How to Find Afghan Food in New York City
- 1). Dine at Khyber Pass on Saint Mark's Place in the East Village. In existence for over thirty years, this is a small restaurant with an intimate vibe and lovely atmosphere. The menu is fantastic, with everything from scallion dumplings to Cornish hen to walnut pomegranate chicken. The cardamom tea is also soothing and enjoyable. If you're into smoking a hookah, that's also here as well.
- 2). Go to Ariana on 9th Avenue in Manhattan. Ariana is a wonderful place to get Afghan cuisine focusing heavily on kebabs. The decor of Ariana is cozy and relaxing, with gorgeous rugs and tapestries. The pumpkin curry dish is great, as are all the shish kebab plates. Be sure to try the firnee for dessert, which is a delectable Afghan pudding.
- 3). Check out Bamiyan on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. Bamiyan makes the best pumpkin turnovers in the city and some amazing yogurt-based dishes and dumplings as well. There is also a wide selection of teas available at Bamiyan. With a great waitstaff and a diverse, tasty menu, Bamiyan is a great bet for Afghan cuisine in the city.
- 4). Try out Afghan Kebab House #1 on 9th Avenue in Midtown. This is a moderately priced Kebab house with a warm, friendly Afghan setting and great Afghan bread and cuisine. The service is wonderful here, and the menu is authentically Afghan. The meat kebabs and vegetable dishes are fantastic. Be sure to try the lamb kebab salad as well.
- 5). Eat at Bahar Restaurant on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. This Flatbush, Brooklyn, restaurant serves up great bolani kadu (pumpkin turnovers) as an appetizer. The yogurt-based spinach dip is also tasty. There are many varieties of kebabs available here and many rice dishes. The service is excellent, and the prices are highly reasonable. This is a solid place to dine on Afghan cuisine in Brooklyn.