My dining companion got and liked the Chicken Seekh Kabab (though he attempted to order the Value Meal and ended up with the entree). I think the main difference is the the value meal comes with only one skewer of chicken. It is important to be aware that this kind of kabab is not a solid piece of grilled chicken meat but a marinated ground chicken that is compressed into shape and then cooked. It was pretty good, but I don't think I could eat a lot of it. The rice was also good, but a little greasy and the salad looked basic. All in all, it was a lot of food for $10. I got the "Pumpkin" special and it was just that - sauteed pumpkin with nothing else. It was good, but if I hadn't shared some of my companion's rice, I think it wouldn't really have been satisfactory as a lunch. The bread was notable - I haven't had anything quite like it. In appearance it is a bit like focaccia - with perforations in the top every inch or two - but it was not oily or salty like focaccia. It was fairly dry and some of it was topped simply with sesame seeds. I think it would go well with dip. It was a bit plain on it's own. You order your food and pay ahead of time, then it is brought out to you on a tray. The dining room very much resembles an outdated work cafeteria. It's possible that another trip to Cafe Kabul will convince me they deserve another star, but I know it won't be for the ambiance or the welcoming feeling (the first time I tried to eat there, they turned us away).
Afghan food is surprisingly awesome. Cafe Kabul soars when it comes to this cuisine. It is highly recommended.
(5)
Danielle F.
Very good food. My favorite dishes are the eggplant appetizer (roasted eggplant with yogurt and tomato sauces) and Kabuli Pallow (shredded lamb, carrots, raisons over rice). They are amazing. The flavors all blend together perfectly. They serve complementary bread which is delicious. They also offer complimentary tea. :) I've tried the kebabs, and I didn't find them as impressive as the kebabs at Jeddo. Everything else, however, is exceptional.
(4)
Tlm P.
Finally went last night, the hummus was wonderfully seasoned and tasty. I ordered the lamb shank special, which had a great, marinated, and slow cooked flavor. The entree came with a side salad, and my favorite part of the dish, long-grain rice lightly seasoned with julienned carrots and raisins. I in general don't like raisins in savory food, but the rice at Cafe Kabul with carrots and raisins is spectacular!
(4)
Katherine W.
This place is a gem!!! The food is Afghan and any preconceived notions should go tight out the window. I had the most tender lamb and flavorful rice I had been served in ages. Try the side of spinach. Once you try this place you will thank me.
(4)
Zack Z.
We went to this restaurant just by seeing the inviting look of this restaurant and this restaurant was surely one of our best discoveries! We tried meat gyros which was served with fries and a drink for just 5$, everything here is reasonably priced and delicious...will definitely visit again and recommend everyone to try it!
(5)
T P.
Best tasting Afghan food. Qabuli palao is delicious!
(5)
Perry L.
i had past this restaurant every day on my way to work wondering how the food is. so one day i walked inside and was greeted by a very friendly member of their staff. he helped me pick something off of the menu since alot of the food seemed unfamiliar to me. the gentlemen brought my food to the table and as soon as i took my first bite it was uphill from there. the chicken dish that i had, had wonderful earthy flavors and was very juicy and succulent. The rice tht came with the dish had very subtle delicious flavors. GO TO THIS RESTAURANT!!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT ^_^
(5)
Pink B.
Great new restaurant in the University Shopping Ctr. in the old Dairy Queen location. Definitely new but a family run business that is showing signs of a great start! I think they've been open for a few weeks but my fiance and I had our first visit today. Neither of us had ever had Afghan cuisine before and we were both surprised to learn it has more similarities to Mediterranean food rather than Middle Eastern food. Either way, the portions were large, the food was good, everything was clean (including the bathrooms-I always think you can tell a lot about a restaurant's cleanliness this way) and the entire staff was very personable. The average entree plate looked around $8-$9-we were so full we had to get a to-go container!
(4)
AJ O.
Amazing. Easy to understand menus, friendly service, low prices, and most importantly, some of the best food I've ever had. Everything I ordered was new to me but everything was delicious.
(5)
Julia C.
If you've never tried Afghan food, you should give Cafe Kabul a try. The menu is limited, but features some classic Afghani dishes. Buranee bonjon, a dish featuring slices of eggplant topped with homemade yogurt and tomato sauces, was so good I could barely stand to share it with my partner. The kabuli pallow is chunks of lamb, spiced sauteed carrot strips and raisins all on top of Afghan rice. This traditional Afghan dish is so tasty, we were tempted to order a second serving. The ambiance leaves a little to be desired, however the staff is friendly and clearly wants to please every customer. I can't wait to see this restaurant take off!
(4)
Sujan M.
This is another hidden gem in another nondescript strip mall in Columbus. The food is great and the prices are very affordable. Though they have a small menu, most items I have tried are top-notch. From the 'dinners', the beef kabobs, the chicken tandoori, and the Kabuli Pallow are stand-out. These are quite different from the (similar named) Indian dishes and you have to try it. The side items are excellent too and make a great vegetarian meal - esp. the buranee banjon (eggplant) and the sabsi (with spinach). And don't you dare leave without trying their fresh baked Afgani bread (similar to the Indian naan). I can see that folks might have been turned away with the service and the hours, but I have never had an issue. I have eaten here a few times and the service has been excellent. Its not a full service place and at times there is some delay, but they cook most items to order with exceptions to sides etc.
(4)
Candace L.
LOVED this place! Ordered the gyro dish and it was so great. My friend ordered the lamb and the meat was very tender and flavorful. The employees were wonderful and very helpful. I'd recommend this place to any lovers of Mid-Eastern/Mediterranean food.
(4)
Lil S.
The place was clean and the price was great. I had Kabuli pallow and it was really good. I couldn't believe that I had such a great food with that price.
(5)
Tamara M.
We met a friend at Cafe Kabul for a mini-reunion while we were in town. Kabul is very casual, more of a take-out place than somewhere you'd like to take a date. That being said, we sat outside with a lovely view of the parking lot for probably three hours and the staff didn't make us feel like we'd overstayed our welcome. They were very helpful when ordering, and even though food is made to order, we didn't feel it took too long to come out. The food itself was good. It wasn't the best I've ever had, nor was there anything particular wrong. The lamb was tender and well seasoned. There could have been a bit more of it on the plate for $15.99. The eggplant dish was a bit oily and heavy, but very tasty. The yoghurt was good. The bread was pretty standard. All in all we had a good meal and a good visit. Cafe Kabul is a much better choice than the standard fast food and sit-down chains in the area. Worth a try.
(3)
KittyEats F.
Delicious food! We asked for a meat platter full yummy and perfectly cooked meat. I've been to many Afghani restaurants, and this has to be one of the most authentic. Don't underestimate the veggie pakoras - they are worth the arteries hardening! Tea is also very good. Great place to get your halal feast on!
(5)
Kurt S.
Decent portion of food. The food is ok but I wouldn't say it is very flavorful. The Naan is pretty good, warm and soft. However this place is way too expensive for what it is. I got the lunch portion of kabuli pallow, naan and a drink and it was $15.
(2)
Mark K.
Finally went here yesterday; it's a bit out of my way. As others have said, it's very small and plain, but the food is great. I wasn't sure what to expect from Afghan food, but if you've had Greek or Middle Eastern dishes you have some idea what things are like here. The spices are a little different, and a few dishes were new to me, but overall it was fairly familiar. I got the peshawari chapeel kabobs, which are ground lamb (not beef, I think) with a bit of spice. Served with perfect rice and a fairly typical salad. My friend got Lamb Pallow, as described by others: very tender lamb chunks with carrots and raisins. I'm not typically a fan of carrots or raisins in main dishes, but it worked well. We got veggie fritters and sauteed okra as appetizers. Both were very good. The fritters are clearly made to order, as is everything we tried. The okra seemed more stewed than sauteed, but who cares- it was really good. The place is clean, the service is good and friendly. They are eager to talk about their food and their country, and I will be back next time I'm over this way.
(4)
Thomas B.
Cheap! Good falafel fast. I was in Columbus on biz and wanted lunch. Yelp pointed me here.
(4)
John G.
Okay, this place rocks. I have lived on both coasts and downed grub at some of the best restaurants across the country which, by the way, are seldom determined by pretense or price. The food here is fresh and real. I have had most of the appetizers and entrees and have literally never been disappointed. I'm not a big bread eater but their bread is the best Middle Eastern bread I have ever had. It's thin, crispy and divine. Much better than any typical pita bread that I find disgusting. Do yourself a favor and eat here. It's order at the counter so what you pay for the food is what you pay. No twenty dollar tips. It's generally cheap and better than any other comparably priced gig in Columbus. Not that Lavash, Olive Tree and a few others aren't equally worthy in their own right. They certainly are. But this is just different enough, being Afghani, that it's worth a visit or ten. I had the lamb shank last night along with Sabsi and Bonjon. Dah bomb!
(5)
Sam B.
I ordered the chicken kebab dinner with sides of hummus and okra. I have had better. The chicken was okay, but the rice was dry and flavorless. The hummus was below average. The okra was good. The atmosphere is very college student oriented. Hand written signs on scrap paper saying what the specials of the day were. Sometimes you try a place and you finish you meal thinking, "Okay, well I gave it a shot, but there are better places around town that would get my business before I ever came back here." This was one of those times.
(2)
Bill T.
Food is ok. Seasoning could've been bolder. The decor is unattractive, kind of like visiting a cheap Chinese takeout place. It's counter service. They need to improve the ambiance substantially to justify the entree prices, which are priced to suit a nice restaurant with sit down service.
(3)
Kwer R.
I went there at 1:40 pm ,, and asked for their signature dish which is kabuli pallow. The first shock when I ordered from the board in front of me it was for ($10.99) but when he charged me he asked for ($13.99 + tax) , why?? he excused that it's lunch portion.. isn't 1:40 pm ?? Rep off clearly! I didn't mind since they will serve me bigger portion than usual which already I know it wouldn't change, I just wanted to see what is the different. My food arrived and it was the normal portion which any costumer will pay for (10.99).. I started to eat and found the lamb very tough, seriously tough and has a very bad smell which I couldn't and wont eat. I ate the tender meat which was just one piece and ate my rice. I thought it's better to inform the people who own this place, so the man who passed, I stopped him and I nicely told him the meat is very tough and has smell ( of course a fresh and good meat wont have bad smell). and I told him its very tough. He said I cooked it this way always. always? Do you always serve people bad meat? is it safe? is it really lamb or old beef? am I the only one who noticed this issue? I was very normal asking him I just want to see his reaction. I hope this isn't something that every body pass by, because I don't wish someone get sick of this food, because first symptom of old meat is bad smell, then texture..etc I saw few yelper have the same issue. the most shocking thing is he didn't apologize or to give a reason , which it would make feel to come back again. But NOT any more. If you feel you face the same thing just click USEFUL so the owner might see this, and fix this issue. I wont recommend it to any of my friends or who agree with my comment.
(1)
Tiffany M.
I am a fan. Good middle eastern type food, it's not my number one by any means, but their food always tastes very fresh and juicy. If you need a quick bite but don't want you fried food options, this might be the way to go.
(4)
Riri A.
This place is not a place I would recommend anyone because of their food quality ZERO and their prices are not as the same which is in their menu without any notice. depend on how they like you. their meats had bad smell. I hate to put one star but you earned it. Save your money, there are many other and better restaurants that serve similar food with better quality!
Finally made it to this restaurant. The menu offers a gyro combo along with lots of kabobs. They had menus for "Gyro & Kabab House" so they may be trying to rebrand the restaurant or bring in a higher volume of customers. The restaurant offers you the choice of plastic ware and silverware for your meal. Except for takeout, everything comes out on real plates. You can get fountain drinks or cans and bottles. I had the lamb with rice. It came with a small side salad which was perfectly dressed. All kabob dishes seem to come with two sauces - one is tomato-based and the other one is dairy-based. I'm a fan of the tomato sauce. The lamb took a little bit longer to cook so I was served last. It was a little tough. My mom had the gyro salad which I tasted and was fine. The star of our meal was the tandoori chicken. It's three full chicken legs served with the small side salad, basmati rice and the two sauces. The chicken wasn't dry and had nice flavor with a bit of char on it.
Finally!! I've been wanting to try this place for years. I mentioned that I had a coupon for here, and my friend encouraged it: "Oh yeah! I love Cafe Kabul!" Thus lunch had been decided, and we headed on over. We got here around 2 pm, thus thee was no wait. After looking over the menu and pics to accompany, my friend and I decided on the Spinach Sabzi as an appetizer, and I chose the Kabuli Pallow (lamb). We did not have to wait more than 10 minutes for our plates to come out. The Sabzi was fantastic! The spinach and pita bread were warm. The onion flavor was great. I know it had other spices in the fish, but I'm not expert enough to pick them out. The Pallow was extremely delicious!!! The butter taste of the rice. The slightly sweet burst from the carrots and cooked raisins. The tender chunks of the lamb, seasoned to perfection! Yum, indeed :) The dish comes with a side salad. The dressing on the salad was incredibly tasty, too. It had a sweet, slightly tang flavor. Not over "tarty". I'm officially in love. Er.... My tummy is ;p
(5)
Leo Y.
I had the kabul pallow, and it was some of the most tender lamb that I had ever tasted. The flavors worked perfectly with the carrots and raisins, accompanied by perfectly cooked long-grain rice. While not necessarily a life changing experience, it's a solid meal, for a very reasonable price. They seem to have quite the range of prices, with basic sandwiches and wraps under $10, and my pallow costing $16. They had a chicken pallow for $11.
(4)
Rami M.
Yummy! This is the first and only Afghani place I've been to, and it's delicious! They have very good meats- juicy, fresh, tender, and full of flavor. The restaurant itself isn't fancy, but it doesn't need to be. All of the portions are generous- they don't skimp. We had the Kabuli Pallow (my favorite dish on the menu), which is super tender seasoned lamb topped with raisins (raisins!) and cooked carrot strips. The sweetness of the raisins complemented the special seasoning brilliantly, and added to the flavor profile of the dish. We also had the chicken and beef Seekh Kabob- both were amazing, but I prefer the beef. The Tikka Kabob also did not disappoint. All of these dishes came with a generous serving of aromatic Afghan style rice. A great surprise I didn't expect was the delicious hummus. It was the perfect consistency, and had a unique smoky taste (like cumin or smoked paprika). It comes with warm bread that is the perfect dipping utensil. I'm looking forward to trying more of their sides next time!
(5)
Mr A.
4 stars goes out to their tandoori chicken. 1. too much rice and so little meat for the price 2. Baklava is little pricy and it either comes in a big ass container or a cup lol. (Get small containers and lower your expenses) This place is good . And its getting better
Boyfriend: Want some ethnic food? Jessica: Duh. [Drives to Cafe' Kabul] Boyfriend (to owner): what is good? Owner: Everything I affirm the aforementioned conversations are true and based on real life. This little joint is kicking it, with delicious native dishes from the motherland, Afghanistan. We both indulged in meat specialties (plea to US restaurants: embrace more lamb, please. Love, Jessica). If you love yourself some tender, seasoned lamb pieces, shimmy to the Kabuli Pallow, served with the sweetest carrot strips (ever), Afghan rice, and... shredded iceberg lettuce with Italian dressing? I'll pretend the salad never happened, but the lamb was in fact the best discovery I've made this week. But Jessica, you say, I real don't like tender seasoned lamb. What gives? To you, naysayer, I give you Peshawari Chaplee Kabob-2 round pieces of lean, spicy ground beef patties marinated in fresh grated spices. This may make you reconsider your affirmation that the hamburger is the greatest American food there will ever be. Trust me, polliwog. The cafe is small, but not busy when we went (albeit, it was 2 degrees out). Nonetheless, if you're caught in a limbo between restaurant-eating and fast food, and eating healthier and globally is on your mind, this is where you should head. I just wish the cafe was a bit tidier... not dirty or anything, just a tad cluttered and haphazardly decorated.
(4)
Emily C.
Food was great and reasonably priced. I stopped in for lunch and got the Seekh chicken kabob wrap for $6.99. It was moderately spicy and was a decent portion size. I will be back to try other lunch specials. The decor and atmosphere are both areas of opportunity for this restaurant. It's an ethnic restaurant, I was hoping for more culture in the decor.
(4)
PinkJmmmm M.
It's a very casual cafe located near OSU. I grew up with lamb and rice pilaf, so I was so excited to check it out. I got the slow cooked lamb lunch portion. The lamb was flavorful and tasty. All the dish come with rice on the side. I think lunch portion is enough for me, but not much lamb actually. My friend got daily special lamb shanks and it was great. If u really want to indulge yourself with lamb, get the lamb shank. The dinning environment is so so , only good for quick dinner or take out. The price is good too, you do not have to spend much to get well cooked lamb. I will definitely come back!
(4)
Andrew B.
Great gyro, lots of meat and sauce. The fries were also good.
(4)
Puja D.
We went to this place because we had a restaurant.com coupon. It was pretty darn good. We got the kabuli polau, chicken kebabs, beef kebabs, and tandoori chicken. Keep in mind that I'm Indian - so my taste buds are spoiled by my momma's home cookin', so I wasn't AS impressed by this place as some of the other reviewers seem to have been. The polau was good - but the rice was a bit bland, the lamb a slight bit too tough, and the carrots a little overcooked. All in all, it was still tasty and a decent portion for $13. The tandoori chicken was awesome - the best I've had from any restaurant in Columbus AND from an Afghani place... shame! ;) The kebabs were good, long and moist and with a great spice. We asked for the food extra spicy because that's how we roll, but you can get it mild if you have an unadventurous tummy! You get an entirely forgettable salad with Italian dressing with each entree, but it's a waste of space on the plate. Don't waste your calories. I'd definitely go back. I'd love to try their gyros... mmm.... gyros...
(4)
Matt W.
After the meetup at Cafe Kabul, I went back again to see if I was right about my experience. I'm happy to say that I was! As others have mentioned, there really isn't much dining space here - it's a converted Dairy Queen, and the original DQ wasn't what you'd call big. A lot of the afghan dishes are presented without much explanation - you'll want to ask questions when you order if you're not familiar with Afghan cuisine. (I certainly wasn't!) If you order appetizers or a dinner portion, you'll be served a basket of their Afghan Bread - think pita bread shape / size, but with a foccacia texture. It was quite good with the hummus, or to scoop up servings of the Buranee Bonjon - a "side dish" / appetizer of sliced roasted eggplant, a thick tomato sauce, and some tangy yogurt. (As to the hummus, it's good and decently spiced, but I disagree that they're the best in town. I think Pita Hut over on High St. still wins that battle.) The bread basket is $3 if you'd like to try it without ordering a meal or for an extra portion to go, but if you eat in, refills are free. All of the dinners and main courses come with saffron rice and a mild tomato sauce, lighter and a bit thinner than the sauce from the bonjon, which is supposed to be poured over the rice. If you're not looking to carb up, you can easily eat half (or even less) of the rice portion and still feel satisfied. The main dinner offerings split into two camps: The "pallow" style dishes (lamb is standard on the menu as "kabuli pallow", but both times I went in they had a chicken version as the special) or kebabs. The pallow style mixes your meat with raisins, some gently sweet spices, and strips of sauteed carrot that are just this side of being caramelized. The kebabs, on the other hand, are pretty much presented with the meat as is alongside of your rice, and with a yogurt dipping sauce for the meat. The kebabs aren't bad, per se, but I found them fairly plain compared to the more complex flavors in the pallow. I also tried their sauteed okra side on my second trip - the okra was fresh and well seasoned, without the sliminess that can sometimes occur when preparing them. A nice option to round out your meal. I think I agree that it's not "drive across town" good, but it's certainly "I'm around the area and want something different for dinner" good. It would also help if they had a bit more variety in the menu, but hopefully that'll come with time.
(3)
Matt R.
Fun going with my fellow Yelpers to try a new restaurant. Holler! The good: - Melanie B's lamb! Holy cats! Really good. - Matt W's eggplant (yes eggplant) appetizer. The yogurt on top was wicked awesome. The awes: - The people working there. Really nice and attentive. The eh: - My chicken. It was very inconsistent. Some pieces were moist, but most were pretty darn dry. If I only had the chicken to judge this place off of, I probably would have given it three stars. Moral of the story: I don't know how to order at Afghan restaurants. If you ever see me here, please, for your sake, don't ask me what to get. Melanie and Matt know where it's at.
(4)
Melanie M.
Stopped in about a month ago, but of course was too busy to get the review in!!! Grabbed a few things to go and had a FEAST at our house. I guess I'm going to have to go back, because I cannot remember what we got... Wow. That's embarassing. (To be continued...)
(4)
Luke T.
I went to visit a taco truck that used to park near the Fairfield Inn on Olentangy River Rd, near the University City Center, for dinner today. Much to my dismay, the truck is no longer there. The manager of the carryout where the truck parked said the owner of the truck was deported. I won't vouch for the accuracy of that statement, but the guy is there all the time, so who knows? So I turned around disappointed and headed back to the University City Center to inform a nice hair stylist that the taco truck we'd just been discussing no longer exists. I contemplated other dinner options as I was leaving and just as I was about to turn onto Ackerman I noticed a little shop called Cafe Kabul. I'd never seen it before and it said "Authentic Afghan Cuisine" on the storefront so I thought it would make an excellent change of pace. I locked my bike up and went inside. First impression: Clean. The place was spotless. Being so new, I suppose that's expected, but they could have just reused a lot of the existing framework when opening. They opted to remodel. Everything was new. It was a nice touch. Second impression: Tiny menu, not at all vegetarian friendly. There were two menu items that looked like they could constitute a meal that weren't meat dishes, and they were both appetizers. One was the Buranee Bonjon, an eggplant dish served with yogurt and tomato. Another was a spinach dish. I ordered the Buranee Bonjon, as evidenced by my ability to remember its name. I also ordered a baklava for dessert and a Vitamin Water to drink. The eggplant also came with a side of Afghan bread, which was sort of like pan, a flatbread of some kind. Now, I can't say this for sure, but the yogurt on that eggplant sure looked like ranch dressing. Sorta tasted like ranch too. I can only think what Al Qaeda would say if ranch were getting used in a traditional Afghan dish. A jihad on ranch dressing! I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. The dish did taste unique, whatever it's ingredients. Somewhat savory and slightly sour. The baklava was delicious. I wonder if it's made on sight or if they have it brought in from outside. There were four pieces of bread. Two were somewhat hard and tough, while the other two were warm and soft. None of it was bad, but I wish they had all been as warm as the final two. Overall, it was an okay experience. The cashier/owner? was very friendly and I certainly do wish Cafe Kabul the best of luck. But with a serious lack of vegetarian options and a just okay first experience, I probably won't be back for a while. I will check back though, months down the line to see how they're fairing and if that menu has gotten any bigger.
(2)
Robert V.
My first trip to an Afghani restaurant. I was surprised by the mild-sweet flavors (i expected it to be overly-spicy). The portions are large during the lunch hour. The store is the old Dairy Queen spot on the corner of the strip so the dining area is not overly large but it handled the lunch-time traffic OK. Was very clean. Employees were friendly. I recommend the Chicken Kabuli if you like mild, lightly sweet dishes. Served in plenty of time to enjoy the dish and get back to the office on time. Its a nice change from burgers n fries or salads for lunch. The thing i would suggest to improve this place is shades on the windows. When the sun is out, you practically need sunglasses while eating.
(3)
KC M.
I had the pleasure of dining at this local restaurant last night, and I have to say, I'm a big fan! I have been meaning to go for some time, and I'm glad that we went! My college aged kids and I enjoyed the Kaubli Pallow, which is sort of like pot roasted lamb over rice, topped with braised sweet carrot strips and raisins, Tikka Kabob, which is grilled cubes of lamb served with rice, a hummus plate, vegetable pakora and a gyro. The food was hot, fresh and delicious - my daugher commented that her lamb was like 'lamb flavored butter'. The hummus was absolutely made inhouse, and was WAY flavorful, a bit grainy, the way I like it, and topped with a fruity olive oil and some kind of spice - my daughter says it was sumac, but I don't know. The only thing I wouldn't order again were the vegetable pakoras (which were served with a slightly spicy herbal dipping sauce) - they were OK, but not to my taste. The service was very pleasant, and the gentleman who was running the house was very good at managing things - he delivered our food right to our table, fresh from the kitchen, which I thought was a very nice touch. I hear there's a lunch buffet, and you can be sure that I'll be coming back for that!
(4)
Jessica T.
I visited Cafe Kabul yesterday to try Afghan food for the first time. The place is tucked into an old Dairy Queen store near OSU. The inside is painted a cheery yellow color and has a couple of traditional rugs and costumes hanging on the walls. There's also a picture of a Buckeye football player, which seems to be requisite for every campus-area restaurant. I had a dish called Kabuli Pallow, which is ridiculously tender and gently spiced lamb over rice with cooked carrots and raisins. It was delicious, if a bit light on the lamb. I also had some of the Afghan bread, which is crispy and flat with sesame seeds on top. I found it a bit on the bland side, but it would be the perfect vehicle for some hummus or other dip, which I'll try next time. And there will be a next time, because I think I'm already hooked on the Kabuli Pallow!
(4)
Doug S.
Really liked the hummus.. very nicely done
(5)
Maharaja of Gaipajama G.
Cafe Kabul, could it be that your love was meant for me? Maybe so, maybe no. Cafe Kabul serves a limited yet carefully chosen selection of Afghan cuisine. Some of their food resembles Indian food, or vice versa - I'm not sure. The man behind the counter speaks great English, perfect for anyone who enjoys hearing the guides at COSI drone on about the scientific concept you already know about, because you're passionate about science, no, wait - I mean, I'm sorry, wrong audience, the guy is perfect for explaining everything you ever wanted to know about ethnic cuisine in the Afghan region without expecting that you know something first. For some, that is an added star, but for me, I was just glad to be able to quickly communicate my desire for a gyro and a "yogurt drink." For good measure, I had to ask him if "yogurt drink" is what they call it in Afghanistan. No, thank god. Don't remember what he said, but wasn't "yogurt drink." I know what my parents call it - sharbuth. The ambience? There was an oddly secluded booth too intimate for me and my buddy, so I traipsed over instead to the well-lit central locus of the restaurant. From there, I could overhear the conversation taking place between two apparent cosmopolites who'd just entered the restaurant: "What's the best thing here?" the wife asked. "Most people like the pallow," the cashier said. "No, the best thing is that we're alive today!" blurted the husband. Indeed. It's always great to be alive, eating a spicy gyro from Cafe Kabul. Even if it does take a while to arrive.
(4)
Melanie B.
I really enjoyed my experience this week - I went with a big group of people (*wink*) to figure out what Afghani food is and to try out this new little hole in the wall (hole in the strip mall?)... aaaand I decided to review Cafe Kabul because I've recommended it to people at least five times in the last week. Every time, people didn't know what Afghani food was, so I can tell you now... but really you should just stop in here and find out, because it's well worth it. I wasn't quite sure what to order, but things seemed vaguely familiar since the dishes seemed close to Mediterranean food, and perhaps slightly similar to the spices in Indian food. And indeed, the Internetz (the world's most reliable source of course) tells me that coriander and lamb are used in many Afghani dishes, so the Indian connection makes sense; pine nuts and other nuts, as well as grapes (which apparently are something Afghanistan is known for) help connect to the Mediterranean. Oh, cultural history, how I love thee - anyhow, I hope that gives you an idea of what to expect. There are also many eggplant, yogurt dishes, naan AND lavash as well, all of which are found in both neighboring regions. So basically Afghani food is a glorious melting pot of some of the most amazing foods in the world. Fantastic! So, I ordered a dish which, for the life of me I cannot remember the name of, nor can I successfully research it on the interwebz - and so I apologise for that fail. It was DELICIOUS, however, so I will update next time I am at Cafe Kabul. Basically, it was the most tender, fall-apart lamb pieces I have ever eaten, with warm shredded carrots, soft cooked raisins, and gentle, sweet spices over a bed of saffron infused rice, with a side of salad. Two of my fellow diners also got this dish, and the other two who tried it were envious that they hadn't chosen it. Seriously - the lamb kebob and chicken kebob that I tried were also fantastic, but this gentle and soft dish just spelled *love*. Service here is very friendly - the man who helped us explained what some of the dishes were, answered our questions, gave us more naan/pita for free to go with the eggplant/yogurt and the hummus apps (delicious, esp. the eggplant) ordered for the table... really, very impressive. The decor is very understated, and I think it should stay that way. Not only this, but when we got there, the cafe was empty, but it soon filled almost to capacity - a great sign! Oh gosh, I wanna go back just thinking about it. An overall great experience (and great dining companions!). If you like Mediterranean or Indian food, I encourage you to take your tastebuds on a cultural exploration and find out about the cuisine from the countries in between the Peloponnesus and India. Effing-aye right, Afghani food from Cafe Kabul! PS: I realise that the Middle East stands between the Mediterranean and Central Asia (where Afghanistan is located) but I have less experience describing Middle Eastern food, so I chose to use the Mediterranean as a comparative region since the flavors and ingredients appear to be similar. I'd be interested in hearing more about Middle Eastern food, as I've only tried it a handful of times.
(4)
Jessica K.
We were very excited about this place and eager to support them. There isn't much variety in our Middle Eastern cuisine in Columbus... lots of just "Middle Eastern", not a lot of Persian v. Afghani v. Lebanese. As a table, we got a pretty wide spread of their offerings. We tried all of their vegetarian dishes and the meat eaters had some of that, too, and seemed to enjoy it, but I don't have a personal opinion. The atmosphere is very strip-mall-ethnic restaurant-ish, which I personally enjoy. There's a traditional outfit on the wall, a map of Afghanistan, and that's about it. Ultimately, this is a winning ethnic restaurant in my (highly experienced, might I say) opinion. We've been to most ethnic restaurants in Columbus and are striving to hit them all, and there's more to a review than just the food. Is the food authentic? Can you get things there that you can't get at another restaurant of the same region? Does it feel more like their catering to an American pallet or are they using their family recipes and personal favorites? For Cafe Kabul, the food was certainly unique from other Middle Eastern joints. We tasted spices and flavor combos we've never had before. They had country specific bread, entrees, a drink and a dessert. A+++ Then, is the staff helpful? Sometimes the languages are in a different language, make little sense, or are just generally foreign. Suggestions on popular dishes, what they like, what you HAVE to have are appreciated. The guy working here answered questions but didn't offer explanations unless probed. I explain that because honestly, I wouldn't go back to Cafe Kabul for the food. The hummus was more bland than I prefer, I don't like cooked spinach, the eggplant was delicious but so heavy I couldn't eat enough to be full. it was all okay. But it was a positive experience overall and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
(4)
Amanda S.
This was my first foray into Afghan food, and I was really impressed. My sister and I went this week and, upon recommendations from someone on Twitter, we started out with the buranee bonjon. It's sauteed eggplant that is served with yogurt and tomato sauce, and you eat it with Afghan bread (kind of like pita with sesame seeds on it.) It was totally wonderful, and I could have probably just eaten that and been happy! We then shared two entrees. The chicken seekh kabob was basically minced chicken formed into long rectangular shapes. While not much to look at, the flavor was wonderful - full of great spices that reminded me of Mexican food of all things (I think there must be many shared spices.) It was served with a basic salad and this wonderful plain, but flavorful, Afghan rice. This probably was my favorite of the two entrees. The other entree was the kabuli pallow. It's slow cooked lamb served with carrots and raisin, which sounds like a strange combination but was actually quite good. The lamb was incredibly tender and was really wonderful. We took home leftovers of this dish because it was so rich. Again, served with salad and rice. We also had the baklava fingers for desert. Not quite as sticky sweet as normal baklava, I really liked these! I had the "yogurt drink" to drink, which I probably won't have again. I'm not much for very sour yogurt, and it is just what the name says: liquefied yogurt, served over ice, with a bit of mint with it. I think you have to be a tart liquids fan to enjoy it. The restaurant itself is pretty non-assuming, with just some Afghan relics and OSU stuff on the walls, and has kind of a fast food atmosphere to it (though it's a cook to order restaurant.) But, decor isn't everything, and I found it quaint. The owner (I think is who he was) was incredibly nice and you could tell how much he enjoyed running the restaurant and welcoming newbies to his country's cuisine. I really like it there, and can't wait to go back!
(5)
barb s.
Being a very adventurous eater, and being fascinated by Afghan people and culture, I decided to venture out to Cafe Kabul. We walked into a different world. It was like being transported to Europe with it's melange of people, different accents (including Russian) and smells (middle eastern men always seem to smell good). A refreshing change for me as I was growing tired of looking at white people :D My trusty sidekick and I ordered Peshwari Chaplee Kabobs: 3 pieces of ground beef marinated in freshly grated seasonings along with rice, gently suffused with spice, and a salad. We also got the Afghan bread which was quite a bit thicker than naan and very tasty. There was a raita-like yogurt sauce for the beef patties to take away some of the heat and nicely compliment the taste. A tomato-y mint sauce that I dipped my bread in and poured over my rice. Yum. I had sprite to drink. There is a lassi-like drink that I want to try next time comprised of yogurt water salt and mint. I love Kheer. I have had the Indian version and was curious to see how the Afghan version was. It was delish! Made with semolina I believe, and cardamom of course. It was a very generous portion. When we tried to pay for it the gentleman who served us said no, a very nice gesture. In America, the land of more, more, more, more isn't necessarily better. The menu isn't extensive and that's ok. Do a few items but do them well seems to be the way they do business. I want to try the Kabuli Pallow and the Buranee Bonjon the next time. And more Kheer of course. I was really happy to have tried this little pocket of goodness. I will return soon, lured by good food, good vibes, great prices, Kheer! and memories of my time in Europe come to life at Cafe Kabul!
(3)
Reem B.
We came to Columbus for one day and many people suggested we should try cafe Kabul so we did because we remembered having one of the best food experiences in an Afghani place in California so we thought we should definitely go there and please our taste buds with the flavorful dishes of an afghani food. Unfortunately it wasn't what we expected :-( we ordered the Kabuli Pallow and the beef Seekh Kabob and to be honest the food was not bad at all it was actually quiet good and the lamb came very tender and cooked to perfection but I felt it lacked those strong flavors we were craving, especially the kabuli pallow I thought either the rice or the lamb needed that kick of spices they use in their cuisine but they were both bland! The other negative point in this place is that it felt dirty especially with the bad odors you smell all around which made our experience less enjoyable. I live in Cincinnati and we usually visit Columbus at least once a year but I don't think I'll come back to this place again not because it's bad but because I gave it a shot and it didn't impress.
(3)
Tricia M.
Lamb Kabul pallow isnot lamb. Rip off for $13.99 meal. Tasty though, but I'm pretty sure it was a cheap beef roast that's just been cooked for hours.
(1)
Diana S.
I stumbled across this place when attempting to go to Sushi Ting, and to my dismay, it was closed. Hummus- some of the very best I've ever had, and I've had plenty. Bread- out of this world, warm, fresh and delicious. I had chicken tikka for my entree, which was very moist and well spiced. Don't go there for the ambiance, go there for the food. It's pretty junky looking, but who cares when the food is this good.They do need more vegetarian options. I give this place an A for a lunch spot when you're looking for something different.
(4)
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Address :2831 Olentangy River Rd
Columbus, OH, 43202
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Kirsten H.
My dining companion got and liked the Chicken Seekh Kabab (though he attempted to order the Value Meal and ended up with the entree). I think the main difference is the the value meal comes with only one skewer of chicken. It is important to be aware that this kind of kabab is not a solid piece of grilled chicken meat but a marinated ground chicken that is compressed into shape and then cooked. It was pretty good, but I don't think I could eat a lot of it. The rice was also good, but a little greasy and the salad looked basic. All in all, it was a lot of food for $10. I got the "Pumpkin" special and it was just that - sauteed pumpkin with nothing else. It was good, but if I hadn't shared some of my companion's rice, I think it wouldn't really have been satisfactory as a lunch. The bread was notable - I haven't had anything quite like it. In appearance it is a bit like focaccia - with perforations in the top every inch or two - but it was not oily or salty like focaccia. It was fairly dry and some of it was topped simply with sesame seeds. I think it would go well with dip. It was a bit plain on it's own. You order your food and pay ahead of time, then it is brought out to you on a tray. The dining room very much resembles an outdated work cafeteria. It's possible that another trip to Cafe Kabul will convince me they deserve another star, but I know it won't be for the ambiance or the welcoming feeling (the first time I tried to eat there, they turned us away).
(3)Tony H.
Absolutely amazing, I was very impressed with the lamb kabob as my first experience at Café Kabul. I definitely look forward to eating there again!
(5)Royalty R.
Afghan food is surprisingly awesome. Cafe Kabul soars when it comes to this cuisine. It is highly recommended.
(5)Danielle F.
Very good food. My favorite dishes are the eggplant appetizer (roasted eggplant with yogurt and tomato sauces) and Kabuli Pallow (shredded lamb, carrots, raisons over rice). They are amazing. The flavors all blend together perfectly. They serve complementary bread which is delicious. They also offer complimentary tea. :) I've tried the kebabs, and I didn't find them as impressive as the kebabs at Jeddo. Everything else, however, is exceptional.
(4)Tlm P.
Finally went last night, the hummus was wonderfully seasoned and tasty. I ordered the lamb shank special, which had a great, marinated, and slow cooked flavor. The entree came with a side salad, and my favorite part of the dish, long-grain rice lightly seasoned with julienned carrots and raisins. I in general don't like raisins in savory food, but the rice at Cafe Kabul with carrots and raisins is spectacular!
(4)Katherine W.
This place is a gem!!! The food is Afghan and any preconceived notions should go tight out the window. I had the most tender lamb and flavorful rice I had been served in ages. Try the side of spinach. Once you try this place you will thank me.
(4)Zack Z.
We went to this restaurant just by seeing the inviting look of this restaurant and this restaurant was surely one of our best discoveries! We tried meat gyros which was served with fries and a drink for just 5$, everything here is reasonably priced and delicious...will definitely visit again and recommend everyone to try it!
(5)T P.
Best tasting Afghan food. Qabuli palao is delicious!
(5)Perry L.
i had past this restaurant every day on my way to work wondering how the food is. so one day i walked inside and was greeted by a very friendly member of their staff. he helped me pick something off of the menu since alot of the food seemed unfamiliar to me. the gentlemen brought my food to the table and as soon as i took my first bite it was uphill from there. the chicken dish that i had, had wonderful earthy flavors and was very juicy and succulent. The rice tht came with the dish had very subtle delicious flavors. GO TO THIS RESTAURANT!!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT ^_^
(5)Pink B.
Great new restaurant in the University Shopping Ctr. in the old Dairy Queen location. Definitely new but a family run business that is showing signs of a great start! I think they've been open for a few weeks but my fiance and I had our first visit today. Neither of us had ever had Afghan cuisine before and we were both surprised to learn it has more similarities to Mediterranean food rather than Middle Eastern food. Either way, the portions were large, the food was good, everything was clean (including the bathrooms-I always think you can tell a lot about a restaurant's cleanliness this way) and the entire staff was very personable. The average entree plate looked around $8-$9-we were so full we had to get a to-go container!
(4)AJ O.
Amazing. Easy to understand menus, friendly service, low prices, and most importantly, some of the best food I've ever had. Everything I ordered was new to me but everything was delicious.
(5)Julia C.
If you've never tried Afghan food, you should give Cafe Kabul a try. The menu is limited, but features some classic Afghani dishes. Buranee bonjon, a dish featuring slices of eggplant topped with homemade yogurt and tomato sauces, was so good I could barely stand to share it with my partner. The kabuli pallow is chunks of lamb, spiced sauteed carrot strips and raisins all on top of Afghan rice. This traditional Afghan dish is so tasty, we were tempted to order a second serving. The ambiance leaves a little to be desired, however the staff is friendly and clearly wants to please every customer. I can't wait to see this restaurant take off!
(4)Sujan M.
This is another hidden gem in another nondescript strip mall in Columbus. The food is great and the prices are very affordable. Though they have a small menu, most items I have tried are top-notch. From the 'dinners', the beef kabobs, the chicken tandoori, and the Kabuli Pallow are stand-out. These are quite different from the (similar named) Indian dishes and you have to try it. The side items are excellent too and make a great vegetarian meal - esp. the buranee banjon (eggplant) and the sabsi (with spinach). And don't you dare leave without trying their fresh baked Afgani bread (similar to the Indian naan). I can see that folks might have been turned away with the service and the hours, but I have never had an issue. I have eaten here a few times and the service has been excellent. Its not a full service place and at times there is some delay, but they cook most items to order with exceptions to sides etc.
(4)Candace L.
LOVED this place! Ordered the gyro dish and it was so great. My friend ordered the lamb and the meat was very tender and flavorful. The employees were wonderful and very helpful. I'd recommend this place to any lovers of Mid-Eastern/Mediterranean food.
(4)Lil S.
The place was clean and the price was great. I had Kabuli pallow and it was really good. I couldn't believe that I had such a great food with that price.
(5)Tamara M.
We met a friend at Cafe Kabul for a mini-reunion while we were in town. Kabul is very casual, more of a take-out place than somewhere you'd like to take a date. That being said, we sat outside with a lovely view of the parking lot for probably three hours and the staff didn't make us feel like we'd overstayed our welcome. They were very helpful when ordering, and even though food is made to order, we didn't feel it took too long to come out. The food itself was good. It wasn't the best I've ever had, nor was there anything particular wrong. The lamb was tender and well seasoned. There could have been a bit more of it on the plate for $15.99. The eggplant dish was a bit oily and heavy, but very tasty. The yoghurt was good. The bread was pretty standard. All in all we had a good meal and a good visit. Cafe Kabul is a much better choice than the standard fast food and sit-down chains in the area. Worth a try.
(3)KittyEats F.
Delicious food! We asked for a meat platter full yummy and perfectly cooked meat. I've been to many Afghani restaurants, and this has to be one of the most authentic. Don't underestimate the veggie pakoras - they are worth the arteries hardening! Tea is also very good. Great place to get your halal feast on!
(5)Kurt S.
Decent portion of food. The food is ok but I wouldn't say it is very flavorful. The Naan is pretty good, warm and soft. However this place is way too expensive for what it is. I got the lunch portion of kabuli pallow, naan and a drink and it was $15.
(2)Mark K.
Finally went here yesterday; it's a bit out of my way. As others have said, it's very small and plain, but the food is great. I wasn't sure what to expect from Afghan food, but if you've had Greek or Middle Eastern dishes you have some idea what things are like here. The spices are a little different, and a few dishes were new to me, but overall it was fairly familiar. I got the peshawari chapeel kabobs, which are ground lamb (not beef, I think) with a bit of spice. Served with perfect rice and a fairly typical salad. My friend got Lamb Pallow, as described by others: very tender lamb chunks with carrots and raisins. I'm not typically a fan of carrots or raisins in main dishes, but it worked well. We got veggie fritters and sauteed okra as appetizers. Both were very good. The fritters are clearly made to order, as is everything we tried. The okra seemed more stewed than sauteed, but who cares- it was really good. The place is clean, the service is good and friendly. They are eager to talk about their food and their country, and I will be back next time I'm over this way.
(4)Thomas B.
Cheap! Good falafel fast. I was in Columbus on biz and wanted lunch. Yelp pointed me here.
(4)John G.
Okay, this place rocks. I have lived on both coasts and downed grub at some of the best restaurants across the country which, by the way, are seldom determined by pretense or price. The food here is fresh and real. I have had most of the appetizers and entrees and have literally never been disappointed. I'm not a big bread eater but their bread is the best Middle Eastern bread I have ever had. It's thin, crispy and divine. Much better than any typical pita bread that I find disgusting. Do yourself a favor and eat here. It's order at the counter so what you pay for the food is what you pay. No twenty dollar tips. It's generally cheap and better than any other comparably priced gig in Columbus. Not that Lavash, Olive Tree and a few others aren't equally worthy in their own right. They certainly are. But this is just different enough, being Afghani, that it's worth a visit or ten. I had the lamb shank last night along with Sabsi and Bonjon. Dah bomb!
(5)Sam B.
I ordered the chicken kebab dinner with sides of hummus and okra. I have had better. The chicken was okay, but the rice was dry and flavorless. The hummus was below average. The okra was good. The atmosphere is very college student oriented. Hand written signs on scrap paper saying what the specials of the day were. Sometimes you try a place and you finish you meal thinking, "Okay, well I gave it a shot, but there are better places around town that would get my business before I ever came back here." This was one of those times.
(2)Bill T.
Food is ok. Seasoning could've been bolder. The decor is unattractive, kind of like visiting a cheap Chinese takeout place. It's counter service. They need to improve the ambiance substantially to justify the entree prices, which are priced to suit a nice restaurant with sit down service.
(3)Kwer R.
I went there at 1:40 pm ,, and asked for their signature dish which is kabuli pallow. The first shock when I ordered from the board in front of me it was for ($10.99) but when he charged me he asked for ($13.99 + tax) , why?? he excused that it's lunch portion.. isn't 1:40 pm ?? Rep off clearly! I didn't mind since they will serve me bigger portion than usual which already I know it wouldn't change, I just wanted to see what is the different. My food arrived and it was the normal portion which any costumer will pay for (10.99).. I started to eat and found the lamb very tough, seriously tough and has a very bad smell which I couldn't and wont eat. I ate the tender meat which was just one piece and ate my rice. I thought it's better to inform the people who own this place, so the man who passed, I stopped him and I nicely told him the meat is very tough and has smell ( of course a fresh and good meat wont have bad smell). and I told him its very tough. He said I cooked it this way always. always? Do you always serve people bad meat? is it safe? is it really lamb or old beef? am I the only one who noticed this issue? I was very normal asking him I just want to see his reaction. I hope this isn't something that every body pass by, because I don't wish someone get sick of this food, because first symptom of old meat is bad smell, then texture..etc I saw few yelper have the same issue. the most shocking thing is he didn't apologize or to give a reason , which it would make feel to come back again. But NOT any more. If you feel you face the same thing just click USEFUL so the owner might see this, and fix this issue. I wont recommend it to any of my friends or who agree with my comment.
(1)Tiffany M.
I am a fan. Good middle eastern type food, it's not my number one by any means, but their food always tastes very fresh and juicy. If you need a quick bite but don't want you fried food options, this might be the way to go.
(4)Riri A.
This place is not a place I would recommend anyone because of their food quality ZERO and their prices are not as the same which is in their menu without any notice. depend on how they like you. their meats had bad smell. I hate to put one star but you earned it. Save your money, there are many other and better restaurants that serve similar food with better quality!
(1)Arvid Y.
I was pleasantly surprised to find Café Kabul in Columbus. Afghani food is very popular back home in Toronto, so I've been craving a good kabob, rice and salad combination for quite a while now. I am super stoked to have Café Kabul at my disposal and i'm glad that it's conveniently located near the campus area. It may not be the prettiest restaurant, but don't let its hole-in-the-wall appearance fool you, the food is legitimately good. Despite my kabob craving, I ended up ordering the Kabuli Palaw. It is supposedly the Afghan national dish consisting of steamed pilaf rice mixed with raisins, carrots, and lamb. It is one of the more expensive dishes at Café Kabul at $15, but completely worthwhile in my opinion. The portions are large, with 5 generous cubes of lamb and a moundful of rice. The sweetness from the raisins and carrots blended nicely with the buttery rice. The lamb cubes were soft and tender. The side salad was the only part of the meal that was forgettable. It would also be nice if the meal came with some Afghani bread. Anyways, I will definitely be back to try their other dishes, including their kabobs.
(4)Amber S.
Finally made it to this restaurant. The menu offers a gyro combo along with lots of kabobs. They had menus for "Gyro & Kabab House" so they may be trying to rebrand the restaurant or bring in a higher volume of customers. The restaurant offers you the choice of plastic ware and silverware for your meal. Except for takeout, everything comes out on real plates. You can get fountain drinks or cans and bottles. I had the lamb with rice. It came with a small side salad which was perfectly dressed. All kabob dishes seem to come with two sauces - one is tomato-based and the other one is dairy-based. I'm a fan of the tomato sauce. The lamb took a little bit longer to cook so I was served last. It was a little tough. My mom had the gyro salad which I tasted and was fine. The star of our meal was the tandoori chicken. It's three full chicken legs served with the small side salad, basmati rice and the two sauces. The chicken wasn't dry and had nice flavor with a bit of char on it.
(4)Richard P.
The same folks as Cafe Kabul, but rebranded, with plans to open the drive thru. Now open Sundays. Same friendly service, and more importantly, same good food. Although I will miss the chaplee kabab, which is no longer on the menu. Mention it the next time you're there, and maybe they'll bring it back. Because it's the same owners, and largely the same menu, and 'cuz I'm lazy, my original review is here: yelp.com/biz/café-kabul-…
(4)Gwen W.
Finally!! I've been wanting to try this place for years. I mentioned that I had a coupon for here, and my friend encouraged it: "Oh yeah! I love Cafe Kabul!" Thus lunch had been decided, and we headed on over. We got here around 2 pm, thus thee was no wait. After looking over the menu and pics to accompany, my friend and I decided on the Spinach Sabzi as an appetizer, and I chose the Kabuli Pallow (lamb). We did not have to wait more than 10 minutes for our plates to come out. The Sabzi was fantastic! The spinach and pita bread were warm. The onion flavor was great. I know it had other spices in the fish, but I'm not expert enough to pick them out. The Pallow was extremely delicious!!! The butter taste of the rice. The slightly sweet burst from the carrots and cooked raisins. The tender chunks of the lamb, seasoned to perfection! Yum, indeed :) The dish comes with a side salad. The dressing on the salad was incredibly tasty, too. It had a sweet, slightly tang flavor. Not over "tarty". I'm officially in love. Er.... My tummy is ;p
(5)Leo Y.
I had the kabul pallow, and it was some of the most tender lamb that I had ever tasted. The flavors worked perfectly with the carrots and raisins, accompanied by perfectly cooked long-grain rice. While not necessarily a life changing experience, it's a solid meal, for a very reasonable price. They seem to have quite the range of prices, with basic sandwiches and wraps under $10, and my pallow costing $16. They had a chicken pallow for $11.
(4)Rami M.
Yummy! This is the first and only Afghani place I've been to, and it's delicious! They have very good meats- juicy, fresh, tender, and full of flavor. The restaurant itself isn't fancy, but it doesn't need to be. All of the portions are generous- they don't skimp. We had the Kabuli Pallow (my favorite dish on the menu), which is super tender seasoned lamb topped with raisins (raisins!) and cooked carrot strips. The sweetness of the raisins complemented the special seasoning brilliantly, and added to the flavor profile of the dish. We also had the chicken and beef Seekh Kabob- both were amazing, but I prefer the beef. The Tikka Kabob also did not disappoint. All of these dishes came with a generous serving of aromatic Afghan style rice. A great surprise I didn't expect was the delicious hummus. It was the perfect consistency, and had a unique smoky taste (like cumin or smoked paprika). It comes with warm bread that is the perfect dipping utensil. I'm looking forward to trying more of their sides next time!
(5)Mr A.
4 stars goes out to their tandoori chicken. 1. too much rice and so little meat for the price 2. Baklava is little pricy and it either comes in a big ass container or a cup lol. (Get small containers and lower your expenses) This place is good . And its getting better
(4)Nader E.
Awesome place tucked into a somewhat dull shopping plaza. I've now been to Café Kabul three times and I'm always greeted with a smile and kind words from the employees. The restaurant is clean and tidy, but the atmosphere is just as dull as the plaza...it's not that type of place anyways. I've ordered the same dish every time, the chicken pallow. The flavors in the dish aren't extravagant or too foreign for the more conservative tongue, but are still absolutely delicious. The chicken is cooked perfectly, always extremely tender and falling off the bones. The portion size extremely generous, you definitely get more than what you pay for. The dish is all around solid. I plan on coming back to try their different foods. Definitely deserves a visit if you are north of OSU and want quality food for around the price of chipotle. Keep doing your thing Cafe Kabul!
(5)Jessica D.
Boyfriend: Want some ethnic food? Jessica: Duh. [Drives to Cafe' Kabul] Boyfriend (to owner): what is good? Owner: Everything I affirm the aforementioned conversations are true and based on real life. This little joint is kicking it, with delicious native dishes from the motherland, Afghanistan. We both indulged in meat specialties (plea to US restaurants: embrace more lamb, please. Love, Jessica). If you love yourself some tender, seasoned lamb pieces, shimmy to the Kabuli Pallow, served with the sweetest carrot strips (ever), Afghan rice, and... shredded iceberg lettuce with Italian dressing? I'll pretend the salad never happened, but the lamb was in fact the best discovery I've made this week. But Jessica, you say, I real don't like tender seasoned lamb. What gives? To you, naysayer, I give you Peshawari Chaplee Kabob-2 round pieces of lean, spicy ground beef patties marinated in fresh grated spices. This may make you reconsider your affirmation that the hamburger is the greatest American food there will ever be. Trust me, polliwog. The cafe is small, but not busy when we went (albeit, it was 2 degrees out). Nonetheless, if you're caught in a limbo between restaurant-eating and fast food, and eating healthier and globally is on your mind, this is where you should head. I just wish the cafe was a bit tidier... not dirty or anything, just a tad cluttered and haphazardly decorated.
(4)Emily C.
Food was great and reasonably priced. I stopped in for lunch and got the Seekh chicken kabob wrap for $6.99. It was moderately spicy and was a decent portion size. I will be back to try other lunch specials. The decor and atmosphere are both areas of opportunity for this restaurant. It's an ethnic restaurant, I was hoping for more culture in the decor.
(4)PinkJmmmm M.
It's a very casual cafe located near OSU. I grew up with lamb and rice pilaf, so I was so excited to check it out. I got the slow cooked lamb lunch portion. The lamb was flavorful and tasty. All the dish come with rice on the side. I think lunch portion is enough for me, but not much lamb actually. My friend got daily special lamb shanks and it was great. If u really want to indulge yourself with lamb, get the lamb shank. The dinning environment is so so , only good for quick dinner or take out. The price is good too, you do not have to spend much to get well cooked lamb. I will definitely come back!
(4)Andrew B.
Great gyro, lots of meat and sauce. The fries were also good.
(4)Puja D.
We went to this place because we had a restaurant.com coupon. It was pretty darn good. We got the kabuli polau, chicken kebabs, beef kebabs, and tandoori chicken. Keep in mind that I'm Indian - so my taste buds are spoiled by my momma's home cookin', so I wasn't AS impressed by this place as some of the other reviewers seem to have been. The polau was good - but the rice was a bit bland, the lamb a slight bit too tough, and the carrots a little overcooked. All in all, it was still tasty and a decent portion for $13. The tandoori chicken was awesome - the best I've had from any restaurant in Columbus AND from an Afghani place... shame! ;) The kebabs were good, long and moist and with a great spice. We asked for the food extra spicy because that's how we roll, but you can get it mild if you have an unadventurous tummy! You get an entirely forgettable salad with Italian dressing with each entree, but it's a waste of space on the plate. Don't waste your calories. I'd definitely go back. I'd love to try their gyros... mmm.... gyros...
(4)Matt W.
After the meetup at Cafe Kabul, I went back again to see if I was right about my experience. I'm happy to say that I was! As others have mentioned, there really isn't much dining space here - it's a converted Dairy Queen, and the original DQ wasn't what you'd call big. A lot of the afghan dishes are presented without much explanation - you'll want to ask questions when you order if you're not familiar with Afghan cuisine. (I certainly wasn't!) If you order appetizers or a dinner portion, you'll be served a basket of their Afghan Bread - think pita bread shape / size, but with a foccacia texture. It was quite good with the hummus, or to scoop up servings of the Buranee Bonjon - a "side dish" / appetizer of sliced roasted eggplant, a thick tomato sauce, and some tangy yogurt. (As to the hummus, it's good and decently spiced, but I disagree that they're the best in town. I think Pita Hut over on High St. still wins that battle.) The bread basket is $3 if you'd like to try it without ordering a meal or for an extra portion to go, but if you eat in, refills are free. All of the dinners and main courses come with saffron rice and a mild tomato sauce, lighter and a bit thinner than the sauce from the bonjon, which is supposed to be poured over the rice. If you're not looking to carb up, you can easily eat half (or even less) of the rice portion and still feel satisfied. The main dinner offerings split into two camps: The "pallow" style dishes (lamb is standard on the menu as "kabuli pallow", but both times I went in they had a chicken version as the special) or kebabs. The pallow style mixes your meat with raisins, some gently sweet spices, and strips of sauteed carrot that are just this side of being caramelized. The kebabs, on the other hand, are pretty much presented with the meat as is alongside of your rice, and with a yogurt dipping sauce for the meat. The kebabs aren't bad, per se, but I found them fairly plain compared to the more complex flavors in the pallow. I also tried their sauteed okra side on my second trip - the okra was fresh and well seasoned, without the sliminess that can sometimes occur when preparing them. A nice option to round out your meal. I think I agree that it's not "drive across town" good, but it's certainly "I'm around the area and want something different for dinner" good. It would also help if they had a bit more variety in the menu, but hopefully that'll come with time.
(3)Matt R.
Fun going with my fellow Yelpers to try a new restaurant. Holler! The good: - Melanie B's lamb! Holy cats! Really good. - Matt W's eggplant (yes eggplant) appetizer. The yogurt on top was wicked awesome. The awes: - The people working there. Really nice and attentive. The eh: - My chicken. It was very inconsistent. Some pieces were moist, but most were pretty darn dry. If I only had the chicken to judge this place off of, I probably would have given it three stars. Moral of the story: I don't know how to order at Afghan restaurants. If you ever see me here, please, for your sake, don't ask me what to get. Melanie and Matt know where it's at.
(4)Melanie M.
Stopped in about a month ago, but of course was too busy to get the review in!!! Grabbed a few things to go and had a FEAST at our house. I guess I'm going to have to go back, because I cannot remember what we got... Wow. That's embarassing. (To be continued...)
(4)Luke T.
I went to visit a taco truck that used to park near the Fairfield Inn on Olentangy River Rd, near the University City Center, for dinner today. Much to my dismay, the truck is no longer there. The manager of the carryout where the truck parked said the owner of the truck was deported. I won't vouch for the accuracy of that statement, but the guy is there all the time, so who knows? So I turned around disappointed and headed back to the University City Center to inform a nice hair stylist that the taco truck we'd just been discussing no longer exists. I contemplated other dinner options as I was leaving and just as I was about to turn onto Ackerman I noticed a little shop called Cafe Kabul. I'd never seen it before and it said "Authentic Afghan Cuisine" on the storefront so I thought it would make an excellent change of pace. I locked my bike up and went inside. First impression: Clean. The place was spotless. Being so new, I suppose that's expected, but they could have just reused a lot of the existing framework when opening. They opted to remodel. Everything was new. It was a nice touch. Second impression: Tiny menu, not at all vegetarian friendly. There were two menu items that looked like they could constitute a meal that weren't meat dishes, and they were both appetizers. One was the Buranee Bonjon, an eggplant dish served with yogurt and tomato. Another was a spinach dish. I ordered the Buranee Bonjon, as evidenced by my ability to remember its name. I also ordered a baklava for dessert and a Vitamin Water to drink. The eggplant also came with a side of Afghan bread, which was sort of like pan, a flatbread of some kind. Now, I can't say this for sure, but the yogurt on that eggplant sure looked like ranch dressing. Sorta tasted like ranch too. I can only think what Al Qaeda would say if ranch were getting used in a traditional Afghan dish. A jihad on ranch dressing! I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. The dish did taste unique, whatever it's ingredients. Somewhat savory and slightly sour. The baklava was delicious. I wonder if it's made on sight or if they have it brought in from outside. There were four pieces of bread. Two were somewhat hard and tough, while the other two were warm and soft. None of it was bad, but I wish they had all been as warm as the final two. Overall, it was an okay experience. The cashier/owner? was very friendly and I certainly do wish Cafe Kabul the best of luck. But with a serious lack of vegetarian options and a just okay first experience, I probably won't be back for a while. I will check back though, months down the line to see how they're fairing and if that menu has gotten any bigger.
(2)Robert V.
My first trip to an Afghani restaurant. I was surprised by the mild-sweet flavors (i expected it to be overly-spicy). The portions are large during the lunch hour. The store is the old Dairy Queen spot on the corner of the strip so the dining area is not overly large but it handled the lunch-time traffic OK. Was very clean. Employees were friendly. I recommend the Chicken Kabuli if you like mild, lightly sweet dishes. Served in plenty of time to enjoy the dish and get back to the office on time. Its a nice change from burgers n fries or salads for lunch. The thing i would suggest to improve this place is shades on the windows. When the sun is out, you practically need sunglasses while eating.
(3)KC M.
I had the pleasure of dining at this local restaurant last night, and I have to say, I'm a big fan! I have been meaning to go for some time, and I'm glad that we went! My college aged kids and I enjoyed the Kaubli Pallow, which is sort of like pot roasted lamb over rice, topped with braised sweet carrot strips and raisins, Tikka Kabob, which is grilled cubes of lamb served with rice, a hummus plate, vegetable pakora and a gyro. The food was hot, fresh and delicious - my daugher commented that her lamb was like 'lamb flavored butter'. The hummus was absolutely made inhouse, and was WAY flavorful, a bit grainy, the way I like it, and topped with a fruity olive oil and some kind of spice - my daughter says it was sumac, but I don't know. The only thing I wouldn't order again were the vegetable pakoras (which were served with a slightly spicy herbal dipping sauce) - they were OK, but not to my taste. The service was very pleasant, and the gentleman who was running the house was very good at managing things - he delivered our food right to our table, fresh from the kitchen, which I thought was a very nice touch. I hear there's a lunch buffet, and you can be sure that I'll be coming back for that!
(4)Jessica T.
I visited Cafe Kabul yesterday to try Afghan food for the first time. The place is tucked into an old Dairy Queen store near OSU. The inside is painted a cheery yellow color and has a couple of traditional rugs and costumes hanging on the walls. There's also a picture of a Buckeye football player, which seems to be requisite for every campus-area restaurant. I had a dish called Kabuli Pallow, which is ridiculously tender and gently spiced lamb over rice with cooked carrots and raisins. It was delicious, if a bit light on the lamb. I also had some of the Afghan bread, which is crispy and flat with sesame seeds on top. I found it a bit on the bland side, but it would be the perfect vehicle for some hummus or other dip, which I'll try next time. And there will be a next time, because I think I'm already hooked on the Kabuli Pallow!
(4)Doug S.
Really liked the hummus.. very nicely done
(5)Maharaja of Gaipajama G.
Cafe Kabul, could it be that your love was meant for me? Maybe so, maybe no. Cafe Kabul serves a limited yet carefully chosen selection of Afghan cuisine. Some of their food resembles Indian food, or vice versa - I'm not sure. The man behind the counter speaks great English, perfect for anyone who enjoys hearing the guides at COSI drone on about the scientific concept you already know about, because you're passionate about science, no, wait - I mean, I'm sorry, wrong audience, the guy is perfect for explaining everything you ever wanted to know about ethnic cuisine in the Afghan region without expecting that you know something first. For some, that is an added star, but for me, I was just glad to be able to quickly communicate my desire for a gyro and a "yogurt drink." For good measure, I had to ask him if "yogurt drink" is what they call it in Afghanistan. No, thank god. Don't remember what he said, but wasn't "yogurt drink." I know what my parents call it - sharbuth. The ambience? There was an oddly secluded booth too intimate for me and my buddy, so I traipsed over instead to the well-lit central locus of the restaurant. From there, I could overhear the conversation taking place between two apparent cosmopolites who'd just entered the restaurant: "What's the best thing here?" the wife asked. "Most people like the pallow," the cashier said. "No, the best thing is that we're alive today!" blurted the husband. Indeed. It's always great to be alive, eating a spicy gyro from Cafe Kabul. Even if it does take a while to arrive.
(4)Melanie B.
I really enjoyed my experience this week - I went with a big group of people (*wink*) to figure out what Afghani food is and to try out this new little hole in the wall (hole in the strip mall?)... aaaand I decided to review Cafe Kabul because I've recommended it to people at least five times in the last week. Every time, people didn't know what Afghani food was, so I can tell you now... but really you should just stop in here and find out, because it's well worth it. I wasn't quite sure what to order, but things seemed vaguely familiar since the dishes seemed close to Mediterranean food, and perhaps slightly similar to the spices in Indian food. And indeed, the Internetz (the world's most reliable source of course) tells me that coriander and lamb are used in many Afghani dishes, so the Indian connection makes sense; pine nuts and other nuts, as well as grapes (which apparently are something Afghanistan is known for) help connect to the Mediterranean. Oh, cultural history, how I love thee - anyhow, I hope that gives you an idea of what to expect. There are also many eggplant, yogurt dishes, naan AND lavash as well, all of which are found in both neighboring regions. So basically Afghani food is a glorious melting pot of some of the most amazing foods in the world. Fantastic! So, I ordered a dish which, for the life of me I cannot remember the name of, nor can I successfully research it on the interwebz - and so I apologise for that fail. It was DELICIOUS, however, so I will update next time I am at Cafe Kabul. Basically, it was the most tender, fall-apart lamb pieces I have ever eaten, with warm shredded carrots, soft cooked raisins, and gentle, sweet spices over a bed of saffron infused rice, with a side of salad. Two of my fellow diners also got this dish, and the other two who tried it were envious that they hadn't chosen it. Seriously - the lamb kebob and chicken kebob that I tried were also fantastic, but this gentle and soft dish just spelled *love*. Service here is very friendly - the man who helped us explained what some of the dishes were, answered our questions, gave us more naan/pita for free to go with the eggplant/yogurt and the hummus apps (delicious, esp. the eggplant) ordered for the table... really, very impressive. The decor is very understated, and I think it should stay that way. Not only this, but when we got there, the cafe was empty, but it soon filled almost to capacity - a great sign! Oh gosh, I wanna go back just thinking about it. An overall great experience (and great dining companions!). If you like Mediterranean or Indian food, I encourage you to take your tastebuds on a cultural exploration and find out about the cuisine from the countries in between the Peloponnesus and India. Effing-aye right, Afghani food from Cafe Kabul! PS: I realise that the Middle East stands between the Mediterranean and Central Asia (where Afghanistan is located) but I have less experience describing Middle Eastern food, so I chose to use the Mediterranean as a comparative region since the flavors and ingredients appear to be similar. I'd be interested in hearing more about Middle Eastern food, as I've only tried it a handful of times.
(4)Jessica K.
We were very excited about this place and eager to support them. There isn't much variety in our Middle Eastern cuisine in Columbus... lots of just "Middle Eastern", not a lot of Persian v. Afghani v. Lebanese. As a table, we got a pretty wide spread of their offerings. We tried all of their vegetarian dishes and the meat eaters had some of that, too, and seemed to enjoy it, but I don't have a personal opinion. The atmosphere is very strip-mall-ethnic restaurant-ish, which I personally enjoy. There's a traditional outfit on the wall, a map of Afghanistan, and that's about it. Ultimately, this is a winning ethnic restaurant in my (highly experienced, might I say) opinion. We've been to most ethnic restaurants in Columbus and are striving to hit them all, and there's more to a review than just the food. Is the food authentic? Can you get things there that you can't get at another restaurant of the same region? Does it feel more like their catering to an American pallet or are they using their family recipes and personal favorites? For Cafe Kabul, the food was certainly unique from other Middle Eastern joints. We tasted spices and flavor combos we've never had before. They had country specific bread, entrees, a drink and a dessert. A+++ Then, is the staff helpful? Sometimes the languages are in a different language, make little sense, or are just generally foreign. Suggestions on popular dishes, what they like, what you HAVE to have are appreciated. The guy working here answered questions but didn't offer explanations unless probed. I explain that because honestly, I wouldn't go back to Cafe Kabul for the food. The hummus was more bland than I prefer, I don't like cooked spinach, the eggplant was delicious but so heavy I couldn't eat enough to be full. it was all okay. But it was a positive experience overall and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
(4)Amanda S.
This was my first foray into Afghan food, and I was really impressed. My sister and I went this week and, upon recommendations from someone on Twitter, we started out with the buranee bonjon. It's sauteed eggplant that is served with yogurt and tomato sauce, and you eat it with Afghan bread (kind of like pita with sesame seeds on it.) It was totally wonderful, and I could have probably just eaten that and been happy! We then shared two entrees. The chicken seekh kabob was basically minced chicken formed into long rectangular shapes. While not much to look at, the flavor was wonderful - full of great spices that reminded me of Mexican food of all things (I think there must be many shared spices.) It was served with a basic salad and this wonderful plain, but flavorful, Afghan rice. This probably was my favorite of the two entrees. The other entree was the kabuli pallow. It's slow cooked lamb served with carrots and raisin, which sounds like a strange combination but was actually quite good. The lamb was incredibly tender and was really wonderful. We took home leftovers of this dish because it was so rich. Again, served with salad and rice. We also had the baklava fingers for desert. Not quite as sticky sweet as normal baklava, I really liked these! I had the "yogurt drink" to drink, which I probably won't have again. I'm not much for very sour yogurt, and it is just what the name says: liquefied yogurt, served over ice, with a bit of mint with it. I think you have to be a tart liquids fan to enjoy it. The restaurant itself is pretty non-assuming, with just some Afghan relics and OSU stuff on the walls, and has kind of a fast food atmosphere to it (though it's a cook to order restaurant.) But, decor isn't everything, and I found it quaint. The owner (I think is who he was) was incredibly nice and you could tell how much he enjoyed running the restaurant and welcoming newbies to his country's cuisine. I really like it there, and can't wait to go back!
(5)barb s.
Being a very adventurous eater, and being fascinated by Afghan people and culture, I decided to venture out to Cafe Kabul. We walked into a different world. It was like being transported to Europe with it's melange of people, different accents (including Russian) and smells (middle eastern men always seem to smell good). A refreshing change for me as I was growing tired of looking at white people :D My trusty sidekick and I ordered Peshwari Chaplee Kabobs: 3 pieces of ground beef marinated in freshly grated seasonings along with rice, gently suffused with spice, and a salad. We also got the Afghan bread which was quite a bit thicker than naan and very tasty. There was a raita-like yogurt sauce for the beef patties to take away some of the heat and nicely compliment the taste. A tomato-y mint sauce that I dipped my bread in and poured over my rice. Yum. I had sprite to drink. There is a lassi-like drink that I want to try next time comprised of yogurt water salt and mint. I love Kheer. I have had the Indian version and was curious to see how the Afghan version was. It was delish! Made with semolina I believe, and cardamom of course. It was a very generous portion. When we tried to pay for it the gentleman who served us said no, a very nice gesture. In America, the land of more, more, more, more isn't necessarily better. The menu isn't extensive and that's ok. Do a few items but do them well seems to be the way they do business. I want to try the Kabuli Pallow and the Buranee Bonjon the next time. And more Kheer of course. I was really happy to have tried this little pocket of goodness. I will return soon, lured by good food, good vibes, great prices, Kheer! and memories of my time in Europe come to life at Cafe Kabul!
(3)Reem B.
We came to Columbus for one day and many people suggested we should try cafe Kabul so we did because we remembered having one of the best food experiences in an Afghani place in California so we thought we should definitely go there and please our taste buds with the flavorful dishes of an afghani food. Unfortunately it wasn't what we expected :-( we ordered the Kabuli Pallow and the beef Seekh Kabob and to be honest the food was not bad at all it was actually quiet good and the lamb came very tender and cooked to perfection but I felt it lacked those strong flavors we were craving, especially the kabuli pallow I thought either the rice or the lamb needed that kick of spices they use in their cuisine but they were both bland! The other negative point in this place is that it felt dirty especially with the bad odors you smell all around which made our experience less enjoyable. I live in Cincinnati and we usually visit Columbus at least once a year but I don't think I'll come back to this place again not because it's bad but because I gave it a shot and it didn't impress.
(3)Tricia M.
Lamb Kabul pallow isnot lamb. Rip off for $13.99 meal. Tasty though, but I'm pretty sure it was a cheap beef roast that's just been cooked for hours.
(1)Diana S.
I stumbled across this place when attempting to go to Sushi Ting, and to my dismay, it was closed. Hummus- some of the very best I've ever had, and I've had plenty. Bread- out of this world, warm, fresh and delicious. I had chicken tikka for my entree, which was very moist and well spiced. Don't go there for the ambiance, go there for the food. It's pretty junky looking, but who cares when the food is this good.They do need more vegetarian options. I give this place an A for a lunch spot when you're looking for something different.
(4)