The Helmand

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.3/5 stars We visited The Helmand on a Thursday night and were surprised to find it almost completely empty. Just two other diners were in the entire restaurant, which gave it a strange, somewhat lifeless vibe for a place that gets so much hype online. The decor feels a bit outdated, and honestly, they could probably use some marketing help to get more people through the door. It really didn’t feel like a spot that’s supposed to be one of Baltimore’s most famous Afghan restaurants. That said, the service was excellent. The servers were super attentive, always checking on us and refilling our water without us having to ask. They were polite and knowledgeable about the menu. The food itself was… fine. A lot of the menu revolves around lamb, which was cooked well enough but didn’t blow us away. Flavors were decent, but nothing stood out as particularly memorable. It’s the sort of meal where you finish full and satisfied but not raving about it afterward. We didn’t try any of the wine or coffee, so can’t comment on those, but the prices were fair for the amount of food we got. Overall, it was a solid experience, but I’m just not sure it deserves the level of hype it gets online. Tasty, but not amazing. If you’re curious about Afghan food or just want something different, it’s worth trying at least once, but don’t go in expecting to be completely wowed.

I had never had Afghanistan dishes before. This restaurant exceeded my expectations! I had the chicken Lawand and wow! The flavors were so delicious. Alfredo did an excellent job taking care of us. I would definitely come back again and again.

Really great food. Tender cooked meats in delicious savory sauces. The dining room is nice. It is a really busy place and fills up quickly, so reservations are best. The Turkish coffee was really good. My only complaint (and i know this sounds strange), but the food came out too quickly. We ordered an appetizer, and it came out 2 minutes later. We ordered dinner, and it came out in 5 min. I just wanted to sit and chat with my friends for a few minutes and enjoy the ambiance. Overall, it was a great experience and I will go again.

Delicious food - plenty of space - quick, attentive service. If you look in and see an empty place don’t be surprised and turn around. I’m always hesitant with an “empty” place, but there’s a second room! The food I had was all delicious. I took their recommendations which were stellar. I can’t remember the names but the lamb with rice, carrots, and raisins was 10/10.

This place was amazing!! The food had a lot of great flavors and spices. Friendly and attentive staff. I’m not surprised why this place is always packed and has great reviews.

Great to finally try this place, it’s a real gem! Good food and excellent ambiance. Afghan food is really interesting and very palatable, similar to north Indian food in many ways and a few of the dishes are closely related but it’s still unique. For an upscale restaurant the prices are quite reasonable. Definitely recommend for locals and visitors alike!

Rating: 2/5 The food wasn’t terrible, but definitely way below average. I’ve had much better Afghan meals elsewhere. We ordered two different vegetarian dishes, and both were so disappointing we couldn’t even eat them. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend this place.

We had the salmon and veggie platter. Both were outstanding. The veggie platter had 9 items all with a unique flavor. The salmon was moist and had a devine sauce. The service was outstanding and my water glass was never dry. I would highly recommend The Helmand.

It was a one of the best dinner I had in Baltimore. The food was high quality and quantity, super flavorful, and the service was passionate and friendly and patient. I'd give it 6 stars if pissible. The food came in large quantity. We ordered Mantwo for appetizer and it might be the best beef sauce I've had. It's full of the special season and the dumpling came freshly cooked. The lamb dish was awesome too, it came medium cooked which is a bit red (which I like) and very juicy. And the sauce/dressing!! The one came with the chicken (the same for Shornakod salad) was beyond good--- it's the best chutney/dressing I've had. It's cilantro vinaigrette-- and it's tangy, mixed with cilantro and all different kinds of spices. It's so exotic and delicious that I took a dipping sauce box with me when boxing leftovers. We had ice cream for dessert, and it was delicious. It was cardamom flavored, with dried fruit and nuts mixed in. We were so full but couldn't resist eating more. Conclusion is: if you like flavorful Indian/ Middle East, Afghanistan food, you can't go wrong! The service was great too, it was our first time there, they explained to us what are dishes like and what wine to pair with our food. They are patient and apparently knows their restaurant and food super well. They checked back when we were eating frequently. The ambience was great too, was romantic (with candle lights) and people are slightly dressed up. Plenty of space between each table so that you have privacy. We had a great date night and eat until they are almost closed (hence there is an inner space picture lol). I'd definitely recommend and will come back more times in the future.

Food was bomb! The food came out pretty quickly, and our waters were always filled. The food came out hot and pretty quick and it was just so flavorful. It's pretty dim inside but still nice inside. Don't skip out on this place, you won't regret it.

I love The Helmand. Great food, ambiance and service. The pumpkin is a must have! One of my favorites in Baltimore.

What a great experience! I've been meaning to come to Helmand for forever now. I've heard such great things about it and it's been a longtime staple of the Mount Vernon neighborhood. I finally went in for dinner with a few friends and couldn't be happier with the food, the service, and the atmosphere. Everyone who was working was so nice. From the host, to the servers, to the man cooking the naan bread in the oven, they each had a smile to greet you with. The inside is a lot nicer than I expected. It feels very fine dining with the white tablecloths and dim lighting. And it's really cozy thanks to the beautiful decorations and the brick oven in the back. The bathrooms were also really clean too. We got a couple appetizers to start: the pumpkin and the eggplant. The pumpkin was very tender and came drizzled with a yummy yogurt sauce. The eggplant was cooked to perfection and that's saying something because I normally find eggplant to be too slimy to appreciate the flavor - this one was good! For entrees, we decided to share the kabuli pallow and one of the specials, the chicken lawand. We were all new to Afghan cuisine but these dishes came highly recommended by the staff. The kabuli pallow was definitely my favorite. It featured tender, flavorful lamb over a bed of herbed rice and raisins. Omg, soo good! The chicken lawand was also very good and well seasoned but I think I just liked the lamb more. We also got a bottle of red wine that paired really nicely with everything we ate. I'd definitely come back to explore more of the menu and wouldn't be opposed to just ordering that lamb for takeout for myself!

Such an amazing place to dine! Ten stars +! Don't hesitate to dine here! The service is great, too!:)

I came here for an early dinner with a friend. It was already quite busy for being around 5:30pm on a Sunday. It's a nice restaurant inside, nothing super fancy but just nice dining. We started off with a bottle of white wine which was quite good. I got one of the lamb specials which was really tasty and had great flavor but disappointing there were only 4 little pieces of lamb chunks in it with the rest mainly being potatoes. We shared some naan bread that was decent and ended with baklava for dessert which was ok. Our server wasn't that friendly and didn't know or even speak(?) English well. When trying to decide on a couple options for a wine bottle, he didn't seem to understand our questions and went to grab someone else who seemed to be the GM. The GM was very helpful and gave us tastings of the two wines before we made our decision. Service of the wait staff could be improved but I'd still come back here again to try their other dishes.

This is the third time I've been to The Helmand in person and have gotten delivery as well and it's always so solid. I forgot how good the food was. They serve Afghan food and it's a staple in Mount Vernon. It's pseudo elegant in that there's paper menus and paper table cloths but it's that old school vibe. I went on Boxing Day and it was pretty packed. We ate everything family style starting with the kaddo borwani which is the first listed item on the menu an unassuming pumpkin with a yogurt - it was definitely more garlicky this time which I enjoyed. The mantwo pastry shells filled with meat had a kick to it and served with rice. Their green chutney is like crack - obsessed with it. The lamb dish - koufta has a sweetness with apricots that makes it addicting! Highly recommend this spot. Great with friends, family or a romantic night out.

Excellent meal at the Helmand last night! Each dish was full of warming flavor. A great choice for vegetarians-- I recommend the kaddo borwani (pumpkin appetizer) and vegetarian korma in particular. Ambiance was excellent, as was the service. We let them know that we were trying to make a concert at the Lyric, and they were so kind to get the food out quickly for us. Highly recommend!

Southern Asian cooking is almost always good, but occasionally we run across a balance of flavor, texture, and heat that leaves me with a delightfully warm feeling inside about a half hour after I've left, and a desire to return as soon as possible. The Helmand was one of those experiences. Noodles, meat, rice, stuffed pasta, sauces, and freshly baked bread are all present, each with a familiarity that screams 'comfort food', but with a uniqueness that is unlike anything else I've had. We were fortunate enough to be seated near the back, with a view of the oven, whose flames added to the atmosphere, as well as baking their bread. Lighting was subdued, making it even more of a fine dining experience. The menu, along with the wait staff, provided enough information about the unfamiliar item names to make ordering simple and low risk. Save room for the Jala ice cream, flavored with cardamom, topped with pomegranate syrup, Asian noodles (!), and almonds.

I recently went here with two friends for a weeknight dinner and had an OK experience overall. We had good service and the restaurant had a good ambiance-white tablecloths, nice lighting. My friends and I split the vegetarian aushak for an appetizer, which needed more flavor. We also got the naan, which was a flatbread and could have used a richer taste. On my server's recommendation, I ordered a lamb special, which was extremely disappointing. The dish needed more spice and flavor, and at $25, I expected more lamb in the dish.

The venue is nice and clean and the staff is super helpful and friendly...AND, most importantly, the food is delicious. However, I ordered one of the lamb specials on my visit yesterday. The dish was $25 and while the flavors and mesh of food was impeccable, there were only THREE CHUNKS OF LAMB in the dish. The lack of meat was initially disguised because there were a TON of mushrooms in the dish and both the lamb and mushrooms had similar shaping and coloring. It wasn't until I bit into mushroom after mushroom, I realized the special should have been called mushrooms with a few pieces of lamb. This irritates me. I am not a cheap person, but I expect when I pay for a lamb dish, I get more pieces of it. Stop being cheap with meats yet still charging full price for them. Oh, also, the side of spinach was super bland and The Helmand is another restaurant that doesn't just have S&P at the table, you have to ask for it. Oh, oh, not a fan of the naan. Would not get that in future.

Wow! We were very excited about this place and it delivered. It is my friend's favorite Afghani restaurant in Baltimore, and they were excited to take us here. The place itself is cool with art on the walls and a nice ambience. It certainly felt like a nice night out. We started with 2 appetizers, both vegetarian versions. The Bowlawni was delicious. I am a sucker for a fried pastry with savory stuffing. The Veggie Mantwo was not my favorite because it felt like the toppings of carrots and peas overtook everything else. But I'm sure it is very different with meat sauce, so I would try it again. For the mains, we had a lamb dish which was reminiscent of a sweet and sour sauce. It was delicious, and the lamb was cooked perfectly. My only complaint was that there were about 3 or 4 small pieces total, which is absurd for a meat dish. However, I am giving a pass on that until I go back and see if it is the standard or a mistake (I'll let you know if it happens again). The vegetarian platter was so good. It had a few kinds of veggies in a bowl and I spooned it over rice. When I tell you I could not stop eating it...I am rarely a vegetable woman, but this place could convert me with all the flavor it brings. Don't sleep on the dessert! The baklava was great of course. But the star was the cardamom ice cream with cold noodles and pomegranate sauce. Taking a bite of the smooth ice cream mixed with the texture of tiny slightly gummy noodles. My. Goodness. So unique and a fun way to end the meal! Note: My pictures aren't the best because the lighting is low inside which is not conducive to taking great pictures (but nice in person).

Having never had Afghani food prior coming to Baltimore, I wasn't sure what to expect, but The Helmand has never disappointed in my time here! Ambiance: On arrival, this is clearly a more of a nicer sit-down restaurant with a more dimly lit and cozy atmosphere. There are various in-theme decorations across the wall and tableclothes and candles span the restaurant. Additionally, they're great at large groups as well, and it is easy enough to make a reservation here. Although it does get busy on weekends, so be prepared. Service: Kind staff, timely, and attentive to guests. Overall wonderful experience with the staff there. Just of note, you have to walk straight down the hallway when you first enter the restaurant as the front desk is not immediately there when you enter. Food: Of note, they have an entire section of vegetarian specials available on the menu, which is great (also still a great place for non-vegetarians)! Having been familiar with Indian, particularly North Indian food, for much of my life, various aspects of the Afghani food here resonated with the flavors and spices I enjoy. - Vegetarian mantwo: I always enjoy this dish. It comes with a few pastry shells that are stuffed with onions and other vegetables, and steamed. They are served covered in yogurt alongside yellow split peas as the sauce covering the pastry shells. Always a well-seasoned dish that combines my love for dumpling-style products and spiced lentils. - Vegetarian platter: This comes with a whole array of different vegetable wet and dry curries served with pallow (seasoned/spiced Basmati rice). It is great for those who face indecision in wanting to try multiple items. Each vegetable, including eggplant, okra, mushrooms, and others, is uniquely spiced, cooked well, and complement each other. You are also served some naan, which is a bit different than the typical Indian naan I am used to. The one here is square and much thicker, having a more bread-like quality to it rather than a flatbread. There is also a cilantro/mint-based chutney that comes with the food that is also delicious to top onto your food or even with just the bread. Great place overall with great food and service!

Food was astoundingly delicious. Had a lamb stew with roasted vegetables that melted in my mouth. Bread was perfection. The service was attentive without feeling pushy or rushing me - staff had eyes on. The atmosphere is warm and relaxing. I dined here alone while I was on a work trip. I had a lovely walk to the restaurant from my hotel. I would definitely recommend and dine here again.

My family came here to celebrate my father's birthday. The food was so fresh and amazing! Everything we got, from appetizers to main entrees, were great. We definitely want to come back sometime soon!

Definitely on the nicer side of sit-down restaurants. It felt pretty fancy with white tablecloth dinner tables and the tables already set up neatly. I came with a table of 6 and we were pretty indecisive, so we kept asking the server to come back but he was super nice about it. He was fairly attentive until towards the end when we had to grab his attention for dessert and check but it was also understandable considering how busy it was. The menu was huge with a large variety and lots of good vegetarian options. My party each got an entree with 4 of us getting lamb, 1 beef, and 1 salmon. The lamb was definitely their specialty. I got the lamb loin chops and I was super pleased with how tender it was. The lamb was a perfect medium rare and the grill gave it the perfect char. The dish itself came with a sauce and they also provided another green sauce that were both super flavorful paired with the lamb. The lamb was also seasoned well so it didn't necessarily need the sauces but I appreciated them all the same. I also tried the lamb kabob but the lamb tasted more dry for that dish - not sure if it was cooked differently or just a little too long. The naan had a more dense consistency instead of the fluffy consistency that I was expecting. It was still pretty good with the butter served with it. The salmon was more disappointing - it was steamed and didn't quite absorb the sauce that was on it.

I've been obsessed with this place since college! Delicious, fresh afghan food in an affordable, but fancy restaurant feel! I highly recommend all the vegetarian dishes, got the platter and the aushak last time! The food is fresh and comes out fast! Have to get it with a side of naan! Parking in the area isn't horrible to find on the street or a nearby paid lot. Easy to public transport from most areas. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and the staff is kind and accommodating! Still my favorite restaurant 8 years later!

Decided to go vegetarian for 30d and wanted more than the standard American "3 veggie side dishes" for an entree. Didn't want an impossible burger or any other "plant based meat substitute": yelped vegetarian, and this place was an option close by so I ventured Glad I did. Don't recall trying afghan food in Bmore so here's my take Very "Indian-like" but without the spiciness. Similar contents and menu items but maybe with a minor Afghani twist? A Sunday evening (7p) it wasn't crowded but also wasn't empty. Nice nite, I chose to sit outside and people watch the "Mt Vernon neighborhood" Started w a salad...it was good EXCEPT I know now to ask for the dressing on the side. It was very strong in its vinagrett-ness and it was soaked. I got through about 2/3rds and had to quit. I enjoyed the large slices of cu umber and tomato and peppers, and the mixed greens, though My appetizer was the Bowloni. Think pastry crème puff stuffed w leeks and potatoes (glad I didn't pay extra for a side of naan). It was decent. Glad I tried. Would eat a piece if it were on a buffet, but don't have to order it again Entree. Mantwo Basmati rice on the side w a cilantro "dressing". Never had anyone bring me a "room temp/cold" dressing to top rice, but I like it. I was told the rice was lightly seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg and clove. I was told this AFTER I'd consumed it all, with the cilantro, so I can't attest to if the "daring seasoning" could be tasted. Will have to order again The mantwo is beans and potatoes and other veggie type things wrapped in a little pastry shell. 4 come as an entree, surrounded by split peas and yogurt. I was told the stuffed shell is fried -but it wasn't "crispy fried". Pleasant. But minimal spice/seasoning it was "just ok". Again. Glad I tried it, I don't have to order it again. Would put one on my plate if it were on a buffet Didnt want coffee and abstaining from Alcohol (for now), was given an "afgani tea" option: black tea w cardamon. Once again. I've used cardamon in food, never thought about using it in tea. Def a different blended experience. So. I'm just now remembering eating similar fare in an Afghan/middle eastern spot near UoD. And recall the same feelin. Love the veggie options. Def outshine American (non existent) veggie entrees, but I think I'm a "hot" spice person Def unique flavor experience -Americans don't tend to use yogurt in main meals, or "seasonings" in our tea, and I've never heard of "dressing on your rice" at Ruby Tuesdays lol So glad I went. And will def return, when I'm eating meat, cause id like to ck out the lamb Wait staff was absolutely AWESOME!! Not overbearing, but came out to my table always right on time. Helped me understand each dish and ingredient. Great suggestions and just overall pleasant. I'll def be back.

This place was fantastic! A wonderful, unique Afghani restaurant with complex flavors in the heart of Baltimore. My non-veg coworkers ordered the Zardalu Challow (lamb) and Kaddo Borwani (roast pumpkin), while myself being vegetarian, ordered the Vegetarian Aush (vegetable soup) and Vegetarian Dolma (eggplant filled with spinach, tomatoes, and special herb sauce). All of the dishes were just amazing (coworkers loved theirs)! Flavorful, freshly made with love and care. For dessert, we had Fruits and Cardamom ice cream, which was excellent. Ended with a delicious Turkish coffee. It was a great way to taste unique dishes from this part of the world. Highly recommended!

What a cute little gem! Food review: (see pics) -naan - 9/10 -mantwo appetizer-10/10 -hot chai tea-10/10- this was really rich with the right -balance of spice -seeks kabob-9/10 -lamb lawand-9/10 -afghan ice cream - 10/10- this was a pleasant surprise. Rich, creamy with fruit and some type of nut mixture, which made a great addition to the dish There were a variety of sauces to pair with each dish as well and we enjoyed all of them. The portion sizes are average. However, I was able to share the lamb dish with my partner and it was adequate for a light dinner. Service: Excellent. We received each dish quickly and the waiter checked on us regularly. It was a week day around 6pm and they had about 10 parties at that time. The majority of guests were sitting outside. We sat indoors. It's spacious and modestly decorated. Total bill: $77.66

This is an authentic Afghan restaurant that is a gem in Baltimore. Located down the street from the Washington Monument, I would highly recommend trying out this restaurant. Also I would recommend the Kaddo Borwani!

The food here is fantastic. Super flavorful. Everyone in my group really enjoyed it. I came with a group of 4 and was able to make reservations very easily. Parking around the area was pretty easy. We found a spot out in front right as we got there. Nobody was there at the front of the restaurant. After about a minute, someone came out and showed us to our table. We got 3 appetizers, all of which were very very good. The pumpkin was my favorite. I ordered the mushroom mawand (spelling?). I enjoyed it a lot. It was a decent portion size. I liked the spinach it came with. I ate about half and was able to take the rest home for another meal. The service is very slow. My friend had to flag someone down for water after our glasses were empty. We wanted to order dessert, but after we got the dessert menu, the waiter didn't come bqck for another 15ish minutes. So we opted to just get the check at that point. We really enjoyed the food here and would come back for a leisurely paced meal!

My all time favorite cuisines are those that hail from my home region - South Asia - so I was delighted to try out this place. The ambience was sophisticated and classy-- this was a true fine dining experience. I loved the touch of the tablecloths and the candles at each and every table to elevate the experience. Not only did the wait staff make us feel welcomed, but they also were extremely helpful with guiding us on what to order. Onto the food! Our meal was off to a great start since we began with the Banjan Borwani. The spices melted perfectly into eggplant that was tender and not mushy. This was the perfect app as it was light yet still packed with flavor. For our mains, we ordered the Mantwo and the special that was a Chicken Curry dish. The Mantwo was like nothing I've ever had before but in the best way! It was earthy and aromatic while also savory and meaty. The ravioli like shells were so soft and the fillings were a pillow with tender meat and the yogurt had this cooling effect that paired absolutely perfectly with the rest of the meal. This is a MUST order if you like trying new things and want to be exposed to a whole new flavor profile that perfectly balances mild with bold flavors! The Chicken Curry dish was also rich with tomato flavor and the mushrooms added a surprisingly yummy twist. Although the Chicken Curry dish was phenomenal, it felt all too familiar to the food I associate with my heritage, so I was a little upset with myself that I was not super adventurous with this entree. Also, we arrived 1 hour before closing on a weekend night without a reservation (not my proudest moment) and they were able to accommodate us right away even with being so busy already, so that goes to show how honest and hardworking the people of this business are. All in all, every aspect of this dining experience exceeded my already high expectations. I definitely need to go back to try more things on the menu. When looking around, it seemed that the parties around us all ordered differently so everything seemed to be popular.

Food is always so very good and in many years of going, have never been disappointed. Flavors abound and caress the palate.

I have only had take out from the Helmand. All of the food was flavorful with generous portions of rice. However, we were dissapointed with the relatively small amount of meat and vegetables served with our entrees. The pumpkin is really yummy - I would order that again!

Pumpkin and lamb. You're welcome. This is still one of the best Afghan restaurants I have ever visited and one of Baltimore's gems. I used to live in Mount Vernon and it was one of my go to restaurants and though I generally gravitated to pumpkin and lamb specialties, neither I nor anyone I brought there ever had a bad meal. When I'm in town it's still on my priority of places to visit.

Afghan cuisine isn't the easiest thing to find - but Baltimore is blessed with the Helmand, a gem of Afghan food with warm service and delicious aromas wafting through the cozily appointed fabric laden rooms. A perfect place for a quiet night on the town with fantastic flavours from the other side of the world!

Went here with a friend while I was at the Peabody Conservatory. Spectacular food, absolutely delicious lamb, and the best coffee I have EVER HAD! The smell me back to my childhood, they make it in the Turkish style and it is not to be missed.

This is one of our favorite, go-to places in Baltimore. The ambience is cozy and reminds you of family and the food is out of this world. The chopendez was so tender and flavorful. The house cilantro sauce is incredible. The shalgham challow is also a hit!

Thanks to everyone at the Helmand who helped make my best friend's birthday awesome! We had a group of 6 and it was all of our first time trying Afghan food. The server did a great job of helping us choose different options. I went with the vegetarian platter because it's made up of their different vegetarian dishes. Everything was delicious. The tomato and onion had that grill flavor we all love, but were not mushy, so I appreciated that. The Bowlawni was my favorite appetizer. There was a good amount of filling inside, so it didn't feel like I was just eating fried dough.

Fantastic meal!!! It was delicious!!! They accommodated our big party Lots of veggie options too Highly recommend

The Helmand is an incredible place. It is the first ever true Afghani food I have ever eaten. The prices are incredibly affordable in an atmosphere that feels high class. Every dish I've ever had there has been incredible. I highly recommend the lamb dishes and the salmon. Don't be afraid that the salmon says it is poached! I found that strange but tried it anyway and it was a perfect cook with amazing flavor combination in the sauces. Lastly, the service is always amazing. Every person who works there seems to truly care about the quality of the food, the experience of each customer, and is delightful to converse with. I cannot recommend trying the Helmand enough!

I've been to Helmand and it's always an amazing experience- the menu has so many great options. The ambiance is incredible and the service is top notch.

I loved the intimate atmosphere of The Helmand. It is absolutely perfect for a date night or a pleasant dinner with friends/family. The staff are so friendly and attentive. They definitely keep the place very clean. My group of 3 ordered two entrees and two appetizers and it was more than enough food. Everything was cooked to perfection- especially the lamb, which was so tender I only used my fork. It is clear that they prepare everything with love and good spices and great recipes. The flavors were absolutely off of the charts. I highly recommend everything that I ordered, but the rest of the menu probably goes hard as well. It is great to see that most dishes have a vegetarian version for those with dietary preferences. Will definitely be back!

Very tight seating. Place was dirty when we went in but the staff upon pointing out was helpful and did the clean up. Food was okay but an Afghan place without Chapli Kabab on the menu does not compute. Overall experience - so so Will I go there again - if there is no other choice available

Amazing food and service! My party of 5 didn't have and reservations but we lucky to get a table and enjoyed the delights this place has to offer. Will return on next trip!

I was extremely impressed by everything I had at this place. It's a must if you love afghan food or want to take a date or friend somewhere special. Every dish was perfectly seasoned with delicious spices. The meat was perfectly cooked. The dessert was especially impressive and unique, esp the goat milk cheesecake. Goat milk has that slightly tart (not bitter) flavor so the taste goes more in the direction of NY cheesecake. Brilliant!

Been here many times! Food is good and great to have the expanded bar menu and some cocktails on the list as well as a full bar and wine list. They have all of their main staples still. My friend had the lamb chops and they were very well seasoned and cooked. Also tried the Turkish ice cream and it was delectable. I will say some of the veggie sides were under seasoned (the spinach) and we were never given our bread but still charged for it. 3.5 stars.

When I go to The Helmand, I leave with a smirk on my face. It is a fulfillment like no other-- fast dishes, stellar service, flavor blasts, and a comforting atmosphere. My lover brought me here for the first time a month or so ago. I've lived in Baltimore all my life and it was news to me that this place existed.. Sometimes all it takes is a transplant to open your eyes to beauty that is already in front of you (uwu) From the cardamom black tea to the buttered bread with the cilantro chutney to the Aushak to the Mantwo to the Kabuli Pallow to the cardamom fruity homemade ice cream, I am thrilled. I was with 4 of my people this time and I had to say, "I am so happy" out loud more than once. I am not even inflating this review, it's just truth. I wouldn't consider it fine dining, but the aesthetic is there and I respect their mission of sorts. Historically, the Qala-e-Bost arch (with The Helmand River) is such an iconic landmark; a bit eerie considering the volatility of the area and it being a piece of what used to be something much more. I find it to be a beautiful emblem with a bit of heartbreak for an Afghani restaurant. I'm not sure one must think about this when dining somewhere, but food can be, and well, is, quite political.

Gls pepper, naan, Kaddish borani, bowlawni, shorwa, zardalu challow, shalgham challow, Turkish coffee and afghan ice cream. Hot and flavors really fresh. Street parking. Place clean. Servers polite. Will revisit.

A must when you're in Baltimore and are craving Afghan food. I have a few places close to where I live, so when someone recommended Helmand, I was skeptical. This place totally blew my mind. So much that I crave it every now and then and want to take the 3 hour drive just to eat here. Try the lamb chops with a side of pumpkin stew/curry. It's to die for.

The Helmand has strong and unique flavors that I've never tasted before. And for that, and it's deliciousness, I award 5 stars. I'd call the food somewhere between Indian and Northern Italian. I started with the Kaddo Borwani (Baked Pumpkin). This is soft yet had a full body to it. The texture was perfect. Just the right amount of sugar and yogurt placed this somewhere between a dessert and a side dish. Sort of like sweet candied yams, but better. For my main course I got the Mantwo, which is a Afghani ravioli (to appropriate the Italian theme). The ravioli was well executed. The sauce was like a marinara but with squash, curry, and beef. It all worked well. The rice it came with was light, well-executed, and fragrant. I don't have much reference for Afghani food so I can't compare this to other experiences. But, this food is quite good. All the ingredients were fresh. The flavors were intelligent. And all food items were well-executed.

The interior is attractive, with symbols of Afghan culture placed within the restaurant, including traditional attire. Place seems clean and personnel were welcoming. We ordered the Kabuli Pulao, which was lamb served with raisins, and thin slices of carrots. While the overall portion was very generous, and the lamb was excellent, I did think a little more lamb would have made the dish even better. Compared to almost every other cuisine I have tried that uses rice in their cooking, I think Afghan cuisine has the very best rice, as the flavoring makes the rice so much enjoyable. Most rice just 'sits there' as a placeholder. We also ordered Naan bread, it was good. The Naan was the one thing that has been better at other (Indian) restaurants. Prices were good, we will be happy to return, food here was really delicious.

AmaZing food, great service, the best for a group celebration! I wish I remembered everything we ordered but it was truly packed with flavor and so so homey. Exactly what you want - a mela cooked with love. The pumpkin was great and we really enjoyed this temprana wine! Do go and enjoy

This might be my favorite restaurant in Baltimore. I can't claim to be an expert on Afghan cuisine, though an Afghan told me that this was his favorite Afghan restaurant in the US. But, regardless of it's ethnicity, the food is fantastic, and I assume it must really be Afghan in some sense because the palate is unique in my experience. I could try to describe the food: great dumplings filled with spiced meats, great fresh squash appetizers and sides, great yogurt sauces, etc.... but, I think for most Americans, you have to taste it to get it. If, like almost everyone else, you're unfamiliar with the cuisine, it's simultaneously unique and accessible. They use spices, but it won't burn tongues, some dishes use lamb, but it's not at all gamey. The food has aspects that are Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and East Asian. You can taste that everything is fresh and homemade. It's objectively great food that's mostly healthy yet home-y. The service is great. It's a restaurant that shows that it wants your business and wants you to have a good time. I've gone with groups when they were busy and we didn't have a reservation, when some members of the group had dietary restrictions, when some people had a lot of questions about the menu, etc. They are a restaurant that demonstrates that they want your business and want you to have a great time. Obviously they can't always accommodate everything, but they go above and beyond to serve their guests as well as possible. I can't recommend The Helmand highly enough.

Even if you made a reservation, expect at least 15 minutes of wait. When you first walk in, the check-in area is a little confusing. Everyone who's waiting gathers around the entrance but there's no dedicated spot and the host runs back and forth from the other room to the main room so it's a little hard to catch them. As soon as we sat down, the server was quick to acknowledge us. The service is great from then on for sure. I ordered the vegetarian platter and it was amazing. You get a little bit of everything and the best part was the mushrooms with white sauce. Yum. My boyfriend ordered the lamb challow and it was very tasty, with a hint of sweetness. DO NOT SKIP ON THE JALA ICE CREAM. I repeat, do not skip on the jala ice cream. The cardamom flavor is simply heavily, and the rice noodles had a nice texture to the ice cream.

We came back to the Helmand after 20 years of being away from Baltimore. This was one of our favorites in the 90's and we were happy to see it still around and still getting good reviews. Unfortunately, we were underwhelmed. The menu hasn't changed in 20 years. The cocktail menu was not inspiring. The dishes we ordered were good, but not great. It seems that they are living on their reputation and maybe need to put some fresh ideas into the menu. The cardamom ice cream was excellent!

Came here with a large (20 person) group. We had a reservation for 8, but there was a mix up and they had it in as 8:30. We weren't seated until 9, and most of the group was pretty antsy standing around outside for an hour. Like other reviews mentioned, there's a wait even without reservation. Wait time aside, the restaurant was completely full on a Saturday night, for good reason. The food was amazing and the service was excellent once we were seated. The interior is quite fancy and suitable for a romantic dinner date or other nice occasion. I ordered the kabuli with white rice and loved it. It's an overall sweet and savory dish with the raisins. The lamb is hidden underneath and not visible in the photo, but it was SO tender and practically fell apart as soon as I touched it. I definitely liked it better than the kebabs for its tenderness. The wait staff brought out an extra dessert for the birthday girl for the wait time, and took extra time to help us split the check individually. I definitely would come back here!

The Helmand was my first Afghan food experience about 20 years ago. It remains one of my favorite places to enjoy a good meal in Baltimore. From beginning to end, my experiences here are been positive- the staff is efficient and friendly, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere always makes me feel like I'm doing the cosmopolitan meal out on the town.

Our first visit. We dined alfresco due to the current crisis but we could see the interior is lovely. The server was exceptional and assisted me with selecting vegan options which I greatly appreciated. All the food is carefully sourced and lovingly prepared. We learned a lot about food, restaurant and it's history from the server. The food was delicious--enjoyable for the adults and children. Nice location, the surrounding buildings will pique your curiosity. We will be back!