Aryana Afghan Cuisine

Some of the best food in Greenville! If you’re craving authentic Mediterranean and Afghan flavors, this is the spot. We ordered the chicken kabob, beef kabob, chickpeas, rice, and potato turnover—every single dish was packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. The picture honestly doesn’t do it justice! I’ve been searching for a restaurant in Greenville that makes truly authentic food, and Aryana is exactly what my family and I were looking for. Warm hospitality, generous portions, and food that tastes homemade with love. Highly recommend!

Went multiple times in the past month and always fantastic. It is nice to be able to ask for the vegan option and be surprised with a new combination/dish that is always tasty and fresh. Today I tried the cardamom tea and it was delicious. I will be a regular!

Delicious food and a cozy atmosphere! I love coming here for their cafeteria-style lunch; I've enjoyed everything I've been served! I opt for vegetarian plates and they're so satisfying. I've also taken friends who have gotten the meat lunches and loved it too. Their iced cardamom tea with lemon is so refreshing and flavorful — I get it every time! Man, I need to come back here soon...

Having never tried Afghan cuisine before, I asked the young female server that I wanted to have a traditional Afghan meal, as if I was in the country. I asked her, "What are the most popular dishes that Afghans typically eat?" And with that, I ordered all of her recommendations. You have to start off with the most popular of all their foods, Naan. This bread is HUGE but tastes so good! I didn't finish it because I wanted to save room for the rest. I also ordered as a starter the Bulani. So tasty, esp with the spicy dipping sauce that came with it. For our entrees, I ordered the Mantoo and my wife ordered the three lamb skewer. We also ordered a side of rice and yogurt. We both tried each other's entree and they were excellent! The lamb was so tender it just fell apart. The Mantoo and the rice were great as well. The yogurt isn't like the typical yogurt we are familiar with, it's more like a sweet milk. It is that watery, but it was delicious! I also ordered the Chai Sabz hot tea. That was the best hot tea I've ever had! My wife loved the rosewater with basil seeds. We also ordered the Ferni for dessert. While I didn't have any issues at all with the food, the service could have been better. Our server forgot the order of yogurt and the dessert. Then it turns out that we were never told they didn't have the Ferni until I reminded her that we ordered dessert. They did give us a complimentary Baghlawa for dessert instead. Even so, when it came to ask for the check, we couldn't get the attention of our server, so we just left our table and paid at the front. I know she was trying her best and she was constantly busy. They need more help with servers (they are aware of their staffing issues and even apologized for them), but I would definitely go back again the next time I am in town!

I grabbed lunch here while I was visiting South Carolina. It was so good that I ordered twice. The place is really clean and service was great. Would highly recommend!

From the moment you walk in, the smells and decor feel authentic, and I knew it would be good food. The restaurant was very clean, good crowd but open seats at 7pm on a Friday night. The menu makes it easy to choose from appetizers, dinners, deserts, and drinks. We picked kabob plates, i had the lamb kabob ($24), the mantoo appetizer, Naan bread, and baklava desert with chi tea. Everything tasted so good, tender, juicy meat, hot fresh bread, and overall very good. Friendly staff, no rush, it seems so take your time and enjoy the experience.

Delicious, wonderful, you should eat here. Demolished my lunch. You can choose veg or meat & they bring you whatever they’ve cooked that day. They never miss

Amazing food and excellent service. Definitely a place I would recommend, authentic savory Afghan food 👌

My daughter was graduating college and wanted to give this place a try. The owner greeted us as we walked in. She asked if we had ever been there before and explained their menu. For lunch, they have make 2 meats and 3 other items each day. For a meal, you choose one meat and get the other three items. A vegetarian plate contains the three other items. Everything was delicious and we all cleaned our plates. If you go, I highly recommend the iced tea.

Happy to find some cultural flavors here in Greenville. It's clear there is a lot of room for culinary growth here in the small city, and Aryana seems to have made some roots here. The environment is welcoming, and within walking distance of the downtown walking trails. Cozy seating and kind staff. The choice for lunch was made mostly for us, offering a cafeteria style meal. You either choose meat or vegetarian and the plate is brought out to you. We were surprised with chicken as the day's choice of meat. Ordered naan on the side, a simple vehicle food, used to dip in the spicy dipping sauce they serve and any of the foods on the plate. The dinner menu is more expansive.

This is a place that's been on my list for years throughout many travels through Greenville. I haven't gotten to it largely because of the limited hours. I had in my head that this was a place where you could get a nice combo platter, but that's apparently only for lunch, so I had to pick one dish. I was quite happy with my selection though, with their interpretation of daal being a hearty, thick, if overly salty stew noticeably different in taste and texture than the Indian version I so often eat. It did not come with rice, but perhaps that was not so bad as ordering a naan turned out to be well worth it. A gigantic bread, it was delightfully charred on the outside and soft on the inside, and was just about right for mopping up a full plate of lentils. Adding a chai resulted in a cardamom-flavored beverage that wasn't particularly sweet. There were plenty of vegetarian selections that looked worthwhile based on what other tables ordered. I still wish I'd been able to sample more, but I was happy with what I got, and indeed I can't recall an Afghan restaurant I've been to with better-executed vegetarian dishes.

Amazing food, unlike anything I've had before. Wonderful staff and lovely atmosphere.

I loved this place. So good. Family owned I'm pretty sure. All the ladies working there were super friendly and helpful. I'm not sure if they have a SET menu, it's more like you get what they are cooking that day. We ordered 2 lunch plates and everything was so wonderfully flavored.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE! The owner, Nelo, has her own cook book called "The Afghan Table" and has created all of these dishes herself. Her daughters are usually working the floor along with her husband. The whole family is so sweet and kind. The menu is small but the flavors get better and better. She has vegan and vegetarian options as well so there's something for everyone. They serve halal meat which is really nice. The restaurant itself has a charming traditional Afghan style with beautiful Afghan music playing in the background. It's always clean and well managed. I come here any chance I can! There's ample parking in the front and back of the restaurant. Try this place and don't be afraid to step out of your bland American tastebuds. You won't regret it!

Very good food in a spotlessly clean establishment. Charming owners took very good care of us. We will return again. Excellent value for money, and vegetarians can be easily accommodated.

A bit of a mixed bag. First, don't expect traditional service: upon entry the owner will ask you to take a photo of the menu (limited) on the wall and then sit down. Eventually ( we were the second table only so far) she'll come take your order. Then --eventually-- a young girl , daughter?--will bring you your drinks (FYI they don't have a liquor license). Second, food was delicious-- lamb kabob and kofta. Naan was delicious too. Lamb was a bit on the dry side. A bit spicy so I asked for a commonly served afghan yogurt sauce: I was told afghan cuisine doesn't serve that. Really??? I've lived in enough countries to know that they do, and it's served with most meals in afghan homes; obviously not at this restaurant. Ordered baglawa (baklava) to go: we got two tiny pieces at $2.50 each. Wow! Pretty stingy. Service: not once did an adult service person come check on us. Nor do they bring you your check: you get rung up and pay at the cash register/hostess station. Weird. Will I return? No. The food was good but the selection is slim and doesn't change I hear. Service is not great.

We had lunch at this restaurant on Coffee St across the street from the new courthouse. Lunch is either a meat plate ($16) or vegetarian plate ($14). The meat plate had Dahl, spinach, rice, tandoori chicken, and pasta with a kofka sauce. Vegetarian plate was just the vegetables. It was excellent! We will return. The photo is their dinner menu.

Always fantastic for the adventurous eater! The menu changes daily and it's only one option per day, but I've been dozens of times and I'm always happy with what they've curated for me! Don't miss the cardamom sweet ice tea, it's amazing!

Delicious comfort food with great spice. There are 3 plates to choose from and we were all very impressed with the flavor. We will be back!

Their location is Downtown but you will miss it if you're not looking as they blend in very well. I had never tried Afghan food and thought this would be a great option for my friends and myself. The gentleman taking our order explained their options in detail, which is nice for the first time visit. Everyone there was very friendly and had a good attitude. I chose the vegetarian dish and was very pleased with it. The dish was filling but also not heavy on your stomach. The flavors were amazing. I would highly recommend dropping by here and trying their food. My friends and I will definitely be back.

I don't like the way it is set up for lunch combo when you visit at lunch. Too restrictive like you eat at a foodcourt but pay the restaurant price

Awesome food! So many unique spices and flavors we don't often experience in the south. I felt like the portions were a bit small for the price point, but enjoyed it. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant as well. Definitely will be back. Lamb kebab is great. I highly recommend the Mantoo. The naan is massive and it's plenty for two people.

I knew it was bad sign on a Saturday there where no people in the restaurant. I have had Persian food before but Iranian Persian food . The food to be honest was small expensive and not tasty. It was so disappointing since been wanting try this place for over 5 years! I would honestly skip it and go to pomegranate which is much better Persian food and much nicer restaurant , like half a mile down the street.

The food here was phenomenal. Friendly service and a nice ambiance. A neat place to eat.

I am so happy I tried this place! It is remarkable that despite the limited hours, the business is doing so well. It is cafeteria style--you are served whatever is on that day. I tried the vegetarian option, and my partner tried the regular option. We were both so pleased. The sweet family that owns it and the interior decor create a great atmosphere. You can also rent out the restaurant for evening events! I love that Afghan cuisine is represented in Greenville. I would go back regularly if I could.

I belong to a group of guys who get together every Thursday morning at 11:30 AM to eat lunch. We always pick a different place to go every week. This week's choice was made by one of our guys who had never eaten at this restaurant, but had seen the sign many times so he decided we should try it. I looked it up on Yelp and it had five stars so I thought well this is got to be good, wrong! First of all, there is nowhere to park within a reasonable walk. They have a sign on the front of the building that they have parking in the rear for their customers only. However, when you get to the rear of the building, all the parking spots, except two have signs on them that say they belong to other businesses. if you park on the street in front of the restaurant it's one hour limited parking. The lady who owns the restaurant said when she first rented the building that all the parking belong to them but then after she moved in the owner of the building, leased out the other parking places to other businesses. We had a reservation and the lady had a table set up for all of us. And the lady who runs the restaurant is very nice also. When it came time to order our meal, we asked for the menu and she said there is no menu. We only serve what we serve and that's all you can get, so she took our order which consisted of choosing what to drink and then you got whatever the food was they were dishing out that day. That day she said it was a two meat and three vegetable plate. She said the two meats were beef and chicken, and the vegetables were, chickpeas, cauliflower, and some kind of funny looking rice that were long and skinny and very dry. The beef turned out to be not meat at all, but some kind of a brown sauce over pasta shells. The chicken had some kind of red seasoning on it, but was very very dry. They had no choices of sauce or anything to add to it to make it better. One of the worst meals I have ever eaten. The last person in our group to come in saw the sign on the front of the building that said parking for their customers only in the rear so he parked back there not looking at the other signs. Right in the middle of our meal she came and told him he would have to go move his car somewhere else. Also, when I ordered my beverage, I ordered water with a lot of ice and lemon. When my water came out, it had about two cubes of ice floating on top and that was all. When they came back to refill the water, the pitcher of water had no ice in it and was room temperature. Needless to say we will never eat there again and the people who give this place five stars I don't know what in the world you're thinking of

I really wanted to try this place while visiting Greenville, but it was tricky since they weren't open for dinner during the week. Luckily

My friend and I were wondering around Greenville and found this unique place on Yelp! I love trying new foods so we opted for splitting the lamb kabobs (which includes two sides) and the vegetarian plate (which is three sides!). It was all so delicious and so much food! We still each brought home a meals worth of food. The server was funny and sweet. My water and tea stayed full and our overall experience was awesome! Highly recommend!

We found this gem while walking around Main St and stopped in for lunch. They serve their food cafeteria-style so you pay first for your meal and then you get a ginormous platter of six different Afghan dishes. They change the menu daily so you'll always find something different. They do post their menu for the next day on Facebook for those who have a favorite dish. I enjoyed every single dish and stuffed myself silly trying to finish the whole plate (still couldn't finish it though). They had two meat dishes, two veggie dishes, a side salad and a rice dish; they're also vegan friendly so they always have some vegan dishes. The baklava is also a must-try! (If you can manage to have any stomach room after your meal.) The owners are also so friendly and make sure their customers are satisfied with their meal. They walked around giving out samples of baklava - always a plus. They're only opened for lunch though so definitely make sure to stop by when you have a lunch break!

Thoroughly enjoyed lunch at Aryana! The chicken was extremely flavorful and tender. Given their menu is cafeteria style and changes every day (check their Facebook for the daily menu) I will definitely be back and recommend going to try some delicious food!

Grabbed the lunch special, my partner got the vegetarian plate and mine the carnivore, no menu, was absolutely amazing. Hard to find amazing Arab food.

Wow! If you haven't been here yet you need to go ASAP. This is the best food I've had anywhere in a long time. They are only open for dinner on Saturdays so be mindful of their hours. I went for the lunch special which was insanely reasonable. At a mere 10 bucks you get to try 5 dishes of the chef's choosing that particular day. They will also cater to whatever dietary restrictions you may have. Everything we were served was seasoned and cooked to perfection and had a CRAZY amount of flavor. We were blown away. Greenville is super lucky to have a restaurant serving Afghan food of this level. The range of flavors was mindblowing. We were served chickpeas in a delicious sauce, the most perfectly cooked eggplant ive ever tasted, long-grain rice, naan bread, Jerusalem salad, some veggies, and some sort of dry beef patty (not sure what its called) This place is next level! If you havent been, go for lunch today! They are open 11:30-3:00 Tuesday-Friday, for dinner on Saturdays 6:00-9:00, and 12:00-3:00 on Sundays

Amazing food and service! Clean, flavorful food and very authentic! The owner takes pride in the ingredients she uses and the food she serves. We ate here 4 times in a week and was amazed at the flavor every day. She offers cafeteria style and only serves what's on the menu for the day and It's been amazing every time.

This place is delicious and is my new favorite place to eat in Greenville. This was my first exposure to Afghan cuisine and i am incredibly impressed. I recommend the lamb platter and the vegetarian platter especially sweet potato, cauliflower, and eggplant. Please also get mantoo. The dessert fernee is essentially rice pudding and is also quite good. The owner has quite extremist political opinions which also has nothing to do with the food which is amazing. I can't wait to come back.

No joke I eat here minimum 1 to 2 times a week, I do live here in town! Are usually come here for lunch and grab the meat portion. I've never had a bad experience, super authentic and super delicious

The food is great - delicately spiced with a home made flavor! I've had lunch and dinner there and their service is impeccable as well. Seems to be a family-owned place and they are dedicated to their customers! So good to have a genuine non-traditional ethnic food choice just a bit away from the Main Street.

This restaurant is set up in a converted house about 2.5 blocks from the main street. The menu is very limited and it took longer than expected for the food to come out after we ordered. We ordered the lamb kebobs, a full platter and iced cardamon tea for him, half-platter for me and hot cardamom tea for me. The full platter was kinda expensive at $22. The full platter includes an extra skewer of kebobs, a small salad, and some pita wedges. The half platter was the better value as the salad and the pita was mediocre at best. Perhaps my expectations were skewed given the 5 star reviews. Our food was good and very "clean", but not very spicy or exotic in flavor. My kebabs were a bit chewy. I love cardamom spice, the tea wasn't very flavorful.

Trust me. Go. Throw a dart at the day's menu and you'll be highly pleased. You're welcome!

Food was delicious. I got a meat plate and milk tea. It was reasonably priced. Not to mention everyone was super nice. 10/10 recommend!

Had lunch here. Great place. Great concept. Great location. The lunch setup is nice. You do not order. They give you a little if everything available. The food is not run of the mill burgers and fries, but it is not so far out there that you cannot find something you will like. It has been a few weeks, so I do not remember specifics about the food except that it was really good and the portions were nice. The service was fine and atmosphere clean and pleasant. We will go back. 4 stars for food, service and atmosphere. The 5th star is for getting outside the box.

IF YOU ARE VEGAN EAT HERE. Excellent. We were the last people to come in before they closed. Service was outstanding. Our party had three vegans and an omnivore--everyone came away with full bellies and cravings utterly satisfied. Cardamom iced tea was fantastic.

Great food and great concept! I went with the meat and veg option and enjoyed every bite. The iced tea with cardamom was delicious as well. I can see why it's as popular as it is. I will certainly find a way to get back.

Good food. Greenville's only Afghan restaurant. Great flavors. The hot tea is delicious and the chutney is good on everything. For those on a budget, it's a little expensive to eat here everyday. But a great place to go when you want something different from your regular lunch spot. Also, in their parking lot behind the building there may be space for 8 cars. So be prepared to park on street and walk a short distance to the restaurant. But it is worth it. I will be revisiting this place and recommend you try it at least once.

Absolutely delicious lunch and a great find in Greenville! I've never had Afghan cuisine and it did not disappoint! The lunch is cafeteria style and according to the owners comes with 2 meats and an assortment of veggies. I have chicken and lamb with rice, lentils, cauliflower and a side salad the day I went and enjoyed every dish. Also highly recommend the cardamom tea with your food. They have an iced version for those hot days too! Will definitely be back!

A friend recommended this wonderful restaurant to me and I honestly cannot say enough good things about it. The food is phenomenal. I went three times in one week. Everything is so fresh. The flavors are divine. I will absolutely be eating here any time I am in Greenville.

Great find for vegan/vegetarians, who can have a tough time in the South. Just a couple blocks off of Greenville's beautiful Main Street. Before settling for "just OK" Indian or Thai food there, Aryana is worth the 3-minute detour on foot. Small selection of veg dishes, but that's how vegetarians generally roll anyway. Fabulous flavors (AMAZING eggplant!), generous portions, and warm welcoming staff. Note: not open in the evening.

This place is such a gem! The owner is so friendly and from the moment we walked in, we felt welcome and comfortable. I admit I was a little confused by the term 'cafeteria style' at first. Basically it just means that they make a few things each day and bring you a plate of today's creations. However, on Saturday, you can order from a menu of delicious-looking-things. Regardless of which day you go, the food is delicious and the tea is a perfect compliment to the food. Enjoy!

Stopped by for lunch on a Saturday not long after it had opened and the restaurant was not too crowded. It's just off Main Street but closer to Church Street. As we walked in the ambiance was pretty straightforward - no frills - with Afghan music playing not-too-loudly in the background. The food is set up cafeteria-style means when you walk in, you pay, and get in line for a plate of food (served on a tray) which is a little bit of everything on the menu for the day (the daily variations can be found on their website). The drink options are Coke products and green tea besides water. The food was excellent - fresh, flavorful and plentiful. Both the chicken and lamb kebabs were juicy and prepared just right as were the eggplant, lentils and rice. We didn't feel hungry after the meal. The service was prompt and attentive, and the owner was happy to explain the ingredients in the food behind the glass - but only after we asked. That's one thing I wish Aryana would do - provide names and brief details on the food on the glass in front of the tray - like the fact that eggplant contained yogurt or that the Kabuli Pallau is sweet and had currants in it. This isn't really a complaint - I just like to know what I am eating so that I can enjoy the food and not try to figure what makes it taste the way it does. That way, when they are busier than they were when we were there, they do not need to explain to everyone what food is being served. That said, I'll definitely be visiting again - hard to pass up an ethnic option around here, especially when it's very good.

This is a jewel of a place. Easy to find away from busy Main St. It was clean, friendly and welcoming. We went there for lunch. As first timers, it was explained that there was no menu; the variety of dishes changes every day, and is served to you on plates at your table (meat vs. vegetarian). My husband and I chose meat plates (chicken and beef) and hot tea, and chose a table for two by the window. It really felt cozy. Our server was gracious and took very good care of us. The food was delicious. Fresh and hot. Such flavors! No, it isn't burn your hair off hot, and that means you can taste all the individual spices and seasonings the chef took the time to blend into the dish. We cleaned our plates and enjoyed the tea as it was a cold, rainy day. We will definitely be returning, and can't wait to share this with our family when they are in town. It is very reasonable for the amount of food and variety of offerings on our plate. As many others have recommended, we do as well. 10/10.

Ambiance is so relaxed and the food is amazing. The service was great as well! Also have vegetarian options which is a plus!?

WOW. Hands down some of the best food I've ever had. I'm a lover of Middle Eastern food and this is the first time I've ever had Afghan cuisine. Wowwww. The flavors were unreal. I might move to Greenville just so I can eat this on the regular...

Aryana is a unique culinary destination in Greenville offering Afghani dishes and it is well worth a visit. The menu changes every day and they typically post it on Facebook, along with photos and descriptions, as many of the offerings are not foods with which everyone is familiar. Its a fixed, reasonable price for a plate of whatever they are serving that day- about $12 including tea. The offering usually includes a meat, rice, vegetable dish and salad- and it is always delicious! There are always vegan and vegetarian options if that is your dietary preference. The owners and staff are so friendly and service is very quick, making it a good spot for a quick work lunch downtown. Parking is available in back of the restaurant and there is usually parking available on the street as well. Great spot! Highly recommend!

Aryana's was a cool Middle Eastern food experience. Our plated meals offered salad, two meat dishes, basmati rice, and two vegetable sides. A small slice of pita and a cilantro-based sauce completed the meal. Meats: quorma chicken (stewed in an exotically spiced sauce) and a beef skewer. Veggies: Mushrooms (wow!!! So delicious) and squash (perhaps acorn or butternut? Anyway, it was pureed and I didn't like it much since it reminded me of the squash I used to fix for my babies, lol). The rice was a great accompaniment to the meat and veggies. The cilantro sauce went well with the beef and over the rice. Ok, so after all that food - it was a lot - we tried the firnee, an Afghan dessert. Omgosh, if you haven't tried this yet and you like custards and puddings, the firnee is a must!! It is flavored with rose water and cardamom and so light and yet so creamy. Very unique flavor. Can't wait to have this again! The menu changes everyday, so chances are you won't have a repeat of the same plate. The cardamom tea was a lovely beverage for a cool fall day. Server was friendly and explained the menu items. Lunch, tea, dessert and tip ran about $20.

This place is awesome!! We went for a late lunch and had the place to ourselves. The hostess made sure to ask whether we had any dietary restrictions (we don't) and then let us choose our seats. We both got the cardamom tea--super refreshing! For our meal the selections were a fresh salad with lime and peppers, soft, comforting chick peas in a hearty sauce, chicken kebab, some sort of beef ragu and farfalle pasta, sautéed mushrooms, and rice with lentils. Everything was unique and flavorful--everything was fresh and delicious! Our server was very friendly and attentive. You could tell that she genuinely appreciated and enjoyed the food as well. I will DEFINITELY come here again!

A culinary delight! We visited for the lunch special and were so happy with the service and quality of food. The staff was kind and friendly, and the place has a lovely atmosphere. As others have mentioned, it is cafeteria style on weekdays, meaning that you pay for your meal, and then they bring you a plate of whatever they have prepared that day. There are also vegetarian and vegan options. We tried the cardamon-infused green tea, which was so refreshing. Our meal was delicious--we were blown away by the artful blend of spices and flavors. I feel so lucky that Greenville has a place like this. Will definitely return soon!

This a gem of a place. I am glad the hours have changed and they are open for dinner on Saturdays. The food is no joke.. finger-licking, warm-embrace, all-senses-total-treat.. deliciousness. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.

A friend of mine and I went to Aryana in a Saturday night for dinner with a 6:30 Open Table reservation. We were so surprised that it was not crowded because of the minimal hours open (6-9) on a Saturday night. Anyway, we were seated right away in what looked like a converted house. There was soft traditional music playing and our lamp incense was lit which added to the atmosphere. Service was excellent. For food and drink, we wanted to try basically everything. I ordered the cardamom infused green tea, which I completely recommend. It was spicy yet soothing at the same time. To start, we ordered the mantoo which was a meat filled dumpling, and the bulani which was a vegetable turnover that came with a yummy, slightly spicy yogurt sauce. I would drink that sauce if it was appropriate! For dinner, I opted for the mixed kofta and chicken kebab plate (pictured). It was huge, and came with rice, salad, small pita slice, and your side of choice. I chose the eggplant burani as my side, which was softer than I was expecting, but tasted deliciously peppery! The rice also had raisins in it, which was a nice touch to offset some of the spices if you're not used to them. My friend opted for the lamb kebab which I also had a taste of, and it was not chewy at all! Very delicious. Overall, I'd order the kofta at the next visit. Thanks for a great experience!

This is where you can get a yummy, healthy, lunch with soo many flavors to tantalize your tastebuds! Yummy! No menu, a set meal w/many delicious dishes to please. If you have dietary restrictions, accommodations can be made to suit , vegetarian, vegan. Menu changes daily. Check them out.. see website for hours. Closed Monday's.