Afghan Bamyan Kabob

Top of the line: Went around 9pm. Didn't know what to expect, but got an assortment of some of the best food I've ever tasted. Everything was spiced and cooked to perfection. Served promptly. We sat outside at a table. Chicken was absolutely mouthwatering and I got the best cup of chai I've ever had in my life, seriously. Highly recommend if you're a fan of truly delicious food. The cherry on top: Entire meal for 2 was only $42! Unbeatable, I'm excited to return.

We traveled all the way from Ohio to Chicago and tried Bamiyan Kabob — and it was absolutely worth it! 🍽️ • Food: Fresh, flavorful, and authentic Afghan taste. The kabobs were perfectly cooked, juicy, and full of flavor. • Cleanliness: The restaurant was very clean, organized, and family-friendly. • Service: Staff were kind, welcoming, and provided excellent service. • Atmosphere: Calm, comfortable, and a great spot to relax and enjoy a meal. This place was the highlight of our trip and such a refreshing stop. Highly recommend it to anyone visiting Chicago! 🙌

We had a wonderful experience at Afghan Bamyan Kabob in Chicago. The staff was warm, attentive, and made us feel right at home. We tried the Afghan Palaw (Pilao), mantu, and a cheeseburger—each dish was exceptionally well-prepared and flavorful. The Palaw, in particular, was a standout, featuring tender lamb over fragrant rice. The portion was generous and easily enough for two people. The mantu entree included ten delicately spiced dumplings that were equally impressive. The cheeseburger was a pleasant surprise. Instead of a typical pre-made frozen restaurant depot patty, it featured a house-made, robust beef patty. Even our picky eater, who normally dislikes beef burgers, enjoyed it—a strong endorsement in itself. Overall, the food was delicious, portions were hearty, and the service was excellent. We highly recommend Afghan Bamyan Kabob for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Afghan cuisine in a welcoming setting.

I just wanted to try a new spot out. Their food is phenomenal!!!!! I tried the combination plate#3 and the Lamb Karahi. I can't put into words how very satisfied I am with their food!! I ordered to go. Next time I'm dining in. Give them a try, you'll be extremely happy you did!

Sorry for the bad photo 😄 but this place is fan-freaking-tastic!!! Awesome food, and friendly service. And I love the dining platforms on the patio. 5 stars all around!!

Insanely large portion sizes! The owner gave me soup and a smaller piece of naan on the house, the lamb was so tender and flavorful, the eggplant and potatoes were so good, all for 15 dollars including tip.

I’ve been coming here for a while now and its about time I leave a review. It’s hands down one of my favorite places for a quick bite but I recommend coming here with friends and family as well. I typically go with the everyday special that comes with your choice of meat, rice and 3 sides. You can’t beat the value and the taste. Legit everything tastes good. The best eggplant and beans I’ve had. Very flavorful and the portions are huge. I’d eat here everyday if I could. And the ambience is great too. Super friendly staff as well. Didn’t have time to take a photo because I ate it too fast.

I recently rediscovered Bamyan Kabob. I love this place! The food is delicious, and the prices are reasonable. And now, during Ramadan, they feature aan amazing buffet (starting at 4 PM daily). Highly recommended. Pictured is just one of several plates I filled at the buffet. Chicken, lamb, rice, eggplant, and more...so good!

Bamyan Kabob is a nice homely place for Afghan food. All the food is freshly made and loved each and every one of them. The corn soup is very delicious. The serving size is generous. Thank you

Hidden gem in Chicago. Banyan Kabob delivers authentic Afghan food that we'll def be back for. Borani Banjan sautéed eggplant with tomato and yogurt sauce. This was my fav! Beef dumplings with a savory yogurt sauce Lamb Karahi was brought in a hot skillet simmering in spicy sauce & served with fresh flatbread Mango drink was a cooling balance to the spiciness of some dishes. Attentive service, spacious inside with Afghan music playing. While we had no problem getting a table on a weeknight, we were told weekends it fills up fast!

I love to order Afghani food- especially kebobs. The plentiful variety in my area allows me to try many restaurants, and I recently tried Bamyan Kabob. Let me first say- the Kabuli Palaw was great! Tender raisins and shredded carrots garnished soft rice. However, the kebobs were more limited. While the lamb was flavorful, it was a bit dry, and the beef kabab had excess gristle and chew, and the chicken did not seem fresh. The baklava was acceptable, nothing to write home about, but tasty. The bread was okay, but nothing special- it was soft and thin. However, the kebobs and sauce portions were generous and large. There are better options for Afghani food within the area, such as Kabul House in Evanston- however, in a pinch, Bamyan Kabob could work. I recommend the lamb kebob and kabuli palaw. I cannot speak specifically to service as I ordered takeout, but my Shedo Chai drink was unfortunately forgotten, though they were quick about refunding it. Overall, Bamyan Kabob was dissapointing, and I would direct anyone looking for delicious Afghan cuisine or a quick lunch elsewhere.

We've been wanting to try to place for a while, and it did not disappoint. If you're looking for delicious Afghan cuisine , this is the place. If you haven't tried that cuisine before, would highly recommend you dive deep here into it. Try their eggplant appetizer (Borani Banjan) to start off, and then get a Lamb Karahi entree, which is both rich and spicy at the same time. If you have some stomach space the Aghan Mantu (beef dumplings) is delish. We ordered baklava to go as well. It has a quiet ambiance as it appears to be 50/50 takeout vs dine in but the service is so friendly. Would absolutely come back again #neighborhoodgem #Afghan

Came here with our friends from Afghanistan. It was so nice to see them comfortable and speaking to the owners and servers in their language! We appreciated that right off the bat. We also came during Ramadan and they were respectful of people who prayed and breaking fast. Food was good. The lab kabob was my husband's favorite, I loved the chicken and we all LOVED the Afghan Palaw. Also, my chai was so great. We were also celebrating birthdays and they let us bring in a cake and brought extra plate, etc. for us. Great food for a good price. Highly recommend.

Good portion sizes. The lamb kabob is very good. You do have to wait a bit, but that is because everything is grilled on the spot. You can also ask for more salad on the side.

Simple place with amazing food. Everything tasted like homemade comfort food. The service was incredibly fast and the staff was awesome. The lamb shank and eggplant were my favorites.

Over rated. I ordered combination grill, the meet was overcooked and dried, the Afghan Kabuli meat was beef not lamb also tasteless and overcooked . Nice people so I hope they pay attention to the feedback, as I've been in 2 other Afghani restaurants in Chicago area and the food was way better!

Devine taste. I can honestly say I've never been satisfied eating at a middle eastern restaurant ( don't believe me look at my reviews) this place by far is THE BEST I've had. We did family style so I had a variety of food to taste. The kabobs were cooked to perfection. The lamb would melt in your mouth. The mantoo was super tasty and rich in flavor

Delicious food, friendly service. Loved the lamb Shank and combo platter. Recommended dishes Lamb Shank, Combo 3 Combo Kabob

Delicious and friendly service - the servers were very accommodating and were able to modify orders as needed! Super affordable prices also!!!!

First of i dont like leaving bad reviews but This place needs to be shut down so the owners could learn a lesson. Do not go here. Food poisoning. Took 15 minutes to make the food which normally should take 40 minutes. Everything is precooked and heated in the microwave

Holy Cow what a find. We have driven by many times and always noticed the full parking lot but had never stopped. So on a cold damp dreary Chicago afternoon we decided we needed to visit and find out what Afghan food is all about. Well we are now fans of this little gem. We were greeted by the cheerful and rightful proud owner, Farida. She helped us with our order and provided our entrees with just the right amount of heat. We ordered Afghan Ashaki,( Vegetarian Dumplings) the dish was presented beautifully and as it turned out the flavors ended up complimenting our other dish perfectly. The other dish was a house speciality, Lamb Karahi. This 1 Lb bone on flavorful dish came to table in the small wok type pan it had been prepared in. At Farida's suggestion it was seasoned to a medium level of spiciness. for us it was prefect. I did eat a large piece of chili that brought a call for water please. But that only added to our experience. All and all the meal was outstanding. Not being knowledgeable about Afghan cuisine we weren't sure if the food was authentic or just delicious. It was confirmed that it was at the real deal when another diner leaned over and proclaimed his meal the best Afghan restaurant food in Chicago. Looking at his plate which was bare who were we to disagree. I nearly forget the black tea was piping hot and welcome on this damp day. So as is so often the case with great ethinic dining in Chicago don't choose your restaurant based on the exterior come inside and enjoy the warm hospitality great food and reasonable prices. We will be back soon, there is a big menu for us to work thru.

It's really amazing food I recommend some of our troops who been in Afghanistan can have a good times here.

Beautifully decorated including the classic National Geographic photos of the gorgeous green-eyed mom who suffered during Russia's war vs. Afghanistan. Super outdoor shaded seating, good social distancing inside. Chicken kabob was tender and juicy. Rice was a bit dry but they let me duck inside & scoop chicken sauce on the rice ! The Afghan SheDo Chai drink was a revelation. Staff were super helpful & friendly. My buddies are big dudes who gorged on the hummus & Afghan Ash Soup etc.

Meat was cooked to perfection -- especially the lamb kabob; tender and juicy but still well cooked. Rice complimented the meat very well. Mantu was delicious too! Definitely recommend this place

On road trip all the way from California. Stop by at this particular afghan restaurant. As being pathan, we admire afghan culture and their food. Had delicious food here with five star customer service. Thank you so much Love from California.

Spectacular BYOB! The food is absolutely amazing!! We ordered the beef dumplings and the sauce and dumplings were so delicious... obviously freshly prepared. I've ordered 2 x now from the combination portion of the menu and tonight was my favorite. Chicken and kufta kabobs with the most authentic delicious afghan rice! The rice is a dish alone with carrots, raisins and seasonings! The ambiance is so special I almost don't want to review because it's like a little cozy restaurant with the owner so dedicated that he personally oversees everything! The service is so personal that it's like being at a friend's house for dinner! Don't forget to add to your order the 2 items that are 1.99 each, they are a homemade sauce and pickled items that complement your meal! Can't wait to return to try all the dishes that are served in a sauce pan!

Came for an early lunch. They do offer some good kabob lunch specials but I was super interested in trying some other traditional dishes. I settled on the lamb karahi which was served in a hot pan along with crisp bread. Highly recommend it. I'm sure the place is busy at night but was nice and open at lunch aside from takeout orders. Will be back soon as this place was excellent

Both times I've had their food it's been delicious, with a striking balance of spices and flavors, allowing bite after bite to be savory yet sweet yet slightly hot. I recommend the Uzbek Palaw and can't wait to try more of the menu.

Amazing food and excellent service!! Meat is very juicy and awesome flavor. Visiting from AZ and decided to try this, please. Planning to come back again.

I'm Afghan and this is real Afghan food. The aushak tastes like my family's. So good.

The staff was friendly and the food was amazing! Plenty of room, tables well spaced out. Will definitely dine there again!

Food was good here up until a few months ago. If you order ahead the food won't be ready when you arrive no matter what--this has happened to us twice now. Shish kabob sandwiches were still cold and the pita was stale. Quality went down while prices went up $3 in 3 months.

Looked up for original dinner options and found that germ. The food I amazing!!! Karahi is to die for....I usually don't write the reviews, but this time I just had to... Tender meat, original spices, excellent service... It should be added to your culinary bucket list of Chicago!!! You won't be disappointed!

Phenomenal food and kind service! A must-try for Chicago visitors and locals. Try the traditional dishes.

Ate today party of 12. Open kitchen which was very clean Fish and lamb kabob were standouts. Uzbek Palau also outstanding Really everything was very good We ordered Lamb karhai, kabuli Palau, beef kabob, chicken kabob and Chapli kabob,and mantu and bolani and meat samosa Will definitely return Excellent service Bathrooms were clean

Food wasn't terrible but combined with the serving size and how much it cost. This place is horrible deal. You're paying close to 20 dollars for maybe half a meal. It's mostly rice with just a few pieces of kabob. I cannot recommend. If you can serve a full meal for 20 dollars you shouldn't have a restaurant. Would give 0 stars if I could n RIPOFF

Thanks to Michael Gebert and Fooditor for the extra encouragement to visit after having spotted Bamyan Kabob on Yelp. We dropped by on a Friday night and focused on items that we hadn't tried elsewhere. So we went with the manti (ok we've had manti at Afghan restaurants before, but this was still stylistically different - larger and not pre-sauced). Pelmeni next time. Also got the oromo (this is a must get) - is a steamed noodle pie with a meat filling. We compared it to Serbian burek if it was steamed instead of baked. Maybe along with the manti it was overkill on the stuffed pasta, but yet we ate them both. On the side, we get a large bowl of borscht (my guess with beef rather than lamb). It's large, almost a meal for one, sharing for two. Also got the olivye salad which is close in description as an egg potato salad. Restaurant remains new with a few other diners (primarily Central Asian from our guess), and a television in the dining room. You might sit away from the windows for extra warmth. They've got their own parking lot up front with plenty of spaces. There's lots more on their menu in terms of kabobs and offerings you can find at other restaurants. Their staff were happy to explain menu items that are labeled just by name and photo and help compare choices that you may be considering.

Excellent flavor. Had the pelmeni. Comes with generous proportion of sour cream Bread was fresh. Great atmosphere.

The Vegetarian soup is incredible. Do not miss it! All the food is delicious. Enjoy!

Very good. Shrimp dish had great flavors. Eggplant appetizer was also good too. Will definitely be back! Very cute dining space as well.

Ordered just before closing and still made a moist, freshly cooked Chicken kabob wrap with pleasant service. Also had a satisfying homemade sweet bread which was fragrant, full of spice and just a touch sweet. Would definitely go back when in the neighborhood and explore more of their menu.

S.E. Corner of Lincoln & California. Great-tasting kabob/wraps. Opened in late October, with the friendliest owners/staff. Beautifully-designed decor, cool hanging glass lamps, music with a beat over the PA. PS- Ask for the sweet Jelabi dessert--a twisted dough with lemon & cardamon.

They are so kind. I was sick and they gave me extra soup. The borsht soup will cure you 100%. When I am not sick, I like all of the Azerbaijani or Russian kind of menu items like Mantu, that's one of my favorites during cold Chiberia w. I'm happy this place re-opened and still has the same borsht.

Warm and friendly customer service! As an Afghan, I was apprehensive about the quality of the Afghan food. I brought my parents here for the first time, and wanted to ensure the food met their expectations. They left feeling full and satisfied. My dad requested extra garlic in the marinade for the kabobs we ordered. In addition to agreeing to that, the owner's son reassured us that his dad always goes out of the way to make the Afghan food extra special for any Afghan guests. The Qaboli rice was one of the best I've ever had - made me nostalgic of my trips to Afghanistan. The kabobs were perfect with a beautiful touch of extra garlic. This is an underrated spot that is worthy of attention from any Afghan Kabob and Qaboli lovers!

If the food portion were good i've been a regular customer. But what i was too small, felt like a ripoff. I wouldnt

11-15-21 They are Open!!! New management! Slightly reduced selection, heaver on the dinner options. I have to do some work trying the selections but it was good food, clean restaurant, and nice people!

Best Afghan food we've had in ages! We ordered Aushuk, Mantu, an eggplant dish and chicken kabobs. All were cooked to perfection. Dipping sauces for bread were all amazing and my daughters loved the chai so much we had to order a second cup to share. Owner was lovely. Dreaming of a return trip soon.

Our go to spot now! Every dish we have ordered is amazingly delicious!! and the customer service is phenomenal! We are big on supporting family owned businesses and this one is a must try!! We especially love the Kuurdak dish and kompot drink

I'm not as enthusiastic about Bamyan Kabob as those 5 star reviewers . The new owners however, made great improvements to the interior. Seating is now available. Very clean. Very organized service. The menu is a fusion of Middle Eastern as well as Central Asian cuisines. From beef and chicken shawarma to Afghan rice dishes, soups, and Uzbeki-style pasta. If you're not familiar with Central Asian food, you will need to ask questions of the cashier/ order taker. Only a few things have explanations on the menu, although there are some pics. I ordered chicken shawarma on hummus and a lentil soup. The soup was bland, somewhat watery, and lacked salt. The shawarma was shaved off a fresh rotisserie, and had been well marinated with turmeric and middle eastern spices. Unfortunately, it was comprised of mostly chicken breast. Typically a higher content of chicken thigh is used to keep it juicy. After being shaved off, it was grilled on the flatop, rendering the final product very dry. The hummus was right out of the refrigerator, and really lacked seasoning. Cold hummus, with dried out chicken. Not exactly a match made in heaven. I'm not sure if I will go back to try the other Central Asian specialties. Maybe, maybe not, But I definitely know I can get great Middle Eastern food only 3 blocks south on Lincoln Avenue !

Good food and wonderful service! The meat was tender and the kabuli rice was very flavorful.

Third time here . This time for dinner. I had the traditional Afghan entree Karahi. This is three eggs with beef sautéed in tomatoes and onions. It was delicious however a bit too spicy for my stomach. Next time I will ask for it to be less spicy. My wife had the Borsch and she like it better than borsch she has had at Polish restaurants. The hot tea was top notch and my wife had the fresh fruit compot to drink. We ate and had leftovers for $23. Well worth stopping in if you are in the area

Absolutely the best Afghan cuisine. I drive 40 miles to eat here and then take food home. The owner is a most delightful lady.

Very nice place the staff is excellent service is good food excellent I would recommend this place to all my friends and every one I know

This place is great. I wanted to have some kabuli rice. and was so happy to find this restaurant. There was a miscommunication in the order, but the owner and cook were super nice and let me only pay for what I wanted to order. When I got home and finally tasted my food I realized I should have just kept everything because it was really good!!! Sorry for any inconvenience from me and thank you for the delicious food! Go check this place out!

One of the best Afghan restaurant in Chicago. Recommend 11/10. The food is super authentic. Love the hospitality. Definitely check it out if you wanna try some Afghan food. We got Manto and it was delicious. Kabuli was also slapping. Zenda Bad Afghanistan

New Owner, the place is so clean , you could see them cooking the food . Quality of the food is excellent. I love that they have lunch specials daily! Don't pay attention to old reviews, because they have new owners . I love there pinto bean soup !

The food was flavorful and decent. Nice portion size however, we had to ask for pita bread as it seems that it may not automatically come with an entree plate. I do wish there were more sauces provided like most places offer. They do have a hot sauce which tastes good. I feel like they need to offer appetizer options. When trying to ask for falafel it didn't seem like they were used to this request. We were given once single falafel when we were looking to create a small appetizer plate of them. Also, apparently there is a lunch special which were not on the menu or even explained to us. The inside was nicely decorated and clean. However I do not think I will be going back.