We showed up at noon on a Friday and Azeen's was not crowded. My friend and I enjoyed a bowl of soup and the chef's choice entree (which is a mix of appetizers). The food was incredible and the service was great. I look forward to going back the next time I'm near Pasadena.
(5)
Cynthia W.
I've never before eaten Afghani food, but walked by this place many times with a co-worker who likes exotic food types. We finally visited today for lunch and I'm here to tell you that--although I wimped out and ordered the chicken kebab because lamb isn't my thing--that was the most succulent and well-spiced chicken I've had in many a year. The salad with the yogurt dressing was also just great, with a bit of cucumber and lots of pepper. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Danielle S.
This was my very first Afghani restaurant and the experience was fabulous. The menu had extensive vegetarian options and the staff was extremely accomodating and gracious. We shared an entree of leek dumplings (which came with salad and bread) and two side dishes: cauliflower and butternut squash, and it was plenty of food for two people. That and 2 glasses of wine totaled only $40. My boyfriend had clipped a review of this place in the LA Times back in 2005 and we only hit the place yesterday. As the article mentioned, they'll hold the meat sauce on any dish so it's very safe for vegetarians. Our wines were fine. Basic California fare. Fine with our meals. All of our dishes were more than decent. They were delicious. The butternut squash was divine. It was cooked with cardamom and had a yogurt/dill sauce. It was just like dessert. We cleaned the cauliflower plate clean and we scarfed down those leek dumplings. Our meal was excellent. The restaurant was clean. The food is very reasonably priced and the staff treated us well. This place is great and worth the trek off the beaten culinary track.
(4)
Abby A.
It's funny, how I'll go to a restaurant once and blog about it, but then I won't write about a restaurant that I've been to several times even when I really love the food. Such is the case with Azeen's Afghani Restaurant in Old Town Pasadena. Azeen's is the type of restaurant that really needs some spotlighting, simply because it's hidden away on a one way street that's not anywhere near the busy pedestrian traffic on the parallel street of Colorado Boulevard. I only found out about it because I went to a dinner there with friends a couple of years ago. Ever since then, I've been back a few times and I have to say that for the most part, I've never been disappointed with my meal. So let's get into the food, When it comes to appetizers, I've had most of them and they're quite tasty. For the particular meal that this post is going to reference, my friends and I shared two of them. One was the Pakawara-e-badenjan, which were batter dipped sauteed slices off eggplant. It's at Azeen's that I've ever had eggplant deep fried and being an eggplant lover, that was already a bonus. I enjoyed the crispiness of the batter, but at first, I wasn't quite sure of the yogurt and meat sauce that topped the eggplant. It seemed an odd combination but the tangy yogurt sauce actually married well with the more highly spiced tomato-based meat sauce. The other appetizer was the Buranee-kadu. This dish is sauteed butternut squash, also topped with yogurt and meat sauce. The melding of flavors was really interesting for this dish. You get sweet, meaty, tangy all in one bite. While we didn't have them this time, be sure to also check out their steamed dumplings, if you decide to make a visit to Azeen's. One is the Mantu, a chopped beef, onion and herb dumpling and the Aushak, whose filling include leeks and scallions. Both dumplings have slightly differing sauces. The sauce for the Mantu is also yogurt based and the dumplings are topped with mixed veggies while the Aushak has a yogurt and meat sauce, with the addition of mint. What's great about all the yogurt sauces is that they're all housemade, so you know they're absolutely fresh. When it came to the entrees, we ordered the following: * Badenjan Challaw - Chunks of lamb cooked with eggplant, onions and tomatoes. * Gulpi - Cauliflower stew cooked with ginger, onions and tomatoes * Kabob-e-murgh - Tender chunks of chicken breast As I said earlier, I've pretty much enjoyed all my meals, except for the occasional dish that didn't do it for me. In this case, I didn't care much for the lamb dish. Compared to other things I've tried in the past, the Badenjan Challaw wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked, plus the lamb was a little too chewy when it should have been more tender. I loved the Gulpi. Cauliflower on its own is so bland, but when stewed with the ginger, onions and tomatoes, it definitely took a flavor life of its own that was very appealing. When it comes to kabobs, the real test for me is chicken. If a restaurant can prepare chicken breast kabob without it being dry, than that restaurant deserves praise. So praises to Azeen's because their chicken breast kabob always comes out moist and tender. When it comes to the other menu items, you really can't go wrong with any of the side or entree vegetarian dishes. Azeen's really knows how to cook their vegetables. They always have a lot of great flavor to them. The other meat kebobs, beef and lamb, are hit and miss. Sometimes, they're tender and juicy and sometimes, not as much. As for the other entrees, I've always enjoyed the Korma Challaw, a dish with chunks of beef cooked with green pepper, onions and tomatoes. The sauce is so good that I'd spoon it over my rice and eat it, even after the meat was all gone. As for desserts, they serve three different kinds. I always find the baklava and the gelabee, which is fried pastry dough too sweet. When I'm in the mood for something sweet, I stick with their rice pudding, which is served chilled with pistachios and almonds. Let me end by saying that I eat out a lot and I'm always looking for new restaurants and new cuisines to try. It's rare that I'll return to the same restaurant twice in one year, even when I think the food is excellent. For me, to have gone back 3 to 4 times to Azeen's, definitely shows you more than anything else, how much I truly enjoy dining there. You should check it out yourself one time! To see pics, go to: flickr.com/photos/la_add…
(4)
Min T.
Mantu- still good with that amazing sauce. I decided it's a mint sauce with some other sour flavor in it. Beef kabob- amazingly "tender" and flavorful. I wasn't overly fond of the rice but it was better than the plain white rice that came with another dish. lamb with spinach- If you think you're going to be getting something like Indian saag, it was a disappointment. But if you love spinach as much as I do, then it's great. Unfortunately, it needed a more salt. The dish was a bit watery too. We also got a side dish of butternut squash. That was very good but the portion was rather small for its price. We didn't have room for dessert so next time I'm going to get that almond pistachio pudding! It would have gone so well with their lovely Afghan tea.
(3)
Danny G.
Me and my GF wants to try something different tonight around old town pasadena after a sorry lunch at the tea room/cafe in huntington library. Well, this place definitely passes the bar for "different"considering the limit afhani food choices in pasadena, but the taste can at least be marked with a "meh". We ordered the kebab combination with lamb and chicken, plus a kebab-e-tika (beef). For some reason, all of the meat were overcooked. It's still edible, but it took quite some effort chewing. The salad that came with the kabob was pretty plain, and the cucumber tasted really weird... That said, both the GF and I agreed that the rice was quite good. The spice they use to either steam or fried the rice with added a lot of special flavor into it, which makes it memorable. Maybe next time we should just get the rice instead. Overall, this place is a little overpriced. I've had better deals with persian/arabic kebab in glendale for $25 per person.
(3)
Kristin E.
Love this place. The lamb dumplings get under your skin and make you crave them! The wine list could use an upgrade but other than that the service and food are perfect! The salad has the best homemade dressing, and I love the tea! I have been a few times now and can't wait to go back and try the butternut squash which I hear is heavenly.
(4)
J W.
The first time I tried this place, I was pleasantly surprised and everything was deliciously juicy. But somehow between then and now, it took a dive to mediocre-ness. The Kabob-e-Gousfand (lamb kabobs) was dry. Actually, it was kinda baaaaad. Sorry - couldn't resist. It took a while for my dining partner to chew because apparently, he's used to inhaling his food whole. He was gnawing on each bite as if it was a piece of Doublemint. It's too bad because the last time I had it, it was quite tender and tasty. However, the Challaw Kadu (sauteed butternut squash topped with yogurt) was divine. I could eat that stuff all day long. It came with plenty of their flavorful long grain rice, salad and Afghani bread (pita-esque). The Afghan tea was interesting. It's seasoned with cardamom - a spice very similar to cinnamon. I wouldn't recommend it during the summer but it's quite satisfying to sip on a chilly night. I think next time I'll just try somewhere else for kabobs. .
We went here on a Thursday night and all the dishes among our group were delicious. From the mantu to lamb dishes. Service was nice as well, and the waitress is quite helpful in giving you recommendations. The food portion sizes were big in which we stuffed or couldn't finish the dishes. If I'm ever in Pasadena again, would definitely stop by here to fulfill my craving for Afghan food.
(4)
Danny m.
Only had afgani twice, and enjoyed both times. I remember having a rice dish that had a hint of ciniman. quite a contrast, but amazingly good.
(3)
Justin T.
Azeen's is FANTASTIC! This was my first foray into Afghani cuisine and it was love at first bite! (Corny, but true!) Seriously, the lamb and beef kabob dishes are seasoned perfectly and the rice is delicious. I've had several dishes off the menu and if you're picking appetizers, pick the Mantu. It's pretty darn amazing. The atmosphere is quaint and off the beaten path. Parking is pretty easy as the restaurant is on Union (one block north of Old Town on Colorado St.). Prices are good for the food you get.
(5)
Dave L.
I love lamb... So I was really looking forward to the lamb kabob, but it was dry and chewy. Dang... ultimate sadness. Maybe it was an off day? Oh well, the butternut squash was tasty and I really loved the long grain rice with whatever seasoning that was. I'd definitely like to come back and try other stuff. Gotta give a shout out to the Big J for taking me for the first time. Thanks! Tips: Worth a try.
(3)
Gary I.
I came here for lunch one day with co workers and I have to say, it was pretty amazing. The dishes were very flavorful. I do not like lamb but my co worker insisted that I order the lamb shish kabob. I'm glad I ordered it because it was amazing. The meat was not gamy at all. It was grilled perfectly and it was served over a nice aromatic pilaf. My co worker ordered some kine of carrot & raisin dish served with some meat in the middle. It was different and equally just as good. I recommend having the shish kabob though if you are not an adventurous eater. I would definitely come back again.
(4)
Kristen R.
MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT!!! We discovered Azeen's last year after reading some reviews. The lamb kabobs are amazing! It is the best lamb I have had. I love the mantu and the butternut squash dish. The rice that comes with the dishes are great, and the service is excellent. We have taken a lot of friends and family to Azeen's and everyone loved it. Less expensive for lunch, but great for dinner anytime!
(5)
Lou M.
The mantu and sambosa with the chutney were awesome! The lamb is tasty and tender. The location is not bad, you can easily walk around the area to work off the food when you're done. Overall, great food!
(4)
Bobby N.
bombdotcom
(5)
Jessica C.
I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was. The restaurant and the atmosphere is lovely. The only thing that I was not impressed by was the service, but that's what take out if for : )
(4)
Tricia L.
Went here for our monthly double date dinner out with my best friend and her boyfriend. I picked this place thinking it'd be something neat and different and the reviews sounded good. I feel bad now, but at least I know not to come back, or at least bring people here if I don't know the good stuff to order. Now to the review: The service is pretty much awful. We had to keep flagging out waitress down when we needed something. She gave my friend a Shiraz when he ordered a Merlot and insisted that he did order it. She was dang adament about it too. He was nice enough to just take it and drink it as to not cause a scene. I wasn't a fan of the Sabsi Challaw I ordered. Honestly, I had a piece then left it there. My boyfriend's combination kebab plate was alright. The chicken part was dry, but the beef tasted fairly good. The Mantu and Sambosa were delicious though and saves this place from getting 1 star. Just not my cup of tea. Sorry, kids.
(2)
Shaun S.
What do you think of when you think of Afghanistan? ... Yeah, I suppose there's that. What else? ... True. Very true. Okay, knock that off now. Azeen's restaurant will give you a whole new set of things to think about Afghanistan, like juicy lamb, flavorful squash, and all manner of delicious foods that are seasoned like no other. But heads up if you're lactose intolerant--there's yogurt in almost every dish. Even the dressing on the salad? Yup. There too.
(5)
HJ H.
Nice place but very expensive about $80 for 2 basic meals. Not especially exotic. The kabobs were good but typical. Skip the desert. Not good at all. Service was excellent.
(3)
Bernard A.
The food and service is great. The rice with the raisins, carrots, and lamb meat is addicting. The place is clean. Parking is easy on the street or nearby lots. Gotta love great restaurants in Old Town Pasadena.
(5)
Anjali S.
Amazing food. You can't go wrong. The staff is courteous the service fast. My husband and i have tried almost all their appetizers and love them all. Their side dishes too. Great food decent price.
(4)
Darlene P.
I just found out the Restaurant did offer my boyfriend utensils but he decline them. Changing my review to four stars. :)
(4)
Felicia C.
I read the reviews. I read the menu. I read anything I could read about Azeen's and it still didn't prepare me for what I ate here. I mean, Afghani food...you don't hear of that too often. How can anyone aptly describe something you've never tried before? I took my mom here for her birthday because both of us wanted to try something new. That's exactly what we got. The food here really blew my mind away because the flavors were so unexpected - you knew what went into the dish but somehow, what came out was completely different than what you imagined it to be. I knew what to order from reading the yelp reviews - the mantu (I had to get the beef dumpings, seeing that it's mentioned in every other review), the sabsi challaw (a lamb and spinach dish), and a side of kadu (the butternut squash) - and ordered the afghan tea for the two of us as well. The tea itself is very unique - it's just a tad bit spicy and the cardamom adds a kick to just a plain drink. The way they pour it is unique too - they have two pots, one with hot water and one with the condensed tea, and pour the two pots together into your cup. Who knew? As for the food, the mantu were as good as everyone else said. The dumpling wrappers were reminiscent of wonton skins or dumpling skins you get at an Asian restaurant but the yogurt added a Mediterranean feel and the meat and meat sauce added another dimension completely. The lamb was tender, it didn't have that lamb taste that most people complain about, and the spinach it was served with were almost like collard greens. The butternut squash was super sweet but the yogurt sauce on that mellowed out the sweetness to create an interesting combination of flavors. We finished off our dinner with the almond pudding, which is apparently made with rosewater because you can really taste florals in the aftertaste. The whole experience was topped with very attentive service, which made our dinner that much better. Afghani food is definitely something worth trying at least once - I would highly suggest coming to Azeen's to give it a try.
(5)
Juan Manuel C.
great afghan food very authentic very reasonable prices.
(5)
Lisa R.
My husband and I ate here back in February. We were traveling with five friends, 4 of whom don't have very adventuresome taste buds...but I had to come here after reading the reviews and looking at the online menu! Fortunately, the less adventuresome diners agreed to eat at Azeen's. The restaurant is small and intimate, with paintings of the countryside on the walls. Our waitress was very gracious and patient as she answered questions about her culture and the menu. The restaurant has an upscale feel to it, but not snobby. And the prices are incredibly terrific! My husband and I were amazed we when got our tab; we couldn't get food nearly this good back home without paying a whole lot more. Per the reviews, I had to try the Kadu (butternut squash sauteed with the most incredible spices - definitely cinnamon and cardamom going on, topped with yogurt and a slightly salty meat sauce that balanced the sweetness of the squash)...wow! Then I tried the Mantu appetizers. They weren't quite what I expected. They were good, but didn't appeal to my taste as much as I'd thought they would. Then I nibbled off my husband's Quabili Pallaw, knowing that he couldn't eat the whole mountain of rice, lamb cubes, shredded carrots and raisins that it was! The lamb was perfectly seasoned and tender! The rest of our friends also enjoyed their meals. Most had kababs. We all left happy and very full. Next time we're in Pasadena, we will be back!
(5)
Jessica M.
I LOVE this place! My mom and I decided we needed to branch out and try different types of food since we seem to always go to the same places and there are just so many types of food around LA. I found Azeen's online and decided to give it a try because Afghani food just sounded like a fun adventure. It is AMAZING! The staff is super helpful, they'll talk to you and help you pick out what to order. I've taken friends here now who have then brought their friends - this has become one of my regular spots now because it is just so tasty! I would recommend anything on the menu - its all good!
(5)
Casey M.
Absolutely amazing! I've never had Afghani food before. A co-worker recommended it. What a charming place. My girlfriends and I went after our Book Club. The hostess sat us in private little room looking out at Union St. We each ordered an entree so we could taste everything. All entrees came with salad and Afghani bread with a delicious green sauce (it reminded me of the green Peruvian sauce.) MANTU: $14.95 Steamed dumplings filled with chopped beef and onions, topped with yogurt and mixed vegetables. SABSI CHALLAW : $15.90 Chunk of lamb cooked with spinach, onions and garlic. KABOB-E-MURGH: $11.90 Tender chunks of breast of chicken. KORMA CHALLAW: $15.90 Tender chunks of beef cooked with green pepper, onions and tomatoes. (Fantastic!) BADENJAN CHALLAW: $15.90 Chunks of lamb cooked with eggplant, onions and tomatoes. CHALLAW KADU: $13.90 Sauted butternut squash, topped with yogurt. 2 bottles of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay. It was a perfect evening. I will definitely be going back to Azeen's!
(4)
Monica B.
Azeen's is, in short, incredible. I would give them 6 stars if I could! The staff is quick and very friendly, the food is delicious and well-priced, and the restaurant itself is very cute and homey. Bonus points for the murals on the walls. I have been a few times and I love the Quabili Pallaw (spiced, browned rice with lamb, raisins, and carrots). It's a HUGE dish so be prepared to take some home. You definitely get your money's worth here. One of my other favorite dishes is the butternut squash with meat and yogurt sauce. If it sounds weird, I challenge you to go to the restaurant and try it. You won't regret it, I promise. They also make most of their dishes without meat for vegetarians, which is nice. Basically, amazing food for really good prices and great service. Seriously. 6 stars.
(5)
Jim J.
this place is crazy delicious feel me dog. I had: - the lamb pallaw with raisins and carrots: mad delicious - the beef kabob plate: insane delicious overall i'd give it a stupid fresh and 5 out of 5 stars. plus the waitress was ill friendly, it was nuts. if you are a fatass you could probably murk like 3 plates here and then stop by the coldstone afterwards for a banana caramel crunch ice cream gotta love it size with a chocolate coated waffle cone.
(5)
Consumer C.
Never realized afghan food was so tasty! Love their delicate dumplings and can eat a ton of those! I'd be a happy camper just devouring their appetizers.
(4)
Linny H.
Another great place found because of Yelp! A foodie never turns down the opportunity to try a new restaurant or new cuisine! First time trying Afghani food and it's good! It's similar to Indian if you've never tried it. They know how to cook lamb! It was so tender and moist that you could cut it with a fork. The bread was tasty! The texture is like sourdough but not sour tasting. As others have mentioned, service was phenomenal! Never did I have an empty water glass. If you have never tried this, come here!
(5)
Monica R.
Never had Afghani food in my life before Azeens. It was mighty delicious. What more can I say? If you're into trying new cuisines, definitely HIT UP AZEENS, immediately, if not sooner.
(5)
Shelley K.
OMG!!! This place is my favorite middle eastern restaurant. They have the best mantu, the steamed dumplings with cilantro sauce. Wish I could steal the sauce recipe. They also have great kabobs with perfect flavor. I wish it was a little more busy, because I do not want them to ever close down!!! Their ice tea was so delicious, with a hint of minty flavor. The owner and workers are very nice as well. I always go during lunch time because it is a lot cheaper than dinner.
(5)
Lindsey H.
Oh, this place is so good, but so EMPTY. Why, Pasadena? WHY is that place always empty? Maybe because it's in a very unassuming, quiet spot on Union, just a few blocks east of Fair Oaks. But, definitely not because of the food. FANTASTIC food & service. We started with the AUSHAK, but asked for it without the meat sauce, since my date is (well, was) a vegetarian. Very delicious, & a perfect size for a starter. I had the GULPI CHALLAW (a tomato based beef stew, but more delicious than that) which was pretty amazing, even more amazing the next day for lunch. My date had the CHALLAW KADU (a vegetarian entree with butternut squash) that he liked very much. Both dishes were served with a salad & bread. Very satisfying & delicious.
(5)
Liz C.
This place is delicious!! Tried it last night before a concert at Levitt Pavilion and it did not disappoint. My friend and I had a lamb dish that was full of flavor. We also ended up trying two appetizers that seemed different in description but were beyond amazing in presentation and taste. We chose stuffed lamb dumplings and the potato appetizer, so tasty! I'll be back! -Walking distance from Memorial park metro stop -great service -serves wine that pairs well with the food
(5)
M R.
I went to Azeen's soon after it first opened and most of the critic reviews they still have on their wall are from about the same time - 2004. Though I'd prefer to support a family run restaurant that offers a unique cuisine for the area I do feel that it is more important to finally make the call about how bad the food has become. I was very pleased after my very first experience dining here back around 2004 - The food was flavorful and the quality of the beef kebabs was superb. However the kebabs I had tonight tasted like they were frozen back in '04 and were as tough as leather. I expected a better cut of meat for the money and was greatly disappointed in the lack of flavor of ALL the food we were served. Everything tasted as if it was prepared a day or two ago and reheated. We dined on a Saturday night and the lack of other patrons should have been a signal that the restaurant has spiraled downward. Business is slow - cut back on quality. Business becomes slower - cut back on quality more until eventually the place closes. It's an unfortunate cycle and I dislike contributing to a restaurant's demise but we left this place feeling ripped off and I would hate for another couple to ruin their precious Saturday night dine out with a similar experience. It's just not fair. I'm giving the restaurant two stars because I still like the ambience and the service was at least attentive. However I will never eat here again and suggest you don't either. You will be disappointed.
(2)
Kevin C.
Delicious, Great food very flavorful Lamb was very tasty, the chicken was nice and juicy plates served with rice and a side salad Waitress was very kind and patient since I changed the order 3 times not sure if its the owner or a manager guy, but he walks around serving the VIP guest and checks in with all the tables.
(4)
Grib B.
Mantu is fantastic, as is Quabili Pallaw. I've been to Afghan restaurants all over the USA and this is one of the best. Lamb is very high quality. Went with party of 7 and everyone loved it,
(5)
Mase M.
Their food was almost as good as my moms! Nice location with nice afghani music, felt like home. The owners were really friendly and the food was awesome.
(5)
Joanna L.
Wow I haven't been here in over three years but the food is just as great as the first time I tried it. Had dinner here yesterday night and we practically had the entire place to ourselves - well almost - there was only one table of diners but they were about done - seem like they just sat around to chat. It was barely 8:30pm on a weekday - Pasadena in that area was actually quite quiet so I'm not surprised there wasn't any diners....they were going to close in an hour too so I don't think they were empty because their food isn't good - probably just the time and place. The service was nice - the owner was pretty much the only one left after we got our food - the lady that was bringing out the food left around 9pm. It was very nice and quiet and honestly I enjoyed the fact that we were the only ones in there. So we had for dinner: the Lamb Kabob served with this delicious browned rice, the Sabsi Challaw which is a delicious dish of chunks of lamb cooked with spinach, onions and garlic - it was sooo good! Must try! and a side of Badenjan - cooked eggplant with meat sauce and yogurt - another super tasty and unique tasting dish. I also like the bread and chili dipping sauce that comes with the meal. Everything was very delicious and it was a lot of food - the both of us couldn't even really finish half of the entrees. Overall, wonderful tasty food at fair prices and big portions, pretty nice and quiet atmosphere and nice service. What's not to love about this place? Nothing I could think of. You can also make reservations through OpenTable.com :)
(5)
Dave C.
After hearing about this place for years, finally tried Azeen's last night (per the server, this place has been open 11 years and is named after the owner's daughter). Amazing Afghani food, really subtle flavors, clean tasting, cooked and served with care. Our group of 5 was delighted with every dish we ate: Mantu (5/5): Dumplings filled with crumbled lamb and veggies and topped with yogurt sauce. Taste reminded me a bit of shepherd's pie Quabili Pallaw (4/5): The signature dish here. Lamb was cooked perfectly and the rice itself is cooked in the lamb drippings. I'm only giving it a 4 out of personal preference since carrots and raisins are usually my nemesis. This dish is served with an amazing vinegary chutney w/ blended jalapenos, garlic, and cilantro. Sasbi (5/5): Stewed spinach. Reminded me of the Lawry's side dish minus all the butter and cream Badenjan Challaw (4/5): Eggplant stewed with onion and tomatoes. Clean tasting. Gulpi Challaw w/ lamb (6/5): My favorite dish of the night, lots of contrast here. Slightly pickled cauliflower in subtle tomato sauce. Firmness of cauliflower vs. umami soft stewed lamb. Absolutely loved this dish. Afghani tea (5/5): Cardamom ftw. With others dishes to try here (Smarooq Challaw and kabobs), I will definitely be back.
(5)
HelloKT T.
I very enjoyed this place...the chicken from the kabob was very very tender(my kind of chicken) and their brown rice was soooooooo yummy...full of flavor!!!! But of course my most most favorite is their dessert is the Firnee!!!!!!!!!! I just loved it!!! Service is nice. Portion of the meals are just right. The atmosphere is nice & cozy. Aush soup is also yummy!
(5)
Me Z.
It was not a good experience , not authentic afghani food , the bread was stale . I told the server but she said we just baked in the morning ! Didn't even change it Will not go again For sure
(1)
Mable S.
Delicious food and nice atmosphere. The waitress was a little slow, but she may have been new.
(5)
Linda T.
Afghani food is not that easy to find. Went for a late dinner on a weekend. We shared several dishes which were all quite tast & flavorful. app aushak--dumplings app mantu--meat dumplings app bulanee e katchalu--turnover, like a flattened samosa, great w/yogurt sauce challaw kadu--butternut squash, w/ yogurt & dill They have that famous National Geographic pic of the young woman with the intense eyes & orange-red hood on wall by bathrooms. women's restroom is a single room. It's a family run place--the little daughter's running around, and they would hang out at a table in the back. We got there shortly after 9pm, but didn't feel rushed at all, they even gave us the dessert menu. We were full, so we didn't get any dessert. There's metered parking on street (be careful, it's metered til midnight on weekends!) or garages/lots nearby. Located on the south side of Union, bet Arroyo Parkway & Raymond.
(5)
Romy K.
I really wish I could give them a higher rating, but nothing was right about our dinner. We came with a large party, and our waitress was pleasant, however our food came out and the chicken was raw! I mean really raw!!! The cauliflower and potatoes were awful, and the food lacked flavor. The worst part is that there was a gentleman there that was behind the counter, I would imagine the owner or the manager, and not once did he come to check on us. The waitress was slammed with all of the other tables, so I don't think it was her fault, but the least the guy could've done as he is tossing my napkin out of my plate to clear the plates is ask "how is everything", "how did you like the food", "can I get you anything else", you know, general questions a person in the food service business should constantly be asking, but all this dude said was, "can I get that plate". No refills on drinks or waters, no desert menu, nothing...as if we were wasting his time. And on top of that, the bill was over $300!!! Waaaaay too overpriced for the food that was served and the lack of customer service!
(1)
Ashley L.
*I knocked one star off because in my opinion, it is pricey for the quality of food given* QUABILI PALLAW: This is my favorite dish here!!! Make sure to get it with lamb and NOt chicken, (trust me I'm usually a chicken person but the lamb was WAY better). MANTU: Liked this one too, not much else to say BUTTERNUT SQUASH SIDE: I really loved this!!! Get it!!! A great place to get unique food.
(4)
Ali B.
Delicious bolani and mantu was on point! The palow was great, if you're a white person looking for delicious ethnic food, this is your dinner spot!
(5)
Thomas K.
We received patient (we were unfamiliar with the food choices) and attentive service during our visit. Lamb kabob was excellent, tender, flavorful with a perfect cook. Rice was flavorful and seasoned nicely. The dining room has a nice vibe and window seating. Our appetizers were great, we tried the samosas. The other two people in my party loved their dishes too. Portions were large enough to take home a full doggie bag. I highly recommend this place for either a casual dinner or a date type of dinner.
(5)
Christopher M.
Absolutely Outstanding! My team went out for lunch today to celebrate a birthday and I realized that the only reason I've not been here is that they don't have bright lights so it always looks dark from the street. Don't let that stop you, it is certainly a hidden gem. Every dish we had was amazing - perfectly flavored, tender, juicy, and great value for money. I could not believe how terrific every dish tasted, usually when many dishes are ordered at most restaurants something is not so good, but everything at Azeen's was perfectly prepared and seasoned. The restaurant has beautiful paintings on the wall and antiques in many corners and nooks. All tables have white table clothes and proper linens. Really nice spot to take people and fantastic value for money. My new favorite restaurant in Pasadena, wholeheartedly recommend.
(5)
Ellina I.
So surprised that they have 4 stars. Came with kids and waited for 20 min just to see the waiter or menu. The service is bad only one person for a whole restaurant. There was a hair in a salad and they even didn't apologies. Food is ok but a bit pricy imho.
(1)
Mimi D.
Came here for lunch a while back and it was ok.. The place was empty so we were seated readily but I was somewhat disappointed when I realized that there were only a few veggie options and no brown rice option at all :( I ended up ordering the challah kadu - butternut squash w yogurt - and found it to be mostly flavorless.. More closely resembling steamed butternut squash topped w watered down, plain Greek yogurt n a bit of pepper. It wasn't awful but it's also something I could prob recreate at home... And I'm not exactly Rachael Ray. Perhaps they're more known for their meat dishes? Could be worth giving it a try if that's something ya like...
(2)
Robert C.
Great Afgani food !!! We stopped by with my friends 2 weeks ago and we enjoyed with food a lot. I ordered pilav and my friend ordered manti. Everything was delicious . Will my bring friends and my family ! Thanks for the great food!!!
(5)
Dan L.
I decided to give this place a try, as I've never dined at an Afghan restaurant before. As I expected, my attempt to find parking in the area was nothing short of a nightmare. I ended up having to park at a paid lot a few blocks away. The restaurant interior is clean, and lovingly decorated. I did enjoy the unique ambiance of Azeen's. I ended up ordering one of the dinner entrees (pretty sure it was one of the kabob plates). The food was not bad at all, but I found it to be fairly unremarkable for the price, and felt the salad left something to be desired (the usual "iceberg overload"). The waitress was nice and very attentive, always filling my water glass without asking, and made adequate checks to see if I needed anything. The service she provided was solid, I can't say anything bad about her. I would be open to returning here and trying a different menu item - I suspect I might end up enjoying it more than what I had ordered.
(3)
Armine K.
Whenever my husband and I have family visiting, we take them to Azeens's. The food is spectacular, but I'll get to that in a minute. The interior is tastefully decorated in Afghani tapestries and murals. The service and the cleanliness is top notch. The owner is always there to take the order himself and guides you through the menu if you are unfamiliar with the cuisine. The food - exotic and delicious. Such a treat for the senses! Even their house salad is amazing. For starters, try the Mantu and the bulanee-e-khatchalu. If your party is large, get these in the entree size. For the entree, you must have the LAMB - Kabab-e-Gousfand. I generally don't like lamb, but I have to say that their lamb kabobs are superb. In fact, skip the chicken and the beef and only get the lamb. It comes with their specially rice that is seasoned with cinnamon and cardamom (sounds weird, but its delicious). Other musts are the Kadu and the Badenjan. My only hang up about this place is the nearly nonexistent wine list. ENJOY
(5)
Lina C.
Nice service and large portions. Love the salad that came with the meal; the yogurt dressing is excellent. For dinner, the Quabili Pallaw with chicken is quite flavorful especially with the green sauce that comes with the dish. The Challaw gulpi cauliflower is also tasty. The decor is relaxing with pretty wall paintings. Overall, a good restaurant to try!
(3)
Chris D.
Hidden gem in pasadena. The service is outstanding attentive without hovering. The food is incredible. I was a novice to Afghani style food. The manager gave his recommendations which were on point, from the appetizers to the entrees.
(5)
Jenn T.
Came here with some friends after picking it up on yelp. The place is pretty big, not very crowded (i guess afghani food isnt well known?). The staff was very friendly and helpful with the menu, helping us figure out how to order and picking and choosing things for a big group. We went for a few of the kabobs and 2 of the curries as well as the dumplings. Everything was really good, had great flavor. I really enjoyed the bread with the spicy green sauce! That was good!! Parking is street parking or in the garages. The wait staff was polite, helpful, though theres not many so theyre a bit understaffed at times. Check it out if youre looking for something different!
(4)
Shaeysta S.
I love Afghan food, absolutely love it. However this place was not good at all. The muntu tastes like spaggettios with packaged frozen corn and peas, the kabuli doesn't have any spices the raisins and carrots are raw, were in traditional kabuli palow it is sauteed. This is good for people who have never had Afghan food, it's been overly Americanized, the only reason I went here was because of the reviews, which I will never trust again
(1)
Dmitry K.
Afghanistan! While everyone is talking about the food, I couldn't help but notice the ambiance. The paintings on the walls are amazing and expose you to the beautiful side of Afghanistan. The food is delicious and service is great. If you are looking for Afghan cuisine this is your place to be.
(4)
Laura S.
This place has been here for 9 years and I never knew about it. The place gets crowded during lunch and when I went, the husband went out to do a delivery and so the wife was by herself being the server - with tons of people. So yes, it was kinda slow but it happens. FOOD: I ordered the Pakawra-e-katchalu (Batter-dipped sauteed slices of potatoes topped with yogurt and meat sauce) and Buranee-e-kadu (Sauteed butternut squash topped with yogurt and meat sauce) - I replaced the meat sauce with veggie sauce. The slices of potato were ok. The sauce was not good. The veggie sauce tasted like the veggies came from a can. It wasn't good together. I know the meat sauce is suppose to go with it, so it could be good. The butternut squash was good. It was pretty strong in taste but it was good. The bread was amazing... but the bread costs $1.50. Really? For two pieces of bread? I thought that was a rip off but it was good. If I had known it was that price, I probably wouldn't had ordered it. SERVICE: Kinda slow but it's understandable with one woman in charge. But it took awhile to get my veggie sauce. I ate more than half my meal already by that time. AMBIANCE: Cool Afghani decor. PARKING: Street and lots nearby. OVERALL: Eh. It was an overall OK experience. 3.5 stars
(3)
Claire H.
I ate here for the second time a couple weeks ago and it was just as good as I remembered. Everything my party of two ordered had so much flavor and was perfectly cooked. The bulani appetizer was very tasty, especially with the yogurt sauce and the slightly spicy and herbaceous green sauce. Starter salad was simple and delicious and the bread was fresh. The vegetarian cauliflower entree was bursting with flavor and paired nicely with the steamed basmati rice. My boyfriend had the bone-in lamb with seasoned rice and grilled veggies - this was so good he had to pick it up with his hands to finish off the marrow. Our server was friendly and very attentive. Prices are not cheap but the food was definitely worth it and we enjoyed the ambience.
(4)
Trixie B.
Second time here after a few years. Sunday dinner crowd sparse, but we well looked after. Delicious food, just as I remembered. If it weren't for the location I'd come more often. Recommend getting a couple of dishes and sharing because portions are very large. Lots of vegetarian options.
(5)
LaChelle S.
I absolutely love Afghani cuisine. You can always order absolutely anything on the menu and it will be exhileratingly delicious. I really need to go to restaurants more so I can know what I get and what everything is, but this is the kind of cuisine that can be "family style" because you get appetizers and then the vegetables or whatever and rice and all in separate containers in a way. The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere as well - such restaurants tend to be beautifully decorated but not fancy in a pretentious way. And the staff is always really genuinely nice. If you go here, you will not be sorry. I would say Afghani food and Ethiopian food are my top two favorites, hands down. Nothing else comes close (except some Mediterranean probs).
(5)
Jenny H.
I've never been to an Afghani restaurant before and had no idea what to expect. My friends and I decided to visit for dinner after seeing great Yelp and Zagat ratings online. The restaurant was empty when we first entered around 6:30 which was a little doubtful but we stuck with it anyway. The looks: I don't know what Afghani decor is supposed to look like, but it was certainly very nice. The lights weren't too dim--call me simple but I like to see what I'm eating. There were murals on the walls that gave a warm sunny feel even though the California sun had already set outside. My favorite touch was the candles--each table was elegantly and not excessively decorated. I don't drink yet, but the bar in the back was also scrupulously designed. The service: Maybe it was because we were the only ones there, but we were pretty well served. At first, the waitress was a little cold. I thought it was kind of superficial that she warmed up to us only after I took photos "for my yelp review." Minus one star. The friendly guy inside (I think he might have been the boss?) came out to help after that, and he gave us recommendations. The food: My Indian friend liked the chutney--it reminded her of home after a long semester away. There are delicious options for both vegetarians and meat-lovers like me. We dined family-style and ordered four dishes for the seven of us. The bread was really good, and the curries weren't too spicy. Again, I don't know how Afghan the food actually was, but it was good for what it was. (: So yeah. Quite the experience. Four stars for being good, minus one for the service. Even then, I don't know when and if I'll be back anytime soon. This place didn't stand out among the many places here in Pasadena--and it's tough to do so!
(3)
Jane M.
Absolutely the best Afghan food I've had since leaving Washington,DC. The pumpkin was cooked to perfection with just the right sweetness and tenderness. We shared a chicken kebab that was perfectly spiced. It was a great find in Pasadena.
(5)
Kenia C.
Upon entering, I felt like I had left the normalities of Old Town. This hidden treasure provides a delightful experience through the most exquisite Afghani dishes. I tried the eggplant and the butternut squash, both were rich with flavor and spices...the aromas in this establishment are out of control in the best way possible. Great place to try Afghani food for the first or 100th time, it will not disappoint! Tashakur!
(5)
May G.
We have been eating here since Azeen's first opened, and we make it a point to come several times a year. I love Afghani food, as the flavors are wonderful. It is a family favorite, and often when given a choice on where to eat, my kids pick this restaurant. Try it, you'll like it! :-)
(5)
Nabila N.
Bad food and overpriced. Afghani food is full of flavor. This food was bland. I will recommend for this place to visit spice store. And cook the food more.
(1)
Heela A.
I went there recently and I noticed that their food is no where close to Afghani food. Also, their prices are rocket high when the food does not even taste good and fails to justify with their prices. I would recommend the restaurant to hire a new chief that is familiar with the Afghan food, thank you.
(1)
Nobod E.
This was a transcendental flavors and textures experience. I think I just stumbled upon a crossroads of cultures on my tongue. It's no wonder armies and corporations want a piece of this nation. Afghanistan is rich in more ways than one. These people deserve your business. Eggplant with meat sauce, chicken and lamb skewers, the most delicious white rice ever. I cannot find the right descriptors to explain the vibrant yet elegant flavors. You must go and throw money at this place you won't regret it. The servers are sweet and accommodating. The decor and artwork unique and homey. Go.
Incredible. This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. All of the food we ordered was consistent and tasted amazing. We ordered 7 dishes, and every single one was excellent. The owner was very helpful and recommended all the best dishes. More people should come to this restaurant it was very empty when we came but it deserves to be much more popular. We were hesitant to go to an afghani restaurant, however it was very satisfying and everything had a wonderful taste. It also has many vegetarian options which were also delicious. Definitely will go back.
(5)
Dave M.
When she suggested that we go to an Afghani place I was already trying to decide what kind of Pizza I'd get later that night. I should not have feared as the food was so great. So far from what I'd expected it to be that it almost shocked me. I was willing to go try though and I'm glad I did because the food was nice, the atmosphere was nice and the waitress was nice. I can't fault the place, it's great and I would gladly go back again and try even more from the menu. If I have one piece of advice it's to just walk in and ask what's nice, they'll help you out and you'll be glad you went here.
(5)
Ellen C.
I've never had Afghani food, and I'm pleased to say I liked it. The flavors were familiar.... The salad is good with the yogurt sauce. Bread is ok - would be better if it was warm. The jalapeno chutney is awesome - spicy and tasty. Aushak - herb dumplings w/ meat sauce is pretty good. Sauce is what makes it. Bulanee - potato turnover. I liked this better than the aushak esp with the yogurt sauce + chutney. Quabilli pallaw - lamb covered with rice, carrots, and raisins - awesome and tasty. Gulpi challaw - tomato, beef, and cauliflour "curry" - light curry and tasty. Firnee - pistachio and rose pudding: super creamy and tasty, big enough to share.
(4)
Zak M.
Food was ok and can do better. Surrounding ambiance was class. Will come again and try more items to see if they have improved.
(3)
sss b.
Arian Taheri, the owner, wrote a very polite message to me explaining how they prepare the dishes. Specifically, I wanted to correct my review for ingredients that may be important to vegans - the challaw rice he says does not have butter but does contain cardamom which should impart fragrance. Also, the salad dressing is not buttermilk/ranch but contains mayo, mustard, vinegar and seasoning. Also, the murals and paintings were brought in after the restaurant was established, he says. My bad for deducing from what I read. Always great to interact with a restaurant owner who is willing to talk about all aspects of his restaurant and is listening to feedback. Although, just for that I can't change my original rating.
(1)
Rachel S.
Very yummy. I love both Persian and Indian food, and this was like they had a beautiful food baby. Really enjoyed the Kadu (roasted butternut squash, topped with yogurt and meat sauce).
(4)
Mark L.
Fist time eating Afgan food and what a great surprise. Great vegetarian options, the eggplant dish was excellent (badenchallaw ) and the desert "firnee" was incredible, like an explosion of flowers in your mouth! I can't be leave this a e is empty.
(5)
Jim L.
Just went here for lunch with coworkers. It was amazing! I had the lamb kabobs that come with light, but flavorful, rice. The lamb was tender and marinated to perfection. The side of butternut squash with yogurt / meat sauce was absolutely to die for. I'm surprised that the place wasn't at capacity for lunch..but I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Ryan R.
I went here with a friend at the recommendation of one of his friends. We started off with the Bulanee appetizer that was really tasty, but I thought that was a bit small for the price (expected it to be twice the size). We also got a salad, which I guess was included with the ordering of two entrees and was a basic salad, but good. For the main course we went with an order of the mantu and the quabili pallaw. The mantu was interesting and had good flavors and reminded me a lot of a sort of Italian ravioli dish. The quabili pallaw, I have had before and was really disappointed with. It is supposed to be very moist with the lamb cooked beneath the rice, allowing the rice to soak up the all the juices and moisture. While the lamb was good, the rice left much to be desired. The raisins and carrots also could have been more flavorful and tender. Overall, this place had a couple of good dishes, but the lack of attention put into making the quabili pallaw really left me unsatisfied.
(3)
Shivon L.
A pretty restaurant with white tablecloths, friendly service and EXCELLENT food!
Being half Persian I feel that most middle eastern cuisines are similar in one way or another. The food here was very good but nothing extraordinary about it. I ordered the combination plate (chicken and lamb skewers). The lamb was absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. The chicken was average.
(4)
Eunice K.
Never had Afghani food, but read a few yelp reviews on Azeen's and decided to give it a try.. and I was TOTALLY, COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. WOW! What a hidden gem!!! My eyes have now been OPEN to Afghani food. Tucked away in Old Town Pasadena, North of Colorado... away from the shopping and foot traffic. Very easy to miss, but definitely one NOT to be missed :) ---Smarooq Challaw ($15.90)--- Yes. I am a chicken.. and I always order chicken. LOL. The Smarooq Challaw is almost like an Indian curry dish. The chicken comes out in a thick curry-like sauce, which also includes other vegetables such as mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and green peppers. Eat it to your liking with the heap of basmati rice provided! ---Quabili Pallaw ($15.90)--- My friend ordered the lamb dish - yes, all the yelp reviews RAVE about it. To me, it looks totally unappetizing - I mean carrots and raisins with your lamb? Why??? But boy was I wrong, this beat my chicken to the ground! The lamb was lean, tender.. the rice was earthy, hearty.. and the carrots and raisins gave a nice sweet tinge overtone. No single flavor was overpowering but complimented each other. Never had anything like it! So exotic - falvors I've never been exposed to! Long story short.. Azeen's a low key restaurant. Decent service... relaxed atmosphere.. But the food truly speaks for itself. Just go try the Quabili Pallaw.. JUST ONCE! you will come find me and thank me. :)
(5)
Frances N.
So delicious and flavorful... Even their lamb (a meat I can't usually stand) was flavored very subtly and juicy and delicious! Bonus: reasonable prices meant I could try different dishes even w/o any knowledge of Afghani food. Easy street parking free after 6pm M-F. FOOD - 5 stars ===== - Aush: noodle, veggie, yogurt soup - Mantu: beef and onion afghani dumplings w/ yogurt (appetizer/entree) - Aushak: leek and scallion afghani dumplings w/ yogurt, mint - Bulanee-e-katchalu: potatos, ground beef turnover SERVICE/ATMOSPHERE - 5 stars ======== Great service; my water never empty, our food was prompt, and the boss and his wife both stopped by to check in with us about our meal frequently. The restaurant seems small but has tables for large and small groups. Everyone else seemed really familiar with the boss, the best menu items, and were having a great time.
(5)
Jacquelyn P.
Let me start out by saying, Azeen's has some of the best food I've had in my life. I've been many many times and always order all the vegetarian sides (ALL fantastic). The sides are just smaller portions of their veggie entrees. The salad is always crispy cold and so refreshing with whatever yogurt dressing they use (I think there is dried mint or other herbs in it as well) anyway, SO good. The only thing I've had here that I wasn't a fan of was a dessert called a jelebi (sp?), and I know it's a cultural favorite, but it was WAY too sweet for my personal taste. Like, instant sore throat sweet paired with an unpleasant texture. This place would get 5 stars if they didn't have such spotty service. Sometimes I'll get a server who is pleasant but sometimes I get who I can only presume is an owner/manager. She is rude. I have no idea how she gets through life but she is just so....cold and prickly. In layman's terms: a total b. Honestly, now that I'm recollecting on how many times she's rubbed me the wrong way I feel like rating this place a 3, but gaaaw the FOOD! It really is that good.
(4)
Trojan M.
Ethics!!! I haven't tasted their food and I believe I won't because this couple (the owners) lacks the most important thing which is ETHICS!! I love Afghani food ... Especially the Kebab Mourgh and Kabli dish (In US they call it Quabilli), so we were aware of this kind of food when my wife and I entered this place in the weekend, crave for some tasty afghani food, since this one was the nearest place to us, and here are the results: - The Call: I called them first to check the availability when the old man answered my call in a disgraceful way ... I said twice hello and all what I heard is him repeating (and in a very unwelcoming tone): Azeen's Afghani Restaurant!!! Yet, I thought may be the man had a bad day, so I drove to his restaurants though, to see that the call really reflects their services and behaviors!!! - The service: We walked to the place, and we found couple of people setting there which gave us the feelings that we would enjoy the dinner. The old lady welcomed us quickly and walked us to our table. I have to tell that I noticed an unwelcoming tone and looks in her treatments which was clearly noticeable. After waiting for nearly 15 minutes she came to us, and when I asked her about some of the dishes she replied in very unpleasant way: Me: Excuse me: Can you tell me about this dish? Hers: Oh. Potatoes. Me: Ok I know but what about it? Hers: Steamed Potatoes. Me in my mind: Whatttt !!!!!! Are you serious!!! I asked her couple of questions about some of the dishes and she really wasn't helpful and her answers was like do you want to order or not!!! When I asked her withier they have something similar to the chicken curry she replied: I have never heard about the chicken curry!!! (P.S. Chicken curry is one of the famous dishes not only in India, but also in her culture!!) Firstly I was ready to order the Smarooq Challaw, when I requested that my plate comes without the mushrooms. She answered my request as: no we can't. It won't be good dish then!!! I told her that this was my desire to find her saying that the dish is full of mushrooms and won't be ok to remove it. Then I started looking for another dish and when I told her that I don't eat beef she started to act childishly and show me in a funny way what she has in her poor menu: This is chicken ... This is chicken.. and that is lamp and this is also lamp !!!! I figured out that this is enough and it is the time to cut the crap and leave this nasty place. Really as someone said in the reviews: They need a course in customer services and ethics!!! P.S.: Their Quabili plate is full of carrots ... This is not the way you find Quabili in any other place ... You can google it to check my words
(1)
Jennifer C.
The beef kebabs are tender, and the spices are interesting if a little overwhelming. I think it's worth a try though. The mantu (dumplings) are delicious, and I was surprised that the skins were so similar to Chinese dumplings. I loved the yogurt and herbs. The lamb dish (covered with carrots and raisins) was very tender. I wish I had ordered a salad or some type of vegetable--there was too much starch for me. The staff is super friendly and helpful, and it's a nice, cozy place for dinner. It's around the corner from Colorado, and it's nice to get away from the busy street while shopping in old town.
(4)
Mina H.
This is the only "real" Afghani restaurant in all of the LA area. There are plenty of quick eats, but this is definitely a full-restaurant experience. As an Afghani myself, I find the food very delicious and authentic. It's a good blend of mild-spices but flavorful enough to say "ahhh, mmmm". Some of my favorite plates I've had here are the: - Qabuli w/chicken - Aushak - Mushroom Chicken They bring you a complimentary side salad which is basic, but just the right amount and the dressing is delish! My only hold up from giving this place a 5 are the prices. They give you healthy portions, but for an average of $16+ per plate, it's really not that much food as compared to middle-eastern restaurants in general where one entree could easily be split amongst two people. I know the effort that goes into these plates, but the ingredients are basics and not that expensive. So my only suggestion is to drop the prices to increase the frequency of the already established clientele. Other than that, this place is definitely a gem and worth trying if you've never had Afghani food.
(4)
Phyl P.
Wow, I'm surprised by all the 4 star reviews - and disappointed because I went there for a special dinner. The setting and service are fine, but the food is really mediocre. It's fresh but so, so bland. All three of us noted how flavorless our entree's were. None of the richness and depth of spice and flavor I have had before from Afghani food.
(3)
H Y.
Step into this charming restaurant in Old Town Pasadena and it feels like you're in another world. You'll be swept away by afghani tapestry, decor and crisp white tablecloths before you even sample the food, which turns out to be surprisingly savory and delicious. Makes you wonder why you've never tried it before. It's an exotic, wonderful and satisfying treat to dine at Azeen's.
(5)
Moe R.
Horrible food, horrible service, when confronted about it, the waitress with an attitude and yellow teeth complained about her rent expenses. Portions were extremely small. Very expensive for the amount of horrible food your going to receive. These people should take a class in customer service.
(1)
Sarah C.
Afghan Food great service, food, ambiance. affordable
(5)
The Mahogany C.
So, I'm not understanding where the raving reviews are coming from since my friend and I had a tasteless experience dining here. The salad was 95% iceberg lettuce, drenched in ranch dressing with ONE tomato and ONE cucumber. However, we decided to keep an open mind. The main course tasted like it had been microwaved. Also, I could not substitute lamb for chicken in a dish, which means it was premade. Gross. Also, the food is ridiculously expensive. And the bread sucked.
(1)
Daniel C.
Afghani terrorists, you say? Bullocks! The only thing they terrorize is my wallet after I drop mad cash on their scrumtrulescently delicious food... Over the past 5 years that I've lived in Pasadena, I've enjoyed many 'a Middle Eastern cuisine... Lebanese, Armenian, Lebanese-Armenian, Syrian, Persian, etc., all mouth-watering and flavorful in their own way. But none compare to the edible eloquence and scrumptious sophistication of Azeen's Afghani Restaurant located in the heart of Old Town Pasadena! I went with an old roommate of mine to this restaurant on a whim suspecting that my highly selective taste buds would reject this food like Lindsay Lohan rejects bad crack rocks... I surprised myself when I inhaled the kabobs and basmati rice like a fat kid at the fair! I had to actually take a break between plates because they give you so much food. It was simply stunning... These Afghani people really know how to off an animal that we have too much of, cook 'em up like Ted Nugent in the wild outback of Detroit, and serve 'em on a plate with tabbouleh and hummus! Kudos to them! The decor inside made me feel like I was in a luxurious restaurant in the middle of Kabul, awaiting to use the brief conversational Farsi my old roommate bequeathed to me back in '08. Since my conversion to Middle Eastern cuisine, which I have eating every week since late '08, I had the compelling desire to: 1) buy a hookah pipe with all of the necessary trimmings even though I find tobacco, cigarettes, and the people that smoke them generally disgusting, appalling, and offensive; 2) buy a magnanimously large grill and take time to learn Middle Eastern Cuisine recipes (or have my girlfriend do it, after all, she's a better cook than me) and; 3) covert non-Middle Eastern food consumers to the best food of the Eastern World. He'll, I've even gotten my father who is an all-American "meat and potatoes" guy to dine in at Azeen's.
(4)
Ellen O.
Wow.. So for our first date, after a brief coffee in March 2011, we decided to walk around Pasadena and had our eyes on Azeen. We chose a Saturday lunch at which time they were not open so we had to wait a little. Was it ever worth the wait! We attended the Pasadena Art Friday and then headed over for dinner. My new friend had lamb kabob gousfand, about which he is still talking about with fervor. I enjoyed the challaw badenjan eggplant dish very much. The cafe is elegant and seems to be well appreciated and it was apparent there were repeat customers. I cannot wait til we have a chance to return to Azeen. A class act.
(4)
Kevin C.
I was actually a bit underwhelmed by the food here when I came here with a friend. We'd gotten the badenjan challaw and the sabsi challaw: the former was pretty good objectively, but for the price I was expecting either better or more [I finished the entire dish--although admittedly, I eat a lot]; the latter was salty, and the spinach to lamb ratio was leaning too much on the spinach side. We'd also gotten sambosas for an appetizer [there are 4], which were good but probably likewise overpriced. On the up side, service was very helpful and attentive [although I guess this is to be expected, since we were only one of a handful of diners at the time]. Consider this a 3.5 review!
(3)
Stephanie H.
I've never tried Afghan food and was slightly cautious about trying it when a friend had recommended the place. We walked in and were seated in a small corner of the restaurant tucked away from everyone else. It was quiet and a nice but the service wasn't that great since we were hidden. We ordered the Kabob-E-Murgh which is chicken kabobs served on pallaw rice. The pallaw rice is seasoned and browned and pretty tasty. The chicken kabobs were flavorful and tasty as well. We also got a side order of Kadu, which is butternut squash topped with yogurt and meat sauce. It was pretty good! Overall, our experience was great! The food was flavorful and good and it's definitely something different and new that we ended up really enjoying Afghan food! This place is definitely worth trying out!
(4)
David T.
This restaurant is off of Colorado and in a pretty decent location in Old Town Pasadena. The food was pretty darn good as well. I've passed by this place so many times and finally got to try it out tonight. I was satisfied. It was a quiet Tuesday night, but there were quite a few tables occupied. The owner/manager (not sure which he was) was the only one waiting tables, and he actually did pretty well for not having any help. The only real mistake made was that he forgot to give wine to one person in my party, but I will let that slide. The food itself is good. The only criticism I have is that the salads that each entree comes with have too much pepper on them. The chicken kabob I got (kabob-e-murgh) was delicious and the rice was different and tasty as well. Oh yeah, and I should advise that the website has not been updated recently, and so the current prices on the menu are higher than the ones posted online. This place might get overlooked since it's off the main drag, but it is definitely worth checking out. A bit pricey, but good!
(4)
David B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. Great atmosphere and food for a great price. It is also family-run and named after the owner's daughter. If you're a vegetarian, ask for the vegetarian sampler. It's only on the lunch menu for some reason but they are always happy to oblige when I ask for it at dinner. Excellent!
(5)
Jan Z.
Azeen's is one of our favorite restaurants and we drive out to Pasadena from LAX frequently just to dine here. The interior is elegant yet cozy at the same time, the service is attentive and, most importantly, the food is SUPERB! The kebab e gousfand (lamb kebab) is the best lamb I have tasted anywhere --- big chunks charred on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside and perfectly seasoned. It is accompanied by a simple but tasty dinner salad, bread, a spicy green chili sauce and a bed of flavorful, fluffy rice. I know I should try other dishes but the lamb is just too good to pass up. My husband always gets the qabili pilau, which is an enormous plate of rice flavored with chunks of lamb (the lamb in this dish isn't quite as tasty as the lamb in the kebab...), raisins, shredded carrots and spices. It, too, is DELICIOUS! For dessert I order the firnay, which is a nice, light pudding flavored with pistachios and rose water --- think Afghani crème brulee! I can't praise Azeen's enough ---- the owners are warm, wonderful people who serve delicious Afghani cuisine at a reasonable price in a lovely setting. Who could ask for anything more?
(5)
Farah J.
Came here with my family for the first time and it's a nice little place. Food was great, especially the chicken & lamb. We asked the waiter/owner the specialty dish and he recommend quabili pallaw (dish with raisins and carrots). This dish had too many carrots. I also ordered the combo kabob and it said that it came with bread but the waiter (different person) forgot about it and I had to remind her about it. My dad asked about the soup and she had to read off the menu because she forgot what was on it. This place has a nice atmosphere to it. The value for the meal is decent I guess; the portions are kinda small however the quality of the meat makes up for it.
(3)
Lee F.
Just by Union and Arroyo there is this little Afghani Restaurant. The food was truly sensational. The chicken kabob, the lamb, and both eggplant dishes were awesome. The squash dish is a must to order. The food is similar to persian food. Can not go wrong here. The decor is nice and elegant.
(5)
Andre N.
Decided to try something different in my life and wanted to go somewhere in Pasadena. Chose Azeen's because of the great reviews, some by my fellow yelpers. Love the Decor of the place, with the paintings of Afghanistan in the past. Very intimate joint, good place to take a date. So sat down and decided to start off with a glass of wine. The first two white wines I ordered they were out, the third time though was the charm. Though thats kind of strange to be missing 2 wines. We decided to go with an appetizer, the mantu, it was ok, kind of reminded me of some mexican dish with carne molido. I didnt though like the yogurt stuff on it. For the main meals ordered both the Qaubili Pallaw and the Smarooq Challaw. Of the two my favorite was the Qaubill Pallaw, which had a mix of sweet (raisins, carrots) and juicy (the lamb). The Pallaw in the dish was this kind of rice which I enjoyed as well. It was good, I wouldnt say awesome but good enough for me. The Smarooq Challaw a dish with chicken and veggies in this spicy sauce was ok, though I wish there were more pieces of chicken and less veggies. Anyhow Aghan food was good, and maybe next time I will try more different dishes.
(3)
Karine B.
After reading some of the reviews on this page, I can't understand where the issue with the owner and staff is stemming from. I think it may be due to a cultural disconnect because the owner and staff are actually very friendly and accommodating. The food is very good, with the right amount of spices and some of their more hearty dishes are very authentic. I'm not Afghani but I'm very familiar with the Persian culture and Afghans are very similar to Persians. I think it's a moderately priced restaurant with good food and service and I will frequent it years to come. A nice bonus: very clean restaurant.
(5)
Jessica O.
Alright, so here's one to kick off the bucket list. Finally tried Afghani food, and it was good, but definitely not as unique tasting as I expected? As our server put it - Afghani food is somewhere between Indian and Mediterranean. We came here for dinner and started off with a bottle of wine, and the Mantu appetizer. I was surprised at how similar they tasted to asian dumplings. The skins were the same and there was something very familiar about the filling as well. I can see why people would love it, but eh, not a favorite of mine. Asked for recommendations from the vegetarian menu, and our server offered to give me the vegetarian lunch platter which included the Sabsi (spinach), Kadu (butternut squash), and another dish - I think it was Badenjan (eggplant stew). The Kadu was definitely my favorite of the three, and the Sabsi was a little more on the blander side - don't expect anything like palak paneer. Out of the three, the Kadu was the only thing I'd consider getting again. My friend got the chicken kabobs and he could not stop raving about how juicy the chicken was. I, on the other hand, was in love with his rice. My vegetarian dish came with the Challaw( seasoned white rice), which I thought was fine until I tried his Pallaw(seasoned brown rice). It was to die for. I didn't necessarily love the food, but had an overall enjoyable experience, with an attentive server. A great place to try out Afghani cuisine, and I hear the food is very authentic too.
(4)
Alexandra L.
Really good Customer Service. The food was good the only thing was the rice was a bit too dry, but overall great experience. Since it was my first time having Afghani food....
(4)
LeAnne N.
Date and I came here after we had booked a reservation for 8.30, but we got there half an hour late and they STILL let us get seated immediately. So grateful! To start off, we ordered the aushak for appetizers: leek and scallion-filled dumplings with meat sauce over it. Very tasty, similar to ravioli, and perfect for 2 people to share. Date got the Badenjan Challaw, which was heavenly. Chunks of lamb (one entire lamb skewer of meat) hidden in a chunky sauce of eggplant, tomatos, and onions. I thought the sauce was incredibly delicious and flavorful, especially since it came with the pallaw (seasoned long grain white rice). I ordered the Quabili Pallaw, which was lamb chunks (again, one skewer's worth) hidden under a pile of long-grain seasoned brown rice dotted with raisins and covered in carrot strips. I thought the rice was very tasty, and gave a good contrast to the tender lamb chunks. Date and I both got lamb (we didn't want to do the chicken option), and thought it was very well done. The lamb was tender and juicy, not gamey at all. I kept stealing Date's Badenan sauce, and he kept stealing my rice. It was a great intro to Aghani food, and will definitely come back!
(4)
Bryan Y.
The staff here are super friendly. My gf and I shared the BADENJAN CHALLAW 15.90 which includes chunks of lamb cooked with eggplant, onions and tomatoes. It was not too bad, although I looked to my friends' dishes of kebabs and I think I should have ordered that instead. I'm a meat eater haha. The parsley/green sauce that came with our bread was super tasty!
(4)
Mario R.
Solid four stars. Go! Try it! Support it! Was in from Miami staying in Pasadena and went with 3 others after stumbling into the restaurant while walking someplace else. Always wanted to try Afghani food and was not let down. If there were an Afghani restaurant in Miami I'd add it to my regularly-dined-at locations. Last night each of us ordered different things (I ordered vegetarian) and everybody raved about their meal. We ordered (and reordered several times) 3 different appetizers and they were awesome. Love the hot sauce. All the good reviews here on Yelp about this place are spot on. All the less good ones to me must just be from chronic complainers? Good riddance to them and let them eat McDonalds. I wonder if the owner, who is the person who waits on you, would let us bring our own wine next time and just charge us cordage. Will ask as their wine selection is minimal but still drinkable. Either way I'll be back!
(4)
Bridget P.
100th review! Wooooo! This place more than deserves it, too. I had always wanted to try Afghan food, which seems to be sorely lacking in this area of so cal. I asked my Afghan-American boyfriend if we could go to a restaurant sometime, and based on trusty Yelp reviews, this place seemed to be the way to go, and worth a trip out to Pasadena. Parking on the street is pretty scarce, and I advise anyone to make sure to read the signs! We thought we got pretty lucky with a stop a block away, but after being in the restaurant for a few hours, I came back to find a ticket. Anyway, this is one of those "nice," white tablecloth restaurants, beautifully decorated and with paintings on the walls. Classy place that you could easily bring a large group to for a nice dinner, or a cozy date. We ordered a carafe of wine, and started with the mantu. They also bring warm, fluffy bread with dipping sauces (I think one was a cilantro sauce?) and house salad. Anyway, one MUST order the mantu. The appetizer came with 4 dumplings, with seasoned beef and onions, topped in a yogurt sauce. A combination I'd never had before, but the different flavors blended together perfectly. My next goal is learning to re-create it! I then ordered the quabili pallaw, which consisted of braised lamb pieces underneath a sweet rice, raisins and carrots. The lamb here had to be some of the best I'd ever had. It was succulent and tender enough to be falling apart, with a slight sweetness from the seasoning that complemented the other ingredients very well. I had more than enough to be able to take home, and the lamb portion was generous as well. Boyfriend ordered one of the beef kebab dishes from what I remember (this visit was several months ago!) which he also liked, and gave his opinion that this place was legit, which was reassuring that I'd done a decent job in my research! Service was flawless and the staff was very nice and accommodating. It's also walking distance to all of the downtown Pasadena nightlife, if you wanted to make a night out of it. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular!
(5)
Jay M.
Great place! I came here for my birthday dinner, and it was a great choice. The food is amazing. I got the chicken kabob, and both the meat and the rice were delicious. They were flavorful without being overpowering. While they weren't too spicy, we were also provided a green chili-mint chutney that definitely added a kick to the food. It was very filling. I would recommend this place to anyone in the area if they're in the mood for Afghani food. Great food.
(5)
Heidar S.
I tried the Smarooq Chalow. It was ok and almost like curry. The Aush was spicy and there were some yoghourt on it. The portions are small for that price! The service is kind of slow and they looked they were not trained. While I was still eating at the end, the girl collected the dishes and even the dish that my Samboosa was on it!! They gave us a small box for the leftover but not a bag! They did not have a bag! Also at first we asked for to separate bills, but she brought only one bill! The good: Smarooq was good, also Samboosa was ok. The bad: the service is not professional, they are not friendly. No parking lot! You have to pay for parking! The portions are small for the price. Overall: I will not ry it again. I would rather go to Heidar Baba restaurant on Colorado blvd across the PCC for kabob and rice, spend less money and have great rice and much more food.
(2)
ap s.
Very good Afghani food with excellent service.
(4)
Sanjay A.
Chicken with mushrooms, amazing. Tender, seasoned, yummy. Signature lamb rice dish also really good. What about some Afghani alcohol? Or a better selection of wine?
(4)
Marie J.
This past weekend was my second visit to this restaurant. It feels like a family owned restaurant, very homey and welcoming. They orders come with this delicious thick flat bread and spicy green sauce. Entrees come with a salad. Very basic but refreshing. I had: * Mantu - These dumplings are so tasty. i always think of this as an appetizer but i can see why people order the gigantic entree plate. * Badenjan Challow - lamb in an eggplant and tomato sauce. the lamb was tender and delicious. the sauce was excellent. dipped the flatbread in the remaining sauce. Also this was a really good sized portion. i ended taking home leftovers. Why 4 stars? Mainly because I can't help comparing this place with another Afghan restaurant i used to frequent in Rancho Cucamonga. Their sabzi and kebobs blows all other afghan places away. This place also doesn't have yogurt and cucumber sauce but they were kind enough to give us some of the yogurt that they put on the Mantu. Also the prices at the other place were also much less. But then again it wasn't in Pasadena and their super low prices may explain why they are no longer in business. :p Also, be careful with the parking meters. Coming from Downtown we assumed that parking was free after 8pm on Sat. The parking ticket on the car destroyed that assumption. Damn you City of Pasadena! All in all, "open your mind Quaid" and try out this unique and tasty cuisine.
(4)
Trevor B.
My GF wanted to try something new for dinner and we grabbed a few dishes here. Service was very good and food was delicious. Fresh flavorful rices, sauces and veggies, good vegetarian options and reasonable prices. I will be back many times.
(5)
Rennie C.
Tried Azeen's with a couple of friends last night and I can't say I'm a fan. My taste buds just has no desire to eat here ever again. The food was good but it was just very ... I don't know ... blah. When I saw chunks of lamb on the menu, I really expected thick chunks of lamb! I also expected the lamb to be grilled with lots of fragrant spices and when it came in small chunks and stewed, I was not happy. The service was pretty awful too. Apparently the waitress hit my friend's chair twice and never bothered to apologize. Than she messed up one of our orders and didn't want to exchange it for us. When my vegetarian friends asked for meat sauce on the side they want the meat sauce on the side. It's like "hello" ? No they can't just suck it up and eat their vegetable with MEAT sauce on top. So yea...not going back ever again.
(3)
Faisal L.
I ordered food to go from Azeen's a couple of weeks ago. My first impression was that it was expensive. For the two entrees I ordered to go, the bill was $39 and change. I ordered the Chicken Kabob and some Lamb stew (the exact name alludes me). Lets first cover the Lamb Stew. It was good, very good, but given the flavorful nature of Persian, Pakistani and Indian cuisine, it was just a little above average. I have had better lamb stew, but this was certainly quite tasty as well. The Chicken kabob was below average. The meat just didn't compare to the kind of Chicken kabobs you can have at Persian restaurants. Nor was it as spicy as one would expect the food from this region to be. For the sides, their bread was amazing. It is a thick flat bread that complements the food well. The rice however, was not. It had a weird flavor that didn't appeal to me. Overall, a pricey restaurant that does take advantage of being the only one of its kind in the area. The food is good but nothing to write home about. Having said that, I will probably go back to try some of the other things they have. I love Afghani food and currently, this is the only one I know of in So Cal. P.S: For some reason, they placed a pending charge of $48 on my visa and then corrected it a few days later.
(3)
Jim H.
This place makes a sincere effort to distinguish itself from the many other options for middle eastern cuisine in #Pasadena . Can't wait to get back there. A few comments/criticisms--one of the dishes I ordered was a rice and lamb dish. The rice was very deliciously and delicately flavored, but the dish came with about 4 cubes of lamb--for a $20 dish this seemed a bit out of proportion. A good amount of the menu is a bit vegetarian-leaning, which is fine, but this portioning seemed a bit off. One last thing: location is in the heart of Old Town and PARKING OPTIONS ARE NONEXISTENT. I learned this the hard way, trying to pick up a take out order and drove around for 45 minutes waiting for a street spot to open up (while dozens of potentially viable spots are taken up by unnecessary valet stands, c'mon Pasadena, get it together--not Azeen's fault, though). Now that I think about it, take out probably wasn't the best idea anyway; the decor at Azeen's is very inviting, somewhat homey. Don't be a moron like me, eat in!
(4)
jay r.
Hardly merits a "meh". I've no idea whether this place is "authentic". I only know that I'd pass on every item of food we ordered, and for our party of eight, we ordered (at least) one of just about everything there was to order on the menu. The food was bland, heavy, the sauces unremarkable. Note: not a place for vegetarians...what is available is just not tasty. That said, the one memorable item on the table was a green sauce meant for dipping the otherwise forgettable flatbread. Throughout the meal, I was distracted by the thought of the really outstanding carne asada burrito and sauce available RIGHT NEXT DOOR at King Taco. It's the sort of place that you try to find a nice thing to say about because an afghan restaurant is an unusual thing in Pasadena (perhaps anywhere in SoCal) but unusual does not necessarily mean good or interesting or tasty and this place was none of those things. It was just unusual.
(1)
Christina T.
My friend called me up yesterday afternoon and asked if I wanted to have dinner. Of course I said yes because I haven't seen him in over a year. I hate choosing where to go so I told him to choose, but he bounced that responsibility back over to me. I then commenced a very long (I'd rather not disclose the duration) Yelp search for the perfect restaurant to go to. I had a list of about 7 restaurants but I decided that Azeen's was going to be the winner. I had never had Afghani food before and I assumed my friend hadn't either. It turns out he had and he did not like it. Oh great! So, we get to the restaurant and I like how it is decorated. There were paintings and photographs that made you feel like you were in Afghanistan. I was already feeling an air of authenticity. I was optimistic about my restaurant choice. We were seated promptly, given menus and water. I had read on Yelp that the Quabili Pallaw (16.50 -Tender pieces of lamb under a mound of PALLAW, topped with carrot strips and raisins.) was good; I was set on ordering it until I read the description - RAISINS. I hate raisins! So I opted to order the Badenjan Challaw (16.50 - Chunks of lamb cooked with eggplant, onions and tomatoes), which had eggplant in it, and I love eggplant! My friend ended up ordering the Quabili Pallaw. Before our entrees came, we were served a couple salads. They were nothing special, but it was nice to have something to munch on while waiting for our main courses. Our food didn't take long to come, which was a plus! My dish came with a huge plate of white rice (challaw?) and the Badenjan came in a separate dish. My first bite was so satisfying! It was tomato-y and I love tomatoes! The lamb was tender and tasty. The eggplant was good too, but I wish there was more of it! It was a huge serving of food, so I was full even before I was halfway done. My friend had to finish it off for me, AFTER he was done with his Quabili Pallaw, which was also not small. He was hungry. I had a bite of his and I definitely preferred my order over his. His rice was dry but the lamb was nice and tender like mine. The waitress also brought us some Afghani bread. They were soft and came with a nice sour sauce. I can't remember what she said it was made with, but it was something green. Whatever it was, it was delicious! She said it goes well with anything, so I put it on my rice as well. Mmm, I want some now! My first experience with Afghani food was excellent! I would definitely recommend this restaurant, especially if you're looking to try something new and different.
(4)
David S.
What a find! My wife and I wanted to try something different. Never having Afghani food we decided to try. We got there a few minutes before our reservations and were immediately seated. We started with the Samosa (a light pastry filled with with ground chickpeas and lamb). Flaky and delicious. My wife and I then shared a Lamb and Chicken Kabob (more than enough for the two of us). We finished our meal off with fresh baked Baghlava. Terrific meal that with liquor was under $50 for the two of us. We'll be back with friends!
(5)
Alex L.
I've never had Afghani food before so not sure who accurate my review will be. But when I first got there I head my doubts about this place, only because I'm not a big fan of middle eastern types of food (not sure if that's the correct area) however, thought the food was pretty good. The service was excellent! Well it was in the beginning only because we were the only customers there. Our waitress always came by and refilled our drinks without having to ask. Also made sure that we were doing okay enough times where it wasn't annoying. However it she was kind of slow towards the end because about 6 other tables came and she was the only one serving, but she still did a good job. The food was good. When I think of these types of foods, i imagine them using a lot of spices, but this place didn't use that much, which I liked. I can't remember what I ordered since my friend ordered for us. However there are pictures that are posted if your interested in seeing what we ate. The prices I thought were a little expensive. But I guess that's the price for good food. Also I've never had this type of food before so this might be averaged for this kind of food. We spent about 50 dollars for one appetizer and two entrees. Over all, the service was good, and the food was great. I would recommend this place to my friends and I would come here again.
(4)
Sam N.
Is everyone reviewing this place on crack? Don't get me wrong the chicken kebabs and rice were ok, but there wasn't any spectacular flavor or spices that distinguished this from another arabic/persian/greek kebab type place. Its good, but not great afghani cuisine, the food really is just "Meh! Ive experienced better" I knocked it down 1 star for lack of spice I also knocked it down 1 star for smaller portions that most other afghan places I have had phenomenal chapli kebab, firini, and aghani cuisine in the bay area at "Kabul" and "Afghan house restaurant" in Fremont.. but this place was just lacking. I dont think I will be coming back again, however, they have a few afghan dishes you can sample since its the only afghan place around. I also knocked it down another star since the waitress told me the meat was NOT HALAL, yet its an AFGHANI restaurant? Don't many conservative muslims only eat halal meat? Its like having an israeli restaurant and not having kosher meat!? WTF?!? Do you think any jews would show up to that israeli restaurant? If your own people can't eat the food, what does that say about the restaurant? Ill pass..
(2)
Darrell L.
We dined in a group of 11 of us and Abdul, the owner, just started bringing us starters and they started appearing fast and furious, like a Chinese banquet! I never looked at a menu so I had no idea what I was eating or what each dish was called. So today I started looking up the names of the dishes and well... fugetaboutit... I'll just say we tried about 2/3rd's of the starters and about 1/2 the entrees. Being a newbie to Afghani food, it's hard for me to judge if the food is best in class, however I will say I enjoyed nearly all the dishes with only one being mediocre IMHO... that being the spinach dish. I believe it was made with frozen spinach and not much flavor, however, it was the favorite dish of at least one in our party. Some of the other dishes also used frozen or canned veggies and truth be told, at the prices we paid, I think they should have been using fresh veggies. The kabobs were awesome! The lamb was perfectly cook and the chicken was tender, flavorful and juicy. The dumplings were also excellent in spite of the frozen veggies. Overall, I still gotta rate the food as excellent. Value: Fair. We paid $40/person out the door. Not expensive, not cheap, but i would have liked it if it had cost us a little less, but we had so much food to excess, so it probably should have cost less if we wouldn't have over ordered so many dishes. We all had a great time, good food and drink. This restaurant and owner does a wonderful time of facilitating good times. Bravo. Service was excellent. We were served by the owner most of the time. Whatever we wanted, we got. We got a discount on the corkage as our group usually brings lots of wines. Nice location. Street and lot parking. I was in a rush as I was 1/2 hour late so I paid the $7 for the lot instead of my usual hunt for free/cheap parking. Bathroom was nice and clean too!
(4)
Thom W.
My wife and I have been patronizing Azeen's since it opened. Food and service are excellent. Their lamb is the best! We always get the spinach and squash as side dishes. Portions are generous and, contrary to some Yelpers out there, I think the food is quite flavorful with a balance of spices that allows the quality of the ingredients come through. Abdul, the owner is very friendly and welcoming. I can not understand how anyone could possibly have issues with this establishment, unless they have some axe to grind. We have had Afghani food in San Diego (Khyber Pass}, Munich (Near the Volks Museum) and years ago in L.A, (Magnolia), so, I think my opinion is based on solid experience!
(5)
LifesTooShort L.
Loved spending lunch here with my husband this lovely afternoon! Folks the food is so tasty/healthy and the environment...Delightful!
(5)
Lauren C.
What a surprise! If not for YELP, I would probably never have found this place. And what a find - delicious Afghani food which I had never tried before - comfortable atmosphere, warm service. Tried the lamb kebab with rice, served with a spicy cilantro chutney. Also tried a combination plate that included a deep fried samosa-type fritter filled with ground lamb, battered eggplant with a tomato based sauce, and a dumpling with a soft skin - more like a soft won ton served in a delicious sauce. The prices were reasonable ($25 for lunch for 2). I will definitely return to try more of this delicious cuisine.
(5)
Karen B.
If you are looking for some afghani food, this is the place to go. The food was great and the service was kind. Well worth the drive from West Hollywood. We will be coming back.
(5)
Lori K.
I see myself returning to Azeen's over and over to try everything on the menu! I have to admit when I asked around to learn what Afghani cuisine was like and was told that it was "a cross between Persian and Indian cuisine" I had no doubt that I would love it. On my first visit, we started with Pakawra Katchalu which were slices of battered and fried potatoes topped with a yogurt and meat sauce. This appetizer was phenomenal and made me wonder about all the other wonderful appetizers listed on the menu. We ordered three entrees and figured we would share them. We were pleasantly surprised when our waitress brought out three dinner salads before our meal. The menu didn't indicate that our items came with dinner salads. The salad's were devoured! Most probably due to the light yogurt and mint dressing that none of us could get enough of. For dinner we ordered the Mantu (had to since we have a rendition of this in our Armenian cuisine so we wanted to compare) Basically, Afghani Mantu is a Steamed dumplings filled with chopped lamb and onions, topped with yogurt and in this case peas and corn. We also had ordered a beef challaw and a badenjan (eggplant) challaw. Both were stews served with rice. I'm a simple gal and for me "comfort food" consists of a stew served over rice which would probably explain my love of Indian food. I like to refer to these stews over rice as "dooni jash" which in Armenian means (home style food). Not only were these Afghani dishes very comforting they were PACKED with flavor! The bread that was brought out to the table was hands down the best bread I've ever been served in a restaurant. Usually when the bread basket arrives I pick at the bread, find it mediocre and leave it, but at Azeen's my cousin's and I were stuffing ourselves with the bread, using it to sop up our stewey goodness and almost fighting over who would pack up the leftover pieces while we were boxing up our leftovers. (oh ya, did I mention you get a lot of food so be prepared to walk out with some lunch or dinner for the following day). Although we were stuffed we all knew we HAD to order dessert so we went with the Firnee which was a cold pudding with rose water and pistachios. I'm not a fan of rose water anything, but let's suffice it to say, that this dessert, if served to me daily would be consumed! We also ordered the Gelabee to compare it to the Middle Eastern version we are used to. This dessert is a doughy pastry that's fried and drizzled with a sugar syrup and then sprinkled with pistachio. I liked the Afghani version far better than what we buy at Sarkis Pastry. The service was beyond friendly. The atmosphere in the restaurant is peaceful and quiet so I wouldn't necessarily recommend coming here with a rowdy bunch. My cousins and I are loud by nature and I had to make conscious efforts to keep my voice low as to not disturb other patrons or cause a scene. If you're looking for a chill dinner spot and some fantastic food in the old town Pasadena area, BOOKMARK THIS REVIEW NOW!
(5)
Toni L.
A little on the pricey side, but overall a delicious and unique meal. Food: Having never eaten Afghani food before, I didn't know what to expect. I'd say the food is almost a blend of Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Indian cuisine, but it's really something in it's own right. We started off with a salad covered in a yogurt based dressing ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). I scarfed down the entire thing like it was going out of style. I ordered the challaw gulpi, a vegetarian stew with a tomato based sauce ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). The dish tasted like an Italian version of an Indian curry, especially since it was served on challaw, long-grained seasoned rice ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). My boo ordered the visually stunning mantu plate ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). Interestingly enough, the filling was quite different from something you'd see at an East Asian restaurant or Tibetan joint. It was a mix of beef and onions that had a unique texture and flavor. Also, the sauce on top contained a good amount of yogurt and mixed veggies. Fiberiffic! One of the meals also came with Afghani bread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). Atmosphere: I think this place knows that there aren't many Afghani restaurants around here and really tries to sell themselves from that angle. There's a mural on the main wall depicting sights and scenes from Afghanistan like the Big Buddhas (although ... not sure, but I think a lot of those were blown up by the Taliban last decade). It's a little more on the formal side here, but only slightly. Service: Super nice. They explained everything in great detail and the timing of the meal was efficient but not rushed. Synopsis: Recommend. Give it a try if you crave something new or simply a delicious meal.
(4)
doona c.
Service, food, atmosphere, everything was good. The only reason why I didn't give it a 5 star was due to the lack of spice, which was too bland for my taste. But then again, I already knew Afghan cuisine prefer their foods not too spicy. (They did have this one spicy, green, vinegar sauce which was AMAZING!) So as an appetizer we ordered their beef dumplings, Mantu, which was good but nothing crazy. It honestly just tasted like spaghetti marinara sauce with steamed dumplings. Then we got Lamb Qabli Pulao and Chicken kabob. The lamb was actually really good, didn't have that strong lamb taste and the rice with raisons and carrots tasted like cinnamon. The chicken kabob was salty, but good. Because its food lacked flavor, it is definitely better with the spicy green sauce. Also, Indian food being my favorite, I ordered plain yogurt on the side, to mix with the rice. I would probably come back, just to try other Afghan dishes, but I wouldn't order the same thing. Nothing really stood out to me. Server was really nice, and definitely helped us choose our dishes. A little pricey, 16$ just for a rice dish. It looks ghetto from the outside, but when you go in, its nice and clean.
(4)
Business M.
One word. Amazing. Food heaven. Enough said. :) Okay, it's on the pricey side, but my husband and I wanted to try something closer to home, so we stayed in and decided to try this place last weekend. Usually, we're going to his mother's house which is closer to Beverly Hills, because we go visit her every weekend, but he figured this sounded interesting! And, yes, this was definitely interesting! Wish I had photos to prove how great the food is. You'll just have to try it yourself!!
(5)
Maythee R.
This review is based on my latest experience at this restaurant. I've visited a few times in the past and the food was good - not great, I've had better Afghani meals, but good. However, this time around, dining here was a disaster. First, although the restaurant was mostly empty (which is usually the case and one of the reasons we chose it), the waitress sat us back to back with another set of guests, which required moving the table and chairs back and forth several times. Then the food problems started. We ordered an appetizer with potatoes and then she came back and told us that they were having problems with the electricity and had run out of potatoes. I'm not sure how these two were connected but okay. We ordered something else. Then we ordered our entrees, both were beef dishes. Again, she returned to tell us that they only had enough beef for one dish.(Huh?) She tried to get us to order an eggplant dish instead. I had been considering a lamb and spinach dish so I decided to go with that.Terrible decision! What eventually came out -- our first dish and two huge dishes of rice came out long before -- was a giant glob of soggy, lukewarm spinach completely unseasoned with a bit of shredded lamb, also unseasoned, beneath it. Again she mentioned the electricity problems and connected them to their microwave, which made us realize they weren't exactly cooking fresh food back there. In retrospect, I think she might have been pushing the eggplant because that's what they already had prepared. Maybe it would have been a better choice but honestly I don't know if anything could have saved that meal. Our first dish - beef with tomatoes and bell peppers - was better but just adequate at best. The bell peppers weren't cooked, just sliced and placed on top. I think we were given all that rice because they knew they wouldn't be selling any more meals that evening. Either way, it was definitely more than we could eat. Besides the food, the service was really poor. The same waitress never came out to ask us about our meal. I had to ask the first time for more water and when my water ran out a second time, since she never returned, I didn't get any more. When she came to get our dishes, I told her how terrible the spinach lamb dish was but she didn't say anything about it. She also clearly saw that we took only a spoonful of it. While we were there, a few other customers came by but they were turned away because of the food/electricity problems. Given all this, I thought they might at the least remove the dish from our bill, however, that was not the case. We were charged nearly $17 for that spinach mess. In fact, after she picked up the dishes, she never acknowledged a problem and the issue of the electricity was suddenly dropped. Overall, I have two main regrets: 1) I should have requested that they remove that item; and 2) I wish we'd arrived later, maybe at the same time as those other would-be customers so we too could have been turned away. Ultimately, all I can do is never return. This place has lost our patronage.
(1)
Miri B.
The place looked old so I wasn't sure if I really wanted to eat here, but the inside looked better than I thought. Well, but who really cares about the facade. the food is AMAZING!! not so oily. very clean and ..yeah. ANyway, I had Chef's COmbination (or something) that includes 3 appetizers and Lamb something.. it's like rice + lamb + a bunch of shredded carrots with raisins?? Was very good. I'm down to drive an hour just to get come here and eat and drive another hour to go back to OC.
(4)
Mary D.
Dined here for dinner and was excited to try something new. Here is what we had (best to worst): PAKAWRA-E-BADENJAN (4/5 stars) - ** yum*** battered and deep fried eggplant covered with yogurt and meat sauce. Good flavors. I really enjoyed this appetizer. Get this. Fried food, so bad... yet so good. KADU (3.5/5 stars) - butternut squash with the same sauce that is mentioned above. I like the sweetness of butternut squash. However, not much creativity amongst the dishes... same yogurt and meat sauce. QUABILI PALLAW (2.5/5 stars) - ***not recommended*** shredded lamb on top of seasoned rice that was mildly sweet with shredded carrots and raisin. When this was delivered to out table, we were convinced that the meat would be coming shortly after. Come to find, the lamb was already HIDDEN in the rice. BUMMER!! Totally not worth $16. The lamb was bland and made me pout. I chose this dish researching on yelp and reading about how awesome this dish was for other yelpers. Sigh, my fiance dethrowned me as the shot caller of food selections. He said the next time, I don't get to pick anymore. That's just mean. He is totally getting the silent treatment for at least a week ; ) Service was extremely slow. They actually forgot about us after they seated us. The food didn't take too long to reach our table, but the waitress did not follow up with us. My water was empty for quite a while and we were left waiting several times throughout the night. We shared one entree, got an appetizer, and a side dish. This was enough for the both of us. The total without tip came out to $32.
(3)
Brian S.
Went here on a Tuesday. As was to be expected, there weren't a lot of people. One large party by the window and one older couple. Not too much to handle. Yet, the waitress and owner at first seemed either disinterested or distracted. At least, this was the signal I was getting. Luckily for me, I had my handy Yelp app with me, so I knew exactly what to order. Mantu to start and Quabili Pallaw for a main dish and some spinach thing my wife ordered (also good). Although the prices for each seemed a bit high ($14-$16) the portions were quite large and the flavors were different than I'm used to. (By the way, "different than I'm used to" can be used in a good context and a bad context"- just realized that). My only complaint about the food would be that the salads are pretty sad - just lettuce, one cucumber and one tomato, although the dressing is quite good. The staff certainly seemed to warm up over time and, after finding out it was my birthday, brought out a pair of baklava with a lit candle in it! I thought that was an amusing and classy touch. This basically bumped them up from four stars to five. Maybe I'm easy, but sometimes its the little touches that put you over the top...
(5)
Lisa V.
The first time we tried Azeen's, we were totally wingin' it. That's usually how it goes for me. It was an OK experience, but we weren't overly impressed. The second time around, I did a little more research and resisted all urges to experiment with stuff I've never heard of...referring only to Yelper-recommended dishes. YEA! Yelpers CAME THRU!! I ordered the Mantu, Quabilli Pallaw, Gulpi & Kadu. We had to exert some control over not licking the dishes clean (which was hard to do until other peeps came in...so the embarrassment factor took hold) and were actually able to bring some of the QP rice home. Seriously satisfying. Why did I ever stray? Better to not live in the past.
(4)
Neelam P.
I love this place and go regularly!! I recommend ordering the beef or chicken kebabs. The rice/pallaw that comes with it is amazing!!! Mantu and Kadu are also out of this world!!! If its your first time, I recommend lunch because entrees are more moderately priced. Parking can be difficult to find. Service is great and the atmosphere is nice and festive. Check it out!
(4)
Janet C.
I'm disappointed. Based on the reviews I read on yelp, I was expecting to be blown away. More of a slight breeze. The lamb Kabob was VERY TENDER and VERY YUMMY though. The chicken kabob was also good (a little dry), but not nearly as good as the lamb. I really liked this one rice dish with lamb and shredded carrot and raisins. The bread was just meh. Salad was alright. Had this one chicken mushroom appetizer and the chicken was dry. It was very underwhelming. There was a lamb dumpling that was really delicious though. Didn't care for the butternut squash with sauce. The servers don't smile. I don't think anyone in that place smiled. The interior is very nice with murals and some statues. The lighting is soft and brings a more intimate feel. This place has generous portions and it's not heavy or greasy at all which i like. So, it's good, but not great. Maybe I should've ordered different things. I'd go back to see if I'll change my mind.
(3)
vero s.
Um. Yes. A thousand times yes! I want to die and be reincarnated as a chunk of chicken living under a pillow of spiced rice. Afghani food is like the beautiful love child of Indian and Persian food, maybe even Greek. It's basically the offspring of an orgy of all your favorite foods. Try as I might to order something else, I always fall back on the quabili pallaw with chicken. I honestly don't think rice is that interesting, but somehow this rice transcends rice. It's fluffy and spicy and full of surprises like warm, plump raisins and shreds of carrot. Underneath this blanket of joy you'll find the chicken, which is juicy and tender. Start with the aushak- soft, doughy vegetable dumplings (I get them without meat) with a refreshing yogurt sauce and you won't be disappointed. I like things spicy, so I always pour on the green sauce they serve with the bread. I've also had the eggplant and a few other appetizers and have always been pleased. So glad to have this gem to offset the boredom of Colorado.
(4)
Jennifer S.
We ordered the Quabili Palaw lamb, Mantu Dumplings (which reminded me of a sort of ravioli, Afghan style) and Beef Kabab. Everything tasted so good. The only criticism I have is that the Quabili Palaw seems to have very little lamb under a huge pile of rice, which I must say is very delicious rice. Maybe that's just a personal preference. I usually like to have a good 8 to 10 oz of meat in my dish, but this seemed to be about 4 to 6 oz.
(4)
Jeremy V.
I have not had Afghani food this good since I was in Afghanistan. It was an amazing experience! The food and service are worth making trip here. I plan on being a regular here. If you describe to the owner about something you had in the past. He will tell you what it is and then bring it out for you!
(5)
Tanya H.
I wish I could leave a good review, but the service I experienced was terrible and completely negated the fact that the food was tasty. I asked the waitress about whether a particular item on the menu could be ordered without the meat sauce, and she said no. So, I said, "Okay, well then I'll get X and Y then (can't remember the names of the dishes)." She brings me the first thing I ordered, a small appetizer, and then as I'm finishing it brings me a giant plate of something covered with meat. I said that I didn't order that and she insisted that I did, bringing me the menu and pointing at the item that I had asked about but did NOT order. I told her I hadn't wanted it because of the meat sauce and I'm a vegetarian. She replied, "Well, maybe you can take it home with you and give it to someone?" Later when she brought me the bill she included $16.50 for the item I didn't order and didn't eat (the two items I did order were an appetizer and a side dish that together were only about $12). I again tried to explain to her that I didn't order that item and she said that it was my fault for not being clear and would not take the dish off my bill. If I'd had cash I would have just left the amount to cover the items I DID order and walked out the door, but alas I only had a credit card.
(2)
Sana I.
Food is mediocre for Afghan food. Customer service leaves much to be desired. Dishes are filled with 90% rice and the meat entree is more of a side dish... If the hostess attitude was a little better perhaps the mediocrity of the food wouldn't have been such a disappointment.
(2)
Kevin S.
My friend Mario and I were in Pasadena for Make Music Festival, having a lovely walk about town. We passed this place a couple times enroute to different band stages. There was some time between the next performance we were interested in seeing (Dam Funk, in case you're curious), and we didn't feel like sitting on a curb to chow--even though those lobster rolls looked pretty damn tempting. Mario friend pointed to Azeen's after we'd passed an overcrowded King Taco, and turned out we were on the same wavelength. Neither of us recall experiencing Afghani food before but the dishes on the menu are similar to other middle eastern cuisine, so it wasn't so much that everything was foreign to us, but that everything looked so good! We let the helpful waitress pick out a nice selection for us (which she did quite confidently) and shared. Everything was terrific! We were right to trust her. Likely the best beef kabob I've ever tasted. Heavenly salty garlicky crust. Flavor to its soft, juicy center and grilled to perfection. We had lamb under rice (forgive me for not knowing the proper names for these things) that was moist and melty. The garlic spinach dish was rich and plentiful. One side was plenty to split between the two of us. For dessert we again took the waitress' advice and had the pudding. It was topped with pistachio dust and under its skin was an aromatic blend of flavors, the dominant but not overpowering force being cardamom. The spice paired well with the crunchy green nutty bits and being more flavorful than sweet, made for a different, surprising kind of dessert choice. Overall we were happy with our (waitress') choices. It was exactly what we were looking for: a mom and pop shop food adventure filled with exciting new flavors for our palates. I would come here again in a heartbeat when I'm up in these parts. Looking around at other tables we saw a lot of things still left to venture into!
(5)
Abby K.
I was hoping to have a great experience at this restaurant, and it certainly fell below my expectations. First off, there was only ONE waitress serving 8 tables. I normally wouldn't mind, but two of those tables had at least 7 people.....now for the food! I ordered some samosas...and they were disgusting. They were not crispy, and I have no idea what they were filled with. I've had better at even hole in the wall restaurants. Then my father and I had salads that were actually quite tasty. That was probably the only thing good about this meal. Then our meals came....and boy did I lose my appetite. I ordered chicken pallaw, and it was disgusting. It was over seasoned and it made me want to gag. My father ordered lamb kabab with regular rice. Did he get regular basmati rice? No. And the lamb was almost raw looking....it was disgusting. The worst part of this experience was the check. It cost us $60 for 2 plates and samosas.....I will never be back, let's just say that.
(1)
Kat C.
My friend and I are going on a culinary adventure in Old Town. We want to hit up different cultures of foods, things that we wouldn't be able to just whip up at home... so, we find Azeens! I start to get STOKED when the appetizer arrives... Sambosa... it is DE-LISH! I smother it in the green sauce and think to myself how wonderful and flavorful the rest of the meal is sure to be! (I will give this dish a 5 for sure) Well, the food comes out and we smell it... Italian?? Mt friend ordered the Aushak and said that it fully lacked any kick, spice or pop. I tried some of hers and 100% agree. It was an okay dish, nothing special about it, and it was covered in a marinara type sauce that's smell pretty much over took all the awesome herbs and smells of my dish... which was MUCH better :P I ordered the Mantu. I love lamb and don't cook it often at home. I agree that this dish lacked pop as well. There was nothing distinctive about it, but it was very yummy. The one thing that through me for a loop was that it was covered in what seemed to me to be a frozen veggie mixture. (You know the kind with corn, peas, cut carrots and green beans all cut the same length??) I only recognize this due to the fact that I make baby food with that stuff weekly. It was a really good dish, just kinda bland. Overall I really did enjoy my experience there. I would go again and bring my parents who I think would like the food adventure - and I would feel safe knowing that the adventure was not that big lol. The server was really nice, the appetizer was amazing and the food was good over all, but nothing special. I would say try this place out for sure! Just dont expect as bold flavor combinations as I had hoped for!
(3)
Angela F.
Yummy!!! Love the decor of this place. The food was awesome! I had the beef kabobs! Service was great. I wish they had afghan music playing it would have made the experience and atmosphere a lot better.
(4)
Natalia I.
I love this place! Came here for my birthday and wasn't disappointed. Love the Mantu appetizer , a must have its amazing. I had the beef curry and the lamb in spinach dish. Afghani bread was delicious too. Loved the pinot noir selection.
(4)
Beluga W.
I really wanted to like it. The food was okay. The salad that comes with entrees is disgusting. Like the white parts of romaine with a watered down yogurt dressing. I tried to order the squash entree which comes with rice, but the server told me they were out of it. I couldn't really comprehend what she was saying so it took a few minutes to explain. Then she said that I could just get a side of squash, so even though I don't really understand how it would be possible to be out of the dish but not the main ingredient, I agreed. Then she said something else and I didn't hear/understand and immediately walked away. I was still confused. There were 3 other tables dining at the same time, but suddenly when all the other tables finished they REALLY wanted us to leave as well. So one second after our salads were dropped, our entrees were brought to the table. I tried to say that we weren't going to finish the salads anyhow, but the server just walked away leaving us with a mess of plates. I received wayyyy more food than I had thought I ordered, and when the bill came, I was charged for an entree and two sides which somehow the server had tricked me into getting when I just asked for a side of squash. They proceeded to stare until we filled out the bill and practically pushed us out. Needless to say, I won't be back.
(2)
Downtownbaby T.
This restaurant really reminded me how ignorant I am! I have never even realized that there would be such a thing as "Afghani" cuisine--but they have a culture, people, country...you would think they'd also have food! DUH! We came in here completely unassuming, and we walked out wanting to try more cuisines from cultures we haven't tried (Tibetan is next on my list which is a block away). If you're familiar with Mediterannean/Greek/Lebanese fare, this place really isn't that far of a stretch so I encourage you to try it. Afghani food features lots of kebabs and tasty appetizers--much of their food though is flavored with similar spices as Indian food. Think Greek with Indian flavors. The food was really fresh, and your deer-in-headlights look when looking at the menu will grab the attention of very friendly servers who are more than happy to school you to better help you decide what to order.
(4)
Danny G.
First time here and I ordered te perfect combination. Meat dumplings appetizer with the fried meat pouch. Forgot the name. The dishes came and I ate the dumplings and using the fried appetizer, I picked up the delicious meat and yogurt sauce. Then used their soft chewy bread to mop the remaining sauce off the plate. Yum!
(4)
Amru A.
They need a course in customer services and ethics!!!
(1)
Anas M.
The restaurant is very clean and nice. The service is excellent. However, the food is okay... I have had much better afghan food. I would not go there there again.
(2)
David T.
This place kicks A__! I love exotic restaurants like this. You would gladly run the Kabul Marathon to eat here.....the delicately seasoned rice is heavenly! From 02 Sushi we walked to Azeen's. Two awesome eateries in one day.... I love you, America!
(5)
Tracy L.
I just got back from my first experience with Azeen's, as well as my first experience with Afghani food. As such, I can't really compare the quality of its Afghani integrity, but I know when I like food, and tonight was a little hit-or-miss. I went with my brother and we ordered the aushak for appetizer and combination kabob and sabsi challaw for entrees. The aushak was okay, and tasted sort of similar to the kinds of dumplings I have at home, except not quite as good--though I have to admit the yogurt and meat sauce was great. My brother's sabsi challaw was too salty for my taste and had much less lamb than either of us had expected, though we both agreed that the spinach was cooked well. And then there was my combination kabob, one skewer chicken and one skewer lamb. Now that was great. Tender meat with flavorful rice, and with some great bread on the side. I really enjoyed my kabob, but it was only the best of a group of mediocre dishes. Also, we found in the evening that the service was a little strange. When he finished each dish, my brother left his used utensils on the dish. When the waitress came to clear his plate, she gingerly and with mild disdain picked up his used utensils and placed them back on the table for him to reuse. This happened twice. And it was just kind of strange that she was so insistent he reuse the same fork and knife. Overall, in spite of the strange utensil thing, the food was okay. I would have rated it 3.5 stars, or thereabouts, but for the price that we pay it should be a little better than what it is.
(3)
Tara C.
Expanding my foodie horizons, yay! My dad brought me here for dinner recently and it was a delicious experience. We shared the mantu appetizer, which are little pasta-like pillows of ground lamb with sauce and veggies on top. Tasty. For my entree, I had the quabili pallaw, which translates to a wonderfully spiced mound of rice, studded with raisins and shredded candied carrots, covering chunks of tender lamb meat. Kinda like "hide and go seek" with lamb. My only complaint was there was not enough lamb, but the whole thing was very good. The service was efficient and friendly, although as the place filled up I couldn't catch our server very often for refills and such. Try the Afghani tea if you like a soothing, spiced drink.
(4)
Jenn R.
my first time at an Afghan restaurant and it was a great experience!! Food was very good and service was awesome! i would have given it four stars because it was super hot in there there since the moment i walked in and when i asked if they could turn on the a.c. they said it was already on and i thought i was going to die (but i do get hot really easily). Then the nice owner brought out a fan for me and had it pointed towards me so that I'd be nice and cool!! Awww, that was very sweet the place seems to be family owned and they really take good care of you!
(5)
marlon e.
Not to be racist but if you hear "Afghan" you think of Osama Bin Laden and terrorist. That's it! You might say its ignorant but for most people there's nothing else about it that would stick in your head except for that National Geographic Photo of that Afghan Girl. (you might not even know what i'm talking about) Anyway, one of my goals in life is to be able to have dinner with Bin Laden and you might be wondering why? It's simple, I wanna see him drunk. It's would be funny to see one of the worlds most wanted person trppin and making afghan jokes. So this is my first step in reaching that goal trying their cuisine. Food somehow helps you understand each culture. As usual we don't know what to get so we asked the server for her favorite dishes just to play it safe. We got: PAKAWRA-E-BADENJAN - this is freakin awesome! Deep fried battered egg plants with some sort of cheese and tomato sauce. MANTU-like dumpling with yogurt sauce! another thing that you must get!!!! SMAROOQ CHALLAW-pieces of chicken and mushroom its like a stew and the spices are good. QUABILI PALLAW - carrots raisins rice and lamb. I must say there's not enough COMBINATION KABOB- not great but good just like any kabob its hard to fuck up. All in all its a great place and our server is really attentive. They charge 8 bucks for cork fee. 4 stars for the food (just the FOOD) ____________________ Yeah so the bill was fixed about but i won't go back to this place just because all what happened and i was told not to go back here. I don't know who got it all wrong is it the bank or what, but i'm over it. yeah its bullshit
(4)
Mika W.
Tucked away in the back part of Old Town, Azeen's is a gem of a find! It was great to try a different kind of cuisine. The waitress gave us wonderful service. The butternut squash dish was amazing, I think that was my favorite. Soft and melt-in-your mouth goodness. The steamed dumplings were tasty. The fried eggplant was crunchy and delicious. I think I liked all the side dishes better than the kabobs. Save room for some tasty black cardamom tea!
(5)
Yvette H.
This is my FAVORITE afghan restaurant. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their mantu (succulent lamb filled dumplings w/ yogurt and meat sauce to top off) and Pakawra-Badenjan (think eggplant tempura w/ yogurt and meat sauce...the lightest fried food i've ever eaten). So good! The lamb dishes are also fantastic. We always order the KABOB-E-GOUSFAND (lamb kabob) and the QUABILI PALLAW (braised lamb w/ rice, raisins and carrots...sounds funny, but it came together very well). I've also had their beef kabobs, which were tasty, but the lamb is special. Not many places know how to cook lamb well.
(5)
Sara L.
Azeen's is a totally enjoyable experience. The place is nice, the people re nice, also very accommodating (I was in a bit of a rush). Only got to the the dumplings this time, but they were fabulous. I particularly liked the Mantu and the Bulanee-e-Katchalu. They are the dumplings in the picture that are not fried. Afghani seems to be a bit like Iranian, but I can't wait to come back and try their Challow and kabobs and see the difference between theirs and other cultures. Yay! Now to try the one Sri Lankan place in town...
(4)
Steve J.
I really enjoyed the food here. I haven't had any other Afghani food before, but the best I can describe it is to compare it with its geography - in between Iran, India, and Central Asia. It's not Indian or Persian food but somewhere in between it. I did really enjoy how they spice their foods - nutty and sweet but not too spicy or heavy. I had the quabili pallaw (seasoned rice with lamb, carrots, and raisins), kadu (butternut squash with yogurt), badenjan (eggplant stew), and sabsi (sauteed spinach). I love butternut squash and I love eggplant, and both were so delicious. The rice with carrots and raisins was really interesting, too, and the lamb was cooked well, tender without any gaminess - the spices were not overwhelming but worked well with the meat. It's very clean inside, with an interesting mural of the Afghan landscape on the wall, as well as other cultural pictures, like the Afghan girl on the National Geographic cover. The servers were very hospitable and courteous, and they took our order and brought out our food very promptly. Your bill can add up quickly if you're just ordering entrees, but the side dishes have generous portions and are much cheaper, just a tip.
(5)
Shanan A.
Just average, you know, like 3 stars. Food was tasty enough, but didn't have a ton of flavor or spice. It was just average, although if/when I go back, I'll definitely ask for spicier food, and I'm sure they can do that. Also, I got all vege stuff, so that certainly could have contributed to the average flavor. Service was also just average. Not good, not bad, just average.
(3)
Vince L.
I'm not an expert in the cuisine but I found the food at this restaurant to be interesting and quite tasty. I've been here twice and the quality was pretty consistent. On both occasions I was part of a group so I was able to try a variety of dishes. I definitely will go back.
(4)
brandi g.
Excellent service, very good food. Not cheap but it's not too expensive if you order an entree and appetizer and a side and share. We had more than enough food this way. We also had tea and shared a dessert, the bill was a bit over forty. I'd give another star if it wasn't 25 bucks a person, mostly because you are an ethnic restaurant competing with other places in that price range with more sophisticated food The service was very good though! Nice people, nice decor.
(4)
Rick B.
Great food. Getting our order was a little slow, but once the order was in the service was great. Portions are huge!
(4)
Jason C.
Excellent Afghani food. I try to make it to this place each time I visit Pasadena. I especially enjoy the lamb kabobs. All the meat is cooked perfectly and the pallow is very tasty. The portions are just the right size.
(5)
Roni R.
This food is very good. It's a great lunch place. I personally like ordering the sample plates b/c they give you a bit of everything. The staff is very nice and helpful when ordering. The price is reasonable and there is never a wait -- b/c it's a bit out of the way from Colorado -- so you're not as likely to bump into it.
(4)
Maureen W.
This quiet, unassuming little place is a real find in the sea of Colorado Hip Joints. It's amazing that I drove by it a million times and never really saw it. The hub and I were desperate for something a little different, something off the beaten path. Azeen's was perfect. We took our friend Jonathan G. and hit the Afghani paradise. I had the beef kabobs and I didn't have time to try the other's dishes because I had macked so fast on my kabobs that I was completely full by the time I was done! Oh and we started with the Mantu that was delish. Very flavorful, like I expected Afghani food to be. YOu will delight in the food, service and decor at Azeen's. Just be prepared for sucky parking. I recommend the Parson's lot.
(5)
Food Monkey B.
The Mantu there is to DIE for. So good I go there just to order it !!! The bread with the special sauce is GREAT too !!! Gets craving all the time :)
(5)
Cody C.
I seldom visit this place, but it has a soft spot in my heart...er....stomach I guess. I had reservations about Middle Eastern food, but they were quickly dispelled when I tried the place out. The menu is on the simpler side, you won't find real extravagant dishes here, but don't interpret that as negative. Mostly meat dishes served with rice or something of that sort. Whatever they do that meat...spices, oils, whatever...it becomes a very hearty and satisfying meal. Try it, you'll like it.
(4)
Mark M.
Go! Afghani food is different, and how many people have ever had Afghani food?! The spices are wonderful. The room is lovely. The servers are patient and helpful. And enough already with Mexican, Italian, soups, and salads, and burgers! Get out and go - wake up your life and your taste buds! I'm from San Francisco where the Afghan restaurant Helmand is OUT OF THIS WORLD, and while Azeen's isn't that, you need to go.
(4)
Brian A.
This is a lovely restaurant. The kabobs are succulent and the "ravioli" styled appetisers with mint chutney is highly recommended.
(5)
Pete R.
We had a great experience at Azeen's tonight. I'm not sure of the names of everything we ate, but it was really good and very reasonably priced, even with a good bottle of wine. The atmosphere was very cozy. While there were only a few people there on this Thursday night I heated it's important to get reservations on weekends. I will definitely visit here again.
(4)
Tasha D.
I had a lovely quiet dinner here with two friends this Tuesday. Everything was fantastic -- the meat was ridiculously tender. The tea with cardamom was pleasant. I would come back here in a heartbeat. I thought it was a good price performers -- entrees were around $15.
Great food, service, atmosphere, price, and not noisy. "Can ya beat this?"
(5)
Jennifer Q.
So delicious. Very reasonable prices. I had a dumpling dish w lamb. Ethereal. Also a squash side dish that was wonderful. Afghan tea is tasty too.
(4)
Cassandra M.
Someone gave us a $100 gift certificate for this place. I had always been curious about it, and was excited to try it. After we were seated the owner came to us and said we could order but that they were having a problem with the power and the air conditioning wasn't working. We weren't sure what he was getting at so we ordered. The adventure began with a forgotten drink. When we order food, my son tried to order a kabob, which they didn't have, then another - nope. He finally says they only have the lamb. We ordered a spinach dish and a potato dish and some bread and rice. My daughter ordered the potato dish. A few minutes later, he came back to tell us that the power is still not working so they don't have the potato dish. (what?! - then he says "We can make it but it will take awhile" what?!) So my daughter ends up just ordering plain rice. We got the eggplant dish and ordered a dessert for afterward. The food was ok, not spectacular. Then we asked for the dessert, he came back and said they were out. My teenage son says outloud "I knew it was too good to be true." We were laughing the whole time, so I guess we had a good time but not a good meal. I'm not sure how they're staying in business, expensive food that they don't carry, no air conditioning, and weird service. We have some of the gift certificate left but we don't want to go back!
(2)
Adriana Y.
This is a very nice place to take your family as long as they're not racist like my mother, who refused to go because she "isn't into ethnic food" and "doesn't want to support terrorism." Afghani food is like a cross between Indian and Middle Eastern. The meat and veggie stews are flavorful but not spicy, filling but not heavy. I call it "comfort food light." Most of the appetizers are topped with a cool yogurt herb sauce and also a splash of tomatoey sauce with ground lamb (yum). The bread is my favorite, pillowy-soft and foccacia-esque with a french bread flavor, perfect for sopping up sauce. Order a few dishes and share them. The meat is fresh and tender. The butternut squash is a must, perfectly cooked. Get the hot cardamon tea. Don't forget dessert -- when my roommate ordered the firnee, a perplexingly delighful, flan-like rosewater pudding with the smooth, slippery texture of cold cream, she exclaimed "it tastes like a spring field!"
(4)
Mariko M.
We love Azeen's! I always order the lamb Quabili Pallau because it's so good that i can't ever bring myself to NOT order it. (And I usually do not like lamb, too strong a flavor, but with the rice, carrot, raisin and spices it's just perfect.) We've also had the sambosa appetizer and the fried potatos with yogurt / meat on top. These are good but not exceptional like the Quabili Pallau! Also the chutney that comes with the bread is fantastic. All the entrees come with a nice salad (just lettuce, cucumber, tomato, but a good dressing), too. I'd also recommend the afghan tea -- it's similar to Indian Chai with a lot of cardamom flavor, yum.
(5)
Stephanie R.
We love going out to eat at Azeen's and we go regularly. We love the combination kabob, the quabili pallow and the smarooq challow. We come for the good food and because we are quite fond of the owners, who have always been accommodating, and polite. We are so full after our salads and entree that we have never tried ant of the desserts! I recommend them highly.
(5)
Shelly W.
Excellent food. The butternut squash with yogurt and meat sauce is to die for. Will come again and try some other entrees, but will always get the squash.
(5)
Toro O.
The lamb dish everyone recommended was extremely dry and not tasty. Another dish with spinach was nothing special either--just rice with boiled spinach and meat.
(2)
Aaron T.
Some close friends asked where we would like to meet for dinner during a recent visit to Pasadena. Our response...any place but the big crowded places in Old Pasadena! Some place with rice...their response, Azeen's. Our first visit will not be our last! My wife is a big rice fan...their seasoned brown rice won her over. And the Mantu entree made me fall in love with Azeen's. We ordered five dishes, one for every member in our party...too much food. Family style serving would have made three or four entrees adequate. Service was warm, friendly, and informative...for the uninformed (me). We will be back...save a table for us!
(4)
Forrest D.
This is a wonderful little restaurant off the beaten path in Old Pasadena and it's well worthing searching out. The lamb is a wonderful creation here, and most everything else is also very good, especially the kabobs. I ate here early on and didn't think it would survive but thankfully it's quite busy now as people have found it and turned on to the unique flavorings on offer here. This is one of the finest restaurants in Pasadena, and that's saying something as there are quite a few superb choices. Food - A+ Ambience - B Service - A Value - A
(5)
Joe T.
Fine people and with a love and dedication for the foods that they prepare. Looking forward to returning.
(5)
Sarah R.
The service here is so friendly, and the food is amazing. We brought many people to this restaurant, and these friends have loved us for the discovery. I haven't lived in Pasadena for a few years, and still find myself longing for Azeen's...
(5)
Laura B.
Despite America's stance of Afghanistan....I've gotta say that I'm a fan of the food. I came here on a date (so clearly, it's a good date place) and it's this wonderful little restaurant tucked away amidst the craziness and mediocrity of Old Town Pasadena. It's a quiet place, which minimal decor, but nice nonetheless. we sure had fun trying to pronouce the dishes, but it was well worth the effort. We had the dumplings first....filled with ground lamb I believe with a yogurt type sauce....just enough novelty and spice to make for a good start. I had the chicken skewers which were AHHHHMAZING. Big chunks of chicken sans actual skewer, moist, flavorful, and juicy. I can still taste it! The rice made an excellent addition to the dish. I'm not really a huge fan of butternut squash....actually, I don't think i've really had it until I came here. I was skeptical, but boy, did they prove me wrong! The squash was tender and a little sweet, and with the addition of the yogurt sauce, it was terrific. Luckily, I got to take home the leftovers!!! It's a little pricey, but seeing as how I didn't choose the restaurant or pay, it was allllllll gooooood. Needless to say, the date scored major points. Not like that, silly!
(4)
Danny W.
THE FOOD WAS AWESOME....BEST FOOD EVER.. I couldn't stop eating the taste was superb.Very.. I mean very friendly service, The waiter was supper nice the food came quick, Love the Eggplant with yogurt, The Lamb stew over white rice was great..Over all it was great experience visiting this place the price was very reasonable...And believe me I will go there again for sure..And I will recommend this place to all my friends and relatives..
(5)
Mary B.
This is such a nice restaurant, always reliable quality food and pleasant service. My brother was just in town and he always wants to come back to Azeem. Favorites are the various kebobs, the aushak, the butternut squash and the rosewater flavored pudding. One of the owners took time to chat with my sister-in-law about Afghanistan--admittedly right now a sad topic. One of the treats of living in Pasadena is a restaurant like this. Even its location is nice, a quiet picturesque street off the beaten path in Old Town.
(5)
Mark E.
My friends and I wanted something different and out of the ordinary so I mentioned afghani food and its a good thing I did cause... THE FOOD WAS SOOO DELICIOUS! FOOD: 10/10 Atmostphere: 8/10 Staff (friendliness and service): 8/10 Wait time: 10min with out reservation The meal was pricey like around $20 a plate but with food that good it was worth the money! However if you decided to eat here on a Friday or Saturday night be sure to make reservations cause it tends to get busy . Plus the staff gets irritated if you don't make a reservation and makes you wait, while there are plenty of empty seats. Thus the one star deficit. Never-the-less when they sat us they filled our cups the minute we were done with our drink and they were kind enough to almost give us a second salad! haha. The atmosphere was delightful and had middle eastern landscapes painted on the walls. A nice touch along with the feeling of eating at a high end establishment. Nicely done, Azeen's! I look forward to coming back!
(4)
Manic D.
Craving garlic fries and and some beer I climbed off my perch and made my way to Pasadena, heading straight toward Gordon Biersch. I finally found a parking spot in the parking-hell that is old-town and wandered down Union Street with a Pavlovian twitch. Didn't make it past the little storefront that houses Azeen's....and very glad of it. I've passed it several times and wanted to poke my head in, but was always in search of something else. I'll be making my trek back specifically for their treats again, very soon. Awesome fare and excellent service in a cozy, almost romantic setting. Some ambient music would be nice, but that's by far my only criticism. With all the chain restaurants that clutter the streets and gullets of this town, it's always nice to find a place with a human touch. It was my first venture into Afghani cuisine and I was appropriately ignorant. I expected kebab, kebab and more kebab...alas, I did mention 'ignorant' eh? The flavors meshed Middle-Eastern flair with more traditional Indian influences, all coming together to drive a man mad. The Mantu appetizer was excellent, but Aushak takes the prize. They're a leek and scallion-filled dumpling topped with a meat sauce, as are most of the offerings, although they offer a fair amount of vegetarian plates as well. If you're into lamb the Quabili Pallaw rocks. I kept an eye peeled as other plates made their way past our table and everything looked equally delicious. Something for all the senses. Highly recommended. I'll have to wait another day for the beloved garlic fries and beer, but very happy to have found Azeen's.
(5)
Todd C.
Azeen's was my first foray into Afghani cuisine, and it has been great. The restaurant is set in an unassuming high-ceilinged storefront with unobstrusive decor with friendly servers running around with plates. What is Afghan cuisine? It's Indian cuisine, minus the pungency of the spices, plus the allowance of dead cow, more water and stews, and more liberal with gourds, carrots, raisins, and honey. There are a handful of vegetarian choices, but most feature legged meats. If craving Indian food, this restaurant won't suffice, but the subtler tastes and lingering sweetness will satisfy you regardless. This is from an outsider who can't give a true assessment of authenticity, but I sense that it is. The dishes, for the ingredients they contain, seem slightly overpriced. The salad is iceberg lettuce in a white dressing, and the plates look like Denny's wholesale, but the rest of the food and house wine carafes are great.
(5)
Juliette M.
I would come back to this place in a heart beat. The rice was so well cooked and the chicken was good as well. I cannot remember the name of the dish I got but it looked similar to chicken kabob. Except the rice was more flavorful
(4)
X`ochitl M.
The meat is so juicy, tender and delicious, it's the best buck I've spent on food in a very, very long time. It's tucked away, no ridiculous wait and the service was perfect. I seriously recommend eating here. I know I will!
(5)
Bram E.
Mmmmmmmmm quabili pallaw.
(4)
S. T.
I come to Azeen's for consistently good, amazingly flavorful food and great service. It's the kind of place you can take your guests without thinking twice because you know the quality of the food will be superb and everybody will enjoy it. They have a good selection of appetizers, entrees, and vegetarian entrees. The food is never spicy but each dish has a nice complexity and balance of spices which is simply amazing. I don't want to ruin the pleasant surprise, so all I want to say is go and try it! You'll thank me when you enjoy the wonderful aroma of leftovers on your way home in the car or the next day. Azeen's is somewhat hidden, being a block north of the busy (and noisy) Colorado Blvd in Old Town Pasadena.
(4)
Jay C.
Nice spot away from the bustle of old town. When ordering keep in mind that the portions are pretty big. It's meant to be eaten family style I think. So order one of the rice dishes and some sides and an app, and you're good to go for two people.
(4)
Kate E.
I really don't get all of these over-the-moon reviews. It was okay, but the food isn't that flavorful. We had ashauk and the beef dish with cauliflower and ginger and tomatoes. It was all just okay. The wine was from an open bottle and was barely drinkable (to be fair, we should have brought that up with the waitress, but my friend didn't want to). The waitress, though nice enough, was kind of rigid - although she did accommodate our simple request to have bread before the meal, she seemed confused and a little disturbed. Anyway, I wouldn't protest if someone wanted to go here again, but I can't imagine making a big effort to go back.
(3)
Vanessa H.
Super tasty and affordable. We started with the mantu, which look like raviolis and are stuffed with beef and peas and covered with yogurt sauce. We tried ordering a lamb, then beef pallaws but the kitchen was out of both. We finally settled on chicken pallaw and owner comped us a side of eggplant (which was delicious, pureed with a dollop of yogurt). We also had the chicken and beef kebabs, with a cinnamon and raison studded rice. Also, the half-carafe of house red was only $7.
(4)
Frank K.
I was in the mood for some lamb koobideh, but then I decided not to have Persian; I instead opted for Afghan cuisine. I never had it before, but from the reviews of other Yelpers, the food itself seemed to resemble a hybrid of Indian and Mediterranean flavors and spices, although simpler than Indian and more fragrant than Mediterranean. That combo can't go wrong in my book. Jairo wanted to make sure I knew what to order because it was both of our first times here. But even without studying the reviews, I would have trusted my palate and the fragrance of cumin, cinnamon, etc. perfuming the dimly lit, tastefully and culturally decorated, white-table-clothed restaurant. Still, using Yelp as a reference, these are the following platters that we ordered: Bulanee - a turnover pastry stuffed with leeks and scallions. The pastry was flaky and not too oily, and packed with a gentle, complex flavor. In other words, it tasted like a turnover filled with leeks and scallions. It came with a yogurt sauce and a cilantro-mint vinagrette very similar to the chutney served at any Indian restaurats. Beef kebab - perfectly tender and mild, yet flavorful with its natural beef taste. Some may say bland, but those who can appreciate good beef will disagree. It came with a bed of rice pilaf, very soft in texture and very beautiful in color (almost orangey brown). The taste is unique---I detected cinnamon. Mantu - it's an appetizer, but you can also order the meal version. Eight or so dumplings stuffed with lamb, onions, and herbs, topped with mixed vegetables (peas, lima beans, carrots, string beans) and a sweet tomato sauce (I thought it was ketchup, but that's probably my American taste bud recoiling). So simple but so flavorful. Best dumplings I've had in months. Service was very friendly. Our server was nice enough to point out each dish and sauce and explain its ingredients. My only complaint (well, Jairo's complaint) is their wine selection---average collection. So, if you're a wine connoisseur, an oenophile, or just plain pretentious, B.Y.O.W. and pay $8 for the corkage fee.
This place is holy crap, change your life amazing. I had never had Central Asian food before and was blown away - delicious lamb-filled sambosas, kabobs, and QABULI PILAU - a big hot pile of sweet cinnamon rice, raisins, carrot strips, and pieces of lamb. Sounds gross (to me), tastes delicious. The ambiance is also refreshing.
(5)
Eric H.
Should really get 3.5 stars if I could. But minus some for parking issues and slow service. I made a reservation for 8 pm, arrived on time and realized reservations weren't needed since the place only had 5 occupied tables at the time. But I had to wait 3-5 minutes for anyone working at Azeen's to enter the dining area. Water was served promptly but the sole waitress promised to come by and take our orders 3 times in the 15 minutes she was scampering around the other tables. Finally, I think the owner came out to take our orders and help out. However, the food was very good. I first started with the aushak (leek+scallion dumplings) and the sambosa (think Indian samosa's except with beef). Absolutely loved the sambosa and its accompanying sauce. The aushak was a good dish but it's meat sauce tasted like something out of Chef Boyardee's. Otherwise, the minty sauce and actual dumplings were very good. Entrees my table got the smarooq challaw (chicken stew) and the sabsi challaw (lamb stew). These two were remarkably different. The chicken dish was orange and reminded me of a toned down Indian tikka masala, but with lots of mushrooms. The lamb dish tasted a lot more bland but its meat was much more tender. The excessive spinach made the dish look like collard greens and pulled pork. Not that great to look at but very good. The pallaw rice was excellent and flavorful; however, I did not care for their bread. By the end of the two entrees, I was stuffed and will have lots of leftovers to enjoy. Recommended to try Afghani food, reservations not really needed, and try the parking garages.
(3)
ericka L.
Benny L. and I went here last week as part of our International Flavors Tour of Pasadena. It's a beautiful restaurant, decorated very elegantly, but parking around there is a pain (especially if you're running late because your computer didn't remember Daylight Savings Time was over.) We got the kabobs - beef for him, lamb for me - and an order of katchalu, a potato/tomato dish that reminded me of a slightly less flavorful aloo mattar without the peas. The kabobs were good and came with a giant mound of rice, flavored with cumin and maybe paprika? It was a bit dry for me, but I liked the taste. The bread was very interesting and reminded me a bit of injera, that spongy Ethiopian bread. The best part of the meal was probably the delicious cardamom flavored tea - yum-o! I could drink that all day long. I think I'd rate this place higher after a return visit to try a few more things. I wanted to order about 20 dishes, but Ben said, "You know, we could come back again."
(4)
Peter P.
How can you bomb a country that creates such good food. I am ashamed. This place rules. Probably the nicest waiter I have ever had. America needs more Afghani food!
(5)
Griselda J.
Have always received great recommendations from workers. Everything my husband and I have tried is fabulous. We have eaten in the restaurant and have done food to go. Its small, very quaint, great service and atmosphere.
(5)
Ben H.
Superb. Went here for lunch again today and got what I always get, the chicken and lamb kabob combo, which comes with a salad, rice, and bread. Again, superb is the best word to describe it. The meat is so tender and flavorful, the chicken almost breaks apart on the fork. And they cook that on a skewer! Fantastic. Got the mantu dumplings for a starter, and they are just great. Also highly reccomend the butternut squash, it's utterly delicious. Great food, friendly attentive service, I'll be back (again).
(5)
Aurora C.
This place was amazing. I've never had Afghan food, so take my review with a grain of salt (or whatever the saying is). Came around 7 pm on a Monday, and I think we were the first dinner customers. Service was prompt and friendly. :) More people filed in later... I had the mantu, which are steamed lamb dumplings. It came with a salad and Afghan bread. The salad was the average lettuce with ranch and hella pepper. Nothing special, but it was nice that the lettuce was nice and clean and not oxidized and oddly colored at the edges. Bread was delicious. It came with this spicy green dipping sauce...I think it had like jalapeno and cilantro...? Not sure, but it was so refreshing. And the mantu...so perfect. The skins were moist and chewy and came with yogurt sauce and some other sauce on top. gjka;dfkj so goooood If I lived nearby, I would totally go again. YUM
(5)
Heejin L.
couldn't try the chicken smarooq. they were out.! instead they gave me chicken kabobs +mushroom kabobs. which were good. the chicken was all white meat and not too dry. it had a nice flavor to it. the lamb was good. the rice was also good. had a lot of spice. you can't go wrong w kabobs.! but i think i expected more. literally more. the plate did not fill me up. . . but it was good.
(4)
Lynn W.
Great Food! I took a friend there last night, it was her first time, and she loved the dumplings. I'm a vegetarian, so the options are limited for me, but the veggie dishes were great. My friend commented on how attentive and friendly the service was as well. Overall, a great place to eat, even if you're a vegetarian.
(4)
Al C.
Another hidden gem. It's criminal that this place isn't packed every night. Start off with the AUSH soup (it's kinda like a Mexican fideo--yum!). Next, try the SMAROOQ CHALLAW (chicken, onions, mushrooms in a sauce). It's excellent. If you love carrot raisin salad as much as I do, then try QUABILI PALLAW, which is lamb buried under a rice pilaf with said carrot and raisin friends. End your delicious meal with FIRNEE, which is a smooth, chilled almond and pistachio pudding. Service is excellent. Atmosphere is classy.
(5)
Maria F.
If you're in the Old Town Pasadena area, I would suggest trying this place out. The two items I tried were pretty good. For an appetizer, I ordered the Mantu. It's a a steamed dumpling filled with beef and topped with yogurt. Next time, I think I'll try the Bulanee-e-Katchalu (turnover filled with potatoes and beef). As an entree, I tried the Badenjan Challaw. It's a stewed lamb and eggplant dish served with fragrant white rice. I really enjoyed this entree and would order it again! As a condiment to the entrees, they served a spicy green sauce (I am not sure of the ingredients) that went very well with the food I was eating. It was spicy but not overwhelmingly so. I also tried the afghani tea (iced as it was quite hot that evening). The tea has a hint of cardamom. My only negative comment would be that the wait staff confused which of us ordered what dish. Overall, though, it was a nice dining experience. Parking is on the street or at one of the many parking structures. There's a parking structure almost adjacent to the restaurant
(4)
Katherine K.
This place is great. If you like Indian food, you will LOVE Afghani. A great place for vegetarians and omnivores too. Makes me wish I wasn't vegan. Good service; nice clean atmosphere as well.
(5)
Michael J.
All hail the onion seed! (Which, by the way is not actually a seed or related to onions... but whatever.) Azeen's is simply the only place for good, let alone great, Afghan in So-Cal. Afghan food has always been my favorite cuisine-- having my taste for Afghan forged by a legendary (now defunct) restaurant in Bethesda, MD-- Kabul West. Not only does Azeen's hold a candle to Kabul West, it's every bit as good and it's simply the only place worth visiting here in So Cal. On that note, a word to the wise, steer clear of Walter's in Claremont-- that's got to be the worst Afghan I've ever had. I highly recommend the Balunee Katchalu, that's my single favorite dish the world has offered me as of yet.
(5)
Karen Y.
This place is excellent. I have only had Afghani food once before at another restaurant in Davis (which I liked very much)- but Azeen's is WAY better. Prices are very reasonable for the portions. If you have never tried Afghani food, go with a group of 5-6 people so you can share appetizers, entrees and a couple of sides. My husband loved the beef kabobs. The waitress recommended the quabili pallaw, aushak and mantu- all were excellent, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Service was attentive and very friendly.
(5)
T. D.
Great, great, great! Mantu app- great, zesty with the green sauce or alone. Quabilli Pallaw- great, like lamb carrot cake. Combination Kabab- simply great. We had all lamb dishes and each had a distinct process and flavor. Don't forget to order the tea after dinner. Our server was quite pleasant. The wine list was not top drawer but priced reasonably and suited the meal fine. Thanks to Yelpers for steering us to Pasadena for this place. So glad we took the drive over!
(5)
Helen Y.
wow, i haven't had afghani food in a long time! i think the last time was some place in fremont, ca. anyways, this place in downtown pasadena serves up some delicious and very authentic afghani cuisine! while the service was poor (none of the tables were cleaned when we walked in and the waitress didn't realize we were missing silverware even after our dishes came), the food quicky made up for it! unfortunately they ran out of the yelp favorite dish (quabili pallaw - tender pieces of lamb under a mound of rice, topped with carrot strips and raisins), the fiance and i sampled some of the kabobs (chicken breast for me and lamb for him) and both were so well seasoned and tender. we also tried the butternut squash dish with yogurt and ground meat as recommended by yelpers and it didn't disappoint. i liked it but the fiance thought there was too much going on -- sweet and savory combos don't work for him. hopefully next time we can try the quabili pallaw and the mantu (steamed dumplings with chopped beef and onions topped with yogurt and mixed vegetables). i guess you can get your afghani cuisine on in lovely pasadena.
(4)
Joseph L.
Great food, especially the kabobs. Amazing flavor. Wonderful, warm service. They were out of the first three wines I wanted though! That's not good... but they made it right. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Michelle T.
Still loving this place. My favorite dishes: bulanee (leek/onion pancakes), badenjan (eggplant), gulpi (cauliflower).
(4)
C K.
So good! The lamb kabobs were perfect. Cooked exactly right. We also got the rice thing with the raisins and carrots and chicken (what's that called again?), and the squash with meat sauce--which sounds terrible but was amazing. Such a mixture of sweet and creamy. And even the stuff you ignore, like the starter salad, had a perfect yogurt dressing.
(5)
Rune H.
Definitely a little Afghani gem, Azeen's in Old Town Pasadena is a great place to experience the ambience of casual romance and to have light comfort food. Doors close at 9, but dine into the night.
(4)
Tawny A.
I can seriously eat here every day and never get sick. The waitress, (I have had the same one every time) is very friendly and attentive. Lunch is the best time to go because it is never too busy and the kitchen is a bit faster. Try something from every section, it is so cheap that you can afford to seriously feast. Park in the school house parking structure on Raymond ave.......its close enough that you wont get tired walking and far enough that you can work off some of your meal.
(5)
Bridget V.
I haven't been to this place in a while and was saddened that the food wasn't as good as the first time I came here =(. The food was good, don't get me wrong, just not spectacular. Not so sure I will be coming back.
(2)
John F.
Working in Pasadena I thought I had been to all the local restaurants. Boy, was I mistaken. In an area that is quickly becoming devoid of character, Azeen's is a shining star. I know what you're thinking, "what the hell is Afghani food?" Let me tell you, it's good. Their lamb, chicken, and beef are without question the best around. The place is clean, the service is great, and I've never left hungry. Working in the area, I generally eat there about 2-3 times a week for lunch and never get bored of the flavor. If your sick of the Cheesecake Factory, want something more substanital than Louise's, and like good food with great flavor, give Azeen's a try. It's a little off the beaten path, one block north of Colorado on Union, but well worth it. Go there once and I guarantee you will return. Lunches range from about $9 - $13. A little more than I liike to spend for lunch but the quality makes up for any premium spent.
(5)
Camille B.
My first time at azeens was also my first time having afghan food. The experience was outstanding and the food delicious. We went there with no reservations on mothers day and they were able to accommodate us in a private room immediately. Service was very attentive. We were a group of 8, most of us first timers. We ordered a lot of appetizers and main courses to share. Afghan food is a cross of Indian and Persian food. I immediately fell in love with the mantu and the bulanee. The sambosas were great too. All the Pillaws were exquisite, the bedanjen was my fave. I also recommend the sabsi. Yes, you got it the food was wonderful. This is one of Pasadena's best kept secrets.
(4)
Mina A.
Great food. Cool experience for fans of both Persian and Indian cuisine. If you're not sure, try the Qabili Polo.
(4)
Agnes L.
I love the Butternut Squash dish with the yogurt sauce--it's like comfort food to me. The flavors are just excellent together. Also, do not leave without trying their traditional rice pudding. It's flavored with rose water, and you can feel the spices up your nose. It's a little uncomfortable, but it ups the pleasure--know what I mean? My buddies who eat meat seem to enjoy their kebabs in a mighty way.
(4)
David S.
I will be returning, and returning and heck- Call me a regular. Afghan food is a combination of the best of the middle east on one plate. I had a pallaw that was just delicious and seemed very well priced. Go check them out and impress your friends with knowing a little about Afghan food and having good taste.
(4)
Lowry P.
Very good compared to other afgan places I've been. The combo kaboob is awaome.
(4)
Anush J.
We have never had Afghan food before, and this was a perfect introduction to it. Our server was very friendly and helpful with recommendations. The quabili pallow was great, tender, flavorful meat. The raisins and carrots are unexpected for our palettes, but go really well with the dish. We also an eggplant entree (which was SO yummy) and appetizers (dumpling type). Delicious food with flavors that are not common. This was out of the ordinary for us, and we had zero regrets.
(5)
Angela D.
Went here today for lunch and had no idea what to expect. We took the 4 star yelp rating as a good sign and thought we'd give it a try. I really enjoyed the food, it was similar to greek food (my fave) with their use of yogurt as topping and lamb and eggplant dishes. We tried the combo plate that had 3 different appetizers ($9.90). Very tasty. One was a fried potato dish, one was chickpeas and ground beef in a wonton skin fried, and the last was like a ground lamb potsticker with veggies on top. The potstickers were my least favorite, but I don't often choose lamb. The green sauce the waitress gave us is made of vinegar, cilantro and jalapeno. She said it is good on everything and she is right!! The bread was really soft and yummy too. Too bad we live far away, I would be a regular.
(4)
Archie L.
This place is nicely situated in the quieter part of Old Town Pasadena. I was expecting a Middle Eastern cuisine, but it's more of a mixture of Indian and neighboring influences of taste. The prices were slightly higher as there's probably no other competition for Afghani food in town. The aesthetics of the food are quite pleasing to the eyes. The portion of my order of Quabili Pallaw was quite hearty. The waitress was definitely quite helpful and knowledgable to our inquisitive nature of ordering our food.
(5)
Marilyn R.
Wonderful food! I gave it 3 stars because does not have parking or a bar. They offer a very small wine list and are not good. HOWEVER, this modestly decorated place has fantastic food and they are very nice. I had the lamb dumplings and were delicious and very tender. The butternut squash with yogurt was delicious and a generous portion. Definetively would go back.
(3)
Matt F.
I originally gave an average review for this restaurant. I've been back to Azeen's multiple times since then and each meal gets better and better! I highly recommend the Aushak and Mantu dumpling dishes.
(4)
Monica T.
Nice and cozy little restaurant in old town Pasadena, near King Taco. ;) We started off with some appetizers called Mantu and Sambosa. Mantus are dumplings filled with beef, onions, herbs and it's topped with yogurt and mixed vegetables. SO YUMMY!!! Now the entrees, my friend got the lamb kabob. The best lamb I have ever tasted!!! The entrees come with Afghani bread, salad and rice. I got this stew with chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes and green peppers; pretty good meal!! My bf got this lamb cooked spinach. Unfortunately, he did not like it since the spinach overwhelmed the dish. Other than that, everyone else enjoyed their meals! Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed!!
(4)
Adam H.
my first 5 star. my dining companion and i were crushed when (the totally nonrelated) thaitalian closed in old town, but then we walked to azeen's and everything we got was delicious. i got all vegetarian, including the famous butternut squash. so simple, how could it be so awesome and healthy? but it is. my friend got lamb and it was his favorite lamb he's had at a restaurant. the waitress was like a friend but she stayed out of our hair at the same time. cardamom tea is delicious. rose-flavored dessert you will either like or not like, you know yourself and how you feel about eating roses, just trust your instinct on whether you should order it. so i didn't 5 star this because it was so gourmet or whatever, i 5 starred it because it's unique, delicious, and it just seems to me to be at the top of it's game for this kind of food and for it's just-right service and vibe. the ambience is not 5 star but it's not bad at all. try it.
(5)
Ames L.
I had a chicken tomato sauce dish that coincidentally reminded me of a Filipino dish called "afritada"... It was very tasty though my chicken was a little dry. I tried a piece of my friend's lamb kabob and it was much more tender. I would have to say that he best thing was the Afghan tea! It has a pleasant honey flavor. The waitress serving us was really nice. This place would have been perfect but I wish their prices weren't on the high end. It was about $15 for the chicken plate and $3 for the tea. I'm glad to have eaten here because I can at least say I have tried Afghan food!
(4)
J W.
Not knowing anything about this region's cuisine, I would say it's pretty good. It's almost like Indian food.
(4)
Dominique G.
I've taken different friends here about 10 times and never have we been anything but delighted with the flavors and sampler plates and dressings and sauces. The meat portions, for example the lamb, are not generous, always wishing there were more food. But the sweet flavor to the rice is addicting, as others here have said. The butternut squash could make you cry its so good.
(5)
hellokittynme ..
I'd have to agree with the previous three star rating. The food is different and tasty but with all the great reviews I was expecting much more. I also thought that something might have been off that day I was dinning so I gave it one more try today. The outcome was the same result. I had the combination plate of chicken and lamb kabob and an appetizer combination platter. The appetizer was okay the appetizer platter was good. Azeen's is a nice place to eat out once in a long while but nothing special. The food is good but only worth three stars.
(3)
Cori W.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time last night and we will definitely be going back. The other reviews say the food here is a cross between Persian/Middle Eastern and Indian; I would have to agree. Everything we ordered was delicious. We shared the combination kebab plate, the challa-bedenjan(sp?), the mantu as an appetizer and the butternut squash side dish. Oh, and rice pudding for dessert. The meat was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Not too salty, tender and juicy. I am normally not a huge fan of lamb, since every time I have eaten it is is a bit rubbery and gamey, but this lamb was so good! And the cuts of meat they give you are good too. The mantu, which come as a appetizer or entree are so yummy. The meat and spices combine deliciously. I could have ordered the dish as an entree and eaten the whole thing by myself. The lamb in the challa bedenjan (sp?) was so tender that it fell apart in among the tomatoes, onions and eggplant. The butternut squash dish was so interesting because they combine both sweet and savory flavors in a way that most American food does not feature. I could eat a whole plate of this too. I also liked that everything was pretty reasonably priced. The entrees we ordered came with salad, rice and bread. I hate when I go to a restaurant and they charge you extra for a side dish of rice. I mean, if I'm eating something saucy, I want some bread or rice to go with it! This is my main complaint about eating at Indian restaurants. The prices may look reasonable, but then you add another $3-$5 for rice or bread per entree, and often the portion of rice you get is small. Not here! It was all included and in generous portions too. They have two kinds of rice, both delicately seasoned. We ended up taking home about half of what we ordered and had plenty of leftovers for lunch today. I also liked that the food was not greasy or oily. My palette was happy when I left, but I didn't feel like I needed a nap afterward either. Lastly, props to the chutney. Spicy, minty, tart.....even my husband liked it and he's not big on hot foods. He was loading it onto his plate. Sadly, for a Friday night this place was not very busy. They need to advertise or something! I hope they are able to survive this recession!!
(5)
Tyrone W.
came here for lunch the other day and man! how come i never had afghani food before!!!!! it was delicious with a perfect combination of items! really healthy too! ill be sure to bring my family and friends next time!
(5)
andrew m.
all the dishes were really good. the squash, dumplings, kabobs, spinach dishes are terrific. lots of options for vegetarians and the staff was very patient and helpful as one in our party is allergic to mint (nearly everything comes sprinkled with mint or cilantro). the rice was delicate and succulent, so tasty you can't help but shovel it into your mouth. minus one star for the limited wine list. maybe i'll bring my own bottle(s) in subsequent visits. i'm going back for more and will bring friends.
(4)
John C.
My first Afghani experience and it was amazing. It reminds me of Indian food. The lamb kabob is very impressive!!
(4)
matt h.
Unusual, tasty. Everything was fresh. Our server was accommodating and didn't blink an eye when I asked for dumplings without meat sauce. Overall, I REALLY liked it.
Wow, is this place overpriced! Had some lamb dish with rice, carrots and raisins piled over some lamb. Had hardly ANY lamb under the pile. It was mostly rice, carrots and raisins. Also, the combination kabob had half the plate covered with rice and the other half with three pieces each of lamb and chicken and some peppers on two wooden skures (sp?). Seriously, this place was WAY overpriced.
(1)
Denise A.
The place itself is nice and simple. The food was GREAT. I've had the butternut squash which was delicious! My husband almost always orders the kebobs and it is consistently great every time. The meat is real tender and oh so flavorful. The prices for lunch are a lot more affordable compared to dinner so when we do go, it's only during lunch hours. But hey - got money? knock yourself out. It's definitely money well spent.
(4)
Kristen J.
The service was so horrible, there is no question that we will never go back to this restaurant. We were so ignored by the waitress, we had empty water glasses the entire night, as well as reminding more than once about forgotten items and asking about the status of our appetizers 45 minutes later. The food was good but not worth how much they were charging for it. We did have very high hopes for this restaurant before we went because we love Afghani food but we were so very disappointed with everything about our experience.
(1)
Yarom L.
great authentic afghan cuisine, great service and owner is very friendly and good host
(4)
Alice w.
The food was delicious and if you like middle eastern / greek food, you should try this resturanrt out. The kabobs were good. No reservations needed as the place is not packed. I agree that the service is a little slow and it does take a while for server to notice that you need anything.
(4)
david r.
Authentic and delicious; friendly service from a family business. Well worth the drive from 30 miles away.
(4)
Ted T.
Great little Afghani restaurant in Old Town Pasadena. I had the Quabili Pallaw and it was quite good, the lamb was done just right. I'd recommend this place to family and friends.
(4)
Betty B.
I came to Azeen's with a social group that I'm a part of. Trying restaurants around L.A. is one of the main activities we partake in. Anyway, I didn't really know what to expect. I'd never had Afgani food. But I do love Indian and other middle eastern food. So I thought it must be very similar. Not only was it similar, but it was VERY VERY good. The day I went, I was feeling a bit under the weather, so I went with something safe...a chicken and lamb kabob plate. Oh man...The meat was SO juicy and flavorful. And the rice...oh the rice...was so fragrant with spices and delicous. Just perfect. And the portions were HUGE. They also served flat bread and this great tangy dipping sauce. It was SO good. Other people in our group had this stew type dish (available with chicken and beef...I think), and they all raved about it. I'm getting that the next time I go. The service was also great. They saw us waiting outside as our party arrived, so they let us in earlier than their regular opening time. They also had our table ready. The waitress was really nice and patient with a group of 16. She did mix up one persons order, but remedied right away. I will definitely be back very soon.
(5)
buddy A.
Been there first time and surprised how did I miss this food from 2 years. Food is really tasty and worth for price. I asked for some spicy and she said they have tasty dishes not spicy dishes. We had kabobs, quabili pallaw and one delicious appetizer (dont remember name) prepared with eggplant. I am very happy to visit this again and again..
(4)
Esther S.
This place lives up to its reputation. The food is really good. Afghani food is to me, a cross between Indian/greek. Whoever he was, either the owner or the manager of the restaurant, was incredibly personable and attentive. Every item we ordered was great from the sambosa pastries to the Aushak and Mantu dumplings. the meat and vegetarian entrees were plentiful and the rice was aromatic. All of thier dishes are flavorful and delicious. Be sure to find good street parking. the meter feed is until 8, not 6!
(5)
Kris P.
REALLY GREAT, REALLY CHEAP. Where can you go to spend not more than 10 bucks and eat the chicken and rice and go ... WOW right here. I'm surprised that it was really empty when I went. I guess other places on Colorado are more "glamorous".. kinda shows you the level of competition out here as far as food places. The food is just fantastic, and the price can't be beat. I wouldn't call it gourmet with exuisite presentation of the 4 seasons or 5 star hotels (sometimes these fancy places don't take care of their food like this diamond in the rough does), but I would call it quality food, that's well cooked, and seasoned just right. The meats are juicy and tasty with enough sauce and seasoned very nicely, and the rice is just fluffy moist and seasoned just nicely as well... It sort of melts in your mouth. If you want a nice afghani place or just some place with mildy seasoned chicken and rice with some cool varioations and not spend so much. Come here! Just stay away from colorado blvd for some decent parking. Again, very surprised it was kinda empty when I went. Oh well, my gain. But then again, people come here to keep them in business, I love them you will too!
(4)
Paulie B.
First off, thanks to all my fellow yelpers our there--last friday night I was in search of succulent, delicious lamb and after performing a little research on Yelp agreed with my fellow bears to head out to the sticks (sorry in advance to those of you who live in Pasadena but it's far from west L.A., especially on a friday night) after reading some of these fine reviews for Azeen's. I simply concur that the lamb is fantastic; it's moist and well-marinated/salted. We loved it, and we also enjoyed the rice (cumin seasoned?). We shared the spinach and lamb dish as well, which was fine, a wee-bit bitter for my taste, but I'm sure some people will enjoy that flavoring. We also ordered a potato and tomato based stew which was quite good, but I must note that we tried the chicken; it was on the dry side and not nearly as enjoyable as the lamb. Service was fine, prices are skewered (lamb humor) toward the high-end, ample parking is available in a garage kitty corner to Azeen's on Union, and the atmosphere is comfortable. Be sure you come here hungry and with a taste for LAMB.
(4)
Tita P.
Seasoned rice is to die for! Appetizers are so delicious, especially Mantu. Male server is not as riendly as the female one.
(5)
Katie A.
amazing. the butternut squash and lamb are the best!
(4)
stephanie x.
Love this place. Every time I go I think it gets better! I generally get an appetizer and a side instead of a kabob of sorts since I dont eat much meat. Delicious! A nice family runs this place. My favorite Pasadena restaurant.
(5)
Maris T.
hella gud~
(5)
Steve C.
Excellent food and service! My first time at Afghani's, I went there based on Yelp reviews and was very satisfied. I had the dumplings and sauce (nice and spicy); the brown rice with raisins, carrots and lamb (moist, hot and tasty), and the cookies. Even the salad was fresh and tasty. I think there was a nice hint of mint in the dressing.
(4)
Angela C.
I went there for lunch during weekday. It was not crowded at all. The food was delicious. The service was slow, only one waitress with one manager type of person there. Parking is not great in old town Pasadena as always.
(4)
angie c.
The aushak (dumpling with yogert and meat sauce over it) is good; kinda of like a raviolli. The badenjaj challaw (lamb) was really tender that it flaked off your fork. very nice. The butternut squash for the entree was awesome too. It was topped with yogert sauce. Loved it!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kristen L.
We showed up at noon on a Friday and Azeen's was not crowded. My friend and I enjoyed a bowl of soup and the chef's choice entree (which is a mix of appetizers). The food was incredible and the service was great. I look forward to going back the next time I'm near Pasadena.
(5)Cynthia W.
I've never before eaten Afghani food, but walked by this place many times with a co-worker who likes exotic food types. We finally visited today for lunch and I'm here to tell you that--although I wimped out and ordered the chicken kebab because lamb isn't my thing--that was the most succulent and well-spiced chicken I've had in many a year. The salad with the yogurt dressing was also just great, with a bit of cucumber and lots of pepper. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Danielle S.
This was my very first Afghani restaurant and the experience was fabulous. The menu had extensive vegetarian options and the staff was extremely accomodating and gracious. We shared an entree of leek dumplings (which came with salad and bread) and two side dishes: cauliflower and butternut squash, and it was plenty of food for two people. That and 2 glasses of wine totaled only $40. My boyfriend had clipped a review of this place in the LA Times back in 2005 and we only hit the place yesterday. As the article mentioned, they'll hold the meat sauce on any dish so it's very safe for vegetarians. Our wines were fine. Basic California fare. Fine with our meals. All of our dishes were more than decent. They were delicious. The butternut squash was divine. It was cooked with cardamom and had a yogurt/dill sauce. It was just like dessert. We cleaned the cauliflower plate clean and we scarfed down those leek dumplings. Our meal was excellent. The restaurant was clean. The food is very reasonably priced and the staff treated us well. This place is great and worth the trek off the beaten culinary track.
(4)Abby A.
It's funny, how I'll go to a restaurant once and blog about it, but then I won't write about a restaurant that I've been to several times even when I really love the food. Such is the case with Azeen's Afghani Restaurant in Old Town Pasadena. Azeen's is the type of restaurant that really needs some spotlighting, simply because it's hidden away on a one way street that's not anywhere near the busy pedestrian traffic on the parallel street of Colorado Boulevard. I only found out about it because I went to a dinner there with friends a couple of years ago. Ever since then, I've been back a few times and I have to say that for the most part, I've never been disappointed with my meal. So let's get into the food, When it comes to appetizers, I've had most of them and they're quite tasty. For the particular meal that this post is going to reference, my friends and I shared two of them. One was the Pakawara-e-badenjan, which were batter dipped sauteed slices off eggplant. It's at Azeen's that I've ever had eggplant deep fried and being an eggplant lover, that was already a bonus. I enjoyed the crispiness of the batter, but at first, I wasn't quite sure of the yogurt and meat sauce that topped the eggplant. It seemed an odd combination but the tangy yogurt sauce actually married well with the more highly spiced tomato-based meat sauce. The other appetizer was the Buranee-kadu. This dish is sauteed butternut squash, also topped with yogurt and meat sauce. The melding of flavors was really interesting for this dish. You get sweet, meaty, tangy all in one bite. While we didn't have them this time, be sure to also check out their steamed dumplings, if you decide to make a visit to Azeen's. One is the Mantu, a chopped beef, onion and herb dumpling and the Aushak, whose filling include leeks and scallions. Both dumplings have slightly differing sauces. The sauce for the Mantu is also yogurt based and the dumplings are topped with mixed veggies while the Aushak has a yogurt and meat sauce, with the addition of mint. What's great about all the yogurt sauces is that they're all housemade, so you know they're absolutely fresh. When it came to the entrees, we ordered the following: * Badenjan Challaw - Chunks of lamb cooked with eggplant, onions and tomatoes. * Gulpi - Cauliflower stew cooked with ginger, onions and tomatoes * Kabob-e-murgh - Tender chunks of chicken breast As I said earlier, I've pretty much enjoyed all my meals, except for the occasional dish that didn't do it for me. In this case, I didn't care much for the lamb dish. Compared to other things I've tried in the past, the Badenjan Challaw wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked, plus the lamb was a little too chewy when it should have been more tender. I loved the Gulpi. Cauliflower on its own is so bland, but when stewed with the ginger, onions and tomatoes, it definitely took a flavor life of its own that was very appealing. When it comes to kabobs, the real test for me is chicken. If a restaurant can prepare chicken breast kabob without it being dry, than that restaurant deserves praise. So praises to Azeen's because their chicken breast kabob always comes out moist and tender. When it comes to the other menu items, you really can't go wrong with any of the side or entree vegetarian dishes. Azeen's really knows how to cook their vegetables. They always have a lot of great flavor to them. The other meat kebobs, beef and lamb, are hit and miss. Sometimes, they're tender and juicy and sometimes, not as much. As for the other entrees, I've always enjoyed the Korma Challaw, a dish with chunks of beef cooked with green pepper, onions and tomatoes. The sauce is so good that I'd spoon it over my rice and eat it, even after the meat was all gone. As for desserts, they serve three different kinds. I always find the baklava and the gelabee, which is fried pastry dough too sweet. When I'm in the mood for something sweet, I stick with their rice pudding, which is served chilled with pistachios and almonds. Let me end by saying that I eat out a lot and I'm always looking for new restaurants and new cuisines to try. It's rare that I'll return to the same restaurant twice in one year, even when I think the food is excellent. For me, to have gone back 3 to 4 times to Azeen's, definitely shows you more than anything else, how much I truly enjoy dining there. You should check it out yourself one time! To see pics, go to: flickr.com/photos/la_add…
(4)Min T.
Mantu- still good with that amazing sauce. I decided it's a mint sauce with some other sour flavor in it. Beef kabob- amazingly "tender" and flavorful. I wasn't overly fond of the rice but it was better than the plain white rice that came with another dish. lamb with spinach- If you think you're going to be getting something like Indian saag, it was a disappointment. But if you love spinach as much as I do, then it's great. Unfortunately, it needed a more salt. The dish was a bit watery too. We also got a side dish of butternut squash. That was very good but the portion was rather small for its price. We didn't have room for dessert so next time I'm going to get that almond pistachio pudding! It would have gone so well with their lovely Afghan tea.
(3)Danny G.
Me and my GF wants to try something different tonight around old town pasadena after a sorry lunch at the tea room/cafe in huntington library. Well, this place definitely passes the bar for "different"considering the limit afhani food choices in pasadena, but the taste can at least be marked with a "meh". We ordered the kebab combination with lamb and chicken, plus a kebab-e-tika (beef). For some reason, all of the meat were overcooked. It's still edible, but it took quite some effort chewing. The salad that came with the kabob was pretty plain, and the cucumber tasted really weird... That said, both the GF and I agreed that the rice was quite good. The spice they use to either steam or fried the rice with added a lot of special flavor into it, which makes it memorable. Maybe next time we should just get the rice instead. Overall, this place is a little overpriced. I've had better deals with persian/arabic kebab in glendale for $25 per person.
(3)Kristin E.
Love this place. The lamb dumplings get under your skin and make you crave them! The wine list could use an upgrade but other than that the service and food are perfect! The salad has the best homemade dressing, and I love the tea! I have been a few times now and can't wait to go back and try the butternut squash which I hear is heavenly.
(4)J W.
The first time I tried this place, I was pleasantly surprised and everything was deliciously juicy. But somehow between then and now, it took a dive to mediocre-ness. The Kabob-e-Gousfand (lamb kabobs) was dry. Actually, it was kinda baaaaad. Sorry - couldn't resist. It took a while for my dining partner to chew because apparently, he's used to inhaling his food whole. He was gnawing on each bite as if it was a piece of Doublemint. It's too bad because the last time I had it, it was quite tender and tasty. However, the Challaw Kadu (sauteed butternut squash topped with yogurt) was divine. I could eat that stuff all day long. It came with plenty of their flavorful long grain rice, salad and Afghani bread (pita-esque). The Afghan tea was interesting. It's seasoned with cardamom - a spice very similar to cinnamon. I wouldn't recommend it during the summer but it's quite satisfying to sip on a chilly night. I think next time I'll just try somewhere else for kabobs. .
(3)Candice M.
Small, intimate and tucked away on a less-traveled section of Union Street in Pasadena, you will find Azeen's. Run by husband and wife Abdul and Arian, this restaurant is a rare find in an area dominated by Italian, Indian and Japanese restaurants. True, most of these other restaurants serve wonderful food, but when you're in the mood for something a little different, options are few. Born of the Silk Road with influences of Persian, Indian, Greek and Asian cuisines, Afghani cooking is a category unto itself. Infused with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and cumin, this cuisine defies classification and has the unique distinction of being the only Afghani restaurant of note in the Los Angeles area. On my visit to Azeen's, I was greeted by the owner, Abdul and shown to a table for four in the small, quaintly decorated restaurant. At the end of the room is a small bar over which is a large painting of the cliff carved Buddha, which was destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. A work in progress, the painting is one of many that will don the walls. Currently the alcoves are filled with native pieces, such as brass pitchers, hookahs and musical instruments. While sitting at our table, we were served a glass of Robert Mondovi Private Selection, Cabernet. The wine and beer list is small, but with a good representation; Kendal Jackson, Napa Ridge, Parducci, Robert Mondovi, Clos Du Bois and BV. For beers the offerings are Becks, Corona, Heineken, Michelob and Miller Light. The muted voices of guests and soft Afghani music, mingled in the background. Let the feast begin! To start, we were served six different appetizers. My favorite? The Mantu, a steamed dumpling filled with chopped beef, onions, and herbs, topped with yogurt and sautéed mixed vegetables. Choosing that favorite did not come easy. All of the appetizers were delicious in their own way. First there was the Aushak, leek and scallion filled dumplings topped with yogurt and meat sauce and sprinkled with rubbed mint; Bulanee, a turnover filled with leek, scallions, and herbs-fried and served with yogurt; Bulanee-E-Katchalu, a turnover filled with potatoes, ground beef and herbs; Pakawra-E-Badenjan (another favorite of mine), Slices of sautéed eggplant, dipped in a light batter and fried, topped with yogurt and meat sauce and Sambosa, turnovers filled with ground beef and chickpeas. All appetizers are served with a chutney sauce made from cilantro, jalapeño, walnuts and vinegar, slightly spicy with a tangy edge from the vinegar. The turnovers are made with something close to eggroll skins and then lightly fried. Vegetarians can order vegetable appetizers sans the meat sauce. For our next course we were treated to beef, lamb, and chicken kabobs. Each delicately seasoned with herbs and fine spices and charbroiled to perfection. The beef is tender and tasty, slightly pink inside. The chicken, is breast meat, tender and juicy, not overcooked and the lamb was similarly prepared. In addition to the meats, was a rice dish, Pallaw; seasoned and browned rice, topped with carrot strips and raisins. Sweet, subtle with hints of cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. We were also served vegetable side dishes of; Kadu, sautéed butternut squash, topped with yogurt and meat sauce; Badenjan, a stew of eggplant topped with yogurt and meat sauce; and Sabsi, sautéed spinach cooked with onions and garlic. Vegetables are not normally something I eat a lot of, but these vegetables with their subtle spices and flavor combinations had me wondering why I didn't eat more. For dessert we had an aromatic pudding made with rosewater, cardamom, almonds and pistachios. Light, fragrant and not too filling, which was good because at that point I was full beyond description. We were also given some of the house tea, scented with cardamom. I have had the tea both hot and cold and highly recommend it.
(5)Bony K.
We went here on a Thursday night and all the dishes among our group were delicious. From the mantu to lamb dishes. Service was nice as well, and the waitress is quite helpful in giving you recommendations. The food portion sizes were big in which we stuffed or couldn't finish the dishes. If I'm ever in Pasadena again, would definitely stop by here to fulfill my craving for Afghan food.
(4)Danny m.
Only had afgani twice, and enjoyed both times. I remember having a rice dish that had a hint of ciniman. quite a contrast, but amazingly good.
(3)Justin T.
Azeen's is FANTASTIC! This was my first foray into Afghani cuisine and it was love at first bite! (Corny, but true!) Seriously, the lamb and beef kabob dishes are seasoned perfectly and the rice is delicious. I've had several dishes off the menu and if you're picking appetizers, pick the Mantu. It's pretty darn amazing. The atmosphere is quaint and off the beaten path. Parking is pretty easy as the restaurant is on Union (one block north of Old Town on Colorado St.). Prices are good for the food you get.
(5)Dave L.
I love lamb... So I was really looking forward to the lamb kabob, but it was dry and chewy. Dang... ultimate sadness. Maybe it was an off day? Oh well, the butternut squash was tasty and I really loved the long grain rice with whatever seasoning that was. I'd definitely like to come back and try other stuff. Gotta give a shout out to the Big J for taking me for the first time. Thanks! Tips: Worth a try.
(3)Gary I.
I came here for lunch one day with co workers and I have to say, it was pretty amazing. The dishes were very flavorful. I do not like lamb but my co worker insisted that I order the lamb shish kabob. I'm glad I ordered it because it was amazing. The meat was not gamy at all. It was grilled perfectly and it was served over a nice aromatic pilaf. My co worker ordered some kine of carrot & raisin dish served with some meat in the middle. It was different and equally just as good. I recommend having the shish kabob though if you are not an adventurous eater. I would definitely come back again.
(4)Kristen R.
MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT!!! We discovered Azeen's last year after reading some reviews. The lamb kabobs are amazing! It is the best lamb I have had. I love the mantu and the butternut squash dish. The rice that comes with the dishes are great, and the service is excellent. We have taken a lot of friends and family to Azeen's and everyone loved it. Less expensive for lunch, but great for dinner anytime!
(5)Lou M.
The mantu and sambosa with the chutney were awesome! The lamb is tasty and tender. The location is not bad, you can easily walk around the area to work off the food when you're done. Overall, great food!
(4)Bobby N.
bombdotcom
(5)Jessica C.
I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was. The restaurant and the atmosphere is lovely. The only thing that I was not impressed by was the service, but that's what take out if for : )
(4)Tricia L.
Went here for our monthly double date dinner out with my best friend and her boyfriend. I picked this place thinking it'd be something neat and different and the reviews sounded good. I feel bad now, but at least I know not to come back, or at least bring people here if I don't know the good stuff to order. Now to the review: The service is pretty much awful. We had to keep flagging out waitress down when we needed something. She gave my friend a Shiraz when he ordered a Merlot and insisted that he did order it. She was dang adament about it too. He was nice enough to just take it and drink it as to not cause a scene. I wasn't a fan of the Sabsi Challaw I ordered. Honestly, I had a piece then left it there. My boyfriend's combination kebab plate was alright. The chicken part was dry, but the beef tasted fairly good. The Mantu and Sambosa were delicious though and saves this place from getting 1 star. Just not my cup of tea. Sorry, kids.
(2)Shaun S.
What do you think of when you think of Afghanistan? ... Yeah, I suppose there's that. What else? ... True. Very true. Okay, knock that off now. Azeen's restaurant will give you a whole new set of things to think about Afghanistan, like juicy lamb, flavorful squash, and all manner of delicious foods that are seasoned like no other. But heads up if you're lactose intolerant--there's yogurt in almost every dish. Even the dressing on the salad? Yup. There too.
(5)HJ H.
Nice place but very expensive about $80 for 2 basic meals. Not especially exotic. The kabobs were good but typical. Skip the desert. Not good at all. Service was excellent.
(3)Bernard A.
The food and service is great. The rice with the raisins, carrots, and lamb meat is addicting. The place is clean. Parking is easy on the street or nearby lots. Gotta love great restaurants in Old Town Pasadena.
(5)Anjali S.
Amazing food. You can't go wrong. The staff is courteous the service fast. My husband and i have tried almost all their appetizers and love them all. Their side dishes too. Great food decent price.
(4)Darlene P.
I just found out the Restaurant did offer my boyfriend utensils but he decline them. Changing my review to four stars. :)
(4)Felicia C.
I read the reviews. I read the menu. I read anything I could read about Azeen's and it still didn't prepare me for what I ate here. I mean, Afghani food...you don't hear of that too often. How can anyone aptly describe something you've never tried before? I took my mom here for her birthday because both of us wanted to try something new. That's exactly what we got. The food here really blew my mind away because the flavors were so unexpected - you knew what went into the dish but somehow, what came out was completely different than what you imagined it to be. I knew what to order from reading the yelp reviews - the mantu (I had to get the beef dumpings, seeing that it's mentioned in every other review), the sabsi challaw (a lamb and spinach dish), and a side of kadu (the butternut squash) - and ordered the afghan tea for the two of us as well. The tea itself is very unique - it's just a tad bit spicy and the cardamom adds a kick to just a plain drink. The way they pour it is unique too - they have two pots, one with hot water and one with the condensed tea, and pour the two pots together into your cup. Who knew? As for the food, the mantu were as good as everyone else said. The dumpling wrappers were reminiscent of wonton skins or dumpling skins you get at an Asian restaurant but the yogurt added a Mediterranean feel and the meat and meat sauce added another dimension completely. The lamb was tender, it didn't have that lamb taste that most people complain about, and the spinach it was served with were almost like collard greens. The butternut squash was super sweet but the yogurt sauce on that mellowed out the sweetness to create an interesting combination of flavors. We finished off our dinner with the almond pudding, which is apparently made with rosewater because you can really taste florals in the aftertaste. The whole experience was topped with very attentive service, which made our dinner that much better. Afghani food is definitely something worth trying at least once - I would highly suggest coming to Azeen's to give it a try.
(5)Juan Manuel C.
great afghan food very authentic very reasonable prices.
(5)Lisa R.
My husband and I ate here back in February. We were traveling with five friends, 4 of whom don't have very adventuresome taste buds...but I had to come here after reading the reviews and looking at the online menu! Fortunately, the less adventuresome diners agreed to eat at Azeen's. The restaurant is small and intimate, with paintings of the countryside on the walls. Our waitress was very gracious and patient as she answered questions about her culture and the menu. The restaurant has an upscale feel to it, but not snobby. And the prices are incredibly terrific! My husband and I were amazed we when got our tab; we couldn't get food nearly this good back home without paying a whole lot more. Per the reviews, I had to try the Kadu (butternut squash sauteed with the most incredible spices - definitely cinnamon and cardamom going on, topped with yogurt and a slightly salty meat sauce that balanced the sweetness of the squash)...wow! Then I tried the Mantu appetizers. They weren't quite what I expected. They were good, but didn't appeal to my taste as much as I'd thought they would. Then I nibbled off my husband's Quabili Pallaw, knowing that he couldn't eat the whole mountain of rice, lamb cubes, shredded carrots and raisins that it was! The lamb was perfectly seasoned and tender! The rest of our friends also enjoyed their meals. Most had kababs. We all left happy and very full. Next time we're in Pasadena, we will be back!
(5)Jessica M.
I LOVE this place! My mom and I decided we needed to branch out and try different types of food since we seem to always go to the same places and there are just so many types of food around LA. I found Azeen's online and decided to give it a try because Afghani food just sounded like a fun adventure. It is AMAZING! The staff is super helpful, they'll talk to you and help you pick out what to order. I've taken friends here now who have then brought their friends - this has become one of my regular spots now because it is just so tasty! I would recommend anything on the menu - its all good!
(5)Casey M.
Absolutely amazing! I've never had Afghani food before. A co-worker recommended it. What a charming place. My girlfriends and I went after our Book Club. The hostess sat us in private little room looking out at Union St. We each ordered an entree so we could taste everything. All entrees came with salad and Afghani bread with a delicious green sauce (it reminded me of the green Peruvian sauce.) MANTU: $14.95 Steamed dumplings filled with chopped beef and onions, topped with yogurt and mixed vegetables. SABSI CHALLAW : $15.90 Chunk of lamb cooked with spinach, onions and garlic. KABOB-E-MURGH: $11.90 Tender chunks of breast of chicken. KORMA CHALLAW: $15.90 Tender chunks of beef cooked with green pepper, onions and tomatoes. (Fantastic!) BADENJAN CHALLAW: $15.90 Chunks of lamb cooked with eggplant, onions and tomatoes. CHALLAW KADU: $13.90 Sauted butternut squash, topped with yogurt. 2 bottles of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay. It was a perfect evening. I will definitely be going back to Azeen's!
(4)Monica B.
Azeen's is, in short, incredible. I would give them 6 stars if I could! The staff is quick and very friendly, the food is delicious and well-priced, and the restaurant itself is very cute and homey. Bonus points for the murals on the walls. I have been a few times and I love the Quabili Pallaw (spiced, browned rice with lamb, raisins, and carrots). It's a HUGE dish so be prepared to take some home. You definitely get your money's worth here. One of my other favorite dishes is the butternut squash with meat and yogurt sauce. If it sounds weird, I challenge you to go to the restaurant and try it. You won't regret it, I promise. They also make most of their dishes without meat for vegetarians, which is nice. Basically, amazing food for really good prices and great service. Seriously. 6 stars.
(5)Jim J.
this place is crazy delicious feel me dog. I had: - the lamb pallaw with raisins and carrots: mad delicious - the beef kabob plate: insane delicious overall i'd give it a stupid fresh and 5 out of 5 stars. plus the waitress was ill friendly, it was nuts. if you are a fatass you could probably murk like 3 plates here and then stop by the coldstone afterwards for a banana caramel crunch ice cream gotta love it size with a chocolate coated waffle cone.
(5)Consumer C.
Never realized afghan food was so tasty! Love their delicate dumplings and can eat a ton of those! I'd be a happy camper just devouring their appetizers.
(4)Linny H.
Another great place found because of Yelp! A foodie never turns down the opportunity to try a new restaurant or new cuisine! First time trying Afghani food and it's good! It's similar to Indian if you've never tried it. They know how to cook lamb! It was so tender and moist that you could cut it with a fork. The bread was tasty! The texture is like sourdough but not sour tasting. As others have mentioned, service was phenomenal! Never did I have an empty water glass. If you have never tried this, come here!
(5)Monica R.
Never had Afghani food in my life before Azeens. It was mighty delicious. What more can I say? If you're into trying new cuisines, definitely HIT UP AZEENS, immediately, if not sooner.
(5)Shelley K.
OMG!!! This place is my favorite middle eastern restaurant. They have the best mantu, the steamed dumplings with cilantro sauce. Wish I could steal the sauce recipe. They also have great kabobs with perfect flavor. I wish it was a little more busy, because I do not want them to ever close down!!! Their ice tea was so delicious, with a hint of minty flavor. The owner and workers are very nice as well. I always go during lunch time because it is a lot cheaper than dinner.
(5)Lindsey H.
Oh, this place is so good, but so EMPTY. Why, Pasadena? WHY is that place always empty? Maybe because it's in a very unassuming, quiet spot on Union, just a few blocks east of Fair Oaks. But, definitely not because of the food. FANTASTIC food & service. We started with the AUSHAK, but asked for it without the meat sauce, since my date is (well, was) a vegetarian. Very delicious, & a perfect size for a starter. I had the GULPI CHALLAW (a tomato based beef stew, but more delicious than that) which was pretty amazing, even more amazing the next day for lunch. My date had the CHALLAW KADU (a vegetarian entree with butternut squash) that he liked very much. Both dishes were served with a salad & bread. Very satisfying & delicious.
(5)Liz C.
This place is delicious!! Tried it last night before a concert at Levitt Pavilion and it did not disappoint. My friend and I had a lamb dish that was full of flavor. We also ended up trying two appetizers that seemed different in description but were beyond amazing in presentation and taste. We chose stuffed lamb dumplings and the potato appetizer, so tasty! I'll be back! -Walking distance from Memorial park metro stop -great service -serves wine that pairs well with the food
(5)M R.
I went to Azeen's soon after it first opened and most of the critic reviews they still have on their wall are from about the same time - 2004. Though I'd prefer to support a family run restaurant that offers a unique cuisine for the area I do feel that it is more important to finally make the call about how bad the food has become. I was very pleased after my very first experience dining here back around 2004 - The food was flavorful and the quality of the beef kebabs was superb. However the kebabs I had tonight tasted like they were frozen back in '04 and were as tough as leather. I expected a better cut of meat for the money and was greatly disappointed in the lack of flavor of ALL the food we were served. Everything tasted as if it was prepared a day or two ago and reheated. We dined on a Saturday night and the lack of other patrons should have been a signal that the restaurant has spiraled downward. Business is slow - cut back on quality. Business becomes slower - cut back on quality more until eventually the place closes. It's an unfortunate cycle and I dislike contributing to a restaurant's demise but we left this place feeling ripped off and I would hate for another couple to ruin their precious Saturday night dine out with a similar experience. It's just not fair. I'm giving the restaurant two stars because I still like the ambience and the service was at least attentive. However I will never eat here again and suggest you don't either. You will be disappointed.
(2)Kevin C.
Delicious, Great food very flavorful Lamb was very tasty, the chicken was nice and juicy plates served with rice and a side salad Waitress was very kind and patient since I changed the order 3 times not sure if its the owner or a manager guy, but he walks around serving the VIP guest and checks in with all the tables.
(4)Grib B.
Mantu is fantastic, as is Quabili Pallaw. I've been to Afghan restaurants all over the USA and this is one of the best. Lamb is very high quality. Went with party of 7 and everyone loved it,
(5)Mase M.
Their food was almost as good as my moms! Nice location with nice afghani music, felt like home. The owners were really friendly and the food was awesome.
(5)Joanna L.
Wow I haven't been here in over three years but the food is just as great as the first time I tried it. Had dinner here yesterday night and we practically had the entire place to ourselves - well almost - there was only one table of diners but they were about done - seem like they just sat around to chat. It was barely 8:30pm on a weekday - Pasadena in that area was actually quite quiet so I'm not surprised there wasn't any diners....they were going to close in an hour too so I don't think they were empty because their food isn't good - probably just the time and place. The service was nice - the owner was pretty much the only one left after we got our food - the lady that was bringing out the food left around 9pm. It was very nice and quiet and honestly I enjoyed the fact that we were the only ones in there. So we had for dinner: the Lamb Kabob served with this delicious browned rice, the Sabsi Challaw which is a delicious dish of chunks of lamb cooked with spinach, onions and garlic - it was sooo good! Must try! and a side of Badenjan - cooked eggplant with meat sauce and yogurt - another super tasty and unique tasting dish. I also like the bread and chili dipping sauce that comes with the meal. Everything was very delicious and it was a lot of food - the both of us couldn't even really finish half of the entrees. Overall, wonderful tasty food at fair prices and big portions, pretty nice and quiet atmosphere and nice service. What's not to love about this place? Nothing I could think of. You can also make reservations through OpenTable.com :)
(5)Dave C.
After hearing about this place for years, finally tried Azeen's last night (per the server, this place has been open 11 years and is named after the owner's daughter). Amazing Afghani food, really subtle flavors, clean tasting, cooked and served with care. Our group of 5 was delighted with every dish we ate: Mantu (5/5): Dumplings filled with crumbled lamb and veggies and topped with yogurt sauce. Taste reminded me a bit of shepherd's pie Quabili Pallaw (4/5): The signature dish here. Lamb was cooked perfectly and the rice itself is cooked in the lamb drippings. I'm only giving it a 4 out of personal preference since carrots and raisins are usually my nemesis. This dish is served with an amazing vinegary chutney w/ blended jalapenos, garlic, and cilantro. Sasbi (5/5): Stewed spinach. Reminded me of the Lawry's side dish minus all the butter and cream Badenjan Challaw (4/5): Eggplant stewed with onion and tomatoes. Clean tasting. Gulpi Challaw w/ lamb (6/5): My favorite dish of the night, lots of contrast here. Slightly pickled cauliflower in subtle tomato sauce. Firmness of cauliflower vs. umami soft stewed lamb. Absolutely loved this dish. Afghani tea (5/5): Cardamom ftw. With others dishes to try here (Smarooq Challaw and kabobs), I will definitely be back.
(5)HelloKT T.
I very enjoyed this place...the chicken from the kabob was very very tender(my kind of chicken) and their brown rice was soooooooo yummy...full of flavor!!!! But of course my most most favorite is their dessert is the Firnee!!!!!!!!!! I just loved it!!! Service is nice. Portion of the meals are just right. The atmosphere is nice & cozy. Aush soup is also yummy!
(5)Me Z.
It was not a good experience , not authentic afghani food , the bread was stale . I told the server but she said we just baked in the morning ! Didn't even change it Will not go again For sure
(1)Mable S.
Delicious food and nice atmosphere. The waitress was a little slow, but she may have been new.
(5)Linda T.
Afghani food is not that easy to find. Went for a late dinner on a weekend. We shared several dishes which were all quite tast & flavorful. app aushak--dumplings app mantu--meat dumplings app bulanee e katchalu--turnover, like a flattened samosa, great w/yogurt sauce challaw kadu--butternut squash, w/ yogurt & dill They have that famous National Geographic pic of the young woman with the intense eyes & orange-red hood on wall by bathrooms. women's restroom is a single room. It's a family run place--the little daughter's running around, and they would hang out at a table in the back. We got there shortly after 9pm, but didn't feel rushed at all, they even gave us the dessert menu. We were full, so we didn't get any dessert. There's metered parking on street (be careful, it's metered til midnight on weekends!) or garages/lots nearby. Located on the south side of Union, bet Arroyo Parkway & Raymond.
(5)Romy K.
I really wish I could give them a higher rating, but nothing was right about our dinner. We came with a large party, and our waitress was pleasant, however our food came out and the chicken was raw! I mean really raw!!! The cauliflower and potatoes were awful, and the food lacked flavor. The worst part is that there was a gentleman there that was behind the counter, I would imagine the owner or the manager, and not once did he come to check on us. The waitress was slammed with all of the other tables, so I don't think it was her fault, but the least the guy could've done as he is tossing my napkin out of my plate to clear the plates is ask "how is everything", "how did you like the food", "can I get you anything else", you know, general questions a person in the food service business should constantly be asking, but all this dude said was, "can I get that plate". No refills on drinks or waters, no desert menu, nothing...as if we were wasting his time. And on top of that, the bill was over $300!!! Waaaaay too overpriced for the food that was served and the lack of customer service!
(1)Ashley L.
*I knocked one star off because in my opinion, it is pricey for the quality of food given* QUABILI PALLAW: This is my favorite dish here!!! Make sure to get it with lamb and NOt chicken, (trust me I'm usually a chicken person but the lamb was WAY better). MANTU: Liked this one too, not much else to say BUTTERNUT SQUASH SIDE: I really loved this!!! Get it!!! A great place to get unique food.
(4)Ali B.
Delicious bolani and mantu was on point! The palow was great, if you're a white person looking for delicious ethnic food, this is your dinner spot!
(5)Thomas K.
We received patient (we were unfamiliar with the food choices) and attentive service during our visit. Lamb kabob was excellent, tender, flavorful with a perfect cook. Rice was flavorful and seasoned nicely. The dining room has a nice vibe and window seating. Our appetizers were great, we tried the samosas. The other two people in my party loved their dishes too. Portions were large enough to take home a full doggie bag. I highly recommend this place for either a casual dinner or a date type of dinner.
(5)Christopher M.
Absolutely Outstanding! My team went out for lunch today to celebrate a birthday and I realized that the only reason I've not been here is that they don't have bright lights so it always looks dark from the street. Don't let that stop you, it is certainly a hidden gem. Every dish we had was amazing - perfectly flavored, tender, juicy, and great value for money. I could not believe how terrific every dish tasted, usually when many dishes are ordered at most restaurants something is not so good, but everything at Azeen's was perfectly prepared and seasoned. The restaurant has beautiful paintings on the wall and antiques in many corners and nooks. All tables have white table clothes and proper linens. Really nice spot to take people and fantastic value for money. My new favorite restaurant in Pasadena, wholeheartedly recommend.
(5)Ellina I.
So surprised that they have 4 stars. Came with kids and waited for 20 min just to see the waiter or menu. The service is bad only one person for a whole restaurant. There was a hair in a salad and they even didn't apologies. Food is ok but a bit pricy imho.
(1)Mimi D.
Came here for lunch a while back and it was ok.. The place was empty so we were seated readily but I was somewhat disappointed when I realized that there were only a few veggie options and no brown rice option at all :( I ended up ordering the challah kadu - butternut squash w yogurt - and found it to be mostly flavorless.. More closely resembling steamed butternut squash topped w watered down, plain Greek yogurt n a bit of pepper. It wasn't awful but it's also something I could prob recreate at home... And I'm not exactly Rachael Ray. Perhaps they're more known for their meat dishes? Could be worth giving it a try if that's something ya like...
(2)Robert C.
Great Afgani food !!! We stopped by with my friends 2 weeks ago and we enjoyed with food a lot. I ordered pilav and my friend ordered manti. Everything was delicious . Will my bring friends and my family ! Thanks for the great food!!!
(5)Dan L.
I decided to give this place a try, as I've never dined at an Afghan restaurant before. As I expected, my attempt to find parking in the area was nothing short of a nightmare. I ended up having to park at a paid lot a few blocks away. The restaurant interior is clean, and lovingly decorated. I did enjoy the unique ambiance of Azeen's. I ended up ordering one of the dinner entrees (pretty sure it was one of the kabob plates). The food was not bad at all, but I found it to be fairly unremarkable for the price, and felt the salad left something to be desired (the usual "iceberg overload"). The waitress was nice and very attentive, always filling my water glass without asking, and made adequate checks to see if I needed anything. The service she provided was solid, I can't say anything bad about her. I would be open to returning here and trying a different menu item - I suspect I might end up enjoying it more than what I had ordered.
(3)Armine K.
Whenever my husband and I have family visiting, we take them to Azeens's. The food is spectacular, but I'll get to that in a minute. The interior is tastefully decorated in Afghani tapestries and murals. The service and the cleanliness is top notch. The owner is always there to take the order himself and guides you through the menu if you are unfamiliar with the cuisine. The food - exotic and delicious. Such a treat for the senses! Even their house salad is amazing. For starters, try the Mantu and the bulanee-e-khatchalu. If your party is large, get these in the entree size. For the entree, you must have the LAMB - Kabab-e-Gousfand. I generally don't like lamb, but I have to say that their lamb kabobs are superb. In fact, skip the chicken and the beef and only get the lamb. It comes with their specially rice that is seasoned with cinnamon and cardamom (sounds weird, but its delicious). Other musts are the Kadu and the Badenjan. My only hang up about this place is the nearly nonexistent wine list. ENJOY
(5)Lina C.
Nice service and large portions. Love the salad that came with the meal; the yogurt dressing is excellent. For dinner, the Quabili Pallaw with chicken is quite flavorful especially with the green sauce that comes with the dish. The Challaw gulpi cauliflower is also tasty. The decor is relaxing with pretty wall paintings. Overall, a good restaurant to try!
(3)Chris D.
Hidden gem in pasadena. The service is outstanding attentive without hovering. The food is incredible. I was a novice to Afghani style food. The manager gave his recommendations which were on point, from the appetizers to the entrees.
(5)Jenn T.
Came here with some friends after picking it up on yelp. The place is pretty big, not very crowded (i guess afghani food isnt well known?). The staff was very friendly and helpful with the menu, helping us figure out how to order and picking and choosing things for a big group. We went for a few of the kabobs and 2 of the curries as well as the dumplings. Everything was really good, had great flavor. I really enjoyed the bread with the spicy green sauce! That was good!! Parking is street parking or in the garages. The wait staff was polite, helpful, though theres not many so theyre a bit understaffed at times. Check it out if youre looking for something different!
(4)Shaeysta S.
I love Afghan food, absolutely love it. However this place was not good at all. The muntu tastes like spaggettios with packaged frozen corn and peas, the kabuli doesn't have any spices the raisins and carrots are raw, were in traditional kabuli palow it is sauteed. This is good for people who have never had Afghan food, it's been overly Americanized, the only reason I went here was because of the reviews, which I will never trust again
(1)Dmitry K.
Afghanistan! While everyone is talking about the food, I couldn't help but notice the ambiance. The paintings on the walls are amazing and expose you to the beautiful side of Afghanistan. The food is delicious and service is great. If you are looking for Afghan cuisine this is your place to be.
(4)Laura S.
This place has been here for 9 years and I never knew about it. The place gets crowded during lunch and when I went, the husband went out to do a delivery and so the wife was by herself being the server - with tons of people. So yes, it was kinda slow but it happens. FOOD: I ordered the Pakawra-e-katchalu (Batter-dipped sauteed slices of potatoes topped with yogurt and meat sauce) and Buranee-e-kadu (Sauteed butternut squash topped with yogurt and meat sauce) - I replaced the meat sauce with veggie sauce. The slices of potato were ok. The sauce was not good. The veggie sauce tasted like the veggies came from a can. It wasn't good together. I know the meat sauce is suppose to go with it, so it could be good. The butternut squash was good. It was pretty strong in taste but it was good. The bread was amazing... but the bread costs $1.50. Really? For two pieces of bread? I thought that was a rip off but it was good. If I had known it was that price, I probably wouldn't had ordered it. SERVICE: Kinda slow but it's understandable with one woman in charge. But it took awhile to get my veggie sauce. I ate more than half my meal already by that time. AMBIANCE: Cool Afghani decor. PARKING: Street and lots nearby. OVERALL: Eh. It was an overall OK experience. 3.5 stars
(3)Claire H.
I ate here for the second time a couple weeks ago and it was just as good as I remembered. Everything my party of two ordered had so much flavor and was perfectly cooked. The bulani appetizer was very tasty, especially with the yogurt sauce and the slightly spicy and herbaceous green sauce. Starter salad was simple and delicious and the bread was fresh. The vegetarian cauliflower entree was bursting with flavor and paired nicely with the steamed basmati rice. My boyfriend had the bone-in lamb with seasoned rice and grilled veggies - this was so good he had to pick it up with his hands to finish off the marrow. Our server was friendly and very attentive. Prices are not cheap but the food was definitely worth it and we enjoyed the ambience.
(4)Trixie B.
Second time here after a few years. Sunday dinner crowd sparse, but we well looked after. Delicious food, just as I remembered. If it weren't for the location I'd come more often. Recommend getting a couple of dishes and sharing because portions are very large. Lots of vegetarian options.
(5)LaChelle S.
I absolutely love Afghani cuisine. You can always order absolutely anything on the menu and it will be exhileratingly delicious. I really need to go to restaurants more so I can know what I get and what everything is, but this is the kind of cuisine that can be "family style" because you get appetizers and then the vegetables or whatever and rice and all in separate containers in a way. The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere as well - such restaurants tend to be beautifully decorated but not fancy in a pretentious way. And the staff is always really genuinely nice. If you go here, you will not be sorry. I would say Afghani food and Ethiopian food are my top two favorites, hands down. Nothing else comes close (except some Mediterranean probs).
(5)Jenny H.
I've never been to an Afghani restaurant before and had no idea what to expect. My friends and I decided to visit for dinner after seeing great Yelp and Zagat ratings online. The restaurant was empty when we first entered around 6:30 which was a little doubtful but we stuck with it anyway. The looks: I don't know what Afghani decor is supposed to look like, but it was certainly very nice. The lights weren't too dim--call me simple but I like to see what I'm eating. There were murals on the walls that gave a warm sunny feel even though the California sun had already set outside. My favorite touch was the candles--each table was elegantly and not excessively decorated. I don't drink yet, but the bar in the back was also scrupulously designed. The service: Maybe it was because we were the only ones there, but we were pretty well served. At first, the waitress was a little cold. I thought it was kind of superficial that she warmed up to us only after I took photos "for my yelp review." Minus one star. The friendly guy inside (I think he might have been the boss?) came out to help after that, and he gave us recommendations. The food: My Indian friend liked the chutney--it reminded her of home after a long semester away. There are delicious options for both vegetarians and meat-lovers like me. We dined family-style and ordered four dishes for the seven of us. The bread was really good, and the curries weren't too spicy. Again, I don't know how Afghan the food actually was, but it was good for what it was. (: So yeah. Quite the experience. Four stars for being good, minus one for the service. Even then, I don't know when and if I'll be back anytime soon. This place didn't stand out among the many places here in Pasadena--and it's tough to do so!
(3)Jane M.
Absolutely the best Afghan food I've had since leaving Washington,DC. The pumpkin was cooked to perfection with just the right sweetness and tenderness. We shared a chicken kebab that was perfectly spiced. It was a great find in Pasadena.
(5)Kenia C.
Upon entering, I felt like I had left the normalities of Old Town. This hidden treasure provides a delightful experience through the most exquisite Afghani dishes. I tried the eggplant and the butternut squash, both were rich with flavor and spices...the aromas in this establishment are out of control in the best way possible. Great place to try Afghani food for the first or 100th time, it will not disappoint! Tashakur!
(5)May G.
We have been eating here since Azeen's first opened, and we make it a point to come several times a year. I love Afghani food, as the flavors are wonderful. It is a family favorite, and often when given a choice on where to eat, my kids pick this restaurant. Try it, you'll like it! :-)
(5)Nabila N.
Bad food and overpriced. Afghani food is full of flavor. This food was bland. I will recommend for this place to visit spice store. And cook the food more.
(1)Heela A.
I went there recently and I noticed that their food is no where close to Afghani food. Also, their prices are rocket high when the food does not even taste good and fails to justify with their prices. I would recommend the restaurant to hire a new chief that is familiar with the Afghan food, thank you.
(1)Nobod E.
This was a transcendental flavors and textures experience. I think I just stumbled upon a crossroads of cultures on my tongue. It's no wonder armies and corporations want a piece of this nation. Afghanistan is rich in more ways than one. These people deserve your business. Eggplant with meat sauce, chicken and lamb skewers, the most delicious white rice ever. I cannot find the right descriptors to explain the vibrant yet elegant flavors. You must go and throw money at this place you won't regret it. The servers are sweet and accommodating. The decor and artwork unique and homey. Go.
(5)Breanne T.
I was shopping with girlfriends in Pasadena and we decided to try something new. Azeen's was great, and SO much food. I was starving when we ordered the mantu (dumplings) to share and entrees for ourselves. The dumplings were SO GOOD and packed with flavor! My entrée came with a salad and a ton of pallaw (seasoned) rice. I ordered the Samrooq Challaw, which had chicken, mushrooms, onions, peas, etc. I was stuffed and had leftovers for lunch the next day! We certainly could have split entrees and been completely satisfied.
(3)Taline M.
Incredible. This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. All of the food we ordered was consistent and tasted amazing. We ordered 7 dishes, and every single one was excellent. The owner was very helpful and recommended all the best dishes. More people should come to this restaurant it was very empty when we came but it deserves to be much more popular. We were hesitant to go to an afghani restaurant, however it was very satisfying and everything had a wonderful taste. It also has many vegetarian options which were also delicious. Definitely will go back.
(5)Dave M.
When she suggested that we go to an Afghani place I was already trying to decide what kind of Pizza I'd get later that night. I should not have feared as the food was so great. So far from what I'd expected it to be that it almost shocked me. I was willing to go try though and I'm glad I did because the food was nice, the atmosphere was nice and the waitress was nice. I can't fault the place, it's great and I would gladly go back again and try even more from the menu. If I have one piece of advice it's to just walk in and ask what's nice, they'll help you out and you'll be glad you went here.
(5)Ellen C.
I've never had Afghani food, and I'm pleased to say I liked it. The flavors were familiar.... The salad is good with the yogurt sauce. Bread is ok - would be better if it was warm. The jalapeno chutney is awesome - spicy and tasty. Aushak - herb dumplings w/ meat sauce is pretty good. Sauce is what makes it. Bulanee - potato turnover. I liked this better than the aushak esp with the yogurt sauce + chutney. Quabilli pallaw - lamb covered with rice, carrots, and raisins - awesome and tasty. Gulpi challaw - tomato, beef, and cauliflour "curry" - light curry and tasty. Firnee - pistachio and rose pudding: super creamy and tasty, big enough to share.
(4)Zak M.
Food was ok and can do better. Surrounding ambiance was class. Will come again and try more items to see if they have improved.
(3)sss b.
Arian Taheri, the owner, wrote a very polite message to me explaining how they prepare the dishes. Specifically, I wanted to correct my review for ingredients that may be important to vegans - the challaw rice he says does not have butter but does contain cardamom which should impart fragrance. Also, the salad dressing is not buttermilk/ranch but contains mayo, mustard, vinegar and seasoning. Also, the murals and paintings were brought in after the restaurant was established, he says. My bad for deducing from what I read. Always great to interact with a restaurant owner who is willing to talk about all aspects of his restaurant and is listening to feedback. Although, just for that I can't change my original rating.
(1)Rachel S.
Very yummy. I love both Persian and Indian food, and this was like they had a beautiful food baby. Really enjoyed the Kadu (roasted butternut squash, topped with yogurt and meat sauce).
(4)Mark L.
Fist time eating Afgan food and what a great surprise. Great vegetarian options, the eggplant dish was excellent (badenchallaw ) and the desert "firnee" was incredible, like an explosion of flowers in your mouth! I can't be leave this a e is empty.
(5)Jim L.
Just went here for lunch with coworkers. It was amazing! I had the lamb kabobs that come with light, but flavorful, rice. The lamb was tender and marinated to perfection. The side of butternut squash with yogurt / meat sauce was absolutely to die for. I'm surprised that the place wasn't at capacity for lunch..but I'll definitely be back!
(5)Ryan R.
I went here with a friend at the recommendation of one of his friends. We started off with the Bulanee appetizer that was really tasty, but I thought that was a bit small for the price (expected it to be twice the size). We also got a salad, which I guess was included with the ordering of two entrees and was a basic salad, but good. For the main course we went with an order of the mantu and the quabili pallaw. The mantu was interesting and had good flavors and reminded me a lot of a sort of Italian ravioli dish. The quabili pallaw, I have had before and was really disappointed with. It is supposed to be very moist with the lamb cooked beneath the rice, allowing the rice to soak up the all the juices and moisture. While the lamb was good, the rice left much to be desired. The raisins and carrots also could have been more flavorful and tender. Overall, this place had a couple of good dishes, but the lack of attention put into making the quabili pallaw really left me unsatisfied.
(3)Shivon L.
A pretty restaurant with white tablecloths, friendly service and EXCELLENT food!
(4)Stephen G.
Wonderful flavors. Myself and two close friends. Here's what we had: Appetizers: AUSHAK 6.50 Leek and scallion filled dumplings, topped with yogurt and meat sauce, sprinkled with mint. MANTU 6.50 Steamed dumplings filled with chopped beef, onions and herbs, topped with yogurt and sautéed mixed vegetables PAKAWRA-E-BADENJAN 6.50 Batter dipped, sautéed eggplant topped with yogurt and meat sauce Entrees: QUABILI PALLAW 15.90 Tender pieces of lamb under a mound of pallaw topped with carrot strips and raisins. GULPI CHALLAW 15.90 Tender chunks of beef cooked with cauliflower, ginger, tomatoes and onions KADU 5.90 Sautéed butternut squash, topped with yogurt and meat sauce. Pallaw is a dark seasoned rice, cooked in meat broth, and challaw is a white, scented, lightly seasoned rice. We thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Odd that this is the first time we've eaten here, passing it many times and looking in the window, on the way to Bizou or some other place. Service was very good, friendly and timely. Oh, wait, the dessert: FIRNEE Light pudding with almonds and pistachios served chilled. 4.90 Normally the three of us share one dessert. In this case a second had to be ordered. It was a fragrant, simple white pudding with pistachio and cardamom. What exquisite flavors... delicate, subtle, not too sweet, not too milky. Terrific. We loved this meal. This was originally a 4 star review but probably should be 5 star review because I can't quite put my finger on why I shouldn't consider it near-perfect.... okay 5 stars.
(5)Michael P.
Being half Persian I feel that most middle eastern cuisines are similar in one way or another. The food here was very good but nothing extraordinary about it. I ordered the combination plate (chicken and lamb skewers). The lamb was absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. The chicken was average.
(4)Eunice K.
Never had Afghani food, but read a few yelp reviews on Azeen's and decided to give it a try.. and I was TOTALLY, COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. WOW! What a hidden gem!!! My eyes have now been OPEN to Afghani food. Tucked away in Old Town Pasadena, North of Colorado... away from the shopping and foot traffic. Very easy to miss, but definitely one NOT to be missed :) ---Smarooq Challaw ($15.90)--- Yes. I am a chicken.. and I always order chicken. LOL. The Smarooq Challaw is almost like an Indian curry dish. The chicken comes out in a thick curry-like sauce, which also includes other vegetables such as mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and green peppers. Eat it to your liking with the heap of basmati rice provided! ---Quabili Pallaw ($15.90)--- My friend ordered the lamb dish - yes, all the yelp reviews RAVE about it. To me, it looks totally unappetizing - I mean carrots and raisins with your lamb? Why??? But boy was I wrong, this beat my chicken to the ground! The lamb was lean, tender.. the rice was earthy, hearty.. and the carrots and raisins gave a nice sweet tinge overtone. No single flavor was overpowering but complimented each other. Never had anything like it! So exotic - falvors I've never been exposed to! Long story short.. Azeen's a low key restaurant. Decent service... relaxed atmosphere.. But the food truly speaks for itself. Just go try the Quabili Pallaw.. JUST ONCE! you will come find me and thank me. :)
(5)Frances N.
So delicious and flavorful... Even their lamb (a meat I can't usually stand) was flavored very subtly and juicy and delicious! Bonus: reasonable prices meant I could try different dishes even w/o any knowledge of Afghani food. Easy street parking free after 6pm M-F. FOOD - 5 stars ===== - Aush: noodle, veggie, yogurt soup - Mantu: beef and onion afghani dumplings w/ yogurt (appetizer/entree) - Aushak: leek and scallion afghani dumplings w/ yogurt, mint - Bulanee-e-katchalu: potatos, ground beef turnover SERVICE/ATMOSPHERE - 5 stars ======== Great service; my water never empty, our food was prompt, and the boss and his wife both stopped by to check in with us about our meal frequently. The restaurant seems small but has tables for large and small groups. Everyone else seemed really familiar with the boss, the best menu items, and were having a great time.
(5)Jacquelyn P.
Let me start out by saying, Azeen's has some of the best food I've had in my life. I've been many many times and always order all the vegetarian sides (ALL fantastic). The sides are just smaller portions of their veggie entrees. The salad is always crispy cold and so refreshing with whatever yogurt dressing they use (I think there is dried mint or other herbs in it as well) anyway, SO good. The only thing I've had here that I wasn't a fan of was a dessert called a jelebi (sp?), and I know it's a cultural favorite, but it was WAY too sweet for my personal taste. Like, instant sore throat sweet paired with an unpleasant texture. This place would get 5 stars if they didn't have such spotty service. Sometimes I'll get a server who is pleasant but sometimes I get who I can only presume is an owner/manager. She is rude. I have no idea how she gets through life but she is just so....cold and prickly. In layman's terms: a total b. Honestly, now that I'm recollecting on how many times she's rubbed me the wrong way I feel like rating this place a 3, but gaaaw the FOOD! It really is that good.
(4)Trojan M.
Ethics!!! I haven't tasted their food and I believe I won't because this couple (the owners) lacks the most important thing which is ETHICS!! I love Afghani food ... Especially the Kebab Mourgh and Kabli dish (In US they call it Quabilli), so we were aware of this kind of food when my wife and I entered this place in the weekend, crave for some tasty afghani food, since this one was the nearest place to us, and here are the results: - The Call: I called them first to check the availability when the old man answered my call in a disgraceful way ... I said twice hello and all what I heard is him repeating (and in a very unwelcoming tone): Azeen's Afghani Restaurant!!! Yet, I thought may be the man had a bad day, so I drove to his restaurants though, to see that the call really reflects their services and behaviors!!! - The service: We walked to the place, and we found couple of people setting there which gave us the feelings that we would enjoy the dinner. The old lady welcomed us quickly and walked us to our table. I have to tell that I noticed an unwelcoming tone and looks in her treatments which was clearly noticeable. After waiting for nearly 15 minutes she came to us, and when I asked her about some of the dishes she replied in very unpleasant way: Me: Excuse me: Can you tell me about this dish? Hers: Oh. Potatoes. Me: Ok I know but what about it? Hers: Steamed Potatoes. Me in my mind: Whatttt !!!!!! Are you serious!!! I asked her couple of questions about some of the dishes and she really wasn't helpful and her answers was like do you want to order or not!!! When I asked her withier they have something similar to the chicken curry she replied: I have never heard about the chicken curry!!! (P.S. Chicken curry is one of the famous dishes not only in India, but also in her culture!!) Firstly I was ready to order the Smarooq Challaw, when I requested that my plate comes without the mushrooms. She answered my request as: no we can't. It won't be good dish then!!! I told her that this was my desire to find her saying that the dish is full of mushrooms and won't be ok to remove it. Then I started looking for another dish and when I told her that I don't eat beef she started to act childishly and show me in a funny way what she has in her poor menu: This is chicken ... This is chicken.. and that is lamp and this is also lamp !!!! I figured out that this is enough and it is the time to cut the crap and leave this nasty place. Really as someone said in the reviews: They need a course in customer services and ethics!!! P.S.: Their Quabili plate is full of carrots ... This is not the way you find Quabili in any other place ... You can google it to check my words
(1)Jennifer C.
The beef kebabs are tender, and the spices are interesting if a little overwhelming. I think it's worth a try though. The mantu (dumplings) are delicious, and I was surprised that the skins were so similar to Chinese dumplings. I loved the yogurt and herbs. The lamb dish (covered with carrots and raisins) was very tender. I wish I had ordered a salad or some type of vegetable--there was too much starch for me. The staff is super friendly and helpful, and it's a nice, cozy place for dinner. It's around the corner from Colorado, and it's nice to get away from the busy street while shopping in old town.
(4)Mina H.
This is the only "real" Afghani restaurant in all of the LA area. There are plenty of quick eats, but this is definitely a full-restaurant experience. As an Afghani myself, I find the food very delicious and authentic. It's a good blend of mild-spices but flavorful enough to say "ahhh, mmmm". Some of my favorite plates I've had here are the: - Qabuli w/chicken - Aushak - Mushroom Chicken They bring you a complimentary side salad which is basic, but just the right amount and the dressing is delish! My only hold up from giving this place a 5 are the prices. They give you healthy portions, but for an average of $16+ per plate, it's really not that much food as compared to middle-eastern restaurants in general where one entree could easily be split amongst two people. I know the effort that goes into these plates, but the ingredients are basics and not that expensive. So my only suggestion is to drop the prices to increase the frequency of the already established clientele. Other than that, this place is definitely a gem and worth trying if you've never had Afghani food.
(4)Phyl P.
Wow, I'm surprised by all the 4 star reviews - and disappointed because I went there for a special dinner. The setting and service are fine, but the food is really mediocre. It's fresh but so, so bland. All three of us noted how flavorless our entree's were. None of the richness and depth of spice and flavor I have had before from Afghani food.
(3)H Y.
Step into this charming restaurant in Old Town Pasadena and it feels like you're in another world. You'll be swept away by afghani tapestry, decor and crisp white tablecloths before you even sample the food, which turns out to be surprisingly savory and delicious. Makes you wonder why you've never tried it before. It's an exotic, wonderful and satisfying treat to dine at Azeen's.
(5)Moe R.
Horrible food, horrible service, when confronted about it, the waitress with an attitude and yellow teeth complained about her rent expenses. Portions were extremely small. Very expensive for the amount of horrible food your going to receive. These people should take a class in customer service.
(1)Sarah C.
Afghan Food great service, food, ambiance. affordable
(5)The Mahogany C.
So, I'm not understanding where the raving reviews are coming from since my friend and I had a tasteless experience dining here. The salad was 95% iceberg lettuce, drenched in ranch dressing with ONE tomato and ONE cucumber. However, we decided to keep an open mind. The main course tasted like it had been microwaved. Also, I could not substitute lamb for chicken in a dish, which means it was premade. Gross. Also, the food is ridiculously expensive. And the bread sucked.
(1)Daniel C.
Afghani terrorists, you say? Bullocks! The only thing they terrorize is my wallet after I drop mad cash on their scrumtrulescently delicious food... Over the past 5 years that I've lived in Pasadena, I've enjoyed many 'a Middle Eastern cuisine... Lebanese, Armenian, Lebanese-Armenian, Syrian, Persian, etc., all mouth-watering and flavorful in their own way. But none compare to the edible eloquence and scrumptious sophistication of Azeen's Afghani Restaurant located in the heart of Old Town Pasadena! I went with an old roommate of mine to this restaurant on a whim suspecting that my highly selective taste buds would reject this food like Lindsay Lohan rejects bad crack rocks... I surprised myself when I inhaled the kabobs and basmati rice like a fat kid at the fair! I had to actually take a break between plates because they give you so much food. It was simply stunning... These Afghani people really know how to off an animal that we have too much of, cook 'em up like Ted Nugent in the wild outback of Detroit, and serve 'em on a plate with tabbouleh and hummus! Kudos to them! The decor inside made me feel like I was in a luxurious restaurant in the middle of Kabul, awaiting to use the brief conversational Farsi my old roommate bequeathed to me back in '08. Since my conversion to Middle Eastern cuisine, which I have eating every week since late '08, I had the compelling desire to: 1) buy a hookah pipe with all of the necessary trimmings even though I find tobacco, cigarettes, and the people that smoke them generally disgusting, appalling, and offensive; 2) buy a magnanimously large grill and take time to learn Middle Eastern Cuisine recipes (or have my girlfriend do it, after all, she's a better cook than me) and; 3) covert non-Middle Eastern food consumers to the best food of the Eastern World. He'll, I've even gotten my father who is an all-American "meat and potatoes" guy to dine in at Azeen's.
(4)Ellen O.
Wow.. So for our first date, after a brief coffee in March 2011, we decided to walk around Pasadena and had our eyes on Azeen. We chose a Saturday lunch at which time they were not open so we had to wait a little. Was it ever worth the wait! We attended the Pasadena Art Friday and then headed over for dinner. My new friend had lamb kabob gousfand, about which he is still talking about with fervor. I enjoyed the challaw badenjan eggplant dish very much. The cafe is elegant and seems to be well appreciated and it was apparent there were repeat customers. I cannot wait til we have a chance to return to Azeen. A class act.
(4)Kevin C.
I was actually a bit underwhelmed by the food here when I came here with a friend. We'd gotten the badenjan challaw and the sabsi challaw: the former was pretty good objectively, but for the price I was expecting either better or more [I finished the entire dish--although admittedly, I eat a lot]; the latter was salty, and the spinach to lamb ratio was leaning too much on the spinach side. We'd also gotten sambosas for an appetizer [there are 4], which were good but probably likewise overpriced. On the up side, service was very helpful and attentive [although I guess this is to be expected, since we were only one of a handful of diners at the time]. Consider this a 3.5 review!
(3)Stephanie H.
I've never tried Afghan food and was slightly cautious about trying it when a friend had recommended the place. We walked in and were seated in a small corner of the restaurant tucked away from everyone else. It was quiet and a nice but the service wasn't that great since we were hidden. We ordered the Kabob-E-Murgh which is chicken kabobs served on pallaw rice. The pallaw rice is seasoned and browned and pretty tasty. The chicken kabobs were flavorful and tasty as well. We also got a side order of Kadu, which is butternut squash topped with yogurt and meat sauce. It was pretty good! Overall, our experience was great! The food was flavorful and good and it's definitely something different and new that we ended up really enjoying Afghan food! This place is definitely worth trying out!
(4)David T.
This restaurant is off of Colorado and in a pretty decent location in Old Town Pasadena. The food was pretty darn good as well. I've passed by this place so many times and finally got to try it out tonight. I was satisfied. It was a quiet Tuesday night, but there were quite a few tables occupied. The owner/manager (not sure which he was) was the only one waiting tables, and he actually did pretty well for not having any help. The only real mistake made was that he forgot to give wine to one person in my party, but I will let that slide. The food itself is good. The only criticism I have is that the salads that each entree comes with have too much pepper on them. The chicken kabob I got (kabob-e-murgh) was delicious and the rice was different and tasty as well. Oh yeah, and I should advise that the website has not been updated recently, and so the current prices on the menu are higher than the ones posted online. This place might get overlooked since it's off the main drag, but it is definitely worth checking out. A bit pricey, but good!
(4)David B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. Great atmosphere and food for a great price. It is also family-run and named after the owner's daughter. If you're a vegetarian, ask for the vegetarian sampler. It's only on the lunch menu for some reason but they are always happy to oblige when I ask for it at dinner. Excellent!
(5)Jan Z.
Azeen's is one of our favorite restaurants and we drive out to Pasadena from LAX frequently just to dine here. The interior is elegant yet cozy at the same time, the service is attentive and, most importantly, the food is SUPERB! The kebab e gousfand (lamb kebab) is the best lamb I have tasted anywhere --- big chunks charred on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside and perfectly seasoned. It is accompanied by a simple but tasty dinner salad, bread, a spicy green chili sauce and a bed of flavorful, fluffy rice. I know I should try other dishes but the lamb is just too good to pass up. My husband always gets the qabili pilau, which is an enormous plate of rice flavored with chunks of lamb (the lamb in this dish isn't quite as tasty as the lamb in the kebab...), raisins, shredded carrots and spices. It, too, is DELICIOUS! For dessert I order the firnay, which is a nice, light pudding flavored with pistachios and rose water --- think Afghani crème brulee! I can't praise Azeen's enough ---- the owners are warm, wonderful people who serve delicious Afghani cuisine at a reasonable price in a lovely setting. Who could ask for anything more?
(5)Farah J.
Came here with my family for the first time and it's a nice little place. Food was great, especially the chicken & lamb. We asked the waiter/owner the specialty dish and he recommend quabili pallaw (dish with raisins and carrots). This dish had too many carrots. I also ordered the combo kabob and it said that it came with bread but the waiter (different person) forgot about it and I had to remind her about it. My dad asked about the soup and she had to read off the menu because she forgot what was on it. This place has a nice atmosphere to it. The value for the meal is decent I guess; the portions are kinda small however the quality of the meat makes up for it.
(3)Lee F.
Just by Union and Arroyo there is this little Afghani Restaurant. The food was truly sensational. The chicken kabob, the lamb, and both eggplant dishes were awesome. The squash dish is a must to order. The food is similar to persian food. Can not go wrong here. The decor is nice and elegant.
(5)Andre N.
Decided to try something different in my life and wanted to go somewhere in Pasadena. Chose Azeen's because of the great reviews, some by my fellow yelpers. Love the Decor of the place, with the paintings of Afghanistan in the past. Very intimate joint, good place to take a date. So sat down and decided to start off with a glass of wine. The first two white wines I ordered they were out, the third time though was the charm. Though thats kind of strange to be missing 2 wines. We decided to go with an appetizer, the mantu, it was ok, kind of reminded me of some mexican dish with carne molido. I didnt though like the yogurt stuff on it. For the main meals ordered both the Qaubili Pallaw and the Smarooq Challaw. Of the two my favorite was the Qaubill Pallaw, which had a mix of sweet (raisins, carrots) and juicy (the lamb). The Pallaw in the dish was this kind of rice which I enjoyed as well. It was good, I wouldnt say awesome but good enough for me. The Smarooq Challaw a dish with chicken and veggies in this spicy sauce was ok, though I wish there were more pieces of chicken and less veggies. Anyhow Aghan food was good, and maybe next time I will try more different dishes.
(3)Karine B.
After reading some of the reviews on this page, I can't understand where the issue with the owner and staff is stemming from. I think it may be due to a cultural disconnect because the owner and staff are actually very friendly and accommodating. The food is very good, with the right amount of spices and some of their more hearty dishes are very authentic. I'm not Afghani but I'm very familiar with the Persian culture and Afghans are very similar to Persians. I think it's a moderately priced restaurant with good food and service and I will frequent it years to come. A nice bonus: very clean restaurant.
(5)Jessica O.
Alright, so here's one to kick off the bucket list. Finally tried Afghani food, and it was good, but definitely not as unique tasting as I expected? As our server put it - Afghani food is somewhere between Indian and Mediterranean. We came here for dinner and started off with a bottle of wine, and the Mantu appetizer. I was surprised at how similar they tasted to asian dumplings. The skins were the same and there was something very familiar about the filling as well. I can see why people would love it, but eh, not a favorite of mine. Asked for recommendations from the vegetarian menu, and our server offered to give me the vegetarian lunch platter which included the Sabsi (spinach), Kadu (butternut squash), and another dish - I think it was Badenjan (eggplant stew). The Kadu was definitely my favorite of the three, and the Sabsi was a little more on the blander side - don't expect anything like palak paneer. Out of the three, the Kadu was the only thing I'd consider getting again. My friend got the chicken kabobs and he could not stop raving about how juicy the chicken was. I, on the other hand, was in love with his rice. My vegetarian dish came with the Challaw( seasoned white rice), which I thought was fine until I tried his Pallaw(seasoned brown rice). It was to die for. I didn't necessarily love the food, but had an overall enjoyable experience, with an attentive server. A great place to try out Afghani cuisine, and I hear the food is very authentic too.
(4)Alexandra L.
Really good Customer Service. The food was good the only thing was the rice was a bit too dry, but overall great experience. Since it was my first time having Afghani food....
(4)LeAnne N.
Date and I came here after we had booked a reservation for 8.30, but we got there half an hour late and they STILL let us get seated immediately. So grateful! To start off, we ordered the aushak for appetizers: leek and scallion-filled dumplings with meat sauce over it. Very tasty, similar to ravioli, and perfect for 2 people to share. Date got the Badenjan Challaw, which was heavenly. Chunks of lamb (one entire lamb skewer of meat) hidden in a chunky sauce of eggplant, tomatos, and onions. I thought the sauce was incredibly delicious and flavorful, especially since it came with the pallaw (seasoned long grain white rice). I ordered the Quabili Pallaw, which was lamb chunks (again, one skewer's worth) hidden under a pile of long-grain seasoned brown rice dotted with raisins and covered in carrot strips. I thought the rice was very tasty, and gave a good contrast to the tender lamb chunks. Date and I both got lamb (we didn't want to do the chicken option), and thought it was very well done. The lamb was tender and juicy, not gamey at all. I kept stealing Date's Badenan sauce, and he kept stealing my rice. It was a great intro to Aghani food, and will definitely come back!
(4)Bryan Y.
The staff here are super friendly. My gf and I shared the BADENJAN CHALLAW 15.90 which includes chunks of lamb cooked with eggplant, onions and tomatoes. It was not too bad, although I looked to my friends' dishes of kebabs and I think I should have ordered that instead. I'm a meat eater haha. The parsley/green sauce that came with our bread was super tasty!
(4)Mario R.
Solid four stars. Go! Try it! Support it! Was in from Miami staying in Pasadena and went with 3 others after stumbling into the restaurant while walking someplace else. Always wanted to try Afghani food and was not let down. If there were an Afghani restaurant in Miami I'd add it to my regularly-dined-at locations. Last night each of us ordered different things (I ordered vegetarian) and everybody raved about their meal. We ordered (and reordered several times) 3 different appetizers and they were awesome. Love the hot sauce. All the good reviews here on Yelp about this place are spot on. All the less good ones to me must just be from chronic complainers? Good riddance to them and let them eat McDonalds. I wonder if the owner, who is the person who waits on you, would let us bring our own wine next time and just charge us cordage. Will ask as their wine selection is minimal but still drinkable. Either way I'll be back!
(4)Bridget P.
100th review! Wooooo! This place more than deserves it, too. I had always wanted to try Afghan food, which seems to be sorely lacking in this area of so cal. I asked my Afghan-American boyfriend if we could go to a restaurant sometime, and based on trusty Yelp reviews, this place seemed to be the way to go, and worth a trip out to Pasadena. Parking on the street is pretty scarce, and I advise anyone to make sure to read the signs! We thought we got pretty lucky with a stop a block away, but after being in the restaurant for a few hours, I came back to find a ticket. Anyway, this is one of those "nice," white tablecloth restaurants, beautifully decorated and with paintings on the walls. Classy place that you could easily bring a large group to for a nice dinner, or a cozy date. We ordered a carafe of wine, and started with the mantu. They also bring warm, fluffy bread with dipping sauces (I think one was a cilantro sauce?) and house salad. Anyway, one MUST order the mantu. The appetizer came with 4 dumplings, with seasoned beef and onions, topped in a yogurt sauce. A combination I'd never had before, but the different flavors blended together perfectly. My next goal is learning to re-create it! I then ordered the quabili pallaw, which consisted of braised lamb pieces underneath a sweet rice, raisins and carrots. The lamb here had to be some of the best I'd ever had. It was succulent and tender enough to be falling apart, with a slight sweetness from the seasoning that complemented the other ingredients very well. I had more than enough to be able to take home, and the lamb portion was generous as well. Boyfriend ordered one of the beef kebab dishes from what I remember (this visit was several months ago!) which he also liked, and gave his opinion that this place was legit, which was reassuring that I'd done a decent job in my research! Service was flawless and the staff was very nice and accommodating. It's also walking distance to all of the downtown Pasadena nightlife, if you wanted to make a night out of it. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular!
(5)Jay M.
Great place! I came here for my birthday dinner, and it was a great choice. The food is amazing. I got the chicken kabob, and both the meat and the rice were delicious. They were flavorful without being overpowering. While they weren't too spicy, we were also provided a green chili-mint chutney that definitely added a kick to the food. It was very filling. I would recommend this place to anyone in the area if they're in the mood for Afghani food. Great food.
(5)Heidar S.
I tried the Smarooq Chalow. It was ok and almost like curry. The Aush was spicy and there were some yoghourt on it. The portions are small for that price! The service is kind of slow and they looked they were not trained. While I was still eating at the end, the girl collected the dishes and even the dish that my Samboosa was on it!! They gave us a small box for the leftover but not a bag! They did not have a bag! Also at first we asked for to separate bills, but she brought only one bill! The good: Smarooq was good, also Samboosa was ok. The bad: the service is not professional, they are not friendly. No parking lot! You have to pay for parking! The portions are small for the price. Overall: I will not ry it again. I would rather go to Heidar Baba restaurant on Colorado blvd across the PCC for kabob and rice, spend less money and have great rice and much more food.
(2)ap s.
Very good Afghani food with excellent service.
(4)Sanjay A.
Chicken with mushrooms, amazing. Tender, seasoned, yummy. Signature lamb rice dish also really good. What about some Afghani alcohol? Or a better selection of wine?
(4)Marie J.
This past weekend was my second visit to this restaurant. It feels like a family owned restaurant, very homey and welcoming. They orders come with this delicious thick flat bread and spicy green sauce. Entrees come with a salad. Very basic but refreshing. I had: * Mantu - These dumplings are so tasty. i always think of this as an appetizer but i can see why people order the gigantic entree plate. * Badenjan Challow - lamb in an eggplant and tomato sauce. the lamb was tender and delicious. the sauce was excellent. dipped the flatbread in the remaining sauce. Also this was a really good sized portion. i ended taking home leftovers. Why 4 stars? Mainly because I can't help comparing this place with another Afghan restaurant i used to frequent in Rancho Cucamonga. Their sabzi and kebobs blows all other afghan places away. This place also doesn't have yogurt and cucumber sauce but they were kind enough to give us some of the yogurt that they put on the Mantu. Also the prices at the other place were also much less. But then again it wasn't in Pasadena and their super low prices may explain why they are no longer in business. :p Also, be careful with the parking meters. Coming from Downtown we assumed that parking was free after 8pm on Sat. The parking ticket on the car destroyed that assumption. Damn you City of Pasadena! All in all, "open your mind Quaid" and try out this unique and tasty cuisine.
(4)Trevor B.
My GF wanted to try something new for dinner and we grabbed a few dishes here. Service was very good and food was delicious. Fresh flavorful rices, sauces and veggies, good vegetarian options and reasonable prices. I will be back many times.
(5)Rennie C.
Tried Azeen's with a couple of friends last night and I can't say I'm a fan. My taste buds just has no desire to eat here ever again. The food was good but it was just very ... I don't know ... blah. When I saw chunks of lamb on the menu, I really expected thick chunks of lamb! I also expected the lamb to be grilled with lots of fragrant spices and when it came in small chunks and stewed, I was not happy. The service was pretty awful too. Apparently the waitress hit my friend's chair twice and never bothered to apologize. Than she messed up one of our orders and didn't want to exchange it for us. When my vegetarian friends asked for meat sauce on the side they want the meat sauce on the side. It's like "hello" ? No they can't just suck it up and eat their vegetable with MEAT sauce on top. So yea...not going back ever again.
(3)Faisal L.
I ordered food to go from Azeen's a couple of weeks ago. My first impression was that it was expensive. For the two entrees I ordered to go, the bill was $39 and change. I ordered the Chicken Kabob and some Lamb stew (the exact name alludes me). Lets first cover the Lamb Stew. It was good, very good, but given the flavorful nature of Persian, Pakistani and Indian cuisine, it was just a little above average. I have had better lamb stew, but this was certainly quite tasty as well. The Chicken kabob was below average. The meat just didn't compare to the kind of Chicken kabobs you can have at Persian restaurants. Nor was it as spicy as one would expect the food from this region to be. For the sides, their bread was amazing. It is a thick flat bread that complements the food well. The rice however, was not. It had a weird flavor that didn't appeal to me. Overall, a pricey restaurant that does take advantage of being the only one of its kind in the area. The food is good but nothing to write home about. Having said that, I will probably go back to try some of the other things they have. I love Afghani food and currently, this is the only one I know of in So Cal. P.S: For some reason, they placed a pending charge of $48 on my visa and then corrected it a few days later.
(3)Jim H.
This place makes a sincere effort to distinguish itself from the many other options for middle eastern cuisine in #Pasadena . Can't wait to get back there. A few comments/criticisms--one of the dishes I ordered was a rice and lamb dish. The rice was very deliciously and delicately flavored, but the dish came with about 4 cubes of lamb--for a $20 dish this seemed a bit out of proportion. A good amount of the menu is a bit vegetarian-leaning, which is fine, but this portioning seemed a bit off. One last thing: location is in the heart of Old Town and PARKING OPTIONS ARE NONEXISTENT. I learned this the hard way, trying to pick up a take out order and drove around for 45 minutes waiting for a street spot to open up (while dozens of potentially viable spots are taken up by unnecessary valet stands, c'mon Pasadena, get it together--not Azeen's fault, though). Now that I think about it, take out probably wasn't the best idea anyway; the decor at Azeen's is very inviting, somewhat homey. Don't be a moron like me, eat in!
(4)jay r.
Hardly merits a "meh". I've no idea whether this place is "authentic". I only know that I'd pass on every item of food we ordered, and for our party of eight, we ordered (at least) one of just about everything there was to order on the menu. The food was bland, heavy, the sauces unremarkable. Note: not a place for vegetarians...what is available is just not tasty. That said, the one memorable item on the table was a green sauce meant for dipping the otherwise forgettable flatbread. Throughout the meal, I was distracted by the thought of the really outstanding carne asada burrito and sauce available RIGHT NEXT DOOR at King Taco. It's the sort of place that you try to find a nice thing to say about because an afghan restaurant is an unusual thing in Pasadena (perhaps anywhere in SoCal) but unusual does not necessarily mean good or interesting or tasty and this place was none of those things. It was just unusual.
(1)Christina T.
My friend called me up yesterday afternoon and asked if I wanted to have dinner. Of course I said yes because I haven't seen him in over a year. I hate choosing where to go so I told him to choose, but he bounced that responsibility back over to me. I then commenced a very long (I'd rather not disclose the duration) Yelp search for the perfect restaurant to go to. I had a list of about 7 restaurants but I decided that Azeen's was going to be the winner. I had never had Afghani food before and I assumed my friend hadn't either. It turns out he had and he did not like it. Oh great! So, we get to the restaurant and I like how it is decorated. There were paintings and photographs that made you feel like you were in Afghanistan. I was already feeling an air of authenticity. I was optimistic about my restaurant choice. We were seated promptly, given menus and water. I had read on Yelp that the Quabili Pallaw (16.50 -Tender pieces of lamb under a mound of PALLAW, topped with carrot strips and raisins.) was good; I was set on ordering it until I read the description - RAISINS. I hate raisins! So I opted to order the Badenjan Challaw (16.50 - Chunks of lamb cooked with eggplant, onions and tomatoes), which had eggplant in it, and I love eggplant! My friend ended up ordering the Quabili Pallaw. Before our entrees came, we were served a couple salads. They were nothing special, but it was nice to have something to munch on while waiting for our main courses. Our food didn't take long to come, which was a plus! My dish came with a huge plate of white rice (challaw?) and the Badenjan came in a separate dish. My first bite was so satisfying! It was tomato-y and I love tomatoes! The lamb was tender and tasty. The eggplant was good too, but I wish there was more of it! It was a huge serving of food, so I was full even before I was halfway done. My friend had to finish it off for me, AFTER he was done with his Quabili Pallaw, which was also not small. He was hungry. I had a bite of his and I definitely preferred my order over his. His rice was dry but the lamb was nice and tender like mine. The waitress also brought us some Afghani bread. They were soft and came with a nice sour sauce. I can't remember what she said it was made with, but it was something green. Whatever it was, it was delicious! She said it goes well with anything, so I put it on my rice as well. Mmm, I want some now! My first experience with Afghani food was excellent! I would definitely recommend this restaurant, especially if you're looking to try something new and different.
(4)David S.
What a find! My wife and I wanted to try something different. Never having Afghani food we decided to try. We got there a few minutes before our reservations and were immediately seated. We started with the Samosa (a light pastry filled with with ground chickpeas and lamb). Flaky and delicious. My wife and I then shared a Lamb and Chicken Kabob (more than enough for the two of us). We finished our meal off with fresh baked Baghlava. Terrific meal that with liquor was under $50 for the two of us. We'll be back with friends!
(5)Alex L.
I've never had Afghani food before so not sure who accurate my review will be. But when I first got there I head my doubts about this place, only because I'm not a big fan of middle eastern types of food (not sure if that's the correct area) however, thought the food was pretty good. The service was excellent! Well it was in the beginning only because we were the only customers there. Our waitress always came by and refilled our drinks without having to ask. Also made sure that we were doing okay enough times where it wasn't annoying. However it she was kind of slow towards the end because about 6 other tables came and she was the only one serving, but she still did a good job. The food was good. When I think of these types of foods, i imagine them using a lot of spices, but this place didn't use that much, which I liked. I can't remember what I ordered since my friend ordered for us. However there are pictures that are posted if your interested in seeing what we ate. The prices I thought were a little expensive. But I guess that's the price for good food. Also I've never had this type of food before so this might be averaged for this kind of food. We spent about 50 dollars for one appetizer and two entrees. Over all, the service was good, and the food was great. I would recommend this place to my friends and I would come here again.
(4)Sam N.
Is everyone reviewing this place on crack? Don't get me wrong the chicken kebabs and rice were ok, but there wasn't any spectacular flavor or spices that distinguished this from another arabic/persian/greek kebab type place. Its good, but not great afghani cuisine, the food really is just "Meh! Ive experienced better" I knocked it down 1 star for lack of spice I also knocked it down 1 star for smaller portions that most other afghan places I have had phenomenal chapli kebab, firini, and aghani cuisine in the bay area at "Kabul" and "Afghan house restaurant" in Fremont.. but this place was just lacking. I dont think I will be coming back again, however, they have a few afghan dishes you can sample since its the only afghan place around. I also knocked it down another star since the waitress told me the meat was NOT HALAL, yet its an AFGHANI restaurant? Don't many conservative muslims only eat halal meat? Its like having an israeli restaurant and not having kosher meat!? WTF?!? Do you think any jews would show up to that israeli restaurant? If your own people can't eat the food, what does that say about the restaurant? Ill pass..
(2)Darrell L.
We dined in a group of 11 of us and Abdul, the owner, just started bringing us starters and they started appearing fast and furious, like a Chinese banquet! I never looked at a menu so I had no idea what I was eating or what each dish was called. So today I started looking up the names of the dishes and well... fugetaboutit... I'll just say we tried about 2/3rd's of the starters and about 1/2 the entrees. Being a newbie to Afghani food, it's hard for me to judge if the food is best in class, however I will say I enjoyed nearly all the dishes with only one being mediocre IMHO... that being the spinach dish. I believe it was made with frozen spinach and not much flavor, however, it was the favorite dish of at least one in our party. Some of the other dishes also used frozen or canned veggies and truth be told, at the prices we paid, I think they should have been using fresh veggies. The kabobs were awesome! The lamb was perfectly cook and the chicken was tender, flavorful and juicy. The dumplings were also excellent in spite of the frozen veggies. Overall, I still gotta rate the food as excellent. Value: Fair. We paid $40/person out the door. Not expensive, not cheap, but i would have liked it if it had cost us a little less, but we had so much food to excess, so it probably should have cost less if we wouldn't have over ordered so many dishes. We all had a great time, good food and drink. This restaurant and owner does a wonderful time of facilitating good times. Bravo. Service was excellent. We were served by the owner most of the time. Whatever we wanted, we got. We got a discount on the corkage as our group usually brings lots of wines. Nice location. Street and lot parking. I was in a rush as I was 1/2 hour late so I paid the $7 for the lot instead of my usual hunt for free/cheap parking. Bathroom was nice and clean too!
(4)Thom W.
My wife and I have been patronizing Azeen's since it opened. Food and service are excellent. Their lamb is the best! We always get the spinach and squash as side dishes. Portions are generous and, contrary to some Yelpers out there, I think the food is quite flavorful with a balance of spices that allows the quality of the ingredients come through. Abdul, the owner is very friendly and welcoming. I can not understand how anyone could possibly have issues with this establishment, unless they have some axe to grind. We have had Afghani food in San Diego (Khyber Pass}, Munich (Near the Volks Museum) and years ago in L.A, (Magnolia), so, I think my opinion is based on solid experience!
(5)LifesTooShort L.
Loved spending lunch here with my husband this lovely afternoon! Folks the food is so tasty/healthy and the environment...Delightful!
(5)Lauren C.
What a surprise! If not for YELP, I would probably never have found this place. And what a find - delicious Afghani food which I had never tried before - comfortable atmosphere, warm service. Tried the lamb kebab with rice, served with a spicy cilantro chutney. Also tried a combination plate that included a deep fried samosa-type fritter filled with ground lamb, battered eggplant with a tomato based sauce, and a dumpling with a soft skin - more like a soft won ton served in a delicious sauce. The prices were reasonable ($25 for lunch for 2). I will definitely return to try more of this delicious cuisine.
(5)Karen B.
If you are looking for some afghani food, this is the place to go. The food was great and the service was kind. Well worth the drive from West Hollywood. We will be coming back.
(5)Lori K.
I see myself returning to Azeen's over and over to try everything on the menu! I have to admit when I asked around to learn what Afghani cuisine was like and was told that it was "a cross between Persian and Indian cuisine" I had no doubt that I would love it. On my first visit, we started with Pakawra Katchalu which were slices of battered and fried potatoes topped with a yogurt and meat sauce. This appetizer was phenomenal and made me wonder about all the other wonderful appetizers listed on the menu. We ordered three entrees and figured we would share them. We were pleasantly surprised when our waitress brought out three dinner salads before our meal. The menu didn't indicate that our items came with dinner salads. The salad's were devoured! Most probably due to the light yogurt and mint dressing that none of us could get enough of. For dinner we ordered the Mantu (had to since we have a rendition of this in our Armenian cuisine so we wanted to compare) Basically, Afghani Mantu is a Steamed dumplings filled with chopped lamb and onions, topped with yogurt and in this case peas and corn. We also had ordered a beef challaw and a badenjan (eggplant) challaw. Both were stews served with rice. I'm a simple gal and for me "comfort food" consists of a stew served over rice which would probably explain my love of Indian food. I like to refer to these stews over rice as "dooni jash" which in Armenian means (home style food). Not only were these Afghani dishes very comforting they were PACKED with flavor! The bread that was brought out to the table was hands down the best bread I've ever been served in a restaurant. Usually when the bread basket arrives I pick at the bread, find it mediocre and leave it, but at Azeen's my cousin's and I were stuffing ourselves with the bread, using it to sop up our stewey goodness and almost fighting over who would pack up the leftover pieces while we were boxing up our leftovers. (oh ya, did I mention you get a lot of food so be prepared to walk out with some lunch or dinner for the following day). Although we were stuffed we all knew we HAD to order dessert so we went with the Firnee which was a cold pudding with rose water and pistachios. I'm not a fan of rose water anything, but let's suffice it to say, that this dessert, if served to me daily would be consumed! We also ordered the Gelabee to compare it to the Middle Eastern version we are used to. This dessert is a doughy pastry that's fried and drizzled with a sugar syrup and then sprinkled with pistachio. I liked the Afghani version far better than what we buy at Sarkis Pastry. The service was beyond friendly. The atmosphere in the restaurant is peaceful and quiet so I wouldn't necessarily recommend coming here with a rowdy bunch. My cousins and I are loud by nature and I had to make conscious efforts to keep my voice low as to not disturb other patrons or cause a scene. If you're looking for a chill dinner spot and some fantastic food in the old town Pasadena area, BOOKMARK THIS REVIEW NOW!
(5)Toni L.
A little on the pricey side, but overall a delicious and unique meal. Food: Having never eaten Afghani food before, I didn't know what to expect. I'd say the food is almost a blend of Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Indian cuisine, but it's really something in it's own right. We started off with a salad covered in a yogurt based dressing ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). I scarfed down the entire thing like it was going out of style. I ordered the challaw gulpi, a vegetarian stew with a tomato based sauce ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). The dish tasted like an Italian version of an Indian curry, especially since it was served on challaw, long-grained seasoned rice ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). My boo ordered the visually stunning mantu plate ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). Interestingly enough, the filling was quite different from something you'd see at an East Asian restaurant or Tibetan joint. It was a mix of beef and onions that had a unique texture and flavor. Also, the sauce on top contained a good amount of yogurt and mixed veggies. Fiberiffic! One of the meals also came with Afghani bread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/Nx8p… ). Atmosphere: I think this place knows that there aren't many Afghani restaurants around here and really tries to sell themselves from that angle. There's a mural on the main wall depicting sights and scenes from Afghanistan like the Big Buddhas (although ... not sure, but I think a lot of those were blown up by the Taliban last decade). It's a little more on the formal side here, but only slightly. Service: Super nice. They explained everything in great detail and the timing of the meal was efficient but not rushed. Synopsis: Recommend. Give it a try if you crave something new or simply a delicious meal.
(4)doona c.
Service, food, atmosphere, everything was good. The only reason why I didn't give it a 5 star was due to the lack of spice, which was too bland for my taste. But then again, I already knew Afghan cuisine prefer their foods not too spicy. (They did have this one spicy, green, vinegar sauce which was AMAZING!) So as an appetizer we ordered their beef dumplings, Mantu, which was good but nothing crazy. It honestly just tasted like spaghetti marinara sauce with steamed dumplings. Then we got Lamb Qabli Pulao and Chicken kabob. The lamb was actually really good, didn't have that strong lamb taste and the rice with raisons and carrots tasted like cinnamon. The chicken kabob was salty, but good. Because its food lacked flavor, it is definitely better with the spicy green sauce. Also, Indian food being my favorite, I ordered plain yogurt on the side, to mix with the rice. I would probably come back, just to try other Afghan dishes, but I wouldn't order the same thing. Nothing really stood out to me. Server was really nice, and definitely helped us choose our dishes. A little pricey, 16$ just for a rice dish. It looks ghetto from the outside, but when you go in, its nice and clean.
(4)Business M.
One word. Amazing. Food heaven. Enough said. :) Okay, it's on the pricey side, but my husband and I wanted to try something closer to home, so we stayed in and decided to try this place last weekend. Usually, we're going to his mother's house which is closer to Beverly Hills, because we go visit her every weekend, but he figured this sounded interesting! And, yes, this was definitely interesting! Wish I had photos to prove how great the food is. You'll just have to try it yourself!!
(5)Maythee R.
This review is based on my latest experience at this restaurant. I've visited a few times in the past and the food was good - not great, I've had better Afghani meals, but good. However, this time around, dining here was a disaster. First, although the restaurant was mostly empty (which is usually the case and one of the reasons we chose it), the waitress sat us back to back with another set of guests, which required moving the table and chairs back and forth several times. Then the food problems started. We ordered an appetizer with potatoes and then she came back and told us that they were having problems with the electricity and had run out of potatoes. I'm not sure how these two were connected but okay. We ordered something else. Then we ordered our entrees, both were beef dishes. Again, she returned to tell us that they only had enough beef for one dish.(Huh?) She tried to get us to order an eggplant dish instead. I had been considering a lamb and spinach dish so I decided to go with that.Terrible decision! What eventually came out -- our first dish and two huge dishes of rice came out long before -- was a giant glob of soggy, lukewarm spinach completely unseasoned with a bit of shredded lamb, also unseasoned, beneath it. Again she mentioned the electricity problems and connected them to their microwave, which made us realize they weren't exactly cooking fresh food back there. In retrospect, I think she might have been pushing the eggplant because that's what they already had prepared. Maybe it would have been a better choice but honestly I don't know if anything could have saved that meal. Our first dish - beef with tomatoes and bell peppers - was better but just adequate at best. The bell peppers weren't cooked, just sliced and placed on top. I think we were given all that rice because they knew they wouldn't be selling any more meals that evening. Either way, it was definitely more than we could eat. Besides the food, the service was really poor. The same waitress never came out to ask us about our meal. I had to ask the first time for more water and when my water ran out a second time, since she never returned, I didn't get any more. When she came to get our dishes, I told her how terrible the spinach lamb dish was but she didn't say anything about it. She also clearly saw that we took only a spoonful of it. While we were there, a few other customers came by but they were turned away because of the food/electricity problems. Given all this, I thought they might at the least remove the dish from our bill, however, that was not the case. We were charged nearly $17 for that spinach mess. In fact, after she picked up the dishes, she never acknowledged a problem and the issue of the electricity was suddenly dropped. Overall, I have two main regrets: 1) I should have requested that they remove that item; and 2) I wish we'd arrived later, maybe at the same time as those other would-be customers so we too could have been turned away. Ultimately, all I can do is never return. This place has lost our patronage.
(1)Miri B.
The place looked old so I wasn't sure if I really wanted to eat here, but the inside looked better than I thought. Well, but who really cares about the facade. the food is AMAZING!! not so oily. very clean and ..yeah. ANyway, I had Chef's COmbination (or something) that includes 3 appetizers and Lamb something.. it's like rice + lamb + a bunch of shredded carrots with raisins?? Was very good. I'm down to drive an hour just to get come here and eat and drive another hour to go back to OC.
(4)Mary D.
Dined here for dinner and was excited to try something new. Here is what we had (best to worst): PAKAWRA-E-BADENJAN (4/5 stars) - ** yum*** battered and deep fried eggplant covered with yogurt and meat sauce. Good flavors. I really enjoyed this appetizer. Get this. Fried food, so bad... yet so good. KADU (3.5/5 stars) - butternut squash with the same sauce that is mentioned above. I like the sweetness of butternut squash. However, not much creativity amongst the dishes... same yogurt and meat sauce. QUABILI PALLAW (2.5/5 stars) - ***not recommended*** shredded lamb on top of seasoned rice that was mildly sweet with shredded carrots and raisin. When this was delivered to out table, we were convinced that the meat would be coming shortly after. Come to find, the lamb was already HIDDEN in the rice. BUMMER!! Totally not worth $16. The lamb was bland and made me pout. I chose this dish researching on yelp and reading about how awesome this dish was for other yelpers. Sigh, my fiance dethrowned me as the shot caller of food selections. He said the next time, I don't get to pick anymore. That's just mean. He is totally getting the silent treatment for at least a week ; ) Service was extremely slow. They actually forgot about us after they seated us. The food didn't take too long to reach our table, but the waitress did not follow up with us. My water was empty for quite a while and we were left waiting several times throughout the night. We shared one entree, got an appetizer, and a side dish. This was enough for the both of us. The total without tip came out to $32.
(3)Brian S.
Went here on a Tuesday. As was to be expected, there weren't a lot of people. One large party by the window and one older couple. Not too much to handle. Yet, the waitress and owner at first seemed either disinterested or distracted. At least, this was the signal I was getting. Luckily for me, I had my handy Yelp app with me, so I knew exactly what to order. Mantu to start and Quabili Pallaw for a main dish and some spinach thing my wife ordered (also good). Although the prices for each seemed a bit high ($14-$16) the portions were quite large and the flavors were different than I'm used to. (By the way, "different than I'm used to" can be used in a good context and a bad context"- just realized that). My only complaint about the food would be that the salads are pretty sad - just lettuce, one cucumber and one tomato, although the dressing is quite good. The staff certainly seemed to warm up over time and, after finding out it was my birthday, brought out a pair of baklava with a lit candle in it! I thought that was an amusing and classy touch. This basically bumped them up from four stars to five. Maybe I'm easy, but sometimes its the little touches that put you over the top...
(5)Lisa V.
The first time we tried Azeen's, we were totally wingin' it. That's usually how it goes for me. It was an OK experience, but we weren't overly impressed. The second time around, I did a little more research and resisted all urges to experiment with stuff I've never heard of...referring only to Yelper-recommended dishes. YEA! Yelpers CAME THRU!! I ordered the Mantu, Quabilli Pallaw, Gulpi & Kadu. We had to exert some control over not licking the dishes clean (which was hard to do until other peeps came in...so the embarrassment factor took hold) and were actually able to bring some of the QP rice home. Seriously satisfying. Why did I ever stray? Better to not live in the past.
(4)Neelam P.
I love this place and go regularly!! I recommend ordering the beef or chicken kebabs. The rice/pallaw that comes with it is amazing!!! Mantu and Kadu are also out of this world!!! If its your first time, I recommend lunch because entrees are more moderately priced. Parking can be difficult to find. Service is great and the atmosphere is nice and festive. Check it out!
(4)Janet C.
I'm disappointed. Based on the reviews I read on yelp, I was expecting to be blown away. More of a slight breeze. The lamb Kabob was VERY TENDER and VERY YUMMY though. The chicken kabob was also good (a little dry), but not nearly as good as the lamb. I really liked this one rice dish with lamb and shredded carrot and raisins. The bread was just meh. Salad was alright. Had this one chicken mushroom appetizer and the chicken was dry. It was very underwhelming. There was a lamb dumpling that was really delicious though. Didn't care for the butternut squash with sauce. The servers don't smile. I don't think anyone in that place smiled. The interior is very nice with murals and some statues. The lighting is soft and brings a more intimate feel. This place has generous portions and it's not heavy or greasy at all which i like. So, it's good, but not great. Maybe I should've ordered different things. I'd go back to see if I'll change my mind.
(3)vero s.
Um. Yes. A thousand times yes! I want to die and be reincarnated as a chunk of chicken living under a pillow of spiced rice. Afghani food is like the beautiful love child of Indian and Persian food, maybe even Greek. It's basically the offspring of an orgy of all your favorite foods. Try as I might to order something else, I always fall back on the quabili pallaw with chicken. I honestly don't think rice is that interesting, but somehow this rice transcends rice. It's fluffy and spicy and full of surprises like warm, plump raisins and shreds of carrot. Underneath this blanket of joy you'll find the chicken, which is juicy and tender. Start with the aushak- soft, doughy vegetable dumplings (I get them without meat) with a refreshing yogurt sauce and you won't be disappointed. I like things spicy, so I always pour on the green sauce they serve with the bread. I've also had the eggplant and a few other appetizers and have always been pleased. So glad to have this gem to offset the boredom of Colorado.
(4)Jennifer S.
We ordered the Quabili Palaw lamb, Mantu Dumplings (which reminded me of a sort of ravioli, Afghan style) and Beef Kabab. Everything tasted so good. The only criticism I have is that the Quabili Palaw seems to have very little lamb under a huge pile of rice, which I must say is very delicious rice. Maybe that's just a personal preference. I usually like to have a good 8 to 10 oz of meat in my dish, but this seemed to be about 4 to 6 oz.
(4)Jeremy V.
I have not had Afghani food this good since I was in Afghanistan. It was an amazing experience! The food and service are worth making trip here. I plan on being a regular here. If you describe to the owner about something you had in the past. He will tell you what it is and then bring it out for you!
(5)Tanya H.
I wish I could leave a good review, but the service I experienced was terrible and completely negated the fact that the food was tasty. I asked the waitress about whether a particular item on the menu could be ordered without the meat sauce, and she said no. So, I said, "Okay, well then I'll get X and Y then (can't remember the names of the dishes)." She brings me the first thing I ordered, a small appetizer, and then as I'm finishing it brings me a giant plate of something covered with meat. I said that I didn't order that and she insisted that I did, bringing me the menu and pointing at the item that I had asked about but did NOT order. I told her I hadn't wanted it because of the meat sauce and I'm a vegetarian. She replied, "Well, maybe you can take it home with you and give it to someone?" Later when she brought me the bill she included $16.50 for the item I didn't order and didn't eat (the two items I did order were an appetizer and a side dish that together were only about $12). I again tried to explain to her that I didn't order that item and she said that it was my fault for not being clear and would not take the dish off my bill. If I'd had cash I would have just left the amount to cover the items I DID order and walked out the door, but alas I only had a credit card.
(2)Sana I.
Food is mediocre for Afghan food. Customer service leaves much to be desired. Dishes are filled with 90% rice and the meat entree is more of a side dish... If the hostess attitude was a little better perhaps the mediocrity of the food wouldn't have been such a disappointment.
(2)Kevin S.
My friend Mario and I were in Pasadena for Make Music Festival, having a lovely walk about town. We passed this place a couple times enroute to different band stages. There was some time between the next performance we were interested in seeing (Dam Funk, in case you're curious), and we didn't feel like sitting on a curb to chow--even though those lobster rolls looked pretty damn tempting. Mario friend pointed to Azeen's after we'd passed an overcrowded King Taco, and turned out we were on the same wavelength. Neither of us recall experiencing Afghani food before but the dishes on the menu are similar to other middle eastern cuisine, so it wasn't so much that everything was foreign to us, but that everything looked so good! We let the helpful waitress pick out a nice selection for us (which she did quite confidently) and shared. Everything was terrific! We were right to trust her. Likely the best beef kabob I've ever tasted. Heavenly salty garlicky crust. Flavor to its soft, juicy center and grilled to perfection. We had lamb under rice (forgive me for not knowing the proper names for these things) that was moist and melty. The garlic spinach dish was rich and plentiful. One side was plenty to split between the two of us. For dessert we again took the waitress' advice and had the pudding. It was topped with pistachio dust and under its skin was an aromatic blend of flavors, the dominant but not overpowering force being cardamom. The spice paired well with the crunchy green nutty bits and being more flavorful than sweet, made for a different, surprising kind of dessert choice. Overall we were happy with our (waitress') choices. It was exactly what we were looking for: a mom and pop shop food adventure filled with exciting new flavors for our palates. I would come here again in a heartbeat when I'm up in these parts. Looking around at other tables we saw a lot of things still left to venture into!
(5)Abby K.
I was hoping to have a great experience at this restaurant, and it certainly fell below my expectations. First off, there was only ONE waitress serving 8 tables. I normally wouldn't mind, but two of those tables had at least 7 people.....now for the food! I ordered some samosas...and they were disgusting. They were not crispy, and I have no idea what they were filled with. I've had better at even hole in the wall restaurants. Then my father and I had salads that were actually quite tasty. That was probably the only thing good about this meal. Then our meals came....and boy did I lose my appetite. I ordered chicken pallaw, and it was disgusting. It was over seasoned and it made me want to gag. My father ordered lamb kabab with regular rice. Did he get regular basmati rice? No. And the lamb was almost raw looking....it was disgusting. The worst part of this experience was the check. It cost us $60 for 2 plates and samosas.....I will never be back, let's just say that.
(1)Kat C.
My friend and I are going on a culinary adventure in Old Town. We want to hit up different cultures of foods, things that we wouldn't be able to just whip up at home... so, we find Azeens! I start to get STOKED when the appetizer arrives... Sambosa... it is DE-LISH! I smother it in the green sauce and think to myself how wonderful and flavorful the rest of the meal is sure to be! (I will give this dish a 5 for sure) Well, the food comes out and we smell it... Italian?? Mt friend ordered the Aushak and said that it fully lacked any kick, spice or pop. I tried some of hers and 100% agree. It was an okay dish, nothing special about it, and it was covered in a marinara type sauce that's smell pretty much over took all the awesome herbs and smells of my dish... which was MUCH better :P I ordered the Mantu. I love lamb and don't cook it often at home. I agree that this dish lacked pop as well. There was nothing distinctive about it, but it was very yummy. The one thing that through me for a loop was that it was covered in what seemed to me to be a frozen veggie mixture. (You know the kind with corn, peas, cut carrots and green beans all cut the same length??) I only recognize this due to the fact that I make baby food with that stuff weekly. It was a really good dish, just kinda bland. Overall I really did enjoy my experience there. I would go again and bring my parents who I think would like the food adventure - and I would feel safe knowing that the adventure was not that big lol. The server was really nice, the appetizer was amazing and the food was good over all, but nothing special. I would say try this place out for sure! Just dont expect as bold flavor combinations as I had hoped for!
(3)Angela F.
Yummy!!! Love the decor of this place. The food was awesome! I had the beef kabobs! Service was great. I wish they had afghan music playing it would have made the experience and atmosphere a lot better.
(4)Natalia I.
I love this place! Came here for my birthday and wasn't disappointed. Love the Mantu appetizer , a must have its amazing. I had the beef curry and the lamb in spinach dish. Afghani bread was delicious too. Loved the pinot noir selection.
(4)Beluga W.
I really wanted to like it. The food was okay. The salad that comes with entrees is disgusting. Like the white parts of romaine with a watered down yogurt dressing. I tried to order the squash entree which comes with rice, but the server told me they were out of it. I couldn't really comprehend what she was saying so it took a few minutes to explain. Then she said that I could just get a side of squash, so even though I don't really understand how it would be possible to be out of the dish but not the main ingredient, I agreed. Then she said something else and I didn't hear/understand and immediately walked away. I was still confused. There were 3 other tables dining at the same time, but suddenly when all the other tables finished they REALLY wanted us to leave as well. So one second after our salads were dropped, our entrees were brought to the table. I tried to say that we weren't going to finish the salads anyhow, but the server just walked away leaving us with a mess of plates. I received wayyyy more food than I had thought I ordered, and when the bill came, I was charged for an entree and two sides which somehow the server had tricked me into getting when I just asked for a side of squash. They proceeded to stare until we filled out the bill and practically pushed us out. Needless to say, I won't be back.
(2)Downtownbaby T.
This restaurant really reminded me how ignorant I am! I have never even realized that there would be such a thing as "Afghani" cuisine--but they have a culture, people, country...you would think they'd also have food! DUH! We came in here completely unassuming, and we walked out wanting to try more cuisines from cultures we haven't tried (Tibetan is next on my list which is a block away). If you're familiar with Mediterannean/Greek/Lebanese fare, this place really isn't that far of a stretch so I encourage you to try it. Afghani food features lots of kebabs and tasty appetizers--much of their food though is flavored with similar spices as Indian food. Think Greek with Indian flavors. The food was really fresh, and your deer-in-headlights look when looking at the menu will grab the attention of very friendly servers who are more than happy to school you to better help you decide what to order.
(4)Danny G.
First time here and I ordered te perfect combination. Meat dumplings appetizer with the fried meat pouch. Forgot the name. The dishes came and I ate the dumplings and using the fried appetizer, I picked up the delicious meat and yogurt sauce. Then used their soft chewy bread to mop the remaining sauce off the plate. Yum!
(4)Amru A.
They need a course in customer services and ethics!!!
(1)Anas M.
The restaurant is very clean and nice. The service is excellent. However, the food is okay... I have had much better afghan food. I would not go there there again.
(2)David T.
This place kicks A__! I love exotic restaurants like this. You would gladly run the Kabul Marathon to eat here.....the delicately seasoned rice is heavenly! From 02 Sushi we walked to Azeen's. Two awesome eateries in one day.... I love you, America!
(5)Tracy L.
I just got back from my first experience with Azeen's, as well as my first experience with Afghani food. As such, I can't really compare the quality of its Afghani integrity, but I know when I like food, and tonight was a little hit-or-miss. I went with my brother and we ordered the aushak for appetizer and combination kabob and sabsi challaw for entrees. The aushak was okay, and tasted sort of similar to the kinds of dumplings I have at home, except not quite as good--though I have to admit the yogurt and meat sauce was great. My brother's sabsi challaw was too salty for my taste and had much less lamb than either of us had expected, though we both agreed that the spinach was cooked well. And then there was my combination kabob, one skewer chicken and one skewer lamb. Now that was great. Tender meat with flavorful rice, and with some great bread on the side. I really enjoyed my kabob, but it was only the best of a group of mediocre dishes. Also, we found in the evening that the service was a little strange. When he finished each dish, my brother left his used utensils on the dish. When the waitress came to clear his plate, she gingerly and with mild disdain picked up his used utensils and placed them back on the table for him to reuse. This happened twice. And it was just kind of strange that she was so insistent he reuse the same fork and knife. Overall, in spite of the strange utensil thing, the food was okay. I would have rated it 3.5 stars, or thereabouts, but for the price that we pay it should be a little better than what it is.
(3)Tara C.
Expanding my foodie horizons, yay! My dad brought me here for dinner recently and it was a delicious experience. We shared the mantu appetizer, which are little pasta-like pillows of ground lamb with sauce and veggies on top. Tasty. For my entree, I had the quabili pallaw, which translates to a wonderfully spiced mound of rice, studded with raisins and shredded candied carrots, covering chunks of tender lamb meat. Kinda like "hide and go seek" with lamb. My only complaint was there was not enough lamb, but the whole thing was very good. The service was efficient and friendly, although as the place filled up I couldn't catch our server very often for refills and such. Try the Afghani tea if you like a soothing, spiced drink.
(4)Jenn R.
my first time at an Afghan restaurant and it was a great experience!! Food was very good and service was awesome! i would have given it four stars because it was super hot in there there since the moment i walked in and when i asked if they could turn on the a.c. they said it was already on and i thought i was going to die (but i do get hot really easily). Then the nice owner brought out a fan for me and had it pointed towards me so that I'd be nice and cool!! Awww, that was very sweet the place seems to be family owned and they really take good care of you!
(5)marlon e.
Not to be racist but if you hear "Afghan" you think of Osama Bin Laden and terrorist. That's it! You might say its ignorant but for most people there's nothing else about it that would stick in your head except for that National Geographic Photo of that Afghan Girl. (you might not even know what i'm talking about) Anyway, one of my goals in life is to be able to have dinner with Bin Laden and you might be wondering why? It's simple, I wanna see him drunk. It's would be funny to see one of the worlds most wanted person trppin and making afghan jokes. So this is my first step in reaching that goal trying their cuisine. Food somehow helps you understand each culture. As usual we don't know what to get so we asked the server for her favorite dishes just to play it safe. We got: PAKAWRA-E-BADENJAN - this is freakin awesome! Deep fried battered egg plants with some sort of cheese and tomato sauce. MANTU-like dumpling with yogurt sauce! another thing that you must get!!!! SMAROOQ CHALLAW-pieces of chicken and mushroom its like a stew and the spices are good. QUABILI PALLAW - carrots raisins rice and lamb. I must say there's not enough COMBINATION KABOB- not great but good just like any kabob its hard to fuck up. All in all its a great place and our server is really attentive. They charge 8 bucks for cork fee. 4 stars for the food (just the FOOD) ____________________ Yeah so the bill was fixed about but i won't go back to this place just because all what happened and i was told not to go back here. I don't know who got it all wrong is it the bank or what, but i'm over it. yeah its bullshit
(4)Mika W.
Tucked away in the back part of Old Town, Azeen's is a gem of a find! It was great to try a different kind of cuisine. The waitress gave us wonderful service. The butternut squash dish was amazing, I think that was my favorite. Soft and melt-in-your mouth goodness. The steamed dumplings were tasty. The fried eggplant was crunchy and delicious. I think I liked all the side dishes better than the kabobs. Save room for some tasty black cardamom tea!
(5)Yvette H.
This is my FAVORITE afghan restaurant. I LOVE LOVE LOVE their mantu (succulent lamb filled dumplings w/ yogurt and meat sauce to top off) and Pakawra-Badenjan (think eggplant tempura w/ yogurt and meat sauce...the lightest fried food i've ever eaten). So good! The lamb dishes are also fantastic. We always order the KABOB-E-GOUSFAND (lamb kabob) and the QUABILI PALLAW (braised lamb w/ rice, raisins and carrots...sounds funny, but it came together very well). I've also had their beef kabobs, which were tasty, but the lamb is special. Not many places know how to cook lamb well.
(5)Sara L.
Azeen's is a totally enjoyable experience. The place is nice, the people re nice, also very accommodating (I was in a bit of a rush). Only got to the the dumplings this time, but they were fabulous. I particularly liked the Mantu and the Bulanee-e-Katchalu. They are the dumplings in the picture that are not fried. Afghani seems to be a bit like Iranian, but I can't wait to come back and try their Challow and kabobs and see the difference between theirs and other cultures. Yay! Now to try the one Sri Lankan place in town...
(4)Steve J.
I really enjoyed the food here. I haven't had any other Afghani food before, but the best I can describe it is to compare it with its geography - in between Iran, India, and Central Asia. It's not Indian or Persian food but somewhere in between it. I did really enjoy how they spice their foods - nutty and sweet but not too spicy or heavy. I had the quabili pallaw (seasoned rice with lamb, carrots, and raisins), kadu (butternut squash with yogurt), badenjan (eggplant stew), and sabsi (sauteed spinach). I love butternut squash and I love eggplant, and both were so delicious. The rice with carrots and raisins was really interesting, too, and the lamb was cooked well, tender without any gaminess - the spices were not overwhelming but worked well with the meat. It's very clean inside, with an interesting mural of the Afghan landscape on the wall, as well as other cultural pictures, like the Afghan girl on the National Geographic cover. The servers were very hospitable and courteous, and they took our order and brought out our food very promptly. Your bill can add up quickly if you're just ordering entrees, but the side dishes have generous portions and are much cheaper, just a tip.
(5)Shanan A.
Just average, you know, like 3 stars. Food was tasty enough, but didn't have a ton of flavor or spice. It was just average, although if/when I go back, I'll definitely ask for spicier food, and I'm sure they can do that. Also, I got all vege stuff, so that certainly could have contributed to the average flavor. Service was also just average. Not good, not bad, just average.
(3)Vince L.
I'm not an expert in the cuisine but I found the food at this restaurant to be interesting and quite tasty. I've been here twice and the quality was pretty consistent. On both occasions I was part of a group so I was able to try a variety of dishes. I definitely will go back.
(4)brandi g.
Excellent service, very good food. Not cheap but it's not too expensive if you order an entree and appetizer and a side and share. We had more than enough food this way. We also had tea and shared a dessert, the bill was a bit over forty. I'd give another star if it wasn't 25 bucks a person, mostly because you are an ethnic restaurant competing with other places in that price range with more sophisticated food The service was very good though! Nice people, nice decor.
(4)Rick B.
Great food. Getting our order was a little slow, but once the order was in the service was great. Portions are huge!
(4)Jason C.
Excellent Afghani food. I try to make it to this place each time I visit Pasadena. I especially enjoy the lamb kabobs. All the meat is cooked perfectly and the pallow is very tasty. The portions are just the right size.
(5)Roni R.
This food is very good. It's a great lunch place. I personally like ordering the sample plates b/c they give you a bit of everything. The staff is very nice and helpful when ordering. The price is reasonable and there is never a wait -- b/c it's a bit out of the way from Colorado -- so you're not as likely to bump into it.
(4)Maureen W.
This quiet, unassuming little place is a real find in the sea of Colorado Hip Joints. It's amazing that I drove by it a million times and never really saw it. The hub and I were desperate for something a little different, something off the beaten path. Azeen's was perfect. We took our friend Jonathan G. and hit the Afghani paradise. I had the beef kabobs and I didn't have time to try the other's dishes because I had macked so fast on my kabobs that I was completely full by the time I was done! Oh and we started with the Mantu that was delish. Very flavorful, like I expected Afghani food to be. YOu will delight in the food, service and decor at Azeen's. Just be prepared for sucky parking. I recommend the Parson's lot.
(5)Food Monkey B.
The Mantu there is to DIE for. So good I go there just to order it !!! The bread with the special sauce is GREAT too !!! Gets craving all the time :)
(5)Cody C.
I seldom visit this place, but it has a soft spot in my heart...er....stomach I guess. I had reservations about Middle Eastern food, but they were quickly dispelled when I tried the place out. The menu is on the simpler side, you won't find real extravagant dishes here, but don't interpret that as negative. Mostly meat dishes served with rice or something of that sort. Whatever they do that meat...spices, oils, whatever...it becomes a very hearty and satisfying meal. Try it, you'll like it.
(4)Mark M.
Go! Afghani food is different, and how many people have ever had Afghani food?! The spices are wonderful. The room is lovely. The servers are patient and helpful. And enough already with Mexican, Italian, soups, and salads, and burgers! Get out and go - wake up your life and your taste buds! I'm from San Francisco where the Afghan restaurant Helmand is OUT OF THIS WORLD, and while Azeen's isn't that, you need to go.
(4)Brian A.
This is a lovely restaurant. The kabobs are succulent and the "ravioli" styled appetisers with mint chutney is highly recommended.
(5)Pete R.
We had a great experience at Azeen's tonight. I'm not sure of the names of everything we ate, but it was really good and very reasonably priced, even with a good bottle of wine. The atmosphere was very cozy. While there were only a few people there on this Thursday night I heated it's important to get reservations on weekends. I will definitely visit here again.
(4)Tasha D.
I had a lovely quiet dinner here with two friends this Tuesday. Everything was fantastic -- the meat was ridiculously tender. The tea with cardamom was pleasant. I would come back here in a heartbeat. I thought it was a good price performers -- entrees were around $15.
(4)Alice K.
Feeling adventurous and craving some yummy Afghan food, we decided to eat at Azeen's. I heard that the lamb dishes were particularly superb here, so we ordered the Sabsi Challaw and the Kabob-E-Gousfand. The Sabsi Challaw entrée consists of chunks of lamb cooked with spinach, onions and garlic. It is served with perfectly cooked white basmati rice. I was a little afraid that the spinach taste might be overwhelming, but the lamb + spinach combination was absolutely delicious. The spinach made the lamb very tender, and I was very satisfied with this dish. The Kabob-E-Gousfand was basically tender cubes of lamb, served with flavored basmati rice and bread. This dish was even better, and I highly recommend everyone to order it. Azeen's has a cute and simple décor. There are some nice paintings on the wall, and is ideal for those seeking an intimate, eclectic setting. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful, and helped us choose some delicious items on the menu. Unfortunately, I was a little annoyed during my meal because some really old drunk couples were seated right next to us. Every now and then their cackling bursts of laughter would startle us and I almost choked on my food several times. The thing is, there were many tables available further away from us, so I don't understand why they were seated to the table immediately next to us. It was peak dinner hour on a weekday and there were only 4 occupied tables by the time we left. Oh, and the old drunk woman was shouting at the waitress to bring her another bottle of wine. Classy...
(4)Corindo C.
Great food, service, atmosphere, price, and not noisy. "Can ya beat this?"
(5)Jennifer Q.
So delicious. Very reasonable prices. I had a dumpling dish w lamb. Ethereal. Also a squash side dish that was wonderful. Afghan tea is tasty too.
(4)Cassandra M.
Someone gave us a $100 gift certificate for this place. I had always been curious about it, and was excited to try it. After we were seated the owner came to us and said we could order but that they were having a problem with the power and the air conditioning wasn't working. We weren't sure what he was getting at so we ordered. The adventure began with a forgotten drink. When we order food, my son tried to order a kabob, which they didn't have, then another - nope. He finally says they only have the lamb. We ordered a spinach dish and a potato dish and some bread and rice. My daughter ordered the potato dish. A few minutes later, he came back to tell us that the power is still not working so they don't have the potato dish. (what?! - then he says "We can make it but it will take awhile" what?!) So my daughter ends up just ordering plain rice. We got the eggplant dish and ordered a dessert for afterward. The food was ok, not spectacular. Then we asked for the dessert, he came back and said they were out. My teenage son says outloud "I knew it was too good to be true." We were laughing the whole time, so I guess we had a good time but not a good meal. I'm not sure how they're staying in business, expensive food that they don't carry, no air conditioning, and weird service. We have some of the gift certificate left but we don't want to go back!
(2)Adriana Y.
This is a very nice place to take your family as long as they're not racist like my mother, who refused to go because she "isn't into ethnic food" and "doesn't want to support terrorism." Afghani food is like a cross between Indian and Middle Eastern. The meat and veggie stews are flavorful but not spicy, filling but not heavy. I call it "comfort food light." Most of the appetizers are topped with a cool yogurt herb sauce and also a splash of tomatoey sauce with ground lamb (yum). The bread is my favorite, pillowy-soft and foccacia-esque with a french bread flavor, perfect for sopping up sauce. Order a few dishes and share them. The meat is fresh and tender. The butternut squash is a must, perfectly cooked. Get the hot cardamon tea. Don't forget dessert -- when my roommate ordered the firnee, a perplexingly delighful, flan-like rosewater pudding with the smooth, slippery texture of cold cream, she exclaimed "it tastes like a spring field!"
(4)Mariko M.
We love Azeen's! I always order the lamb Quabili Pallau because it's so good that i can't ever bring myself to NOT order it. (And I usually do not like lamb, too strong a flavor, but with the rice, carrot, raisin and spices it's just perfect.) We've also had the sambosa appetizer and the fried potatos with yogurt / meat on top. These are good but not exceptional like the Quabili Pallau! Also the chutney that comes with the bread is fantastic. All the entrees come with a nice salad (just lettuce, cucumber, tomato, but a good dressing), too. I'd also recommend the afghan tea -- it's similar to Indian Chai with a lot of cardamom flavor, yum.
(5)Stephanie R.
We love going out to eat at Azeen's and we go regularly. We love the combination kabob, the quabili pallow and the smarooq challow. We come for the good food and because we are quite fond of the owners, who have always been accommodating, and polite. We are so full after our salads and entree that we have never tried ant of the desserts! I recommend them highly.
(5)Shelly W.
Excellent food. The butternut squash with yogurt and meat sauce is to die for. Will come again and try some other entrees, but will always get the squash.
(5)Toro O.
The lamb dish everyone recommended was extremely dry and not tasty. Another dish with spinach was nothing special either--just rice with boiled spinach and meat.
(2)Aaron T.
Some close friends asked where we would like to meet for dinner during a recent visit to Pasadena. Our response...any place but the big crowded places in Old Pasadena! Some place with rice...their response, Azeen's. Our first visit will not be our last! My wife is a big rice fan...their seasoned brown rice won her over. And the Mantu entree made me fall in love with Azeen's. We ordered five dishes, one for every member in our party...too much food. Family style serving would have made three or four entrees adequate. Service was warm, friendly, and informative...for the uninformed (me). We will be back...save a table for us!
(4)Forrest D.
This is a wonderful little restaurant off the beaten path in Old Pasadena and it's well worthing searching out. The lamb is a wonderful creation here, and most everything else is also very good, especially the kabobs. I ate here early on and didn't think it would survive but thankfully it's quite busy now as people have found it and turned on to the unique flavorings on offer here. This is one of the finest restaurants in Pasadena, and that's saying something as there are quite a few superb choices. Food - A+ Ambience - B Service - A Value - A
(5)Joe T.
Fine people and with a love and dedication for the foods that they prepare. Looking forward to returning.
(5)Sarah R.
The service here is so friendly, and the food is amazing. We brought many people to this restaurant, and these friends have loved us for the discovery. I haven't lived in Pasadena for a few years, and still find myself longing for Azeen's...
(5)Laura B.
Despite America's stance of Afghanistan....I've gotta say that I'm a fan of the food. I came here on a date (so clearly, it's a good date place) and it's this wonderful little restaurant tucked away amidst the craziness and mediocrity of Old Town Pasadena. It's a quiet place, which minimal decor, but nice nonetheless. we sure had fun trying to pronouce the dishes, but it was well worth the effort. We had the dumplings first....filled with ground lamb I believe with a yogurt type sauce....just enough novelty and spice to make for a good start. I had the chicken skewers which were AHHHHMAZING. Big chunks of chicken sans actual skewer, moist, flavorful, and juicy. I can still taste it! The rice made an excellent addition to the dish. I'm not really a huge fan of butternut squash....actually, I don't think i've really had it until I came here. I was skeptical, but boy, did they prove me wrong! The squash was tender and a little sweet, and with the addition of the yogurt sauce, it was terrific. Luckily, I got to take home the leftovers!!! It's a little pricey, but seeing as how I didn't choose the restaurant or pay, it was allllllll gooooood. Needless to say, the date scored major points. Not like that, silly!
(4)Danny W.
THE FOOD WAS AWESOME....BEST FOOD EVER.. I couldn't stop eating the taste was superb.Very.. I mean very friendly service, The waiter was supper nice the food came quick, Love the Eggplant with yogurt, The Lamb stew over white rice was great..Over all it was great experience visiting this place the price was very reasonable...And believe me I will go there again for sure..And I will recommend this place to all my friends and relatives..
(5)Mary B.
This is such a nice restaurant, always reliable quality food and pleasant service. My brother was just in town and he always wants to come back to Azeem. Favorites are the various kebobs, the aushak, the butternut squash and the rosewater flavored pudding. One of the owners took time to chat with my sister-in-law about Afghanistan--admittedly right now a sad topic. One of the treats of living in Pasadena is a restaurant like this. Even its location is nice, a quiet picturesque street off the beaten path in Old Town.
(5)Mark E.
My friends and I wanted something different and out of the ordinary so I mentioned afghani food and its a good thing I did cause... THE FOOD WAS SOOO DELICIOUS! FOOD: 10/10 Atmostphere: 8/10 Staff (friendliness and service): 8/10 Wait time: 10min with out reservation The meal was pricey like around $20 a plate but with food that good it was worth the money! However if you decided to eat here on a Friday or Saturday night be sure to make reservations cause it tends to get busy . Plus the staff gets irritated if you don't make a reservation and makes you wait, while there are plenty of empty seats. Thus the one star deficit. Never-the-less when they sat us they filled our cups the minute we were done with our drink and they were kind enough to almost give us a second salad! haha. The atmosphere was delightful and had middle eastern landscapes painted on the walls. A nice touch along with the feeling of eating at a high end establishment. Nicely done, Azeen's! I look forward to coming back!
(4)Manic D.
Craving garlic fries and and some beer I climbed off my perch and made my way to Pasadena, heading straight toward Gordon Biersch. I finally found a parking spot in the parking-hell that is old-town and wandered down Union Street with a Pavlovian twitch. Didn't make it past the little storefront that houses Azeen's....and very glad of it. I've passed it several times and wanted to poke my head in, but was always in search of something else. I'll be making my trek back specifically for their treats again, very soon. Awesome fare and excellent service in a cozy, almost romantic setting. Some ambient music would be nice, but that's by far my only criticism. With all the chain restaurants that clutter the streets and gullets of this town, it's always nice to find a place with a human touch. It was my first venture into Afghani cuisine and I was appropriately ignorant. I expected kebab, kebab and more kebab...alas, I did mention 'ignorant' eh? The flavors meshed Middle-Eastern flair with more traditional Indian influences, all coming together to drive a man mad. The Mantu appetizer was excellent, but Aushak takes the prize. They're a leek and scallion-filled dumpling topped with a meat sauce, as are most of the offerings, although they offer a fair amount of vegetarian plates as well. If you're into lamb the Quabili Pallaw rocks. I kept an eye peeled as other plates made their way past our table and everything looked equally delicious. Something for all the senses. Highly recommended. I'll have to wait another day for the beloved garlic fries and beer, but very happy to have found Azeen's.
(5)Todd C.
Azeen's was my first foray into Afghani cuisine, and it has been great. The restaurant is set in an unassuming high-ceilinged storefront with unobstrusive decor with friendly servers running around with plates. What is Afghan cuisine? It's Indian cuisine, minus the pungency of the spices, plus the allowance of dead cow, more water and stews, and more liberal with gourds, carrots, raisins, and honey. There are a handful of vegetarian choices, but most feature legged meats. If craving Indian food, this restaurant won't suffice, but the subtler tastes and lingering sweetness will satisfy you regardless. This is from an outsider who can't give a true assessment of authenticity, but I sense that it is. The dishes, for the ingredients they contain, seem slightly overpriced. The salad is iceberg lettuce in a white dressing, and the plates look like Denny's wholesale, but the rest of the food and house wine carafes are great.
(5)Juliette M.
I would come back to this place in a heart beat. The rice was so well cooked and the chicken was good as well. I cannot remember the name of the dish I got but it looked similar to chicken kabob. Except the rice was more flavorful
(4)X`ochitl M.
The meat is so juicy, tender and delicious, it's the best buck I've spent on food in a very, very long time. It's tucked away, no ridiculous wait and the service was perfect. I seriously recommend eating here. I know I will!
(5)Bram E.
Mmmmmmmmm quabili pallaw.
(4)S. T.
I come to Azeen's for consistently good, amazingly flavorful food and great service. It's the kind of place you can take your guests without thinking twice because you know the quality of the food will be superb and everybody will enjoy it. They have a good selection of appetizers, entrees, and vegetarian entrees. The food is never spicy but each dish has a nice complexity and balance of spices which is simply amazing. I don't want to ruin the pleasant surprise, so all I want to say is go and try it! You'll thank me when you enjoy the wonderful aroma of leftovers on your way home in the car or the next day. Azeen's is somewhat hidden, being a block north of the busy (and noisy) Colorado Blvd in Old Town Pasadena.
(4)Jay C.
Nice spot away from the bustle of old town. When ordering keep in mind that the portions are pretty big. It's meant to be eaten family style I think. So order one of the rice dishes and some sides and an app, and you're good to go for two people.
(4)Kate E.
I really don't get all of these over-the-moon reviews. It was okay, but the food isn't that flavorful. We had ashauk and the beef dish with cauliflower and ginger and tomatoes. It was all just okay. The wine was from an open bottle and was barely drinkable (to be fair, we should have brought that up with the waitress, but my friend didn't want to). The waitress, though nice enough, was kind of rigid - although she did accommodate our simple request to have bread before the meal, she seemed confused and a little disturbed. Anyway, I wouldn't protest if someone wanted to go here again, but I can't imagine making a big effort to go back.
(3)Vanessa H.
Super tasty and affordable. We started with the mantu, which look like raviolis and are stuffed with beef and peas and covered with yogurt sauce. We tried ordering a lamb, then beef pallaws but the kitchen was out of both. We finally settled on chicken pallaw and owner comped us a side of eggplant (which was delicious, pureed with a dollop of yogurt). We also had the chicken and beef kebabs, with a cinnamon and raison studded rice. Also, the half-carafe of house red was only $7.
(4)Frank K.
I was in the mood for some lamb koobideh, but then I decided not to have Persian; I instead opted for Afghan cuisine. I never had it before, but from the reviews of other Yelpers, the food itself seemed to resemble a hybrid of Indian and Mediterranean flavors and spices, although simpler than Indian and more fragrant than Mediterranean. That combo can't go wrong in my book. Jairo wanted to make sure I knew what to order because it was both of our first times here. But even without studying the reviews, I would have trusted my palate and the fragrance of cumin, cinnamon, etc. perfuming the dimly lit, tastefully and culturally decorated, white-table-clothed restaurant. Still, using Yelp as a reference, these are the following platters that we ordered: Bulanee - a turnover pastry stuffed with leeks and scallions. The pastry was flaky and not too oily, and packed with a gentle, complex flavor. In other words, it tasted like a turnover filled with leeks and scallions. It came with a yogurt sauce and a cilantro-mint vinagrette very similar to the chutney served at any Indian restaurats. Beef kebab - perfectly tender and mild, yet flavorful with its natural beef taste. Some may say bland, but those who can appreciate good beef will disagree. It came with a bed of rice pilaf, very soft in texture and very beautiful in color (almost orangey brown). The taste is unique---I detected cinnamon. Mantu - it's an appetizer, but you can also order the meal version. Eight or so dumplings stuffed with lamb, onions, and herbs, topped with mixed vegetables (peas, lima beans, carrots, string beans) and a sweet tomato sauce (I thought it was ketchup, but that's probably my American taste bud recoiling). So simple but so flavorful. Best dumplings I've had in months. Service was very friendly. Our server was nice enough to point out each dish and sauce and explain its ingredients. My only complaint (well, Jairo's complaint) is their wine selection---average collection. So, if you're a wine connoisseur, an oenophile, or just plain pretentious, B.Y.O.W. and pay $8 for the corkage fee.
(5)Marcia S.
I went here for a girls-night-out dinner with a group of six. The restaurant is definitely off the beaten path, with the entrance on a part of Union that doesn't seem to have much foot traffic, at least for Sunday evening. Overall, the food was delicious and in well-sized portions. We had three different appetizers, BULANEE (turnover filled with leek, scallions and herbs), PAKAWRA-E-BADENJAN (Batter dipped, sautéed eggplant topped with yogurt and meat sauce) and SAMBOSA (Fried pastries filled with ground beef and chickpeas). The three appetizers provided enough for our group to nosh on while we chatted away, but not so filling that we couldn't devour our entrees later on. We ordered various entrees and tried everyone else's food (as it always goes with a group of good friends!). I had the chicken and lamb kabobs which were very flavorful and tender. The accompanying rice was extremely tasty and in a sizeable portion. I'd like to return to try the Mantu, which I got a bite of and seemed really interesting. For anyone who is familiar with the Helmand in Baltimore, this was a comparable restaurant with great food and service.
(4)Emily T.
This place is holy crap, change your life amazing. I had never had Central Asian food before and was blown away - delicious lamb-filled sambosas, kabobs, and QABULI PILAU - a big hot pile of sweet cinnamon rice, raisins, carrot strips, and pieces of lamb. Sounds gross (to me), tastes delicious. The ambiance is also refreshing.
(5)Eric H.
Should really get 3.5 stars if I could. But minus some for parking issues and slow service. I made a reservation for 8 pm, arrived on time and realized reservations weren't needed since the place only had 5 occupied tables at the time. But I had to wait 3-5 minutes for anyone working at Azeen's to enter the dining area. Water was served promptly but the sole waitress promised to come by and take our orders 3 times in the 15 minutes she was scampering around the other tables. Finally, I think the owner came out to take our orders and help out. However, the food was very good. I first started with the aushak (leek+scallion dumplings) and the sambosa (think Indian samosa's except with beef). Absolutely loved the sambosa and its accompanying sauce. The aushak was a good dish but it's meat sauce tasted like something out of Chef Boyardee's. Otherwise, the minty sauce and actual dumplings were very good. Entrees my table got the smarooq challaw (chicken stew) and the sabsi challaw (lamb stew). These two were remarkably different. The chicken dish was orange and reminded me of a toned down Indian tikka masala, but with lots of mushrooms. The lamb dish tasted a lot more bland but its meat was much more tender. The excessive spinach made the dish look like collard greens and pulled pork. Not that great to look at but very good. The pallaw rice was excellent and flavorful; however, I did not care for their bread. By the end of the two entrees, I was stuffed and will have lots of leftovers to enjoy. Recommended to try Afghani food, reservations not really needed, and try the parking garages.
(3)ericka L.
Benny L. and I went here last week as part of our International Flavors Tour of Pasadena. It's a beautiful restaurant, decorated very elegantly, but parking around there is a pain (especially if you're running late because your computer didn't remember Daylight Savings Time was over.) We got the kabobs - beef for him, lamb for me - and an order of katchalu, a potato/tomato dish that reminded me of a slightly less flavorful aloo mattar without the peas. The kabobs were good and came with a giant mound of rice, flavored with cumin and maybe paprika? It was a bit dry for me, but I liked the taste. The bread was very interesting and reminded me a bit of injera, that spongy Ethiopian bread. The best part of the meal was probably the delicious cardamom flavored tea - yum-o! I could drink that all day long. I think I'd rate this place higher after a return visit to try a few more things. I wanted to order about 20 dishes, but Ben said, "You know, we could come back again."
(4)Peter P.
How can you bomb a country that creates such good food. I am ashamed. This place rules. Probably the nicest waiter I have ever had. America needs more Afghani food!
(5)Griselda J.
Have always received great recommendations from workers. Everything my husband and I have tried is fabulous. We have eaten in the restaurant and have done food to go. Its small, very quaint, great service and atmosphere.
(5)Ben H.
Superb. Went here for lunch again today and got what I always get, the chicken and lamb kabob combo, which comes with a salad, rice, and bread. Again, superb is the best word to describe it. The meat is so tender and flavorful, the chicken almost breaks apart on the fork. And they cook that on a skewer! Fantastic. Got the mantu dumplings for a starter, and they are just great. Also highly reccomend the butternut squash, it's utterly delicious. Great food, friendly attentive service, I'll be back (again).
(5)Aurora C.
This place was amazing. I've never had Afghan food, so take my review with a grain of salt (or whatever the saying is). Came around 7 pm on a Monday, and I think we were the first dinner customers. Service was prompt and friendly. :) More people filed in later... I had the mantu, which are steamed lamb dumplings. It came with a salad and Afghan bread. The salad was the average lettuce with ranch and hella pepper. Nothing special, but it was nice that the lettuce was nice and clean and not oxidized and oddly colored at the edges. Bread was delicious. It came with this spicy green dipping sauce...I think it had like jalapeno and cilantro...? Not sure, but it was so refreshing. And the mantu...so perfect. The skins were moist and chewy and came with yogurt sauce and some other sauce on top. gjka;dfkj so goooood If I lived nearby, I would totally go again. YUM
(5)Heejin L.
couldn't try the chicken smarooq. they were out.! instead they gave me chicken kabobs +mushroom kabobs. which were good. the chicken was all white meat and not too dry. it had a nice flavor to it. the lamb was good. the rice was also good. had a lot of spice. you can't go wrong w kabobs.! but i think i expected more. literally more. the plate did not fill me up. . . but it was good.
(4)Lynn W.
Great Food! I took a friend there last night, it was her first time, and she loved the dumplings. I'm a vegetarian, so the options are limited for me, but the veggie dishes were great. My friend commented on how attentive and friendly the service was as well. Overall, a great place to eat, even if you're a vegetarian.
(4)Al C.
Another hidden gem. It's criminal that this place isn't packed every night. Start off with the AUSH soup (it's kinda like a Mexican fideo--yum!). Next, try the SMAROOQ CHALLAW (chicken, onions, mushrooms in a sauce). It's excellent. If you love carrot raisin salad as much as I do, then try QUABILI PALLAW, which is lamb buried under a rice pilaf with said carrot and raisin friends. End your delicious meal with FIRNEE, which is a smooth, chilled almond and pistachio pudding. Service is excellent. Atmosphere is classy.
(5)Maria F.
If you're in the Old Town Pasadena area, I would suggest trying this place out. The two items I tried were pretty good. For an appetizer, I ordered the Mantu. It's a a steamed dumpling filled with beef and topped with yogurt. Next time, I think I'll try the Bulanee-e-Katchalu (turnover filled with potatoes and beef). As an entree, I tried the Badenjan Challaw. It's a stewed lamb and eggplant dish served with fragrant white rice. I really enjoyed this entree and would order it again! As a condiment to the entrees, they served a spicy green sauce (I am not sure of the ingredients) that went very well with the food I was eating. It was spicy but not overwhelmingly so. I also tried the afghani tea (iced as it was quite hot that evening). The tea has a hint of cardamom. My only negative comment would be that the wait staff confused which of us ordered what dish. Overall, though, it was a nice dining experience. Parking is on the street or at one of the many parking structures. There's a parking structure almost adjacent to the restaurant
(4)Katherine K.
This place is great. If you like Indian food, you will LOVE Afghani. A great place for vegetarians and omnivores too. Makes me wish I wasn't vegan. Good service; nice clean atmosphere as well.
(5)Michael J.
All hail the onion seed! (Which, by the way is not actually a seed or related to onions... but whatever.) Azeen's is simply the only place for good, let alone great, Afghan in So-Cal. Afghan food has always been my favorite cuisine-- having my taste for Afghan forged by a legendary (now defunct) restaurant in Bethesda, MD-- Kabul West. Not only does Azeen's hold a candle to Kabul West, it's every bit as good and it's simply the only place worth visiting here in So Cal. On that note, a word to the wise, steer clear of Walter's in Claremont-- that's got to be the worst Afghan I've ever had. I highly recommend the Balunee Katchalu, that's my single favorite dish the world has offered me as of yet.
(5)Karen Y.
This place is excellent. I have only had Afghani food once before at another restaurant in Davis (which I liked very much)- but Azeen's is WAY better. Prices are very reasonable for the portions. If you have never tried Afghani food, go with a group of 5-6 people so you can share appetizers, entrees and a couple of sides. My husband loved the beef kabobs. The waitress recommended the quabili pallaw, aushak and mantu- all were excellent, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Service was attentive and very friendly.
(5)T. D.
Great, great, great! Mantu app- great, zesty with the green sauce or alone. Quabilli Pallaw- great, like lamb carrot cake. Combination Kabab- simply great. We had all lamb dishes and each had a distinct process and flavor. Don't forget to order the tea after dinner. Our server was quite pleasant. The wine list was not top drawer but priced reasonably and suited the meal fine. Thanks to Yelpers for steering us to Pasadena for this place. So glad we took the drive over!
(5)Helen Y.
wow, i haven't had afghani food in a long time! i think the last time was some place in fremont, ca. anyways, this place in downtown pasadena serves up some delicious and very authentic afghani cuisine! while the service was poor (none of the tables were cleaned when we walked in and the waitress didn't realize we were missing silverware even after our dishes came), the food quicky made up for it! unfortunately they ran out of the yelp favorite dish (quabili pallaw - tender pieces of lamb under a mound of rice, topped with carrot strips and raisins), the fiance and i sampled some of the kabobs (chicken breast for me and lamb for him) and both were so well seasoned and tender. we also tried the butternut squash dish with yogurt and ground meat as recommended by yelpers and it didn't disappoint. i liked it but the fiance thought there was too much going on -- sweet and savory combos don't work for him. hopefully next time we can try the quabili pallaw and the mantu (steamed dumplings with chopped beef and onions topped with yogurt and mixed vegetables). i guess you can get your afghani cuisine on in lovely pasadena.
(4)Joseph L.
Great food, especially the kabobs. Amazing flavor. Wonderful, warm service. They were out of the first three wines I wanted though! That's not good... but they made it right. I will definitely be back.
(4)Michelle T.
Still loving this place. My favorite dishes: bulanee (leek/onion pancakes), badenjan (eggplant), gulpi (cauliflower).
(4)C K.
So good! The lamb kabobs were perfect. Cooked exactly right. We also got the rice thing with the raisins and carrots and chicken (what's that called again?), and the squash with meat sauce--which sounds terrible but was amazing. Such a mixture of sweet and creamy. And even the stuff you ignore, like the starter salad, had a perfect yogurt dressing.
(5)Rune H.
Definitely a little Afghani gem, Azeen's in Old Town Pasadena is a great place to experience the ambience of casual romance and to have light comfort food. Doors close at 9, but dine into the night.
(4)Tawny A.
I can seriously eat here every day and never get sick. The waitress, (I have had the same one every time) is very friendly and attentive. Lunch is the best time to go because it is never too busy and the kitchen is a bit faster. Try something from every section, it is so cheap that you can afford to seriously feast. Park in the school house parking structure on Raymond ave.......its close enough that you wont get tired walking and far enough that you can work off some of your meal.
(5)Bridget V.
I haven't been to this place in a while and was saddened that the food wasn't as good as the first time I came here =(. The food was good, don't get me wrong, just not spectacular. Not so sure I will be coming back.
(2)John F.
Working in Pasadena I thought I had been to all the local restaurants. Boy, was I mistaken. In an area that is quickly becoming devoid of character, Azeen's is a shining star. I know what you're thinking, "what the hell is Afghani food?" Let me tell you, it's good. Their lamb, chicken, and beef are without question the best around. The place is clean, the service is great, and I've never left hungry. Working in the area, I generally eat there about 2-3 times a week for lunch and never get bored of the flavor. If your sick of the Cheesecake Factory, want something more substanital than Louise's, and like good food with great flavor, give Azeen's a try. It's a little off the beaten path, one block north of Colorado on Union, but well worth it. Go there once and I guarantee you will return. Lunches range from about $9 - $13. A little more than I liike to spend for lunch but the quality makes up for any premium spent.
(5)Camille B.
My first time at azeens was also my first time having afghan food. The experience was outstanding and the food delicious. We went there with no reservations on mothers day and they were able to accommodate us in a private room immediately. Service was very attentive. We were a group of 8, most of us first timers. We ordered a lot of appetizers and main courses to share. Afghan food is a cross of Indian and Persian food. I immediately fell in love with the mantu and the bulanee. The sambosas were great too. All the Pillaws were exquisite, the bedanjen was my fave. I also recommend the sabsi. Yes, you got it the food was wonderful. This is one of Pasadena's best kept secrets.
(4)Mina A.
Great food. Cool experience for fans of both Persian and Indian cuisine. If you're not sure, try the Qabili Polo.
(4)Agnes L.
I love the Butternut Squash dish with the yogurt sauce--it's like comfort food to me. The flavors are just excellent together. Also, do not leave without trying their traditional rice pudding. It's flavored with rose water, and you can feel the spices up your nose. It's a little uncomfortable, but it ups the pleasure--know what I mean? My buddies who eat meat seem to enjoy their kebabs in a mighty way.
(4)David S.
I will be returning, and returning and heck- Call me a regular. Afghan food is a combination of the best of the middle east on one plate. I had a pallaw that was just delicious and seemed very well priced. Go check them out and impress your friends with knowing a little about Afghan food and having good taste.
(4)Lowry P.
Very good compared to other afgan places I've been. The combo kaboob is awaome.
(4)Anush J.
We have never had Afghan food before, and this was a perfect introduction to it. Our server was very friendly and helpful with recommendations. The quabili pallow was great, tender, flavorful meat. The raisins and carrots are unexpected for our palettes, but go really well with the dish. We also an eggplant entree (which was SO yummy) and appetizers (dumpling type). Delicious food with flavors that are not common. This was out of the ordinary for us, and we had zero regrets.
(5)Angela D.
Went here today for lunch and had no idea what to expect. We took the 4 star yelp rating as a good sign and thought we'd give it a try. I really enjoyed the food, it was similar to greek food (my fave) with their use of yogurt as topping and lamb and eggplant dishes. We tried the combo plate that had 3 different appetizers ($9.90). Very tasty. One was a fried potato dish, one was chickpeas and ground beef in a wonton skin fried, and the last was like a ground lamb potsticker with veggies on top. The potstickers were my least favorite, but I don't often choose lamb. The green sauce the waitress gave us is made of vinegar, cilantro and jalapeno. She said it is good on everything and she is right!! The bread was really soft and yummy too. Too bad we live far away, I would be a regular.
(4)Archie L.
This place is nicely situated in the quieter part of Old Town Pasadena. I was expecting a Middle Eastern cuisine, but it's more of a mixture of Indian and neighboring influences of taste. The prices were slightly higher as there's probably no other competition for Afghani food in town. The aesthetics of the food are quite pleasing to the eyes. The portion of my order of Quabili Pallaw was quite hearty. The waitress was definitely quite helpful and knowledgable to our inquisitive nature of ordering our food.
(5)Marilyn R.
Wonderful food! I gave it 3 stars because does not have parking or a bar. They offer a very small wine list and are not good. HOWEVER, this modestly decorated place has fantastic food and they are very nice. I had the lamb dumplings and were delicious and very tender. The butternut squash with yogurt was delicious and a generous portion. Definetively would go back.
(3)Matt F.
I originally gave an average review for this restaurant. I've been back to Azeen's multiple times since then and each meal gets better and better! I highly recommend the Aushak and Mantu dumpling dishes.
(4)Monica T.
Nice and cozy little restaurant in old town Pasadena, near King Taco. ;) We started off with some appetizers called Mantu and Sambosa. Mantus are dumplings filled with beef, onions, herbs and it's topped with yogurt and mixed vegetables. SO YUMMY!!! Now the entrees, my friend got the lamb kabob. The best lamb I have ever tasted!!! The entrees come with Afghani bread, salad and rice. I got this stew with chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes and green peppers; pretty good meal!! My bf got this lamb cooked spinach. Unfortunately, he did not like it since the spinach overwhelmed the dish. Other than that, everyone else enjoyed their meals! Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed!!
(4)Adam H.
my first 5 star. my dining companion and i were crushed when (the totally nonrelated) thaitalian closed in old town, but then we walked to azeen's and everything we got was delicious. i got all vegetarian, including the famous butternut squash. so simple, how could it be so awesome and healthy? but it is. my friend got lamb and it was his favorite lamb he's had at a restaurant. the waitress was like a friend but she stayed out of our hair at the same time. cardamom tea is delicious. rose-flavored dessert you will either like or not like, you know yourself and how you feel about eating roses, just trust your instinct on whether you should order it. so i didn't 5 star this because it was so gourmet or whatever, i 5 starred it because it's unique, delicious, and it just seems to me to be at the top of it's game for this kind of food and for it's just-right service and vibe. the ambience is not 5 star but it's not bad at all. try it.
(5)Ames L.
I had a chicken tomato sauce dish that coincidentally reminded me of a Filipino dish called "afritada"... It was very tasty though my chicken was a little dry. I tried a piece of my friend's lamb kabob and it was much more tender. I would have to say that he best thing was the Afghan tea! It has a pleasant honey flavor. The waitress serving us was really nice. This place would have been perfect but I wish their prices weren't on the high end. It was about $15 for the chicken plate and $3 for the tea. I'm glad to have eaten here because I can at least say I have tried Afghan food!
(4)J W.
Not knowing anything about this region's cuisine, I would say it's pretty good. It's almost like Indian food.
(4)Dominique G.
I've taken different friends here about 10 times and never have we been anything but delighted with the flavors and sampler plates and dressings and sauces. The meat portions, for example the lamb, are not generous, always wishing there were more food. But the sweet flavor to the rice is addicting, as others here have said. The butternut squash could make you cry its so good.
(5)hellokittynme ..
I'd have to agree with the previous three star rating. The food is different and tasty but with all the great reviews I was expecting much more. I also thought that something might have been off that day I was dinning so I gave it one more try today. The outcome was the same result. I had the combination plate of chicken and lamb kabob and an appetizer combination platter. The appetizer was okay the appetizer platter was good. Azeen's is a nice place to eat out once in a long while but nothing special. The food is good but only worth three stars.
(3)Cori W.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time last night and we will definitely be going back. The other reviews say the food here is a cross between Persian/Middle Eastern and Indian; I would have to agree. Everything we ordered was delicious. We shared the combination kebab plate, the challa-bedenjan(sp?), the mantu as an appetizer and the butternut squash side dish. Oh, and rice pudding for dessert. The meat was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Not too salty, tender and juicy. I am normally not a huge fan of lamb, since every time I have eaten it is is a bit rubbery and gamey, but this lamb was so good! And the cuts of meat they give you are good too. The mantu, which come as a appetizer or entree are so yummy. The meat and spices combine deliciously. I could have ordered the dish as an entree and eaten the whole thing by myself. The lamb in the challa bedenjan (sp?) was so tender that it fell apart in among the tomatoes, onions and eggplant. The butternut squash dish was so interesting because they combine both sweet and savory flavors in a way that most American food does not feature. I could eat a whole plate of this too. I also liked that everything was pretty reasonably priced. The entrees we ordered came with salad, rice and bread. I hate when I go to a restaurant and they charge you extra for a side dish of rice. I mean, if I'm eating something saucy, I want some bread or rice to go with it! This is my main complaint about eating at Indian restaurants. The prices may look reasonable, but then you add another $3-$5 for rice or bread per entree, and often the portion of rice you get is small. Not here! It was all included and in generous portions too. They have two kinds of rice, both delicately seasoned. We ended up taking home about half of what we ordered and had plenty of leftovers for lunch today. I also liked that the food was not greasy or oily. My palette was happy when I left, but I didn't feel like I needed a nap afterward either. Lastly, props to the chutney. Spicy, minty, tart.....even my husband liked it and he's not big on hot foods. He was loading it onto his plate. Sadly, for a Friday night this place was not very busy. They need to advertise or something! I hope they are able to survive this recession!!
(5)Tyrone W.
came here for lunch the other day and man! how come i never had afghani food before!!!!! it was delicious with a perfect combination of items! really healthy too! ill be sure to bring my family and friends next time!
(5)andrew m.
all the dishes were really good. the squash, dumplings, kabobs, spinach dishes are terrific. lots of options for vegetarians and the staff was very patient and helpful as one in our party is allergic to mint (nearly everything comes sprinkled with mint or cilantro). the rice was delicate and succulent, so tasty you can't help but shovel it into your mouth. minus one star for the limited wine list. maybe i'll bring my own bottle(s) in subsequent visits. i'm going back for more and will bring friends.
(4)John C.
My first Afghani experience and it was amazing. It reminds me of Indian food. The lamb kabob is very impressive!!
(4)matt h.
Unusual, tasty. Everything was fresh. Our server was accommodating and didn't blink an eye when I asked for dumplings without meat sauce. Overall, I REALLY liked it.
(4)alexis d.
i'd like to give this place 3.5 stars...silly yelp. i've been wanting to try this place for a while. i'm always looking for new interesting food so i was glad that my fiance and i finally made it out to azeen's for dinner last week. my experience there definitely had it's ups and its downs. the atmosphere was ok, nothing to rave about. it was pretty empty, especially considering it was friday night in old town. i think there were only people at 2 other tables when we arrived. the staff was all very friendly and helpful, although for some reason they did make me feel a little uncomfortable...maybe that was just me though. we ordered the mantu as an appetizer, and we each ordered an entree: the sabsi challaw (lamb cooked with spinach, onions and garlic) and the badenjan challaw (lamb cooked with eggplant, onions and tomatoes). the appetizer was yummy, but i thought that the entrees were just ok. i'm surprised by all the reviews that talk about flavor, because that's just what these dishes were missing. we also ordered the kadu as a side dish (sautéed butternut squash, topped with yogurt and meat sauce.). the waitress forgot to include this on our order, so we filled up on everything else first. i really wanted to try this because so many people kept raving about it here, so i asked her about it. i am soooooo glad that i did! wow. this dish is why i want to add that extra half star. absolutely delicious. the combination of the sweet squash with the savory yogurt/meat sauce is making me drool just thinking about it. if you go check this place out, definitely definitley order this!!!!!!!!!!!!! overall, i'm glad we finally made to azeen's and i'll definitely go back again and try out some other entrees.
(3)Mark B.
Wow, is this place overpriced! Had some lamb dish with rice, carrots and raisins piled over some lamb. Had hardly ANY lamb under the pile. It was mostly rice, carrots and raisins. Also, the combination kabob had half the plate covered with rice and the other half with three pieces each of lamb and chicken and some peppers on two wooden skures (sp?). Seriously, this place was WAY overpriced.
(1)Denise A.
The place itself is nice and simple. The food was GREAT. I've had the butternut squash which was delicious! My husband almost always orders the kebobs and it is consistently great every time. The meat is real tender and oh so flavorful. The prices for lunch are a lot more affordable compared to dinner so when we do go, it's only during lunch hours. But hey - got money? knock yourself out. It's definitely money well spent.
(4)Kristen J.
The service was so horrible, there is no question that we will never go back to this restaurant. We were so ignored by the waitress, we had empty water glasses the entire night, as well as reminding more than once about forgotten items and asking about the status of our appetizers 45 minutes later. The food was good but not worth how much they were charging for it. We did have very high hopes for this restaurant before we went because we love Afghani food but we were so very disappointed with everything about our experience.
(1)Yarom L.
great authentic afghan cuisine, great service and owner is very friendly and good host
(4)Alice w.
The food was delicious and if you like middle eastern / greek food, you should try this resturanrt out. The kabobs were good. No reservations needed as the place is not packed. I agree that the service is a little slow and it does take a while for server to notice that you need anything.
(4)david r.
Authentic and delicious; friendly service from a family business. Well worth the drive from 30 miles away.
(4)Ted T.
Great little Afghani restaurant in Old Town Pasadena. I had the Quabili Pallaw and it was quite good, the lamb was done just right. I'd recommend this place to family and friends.
(4)Betty B.
I came to Azeen's with a social group that I'm a part of. Trying restaurants around L.A. is one of the main activities we partake in. Anyway, I didn't really know what to expect. I'd never had Afgani food. But I do love Indian and other middle eastern food. So I thought it must be very similar. Not only was it similar, but it was VERY VERY good. The day I went, I was feeling a bit under the weather, so I went with something safe...a chicken and lamb kabob plate. Oh man...The meat was SO juicy and flavorful. And the rice...oh the rice...was so fragrant with spices and delicous. Just perfect. And the portions were HUGE. They also served flat bread and this great tangy dipping sauce. It was SO good. Other people in our group had this stew type dish (available with chicken and beef...I think), and they all raved about it. I'm getting that the next time I go. The service was also great. They saw us waiting outside as our party arrived, so they let us in earlier than their regular opening time. They also had our table ready. The waitress was really nice and patient with a group of 16. She did mix up one persons order, but remedied right away. I will definitely be back very soon.
(5)buddy A.
Been there first time and surprised how did I miss this food from 2 years. Food is really tasty and worth for price. I asked for some spicy and she said they have tasty dishes not spicy dishes. We had kabobs, quabili pallaw and one delicious appetizer (dont remember name) prepared with eggplant. I am very happy to visit this again and again..
(4)Esther S.
This place lives up to its reputation. The food is really good. Afghani food is to me, a cross between Indian/greek. Whoever he was, either the owner or the manager of the restaurant, was incredibly personable and attentive. Every item we ordered was great from the sambosa pastries to the Aushak and Mantu dumplings. the meat and vegetarian entrees were plentiful and the rice was aromatic. All of thier dishes are flavorful and delicious. Be sure to find good street parking. the meter feed is until 8, not 6!
(5)Kris P.
REALLY GREAT, REALLY CHEAP. Where can you go to spend not more than 10 bucks and eat the chicken and rice and go ... WOW right here. I'm surprised that it was really empty when I went. I guess other places on Colorado are more "glamorous".. kinda shows you the level of competition out here as far as food places. The food is just fantastic, and the price can't be beat. I wouldn't call it gourmet with exuisite presentation of the 4 seasons or 5 star hotels (sometimes these fancy places don't take care of their food like this diamond in the rough does), but I would call it quality food, that's well cooked, and seasoned just right. The meats are juicy and tasty with enough sauce and seasoned very nicely, and the rice is just fluffy moist and seasoned just nicely as well... It sort of melts in your mouth. If you want a nice afghani place or just some place with mildy seasoned chicken and rice with some cool varioations and not spend so much. Come here! Just stay away from colorado blvd for some decent parking. Again, very surprised it was kinda empty when I went. Oh well, my gain. But then again, people come here to keep them in business, I love them you will too!
(4)Paulie B.
First off, thanks to all my fellow yelpers our there--last friday night I was in search of succulent, delicious lamb and after performing a little research on Yelp agreed with my fellow bears to head out to the sticks (sorry in advance to those of you who live in Pasadena but it's far from west L.A., especially on a friday night) after reading some of these fine reviews for Azeen's. I simply concur that the lamb is fantastic; it's moist and well-marinated/salted. We loved it, and we also enjoyed the rice (cumin seasoned?). We shared the spinach and lamb dish as well, which was fine, a wee-bit bitter for my taste, but I'm sure some people will enjoy that flavoring. We also ordered a potato and tomato based stew which was quite good, but I must note that we tried the chicken; it was on the dry side and not nearly as enjoyable as the lamb. Service was fine, prices are skewered (lamb humor) toward the high-end, ample parking is available in a garage kitty corner to Azeen's on Union, and the atmosphere is comfortable. Be sure you come here hungry and with a taste for LAMB.
(4)Tita P.
Seasoned rice is to die for! Appetizers are so delicious, especially Mantu. Male server is not as riendly as the female one.
(5)Katie A.
amazing. the butternut squash and lamb are the best!
(4)stephanie x.
Love this place. Every time I go I think it gets better! I generally get an appetizer and a side instead of a kabob of sorts since I dont eat much meat. Delicious! A nice family runs this place. My favorite Pasadena restaurant.
(5)Maris T.
hella gud~
(5)Steve C.
Excellent food and service! My first time at Afghani's, I went there based on Yelp reviews and was very satisfied. I had the dumplings and sauce (nice and spicy); the brown rice with raisins, carrots and lamb (moist, hot and tasty), and the cookies. Even the salad was fresh and tasty. I think there was a nice hint of mint in the dressing.
(4)Angela C.
I went there for lunch during weekday. It was not crowded at all. The food was delicious. The service was slow, only one waitress with one manager type of person there. Parking is not great in old town Pasadena as always.
(4)angie c.
The aushak (dumpling with yogert and meat sauce over it) is good; kinda of like a raviolli. The badenjaj challaw (lamb) was really tender that it flaked off your fork. very nice. The butternut squash for the entree was awesome too. It was topped with yogert sauce. Loved it!
(5)