Ariana Restaurant

Afghan restaurant · Brighton

Ariana Restaurant

Afghan restaurant · Brighton

5

384 Western Ave, Brighton, MA 02135

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Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater
Ariana Restaurant by Ariana/Official Site
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null
Ariana Restaurant by null

Highlights

Ariana offers an enticing dive into Afghani flavors with dishes like tender lamb shank and sweet pumpkin kaddo, all wrapped in a cozy, upscale vibe.  

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384 Western Ave, Brighton, MA 02135 Get directions

arianarestaurantboston.com
@arianarestaurantboston

$$ · Menu

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384 Western Ave, Brighton, MA 02135 Get directions

+1 617 208 8072
arianarestaurantboston.com
@arianarestaurantboston

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 6, 2025

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@eater

"If a group is looking for a calm, relaxed atmosphere, head to Ariana. Try the aushak, Afghani dumplings with a garlic and mint yogurt sauce. For a larger group, contact the restaurant about their private dining room." - Celina Colby, Erika Adams, Karen Wilber

14 Restaurants Around Boston That Are Great for Groups
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@eater

"Ariana stands out as a rare champion of Afghan food in Boston. You can’t go wrong with sharing a wide variety of foods here: from vegetable appetizers like the bowlawni (pastry shells filled with leeks, scallions, and spiced potatoes) and bamiya (pan-fried eggplant baked with tomatoes) to kabobs and kofta. The standout dish at Ariana is the qabili, a meltingly tender lamb shank with spiced rice." - Lala Thaddeus, Terrence Doyle

Where to Eat in Allston
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@eater

"The Boston area doesn’t have many Afghan restaurants; fortunately, the few that do exist are quite good. I’d been meaning to try Ariana for years and noticed one night that I could get it delivered all the way across the river from Brighton to Somerville. Despite the distance, a little more than typically ideal for a delivery order, the food was excellent, particularly the bowlawni kaddo — fried pastry shells stuffed with pan-fried baby pumpkin, onions, garlic, and other seasonings, with mint yogurt. (When in doubt, order any pumpkin dish when dining at an Afghan restaurant.) —RLB Currently offering delivery and takeout, as well as indoor and outdoor dining. Closed Sundays. Order: Caviar / DoorDash / Grubhub" - Rachel Leah Blumenthal, Terrence Doyle

Best Boston-Area Delivery and Takeout, Spring/Summer 2020 - Eater Boston
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@eater

"Decade-old Afghan restaurant Ariana (which used to be located in Allston before moving to its larger Brighton space five years ago) is staying open for its usual hours, delivering dinner daily — dishes such as kaddo, mantu, aushak, and more. Call directly if you live nearby, or find it on several third-party platforms for farther-away destinations. Order: (617) 208-8072 / Caviar / DoorDash / Grubhub" - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Best Brighton, Massachusetts Restaurants That Deliver During COVID-19 - Eater Boston
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@eater

"Last week, I turned to a tried-and-true favorite, the Pammy’s Bolognese, for takeout; this week, I wanted to try a restaurant I’d never been to. Ariana, the Afghan restaurant in Brighton (formerly in Allston), has long lurked on my list of restaurants to try, but for one reason or another, I never got around to it until now. I’m not especially familiar with Afghan food — I’ve been to the Helmand once or twice over the years, but that’s about it — so was eager to try anything and everything on the menu. Pumpkin plays a starring role on the menu, and we got it in the form of the excellent bowlawni kaddo: fried pastry shells stuffed with pan-fried baby pumpkin, onions, garlic, and other seasonings, with mint yogurt. Mantu was a familiar dish; this particular style of beef dumpling is prevalent in some other cuisines as well, and I’ve had (and loved) the Turkish version on various occasions. While Ariana’s didn’t physically hold up to delivery from Brighton all the way to Somerville, the signature pyramid-ish shape arriving a bit flattened in the box, the flavors were all there and all delicious. The surprise hit was the challow — Afghan rice — that came with the entrees. Not just a side of plain rice, it was deeply flavorful, and the extra (there was a lot!) made a great breakfast the next morning." - Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Eater Boston’s Favorite Takeout, Delivery, and Drinks, Spring 2020 - Eater Boston
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Adam Rasmussen

Google
Great afghan restaurant! Inside the vibe is earthtone pained walls with beauty handmade rugs decorating the floor. To add to the ambiance was authentic Afghan music being played. The food was delicious and of high quality. Portions are on the small side, but well worth the price. I had the following for dinner: Kaddo- pan fried pumpkin covered in sugar and covered with a beef sauce. This is like a deconstructed pumpkin pie covered. Greate textures with tender pieces of whole pumpkin and the beef on top. Lightly sweet and very savory. So yummy. 5/5 Chopan- delicious rack of lamb! High quality and perfectly cooked. There was a beautiful (natural) smokiness that added to the deepy savoriness the herbs they used. Came with a tasty sauteed eggplant and pillow rice. 5/5 Pineapple cake- this was good. Not overly sweet. Subtle pineapple flavor. Not too heavy not too light. Wish it was just a bit more moist though. Still a good way to end a meal. 4/5 I highly recommend giving this place. I will absolutely be coming here again

Darlene Olivar

Google
Food is amazing!!! We went for a group birthday celebration and the service was impeccable!! The appetizers were incredible with all of the different dipping sauces; we ordered them all! Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. My favorite was the lamb and kofta. Cooked to perfection. Highly recommend and plan to be back soon. ❤️ Yummy!!!

Hillary

Google
Came here as a recommendation from a colleague and the food did not disappoint! The flavors were delicious, especially loved their eggplant dish and the char flavor from the grilled lamb. Can’t wait to come back and try more dishes

A A

Google
The best Restaurant, you could ever find in Boston. They offer a large scale of Afghan and Halal foods the place where you will feel like you are in the best place ever food and environment wise I recently visited and their food was amazing. The service was on spot. The waiters were very polite and its the oldest Afghan cultural restaurant that exists in the New England area, please visit any time and enjoy their food. I had a lot of fun eating their food with my girl.

Рената Каскадамова

Google
I came with my friends but the quality of the food was not the same as before and the service was very slow even though it was a slow night, it took very long for the entree to come out and the meat was under cooked. I would not recommend any one to coming back because it was under my expectations. I thought it was going to be good because of the good reviews but it didn’t match the quality when I arrived, makes afghan food look bad.

Falah Jalali

Google
Four of us went to Ariana for my sister’s anniversary. Restaurant was clean and the staff were friendly. They started off with a bread basket and three sauces, bread was fresh. Food was fresh and easy on the stomach. We ate banjan, trout, mourgh challow, dopiyaza which we shared family style. Quantity of the food was good, satisfied the four of us. We also ordered green and black tea with caramel pudding. The best caramel pudding I’ve ever tasted. My only reservation is that my server didn’t get to pick up her tip from our table. Hoping that all the tips are given to the server who did an amazing job explaining the menu and serving us.

Ana Milano

Google
I can't believe I just found out about this authentic Afghani restaurant right in my town. It was such a wonderful experience and all of the flavours were so vibrant and warm. Would highly recommend this place! It's in a convenient place on Western Ave and they are open on weekdays until 10 pm! The only thing I would say was that the food was a little on the warm side, and not as hot as I would have liked. Other than that, everything was fantastic.

Joanna Sorensen

Google
My family's go to place for Afghani cuisine. Always fresh and delicious. Staff are cordial and friendly. The owners are nearly always present and consider customers to be 'family'. I encourage everybody to try Ariana Restaurant. Finish up with a fresh Turkish coffee and flan for a complete dining experience.

Adam R.

Yelp
Great afghan restaurant!  Inside the vibe is earthtone pained walls with beauty handmade rugs decorating the floor. To add to the ambiance was authentic Afghan music being played. The food was delicious and of high quality. Portions are on the small side, but well worth the price. I had the following for dinner: Kaddo- pan fried pumpkin covered in sugar  and covered with a beef sauce. This is like a deconstructed pumpkin pie covered. Greate textures with tender pieces of whole pumpkin and the beef on top. Lightly sweet and very savory. So yummy. 5/5  Chopan- delicious rack of lamb! High quality and perfectly cooked.  There was a beautiful (natural) smokiness that added to the deepy savoriness the herbs they used. Came with a tasty sauteed eggplant and pillow rice. 5/5 Pineapple cake- this was good. Not overly sweet. Subtle pineapple flavor. Not too heavy not too ligh. Wish it was just a bit more moist though. Still a good way to end a meal. 4/5  I highly recommend giving this place. I will absolutely be coming here again

Mahsa N.

Yelp
Delicious food and great service. The place feels super wholesome specially on cold days. The dishes are delicious, I had their soup of the day, eggplant banjan appetizer, qabili, and chicken stew. I must say, the eggplant and the qabili were the star of the show and tasted absolutely delicious!

Joanna S.

Yelp
My family's go to place for Afghani cuisine. Always fresh and delicious. Staff are cordial and friendly. The owners are nearly always present and consider customers to be 'family'. I encourage everybody to try Ariana Restaurant. Finish up with a fresh Turkish coffee and flan for a complete dining experience.

Joy G.

Yelp
My first time trying Afghani food! Everything was delicious and well-prepared. You start off with their complimentary flatbread, which was warm and toasted, with three dipping sauces - a spicy sauce, a chutney, and a yogurt/mint. Trying not to fill up on the flatbread was a struggle. We tried the kaddo as an appetizer. If you love sweet/savory combos, definitely order this - it's pumpkin topped with sugar, sautéed beef, and garlic yogurt. If that sounds a little odd, just know that the execution works perfectly. I went with the vegetarian korma challow, which had a bit of everything I wanted to try. The korma challow had an amazing flavor (maybe somewhere between a curry and a stew) and soaked up the challow, which was worlds beyond your typical side of rice (it's cooked with oil, then baked, which gives it that incredible texture). Also really enjoyed the sautéed spinach. I'm usually wary of eating out in Brighton, because the parking situation is a nightmare and trying to finagle a parallel parking spot with a line of cars waiting behind me gives me hives, but Ariana's parking was not too bad. There are street options, as well as the giant Star Market parking lot next door. I'll definitely be back at Ariana's.

Anshita S.

Yelp
Good food, good ambiance and good service! Had dinner here few months back on a Saturday and it was a very good experience. We had the Laghatac and Veg Bowlawni and both were very tasty. My husband had the Qabili- rice baked with lamb shanks and he said it was delicious. For vegetarians, they have a lot of options but since I wanted to try customize my dish, they gladly did that. I had the Pallow rice with lentils and Korma Challow that was just mind blowing. It was sooo flavorful, I am salivating just thinking about it. For dessert we had a slice of their cake, it had such a lovely rose and pineapple flavor. We will skip the pomegranate sauce next time, that did not work for us on the cake. The food is on the pricey side, but definitely can be a splurge on special occasions. Overall a great meal and if you like Afghani food, definitely recommend dining here!

Lauren K.

Yelp
Brilliant food. Great service. Wonderful dining experience. Loved Ariana. Flavorful entrees.

bonita n.

Yelp
Seekh kebab and veggie entree were excellent .hubby liked his vegetarian entree. Service was excellent. Patio is lovely.

Junjie J.

Yelp
Delicious lamb lawand, lamb korma challow, bamiya, and mashawa! Cream pudding is good but baklava, pineapple cake and ice cream could use some improvement. Beautiful ambiance.

Sam D.

Yelp
Afghan food here in Boston . There are not many Afghan restaurants here in MA so this is a lovely experience out of the ordinary. It's a cute romantic place. Great for couples, families and groups. Cute Afghan decorations, lovely table settings and good service. They have vegetarian options, which is great. And the vegetarian options are tasty! We ordered two entrees and 2 drinks and our total was about $80. The food gave, "moms home cooking " vibes.

Khalid N.

Yelp
Ariana is the unparalleled best Afghani restaurant. The Kabuli Palaw is a masterpiece, a mix of fluffy rice with sweet bursts of raisins and the earthy crunch of carrots. Accompanying the palaw, the stewed lamb is tender, while the eggplant and spinach dishes are rich with traditional spices. A crisp, fresh salad provides a light and refreshing balance. This array of dishes, along with the warm naan and a trio of dipping sauces, completes a culinary tapestry that captures the essence of Afghanistan's rich flavors.

Dipali P.

Yelp
We really enjoyed our meal. We ordered eggplant dish and puff pastry filled with leeks and potatoes for appetizers. We thoroughly enjoyed it. For main course we had ravioli some and rice dish with vegetables Desserts we had pineapple cake and pheerni. So delicious! Also the starter bread was warm and flavorful. I would definitely recommend this restaurant if you're in Boston.

Vivian C.

Yelp
Pandemic 2021 Review I came back to Ariana for the sweet pumpkin Kaddo $6.95 appetizer and since I forgot that I've ordered the Qabili $21.95 back in it's Allston/Brighton hey days, I opted for that as well as a side of Sabzi, another app in the form of Bowlawni Kaddo $6.95 and their baklava type dessert, Bucklawa $5.95. This was plenty for our 2+ appetites. Although admittedly, we may be deemed lightweights at times. The courtesy bread was overly baked, unfortunately. It would have left a better impression if they pretended to have forgotten to include it this time. Everything else ranged from fine to very good (let's get it again). I'm still all for the sweet Kaddo. The Bowlawni with it's crisp pastry was nice, but more air than filling within. The Sabzi was a nice shareable portion of tasty spinach, and a good choice of an add on to the Qabili which came with sweetened carrots and raisins from the fruit and vegetable department. But beneath the hill of rice was a large lamb bone with a goodly amount of non gamey tender meat. While the baklava at Fairouz was preferred to Ariana's Bucklawa, both in terms of portion and taste.

Clarissa B.

Yelp
This place is great, from the food to the service to the ambiance. The woman who took our table was very find and timely with menus, water, and amount of time before the food came out. We did come a little later in the evening on a Wednesday around 8pm so if there were any crowds, they dissipated by that time. They had complimentary flatbread that was perfectly crispy with a variety of sauces - I recommend slathering butter and sauce together for maximum savoryness. I ordered the Vegetarian Special - the pumpkin and spinach were amazing. My partner ordered a dish that had steak - I don't think I've tasted a better char on a steak in my life. As a note he did wish he asked for a more medium rare meat but it was still delicious. The dessert I chose was Sheerberaing - a rice pudding with pistachio crumbled on top - it was great but I really wish I could have tried all of their desserts because it was hard to choose just one. Overall so glad I tried this place - I've been meaning to go since I moved to the area a while back.

Kitty S.

Yelp
What a treasure this restaurant is! This was my first time trying Afghan cuisine and I was not disappointed. Amazing service and attention, lovely Afghan decor and music, it was exactly the food "trip" I was looking for. Restaurant was busy. I completely enjoyed my feast! I enjoyed the grilled naan bread, that comes with 3 sauces. The cilantro and red sauce were my favorite. The yogurt sauce is very light and compliments nicely but it wasn't my favorite. My first treat was the Bowlawni Kaddo--Yum!!!!!! Wow that was delicious. I then ordered the Qabili---the lamb was perfection! Well seasoned and so so tender it jumped off the shank bone. Extremely generous portion in that plate. Two can comfortably share it. I finished off trying the cream dessert called Feereny with Turkish coffee. My first time trying all of these and I feasted like a Queen and enjoyed all of it. Strongly recommend this delightful spot. The cuisine surprised me in how light it is. Easily you can eat a variety of items and be comfortably satiated. Will visit again next time I'm in town. Sweet spot for a date too. An intimate spot.

Shemesh Y.

Yelp
Wow - such special food, well cooked, and delicious! Nice, simple, and quiet atmosphere.

Akram J.

Yelp
Delicious food Mediterranean cousins Halal food The restaurant was clean. The staff were friendly. Service was great

Wern O.

Yelp
TLDR: delicious food Got the lamb which was impressively tender. I'm not very well acquainted with afghani food so I can't tell you if it's authentic but it's very delicious.

Bruce H.

Yelp
What a great restaurant I discovered because friends came in from out of town. They love exotic food, one is a vegetarian, and we didn't want to wait long for a table so we went at 8:30 PM on a Thursday night. A party of six. And we were thrilled with the food, we all got something different, and every single dish was beautifully prepared and delicious. The service was impeccable and the pricing is very fair. I love this restaurant. we tried the lamb, the beef, and also the vegetarian dishes. All the servings were generous and very gourmet quality. Highly recommend! Sorry we didn't take photos.

Psyche L.

Yelp
Great restaurant with incredible Afghan dishes in a convenient location in Brighton. Can't go wrong with their Mantu, but I was especially impressed with anything they had with okra in it, such as the Sabzi Challow.

Sehrish K.

Yelp
The food was fresh and very tasty. The ambiance was nice. I went on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy. Prices are on the high end and the portions on the smaller end. We ordered the Ariana Special- which was $185! We expected more food for the price we paid.

Maggie Z.

Yelp
Never tried Afghan food so didn't work what to expect! My friend raved about it so much and said it was one of the best. I felt so underwhelmed... Ordered take out for to-go. Ambience inside was absolutely stunning and so cute. Definitely dress up a bit. The staff was also sooo nice I ordered an app Mandu - comes with 2. It was kinda bland tbh. Next, I ordered Qabili. It's a huge lamb leg and rice meal. I don't know how I really feel about this. It was basically a leg of lamb and nothing else. It was sweeter than I thought because of the raisins. Some may like it cause it'll balance out the gaminess of the lamb. It's definitely on the higher price point of meals. I didn't enjoy it overall but maybe because it just wasn't right for me. I'm not a sweet salty combo person, don't prefer lamb that much, and I like lots of savory flavor

Eric N.

Yelp
So damn good. Highly recommend this place. Anything on the menu is gonna blow your mind and the service is great!

Marty S.

Yelp
Food was excellent. Service was quick and efficient. Ambience was great and comfortable.

Maryam M.

Yelp
Always perfect! 10/10 The qabuli pilao with Lamb shank is delicious and always done perfectly Only wish they would open earlier, before 5pm so the food can be ordered for lunch too.

Phyllis C.

Yelp
Looooove this place! Always a go-to in Allston/Brighton. Ariana is a friendly Afghan restaurant that's delicious whether you're dining in or ordering out. It seems to be a hidden gem, I've come in all different days and always found plenty of tables open. The portions are huge, I usually share a plate with another person. You truly can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but the Manti are a MUST. I like to stick with lamb dishes because they're a highlight of the cuisine and I've loved all of the ones I've had. The quality is super consistent. One of my top recommendations in the Boston area!

Dinesh G.

Yelp
Never had Afghan food before. This was my first experience and it is Ok. I've been eyeing this restaurant for a while and finally decided to give it a try. I made a reservation, and the host was polite and helped us along the way. The food was served hot, and it tasted good. The entree portion size is perfect for one person and definitely on the expensive side. +points: Nice host, good ambiance and there have a lot of options for vegetarians. So, vegetarians out there who want to try out Afghan food, check out Ariana.

Shawn C.

Yelp
Sounds great but menu items are not that delicious. May be add some sauce to spice it up

Safoura R.

Yelp
Just a dream come true for the foodies !! Simply FANTASTIC, atmosphere, service, food (OMG!), drinks; along with wise/caring accommodations !!

Amanda K.

Yelp
Ordered delivery here twice and have been here in person several times. Usually the food is pretty good but this last time the food was disgusting, oily, stale, tasted like they reheated stuff from the day before. Made us nauseous. Especially because we know what the usual quality of the food is -- it was clear they were trying to save money on a slow day by reheating old food. It was so bad we literally got in the car and returned the delivered food. Owner was very rude and blamed the Uber driver for taking too long on the delivery affecting the food which makes no sense because the delivery actually was very fast and got to us within 30 min. They have lost a customer -- will not be back.

Mazen S.

Yelp
Food is great and authentic. I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves afghan food!

Alexandra M.

Yelp
I've never had Afghan food before and was surprised at the number of vegetarian options. We had the bowlawni and aushak to start, liking the aushak more. I then had the sabzi challow which came with all the vegetables separate. Every bite I took I decided a different one was my favorite. Service was fine, if not a bit over the top for the presentation and poor of my $9 wine.

Laura D.

Yelp
4.5/5 Ordered through Grubhub and it came right on time. Pros: -Tender meat, rice, and vegetables Cons: -Expensive -Couldn't find all of the items on the online menu on Grubhub (Mantu, Mourgh Challow) -- Kaddo ($6.95) The pumpkin was incredibly tender and very sweet. The ground beef sauce on top was rich and gave some salt to the dish. The garlic yogurt sauce around it provided a nice tang. Overall, this was hearty and delicious, though I found it so sweet that I think it could serve as a dessert instead of an appetizer. Sabzi Challow ($19.95) There was much more lamb in this dish than I expected based on the photo--maybe ~5-6 oz of tender meat in large chunks. The rice was cooked perfectly and the flavor was great. There was a lot of spinach as well as some soft cooked okra on the side. The meal came with 4 pieces of bread and 3 sauces--one spicy, one that was similar to the yogurt/garlic sauce, and one refreshing green sauce. I was impressed with Ariana's flavors and would certainly return!

Vidya V.

Yelp
Came here with a group of friends last night . I was eagerly awaiting to sample the food after reading all the reviews and was not disappointed! We sampled quite a bit from the menu across veg and non-veg items. Everything was delicious. My friends had no clue what to expect and I had built up this huge expectation around afghan food-so happy it lived up to every bit!!! :) . Although everything was mild in terms of heat, it was delicious. The service was warm and courteous. It wasn't crowded at all so we were able to get our food pretty quickly. The wine selection was good too. We will definitely come here again and encourage folks to support this local gem in Brighton!

Alyssa C.

Yelp
First time trying Afghani food and it was wonderful! Servers were very welcoming and offered suggestions on what to order. They basically just said everything was good but they were not wrong. Ordered one of each of the appetizers and we were not disappointed by any - each had their own flavors and they were really delicious. I don't have pictures except one because we ate everything so fast. Had beef, chicken, lamb, and vegetarian entrees and everyone was happy with their order. I ordered the Mourgh Challow and it was a simple dish but had a lot of flavor. Had some of the Chopan which was especially great and I am not usually a fan of lamb. Would probably order that next time.

Behishta I.

Yelp
Authentic Afghan restaurant with great decor/ambiance and better food (and that's coming from a native Afghan). Food: The bread was absolutely delicious and served hot! I highly recommend the Qabili (rice with carrot and raisins and tender Lamb shank) and Mantu (dumplings), they are delicious and some the most popular dishes of Afghan cuisine. Mourgh Kabob- Grilled chicken breast that was very tender and tasty. Korma Challow- Tender lamb curry with potatoes Do Piaza- Lamb with strong charbroil and vinegar taste. Dessert- I had the Fereney (pudding) and it was amazing. It was super creamy and topped with pistachios and cardamom. The owner was very, very nice and made a personal connection with each customer. Great customer service. Parking- limited street parking

Kelly J B.

Yelp
Friends of ours took us here and the food and ambiance were both so lovely and satisfying from the appetizers of eggplant, and a meat ravioli to the lamb chops w stewed onions and tomatoes, everything was melt in your mouth slow cooked delicious delight! It's been a while since I left a restaurant so satisfied in so many levels. And we dine out a lot! Prices are fair, moderate for excellent quality of food. Portions are generous, and restaurant is lovely looking w interesting decor and starched white linens, and nice wine selection.

Apex S.

Yelp
This is a great place to have a nice sit down dinner, with friends, family or even business colleagues! If you or someone you know is curious to try Afghani cuisine, then you should definitely visit Ariana. The ambiance is lovely - peaceful and calm. I usually go here for early weekday dinners, so it's been quiet too. The interiors are tastefully done, I also like their artwork on the walls. A lot of the options are meat based but they do have a separate smaller menu for veggie dishes (vegetarians rejoice!). You start with bread, butter and a variety of chutneys. These are addictive, you can make a meal out of them, haha! The apps we order are always vegetarian: 1. Kaddo - pumpkin based sweet sour dish 2. Aushak - ravioli stuffed with leeks and scallions topped with yummy sauces 3. Bowlani kaddo - crispy shell filled with spiced pumpkin All are delicious but my favorite is the kaddo. So simple yet tasty. For the entree, I get the murgh challow - chicken cooked with lentils and a side of rice. Again, this dish too is a blend of mild flavors which is its USP. Nothing overpowers your taste buds. For dessert, we've enjoyed the: 1. Sheerberaing - the rice pudding but it was a tad too sweet for us 2. Sheerekh - ice cream with toppings (pistachio, frozen pineapple, nuts) 3. Pineapple cake - it's nice but I would say it's my least favorite of the three Customer service is always pleasant. Whenever I've visited, it's only been one person running the show so I'm always amazed by how every table is well cared for. There's an occasional delay, but it's worth it!

Jane M.

Yelp
Wonderful authentic afghan food!! Wally the owner is delightful!! A totally wonderful dining experience

Farida D.

Yelp
Goode was delicious, the atmosphere was pleasant but sometimes the service is slow. However, I still recommend the place fir the food. The owner is very friendly and goes around asking if everything is okay and stops to chat.

Brian K.

Yelp
The food took me right back to ghazni! Enjoyed conversation with the owner. Will Definitely return!

Sneha P.

Yelp
Great food! Friendly atmosphere...must try the pineapple cake. It was bustling even on a Monday after thanksgiving.

Milan W.

Yelp
Tasty vegetarian options. Have been back several times. Lamb shank is delicious but too much rice. A winner overall.

Henry L.

Yelp
Great service and even better food. The outdoor patio seating is also very nice. Great place to eat if you're in the area.

Benjamin W.

Yelp
We were looking for a Middle Eastern place, and found Ariana, an Afghan restaurant in Allston/Brighton that was special, deeply friendly and welcoming, and most of all, absolutely delicious! The host was personable, as though we were guests at a private home. Everything we ordered was delicious, fresh and flavorful, letting the flavors of the vegetables, meats and spices come through without too much salt or distracting embellishments. The highlights were the delicious appetizers, as well as the extraordinary feereny custard for desert. The one thing I would have liked would have been a bit more lamb meat in the main course I ordered, which was a mix of leg of lamb with vegetables. It was delicious, but I wanted more! :) Will definitely be coming back!

Gretchen P.

Yelp
Can't recommend this place enough. My husband and I stopped by late night on our honeymoon thinking they'd be open, but they were closing up. We asked if we could have some lamb quabli and they were able to whip up two orders of it and the gentlemen working there clearly were just trying to get home, but we're happy to help us out. Inside looked nice although we didn't dine in. Wishing we would've asked for more food because it was so good. Go here.

Ek E.

Yelp
Celebrated a birthday party inside the private dining room. Delicious food and incredible service with a personal touch from Baheja who was responsive to the sudden changes as well as kind and understanding. Like the decor and the ambience. Highly recommend.

Francis W.

Yelp
Fantastic food- first time having Afgan and I'm a believer. The food is delicious- both meat and veggie based. I'm not a big rice fan, but the rice was out of this world and complimented everything wonderfully, as we all good the Ariana special plate to share. If I had to choose my favorite it would be lamb shank which was beyond tender beautifully hidden under the rice. It fell right off the bone and could be eaten with a spoon. .

Lori Y.

Yelp
So good!!! I've had Ariana twice, once in the restaurant pre-Covid and once recently for take out. Both times were DELICIOUS! So much quality and flavor. There are lots of vegetarian options; this last time I had the special, which had a sampling 4 veggie entrees. I loved them all! The only thing I would say is that the portion sizes are on the smaller side (especially for the price).

Alyson F.

Yelp
Had a wonderful and delicious meal at Ariana. The plating presentation was just beautiful and the service was very high quality. I really like the atmosphere of the area and it was very easy to get to. Don't forget to have a tasty appetizer. And the menu is generally great for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike!