Kamdesh Afghan Cuisine

I absolutely love Kamdesh Afghan Restaurant. Every time I visit, the food is consistently delicious and full of rich, authentic flavor. You can really tell how much care they put into every dish. The service is always warm, welcoming, and attentive, which makes the whole experience even better. It’s truly one of my favourite places to eat, and I always leave satisfied and happy. Highly recommended to anyone looking for amazing Afghan food and wonderful hospitality!

I really enjoyed my visit to Kamdish Kabab! The food was fresh and full of authentic Afghan flavor. The Ash soup was especially delicious — warm, rich, and perfectly seasoned. The staff were kind and welcoming. Definitely one of the best Afghan restaurants in Oakland!

Amazing cuisine, super friendly service, and a spacious clean restaurant. All the dishes are great - my favorite is the quabili pallow, an incredibly succulent lamb shank dish buried under delicious rice mixed with carrots and raisins. Their grilled dishes are also special, they use actual charcoal for the best flavor.

I have been coming here for almost a couple of years now and I’m very pleased to say that the service is always excellent. The food quality is very very good by looking at the food you can tell that it’s made out of fresh ingredients and also that that the vibe here is very good. Employees are taking all the safety precautions needed in order to run a great restaurant. The owner here itself is always available in order to make sure that the customer gets the best service and the best food. I came with my coworkers the other day and they service as they always do we were a group group of 20 people and then we just walked in did not made a reservation, but they were super happy to have us be seated and give us an excellent service with and great food. I also come with my family sometimes And when we are in Oakland, we make sure we stop by in this restaurant. They’re open 11 AM to 11 PM every day they also do catering. They also have a buffet sometime. And they also manage private if you would like.

Great for a group. Very family friendly. Kind and fast service. Good was delicious. Meats were moist, especially the lamb. Baklava was excellent. Mint drink was not for me but happy to try it

The quabili pallow was so bomb! Actually my first time having afghan cuisine but I’m in love. (I personally feel like it’s a blend of middle eastern and Indian cuisine? I could be ignorant) I didn’t expect the yogurt drink to be a savory drink but I guess I need some more research on it. It also kinda makes sense as it balances out the fatty meat. The rice pudding also melts in ur mouth. Not too sweet with a hint of cardamom.

My friend ordered some carry outs from here to Fremont and the food was so good. Way better than the Afghan restaurants in Fremont. Can't wait to go there and try their dishes. 10/10

Went here on a sunny afternoon with my mom and was blown away by the space, quality of the food, and kindness of the staff! It has so many halal options and it’s a very spacious restaurant so it’s very wheelchair accessible/friendly (although I didn’t see the bathroom). The food was so flavorful and it came out nice and hot — they also have a traditional style seating area for large groups. I hope more people come here! We got the chapli chicken kabob, Afghan salad, and Kadu Bolani as well as black tea for just around $35 or maybe $45.

The beef Kabab (Kubideh) is the most order on the menu. Seasoned charbroiled Ground beef brings a rich flavor and tastes really good. The meat quality is high level and very chewy. This place is a cozy Afghan restaurant with traditional interior designs. The staffs are friendly and always checking on you if you need anything. Highly recommend to try!

Indulge in the delightful flavors of fresh juices and authentic homemade Afghan cuisine. Experience the comforting taste that feels like home. I absolutely loved the manto beef dumplings (recommended by the owner) - they were simply fantastic!

chicken thigh kebab was really yummy. good flavor and tender. very large place with lots of seating. my friend had to wait kind of a long time for her to go order even though the place was empty. U can order from a kiosk or at the table.

Overall I felt it was pretty solid. I've only had Afghan food once prior and I preferred this place over the other one. The Bolani with the potato filling was the best thing, and you need the spicy sauce to kick it up a notch. Chicken had good flavor but was quite dry. I got the brown rice because some of the reviews recommended it. It was okay. Service was good enough. The pudding was really good. I did feel kinda bad because the place was really empty.

I was excited to get some food for dinner this past weekend, but my togo order was such a bust Below are my order: 1. Beef kubideh plate and 2 additional skewer -the meat was bland as the chef have missed to add salt. The cucumber salad didn't have much flavor 2. Eggplant Borani- extremely oily and no yogurt saucw with it 3. Squash Borani- Squash is sweeter than candy and there were no yogurt mix.

We have been coming to this restaurant for a little over two years. This is by far the best Afghan food in the East Bay, parallel with its legendary Afghan hospitality that we have all read about or heard about in. Movies and documentaries, this place has that authentic Afghan food and tradition. The staff goes above and beyond. I have so many favorites here I don't even know where to begin, they are currently doing a buffet style for dinner, those of you who are new to Afghan food to definitely try it as you have different options of rice and meats, grilled and stews.

Had another delicious meal here. Haven't been back since pre pandemic days. Came by for lunch- not too busy. Had the bolani filled with leeks and a mixed grilled platter family style. Everything was delicious - well seasoned and cooked perfectly. Right on 14 th street in downtown Oakland, easy parking. Come and support this family run small business!

This was my first introduction to afghan food. Usually I split a bolani and some other dish - lamb shank, chapli kebab, and sabzi are favorites. The food is very cozy, but I will say that a perhaps bigger draw of this place is that it's open late and always has room because it's weirdly massive. Still a firm recommendation from me though.

I cannot sing their praises enough! I've been a patron for years and their dishes are all amazing. Generous portions with a homemade taste. Their salmon is out of this world. You can't go wrong with any of the bolanis. I dare you to find a place that has better rice in the bay. Since my fiancé and I love their food so much we asked if they would cater our engagement party in SF. They agreed and provided delivery as well crossing over the bridge from Oakland. Everything was affordable and beyond delicious. They worked with us on a menu that would provide plenty of food for all food restrictions. It's SF so there were a variety of dietary restrictions and yet the food did not disappoint. Everyone left our party full and we even had leftovers. We had around 50+ people at the party but I know they could easily cater for way beyond that amount. Thank you so much for making our party so special and for ensuring everyone left happy. Thank you for also being a staple in my diet over the last 8 years!

Incredible gem! The rice is so fluffy and airy, very delicious. Their service is great, kind, and their restaurant is massive. 10/10!

Try the Sabzi Spinach with the brown rice. The rice is made with lamb broth. I get the vegetarian version. Its very flavorful with lots of spice. It has a little kick in terms of heat. The spinach is super juicy. Try the chicken kabobs - cooked fresh and juicy, and bursting with flavor. Perfectly charred on a true grill. The standard green sauce is flavorful and not too spicy. The orange/yellow sauce is spicy. The only thing I don't like here is the bread. Its relatively flavorless. I think its more fat.

The space was super nice and plenty of room for a large group. Food - amazing!! Definitely not salty and it allowed the flavors of everything to come through! Love a place that's confident enough in their flavors to not rely on salt to make food tasty! The lamb underneath the rice is super soft and tender. I usually don't like lamb due to the gamey smell but this didn't not have a strong smell and tasted amazing! Definitely would come back and highly recommend. Service was super quick! Much needed since it was late night and I was getting hangry due to the last place missing our order!

I really don't know where I should start from the food, service or the restaurant. Amazing food tests delicious a lot of options. great service respectful and beautiful people. Very calm place, love this place feels like home. Number

We ordered the Quabili Pallow and the Potato Bolani, everything came pretty fast and the staff were very kind. The food was absolutely delicious, the chutney, yogurt and salad on the side was also very tasty. The restaurant was big and had beautiful decorations. Although the streets in front weren't as pleasant, I would definitely recommend!!

The menu options offering a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan and animal protein options. If you're willing to wait for its preparation, the food well-seasoned but not salty or overbearing and is delicious in a way that tastes like a special, home-cooked meal. The atmosphere is spacious and family-friendly, as the owners and operators seem to be a close-knit group who are committed to friendly, attentive and thoughtful service. I've personally enjoyed their beef, chicken or salmon kabobs with brown rice--YUM! Friends I've gone with LOVE their Turai Daal, samosas or Sabzi (a spinach and scallions dish). That the food is Halal is added plus for anyone seeking it! This restaurant and its food have become a staple for my eating out treats!

Food was excellent here! Looks like a family run business, very family friendly. My husband wanted to try some Afgani food and so we ended up here. As soon as we walked in I was awed by the size of the restaurant, it's huge! Lots of space for a large party, also very well maintained. Decor is nice and inside is clean. You get to see some Afgani culture in the decor and also some music video playing on the tv. We had the Quabili Pallow, Beef Chapli Kabab Plate, and Pacha with naan. My husband loved the Quabili Pallow, tender lamb shank with flavorful rice. Good balance of raisins and carrots to balance out the dish. The Chapli kabab plate was delicious! Kababs were filled with mouth watering spices, outside is well fried and the inside tender and falls apart. The best dish for me was the Pacha. This was a last minute addition but it was the best dish. If you like soups and stews, definetly get this dish! The beef feet were so tender and juicy. The soup is very savory and beefy, tendons fall off the bone. I dipped my naan into the soup but also ate it by itself. It's like the ultimate beef soup. I live bone broth and soup, more than meat, so this just hit the spot. I might just come back for this dish itself.

$80 for two people - money down the toilet! DO NOT GO! The WORST Afghan food experience ever! (- 1 Star, but they won't let me post that) A) $10 for 5 Manto, just PURE black pepper (What?) B) Pakistani bajji sold under the name of Afghan Pikora served with no chutney or yogurt ( I had to ask for it) C) The Kofta with rice was so liquidy the sauce separated from the oil on the plate; it was just meatball soup with plain white rice D) Qabili Palow was made with burnt sugar rather than caramelized onions ( no flavor whatsoever) E) Jillibi - Bairly anything on the small plate F) Tea and Firni was ok

Service is great, we orded lamb palao, the rice is nicely seasoned, but the lamb came out a little bit tougher than my liking. But the restaurant is clean, attentive servers.

I haven't been for a while, so I noticed that they have a not so new, new location three storefronts down 14th Street from the old one at the corner of Webster. The food is still excellent. I just had the boneless chicken kebab for lunch. It comes with five thighs, a plate full of rice and one lightly grilled tomato. Delicious, delicious, delicious! But the service for lunch was as slow as heck. If you need to get back to the office you better order from the first waitperson you see. It's a very large restaurant space that they've taken. Nice and clean interior, though not "charming." I'll have to come back and try some other menu items. I just wanted the good old kebab again for my first visit to this location.

I came back here after several years and I ordered aush, bolani, dough, teka kabob and chapoli. The aush was bland with absolutely no flavor at all! Bolani was under cooked and tasteless. The dough tasted like plain skim milk and not even a hint of min flavor with no ice either! Just gross. Tesla and Chapoli were too dry and not enough spice! Qabuli Palo was just ok. I was so disappointed and never will return. I will stick to Fremont or WC to eat quality and delicious Afghan food! Service was ok but food was AWFUL! Even the dishes looked dirty! Save your money and don't waste it here! Go to Safron Kitchen in Berkeley or De Afghanan in walnut Creek with clean and delicious food! My kids even complained about this place!!! Overpriced and undercooked!!!'

First time trying Afghan food but it won't be the last! My friends and I came by Saturday afternoon around 2:30 for a late lunch, and the restaurant was completely empty. It's a larger space than I expected with a ton of seating for small and big groups alike. The menu is straightforward with one page of appetizers and one page of entrees. They also offer a lunch special menu on weekdays. The four of us shared the #2 bolani potato ($12.95), which is a traditional Afghan flatbread stuffed with potato onion filling. This came out piping hot and was absolutely bomb. It was a big portion but we killed it in minutes because it was so good. For my entree, I ordered the #14 sabzi challow ($18.75). It's a lamb shank and rice dish topped with a delicious spinach and scallion sauce. The lamb was super tender and paired really well with the spinach sauce, which was also incredibly flavorful. My friends all tried a bite of my dish and everyone agreed it was delicious. The subzi challow was a big portion, especially with the rice. I didn't think I'd be able to finish it, but one bite lead to another and next thing you know, my plate is empty. It was that good! I loved my first Afghan meal and so glad I gave Kamdesh a try. We will definitely be back!

I placed an order online through their website for the kofta challow with brown rice. It was estimated by the website that it would be ready at 6:45pm. When I arrived at 7:05pm, the staff didn't seem to know I had ordered and asked us to wait another 5 minutes while they were clearly cooking the dish from scratch. This was months ago, so I hope they've gotten a better system for making sure they don't miss online orders at this point. The food itself was delicious, though. The kofta challow was delicious, hearty, and flavorful, and the rice itself was also very savory, as it tastes like it was cooked with meat. (Pictures do not show the full portion of the challow since I separated some of it into a bowl and took out of the takeout box) A great spot to try Afghan food if you are in the downtown Oakland/lake Merritt area.

Their beef tikka kabob is reaaaaaalllly good!! Their beef is so tender and their mango lassi is

Ordered delivery on a whim and i was absolutely floored. Every dish was flavorful and exciting. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu

TAKE OUT only Placed an order to go. The food was prepared pretty fast. Once I paid and got home I realized one very big thing NOT worth the price. The rice to meat proportion is very very off. You get small pieces of meat and enough rice for 2 days. Do not get me wrong the rice was delicious, but generally you pay so much for the meat - not the other way around. Beef Tikka Kabob - was very dry Chicken Thigh Kabob - had good flavor but again not enough meat Both items came with a salad which were very delicious and refreshing

Great flavours, huge portions and good ambience. This was my first time having Afghani food in the Bay Area and I was really happy with my experience at Kamdesh. Firstly the place is huge, plenty of seating for everyone so that's definitely great. Me and my friends ordered Kadu Bolani which was recommended by our server. This dish was exceptionally delicious to be honest. Had the perfect taste of potatoes and onions, the quantity was huge and I would highly recommend this dish. For the main course we ordered the Chicken Chapli Kabab, Chicken Thai Kabab, Beef Kabab and the Lamb Shank. The Beef Kabab had a great taste, very juicy and tasty. My friend got the Lamb Shank and it was really really good, they served it with this spinach dip which was superb. I wasn't very happy with the Chicken Chapli Kabab because I feel it lacked flavour and it was nothing great. But besides the Chapli Kabab we really loved everything ourselves and enjoyed our meal. Our server was very friendly and made sure that we had a good experience. This place serves good food at an affordable place. I would be coming back to try more lamb dishes on their menu.

Great service and the meal was fantastic! The meats were divine and seasoned very well. I would definitely come back

I have been a fan of this place for 13 years! They have my favorite Qabali pilau of any restaurant I have tried so far. The service is great, but if you are going for lunch plan on extra time. They upgraded their space a number of years ago, and it is now a larger space, although missing the beautiful murals of the old place. The only reason I gave 4 stars is because the Bolani was soggy and not the usual perfect amount of crunch. And the way they served it wasn't attractive either. Other than that, amazing food overall! My lamb kabobs were amazing and the chicken kabobs were great according to my dining companions yum!

Lots of flavorful items to choose from - from chicken to lamb and even salmon. Huge open space with colorful wall art and very helpful staff

Once we arrived, everything was going smooth. We ordered our food, waited for it to come. After I tried the beef tikka kabob, the kabob was half cooked. We also ordered the kabob combo, every restaurant that we ordered a combo came in a big plate size but, this combo was very small compared to the others. The chabli kabob was half cooked, and worse than other Chabl kabobs I have tasted. Another reason is, once the food arrived it was smelling bad. Then they brought the water out, I tasted it and it was very warm, without ice in it, and tasted like sink water. The white, and brown rice was both hard, my family didn't like their restaurant. Overall ranking 0, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to eat in. Maybe if they took their time fully cooking the meals, we would enjoy it.

The lamb & chicken kabob plates are so delicious! I am a sucker for good Middle Eastern food & this place is IT! It came with a fresh homemade salad that was yummy as well. The workers were nice. I like how it gets so much sunlight inside, so dining in is a plus!

delicious foods but really expansive it's not fair you guys needs decreased prices at least 30 percent. Thanks

Stopped by here on the way to Tahoe and we were impressed. The taste and quantity exceeded our expectations.

Very good comfort food. Spacious restaurant and very nice staff. Would definitely come back.

Was in the mood on trying something new and on my way back from my walk, I ran into this restaurant and decided to give it a go. Went ahead and ordered the Kofta Challow and Lamb Korma Challow and Afghan Naan. It's quite unfortunate that there are little to no highlights in the items ordered. The Kofta Challow (sort of meat balls) were beyond bland and a little I cooked. There was no flavor whatsoever. These were also drowning in oil. I ended up throwing it away. The lamb kofta Challow was meh, flavorless. The naan tasted like regular bread. The only thing that was good was the white basmati rice, which is a no brainer, sorry. The mint sauce and yogurt little extras were ok as well. Little garnishes and plain white rice should not be the best part of the meal. I'm a regular at giving second chances but there will not be a second return.

I traveled from Arizona to the Bay Area to have a college graduation for my daughter. I had called other popular Afghan restaurants, like Maiwand Village and Century House for quotes on catering for 40 people. Once I got to CA, I looked to see what other Afghan restaurants were near me. I came upon this restaurant in Oakland, Kamdesh, just 2 miles away! I took my parents out to lunch to see the restaurant and try their food. What a wonderful, open, and culturally designed atmosphere! So many tables for any large or small gathering. Loved the traditional seating area where you sit on beautiful red cushions with low tables! They had privacy curtains too! We were greeted by a very nice lady named Mahnaaz, who happened to be the wife of the owner/ chef. She welcomed and seated us. She took our drink order and brought us an appetizer soup to get us started. She said, our server will be here to take our order soon. We ordered Qabuli Palow, Bolani Gandana (Chives), and Kobidah (ground beef) Kabob with White Rice. My parents and I shared our meal together. Everything came hot, on time and absolutely delicious! I am an exceptional cook in Afghan dishes, which sometimes can be a curse. One bite of the Qabuli palow and my eyes rolled back! The aroma, the flavor, the perfectly sweet carrots and raisins and the lamb shank...oh so tender, juicy and perfectly cooked. The best that I have ever eaten in ANY Afghan restaurant in CA, southern and northern! The Kobidah kabob was so juicy and perfectly seasoned. It's always perfect with Chalow (white Afghan rice). My mom's favorite Bolani is Gandana (chives). This is such a treat for me because you can't get this kind of Bolani in Arizona due to the climate, Gandana doesn't grow as well. This flatbread is so delicious with the mint chutney and if you like it super spicy, they bring habanero chutney too! If your mouth is on fire, don't worry, they give you plain yogurt that has mint and cucumber to help. The combination of these together with Bolani are a vegetarian's dream! My goodness, the food was so delicious that instead of having my daughter's graduation party catered by Maiwand Village, I decided to place my order from Kamdesh that day! Ms. Mahnaaz called her husband, Omaid over to speak with us. What a wonderful person he was! I complimented him on his food and he was so humble and gracious. I was upfront about inquiring about catering from other Afghan restaurants around The Bay Area. I told him what dishes I wanted and he said, he can accommodate anything I wanted. When I compare his standards with the others, there was no doubt that his standards of catering was beyond what the others offered me for the same price! I ordered everything for the party and received so many extras. He definitely went the extra mile. He even included an entire tray of Pakoras! The food was ready exactly when promised. It was perfectly packaged for travel and man, was it delicious and plentiful! Everyone kept asking where we ordered the food from. I ordered food for 40 people. 60 people showed up and we still had food left! Afghans never skimp on food and it showed. Thank you, Mr. Omaid and Ms. Mahnaaz, for a wonderful experience in catering for our party. You made it so easy for me and thank you for your generosity! Most importantly, thank you for keeping Afghan food, culture and traditions alive and sharing it with the Bay Areans! I will always recommend everyone to come to your amazing restaurant and every time I'm in my hometown, I will be coming to enjoy your delicious cooking. -A very thankful and beyond satisfied customer.

Food was great and authentic coming from the same culture. The service can improve a little but understand its a family business doing their best.

Super tasty! Delicious flavors, plenty of seating, and lots of options. Started out with the Bolani and wow, I could've eaten that as my meal alone! Service was a little slow and there was confusion with what we ordered vs. what was brought out to us, but overall really good!

Absolutely love this place! I will certainly return. The quabuli palaw is delicious. Big portions. The lamb shank was perfect. Tried the potato bolani and beef kabobs. Everything was cooked well. Great for groups also.

Unfortunately I only have one photo. Excellent food, generous quantity, and great ambiance.

We ordered for take out. The place was very spacious. The food came out quick. We ordered the Beef Tikka Kabob and the chicken thigh kabob. They came with rice, salad, and afghan naan. They give a generous potion of rice, but I feel with the meat not so generous. The flavor of the meat was delicious, the chicken thigh kabob was my favorite of the two. The salad was also very flavorful and delicious. The Afghan naan was a good addition and went well with the order.

I love this place. Their lamb shank is so good. Great big open room to eat in. Very nice staff.

Good food and clean, amazing food, great service, on time. Nice servers, parking available

We have been a customer for years. Best chapli and kubideh ever. Staff is great. We have created friendships more than just being customers. Highly recommend

I wasn't really happy after visiting this place. I hate giving 2 star review, but it is what it is. Location is not great-a lot of homeless people outside, hard to find parking and it's not safe, place by itself is not clean. Service - took forever even I was the only customer, the guy who was taking my order wasn't helpful. Food - ordered lamb pilaf and it didn't look fresh and it had a lot of oil and bones so I couldn't finish it. This place had 4 stars and I thought it would be not bad, but my experience wasn't great

I had visited Kamdesh years ago on a busy weeknight, and found the food reasonably priced, the portions more than adequate, and the service fast. Fast forward to last week, where I a friend mentioned that he was interested in checking out the place for dinner. Because of my last positive visit there I agreed, and felt he would really appreciate this independent restaurant. Holy crap, what a let down. Despite being one of the few people on the place, we waited almost 20 minutes for our appetizers, 20 minutes for the first appetizer, followed by the second appetizer 15 minutes later. We then waited another 20-25 minutes after for our entrees. The food was less than enticing. The potato Bolani was a bit flat, with very little flavor, and the spinach we also ordered was largely untouched. The entrees were similar, except half 1/2 the size of the appetizers! This was completely disappointing, as the meatball dish I ordered contained 4 small meatballs sitting in what tasted like basic Italian marinara. My friend's eggplant plate didn't look any larger, and from his face, wasn't any tastier. These two entrees were served with a MOUNTAIN of rice, as if these would make up for the miniscule servings. The server walked around with her baby hanging in a baby sling. although she was dressed in what I felt was her traditionally allowed attire, her sleeves and dangling laces were laid on the plating and utensils she laid on the table. And then the check came. For two appetizers, 2 small plastic ( most likely from walmart of costco), bottles of of water, and two small entrees, $80. Because of the long timeline for food, the service , and the food itself, my friend explained that although he was happy to have visited Kamdesh, there will be no need of ever coming back. Sadly I agree. There are an abundance of places in Oakland ( and surrounding area), to enjoy, and patronage- and feel you your money and time were well spent. (there are no photos to show, because none of the dishes garnered them).

Kamesh is an Afghan establishment offering traditional fare in a dimly lit, laid-back dining room. We attempted to order Beef Kabab (Kubideh), Eggplant (Bon Jon) Borani and Bolani but they were out off them. We opted for the Beef Tikka Kabab, Mantoo, and Sabzi, the Mantoo was good but the Beef Tikka Kabab and Sabzi did not impress. I'm pretty sure the Sabzi was made with frozen spinach and the Beef Tikka didn't exactly taste or look like beef. Also, the Afghan Naan was surprisingly stale and some pieces were down right hard. I would like to try Kamesh again but my initial experience was very disappointing and I'm not sure it's worth a return, with so many other options

Great fresh food. Nice family run place. Love the personalized service. It's also quiet in there mostly and it seems like they have a lot of takeout. Try the pakoras and veggie dishes! Okra had a bit extra oil that I like but maybe thats the recipe.

They didn't have what I wanted from the menu, it was a kofta kabob plate, so I settled for the chicken kabob plate and I was not disappointed. They gave me a lot of rice, but it tasted great, I'd prefer more chicken but I guess we have to pay extra for that? Overall service was excellent, I felt bad the restaurant is huge but empty when I was there. A restaurant like that deserves to be packed. I would absolutely come back here!