The chicken and lamb were spicy and juicy, and the afghan rice, cool cucumber and tomato salad, and thin bread were all just as good as the entrees themselves. I used the bread to wipe up any last remainder of the eggplant sauce, it was that good! I would have licked the plate, but luckily, I restrained myself. Lucky for us, we were able somehow, despite all of our feasting, to make room for dessert and chose the rosewater and pistachio ice cream at our server's suggestion. Holy mother of Abraham Lincoln, do not miss this dessert! It sounded like a strange combination, but it was the perfect way to end the meal. The ice cream was light but still substantial enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. If you're in the neighborhood, Kabul is definitely worth your time to stop in and try out. I have a hunch that I will be dreaming of this dinner for nights to come!

    (5)

  • Keillan E.

    The menu is not crazy huge- but what Kabul does, it does well. I've been several times and will continue to return for the amazing eggplant dish. I don't know how they make a sliced and grilled eggplant so delicious, but they do. The wait staff and managers are really wonderful- funny and endearing. On my last visit they talked with our table extensively and not in an obnoxious typical way. Also- the dessert that is basically Afghan flan.... GET IT! I am still thinking about it.... it was a custardy creamy pudding with rosewater and cardamom. amazing!

    (5)

  • elizabeth h.

    Just fabulous. Fresh, well seasoned. I would go back in a heartbeat! I had the Qorma-i Tarkari - $17.00 Huge portions. Cauliflower, baby carrots and potatoes topped with our special lamb sauce in a blend of dill, saffron, turmeric and cumin. I got also got a side of the eggplant for myself after tasting a bite of my husband's. We shared the Mushroom Qorma, which was scrumptous! Two others at our table shared the special vegetarian menu for two that included a starter, desserts and a bottle of wine. They loved it, especially the dessert (Firni - Custard pudding flavored with cardamom and rosewater and topped with ground pistachios) I had the chocolate mousse which was excellent. Just a great spot! Pleasant atmosphere and top notch service!

    (5)

  • Clint W.

    Honestly, I really like the food here. I've been wanting to try it for a long, long time but never really made it. Finally, some friends suggested it and I was all in. It's tiny inside, which I did not expect. Staff was friendly and we quickly had beverages and apps. The ash was good and I really like the turnovers filled with potatoes. Here's where they lost a star from me. It was really loud inside and with the musician playing, it was very difficult to hear the people at my table. Also, there was a long wait between the entrees and our apps. Ample time for conversation if the sound was a little bit dampened. I had the lamb kebabs, which was medium rare and very tasty. It was accompanied by eggplant, rice and a nice cucumber salad. Whoa, flavorful and plentiful. Even though it was a lot of food, I cleaned my plate. Glad I came and I need to come back with friends.

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    Awesome food, super friendly service and owner, great decor, immaculately clean, what more can you ask for? The first time we came here my husband and I got the combination kebab for two and it was just an insane amount of food but it is a great introduction to the variety of dishes they have. The soup called ash is so freaking delicious I sometimes just want to get a giant bowl and call it a day. It's beans and noodles in a broth with yogurt, mint, and a whole ton of dill. The Badenjan Borani is eggplant transformed into a tangy tomato-y mash drizzled with yogurt that I can't find a way to explain that would do it justice. The rice, just like another reviewer said, is basically the best rice I have ever had spiced with cumin and maybe cinnamon and other spices then topped with carrots and raisins. This feast also comes with a cucumber salad, kebabs, and the great flatbread that is thinner than a tortilla and topped off with dessert. Like I said, just crazy amounts of food. Trying to avoid a week long food coma we have since then just each gotten an entree and the dessert. Twice now I have had the ashak and have not been disappointed. It is sheets of super delicate thin pasta layered with scallions and leeks then covered in a tomato and ground beef sauce and drizzled with yogurt. So freaking fantastic. The absolute best part is the dessert. You *MUST* get the firni. It is a cold, refreshing, light cardamom and rosewater flavored pudding sprinkled with pistachios. I'm drooling just thinking about it now. Yes the prices are a bit high but I feel like the food and the atmosphere are worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Sonya L.

    My friend and I went to Kabul last week for dinner. I'd been there before, but it was several years ago, so I didn't really remember my experience. I was looking forward to trying it again! I love the interior of this place. It's very small, yet cozy. It's calm and quiet inside, which is a nice change from the sometimes noisy Wallingford area. We ordered the Ashak to split. I should note here that there are two version of this dish - vegetarian and beef. We very clearly stated we wanted the vegetarian version. When the food arrived, I began eating - it was delicious! The flavors worked together really well and we were pleased with our choice. It wasn't until about halfway through the meal that I realize the dish had meat in it. We aren't vegetarians, but we do like vegetarian meals (plus, it was cheaper). Our waitress came by and apologized for the mix-up. When she found out that we weren't actually vegetarians, she told us she would only charge us for the vegetarian version of the dish, not the beef version. This was okay, I guess, but only a difference of a couple bucks when the entire meal was incorrect. Prices were very, very high. We split the one appetizer in addition to the Ashak, which was just enough food for for the two of us. The total was slightly over $20 bucks. However, we chose a very inexpensive appetizer. Had we both gotten entrees and appetizers, it would have been close to $40 dollars. We didn't even order drinks! Overall, we had a nice time here, but the prices are high enough to keep me from coming back often.

    (3)

  • April S.

    I had never tried Afghan food and I was a little weary, however it was great! The service was great, the food was great, and I would recommend going there just for the mushrooms! MMM Like someone else said, what the hell

    (5)

  • Ann W.

    L.O.V.E! Everything from the food to the atmosphere warrants a 5-star review for Kabul. I was struck by the balance of intimacy and liveliness. It was completely packed, people were clearly having fun, and it was also a nice place for a romantic dinner for me and S. When we were seated, we had a very lovely waiter. He was polite, genuine, funny, and helpful. For example, I was interested in ordering the yogurt drink (yogurt based with mint and salt), and he warned me that it was an acquired taste so he brought me a generously portioned sample. He was right--definitely an acquired taste so I had to pass. S and I both ate kebab combos--his with chicken and mine with beef. The combos include your choice of meat, delicious basmati rice, cucumbers with yogurt sauce, and a rectangular piece of Afghan bread (reminded me of a thin pita). You can add eggplant borani for only $1 more, so we definitely went with that. I was not disappointed in anything. The beef was flavorful and juicy, the rice was addicting, the cucumbers very refreshing next to the deep flavors of the meal, and the eggplant was savory--try dipping the bread into the sauce! I only wish for a larger portion of bread. It is quite thin and it would have been nice to soak up all the extra sauce. For dessert, we had Firni, which is a custard flavored with rose water, cardamom, and pistachio bits. It is also an acquired taste, but it definitely grew on me. I love the combination of flavors but had a hard time adjusting to the contrast of the bits of pistachio with the smooth and creamy custard. Overall, a very solid experience but I recommend the $45 kebab combo for 2. It includes everything I just mentioned except you get TWO different desserts. OM NOM NOM.

    (5)

  • Samantha E.

    My boyfriend and I were feeling adventurous a few months ago, and decided to try out Afghan food. It was fantastic! I guess we weren't really all that adventurous-- we went with kebabs-- but the meat was perfectly grilled, in a delicious marinade, and so tender you could cut it with a fork. Both the lamb and filet were excellent. We also tried the custard pudding dessert, and it wasn't like any other custard I've ever had, but we really liked it. On the downside, I parked in the paid parking lot down the street behind the Chase Bank, and my car got broken into. This soured me a little bit on Wallingford, and is the only reason I haven't been back. The food is definitely worth a return trip.

    (4)

  • Shyam H.

    Went there with a few friends tonight, and this was my second visit. The first time was like 12 years ago (shortly after 9-11 if I recall). Really nice atmosphere to chill and catchup with friends on a sunday night. And good food. The ravioli like thing I had with a meat sauce was very flavorful, was the perfect portion size and the price was right. The cardamom tea, which we all got second servings of, is not to be missed either. We were the last ones to leave.

    (4)

  • Mary R.

    I've had a lot of Afghan food in my time, and not only from restaurants...but from the kitchens of Afghan women no less. So it's probably a little strange that I'm white. I was so excited to try out this place, I was visiting Seattle and made a special visit here. So excited in fact that we actually arrived 15 minutes before they opened. But instead of leaving us in the cold, they offered us a table inside while they setup (bonus points there!). The owner came around and chatted with us, which was so cute of him to do. He was such an amazingly nice guy, I can't express it enough. He really made a wonderful experience for us, with some complementary items to boot. Our waitress was a sweetheart too, we left with huge smiles on our face. Highlights on food: Boloni was so tasty! Especially with the homemade chutney, which BTW is extremely fresh here, we asked for more. :) A wonderful place ran by wonderful people. Worth checking out if you're in the Seattle area looking for something a little special.

    (5)

  • Jay I.

    Excellent food but the service did not match it. The waiter, we felt, was bordering on being rude. We were not hungry walking in, and decided to share 2 entree between the 3 of us and decided to skip dessert and we felt pushed to try one plus he was very loud at that.

    (3)

  • Dominique F.

    I went to Kabul with my friends on a girls night out and we all had a blast! The service was great, the food delicious and we ended up listening to good live music played by a band. The place is a bus ride away from the U-district (Route 44) and it's a walk away from Molly Moons and Trophy Cupcakes ;) It's worth a visit, so go and enjoy!!

    (4)

  • Ally W.

    It is definitely one of the best restaurants in town! I loved everything I tried there. The Seekh Kabab (beef) and Bara Kabab (lamb) blow me away every time. Each with 5 generous pieces of flavorfully marinated meat grilled to perfection. When you cut into the meat, tasty juice of the meat flows out. Each bite is such a treat to your mouth. The meat is not the only thing amazing about these dishes, the rice that comes with the meat is by far the most tasty rice I have ever tried. It is a labor of love blended with yummy spices. I had the opportunity of meeting the charming owner, Wali. He graciously introduced me and my friend to another must try of the restaurant - Ashak (pasta filled with scallion and served yogurt sauce and ground beef). I was skeptical at first, "Afghanistan Pasta, is there even such a thing?" However, as soon as I took the first bite, I became a big fan! The pasta is different from the Italian egg pasta in that it is light and almost transparent. So I asked Wali what it was made of, guess what, it is wonton wrapping! Such smart use of ingredients. If you like lamb or beef, you have to give Kabul a try and you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth M.

    I was really impressed with the food. I've never had Afghan food before, but this was a very positive introduction. Lots of herbs, lots of flavors, lots of healthy options.

    (4)

  • Aditya D.

    I am a fan and will be coming back. Shared the mushroom kurma and Ashak. Mushroom kurma was amazing. I wasn't blown away by the Ashak but I am not a huge fan of the dish so that isn't surprising. I also tried the soup "Ash" and I liked it a lot. It was spicy without being overwhelming. Never had anything quite like it before. The rose-pistachio ice cream was also very good but I think it came out of a box (a good box). Maybe someone can correct me there. The restaurant itself is nicely laid out with a cozy atmosphere. They were out of the eggplant dishes, which I wanted to try. The owner also mentioned that he is going to have traditional Afghani bread (like a tandoori naan) instead of the Lavaash bread. I liked the lavaash but I am curious to try the afghani bread.

    (4)

  • Katie G.

    Just moved to the Wallingford neighborhood and stopped in here. Amazing!!! The people are very friendly and helpful and the food is out of this world!!! A must go!!!

    (5)

  • Liz D.

    I cannot express how much I love this place!! The food is absolutely amazing! I crave it all the time! Too bad I live so far, otherwise I'd go there everyday! Yumm! I suggest everyone should try it. My only suggestion to the restaurant would be to have longer hours... I had my heart set on going there for lunch and couldn't because it opens at 5pm. I am so sad :' (

    (5)

  • Samantha B.

    I've never had any complaints anytime I've dined here. The food and service have always been excellent. It might be a little bit more expensive, but the quality of the ingredients and the care with which they are prepared is worth it. We recently had dinner here and ended up having a conversation with the owner. He was so friendly and kind! We weren't planning on having dessert, but he insisted on sending one to our table. It was, of course, delicious.

    (5)

  • Christine Z.

    I didn't know what to expect with Afghan food, but HOLY MOUTH-GASM!, did Kabul blow my mind! The entrees the BF and I got were SO good, like "OMG - let's eat here again tomorrow" good! He had the Qorma-i-Sabzi, a combination of spinach, cilantro, parsley and scallions, topped with a special lamb sauce, served with Basmati rice. I had the Seekh Kebab, chunks of beef fillet marinated in a blend of ground coriander, garlic and freshly ground black pepper. Both of our entrees were served with Basmati rice, salata and Afghan bread (which was more like super flat, flat bread). We have a tendency to swap entrees halfway through so we get to try two different meals. He really liked the qorma-i-sabzi, saying the flavor and texture profiles were great! But he scarfed down his half real quick - he wanted what I was having. Between each mouthful, all I could muster was, "OMG - this is SOOO good!" and "OMG - the flavor! This is the best beef I've EVER had!" Yup, I liked it THAT much! Both entrees were very good, and totally worth coming back again and again for! We were definitely part of the "Clean Plate Club" on this particular night, and proud of it!!! For people who are wary of eating Afghan food, I would recommend getting the seekh kebab! It's so DELISH, I'm confident you won't be disappointed! The food, especially the seekh kebab - 5 stars The decor, service, and general feel of the place - 3 stars (nothing to write home about!) $55 (before tip) for two entrees, 2 beers and a glass of wine - a little pricey IMO. But for the best beef kebabs I've ever had, it's totally worth every penny!!! I'll be back real soon for another MOUTH-GASM! =)

    (4)

  • Shannon R.

    In case you haven't eaten at Kabul, and you're expecting to be whisked away to some exotic location, don't. Aside from the Afghani artwork on the walls and a an antique water pump sitting on a table by the door, the place is very much like a small American dining room with white linen table cloths and very American servers. I came on a Sunday evening. I didn't get to meet the owner or hear any music, but the place was packed. I think it's busy because the food they serve is amazing. It's fresh, it's tasty, it's perfumed with spice, and it's a novelty. There are only 3 Afghani restaurants in the area and one of them is actually Persian (they're neighbors). For around $25 you might get 1 strip of an aromatic and tender lamb kabob with a side of rice and a small dish of cucumber salad. Or for around $20 you might get 3 pieces of deliciously charred eggplant- with no rice. They also have an appetizer called bolani which is a deep fried flatbread filled mostly with potatoes and some onion. The prices are high, which I presume the food quality is as well. If you're looking for distinctly high-end Afghani cuisine, this is your spot. If you're looking for a special ambiance or cultural experience, I would recommend the Kasbah, Marrakesh or Gojo.

    (4)

  • Jenny F.

    Yummy! This was my first time trying Afghan style cuisine and while I admit I have nothing to compare it to, this was delicious!! I wish I could remember the name of what I ordered, but unfortunately all I can recall is it was the lamb kebab and I got the eggplant thingy on the side which is an option. The rice that comes with the entrees was magical. There was a party of 8 of us and everyone got something different so I did get to sample just about everything on the menu. Service was great too! I will be back to this place for sure, all though it helps that I live within walking distance :)

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 9:3

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 : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Kabul Afghan Cuisine

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