Top Reviews

Stephanie S. | Foster City, CA
I had an issue with my account, so my reviews got removed, but I just wanted to still make sure to give this family-owned restaurant a five star!!

I’ve been twice prior, but recently, I went on a Friday evening with my husband and toddler. The service was great; everyone was nice, polite, and friendly. They gave my toddler free bread so she could munch on it while waiting for the food. (She LOVED the bread, btw.)

The restaurant was busy, but service was still attentive. It’s also very clean and spacious.

I ordered the lawang, which was tender, flavorful, and delicious. My husband ordered the beef kebabs, which were also very tasty! The serving sizes here are large, which is nice.

Thank you for the great experience!

Sonia Y. | San Francisco, CA
This place is sooo yummy! I’ve been here about four times already and will be back again! The food is very authentic and tastes like home-cooked food! Service is fast, and the staff is so kind and sweet—from the owners to the servers.

Connie N. | San Mateo, CA
We were introduced to this place by our company, and it’s an all-time favorite amongst everyone (rightfully so). The last time we came here was for my mom’s birthday a few years ago, and now revisiting after years, it’s still a favorite!

The portion sizes are big, so you can never go wrong with not having enough. The chicken is soft and cooked well. The shrimp is cooked well and huge too, lol. It seems like a fairly simple meal, yet everything was cooked perfectly! The sauces included a green spicy sauce and a yogurt sauce that go perfectly with the meal, especially the chicken (my favorite).

Aside from the food, the service was good, and the waiters were friendly and funny too. They were helpful in giving us our meal accordingly, offered sauces to try, and checked in on us with our meals to see if we were okay or needed to order anything additionally. Never had any problems with their service and always look forward to coming by when I can.

Lia K. | Belmont, CA
One of my favorite places to eat. Everything here is amazing. I know I left a review before, but just a reminder that this place is top tier. The servers are all so nice, and the food is amazing.

HOW IS THE CHICKEN BREAST SO JUICY AND FLAVORFUL?? lol. Lamb and shrimp were cooked perfectly. The Pakawra-e-Katchalu is great! The lamb sauce and yogurt combo is perfection.

The gushefeel is very nice for dessert. Next time, I’ll get coffee to have with it. Thank you again for another amazing dinner.

Avinash V. | Overland Park, KS
This is the second time we are visiting this place. Our friends have been here for dinner as well, but today, we would like to take an opportunity to express this amazing experience we had with the restaurant owners, Jamal and Mechelle.

First of all, this place is always packed, weekday or weekend. You would see the owners running around making sure everything is great. You can certainly feel how loving these people are, and they have regular customers all the time.

The ambiance is amazing, with Afghani ancient and antique interiors, which create a very good vibe.

We ordered Kabuli pulav, basmati rice, chicken kabobs, and Kabul’s combination kabab. Everything we ordered was delicious and freshly prepared. The restaurant owner Jamal gave us a complimentary dessert. It was really generous.

Michelle B. | San Bruno, CA
Amazing food and really friendly staff! This restaurant is in a strip mall, so there’s plenty of parking available. We came on a Friday at 6:30 pm, and the restaurant was 80% full. The menu can be very intimidating, but we asked our server for recommendations and consulted a few Yelp reviews.

This is what I’d order again:

• Kadu: Pumpkin, yogurt, and lamb meat sauce. Honestly didn’t know if I’d like this combination, but it was my favorite dish.
• Bulanee Katchalu: Turnover filled with lamb, potatoes, and onion. Perfect with the yogurt dip and green sauce they give each table.
• Kebab-e-Gaw: Very tender beef kebab.
• Kebab-e-Gousfand: Amazing lamb kebab and huge portion.
• Fresh Cardamom Afghani Tea: Sweet and creamy. Not sure if the staff was being especially nice or if it’s normal, but they gave our table free refills for our drinks.

Rose S. | San Mateo, CA
Food, service, atmosphere. Afghan food is easy for new fans. They have a great variety with sides included.
Gotta get over there soon.

Mike M. | San Francisco, CA
Went here for Mother’s Day dinner. Went with family who had previously eaten here, and their recommendations were spot on! Great service and terrific meals. I had the beef kabobs with pallaw rice. The portions were very generous, and the meat and rice were nice and tasty.

Savannah L. | San Mateo, CA
We used to go to this restaurant in their old Burlingame location and are glad they have this new spot! The restaurant is spacious with a side area for private parties, and parking is very easy.

The food was delicious and everything came out perfectly cooked. Our favorite entrees were the lamb, chicken, and salmon. The chicken was juicy, and the salmon was grilled with a soft interior. We also enjoyed the side of pumpkin with yogurt sauce.

For dessert, we had the almond pudding and ice cream.

Tip: If you pay with cash, they give you a nice discount!

Lindsey J. | Foster City, CA
Another delicious lunch… this place never disappoints. I’m so happy they are still busy as ever. It’s so hard to deviate from my usual dishes—shrimp kabob with the eggplant appetizer and green sauce.

Orchid Z. | Foster City, CA
Searching for a place to eat Middle Eastern food in the local area, and this place popped up. I don’t normally leave reviews, but I feel compelled because the food was absolutely exquisite.

William L. | San Mateo, CA
We love this restaurant! Should have written this review long ago. We are regulars at Kabul and have been going there for 30+ years.

Our favorites are the lamb, salmon, and jumbo prawn kebabs, as well as the kadu side dish. Mechelle, her husband, and the staff are all very nice and welcoming.
Highly recommend this restaurant!

Mack B. | Redwood City, CA
To order Kabul is always exciting in our home. The rice, spinach, pumpkin with extra yogurt and meat sauce cannot be denied. It’s a great addition to our dinner. Then there’s the meat—we’re going to order every meat on the menu.

The bread is my go-to instead of a fork. Bread and fingers are the path to nirvana!

Listen here: if you are sick of burritos, burgers, or pizza, please treat yourself to the Middle East. They have great food, good service, and when you want delivery and restaurant-quality fare, there’s no doubt—the best choice is Kabul Afghan Cuisine.

Tanya D. | San Francisco, CA
My family and I have been coming to Kabul for years. The food is always amazing! The kabobs are cooked to perfection—very moist and delicious.

We had a large group for a birthday party, so we ordered a bunch of appetizers. Everything we had was delicious, and service was quick and efficient. I ordered the lamb and chicken kabob combo. I also tried the lawang, which tasted like a creamy stew. The flavors were great.

The portions are large, so we always have leftovers to bring home for the next day. I highly recommend this spot for yummy Afghan food.

Ruta G. | San Francisco, CA
Exceptional dining experience at Kabul! The food was amazing, the service on point, and the Firnee pudding was a standout—a perfect palate cleanser and a delightful conclusion to a delicious meal. Can’t wait to come back and explore more of the menu—everything we ordered was 10/10 amazing!

Lucy L. | San Mateo, CA
Excellent Afghan cuisine with a wide variety of choices. I like the combination plates, where you can choose your meat(s), and the meal is served with rice, vegetables, and soft flatbread. Generous amount of food on the combination plates that we took leftovers home.

The lamb kabobs and the shrimp are delicious. The appetizers and sides are very good too. We had a starter that was a wide flat noodle with meat sauce and a side of creamed spinach.

Dessert is also good. We had the pudding made with cardamom and pistachios. Tasty! We were so full. This is our go-to Afghan restaurant for special occasions and gatherings with friends and family. They’ve been here for many years, and I wish them continued success.

Theresa L. | Orlando, FL
Can’t believe I haven’t left a review for this place! Amazing! Is how I describe this place!! I seem to get the same thing each time. The hot tea (so good) and the pick-two combo—I get the shrimp and steak. It comes with rice and bread, OMG the bread!!!!! Delicious every time! Each time I am visiting the California office, I have to come here at least once!

Linda L. | San Francisco, CA
I’m always on the lookout to try new foods, so I came to Kabul to try Afghan cuisine for the very first time and was not disappointed!

I came here with my brother on a Friday for early dinner, and the first thing we noticed was the attentive customer service. Mechelle was so friendly and constantly checked in with us to make sure everything was okay. She also took her time to give us some recommendations as this was our first time trying Afghan food.

She recommended us to get one stew and one kabob plate, so we could try some of everything, and that’s what we did. My brother ordered the Kabul combo kabobs, I got the lawang, and we got the mantoo for an appetizer to share. We also got a little greedy and ordered the firnee for dessert.

Everything from the appetizer to the dessert was phenomenal! No complaints, but the lawang and firnee were definitely the stars of the show for us. The lawang reminded me of Indian curries—thick, smooth consistency but less subtle on the spices. It paired so well with the rice.

Mechelle also offered us her “secret sauce,” which is not on the menu, and we loved it so much. We actually preferred the secret sauce more than the green chutney that came with our order. The firnee was somewhat like kheer. It’s a pudding, but the texture is so smooth and soft it almost melts in your mouth.

Everything was just perfect, and we’re definitely planning our next visit back to try other dishes on the menu.

Paul W. | Milwaukee, WI
So good. My wife had the combination kebab with lamb and beef. Get the green chutney sauce as an accompaniment! Delicious!

I had Mater Challaw, a delicious tomato sauce with slow-cooked lamb. The sauce was outstanding.

We also had the pumpkin side dish, which you should definitely order. One of the best parts of the dinner.

It’s too bad we don’t live in town because this would be a regular stop for us.

Sandy G. | San Mateo, CA
My two girlfriends and I went there last Friday, and we each ordered the Seafood Combo. The salmon was absolutely tender and delicious, as was the shrimp. However, the shrimp was a tad overcooked, but it was still good. Maybe a minute less on the grill will help with that.

We were provided a cilantro/jalapeño sauce that was so good we slathered it on everything! We’ll definitely be back, as this was my second time there!

Tamar L. | Capitola, CA
What a lovely oasis, located in a strip mall in San Carlos off El Camino. You can see special care has been taken to create a beautiful atmosphere, arranged with exquisite Afghan decor. Instrumental Sufi music sets the mood.

The dining room is large enough to accommodate events, yet there’s a homey, cozy feeling that pervades the space, emanating from the warmth of the owners and the staff.

Hot chai, creamy and sweet, was perfect on a cold, windy day. I loved that refills were abundant. Koobideh kabob was juicy and flavorful. One skewer is an enormous portion, fit for a king. It comes with roasted tomato, rice, and a tangy green herb hot sauce.

Pumpkin, eggplant, and spinach in the vegetable combo plate were all delectable.

The waitresses were so sweet and cool. San Carlos is lucky to have an awesome Afghan restaurant like this!

Alissa T. | San Diego, CA
My husband grew up in the Bay Area, so we went back to visit this past Christmas. He wanted to stop at his favorite Afghan restaurant. We will now be going here every single time we are in the Bay Area! It was absolutely fantastic!

My husband got the lawang, which is his absolute favorite, and it was as delicious as he remembers. We met the owner’s daughter, Michelle, and she said that this particular dish was an old family recipe, and not something that you would be able to find at many other restaurants.

We split aushak for an appetizer. It was my favorite thing I tried, and next time I am going to get the entrée portion, but I will also partake in the appetizer as well because it is just that good. I got the chicken skewers, and they were fantastic. Michelle even made up her own special sauce to go with the chicken skewers, and it perfectly accented the dish!

This restaurant is incredible. All of the servers are family members, and it is nice to see this family-run establishment flourishing.