Afghan Cuisine (Kirkland)

I can’t recommend this place enough. The lamb shank and bolani were flavorful and the portions were very generous. You can tell owner Ali puts his heart into the food; he makes everything fresh daily because he cares about serving healthy, quality meals. Even the yogurt is homemade! A 10/10 experience.

Visited this Afghan restaurant in Kirkland, WA, and here's the lowdown. Food was fine, flavors were good, but the servings were super small 😕. Beef tikka and Lamb tikka were just 4 tiny bite-size pieces - didn't hit the spot for the price 💸. Prices felt very steep compared to other options and size of serving at other places. Ambience was okay, cultural music and dance on TV added a nice touch 👍. Parking can be a hassle sometimes 😩. If you're craving Afghan food, maybe you can try, but manage expectations on portion sizes and so on prices.

The food here is absolutely amazing. Incredible dishes and flavors. 10/10 would recommend and come back. Everyone there is also very nice. The restaurant itself is clean with a nice atmosphere. Update: We’ve been going here a couple of months now and every single time we go we leave extremely satisfied. Today we tried the Kofta for the first time here. Not only was it the best Kofta curry I’ve ever had, but it’s probably one of the best dishes I have ever eaten in my life.

I decided to leave a review after taking my very first bite. The mantoo here is closer to Uzbek-style mantoo—large, generous dumplings—rather than the tiny button-sized ones you often see in Turkey. That was such a pleasant surprise! The flavor profile is absolutely top-notch. The spices bloom like fireworks in your mouth, and every bite is just awesome. Don’t hesitate to come and visit—you won’t regret it. Also try their lamb shank. The meat literally falls off the bone.

I went and got the classic Uzbeki lamb, along with the starter. My friend got the pumpkin. We rather enjoyed the meal- the service was great, food was great, and the building is pretty nice. Overall 8/10, I will be coming here again.

Afghan Cuisine in Kirkland offers a warm and inviting setting to explore traditional Afghan flavors, though our experience had a mix of highs and lows. The standout of the lunch was the Chicken Kabob, which was exceptionally well-prepared. The chicken was tender, juicy, and infused with a rich blend of spices that elevated the dish beyond the ordinary. The Chicken Fillet was another highlight, flavorful, moist, and satisfying, making it a dish I would gladly order again. For starters, we tried the Okra (Bamia) and Eggplant (Borani-Banjan), paired with Afghan bread. The bread was fresh and served as a nice base for the spreads, the appetizers themselves were pleasant but didn’t quite deliver the boldness often expected from Afghan cuisine. The Afghani rice, an essential accompaniment, was generously spiced and aromatic, but unfortunately too oily for our taste. Its heaviness slightly overshadowed the balance of the meal, though the seasoning was on point. Overall, Afghan Cuisine provides hearty portions and authentic dishes, with the Chicken Kabob and Chicken Fillet standing out as must-try items. With refinement in some appetizers and lighter rice preparation, this spot could truly shine.

We got the vegetarian entrees roasted pumpkin and eggplant omg they are amazing. Excited to try other dishes. They have lamb chicken and beef entrees Ill try next time.

It was a very unique place. The food had the real taste of home. A very clean and well-organized restaurant with friendly staff. My recommendation is the Qorma Badenjan and Qabili Pulao — both were extremely delicious! ⭐ 10/10

The food is authentic and very, very good. We loved the bolani and baklava.The owner is a true gentleman and provied excellent service. We will definitely be back!

Fantastic food. Very flavorful lamb and chicken dishes. Their rice is also fragrant and super soft. The staff is very friendly and gives off an authentic, homey vibe. Recommend parking at the nearby park if you can't find street parking in DT Kirkland

Went to Afghan Cuisine with a few friends for a late lunch on a Saturday (1:50 PM) and was absolutely blown away by the authentic food here (approved and recommended by an Afghan friend!). The restaurant was pretty calm with a 2 other tables and we waited about 10-15 minutes for food to come out. Value won't blow your socks off, but every dish we tried was so tasty and flavorful! Chopan Kabob (4.25/5): Lamb chops almost look like mini T-bone steaks, but are cooked and seasoned with a great char on the outside. Seasoned rice was delicious, but side salad is a little sad. Every bite of lamb with a squeeze of lime was amazing though! Mantoo (4.25/5): Thinly wrapped dumplings filled with ground beef covered in a thick, tangy yogurt sauce. There are a bunch of seasonings and crunchy bits on top which add depth of flavor and texture; this was definitely the fan favorite on the table. Qabili Uzbeki (4.25/5): Lamb is fall apart tender and super succulent with the rendered out lamb fat. The pilaf didn't blow my socks off, but the carrots and raisins ad da nice bit of sweetness to pair with the touch of gaminess left in the meat. Bolani (3.75/5): Typically this is chive or potato, but this version packs both into a thin pancake. This came out so hot that it was literally burning our fingers, but the green sauce on the table added a fantastic hit of acid and freshness to what is other wise a mild, savory carb.

Tried the kent location and happened to be on other side of town. This is in a more posh area by the lake. Great location for halal food. Chicken botis were tender. Chicken shami was good but needed. Bit more spice. Service was good. Seating is decent but could be full fast if it was a weekend , nice decoration and feel but not a fan of music especially in Ramadan

I came here after hearing a lot of good things about this place. I'm not very knowledgeable about Afghan food and this was probably my first time trying it. I can't speak on whether it's authentic or not, but I personally really liked it. I tried the lamb shank with rice and the beef kabob. The lamb shank was tender and fell off the bone, without the strong gamey flavor lamb can sometimes have. The beef kabob was juicy and cooked well. I asked for medium and actually got a medium! The rice with the lamb shank had raisins and carrots. It reminded me of Uyghur rice pilaf because of the ingredients, but it was lighter and more moist. Service was friendly, the restaurant was clean, and the vibe was relatively casual. They also have AC, which was nice these days. I would definitely come back again to try more.

Great food, large servings, fast service, and ideal location next to DT Kirkland. What's not to like?! Went here twice in a week, it's that good.

We were happy to know they moved to Kirkland (we thought the original location had closed). This interiors of this location is much nicer than their old location. We got Pakaura to start, and then got Qurme-Murgh and Chicken Shami Kabob. The Pakaura were good, I loved the Chicken Shami Kabob. The Qurme-Murgh was good, our first time trying it. Overall, a great meal with great service.

Great new place in Kirkland. They have a sister restaurant south and Kent and their are previous location was in Bellevue. The interior is warm and welcoming. Plenty of options for vegetarian and vegan.

I think I've found a new favorite cuisine of mine! My friend and I ate here for lunch because the place we were going to eat at nearby was closed, and it was such a happy accident. Neither of us had ever tried Afghan food before, but it was amazing. The flavors, the texture, the complexity and the tastiness... we didn't know what to expect, but WOW was it delicious. We shared the borani-banjan eggplant dish which was incredible. Creamy, spicy, flavorful and savory, it went great by itself or with the flatbread. But the thing that really blew us away was the qabili uzbeki, which was a lamb shank dish. When I tell you the meat fell right off the bone, I mean it. I could've used a spoon to get it off there; it was so perfectly cooked I didn't even need my knife. The rice pilaf was so yummy as well (who knew that raisins paired so well with it?!) and all in all, a great experience. Our server was so attentive and polite, and there are so many other dishes I want to try now! You can bet I'll be back here again. There are a lot of vegetarian and gluten-free options (yay for rice!) for all your friends with dietary restrictions. This is totally a new gem in the downtown Kirkland area that I think is going to be a new fave of mine. :)

Spent a day in Kirkland. What a cute little town! I am looking forward to visiting again when I have more time. I had the opportunity to eat at this restaurant after exploring the town during the day. The food was REALLY good. I ordered 1. Sabzi which is an Afghan spinach dish and 2. The ground chicken skewers on a bed of basmati rice. Both were delicious! My main reason for going to this restaurant was because of the Afghan spinach dish. I've had it in other restaurants and have even made it myself, and I can make it pretty well, but this was REALLY good. (I repeat myself!) I didn't think I could eat two full dishes, but I felt like I needed some protein. I talked to the waiter, and he suggested doing a half portion of the meat dish--which also meant a lower price. I really didn't want leftovers because I wanted to explore more restaurants the next day, so it worked out really well. I didn't overeat, and I really enjoyed my meal. The staff was very friendly and warm. The atmosphere was intimate and inviting. It's right next to a Greek restaurant and I sat outside for a while trying to decide which one to go to, and it was the spinach dish that won me over. I'm really glad that I went there. My husband stayed for an extra day after I left and decided to go there with colleagues. He enjoyed it too!

Came here with friends last night and it was very good. The food was flavorful and fresh. The potato dish had delicious spice and flavor and the yogurt sauce was a lovely tang. The lamb shank dish my friend had was truly amazing, fall off the bone meat. This is a nice new place in Kirkland that folks should try out.

I was familiar with Afghan Cuisine from their previous location in Bellevue. I was looking forward to dining at their new location in downtown Kirkland. At 8pm on a Sunday, the restaurant was still full. We were directed to the last available table. One server covered the restaurant plus one older gentleman assisted with clean-up. Our entrees were delivered, but our appetizer was still missing. I gave them some minutes before inquiring. When I did ask the server, he forgot we ordered it and had to verify it was in the system (it was). He went to the kitchen to check. More minutes later, he returned to say they are out of the ingredients to make it. He offered to take it off our bill, as though he is doing us a favor. (This part irritated me the most.) He never apologized for forgetting our order. He didn't ask if we want to order something else. He didn't offer anything for the mix-up. His brain was clearly shut down for the day. Minus 0.5 star for service. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated. Oddly, the tables and chairs look worn. Parking is street parking only or nearby lots and garages. The Food: Chicken Shami Kabob, $21.99 - 4.5 Stars Two skewers of ground chicken are wonderfully seasoned with Afghani spices. The Afghan yellow rice is perfectly seasoned with turmeric. Both are very flavorful and wonderfully delicious. The rice in particular is cooked just right with the touch of oil and turmeric. Qabili Uzbeki, $23.99 - 4 Stars The menu states this is "Afghanistan's most famous dish - a marinated lamb shank slowly cooked to perfection". Despite being marinated, the lamb didn't have obvious flavors. The green chutney and spice available on the table improved the flavor. The lamb shank is very tender and sizable. The rice is as pretty as it is tasty. The cost of this dish is quite reasonable.

Summary: authentic afghan cuisine at this halal restaurant. The lamb shanks, dumplings (mantoo), sliced fried potatoes (pakaura), and stuffed paratha (bolani) are amazing. Pros: * family oriented ambiance * large portions * delicious food * halal meats prepared in house Cons: * street parking can be limited in the area

Wow! Wonderful flavors and textures. I had the mantoo dumplings and I would have them again. They are very accommodating. The atmosphere is low key, nice but nothing fancy while the food is 5 star.

Very nice restaurant. The food was Ok. The Shami kabobs were cold and dry. Nice design and friendly service. They need to improve the service skills and the food quality. It did not taste anything like the previous Bellevue location.

Theres only street parking here, so it might take a bit to track down somewhere to park. This place was fantastic. I absolutely recommend trying their Afghan dumplings -- do not miss it.

Standard Afghani food. We haven't had it in a while because it tends to be too rich for our tastes. It was this time too. The food was quite tasty but the vegetarian dishes were very oily. We tried the okra and the eggplant with yogurt dish. The rice that came with the dishes was amazing. Very flavorful. My son ordered the lamb special and that came with rice that was even more amazing, covered in caramelized carrots and raisins. The lamb itself was very tender. I would recommend it if you want to try Afghani food.

This restaurant has is a strong selection of vegetarian dishes, and everything we tried was delicious. We had the pumpkin main (naturally sweet and well-spiced), and the pakaura potato starter, as well as the mint yogurt drink which was very refreshing. It has a casual family business vibe, and everyone was friendly, welcoming, and enthusiastic. The service wasn't as professional as some places - both us and a neighboring table had to remind about drinks we'd ordered - but it wasn't a big deal. The tables are also quite small for the dishes, but the staff were very attentive to helping manage this. I'm excited to go again and would recommend it!

Very well cooked dishes - we've had Uzbeki style lamp and manti. The food arrived very fast

Great Food and Price ... clean facility 6 of us went there for lunch and everyone's plate was clean like a whistle... Try It

Darn! I wanted this place to be really good, but it didn't work out for us. Biggest problem was food was too spicy and chicken breast was too dry. The item we liked most was the lamb shank over rice. This was ok to good . We've had sone really good Afghan cuisine before , so that was our basis. The amount of bolani they gave us was very generous.

Was meeting up with one of my brothers here in Washington and he recommended this gem. First time trying Afghan cuisine I also had to phone my Afghan friend to see what he would recommend and it was the Quabili Uzbeki and it was delicious. Very well seasoned and the amount of perfect. I had a great experience here.

Delicious food, fast service, friendly staff. Don't skip on this place. Also, don't all go at once, so as to not make it crowded for when I want to go.

The food is wayyyy overpriced for portion size and greasy. Also it is not good. If you are desperate for Afghani food this is a choice but there are no good options in this metro area. I would avoid. If you had good afghani food in your life this will not cut it. Service was also not great. I asked the waiter what white sauce meant and he told me it's what they put on their food and I ordered a side of it and it tasted like store-bought salad dressing. It was not homemade and he did not explain that.

Both times we have eaten at Afghanistan cuisine, the food has been so flavorful and delicious - it's become my new Kirkland favorite. The service is quick and courteous and the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant. So glad you're in Kirkland, Afghan Cuisine!

Kirkland is too basic for a place like this downtown, but they are so lucky to have it. Totally unique, exquisitely prepared Afghan cuisine. This place is surrounded by vibeless chain-style eateries... this is the place to go whenever you have the chance.

Tried this Afghan restaurant for lunch with a couple of colleagues, and it was a great experience. The food was fresh and flavorful, with generous portions and tasty vegetarian options. Overall, an excellent spot

My wife and I with another couple went there last night (6-5-25). We found the ambient to be unassuming and pleasant. The waiter was cheerful and very helpful. We ordered Sabzi, Chicken Kabob, Kofta (me), and Qurme-Murgh; Naan, Side salad, and Yogurt. The food came prompty and was very tasty. What more could anyone ask for in an eatery? We'll certainly come back.

Delicious! We stopped in early on a Saturday evening. We started with a pakaura appetizer. They were piping hot and pair well with the chutney. Our main dishes arrived soon after. We had the borani-banjan (eggplant) and the beef tikkah kabob. The eggplant was so flavorful! We also ordered a side of naan, which was ok. This is a great addition to downtown Kirkland and we look forward to returning.

First-timer to the restaurant, and Afghan food for that matter. I had the lamb shank. I've never tasted lamb shank better. And the rice with cranberries was delish!

Generously portioned. Great food! 10/10. The service was excellent. They got an epic TV for Netflix so the ambiance was cool too lol.

Anyway, this is a new restaurant in Kirkland. Me and a friend ordered both the mantoo, the cardamon tea and the chicken shami. When we arrived the place was near empty, so we figured it would be fairly fast. We settled into enjoy our tea (which was lovely). But then we watched table after table be served before us. After an hour, I asked about what was going on...and then it took another 10 minutes for us to get the chicken shami (which was okay, but not exceptional). Another 10 minutes later we got the mantoo, which was really good. But probably not worth an hour wait. I probably won't return just as, while I would not mind more of the mantoo, I was less than pleased with the incredible length of time it took to get it to us. (As well as that the server seemed to just sort of shrug and go, "Oh well, sorry about that" vs IDK, even just offering a free dessert or something would have made me feel better about the kitchen clearly forgetting our order and the server not bothering to check on the fact that one of her tables still didn't have food even after people who had arrived a half hour later had been served).

Very friendly people. The check/cook personally comes out to check on you. My first time trying Afghan food and it was delicious.

I was desperately craving borani banjan and was excited to see this new location open. I came here with a friend (we are both vegetarian) and we got pakaura, borani banjan, and borani kadoo. Portions were generous, food was delicious. We just got our food to go, so can't speak to the dine in experience, but the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Will definitely be back

Food was amazing, staff were friendly, and prices were fair. Nice spot in downtown kirkland that i'll fs come back to no bap

food was amazing, so was the service. the ambiance was calm and pleasant. I highly recommend !