Mazadar Restaurant

A Delicious First Visit to Mazador — We’ll Be Back! We recently visited Mazador for the first time and were thoroughly impressed from start to finish. To begin, we ordered the meat mantu appetizer, and it was absolutely delicious—rich in flavor and perfectly prepared. It set the tone for the rest of the meal. For our mains, we tried both the chicken Slouvaki plate and the chicken Slouvaki wrap. The food was incredibly fresh and bursting with flavor. Everything tasted homemade, thoughtfully seasoned, and beautifully presented. It's clear the kitchen takes real pride in what they serve. The service was also a standout—attentive, professional, and warm without being overbearing. The staff made us feel welcome and taken care of throughout our visit. The atmosphere at Mazador is inviting and stylish, perfect for a relaxed meal or a casual night out. We also loved that the menu included selections from Have A Bite, Ida’s other restaurant that recently closed. It was a wonderful touch and a great way to keep some of those beloved dishes available. Overall, our experience at Mazador was excellent. The food was fantastic, the service was top-notch, and the ambiance made for a perfect dining experience. We can’t wait to come back and try more of the menu!

My family had a lovely afternoon Tea and Biscuits. The table setting was beautiful and the food was plentiful and delicious! The restaurant manager took great care to accommodate food allergies and ensure our comfort. Highly recommend!

I've hosted two events at Mazadar during their Afternoon Teas - it was the perfect spot for a bridal shower and a birthday tea. Ida is incredible! She was extremely communicative during the booking process. On the day of the events, the service was impeccable. We were able to try different teas and enjoy them with a wonderful assortment of sandwiches, dips, fresh pita, cheeses, fruits, and dips. The way everything was set was so beautiful and it was A LOT of food. It was pretty reasonable at $45/per person. I recommend checking out Mazadar if you want a wonderful Afternoon Tea experience. I can't wait to be back to try their other menu items (and another tea!).

One of my favorite laid-back eateries in VA for middle-eastern food. The Maitre D' of the restaurant is such a lovely gem of a person. Always welcoming and caring. It was our introduction to slow-cooked lamb shank. And we fell in love with the rest of the menu. Spicy, succulent, and delicious 😋. The sampler and bread feel so homely, and the constant refreshments are fantastic to start and end on. We love having tea here with the saffron rock candy. At least, I don't mind sugar with my tea 😊. Lamb shank is always a must-order, but so is the karahi. Definitely some of the better karahi I've had while traveling. Can't wait to come back! 8.8/10

Went for dinner on Tuesday. Host was very nice. We ordered variety of dishes, some cold and some hot. Butternut squash mix and Falafel salad was average. Spinach pie was hot and good, so was biryani. Most dishes needed to be spiced up.

My family and I always come here when we’re in the mood for middle eastern food. Most recently, my brother and sister in law hosted their intimate wedding reception at the restaurant. Ms. Aida (I apologize if I misspelled your name) and her staff were so amazing! There were delicious food; from savory kubide, to exceptionally seasoned 2 choices of chicken and goat or lamb briani, amazing sweet desserts such as pudding and baklava. The samosa were so delicious and spicy! Wow! and such a nice ambiance. The classic but simple center pieces my sister in law created and the atheistic of the restaurant just blended perfectly. Thank you to everyone at Mazadar for making 7/5/2025 fabulous for our family and friends.

We came here today to break our fast. The server was such a sweetheart, she made sure our food came out right when it was time for us to break our fast. On top of that, the food was phenomenal. We got the mazadar sampler, the chicken samosas, the chicken and kubideh combo, the chicken and barg combo, and the lamb shank palow. Everything was amazing, the lamb shank literally fell right off the bone and the rice was perfectly seasoned. Perfect place to take your family.

Outstanding Food & Exceptional Service – A True Gem! Mazadar Restaurant has quickly become one of my go-to favorites for both lunch and dinner. The food is consistently flavorful, comforting, and has that special home-cooked feel that’s hard to find these days. Every dish I’ve ordered has been nothing short of delicious — a true showcase of thoughtful, authentic cooking that satisfies on every level. The service is exceptional, with Ms. Ida going above and beyond to ensure every guest feels like part of the family. Her warmth and hospitality are unmatched, making every visit feel personal and welcoming. I recently hosted a staff luncheon here, and the experience was seamless. The food came out promptly, perfectly timed for our group, and the service was pristine. I also frequently stop in for lunch, and each time, the quality and consistency are spot-on. One of my personal favorites is Ms. Ida’s special blend black tea — it always hits the spot and adds a perfect touch to any meal. I highly recommend Mazadar for both lunch and dinner. Whether you're dining solo or with a group, you won’t be disappointed. It’s comfort food done right, with service that makes you feel right at home.

Delicious food! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. The ambience and decor was so charming as well. Had a great time and highly recommend!!

We usually get mahicha pulao, along with chicken karahi. Their service and food is great. I also like the interior design of the restaurant.

Located in a shopping plaza, the interior is beautifully designed! Service is amazing & friendly. Food - there's varieties of options here for everyone! I ordered the Kubideh Kabob and Lamb Biryani. The Biryani was seasons really well & the lamb was very tender. For the Kubideh Kabob I ordered their special rice with the dish & enjoyed the it! I do wish the kubideh was seasoned a little bit more was I thought it didn't have much flavor but it was paired with the tzatziki sauce it helped. Along with the meal, we also got bread which was crispy & standard bread but greatly appreciated :) we also go to try a special tasting if the pomegranate wine and oh wow that was delicious! I'm usually not a wine person but I really enjoyed it!!! Parking is outside in a shared lot. I saw they offer afternoon tea which I would love to come back & try one day! Dinner is booked quick so I recommend a reservation if all possible.

The fountain and couches with lots of small pillows made this place comfortable. The lady who served my table was very kind and informative! I loved the flavor of the saffron tea, the barg and koodibeh kabobs were perfectly cooked and the Kabuli rice was tasty! I will be back with the family soon!

Beautiful ambiance. Friendly and professional service. Delicious food. Definitely worth visiting!

I could not even begin to tell you how great Mazadar is. From the sampler, lemon chicken soup, and all 6 entrees we had were fantastic. We did not try the dessert. Will definitely return.

Truly my favorite happy place over the years starting back from 2018. I love listening to the fountain as we eat leaning against jewel toned pillows...the colored tiles throwing soft light everywhere....sipping hibiscus or cinnmon tea from pretty china cup complete with little sugar cubes in a glass dish. This is what self care and indulgence feels like. Ida the current owner is what really makes this place shine. She is so very sweet and kind and puts so much love and passion into the cooking and the place that I feel like I come here to have a home cooked meal. The rest of the staff there are wonderful and love her and the place so the energy there is amazing as well. The food and spices are very fresh from market to table and I've never experienced getting sick after eating there which is rare anywhere since my body reacts to both chemicals and processing in foods. The food there has a wonderful kind of balance and symmetry on my palate...never too heavy and very light with just the right amount of spices scaled to your preference if you make the request and always cooked very well so that it is moist and flavorful. We've had a wide variety of dishes and have enjoyed every single one of them. There isn't enough space to write down what we love about all the food and tea...other than to say it's always an amazing culinary experience...allowing us a glimpse into the variety of cultures and dishes from her homeland and into Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Lush decor (fluffy pillows!) and good Mediterranean food! We enjoyed the meat dumplings, and my wife dug the falafel (she said they were more crispy than normal, but good). A nice Israeli salad. Lovely chicken kabobs (the salmon was good, but can't hold a candle to the succulent chicken). Everyone else liked the Turkish baklava--too much honey.for my tastes but good for everyone else.

Food was very good. Kofta was as good as it gets with the flavors. Lentil soup was fine but no bread or crackers were served with it. Saffron ice cream was very frozen (like a block) with ok flavor. I recommend letting it soften and be a bit more creamy and sweeter. I recommend bread and butter with the soup. I recommend iced hibiscus tea in lieu of hot. Please do not change anything about kofta. I would go again just for kofta. My friend liked his lamb meal.

Cute little spot. Tried it for the first time and the service was friendly. Enjoyed the appetizers the most. Everything else was good/okay. Interior was unique compared to other spots, we enjoyed the half circle booths with pillows. Perfect for some tea time. :) (Which we didn't know there was tea here) Had the following: - 2 Person Saffron Tea Pot (There was 2 rock candy with it which was cute, but we only used one since we don't like our tea too sweet, took the other one home~ FYA they do charge for the rock candy, it doesn't come with the tea, we didn't know lol) - Veggie Samosa and Falafel Appetizer (Yum! Would recommend) - Veggie Delight - Gyro Sandwich and Fries (This was a huge portion)

Guess I'm late to the game. How have I not tried this place? Great food, good service and a delightful location. Everything on the menu is awesome and you won't be disappointed. I recommend grabbing your date night partner and siting on the cozy couches they have while eating dinner.

Food is delicious, ambiance is beautiful, and the owner is so nice. Our family really enjoyed having dinner here.

Third time at Mazadar. Food is amazing! As is the decor and ambience. Service is very attentive. Will continue to have this as one of our top restaurants in the area. Kabobs, avgolemono soup, Afghan dumplings, lamb shank, and mantu meat dumplings have been excellent. Restaurant offers a great mix of Mediterranean ethnic foods.

I went here for a quick lunch on a busy day. The service was excellent, as I got my food quick. The food was pretty good as the chicken was flavorful. The vibe here was nice as well: containing a fountain and light music. Overall, a place worth visiting.

Quaint , hole in the wall The food is really good but I love their tandoori bread , depends what you get it with - hummus or whatever dip you want as the appetizer. I've come here several times to just order the same things and never disappointed. Really love the flavor in the food !

Fantastic little place ! Had a tea here and it was such a lovely experience! Highly recommend

Loved Mazadar. Interesting when you walk in--not your average strip mall restaurant. Delicious food, great service, very friendly atmosphere. Can't wait to go again. Maybe we'll take in their afternoon teas every day 2-6 pm.

Was craving kebabs and somehow had never seen this place before so decided to give it a try. The restaurant is decorated nicely - cafe style with a water feature in the middle and a TV portraying a nice steaming mug of tea - soothing. The food and service...not so much. First off, our server asked how I wanted my chicken cooked. I said, excuse me? You can't eat chicken not thoroughly cooked? She said, oh we like to ask our customers - medium, medium well, or well? Insane, please don't offer medium cooked chicken to people! The food arrived and portions were tiny - lunch portions, borderline kids meal. I asked for another white sauce and was charged for it - be aware! The bread was quite good and probably the best thing there. The two servers stood behind the register for the most part and were unnecessarily on the computer or their phones - though both were nice, they were not engaged. Needless to say, we wouldn't be back.

Was in Fairfax for 2 weeks and found this restaurant my second week. I went twice during the week, and wish I had found it sooner. I absolutely loved this place! I am gluten and dairy free and there were so many options without having to make special requests. Absolutely loved this place, and couldn't recommend it more!

My overall experience was restaurant-like, but the food was up to par with Moby Dick, which was disappointing. Too casual/standard tasting for a restaurant. The fountain and colorful chairs, teapots are a very nice touch, but when we visited, the inside had no AC and it was pretty stuffy. Having tried very competitive Afghan spots in DMV, I was surprised to see a few, completely unrelated Greek items on the menu. No chutneys. The beef mandu and eggplant appetizer were both underwhelming, first being overcooked and the latter under. Kubideh is where I had a bite and thought of Moby Dick, rather than a charcoal flavor to get at a restaurant. For sodas, you get two refills.

We came here for group dinner after nikah. Ida was so helpful with coordinating that and suggesting a suitable menu with sufficient variety and quantity. All the food was exceptional, particularly the different kabobs and lamb chops, and it's a lovely seating area with a small fountain in the center. Service was excellent and prompt. Highly recommend.

First and last time trying out this restaurant ! Beware of 18% forced dine in tax in addition to the 6% sales tax ,that's a 24% tax on a meal! Which is a complete rip off and completely unethical! I have never seen any restaurant forcing there customers to pay 18% dine in tax . The food portions were very small. We ordered the boneless chicken Kabob. It was literally small pieces of chicken breast with just rice. My husband ordered the chicken Karahi ,which came with just a small bowl of karahi ,one piece of bread and rice. The food was mediocre nothing special. Also they tried to hustle us into ordering an appetizer. Owner claimed that our order would take a long time and that we should order an appetizer while we wait. Place only had two other tables with people at them. Lastly we overheard a customer paying ,that was leaving the restaurant complaining about bad service to the owner. The female owner replied with "you came in so late". It was only 8:30 and the restaurant closed at 10:00! To top it off after this customer paid she walked back over to his table and returned his tip saying if you didn't like my service you can keep your tip, leaving the cash on the table. The female owner was overly defensive and completely unprofessional.

My husband and I love this place. The service is fantastic, and the food is even better. I am mostly plant based and my husband eats everything. I usually go with their veggie sampler or falafels, and my husband would probably give an arm for the lamb shank. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful, exotic, and peaceful. We come here every Valentines Day, and we also had our rehearsal dinner here. They were extremely professional and courteous. I recommend this restaurant without hesitation.

We were initially going to eat at Saravana Bhavan this past weekend. But that place was overly crowded, so we decided to come eat here (right next door). I had eaten here before, but my family had not. The lady who owns this place is so loving abs friendly. We were the only ones there when we entered. She was the only server, but the food came out fast. - Bread with hummus: the bread is delicious. Just order without thinking. It's fresh and warm. - Falafel platter: the falafels are delicious. I could have just ordered the appetizer portion with 4 falafels, as I was too full after eating all that bread. - Kheer: my mom makes kheer at home all the time (very common Indian dessert). But this one had a different touch to it. My hubby and I loved it. - I loved the fact that they have a kids menu and it includes the traditional chicken nuggets. My son was very happy. I would highly recommend this place. Tons of veggie options and the food doesn't disappoint.

I was invited to go here for a family dinner. The Ambience is nice. They have a water fountain in the middle. Seems like a nice cool theme but you will constantly hear a water fall noises in background . The food smells good and looks good but taste is far fetched. The service was not that bad since they were not too busy. We ordered some kabob platters. A chicken Biryani upon on the servers recommendation it was supposed to be an authentic Pakistani style biryani (NOT AT ALL). The reason I am giving it 1 star. The food is HORRIBLE!!! It is not authentic. This place is big on tea pots and other things as I noticed people getting those more than the actual food. The Biryani had no taste and super oily. They took some chicken curry and mixed it into their afghan rice and served it. Kabobs were OK. The Quabli pallao (rice) not so good tasting. I have had way better afghan food than this. This explains why I saw not a single afghan or middle eastern family eating here. It is definitely tasteless. My request to the owners please change your chef or make changes to your taste buds and make the food taste better. We will not be returning at all. I was so disappointed and didn't even finish my food. What a waste of money!!!

I came because of the fountain and saffron ice cream. But will return because of the lemonades and the mantu (dumplings). The mantu was so full of flavor. Oh my gosh. And the appetizers of hummus and salad. The service. Everything was fantastic! Great for date night or with family.

I was in area on a Wednesday evening (6:15pm) and read the reviews for this restaurant and was intrigued. Sat down, was offered menus inside (we were only diners inside... a couple was eating in parking lot), then was promptly ignored!!! No water. Nothing. Saw that they immediately added 18% to bill for gratuity. ..." and you can add more" I looked over and server and another employee were rolling silverware!!!! Totally ignored After several minutes, we got up & left. Nice ambiance. I was looking forward to a nice dinner..... which I had down the road and $pent $$$$'s

One of our favorite places. Atmosphere, service, and food is excellent. It's in a strip mall but excellent parking and convenient. A must try

This unassuming place from the outside is a wonder oasis of friendly sevice, great food and relaxing interior design. Started with the Meat Mantu. Soft, creamy and not too heavy. Two people can share without getting full. Wife had the Kubideh. How do they get the meat this tender??? Great flavor. This is a must get. I wanted to try something different than their wonderful kebabs so i had the Boneless Chicken Karachi. Meat was tender. I asked for spicy and the heat level was medium. Still great flavor. Eating this dish is like getting a warm hug; it's so comforting. Speaking of comfortable, the water feature PLUS the vast amount of pillows makes this a place that's very peaceful to dine. Be careful that you don't fall asleep after dinner.

Our family ate at Mazadar Restaurant and the food was excellent. Our waitress was young and still learning as she wasn't as attentive as she should have been. But the food and the owner were outstanding. The chicken biryani (med heat) was excellent. The potato salad and gyro was excellent as well. We ordered a plate of gyro meat (not on Sunday menu) that came with Greek salad and a potato/egg/dill/pea/pickle salad that was surprisingly good too. We had a chicken kabob and steak kabob platter and french fries. The fries were hot and fresh and also delicious.

Food is always delicious and our experience is always pleasant! We've been going since they opened and would recommend to anyone!

Lunched here yesterday for the first time and really enjoyed the cuisine as well as the atmosphere. Ida is lovely and gracious. I ordered Sabzi and was over the moon. My friend ordered the Falafel platter and said it was the best she had ever eaten. We both agreed that everything was perfectly seasoned. Highly recommend. I'll be back very soon. This could easily become my favorite go-to restaurant.

Went there Friday night . Group of 12 . Had to make reservation using our credit card . The owner Was very accommodating . We wanted separate bills first 6 couples . Food is excellent . The kebabs melts in your mouth . Seasoned very well . Pulao with lamb was the best . Lamb soft & tender . Spanakopita was mouthwatering . Large portion . All food items can be shared . Their drinks were very good . We ordered two Shiraz glass wine . It was too tart and perhaps very old open bottle . She didn't want to change . Seemed flustered . Biryani was spicy & good . All their appetizers were very tasty . Definitely going there again .

The interior of the restaurant feels very glamorous and lux with a fountain and large copper oil or tea decanters (I unfortunately don't know whether teapots and oil pots are designed differently). But beneath the fanciness, the staff feel incredibly warm and friendly and made me feel welcome. I cannot make claims to the authenticity of the food but the chicken kabob was juicy and tasty, the bread was warm and comforting, and the tzatziki was cool and refreshing. The firnee, a rosewater custard, was an absolute astonishing standout and reminds me of the malabia in Jaffa in Israel. The portions are smaller than you may expect and I easily could have eaten another kabob but overall it's an exceptional experience.

The food is not very good don't waste your money and it is very expensive and not good quality and the service very bad we went and a waste of our money and one of my friend got sick don't waste your time and money please thank you go someplace to enjoy the food and not waste your money

We tried this for the first time this evening and loved it. Everything was perfect from the lovely setting and atmosphere to the service to the food. We went early so were one of only 2-3 parties, which probably helped. I loved the way each of the dishes we tried was basically traditional but with an extra spark giving them extra character. Even the hummus had a little extra spice of some kind. The bread was wonderful, fresh from the oven. The prices are reasonable, too. We'll definitely be returning.

It was my first time at this restaurant and it was truly amazing. The little place is so cute and cozy. The service was outstanding. And oh my god the food was delicious. They even serve tea in this cute tea pot from a area party. The hibiscus tea was delicious.

I recently moved to this area and was looking for some yummy middle eastern food. I ordered here and thought the food was okay. My husband and I ordered veggie samosas, lamb kabob wrap, karahi (dish served with a protein choice and sautéed with fresh tomatoes, and rice), and a combo of barg and lamb. The portions were much smaller than what I expected and the price was not worth the meal. I may be comparing to my favorite place kabob palace but I think the drive there is more worth it for the quality and quantity of food.

What a GEM! Mazadar is a local Afghan/Middle Eastern restaurant, located right off of Lee Highway. Their menu is extensive, offering various appetizers/starters, soups, salads, entrees (including Shrimp Qurma, Gourmet Falafel Platter, Mahicha Palow, etc.), kabobs, Sultunies Combinations, various sides, sweets, and even a children's menu. A group of us came here for a dinner get-together, and I ordered the Sambosa (a stuffed pastry with potatoes, spring onions, coriander and peas; this was like a large samosa, and the filling was very tasty! I loved the spices and the potatoes, and it had a nice kick to it!; it was served with a side of a cilantro sauce, which it didn't need) to start off with. For my main entree, I had the Barg Kabob (which came with basmati rice, marinated strips of grilled filet mignon, and a basket of bread; the meat was tender and cooked medium (I opted for medium well); it was very juicy and the marinade did not overpower the taste of the meat; the rice was cooked perfectly and was a perfect complement). The bread basket was full of sliced hot bread, and I highly recommend in getting the sampler for the start, as it comes with a variety of dips; the hummus was yummy! Service was very kind, welcoming, and very warm! The restaurant itself has a great ambiance; there is a fountain in the middle, and the sound of it really puts you in a relaxed state! The restaurant itself was decorated well and had a nice chic vibe to it. The food was all fresh and delicious - I cannot wait to come back and try out the rest of their menu! Parking is plentiful in the plaza lot! +delicious kabobs! +tasty hummus! +yummy sambosas! +friendly service!

A truly delightful experience. Great food and a relaxing environment. Staff was friendly and attentive. I'll be back!

From the moment you enter this delightful restaurant and hear the calming water fountain to the last bit of delicious desert, expect a lovely experience. The food is outstanding! I love the starters, especially the eggplant Borani Banjan and the Veggie Mantu. Have had several entrees and ALL were exceptional. And the chocolate cake with saffron ice cream - dreamy! The servers and owner are so welcoming, you will certainly want to return again, and again, as I have!

Love this cosy restaurant and their tea service. Feels like I'm dining at a friend's home. Everything I've ordered has always been very good, hot, and savory. Highly recommend their borani bademjan appetizer and any kabob. Chicken kabob was juicy, flavorful, and not dry. Lots of vegetarian/vegan items on the menu.

Very tasty and high quality food. The owner is the sweetest person. Make sure you try their tea.

We love Mazadar. The food is delicious and the wait staff is very friendly. The owner is wonderful and always very welcoming.

Despite the name, the food was not very mazadar(delicious). I've had lots of better afghan food at different shops, I also would not recommend it to Muslims either due to the fact that they serve Alcohol although they claim to serve halal food. I didn't really enjoy my meal either due to the fact that they had a woman bellydancing, food tasted kinda old to me.

This is my first time eating at Mazadaar, and I have to say that IDA named her restaurant that gave 100%justification to her food and place. Legitimately the best restaurant in FFX. I am sure it doesn't matter what I got; I licked my plates. The food is exceptional! Very tasty and well prepared. I highly recommend Mazadaar Thank you, IDA.... Great job

Horrible! Embarrassing. Ordered a simple Ice Tea with syrup sugar. The waitress brought the drink with packet sugar. We don't have syrup sugar. Asked for a different drink but we still had to pay for the ice tea. Ordered the Lamb Quabilli rice, it tasted reheated/microwaved, as if it was made the day before. Lamb smelled so bad. Asked for another yogurt sauce, got charged extra for that. I will never go back to that place. I do not believe it is halal either!

Very pleasant atmosphere. Delightful staff. Felt family run in a good way. Delicious meals with some tastes i had never experienced before. A mixture of Mediterranean cuisine from different countries. We had the surf and turf and the biryani with lamb. The latter was medium spicy which was pretty spicy. Good but rice was a little dry....which is likely how it is suppose to be. A homemade chicken soup with a lemon flavor was nice (name unknown). Lastly only disappointment was the rice pudding. Truly a podding...not traditional rice pudding that we have experienced. Its hard to explain, but it was underwhelming. Again could have been completely authentic for the region, we just weren't crazy about it. We'd go back again to explore the menu more.

Delicious food for adults and kids! Very juicy kubideh, flavourful babaganush, and tasty salmon. Everything was great and service was superb for lunch . Will come back again!