Khyber Pass Zarparan Restaurant

The staff was very welcoming. Even though we accidentally arrived close to closing, they assured us that it was no problem and the kitchen was still open. As a vegetarian, I was very impressed with their amount of options. I couldn't decide what I wanted to order, but then I saw that there was a vegetarian platter option on the menu. This allowed me to try multiple entrees and rice styles that they make. Their grilled vegetables were deciduous and perfectly done. My mom ordered a meat entree and she said it was very tender, the rice was perfect, and all of the flavors you're looking for are very present. My waiter even explained all of the flavors and ingredients on my plate. They were quick with refilling water, clean-up, and the food was noticeably fresh. The environment inside of the restaurant is very beautiful with various paintings, murals, and photographs. Your eyes and stomach will be happy that you chose to eat here.

recently had the pleasure of dining here and I'm still thinking about the food. The customer service and welcoming is overwhelming. If you're looking for a meal that's truly worth every bite, this is the place. The moment you walk in, the aroma of spices and grilled meats sets the stage for an incredible experience. lamb kebab, which was cooked to perfection. The lamb was so tender and juicy, with a subtle smoky flavor that was out of this world. Every dish we tried was clearly made with care and high-quality ingredients. The portions were generous, and the prices were incredibly reasonable for the quality of the food.

Absolutely incredible food!! The seasoning was wonderful. Unique and yummy spices!! The kabobs were phenomenal! & I hear the cherry stew is amazing!! Looking forward to trying that dish next time! 10/10!

Absolutely delicious! Kind service, exquisite vibes and we will definitely be coming back. The afghan lamb rice was our favorite dish but so many more amazing dishes to try next time.

Some of the most flavorful and downright delicious food you’ll find anywhere. This is a locally owned, family-run restaurant, and it truly shows in both the food and the service. We’ve eaten here multiple times, and every visit has been outstanding. The service is attentive without feeling rushed—they want you to relax, talk, and actually enjoy your time with your date, family, or friends. I always start with the appetizer platter, which is the perfect way to sample a variety of flavors, and then I order the #25 steak and chicken kebab plate. The meat is marinated and cooked to absolute perfection every time. My wife usually goes for the veggie platter, and it never disappoints—perfectly seasoned, incredibly flavorful, and genuinely satisfying. This is the kind of place that keeps you coming back, not just for the food, but for the full experience.

Excellent food and great wine list. Their dishes were very flavorful and very nicely presented. Great ambiance and service was good. However, we asked them to please time the main course after the appetizer and it all came right away. I recommend you just don't tell them what you want for main course until you are ready as their kitchen and servers are lightning fast. They close very early in the evening, so that’s probably why. If they were able to time their main courses better, and have longer dinner hours, I would have given them 5 stars.

A must try! You'll be hooked. Every bite was amazingly delicious! The meats were spiced to perfection and melt in your mouth juicy & tender. Our favorites were the beef, chicken, kofta combo with Qabli Palau (rice with raisins and carrots), the kadu (sweet and savory squash), & mantu. The beef was among the top 3 I've ever had in my life. Everyone raved about it. The portions are huge! Enough for 2 or to take home for later. The staff were really friendly and welcoming.

Fantastic food and service! We really appreciated all of the recommendations we got, especially the sour cherry curry 😍

This was an amazing introduction to a type of regional cuisine I hadn't tried before. I'm not sure I would've stumbled upon this hidden gem had my friends not recommended it - I'm glad they did, and I'll definitely be back! The service was fast and incredibly friendly. You could tell the staff were passionate about the food and providing new customers like me with a great experience. I was recommended the Afghan Yaghoot Chalao, a sweet and sour lamb dish with white rice. The portion was huge and I'm a bit ashamed to say I scarfed the whole thing down. It was amazing! The lamb was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the cherry sauce mixed well with the rice to create the perfect combination of savory and sweet. We also got apps - can't go wrong with pita and hummus! Still great, but the main entree stole the show. I also tried a bit of my friend's steak kabob, which was perfectly seasoned. I'd definitely recommend if you're walking through the Hillcrest area! My dish (#34) is apparently a customer favorite - for good reason - but I really don't think you can go wrong, and the staff seemed like they'd provide great guidance if you need help deciding.

Came in for dinner last week and the experience overall was a bit of a mixed bag. The interior of the space is a decent size and it the decor is done rather tastefully and gives visitors a fairly authentic presentation on Afghan/Persian design motifs. However, it was a fairly warm evening and their AC/Fan usage wasn't the best and you definitely feel the heat a good amount. The service was friendly enough and one of the managers there used to be on staff at Darband Restaurant so he really knows his stuff and is very personable. The Naan, Bolani, and Sambosa appetizers were all very good and I particularly like the Sambosa; the meat was flavored very well and was not overcooked. The chicken (joojeh) kabob was also done very well and the Afghan take on it with added spice was very interesting. On the negative side I didn't really enjoy either the Kofta (Koobideh) kabob or the steak (Chengeh) kabob. The Kofta was too thick with an overly soft texture and was lacking flavor while the Chengeh was not evenly grilled for certain pieces. Worth checking out if have never tried Afghan food before but if you're looking to try kabobs there are better places out there.

The waiter asked me to try lamb which is the best. Lamb was tender but too much salt. I was not able to eat it. 2. They take 18% gratuities irrespective of number of people. The later receipt also ask for tips so be careful. If they have taken gratuity then tip should not be asked. 3. Bolanie was fried and served as an appetizer. 4. There is no free parking nearby or very hard to find. 5 it's a big restaurant with good ambiance and they do serve alcoholic beverages.

My friends really really really really really really really liked the food here. They are too lazy to write a review like they promised the waiter yesterday so I am doing it for them. I think the food looked really tasty and wished I was hungry. The waiter was extremely nice and very patient to put up with this drunk bunch

Took my girlfriend who has never had Afghani food here and it was an instant hit! The Yaghoot Chalao was our favorite and was a mesmerizing mix of sweet and savory that I cleaned up with every grain of rice. Portions are definitely shareable here and is a great place to have a quiet evening out or a more intimate date night. The Chicken Kabob was also juicy and tender, not overcooked for those who are particular about their chicken. I only wish it came with more for the price . We'll be back to try more dishes soon!

Awesome family-style restaurant with delicious food. Prices are a bit higher than I'm used to, but expected in Hillcrest. - Extensive menu with Afghan, Pakistani, Iranian cuisine - Aushak was the highlight of our meal - Plentiful vegetarian options - Kabob plates were rice heavy with less meat, did not come with much else (no veggies, sauce/dips, etc) - Curry came with less meat and sauce than expected, also rice heavy - Has a bathroom for customers Other: - Parking was difficult, street parking and lots are all paid - Workers and service were very nice, felt family-operated

Excellent food service and a little history thrown in by the owner Cyrus. He made us smile and our bellies happy! Went tonight with my international Foodie Meetup group. Everyone loved their food, we had Aushak as an appetizer. It was a flat dumpling filled with meat and had a spicy lentil sauce. My husband had the lamb curry, that was very tender with a wonderful sauce. I also had lamb with a sour cherry sauce. Others had kabobs and chicken dishes. Not to guild the Lilly but we had the saffron ice cream and Afghani custard with nuts for dessert. The portions were large, the setting was great. Unique restaurant in Hillcrest.

Damn this place is good. That 5 lentil soup is mindblowing. I ordered it to have something on the healthy side. I put one spoonful in and did a triple take thinking why is this so good. Head scratcher! Get the soup!!!!

This was my first experience with Afghan and Persian food. The flavors were unique to me and delicious! I started with the appetizer platter which included Dolmeh, Borta, Hummus, Yogurt Cucumber dip, and like Pita/flatbread to dip. Dolmeh are stuffed grape leaves and the ones here tasted fresh. The Borta, which was the eggplant dip, was my favorite. It tasted had a nice garlic taste. Then I got a half order of the Mantu which is savory dumplings filled with lentils and beef covered in a yogurt sauce. This was enough of a meal for me. Also I got a mango lassi which was delicious. Mango lassi is a mango yogurt drink. The one here wasn't tart like yogurt at all and just tasted like mango. I always order mango lassis when I go to places that serve them. I tried my friends' dishes too. The chicken kebab on the Greek salad was really good and moist. The gormeh sabzi had strong flavor with lots of spice. The okra chalao was good too. I heard the Turkish coffee was strong. Our server seemed happy to help and serve us! The restaurant was decorated well with paintings and decor. Parking is difficult in this area of Hillcrest. Typically I've just done paid parking at nearby lots.

Loved this place! Great food and service! The dolmas were great and the lamb was too! Cucumber sauce goes with everything!

We ordered the assortment appetizer, lamb kabob and fesenjan. All of which were phenomenal, however the fesenjan is above and beyond delicious. Every time I'm in San Diego, I insist that I eat here!

Great food, great service, and prices are reasonable. Wife and I really enjoyed the food and we will be returning soon .

I had heard good things about this spot, and I finally got to check it out. We went a Saturday night, and it filled up by 6:30. There were limited staff, but they were working hard to get everything done. Having never been there before, we weren't sure if they had alcoholic beverages. We saw they allowed you to bring wine for a reasonable corkage of $15, so we did that. They do serve beer and wine, and I made sure to put the menu here, so people can see it. We started with the bolani. The filling was flavorful, but wow, the sauce with it took it over the top. It is a little spicy, but in the perfect way. For our dinners, we got the beef shish and chicken kabobs, the yaghoot chaloa with lamb, and the garlic flatbread. Big portions, and all the meat was flavorful and tender. The flatbread was delicious - lots of garlic and a nice crispy outside. The yaghoot was nice and balanced considering it said sweet and sour. We would definitely order our dishes again; however, so many other things looked delicious. We look forward to coming back and trying new things. Some things on the menu are very unfamiliar, but don't let that scare you away. There is something here for everyone!

I came here for my first shot at Afghan cuisine and the food, service, and ambiance of the restaurant left a fantastic first impression. Located in Hillcrest, Khyber Pass can be quickly spotted by its unique rustic sign. Parking is a little tough on this part of town but I quickly found a 15 minute spot that would be amenable for my takeout order. Once I entered I was quickly helped by who I believe was the owner. My food was ready when I arrived. As I paid, I asked about how the food is halal, wished the owner Eid Mubarak, and went on my way to find out how the food was. (Let me just say that the interior of this restaurant is really nice. I hope to come back and eat inside) So I ordered bolani and sambosa for appetizers, and the yaghoot chalao with lamb and boneless chicken + beef shish for main courses. Everything was incredible. Starting with the sambosa, I was obsessed. So good, I recommend everyone try the sambosa here. Best ground beef sambosa I've ever had. (+ it's halal!) the bolani was good as well but I think it would be better to have it during dine-in. It lost its crisp on the way home. But the flavors were still good. The sauce that came with the appetizers was amazing btw. It was a little spicy and complimented everything I used it with very well. My favorite dish I ordered was the yaghoot chalao with lamb. EVERYTHING about this dish was amazing. The lamb was supremely tender and the sauce it was covered with was sweet and flavorful. I ordered the berry rice with it and my senses were overloaded with flavor. This dish is certainly the way to go. The chicken and beef shish were also good but truthfully I would not order them again. They do not compare to the incredible dish that I had next to them. Definitely be sure to try the curries/stews/berry rices here. Khyber Pass Zarparan receives my highest recommendation because they are absolutely serving fantastic halal afghan cuisine. I can't wait to try more, and I'm so happy that i came to this restaurant for the final iftar of Ramadan.

It was our first time trying Afghan or Persian food and did not disappoint. The bolani appetizer and lamb kabob with seasoned rice and grilled veggies were very tasty. Really kind and helpful service. Will definitely be back to try some more options.

What a lovely experience I had at this restaurant. We ordered the combo beef kebab and the meat was soft and juicy. We also had the sour Cherry stew, absolutely delicious. Also tried the Kabol polo, a very good alternative to plain rice. We will definitely come back here to try new dishes. The owner is such a pleasant man to talk to. A true passionate restaurant owner. 5 out of 5.

Party of 7 of my colleagues for a group dinner while we attended a scientific conference in Mission Valley. One of our team members is actually from Iran so she did recommend a few menu items for those of us who weren't familiar with the cuisine. We did two orders of the appetizer platter which came with borta (mashed eggplant, tahini, lemon, garlic, and yogurt), Dolmeh (herbed/spiced rice wrapped/baked in grape leaves), yogurt cucumber mint dip, hummus and flatbread. The table got a variety of menu items, ranging from beef combo shish kabobs, salmon curry, lamb curry, garlic flatbread basket and vegetarian items. Personally, I tried the #38 Persian Fesenjan Stew (crushed walnut, pomegranate molasses, chunks of chicken) with Basmati rice, and a Mango Lassi. The server recommended their signature dish, the #34 Afghan Yahgoot Chalao (sweet and sour lamb cherry qormah) but my heart was set on the fesenjan this time. Dinner portions were absolutely huge, I don't think any individual finished their mountain of basmati rice, totally could have shared or maybe done a la carte dishes. The fensenjan was great, I hadn't had it in years since college times at Ali Baba in Davis, CA. Didn't have room for dessert, but they also had baghlava (2pcs), firmee, jalebi/zoolbia or saffron ice cream. We used rideshare so can't comment too much on street parking availability.

Very generous portions and you'd be happy for it because they cook delicious food!! I've come to dine twice now, and both times, the food came out quickly. Service started out very well, but the night could get busy. They seem short staffed, so you might be waiting a while for your check or any other requests. Like other Yelpers, it's hard to resist their Yaghoot Chulua or even the vegetarian platter! I'm forgetting the name of the beef + eggplant "stew" rice dish, but that was quite delicious as well. Be sure to bring your patience for parking... And your appetite!

This place was awesome. Nice and quiet when we rolled in. We were immediately seated by our enthusiastic waiter/host (potentially the owner as well?). The appetizer sampler was fire. Could have used a few more slices of pita, but tbh we didn't ask for more and we didn't REALLY need any more food. The eggplant dip was the star. My brother and I split the vegetable platter and the sour cherry lamb curry. The gentleman helping us gave a full rundown of each component in the dish as well as the background to the foods, where these dishes originated, and all that good stuff. A nice touch I always appreciate. The veggie platter was insane. It consisted of spinach, butternut squash, peas, and potatoes. Plus the 3 different flavors of rice. Each component was unique and delicious. The butternut squash in particular blew me away. I'd order this again easy. The sour cherry lamb curry was also wonderful. I preferred my veg sampler, but my bro preferred the curry, so definitely just a matter of preference. The curry was sweet, a little sour, and that savory curry finish. Super good. Overall, more than enough food for both of us, tasted amazing, and solid service. We'll be back!

It's been over 10 years since the last time we were here and the food is still Amazingly delicious. Had their dumplings, veggie platter and lamb in. Cherry sauce. So good! Not the official names of dishes in my review but you get it! Go and enjoy!

Food unlike anything I have ever tasted before. I didn't even get an entree or anything I just got appetizers and shared them with a friend but I had a moment like in the movie Ratatouille when Remy eats a strawberry with cheese and began to see visions of color. This food could cure a person of their ailments. The food could revive a dead man. I highly recommend the aushak and the mantu. The ice cream is also pretty good I guess.

I was visiting San Diego this weekend. Found this gem place in San Diego. Afghan food for our dinner!! The owner is friendly, and the service is fantastic! Also, the food, OMG, is excellent! The meat is fresh, from chicken to beef to lamb. Also, their spices are very aromatic. Of course, I also get some cherry rice! The restaurant ambiance is so clean and inviting. I definitely will come back here when I visit San Diego! Thank you for having us last night!

Delicious authentic food, nice decorations. Wish we lived in the area so we can visit more often. The owner is wonderful.

The food was very good. Had the chicken and kofta and the Salmon kebab both with flavored rice. Well spiced and more than enough to take home for another serving. We showed up 20 minutes before closing and the service was friendly and prompt. Did not feel rushed. The overall decorations and ambiance were fine but nothing special. Definitely would recommend though for the food and service.

This is an incredible Afghani restaurant. Decor ambiance service etc all great but the food is the star of the show. I definitely recommend the aushak and the apricot chalao and the yaghoot chalao (with lamb of course). Hard to find those in other places and Zarparan's is one of the best. The owner even took the time to talk to us about the history of some of the spices and their etymology, and is a really warm and friendly person. Seriously I can't recommend this place enough.

Enjoyed a flavorful and well-portioned meal here. The flavors for the apps were amazing and reminded me of places back in NYC. Our faves were the tart and cool Aushak (veg) dumplings, and the Bolani with it's delicious accompanying sauce. The vegetarian platter entree was shared between 2 and the hearty portions left us with plenty to take home. The platter was a solid assortment but not as flavorful or spicy as the other items, so recommend ordering stand-alone veg items and customizing if that's what you prefer. The service was handled by only two gentlemen and all the tables quickly filled up during our dinner meal, so service took some time to check in but we had what we needed until the check. Overall recommend checking the out and if you enjoy meat, I think you'll really enjoy this place!

great restaurant with huge portions. My first time having Afghan food and it did not disappoint. The service was great and fast too. Had some of the best eggplant I've ever had here and couldn't get enough of the chicken qormah. Can't wait to come back to try more!

I love this place. I tried it a long time ago and everytime I go to San Diego I try to eat there. The food is excellent I definitely recommend the Mantu. The staff is very attentive. It's not a big place but they will take reservations if you want to make sure you get a table on a busy night.

Great food, very flavorful! Plenty of vegetarian dishes and delicious. Salmon is great too. Definitely recommended.

Our large group (including 2 small children) had a wonderful dinner here. We ordered several appetizers and entrees to share and were served promptly. The server answered all of our questions and was friendly. We even learned some interesting history about the Afghan/Iranian region. All of the dishes were so flavorful and delicious, especially the mantu, bolani, cherry lamb, flavored rice, and okra. The portions were generous and easy to share. This restaurant is definitely one of the gems of the Hillcrest area and invites multiple visits to work through the menu.

I definitely recommend this place. Food was very good - I particularly liked their Persian tea. The service was also very good. I'll go there again.

We had a great dinner tonight with our extended family to celebrate a birthday. It was a great experience with delicious food and very good service. We really enjoyed it and will be back again soon!

Went on a Saturday night and sat outside. The service was super slow. Had to ask at least three times to get water. Food was slow to come out. Parking in the area was difficult. Food was good.

Because I live in LA now, and we come to San Diego, we go to Comic-Con only. But finally after 30 years (I went to their location when it was still on Convoy), their food and service is still SPECTACULAR!! And inside of the restaurant is still lovely...it still kinda looks like it had transported me to another country, beautiful...I remember the location in Convoy was like I was in a cave like atmosphere, it was truly amazing (I have to find my pictures...yes, I took pictures, that was how much a wonderful impression it made on me, and no iPhones back in the day...lol!). The food and portion sizes is still how I remembered it. Delicious!! All the meats full of flavor (my hubby got the meat combo kabob plate), so tender, I forgot Chicken stew with Cherry rice...chicken not dry. But my MOST favorite is their FIRNEE!!!! Love love love!! So happy they still make them!!!! Because this location now is in the heart of Hillcrest, you have to park in meter or public parking area where you have to pay.

My boyfriend and I happened to be walking by and decided to give it a try. OH MY I'm so happy we did! The food was amazing. I got the Chicken Barg and I tell you the chicken was delicious , filled with flavor and juicy as can be! The service here was great as well, very kinda and helpful. One hundred percent will be coming back! Excited to try more tasty dishes

Best Persian food in the area! HIGHLY recommend! Service, staff, food, atmosphere. Everything! Will definitely be coming back.

Extremely friendly staff. The food is freshly cooked and absolutely delicious, and with huge quantity. They are very generous. We went as they were closing and they accommodated us, were not in a hurry at all and extremely extremely friendly. We highly recommend and we will definitely come back.

super friendly workers who were also very accomodating! food was awesome, and the portions were so generous we couldn't get through most of it.

I visited Khyber at around 4 P.M. for an early dinner/late lunch. Since there was only me and another group in there the owner came to take my order. I've never been to an Afgan place nor have ever tried Afgan food so I asked the owner what he recommended for someone trying their food for the first time. The owner replied "get this, it will taste different than anything you ever had". He was right boyyyyy was he right. He recommended what's pictured and it was the BEST meal I have had in a very long time. Sooo savory but with this hint of sweetness. So so incredibly good. I had to get desert of course. He recommended this pistachio putting and it HIT. 2/2 for this guy! Definitely coming back.

Good service but food was not as good as we remember it. Price are still responsible. We have not been there in 5 years. Had lamb kabobs and eggplant dish. I don't usually do this in my reviews but Aladdin in Ralph Shopping is better for lamb kabobs but definitely more expensive. Also Aladdin doesn't have the vegetables variety of plates. So if vegan or vegetarian this is definitely the place.

I have come to this restaurant for years, then forgot about it during covid. I am glad the kitchen still knows how to prepare the best food. You will not be disappointed when it comes to food. Originally this place was a high-end eat in place which. They used to have table cloth and wait staff. And the felling you got at that point was a lot different than today. In the last couple of weeks, we ate here twice. The food was amazing!!!!! But the experience you get now is very different. No more table cloth, drinks came in a soda can. One Owner/Waiter having to serve everyone, which makes it difficult to get his attention to order something else, or getting the water you have been waiting for and never received. Overall, it lost the charm and appeal it used to have. Don't get me wrong, the food is still amazing. The place just changed. I just hope the owners can find additional help, bring the place back to have that 5 star experience.

Always an amazing experience at Khyber Pass. Delicious authentic food, the lamb is perfection. And the saffron ice cream, wow!

I love their food. Hands down. Kabuli Pulao and chicken kebabs are the best! Their ambiance is good too. For the service there is only one person taking the order and serving, but that's not a problem.

Came for a quick lunch date and decided to get the vegetarian sample platter it was so delicious and got to try a little bit of everything. It fed us both easily and we still had leftovers! Great portion size, was so delicious, and the staff were very nice and accommodating! Will definitely be back :)

Miss owner Please don't be unreasonable defensive. Read my review properly and reply accordingly. And please I know what's an afghan culture and authentic Afghan food. Check your previous reviews where customers are mentioning about non authentic afghan food of YOURS FULL service restaurant and adding gratitude inspite the rest of the restaurants around doesn't do that. Please make sure before you say something Proof it first to be Authentuc. Good luck .

The best food in town! I literally eat here every week. The owner Cyrus is incredible and his knowledge of the food and culture is quite impressive. Once you try it you will become a regular!

We were really excited to try this restaurant and we weren't disappointed. The meat was juicy and flavorful. I had never had a roasted lime or cherries in my meal, but they were nice surprises!

The owner is rude disrespectful and unprofessional he treats everyone different I have been going there for a while but since the new owner took over my family is done going there and don't forget to double check your check because sometimes they charge for nothing you order and it's overpriced Your so unprofessional your customer will read your replay and no one is going to disrespect my family and last thing I care about is the price but why are you charging customers for sink water? You clearly don't have the courage to tell your afghan customers that you don't like us and we are not stupid we pay for customer service not the food I miss the old Owner before you took over of this place we never had any issues if I were you I would take some customer service classes And he's said I should examine my physic that's completely discrimination in the US

Decent food. BAD customer service. I think Baba Kabob is a lot better and has much better service. Called last night to place a pickup order, got the owner or manager on the phone and asked him what chicken kebab entrees he has and would recommend. He sounded busy and frustrated and abruptly said "go look at my menu and call me back". I can respect the frustration so I apologized and said I would call back. I looked at a menu that was posted on Yelp and called back asking for the "chicken and beef combo #26 and an extra chicken skewer." I picked up my order, took it home and realized he gave me a beef combo instead. Called him to let him know he got the order wrong and he got VERY defensive saying he did not make a mistake and that I made a mistake by looking at the wrong menu and not going to his website. This could have all been avoided if he had a shred of customer service and just told me what chicken kebab dishes they have the first time I called him. The food is not bad, I would just recommend him to stay in the kitchen and have someone else with better customer service hospitality skills upfront. "No way you can convince me he wasn't an asshole" - Michael Jordan

Good portion sizes and every bite of food is seasoned soo well! Also the decor inside was a nice vibe.