Morlene C.
Yelp
On this quiet stretch of urban sprawl that is Coney Island Avenue, tucked between tire shops and gas stations is this homey Afghan restaurant. It's filled at all hours of the day with families chowing down on hearty, delicious dishes made with soul and after both of my meals here I was already planning my next visit.
I like to start my meal here with some bolani, a fried flatbread stuffed with pumpkin, leeks, or meat. They have an assorted platter filled with all of the above, and the exterior is crispy and goes really well with the yogurt sauce they offer on the side. Alternatively or as a complement to this dish it's nice to start with some of their thin skinned dumplings, called manti, which remind me of wontons except theirs are filled with ground lamb, beef, or chicken. Dumplings are present in so many different cuisines and as someone who grew up eating Chinese dumplings I love the familiarity and simultaneous newness of Afghan manti.
For my main, I enjoy their salmon, cooked to perfection on a grill and arrives with a smoky char and impeccably cooked interior. It's served on a bed of their buttery, pillow Afghan rice (pulao), which has caramelized slivers of carrots and raisins, giving the rice a nice added sweetness. All the while I'm enjoying bites of their fresh salad, with diced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and aromatics. I also recommend their lentil soup, which is so soothing, full of flavor, and completely vegetarian. If you have a sweet tooth their firni is a rosewater rice pudding that doesn't feel too rich or heavy.
The owner, Mo, is always on site and has so much passion for hospitality and telling a story through his food. Please support this local business so they can continue to host so many diners with love, care, and food that feels like home.