De Afghanan

Owned by brothers and has multiple locations, we frequent Livermore the most. Have tasted everything on the menu. Our go to order every time we go: teka kabobs, mantoo and potato bolani.

Here's a review of what we got: * borani banjan - eggplant appetizer which was good but not particularly remarkable * triple kabob - since we haven't eaten here in years, we decided to order this to sample their kabobs. Chicken was our favorite followed by the rightfully famous chaplee kabob with beef not only being the least favorite but a mental note not to order again * dough drink - always good * sheer chai - absolutely delicious and btw, I'm not a fan of chai so this says a lot Overall, we'll definitely be back again to try other menu items!

I had a terrible experience here. The food was served cold and tasteless, especially the Qabli Pallow which was extremely disappointing. For the high prices they charge, I expected fresh, flavorful dishes, but instead it felt like no care was put into preparation. On top of that, the customer service was awful and the staff showed no concern when I raised the issue. They clearly don’t prioritize their customers or quality. Overall, this was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. Definitely not worth the money.

Amazing food, quaint family owned. They were very accommodating to my son's gluten allergy, making a special batch of spinach for him to make sure he was safe. Delicious food, kind people. 100% recommend.

Amazing quality food and great place to visit for authentic Afghan kabobs. Ignore the 1-star reviews talking about portion sizes. This is a gourmet restaurant. You should be coming here for high-quality, not large McDonald-size quantity that some people want. I recommend chapli kabobs and bolani on the side. The staff was very attentive during our visit and created a welcoming atmosphere for our family. There's also a 100+ year old Afghan door that you can see!!!

This simple food cost me a solid 25$ bucks With the same amount I can buy an entire restaurant in Texas,and on top of that the lady was eye balling me for a tip

Ordered pickup here after another local restaurant was closed - glad I made the decision to try this spot - food was warm even when I drove home! I got the triple combination- the chicken was so soft that it literally melts with a bite... the beef was delicious and fresh and the chapli kabob had perfect seasoning - overall 5/5

I ordered two Bolani potatoes and leek it was the worst!! I have never seen cooking Bolani this bad and doughy this place has no good cook.

Amazing Afghanan food the combo kabob is a great way to try their food. The service is kind and helpful this small family fun establishment I will be returning. Great vibe great food and great baklava.

Came here recently and honestly had a mixed experience. The bolani comes as either a half (6 pieces) or full (12 pieces) order that was strange when normally its just one order and its good for a bunch of folks. Flavor was all over the place -- a couple pieces had no salt at all, while others were way too salty. And the spicyness wasnt(aka chilli flakes) in the potato mixture wasnt spread well either. I got the triple kabob plate and the rice portion was surprisingly small compared to other Afghan spots. Chicken kabobs were inconsistent: some pieces were super salty, others were fine. The beef was tender, but not every bite had the same flavor. Chicken was tender though, cut well. Could have been flavored a bit more Plates overall felt smaller than what I'm used to at similar restaurants. Also worth mentioning -- they serve alcohol here, so if you're strict about halal, that might be a consideration. Since a place selling wine- not sure how strict they are on sourcing halal meat (hand slaughter for example). Also very pricey location compared to others maybe since they serve wine they catering to folks that drink who may spend more without caring All in all, not terrible, but definitely inconsistent and portion sizes could be better. Worth mentioning that all these de afghanans are not same - they have diff owners etc. Not bad seating, was empty for a sunday lunch at noon .

May be 3.5 stars. Service was pleasent. Family owned and operated restaurant. So even though was not perfect will definitely give it a try again. We got Borani Banjan - roasted Eggplant with garlic and yogurt sauce. This was good, garlicky and juicy, but does not come with afghan bread. Make sure to order one (only $2 extra). Qabuli pallow - the lamb was juicy, succulent, fall of the bone but lacked spice during cooking of the lamb and when pallow was made. Could have used more of the char masala. The rice was fluffy had good amount of sweetened carrots and raisins. Murgh kabob - For $20 only included 5 small pieces of chicken. Sadly forgot to take a picture. Most other places provide 1-2 skewers based on size. Chicken was tad bit dry and lacked flavor. Most of the food has good flavor but needs more of the spice and by that I do not mean spicy! May give one more chance if I am in the area.

This was hands down the worst take out food my husband and I have experienced in the entire 5 years we have been in the Bay Area/Livermore. First, their prices here are $2-3 higher than they are on their website. Second they charge $2.50 for a credit card fee and don't warn you about this, I would've paid in cash but they didn't say anything. After tip I spent $50 on my husband's combination kabob and my sabzi challow (spinach and rice). So I took my order home noting how we were having some fabulously expensive Afghani food, and was SHOCKED at the portion size. The third thing that sent me over the edge was how ACTUALLY BAD the food was. No one was dining here at prime dinner time so that should've tipped me off. I'd say never again but I don't think they will be in business much longer with how expensive and disappointing this place is.

I've tried the Fremont branch & was glad to find this closer. I love their Quabili Pallow there. It was just as delicious here. This dish is a fun experience for me. It is seasoned lamb covered in seasoned basmati rice topped with carrots & raisins. You have to dig through the rice to find the most tender lamb! Be careful not to spill the rice off the place though. There is a big mound of it. Though this was lunch & dinner for me, I had enough for another meal the next day! I paired this with hot sweetened chai for the perfect meal on a cold rainy night! The dining room is quaint & tastefully decorated with cultural art. Service is attentive, prompt, & friendly. Definitely coming back.

My husband really liked his kebab. I really like chickpeas, but the sauce is a little too rich for me, the chicken was very tender that was super good but I still finished. It. Service was good. The lady was very attentive. It's a small place but it's quaint and casual. Easy parking and close to home. Price was not bad.

De Afghanan is a small restaurant but the flavors are all there. They have more than just the regular kabobs. You'll actually find some more authentic food. The server has very attentive to any of our needs. The food came out pretty quickly. We enjoyed all the dishes that we ordered. I got the triple kabob in order to try a little bit of everything. The chaplee had ground meat, but it was very flavorful. The sirloin and chicken were cooked well, and I found the meat to be juicy. Can't wait to go back and try more things.

Pretty average Afghan food. This place used to be known for having the best Afghan food around but not so much anymore. Just pay attention as they charge extra 2 bucks for credit card usage and make sure you check your bill because they automatically charge gratuity for groups and then ask you to leave extra tip even though they have already charged the tip without mentioning it (slick guys). The place nickel and dimes customers which is a pretty embarrassing for them. Their chutney is apparently made of gold so they are extra stingy with it. I have ordered numerous times for pickup and food has never been ready at the designated time for pickup. On the positive side, they do have a decent dining area to take guests out to eat and it never gets busy inside.

Service was good, but the food was not good the meat in kabuli palao tasted old. We got bolani potato that was super dry and leak was mostly green onions.

I've been coming here for years, with a mix of dining in or DoorDash. Food has always been pretty good but lately their portions have gotten ridiculously tiny for the price. Triple kabob had one small piece of Chapli, and the chicken/beef were small as well. The mantoo was basically all yogurt, onions, dough with a minuscule amount of beef filling. Finally, the bolani (while good) was severely lacking salt/spice. Sorry, but in these times, I do not think I'll be visiting this place moving forward. It was good while it lasted.

Love this little gem of a restaurant. Never disappoints Delicious food, cozy atmosphere and loving staff.

Very friendly and quick service, lowkey interior. The chicken kabob was perfectly cooked and juice- delicious! Definitely order the Bolani- this is a potato filled "turnover" and a classic Afghani dish.

I think this restaurant is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. I like the lamb kebab here, it's tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. The service is friendly and always welcoming!

We came here for lunch, it was a slow,so we got to sit down right away! The restaurant has outdoor & indoor seating, great art to admire while eating. The waitress was very pleasant and kind, great customer service. The food was delicious and full of flavor, I had the lamb kabob, great portions it's served with rice , a cucumbers salad & sesame pitta. My friend who happens to be from Afghanistan, mentioned that the food is authentic! That makes me happy The restaurant is clean & there's parking in front (it has meters) or a big parking garage around the corner, a 2 minute walk !

I have been going to this location for many years and I have never been so disappointed. As an Afghan who unwaveringly supports Afghan businesses from the beginning, this location was always good with food. However, recently their food and smaller portions was terrible . Their bolani gandana was filled with majority green onion instead of leeks and the zucchini bolani was salty and uncooked . This may be okay with the non afghans but for Afghan customers they have completely lost their authenticity. It is very saddening to see this place become watered down Afghan food. I will NOT be returning.

Don't be fooled by the strip mall location. This is hands-down the best Afghani food in the Tri-Valley, if not the whole Bay Area.

To some, this is just a restaurant. To me, it's a Home If I could afford to eat here more often I would. I will pay all the money for food that tastes so good and home cooked Remjnder to treat staff with kindness, they are feeding you, like a baby bird. I do take out mostly but the food makes the vibes at home PHENOMENAL

What can I say first of all the food was very hard and was not edible and I told the cashier about it and she didn't even try to do anything to fix it and she dated this is how it is and the device was garbage. And the prices were extremely high for some low quality food. I recommend to not come here.

Met my book club here for lunch. Friendly service and everything we tried was delicious and perfectly seasoned. Pumpkin borani was very good. Lamb kabob was my favorite, super tender and grilled perfectly. We will have to come back for dinner soon.

Th best Bolani ever, especially the potato and leek ones! Always excellent service and good! Would recommend.

This is one of the two Afghanistan food places left in Livermore, so I really had my hopes pinned on them doing well. Third visit for lunch, and the quality of food is sub par. It's edible but not good quality.

We had just a wonderful lunch here at De Afghanan in Livermore. We had a large group of 7 adults plus a baby and they were very accommodating. The host was a lovely lady - she was always checking in on us if everything tasted good and if we needed anything. The food itself was amazing! We ordered murgh kabob plates, salad, lamb plates, boloni, and kadoo and everything was very tasty. The portions are very large so we could easily share with each other. My husband also ordered the sheer chai and loved it. A good pick-me-up on a cold day! Overall we had a great visit and will definitely be back soon :)

Most delicious food! The kabobs are marinated and cooked to perfection. Amazing ambiance and service! Will be back over and over again.

Yumm! I ordered for takeout the combo kabob plate with chicken kabob and subbed chaplee for the beef kabob. It came with a generous serving of flavorful rice, potato salad, vegetable salad, and bread. It was a lot of food, but I sat there in my bed and ate it all because everything was so darn delicious that I couldn't bring myself to stop. Go ahead and judge me; I feel no guilt ;P

My first return visit since reopening for indoor dining. Ordered the Gulpi for an appetizer. I loved the flavor but the dish was barely warm :/ and the cauliflower was much too mushy for my preference. Ordered the Chaplee Kabob with white rice for an entree. Two huge patties and a mountain of rice. Chaplee was extremely flavorful and I particularly liked the spice. Their rice is one of my favorites... so aromatic!

The BEST Afghan restaurant I have ever had! And I have tried so many and absolutely nothing compares to de afghanan.

Yummmm...I have been wanting to try this place out for 6 years. The food is very well prepared (I had the 4 vegetable sampler and our table liked their combo kebab plates) The potato appetizers (I forget what they are called) were great and the service was very nice and accomodating. Don't let the strip mall location fool you. Very good food!

My husband and I are hugeee fans of chaplee kabobs..and nobody does it better than De afghanan! This location is owned by the same family as the Fremont branch which was my husband's favorite. So he was obviously overjoyed to know that they had another one closer to home. But two branches are not always the same so we kept our fingers crossed until we tried the chaplee here. And ofcourse, they did not disappoint. 5 stars for the dish! The chaplee is juicy, flavorful and tender. Rice is seasoned so well. The potato salad is excellent. The lady at the front desk was extremely hospitable. Most orders here are to-go but you could choose to dine in as well. They have limited but clean and sanitary seating arrangements. I'd absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for kabobs.

Food is fresh and very good. Have ordered take out for breads and kabobs and all have been delicious. Many vegetarian options to choose from.

Very disappointing experience here. We came with a large group of 9 for dinner. The place was empty yet they kept rushing us to order so that we would beat the fasting crowd. Yet no one else ever came. Location is in a very sketchy neighborhood with homeless hanging around outside. We ordered a potato bolani that was great, but everything else was really subpar. The chicken was undercooked and the rice tasted chewy and stale. The bread was harder than a rock! We are huge fans of the De Afghanan in Fremont and were extremely disappointed in this location. Do not recommend.

Authentic Afghan! Be prepared to wait a bit as each order is prepared fresh. Well worth the wait. We have tried everything on the menu! We go out of our way to go by anytime we go to the Bay Area!

a very late lunch and finding empty...small restaurant with relations to other de afghanan kabob restaurants in fremont and around the bay area...browsing the menu and ordering the famous chaplee kabob $18...requesting a diet coke and served a can for $2...sliced naan (flat bread) served in a basket with a spicy sauce...plate arriving shortly after with the chaplee kabob...thin ground beef patty seasoned with afghan spices...basically a hamburger steak...mound of seasoned rice (choice of white also) and cucumber salad to the side...the flavors were good and most likely suite most patrons...not overpowering or overly ethnic...but, the ground beef and rice was a bit dry...

Food was very good. Portions were large. Perfect for pickup. They had our food ready when I went to pick up.

Delicious Dinner! My family loves Afghan food and I've been wanting to try this restaurant because of all the great reviews. My husband placed an order by phone. Unfortunately, when he arrived for pickup there was no record of our order. Luckily, he didn't have to wait too long after he reordered. We have dined at numerous Afghan restaurants and ordered some of our favorite dishes. Beef Kebobs-tender chunks of savory beef. Chicken Kebobs-generous portion of well seasoned tender chicken breasts. Famous Chaplee Kebobs-I bet they're famous because these were the best chaplee kebobs we've had. They were spicy and full of herbs and flavor! Zucchini bolani-we've sampled other bolani varieties but it was our first time having zucchini bolani. It was a little soft when we brought it home, but it toasted up beautifully. Thin, slightly crispy crepe filled with a spicy, grated zucchini filling. Yum! Each of our kebob orders came with Afghan flat bread, diced cucumber salad and a tangy potato salad. We all chose plain rice. I like the spicy, herby green sauce that's packed separately too. We put it on everything! We will definitely be back! TIP-toast the Afghan bread and bolani when you bring it home. Both are delicious hot and toasty!

We love this place. We have only done take out- super yummy food, easy parking, and quick. For two people we split the Triple Kabob with seasoned rice, side of Sabzi, and Borani Kadoo. Two thumbs up! I suggest ordering via the phone and picking up yourself, DoorDash prices are a lot more expensive.

I have to share with you all that I have never tasted such delicious food as Afghanistan. It is amazing. I had the kebabs, the rice, the dumplings the bread, eggplant. All of it was just terrific. You have to try it here. The service is great. You will enjoy all the different flavors. It Has to offer.

Best food and service it's small place But the food is very good we are 9 people I'm so glad we try this place.

Again!! I was outing with my friends and found this small family business restaurant on Yelp . Omg .. the best afghans food I ever have . I am very picky about my food, I've been looking for the best afghans restaurants and finally found one . I know it's far from Richmond but for the food taste amazing I don't mind to come back to this place. Highly recommended and 7 stars . On top of that Zora was amazing and fantastic-waitress.

First time having Afghan food and I was amazed. I got takeout from here since the inside was pretty small. Walked around the supermarkets nearby for about 15 minutes as I waited for the food. I ordered the Bolani Kachaloo and Kado Borani. Bolani Kachaloo was really good. It was a bit too greasy but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The only downside is that we asked for it spicy but the chili powder wasn't spread evenly so some were really spicy and others weren't spicy at all. Kado Borani was also really good. It was definitely interesting to see what it was. The squash with the garlic sour cream actually fit really well. The portion was also enough that I was full, especially with the rice. I definitely want to come back to try other dishes. The one dish that I think I will always get is the Bolani Kachaloo.

Excellent food and great service. I tried the kebab and brown rice. I give it 5 out of 5.

The ambiance is great, but the food is better! I've been trying to find a good kabob place and I've found it. We had the triple kabob platter, the lamb was my favorite, but it was all delicious. We also had the bolani kachaloo and it was excellent! We'll definitely be back!

This was our second meal at an Afghan Restaurant. The first meal was on our own and we trusted Yelp and the server to guide us through the menu. While the food was unique and good, we weren't sure that we got an "authentic" meal. This time, we were invited by some friends. They were Husband, Wife, her Mother and two sons, age 3.5 and 7. And they knew the food. After ascertaining whether or not we had any food allergies or if there was anything that we really didn't enjoy, they ordered for the table to be served family style. The restaurant itself is quite small and there appeared to be only one server. While it never got busy, it was more than the server and the kitchen could handle easily. There were some items that we asked for that they were out of. We had: Potato Bolani - 5 - Who knew that Dough and Potato could taste so good? Mantu - 5 - These were very similar in texture and flavor to some Napalese Momo's and Japanese Gyoza that we've enjoyed over the years. Zucchini Bolani - 5 - Switching from Potato to Zucchini really changed the flavor and texture. This was yummier than the Potato and that was great! Sabzi - 4 - The Spinach was good but not too different from other familiar preparations of Spinach. Bodinjon Borani - 4 - Eggplant. I can eat it or leave it. This one was okay but I would have enjoyed more texture. Chaplee, Lamb and Murgh (Chicken) Kabobs - 5 - The meat had been removed from the skewers and were served side-by-side on a large platter. The Chaplee had a bit of spice, not too much but enough to let you know that it was there. The Lamb was fantastic. Super tender and flavorful. I didn't try the Murgh. We also had a couple of other side dishes Overall the food was very good. It did seem that the menu selection was rather limited but apparently these items cover the staples of what many Afghans eat at home. We definitely want to continue exploring other Afghan restaurants to see what else is available.

Small little spot with cute artwork all around the restaurant. Amazing food. 2nd time trying This cultural food and still doesn't disappoint

Went in at 7 pm on a hot summer night for dinner with a group of 8. Came in and understood that their AC was broken, then realized the fan also was not working. The lady told us that they were having some issue with the AC totally understandable. 4 of us sat down, the others were yet to arrive. Lady told us that they were going to close at 8 pm, I thought okay let's order and enjoy your night. Lady asks me if I want to order, she hadn't given me the menu and the rest of our group Hadn't arrived. I get the menu, my friends come in and she ask again to order and now tells us we have to leave by 8 pm. So we just choose to leave. This is just awful customer service, I don't have come to your restaurant I have options, you are not doing me favor by feeding me. We will never be back. Do yourself a favor go to Roya Afghan.

Delicious kabobs and my fav place for a full hearty meal, that still feels healthy! Sometimes when I need to go shopping in the plaza at the goodwill or 99cent store, I place a to go to pick up after I shop. Because of this I never really ran into the problem of food being late or anything. Lamb and chicken kabobs are just amazing, juicy and flavorful. I get extra potato salad cuz it's my favorite to have later with other food. We had potato Bolani as well which is similar to an aloo parantha so I love that it comes in a large quantity. Lastly, can't forget the mind blowing baklava! A little pricy here but worth it. Never change!!

Came here for take out order due to another restaurant being closed - glad I did! I've been to De Afghanan in Fremont but not Livermore and I must say the food is delicious as always! I got the Triple Combo Kabob as well as the Potato Bolani - both were still piping hot when I got home and tasted amazing! Definitely will be back - 5/5

Great find. We went there after a swim meet. Although the food was a little wait. There were one other table and us. The food was amazing. It is very flavorful. We had the beef, chicken (not shown here) and beef and they all have their own distinct taste. All three dish was excellent.

Delightful meal with out-of-state friends who were open to a new cuisine experience. The Borani Kadoo was great. Boloni Kachaloo came to the table piping hot. Quabili Pallow was seasoned perfectly. Chaplee Kabob had a great spicy kick to it. The beef Teka Kabob was fabulous. Our friends loved the Sabzi Challow with lamb! We'll have to return for Mantoo - sadly, they had run out. We're thankful we had reservations b/c the small restaurant was full (Saturday night). Cheerful and helpful server.

My partner and I came in for dinner. We had an overall positive experience surrounding food and service. Food: -Half Order Bolani Zucchini -Qaubili Lamb -Chicken Kabab -Baklava