Khyber Halal Restaurant & Catering

My first Afghan experience! My mantoo is sooooo flavorful! Service was great. Mom and pop vibe. Parking was easy. Tip 1- bring a friend who’s been there. Had it not been my friend, I would not have known what’s the best! Tip 2- go on a Monday! Apparently the Mantoo are not always available because they made them in house and they are always sold out!

The food was excellent, and the staff was genuinely warm and welcoming. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Karahi, and Kabuli Pulao, all with medium spice—which turned out perfectly balanced. The Karahi featured a flavorful tomato-based masala with tender chicken, while the Tikka Masala had a rich, smooth gravy and generous portions of chicken. Each dish was hearty, with one serving easily enough for 2–3 people. The food was packed with care and remained piping hot even after a 20-minute drive back to our hotel. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Afghan cuisine.

This place has amazing food , home taste, grate customer service and excellent quality of the food. The staffs are very nice and respectful. We highly recommend this restaurant if you want to eat the delicious food!

By far the worst customer service experience in my life. We walked in (my mother, my sister and I). At the counter, there was a lady (later found out is the sister of the owner) and a guy (the son of the owner). Only the son greeted us and welcomed us in. The aunt stood there and had an attitude on her face. We bypassed that and still opted to sit down. We put our order in and the food came out so quick which we found odd since we ordered a goat dish which should have taken longer if it was being made The owner who were told is also the “chef” was exceptionally rude, disrespectful and gave us a demeaning look as she approached to bring the food to the table. It was our first time seeing her and she definitely made us feel unwelcomed and uncomfortable. Let’s talk about the food. The rice was definitely not fresh. It was dry and stale. You can tell it was cooked days ago and probably reheated in the microwave. The goat karahi we ordered was the worst of them all. The meat was not fresh. It smelled and had a gamey taste to it. I grew up on goat meat and so I am experienced in how it should smell and taste when it is fresh meat. In addition the dish was not authentic to Indian cuisine (as the owner “chef” mentioned it was an Indian dish ) I have Indian family that have made that dish countless times to know that’s not how it’s supposed to look or taste. We weren’t able to eat that. When we mentioned our experience to the aunt, she was laughing like we were comedians. It was clear between all three of them, they do not take customer service and value us. It felt prejudicial and racist. While we are siting there, another customer came in, the way he was welcomed and greeted was not the same. He was not Black. So.. 🤷🏾‍♀️If that doesn’t tell you anything.

If I could give this place more than five stars, I absolutely would! The food here is exceptional, flawless in taste, quality, and presentation but what truly stood out was the top-tier hospitality. Syeda, the lovely lady at the front desk, is an absolute gem. She’s not just friendly; she’s a HOSPITALITY NINJA. I casually mentioned how I love my BBQ well done, and lo and behold, my plate arrived perfectly cooked, exactly as I imagined. It’s rare to find someone who actually listens, let alone delivers with such precision. Syeda went above and beyond, ensuring I enjoyed my meal to the fullest. She even found me the perfect little corner to sit in a quiet, cozy, and just right for someone like me who prefers to enjoy their food in serene solitude. Honestly, it felt like she read my mind! The only hiccup? The couple sitting next to me, who were so enthusiastic about life (and each other) that their conversation could have powered the entire restaurant’s energy grid. I get it, lovebirds 😆 life’s exciting! But maybe save the nonstop chatter for a more private venue? Some of us are here to vibe with malai boti, not your romance. All that aside, this spot is my new foodie paradise. Not only is the food fantastic, but the prices are also incredibly wallet friendly. It’s a win-win. Mark my words, the next time I’m in Phoenix, I’ll be back, possibly requesting Syeda by name, who’s the real MVP of this place! 💕

Food is good, tasty and great portions. The only problem is that they keep changing the time their dining room closes. Their official close time is 8pm. At first they said they close dining room at 7:15. On another occasion, they said dining closes at 7. Today we showed up 2, minutes before 7 & they refused to seat us and said dining closes at 6:45. It is a shame because we really enjoy their food, we have been regular clients for over 1 year, but this experience will make us think twice before we order from here ever again

Ordered chicken kebabs & they were simply delicious. Serving size is huge. Prices are very reasonable. Also loved the hot chai. Definitely 5/5.

I wish the food was more flavorful. The rice was plain and dry... no flavor or any kind of seasoning. The chicken had some flavor but not what I expected. And I've had Mediterranean food many times, the beef kabobs were okay, This spot again just wished the food had more flavor.

I have been coming over for many years and it's always a fabulous meal. The taste is always great without exception and I highly recommend it. Our favorite dish is meant too, these wonderful little dumplings. They go quite well with spinach. I also ordered the lamb shank this time and it is so tasty; it had obviously been slow cooked, and it was very tender. The ambience is fine. Afghan things hang on the wall nothing really to comment about. The service is great. It's a family business and they really do take care of you. I don't think anybody would go wrong by trying a meal here.

Cool ethnic strip mall place. Afghan food, which seems similar to Indian in my opinion. Interior is very clean, simple and neat. Friendly and accommodating seating. I got a table for 5, having friends joining. Ordered the Uzbek pulaw, lamb skewer chunks. Served on a mountain of delicious rice. Had a side of naan which I shared, easily enough for 2 or 3 people. Lamb was tasty, but a bit tough and chewy. Rice was Outstanding! Naan was Outstanding. Good service, food tasted fresh and home made. I like this place and look forward to returning, trying a variety of other menu options. I recommend trying them, and enjoying something out of the ordinary.

My first Afghan experience! My mantoo is sooooo flavorful! Service was great. Mom and pop vibe. Parking was easy. Tip 1- bring a friend who's been there. Had it not been my friend, I would not have known what's the best! Tip 2- go on a Monday! Apparently the Mantoo are not always available because they made them in house and they are always sold out!

Delicous food! Had the Goat Biryani and the Mantoo. Both were great. The goat was super tender and flavorful. The Mantoo was a tasty dish of dumplings filled with a ground beef mixture served in a tomato meat sauce with a yogurt sauce topping. My only complaint is that their online menu on their own website has inconsistent pricing compared to their printed menu in the restaurant. Call it false advertising, or possibly bait and switch. The online menu listed the Mantoo as both $12 and$15 depending on how you load their website, and that's what I came to eat. Yet, their printed menu lists the Mantoo as $18. I brought it to the attention of my server, and I thought she said they would "change the price", but when I paid the bill I was charged the $18 plus tax. So, I didn't leave a tip. Problem solved, but at the expense of the unfortunate server who was not rewarded for her attentive service. Sorry... you can't draw people in with one price and then switch it once they're in the door. If you click directly to the menu at the following link the price of the Mantoo is $12: http://www.khyberhalalfood.com/menu.html If you go to the homepage and select the menu link it then shows it as $15: https://indd.adobe.com/view/82aa4207-469f-492c-9b53-e5aa33b1ed95 Pics attached

Loved our experience at Khyber Halal. The staff were friendly, and frequently checked on us during our meal. The food was AMAZING--very juicy, tender, and flavorful. We tried the garlic naan, chicken boti, and qabuli palau along with mango lassi and dogh. We were really impressed and definitely coming back next time in Phoenix.

Go back again, and again. When you have where there something good you go back and back some more. This was the simple Gyro rich full flavored beef and lamb slathered with tzatziki sauce, in this case Lavash. Lavash is Armenian thin square shaped bread. The bread has more taste and texture then a Gyro. Khyber puts Gyro meat, yogurt and vegetables, such as lettuce, tomato, and onion then rolls them inside. (See photo) Inside, It forms a tube around the vegetables and meat. It is easy to handle. Maybe the only problem is to get the paper off the outside, for the delight of Khyber's Gyro. This is one perspicuous values the menu. If you order it, you will enjoy the fries as well. A mountain of thin cut fries that are nicely done as was our service.

Absolutely delicious! Family kebab meal is a great value! The naan was hot and fresh!

We always enjoy our visits Khyber Halal... lunch, dinner or supper. The food is extraordinary every time. Delicious and consistent. Although they are primarily specializing Afghan cuisine, their fusion and traditions of Pakistani, Afghan, Persian and Indian along with South Asian are unmistakable and thoroughly enjoyable! Fabulous. Super well done. Excellent. And kudos to owner Fahima Hassan for offering us not just quality and taste... but consistency! This no-frills eatery concentrates on terrific customer service and excellent eats. As you may be aware Afghan halal cuisine is primarily lamb, beef, poultry and fish. Their rice compilation which is the mainstay of most dishes with its mix of onion, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, paprika and coriander - is prepared in such a way you can almost recognize each component. Afghan bread (naan) is perfectly prepared. Delicious on its own. Whether you get regular, or go for the garlic, they are fabulous. Some of the best Samosas in the Valley are created here at Khyber Halal. After many visits and having tried the likes of their Beef, Chicken and Vegie Samosas, the Tandoori Garlic Naan or regular Naan; an incredible Goat Biryani (my fave) on spicy rice mixed with cilantro with salad; the fabulous rendition of Chicken Tikka Masala, an incredible Qabuli Pulaw of skewered ground beef, and my favorite Goat Biryani with cilantro - all I can say is "Wow!" If you've never tried this cuisine, this is the place to try it. If you enjoy this cuisine, Khyber Halal will become your destination as it is ours for this fabulous foodway. Bon appétit!

Food is good, tasty and great portions. The only problem is that they keep changing the time their dining room closes. Their official close time is 8pm. At first they said they close dining room at 7:15. On another occasion, they said dining closes at 7. Today we showed up 2, minutes before 7 & they refused to seat us and said dining closes at 6:45. It is a shame because we really enjoy their food, we have been regular clients for over 1 year, but this experience will make us think twice before we order from here ever again

It's very hard to find a good Pakistani restaurant in the Phoenix area, and this is it! I believe I have tried them all over the last 3 years. I had the Chicken Boti and it came with generous portions and was excellent. The server was very attentive and helpful. The restaurant itself was clean and well lit. I did notice that the prices online are way off from the in-store menu. Additionally, the hours can be unpredictable. They were closing at 6:30 PM when I went and their normal closing hours are 7:45. This is a small family owned business and they are doing the best they can. I would call in the afternoon and ask when they are closing before heading out. I still give them 5 stars because the food is all that matters to me.

Tried their lamb shank & sabzi. Food tasted authentic & fresh. Definitely get an extra green "chatney" if you want a little hint of spiciness! Clean restaurant & good service! (As a bonus, Ahmad Zahir was playing in the background )

Went there on Saturday night. Beautiful place, very welcoming and friendly. The food was outstanding. We had goat biryani, chicken bolani, quzi. Service was quick and very friendly. Definitely highly recommend.

Great lunch I'm so glad I stumbled across Khyber Halal. This place is a local small Afghan restaurant with a good selection of dishes, and the portions are very generous. This was my first sampling of Afghan cuscine and everything was really very good. On this visit we shared the Chicken Kabob, Chicken Biryani, Uzbek Pulao and garlic naan. Everything was fresh, made to order, and so flavorful. The naan was fresh, warm, slightly crispy and made perfectly. The meat dishes had great flavor, the meat was moist/tender, and the plating was beautiful and the serving sizes is more than enough for two people. The staff felt like family. They were so friendly and kept checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed. A must visit place for delicious food

Food was very good! The bread was crispy and delicious. The kebabs were good quality meat. The service was attentive and quick.

Have driven by this place many times. Hard to notice from the road if you aren't looking but one day I saw a window sign that said kebabs so I decided to look it up and finally decided to stop in for take out after reading reviews. Fast take out service - wasn't too busy at 5 pm. HUGE portions. I ordered two skewer plates and a rice dish as well as three orders of naan and it was easily enough food for 4 adults with lots of leftovers. Chicken was amazingly seasoned and very tender good quality white meat. Veggies all very fresh and you could tell were hand prepped. Rice dish I ordered with medium spice and it was definitely hot! I will definitely be back. Probably my new favorite.

A gem, tucked away but omg the samosas are amazing. Authentic blend of plates for either take out or dine in. Family owned and great humans who make sure your are satisfied with your plates.

We had a chance to do brucnh at Khyber Halal and everything that was served was fresh and full of taste. Their customer service is great and resturant it self is kept nice and clean.

Great and authentic afghan find in Phoenix! Really enjoyed trying a new culture food. Our table ordered the mantoo as a starter, and it was absolutely delicious! A dumpling with ground beef and onion filling with ground beef sauce on top. We also ordered the family platter that includes four meat skewers: chicken, beef, and lamb. The lamb and chicken were the favorites, the beef lacked flavor.

Amazing food, great service and the ambiance is Afghani. We always get the family meal with rice, raisins and carrots.

We have finally had the chance to try Khyber Halal. Ordered the family platter which comes with four different skewers, two chicken, one beef and one lamb, rice and some salad. You have the choice to order either regular rice, qabuli rice or half and half with this meal. We ordered half and half. We also ordered Badanjan, and Mantoo. Everything came out to $63 before tip. The wait for pick up was 20-25 minutes total. My husband picked up and we ate at home. This is the first time I forget to take any pictures! We were so hungry, we dug in immediately. The skewers were cooked perfectly. Everything was juicy and delicious. The rice was good but we only got the regular rice even though we ordered half and half. The meal also comes with a salad. We were expecting a bigger portion as per the picture on the website. It was small considering this is a family meal. The family platter was also served with a couple of side sauces that were yogurt based. The badenjan was pretty plain (no tomato sauce) but was still tasty. The sauce seemed to be yogurt mixed with tahini and it was only drizzled on top. Mantoo was a big meal, good as a full dish for one person. Having tried Mantoo somewhere else in the valley an internationally, if I was to rate this Mantoo out of 10, this dish would get a 7.5. Still the dumplings were pillowy, large and had quite a bit of filling. The food did not come with any bread on the side so if you want bread with your mail, you need to order it separately. We are definitely going back for the grilled skewers again and next time, we would love to actually try the qabuli rice. One last note, I would like to thank the owners of the restaurant for closing shop to serve all the Afghani refugees in the valley until last month. This is something they should definitely be praised for. Thank you again and JAK!

Best curry goat that I have ever had! Tender, not many bones, nicely spiced (I got medium and it could have been spicer but that was my bad). I was with a party of 8, everyone loved their dishes! This restaurant is on the repeat list!

Delicious food. This place is a weekly spot for me The chicken malai boti and the mantoo are must haves!

The mandoo here is INSANE! So cool we have middle eastern food in arizona of all places. It's a culinary adventure. Let's keep this business around!

Absolutely delicious find! Staff were so attentive and friendly. Tasty appetizers and amazing entrees. Smell like heaven when you walk into this place. I love finding these little quaint places they always have a home cooked food feeling to us always inviting

The food is excellent, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the restaurant is exceptionally clean.

Yum! I've never tried Afghani food before, so can't compare Khyber Halal to anything else, but they do know how to serve a delicious meal! We started with veggie samosas which were perfectly crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, and served with a spicy green chili sauce. Next we tried 'mantoo' which are beef dumplings wrapped delicately and covered in a savory sauce. My husband ordered chicken 'boti' (kebabs) and I had the qabuli pulaw (ground beef skewer). The main entrees were served with rice, naan bread and an interesting vegetable salad. The portions were enormous (plus we ordered a lot of food to try everything), so we had enough leftovers for two more meals! My only regret is not saving room to try one of their desserts! If you're looking to try something new, I highly recommend Khyber Halal. Afghani food is delicious and our experience here was great. The staff are very friendly, their dining room is spaced out and safe during COVID times, prices are reasonable and the food is just so good! We will be back!

They accommodated our large group. They put 3 tables close together and food came quickly. Everyone enjoyed our grand meal with leftovers to take home. Thank you!

Authentic as you can get in my opinion. Service was great. Quiet dining and good food. Mark this for food for the craving.

Came here for a quick lunch with my mom. It's a great hole in the wall buried in Phoenix.upon arrival we were able to choose our own seats there was about 4 other tables eating. The women serving us was very nice. We started w Hummus and bread super super fresh! We also got two entrees, (they were HUGE) over all very tasty food and good price!

Dined here today (during Covid) and felt very safe. Server wore mask and stayed some distance apart. Restaurant is clean and staff is welcoming. We ordered Mango lassi, Goat biryani, Lamb shank and Uzbekistan pulaw. They were an excellent, inexpensive and huge portions. Best deal I've seen so far. There was a substantial amount of marinade and flavor residual on the meat. This is a great choice and lends itself to a delightful dish. We left full and with plenty of left overs. Definitely got my money's worth here. I will be back!

Great food and the portions are well worth the price. Will definitely take home leftovers. Looking to visit soon

TLDR; Generous portions, friendly service, decent flavors. The Tikka masala was a miss. It was more of a tomato sauce than anything else. Chapli kabob was good if a bit dry. Samosa was good as expected; hard to mess that up!

We just dropped in and were delightfully surprised by this nice little restaurant. Clean and bright. Lots of menu choices. The servings were not only delicious, but generous and eye-pleasing as well. Definitely give this great-value and pleasing restaurant a chance.

Great portions food is great. I've only had the Afghan mantoo and the lamb shank. I love their food and they have great customer service as well.

This is a wonderful family run restaurant. The food has been amazing in the past but today I found it to be different. My husband who loves lamb found it to be unseasoned and a bit tough. It came with 3 large pita and salad. The portion was plentiful. I had a chicken sandwich which was so big that I thought it was two sandwiches when I first saw it. I could only eat half, but it wasn't like I I enjoyed it. There was lot of onion, tomato but I could barely taste the chicken. It was not that seasoned. Adding salt did not help. I am still giving them 3 stars because this had to be an off day for them. I have always had great food here. And as usual, the service was pleasant and friendly.

I love visiting independently owned restaurants that offer dishes you don't often find in AZ. Khyber Halal offers Afghan, Indian, and Pakistan cuisine, but I think more focus is on the Afghani items here. The interior is cozy and homey, with various tables you can sit at. We had our choice of tables in the back for a party of 6. After you order and eat, you pay at the front which makes it easy if you were planning on doing split checks. I had a mango lassi, and shared the qabuli pulaw (The national dish of Afghanistan) as well as the mantoo dumplings. The mango lassi came out first, and it had more of a sweet mango puree flavor than the tart yogurt flavor I'm used to with Indian style lassi. It was a very generous amount though for $2. It didn't take too long to make our entrees and when all our dishes came out we oohed and ahhhed. They looked so good and with very substantial portions too! The qabuli pulaw was a footlong slab of ground meat, similar to kofta kebab, with cucumber salad and seasoned rice. All the elements together worked well in harmony. There were also two little sauce bowls with yogurt dip and a spicy green dip to go with it. The rice itself had a beautiful mix of spices, colors, and textures, and I loved the inclusion of soaked raisins in the mix. The cucumber salad was light and refreshing, a good complement to the earthy ground meat. I also enjoyed the mantoo. It also was beautifully presented, with a thin wonton-like wrapper, ground spiced meat, drizzled with sauce. I think overall the restaurant is very tidy and well kept. I was sitting against the wall and there was a slightly gross looking food stain on it though so they might want to pay attention to checking cleanliness there. We had a good time feasting on our dinners and chatting. If I were in the area this would be a great choice for a delicious meal.

Came for dinner and ordered 1 of each samosa the lamb kabob with garlic naan bread and chicken bryrani. The service was excellent and we really enjoyed everything! Of the three samosa we liked the beef the best and the vegetable the least. The lab kabob was cooked and seasoned to perfect and the garlic naan was super punchy with extra garlic. I think next time we will try a different bryrani or the special afgan rice to switch it up. Highly recommend.

I'm writing this as they are closed. I've eaten here a few times and the food is simply amazing!! But this isn't a food review. I just learned they are closed the whole month to provide food for Afghan refugees which makes me love this place even more!! Kudos to Khyber Halal and you've just won a lifetime customer.

We tried out this unassuming joint based on its inclusion in Phoenix Magazine's Top 100 restaurants. It has somewhat of a casual vibe, but is decorated nicely and feels very comfortable. We stuck to the Afghani offerings, as recommended by the article, and weren't disappointed. The mantoo (ground beef dumplings) were my favorite; we enjoyed the badanjan (eggplant) as well. I got the ground beef skewer with Afghani rice (carrots and raisins mixed in). The portions are enormous and you get a good value for your dollar. Overall we were very pleased with our experience and hope to be back soon!

I lived in Phoenix for two years and this place was the only good thing about it. I miss the chicken curry, the garlic naan, the incredible baklava...

Stopped by here the other day for dinner and let me just say... WOW!!! The food was amazing, the customer service was so good- I think the man that helped me and my family had curly hair and he was so kind and helped recommend food. This was my first time but I will for sure be going back! The ambiance was amazing.

Khyber is a great find in Phoenix! Although they are marked as Afghani/Pakistani/Indian, I would definitely think they're more Afghani than anything based on the large cloth rug map of Afghanistan at the cashier's stand and the menu calls out Afghani specialities more than the other ethnic dishes. I made a reservation ahead of time for my friends and I the day before just to be safe. We arrived that night and it wasn't terribly necessary despite it being dinnertime on a weeknight. Young waiter greeted everyone as we arrived. Table was already set and once a majority of us were seated he took our drink orders- all canned pop and mango lassi, no alcohol whatsoever. Forewarning parking is a little limited since it's in a very small strip mall off 24th and Indian School. Everyone ordered garlic naan and for one person it's like 3-4 pieces per, so our table was swimming in it! For the cost you get A LOT... more than what I expected. Absolutely naan-tastic! The popular dish most of us ordered was mantoo (dumplings with a meat sauce). Uber tasty and not too starchy/heavy as most dumplings can be. I was a little disappointed they weren't served piping hot but I'm assuming that's how it's supposed to be served and eaten. It looks like dumplings with taco meat and other sauces, but the look is deceiving. I left with a clean plate and plenty of naan for my friends to take to go. In total I spent $17 for dinner and it was worth every penny.

Food is the worst here as an South Indian. Not even single dish is up to the liking here. Ambiance is also a bit cheap but not the price. Service was ok but without good food which I would say useless.

Great little family restaurant dishing up tasty, filling, authentic food. One of my co-workers with relatives from Pakistan highly recommended Khyber Halal as a restaurant that his family goes to for a taste of home, and this place absolutely lived up to his positive review! I had the Chapli kabob, which is apparently very popular - and for good reason! This generously-portioned plate includes two large beef patties minced with herbs and served with a side of rice or naan (I chose the rice), as well as cucumbers and tomatoes. At $13, the asking price might seem a little high for lunch, but this is easily enough for two meals. Now, let's talk about the baklava (baklawa). This was *phenomenal* - rich, sweet, and with a perfect, flaky texture. I immediately wished for more and *may* have asked someone to pick a few pieces up for me later in the week. Just a few notes: I would recommend placing a to-go order to beat the lunch rush. We ordered around 11:15 and our meals were ready to pick up within 15 minutes. Also, regarding the sides: the regular naan seemed more like a vessel for the saucier dishes than a standalone item. As other reviews have noted, this version of naan is thicker, and most of my coworkers found it to be a little plain on its own. That said, the garlic naan is very tasty and should absolutely be your choice if you like a little more flavor, or if you plan to eat the naan on its own. Bottom line: Everyone in our office really enjoyed their meals from Khyber Halal. I think this one has been added to our lunch rotation!

This place has such amazing food -- get the mixed platter (no changes or substitutions), and an extra side of chutney-- it's fantastic!

I was in town and of course the first thing I do is see what halal options there are and got excited to see an Afghan spot popped up! I'm super picky when it comes to Afghan food but This spot had one of the best kofta kabobs ever ! It was a little spicy but cooked to perfection! The qabuli pallow was also delicious! We took our orders to go but there was plenty of seating space inside too

This was my first time to this restaurant, though I think I've had their catered food at various events over the years. A group wanted to have lunch here and invited me along and I was able to get to it easily with enough parking. It's a medium sized spot with a good amount of seating and the decor is a mix of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and America. We were given menus as we arrived and chose our table. The food choices are plentiful and even have some vegetarian options (but only two fish). We mostly ordered waters but they have drinks like mango lassi and chai, black tea and green tea. Our group of 8 seemed to each pick a different dish. I got the vegetable biryani and the portion size was enough to feed two, or in my case one with ample leftovers. It was the right amount of spice and flavors with a twist of corn added. I really liked it, and the veggie samosa was fine. The chatni (green chili sauce with mint and coriander) and yogurt sauce that come with the dish were tasty accompaniments to my meal. Affordable prices and good food, along with attentive service makes this a great choice for lunch or dinner.

Amazing service and quality of food! The owners are kind and the ambiance is comfortable.

Food had no flavor , naan was hard to rip and chew it felt like it was reheated, and chicken is dry. very disappointed since it had 4 stars. dont come if you want good indian food.