Sansom Kabob House

Ordered off the family menu. 40$/ person and it was me and my girlfriend on a Saturday night at 8pm. We were the only people in the restaurant. Waited 30 minutes for water and forks and knives. Service was very slow for no reason. Ordered some kabobs and appetizers . Kabobs were hard as a rock and only a few bites. Salad was enough for 1/2 of a woman. Food was very bland and overcooked. Very very small portions. The bill came to $117 for 2 people and when I told the owner about the issue of very little food for “family style” She insisted we don’t come back. we had to go to another restaurant after for more food.

We were visiting from out of state and were looking For something authentic. This place did not disappoint the food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. The service was excellent.

Food is tasty, but served almost cold. The plates could use some Warming up, it would definitely help. The waitress was nice, but somehow the service is a bit uncomfortable, not much attention given to the only two tables in the restaurant. Seems a place that used to be very good, and is now going through a less splendid phase. Hope it gets better soon.

Not your typical Kabob house! Service was wonderful, romantic setting, beautifully decorated and the elevated family seating area just makes you want to return with a big group of family and friends. Food was delicious. The baklava was a bit flat, wet, and didn't really taste all that great for me. Soup was good though.

Food was amazing. We had the pumpkin with rice, split peas soup and the eggplant. All very savory and delicious. Service was a little slow at first especially given the fact that it was slow. But the waiter were nice. This is a true gem for philly and I hope they stick around for a long time.

Pretty authentic dishes but i wasn’t blown away like some other places i’ve been to. I’ve been told afghani food is supposed to be more comforting than flavor bombs, maybe that’s why.

First time having Afghani food and it did not disappoint! Had samosas, salad, traditional bread with sauce, and chicken kebabs. Highly suggest.

I grew up near an Afghani restaurant and ate there regularly. Sansom lived up to my memories of that place. The ashak/aushak was particularly delicious.

Amazing food, staff and ambiance here. I do wish portion sizes were more sizeable because for the cost I found them to be a little small and very pricey. For instance, I think we got maybe a cup of rice with our baigan chalaw and I know that's the suggested portion size blah blah blah but I want more rice come on! I'm not on a diet here. But the flavors of their baigan was AMAZING and I loved their yogurt sauces that came with almost of the dishes we ordered. Bread came out fresh and warm (again definitely wish the portion was larger). The chicken korma side was legit the same size as the eggplant for reference and there was a world of different cost wise because it didn't come with the yogurt sauce, bread, rice, or salad. Loved the apps (bulani and ashak) and the Afghan ice cream (sheeryakh).

The negative feedback nearly scared me away from a good meal. Their dishes maintain high standards without exception. Workers combine efficiency with personality. First-rate staff, clean space, and enjoyable ambiance. Money well spent at this place.

was looking for a last-night restaurant for visiting family. They had been eating their way across Philly's gastronomic delights so the final nite couldn't be a let down. decided on SKH and boy was it a hit. Super friendly, nice decor and chill vibe along with the byob - the stage was set. Fantastic meal. The appetizers - Ashak, something pumpkin and the lentil soup was a great way to start. Strongly recommend the Ashak dumplings. Main courses were equally great but the appetizers really set every off correctly. everyone's gone and the house is quiet, finally, but that meal lingers on. Texts the following morning saying they wished they stayed longer so they could go again - well, that might be pushing it!

The food was incredible. The service was so sweet. The restaurant has a very relaxed vibe bring your own drinks reasonable price . I would go back in a minute

Food was great as was the service. I would absolutely reccomend them. The portions were large and the flavor packed a powerful punch. I've never had Afghani food, and I will certainly be back again

There isn't a single thing about this restaurant that I don't love! The service is top notch and so personal. They have truly recaptured the art of being personable. The food is to die for! If I don't eat in I order take out from here at least once a week. The veg kabob platter and the bread dish with their chutney is my absolute favorite. Being a vegetarian it's usually hard to find good non fried food. But this place does not disappoint. And I also love the floor seating. It's fun and super cultural. Huge fan!

Ordered takeout for first time...amazing. We're vegetarian...this is a gem for us. Kidney bean, chickpea, spinach...all incredible. Sambosa was delicious. This is now in the top echelon of our dining options

Updating my review since they re-opened (after being available for takeout only for a long time since COVID): This is really a great place, a neighborhood gem. It is quiet and comfortable inside, the service is outstanding, and the food is really great. Some relation to but quite different from the more common Middle Eastern foods, with unique flavor profile. Everything here is delicious, but I am a special fan of the Qablee Palaw, which is a dish of rice, carrots, almonds, and raisins over grilled lamb. Fantastic casual unique and delicious!

Quick service and fantastic food! We really enjoyed our kabobs and the ambience was very nice.

Outstanding! Freshly prepared, warm bread, each dish bursting with flavor. Our group of 8 all were pleased with our meal. Lamb kabab, okra, hummus, pumpkin, mixed kabob, salads, chicken kabob, all delicious. This family-run, small restaurant is a gem that has been in the same family for 20 years.

I came here on a Friday night for a friend's birthday since it was the only place he called that could handle a last minute party of 6. Hopefully it was just an unusually slow night, because a place with food as good as we had (and portions as large) should be booming during primetime hours. We started with the ashak, which was (unpopular opinion alert) my least favorite dish of the night. It's a dumpling swimming in sauce, which texturally doesn't do it for me. That said, everyone else I was with loved it, so I'm the outlier on that one. I did really enjoy the sambosas, which tasted similarly to a samosa. For my entree, I ordered the Sansom Kabob with the chicken and lamb combo. Everything about the dish was fantastic---the chicken and lamb were perfectly cooked and the portion was ultra generous. The accompanying salad and bread were also delicious. The service was brisk and efficient and the decor is lovely. If you're looking for a good place to eat with no wait, give Sansam Kabob House a shot.

The dishes are so small not fitting with the price The food is mediocre The service okay

We ordered takeout, and the food was unbelievably excellent. We had a bunch of the vegetarian side dishes, plus the samosas and bohlani. The entire meal we were trying to decide which was our favorite... it was basically a six way tie for first. Even yhe piece of baklava they included it was out of this world flavorful. This has become our go to neighborhood spot, for sure.

A middle eastern gem! Either eating at the restaurant or getting takeout/delivery, you can't go wrong with this place. It used to be on Sansom Street but relocated to 13th and South. The food is authentic and delicious. The lamb is always tender and their bread is so unique and perfect dipped into hummus or even their yogurt sauce. Kabobs obviously are terrific, but my fave item on the menu is the Qablee Palaw. It's fantastic.

I really liked the atmosphere and design of the restaurant. Beautiful paintings on the wall and cute small area reminding of special areas traditions. I ordered Qablee Palaw. It came with hot bread, house fresh salad and a vegetable dressing. I really liked the food, although I expexted a larger portion. It tasted so good and it was my first time eating at an Afghan restaurant. I did not like the service that much. Although, I recommend checking in this place because of its variety of food, kabobs and pelows and the beautiful design of this restaurant. Give it a shot!!

The Samson Kabob house on 13th and South is a surprisingly beautiful restaurant. The space is very tastefully decorated and has very nice lighting, chandeliers, tasteful artwork and high ceilings. Samson Kabob is BYOB. We ordered the hummus and this came with Afghan style flat bread that was hot and tasty. I had the Lamb kabob and this dish was a winner. The lamb was tender and juicy with great spices and an awesome grilled flavor. We also had an Afghan Manti dish, which is sort of like small dumplings in a spicy yogurt sauce. This was delicious also. The Kabob was served with rice. Samson Kabob house had a decent variety of vegetarian dishes on the menu also. Most entrees were in the $16-20 range. I really liked the food, atmosphere and service...and that lamb kabob! 4 solid Yelps.

My first time with Afghani food, though the dishes we tried seemed very familiar. Prices were a bit on the higher side, but this isn't a doner kebab takeaway! You will need a group of six people at least to reserve the spot where you can all sit around a low table with your shoes off. Good to know in the future! We were miffed to know we were short one person to get it and we almost considered dragging someone off South Street to join us - hahaaha. The ambiance was lovely - our table of five could easily chat and hear each other. It's definitely a white table, candle light and clinking glasses kinda place. We shared a number of different dishes, none of which I care to attempt to spell out, but everything was delicious. I loved my Afghani meatballs, my sister loved her kebab (not the most appetizing looking thing, but it was spiced well), and the four different appetizers we tried out were all gone quickly (they were on the smaller side, so we could each only have a bite or so each).

Came here because my cousin recommended it. He served in Af at one point and loves this spot. Three of us came here during a non-busy Saturday lunch hours. I liked the vibes that the decor gave. Dem paintings and pictures of Af and the knicknacks on the wall accompanied with the Afghan music in the background really gave such a chill, mountain-like vibe. There's also a special low table if you would like to try the option of sitting on the floor - the traditional way. It was for sure my first time trying out Af cuisine. Interestingly, just from reading the menu, it has a bit of the East, a bit of the Middle East, and a bit of the North similarities. We ordered the ashak, chicken kebab, and beef kebab. Definitely a fan of the kebabs because of the long-grain rice that came with it was really flavorful. The ashak kinda reminded me of pierogi, but just with richer and more flavorful sauce. It's kinda on the pricier side, but it's totally worth it.

Excellent tasting food, friendly waitstaff, and nice ambiance. Ample seating with reasonable prices

Food tastes fine, but overall small portions and way overpriced for the amount of food you get. So all and all, probably won't go back because of that.

Excellent Afghan food in a quiet, elegant and serene dining room. We shared a lamb and rice dish, scallion dumplings with meat sauce, and an eggplant appetizer. The dishes were accompanied by salad and warm Afghan bread, which we used to sop up every last bit of the light, tasty sauces. All of the above were A+. Labni and baklava for dessert were good...B+. Service was attentive and gracious. I look forward to returning and bringing friends.

Outstanding takeout meal and service...We did takeout for a birthday party in the suburbs (8 adults & 5 kids). We ordered a mix of kabob platters and appetizers. Everything was excellent, including the helpful service as we were trying to figure out what to order. The food was packaged in a way that facilitated serving a larger group, and the owner threw in one of her favorite dishes as an extra. Everyone loved the food; especially the mix of flavors among the appetizers. We will do this again for sure.

Really enjoyed this place. The decor is amazing! Food was good, a couple dishes could use a bit more spice in my opinion, but was yummy.

It is an Afghani restaurant located near down town Philadelphia, the atmosphere is good, the food is delicious, but the fact that you have to pay gratuity despite the fact that the service was terrible this is not accepted at all for me . They added more than 20 $ on the invoice as a gratuity without even taking my permission. It is really something annoying. As a customer I will never go back again to this restaurant unless they change there gratuity policy . Simply cheating the customer is not acceptable to anyone.

3.5 - 4 stars - never actually ate in the restaurant but I get takeout here all the time. I tried almost all the Kabob meals and they range from good to very good In my opinion. You get your choice of kabob (or combo of kabob's), Afghan rice, salad and Afghan bread (very thick pita). Warning - the Chutney sauce is very spicy so be careful. My preference is the chicken or beef but the lamb is also good. The beef option is marinated / spiced ground beef and definately a highlight on the menu. The kabobs are always cooked perfectly and never dried out. If you want a lighter meal, get the kabob salad and skip the rice. I'm certainly not a rice connoisseur but Afghan rice has a different texture, a larger grain and most importantly delicious. I love this rice. Kabob main courses are in the $20 range and portion size is above average. Recommended BK

Beautiful decor, fantastic food, and hands-down one of the cleanest restaurant bathrooms I've seen. I really needed to give them five stars overall as it was time for Maghrib and they moved tables out of the way so my husband could pray indoors instead of outside on this very hot night.

Sansom Kabob House has picked right up where it left off in its move to its new digs on South Street. The food is still very tasty and nicely presented. However now the food is served in beautiful surroundings. This is the best-looking Afghan restaurant in Philly. Oh yes, it is still as friendly as ever too! Among the dishes enjoyed here was the bulani. These paper-thin pockets with potato and onions are on the addictive side of the food index. The tasty ashak (scallion dumpling) is right behind them ... and it also provides a dip for the fresh Afghan bread served here. For a main course, I went with the eponymous Sansom kabob platter and wasn't at all disappointed...especially as the brown rice was cooked so perfectly. Tip - Don't forget to ask for their homemade Chatni hot sauce! Welcome Sansom Kabob House to South Street!

This place is amazing! I've eaten here throughout the years when I'm in philly and even after moving locations I was pleased to see that the quality of the food is as great as ever. I always get the Sansom Kebob which is my go to dish. Definitely check it out if your in the area.

I tried Afghan food for the very first time here and I was blown away! My boyfriend and I felt a little underdressed walking in as there were white tablecloths on the table (the universal sign of dining fanciness) but we were just there for lunch and were soon joined in the restaurant by others in casual garb. We started off with the best hummus I've ever had - a perfect creamy texture drizzled with oil. There was a spicy dip served along with it, which was nice as our main entrees weren't spicy. After we finished the bread it came with I started to eat it with a spoon! Couldn't let it go to waste. Thankfully our server brought us more bread so we could scoop up the rest. I orderd the Mantu - delicious dumplings with beef and onion and topped with yogurt and mint. Yogurt? Yeah, it was perfect. Again, after eating the dumplings, I scooped up the sauce. I will definitely be coming back! And with no jeans if I come for dinner. I need to impress the white tablecloths.

Some of the best food I've had in ages. Their spicy green sauce is TO DIE FOR! So beautiful inside and the service is friendly and wonderful!

This is probably the first and only restaurant I have been to in the middle of a big cosmopolitan city where I had to take my shoes off to enter the seating area. And I loved it! You feel very much at home as you sit on the low Afghani/Arab style sofas which you can almost lie down on given how spacious the seating area is. Though I must admit we were the lucky ones! I went to this place with two newly acquired friends local to Philadelphia - and we really got royal treatment. One of the two friends was clearly a regular and ordered the best dishes on offer and we were served promptly after. The dishes were not the ridiculous sized portions one associated when in the US - they were fair and cooked well. The lentil with the rice was my favourite that day. But the lounging and the beautiful Afghani music made the food taste all the better and it was an awesome night - one I won't forget anytime soon. If my friends in Philadelphia ever come to read this - thanks for an awesome dining experience - and dari is a beautiful language.

The two stars are for the ambiance and the fact that my dinner guest's meal was good (I tasted some of her rice, it was really well seasoned). However, I ordered the Bamia (tomatoes and okra) and it was really bland (both the rice and the sauce). I politely asked the waitress for hot sauce and she seemed reluctant to give it to me and then asked if I thought it was bland. I tried to politely tell her it was and she seemed shocked and said no one had ever said that about the dish. When she came back with the hot sauce she said that the chef was fasting for Ramadan and perhaps that was the reason (I assume this means he isn't tasting the food). The hot sauce did what hot sauce does and I ate the meal. I would have given three stars if the service was better but it wasn't great (think kids working for their parents). I'm disappointed because this is close and the ambiance is great but this will probably be a pass in the future.

Atmosphere - Pretty intimate BYOB. They even have an area where you can sit on the floor and eat, though it was empty when we were there. Service - As good as you can ask for. Servers were all kind and patient. Food - Good but not great. It didn't blow me away but definitely very good. Drinks - BYOB Overall - The food is good but the prices seemed pretty extraordinary to me and I've never been adverse to paying for quality food. $23 for a Lamb Kabob plate that wasn't anything special seemed extreme to me. I think you can get the same thing at most places for less than half the price. I might be inclined to try it again since it's about two blocks (maybe less) from where I live but probably not. Points for: Atmosphere. Service. BYOB. No points: A bit pricey for what you get.

One of the most astoundingly wonderful restaurants in Philadelphia. Delicious food and pleasant atmosphere. Make sure you try their hummus with cilantro sauce! Service is fantastic.

The food was delicious and service was quick and prompt.... opted for the chicken kebab which was priced decently at $18 and came with salad and bread... the wait staff was attentive and the bathroom was nicely decorated

Samson Kabob House is one of my favorite neighborhood BYOBs - service is fairly fast and friendly, the food is flavorful (but not too salty), and the prices are reasonable for Center City. Favorite items include the steamed dumplings, the hummus, and basically all the kebabs. The dumplings are served in a savory, slightly tangy sauce (that tastes great with the homemade flatbread. For entrees, I usually get the fish kebabs (tender, spiced salmon skewers), and if I'm really hungry, I'll get the Samson kebab platter, which comes with chicken, ground spiced beef, and chunks of lamb. There's something addicting about the food - once you start eating it, it's difficult to stop! On the side, the rice is super fluffy, and the lentils are delicious. Service is friendly and usually pretty fast (though they do get a bit overwhelmed when large parties come in), and the restaurant decor is fun. My coworkers like to come for group lunches, and I love having quiet weekend dinners here!

The ground beef kabob was delicious and juicy. We were in a rush and the food came out quickly.

Spot is philly is cool. Vibes is on point. Staff is cool, even though one of waiters asked a weird question and gave a kinda offensive remark. But it's all good , no harm done. Food was really good but come on guys, $19 for mantu?? That's kinda pushing it. But otherwise this spot is official.

Walking down south street, we asked a woman pushing a baby carriage into her garage for her favorite local restaurant. That's how we found this treasure. The steamed spinach over Afghan rice (chalaw sabzi) was delicious. The yellow lentil soup was great every spoonful. Ashak which are scallion dumplings with meat sauce was great. Recommended!

A human does not need to sell THEMSELF as that is not an act of self respect. As long as the Food is yummy and a suitable atmosphere is offered requiring someone become your "friend" is a demeaning request to make. Social customs vary from place to place and an ethnic restaurant which seeks to be authentic should retain the customs and comfort of the proprietors and the staff.

Is this the Sansom Street Kabob House that people rave about? I think we need to check it out. This spot is a great addition to the booming restaurant revival along the South Street corridor as of late. The in-house baked bread here is so delicious, light and fluffy and made in a traditional tandoori oven! From what I understand, most restaurants outsource their bread so this was a treat to have the real deal. The menu is pretty straight forward. I went for the lamb kabob and it was simply delicious! It's a great atmosphere and the food makes for great conversation! I highly recommend this place. The takeaway is very good as well!

Updating my review based on the recent visit to this establishment. The food is still good but has become a costly affair. 20$+ for lamb kabob which is enough for one person for lunch is not something one will call for. Apart from that no issues with service or quality of food. Veggie options are also priced almost 17$ which I feel is on higher side cost wise

Sadly we have been walking by for 2 years, each time saying " we need to go! We live a block away!" Finally we did this evening. Shame on us!! Food was fantastic- spices were simply amazing! Service was perfect- they obviously understand the delicate balance between allowing the diner to enjoy their meal while never waiting to ask for extra xyz. We even ordered dessert which we typically don't order but cardamom pudding (excellent). Go- I don't believe you will be disappointed! Ps- byob and discount with cash pay

Ordered delivery from here and wow - I was blown away! I ordered the Chablee kebob (a ground beef kebob with onion, garlic, & spices) for lunch and it was one of the best kebobs I have had in Philly. The food was flavorful and used quality fresh ingredients. Fantastic. The only reason for my 4 star review is that I did find the prices to be a little on the high side - although this probably won't stop me from returning!

Absolutely delicious however not 5/5 because of the prices We got the hummus, lamb kebab, and a veggie side. Between my fiance and I, we were full and enjoyed the food immensely. Very good seasoning and a cool atmosphere. Like I said, I am not giving 5/5 solely because of the price. We split an entree with an app and a side and paid greater than $40! It's quality food but I think for that much money they should be offering a more intimate experience. Pros: BYOB! Cons: Prices, staff impersonal

I had Afghan cuisine for the first time ever and absolutely loved everything I ate. 'Ashak' is a must try item on the menu, 'Qurma Chalaw' is simply delicious with the perfect blend of spices. I finished the meal with 'Firni' and 'Sheeryakh.' I am definitely coming back when I visit Philly again.

This byo is cozy and the food is delicious. The Afghan bread is cooked fresh and is brought to your table quickly. Afghan bread has different texture and flavor from the typical pita bread you get at other middle eastern restaurants. It is really tasty. The appetizers are delightful and well-portioned. As for the kabobs, the chicken and lamb are well-seasoned and cooked perfectly. The rice is fresh and not too dry. I always have a solid meal here. Plus, it's byo. The seating area is not incredibly large but it is not awfully small either. I would say it could comfortably seat 40 people. I liked their old location on Sansom but this place has a newer and nicer interior. I definitely recommend!

Their food was so so. The bolani was tasty but a bit over spicy. Afghani food normally doesn't have much spices. Mantoo and it's sauce was perfect. Kabali puloa didn't look fresh to me, I felt the meat was old.

I believe this Restaurant serves the actual authentic Afghan Cuisines in the area. We all enjoyed our meal and the lady who works there offered us free dates for breaking our fast since it's Ramadan. Thank you so much for the great service and generosity.