Kabul Afghan Cuisine
(206) 545-9000
2301 N 45th St
Seattle,
WA
98103
47.6613
-122.3313
Neighborhoods: Lake Union, Wallingford
Reviews & Ratings for Kabul Afghan Cuisine
30 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 30 reviews
Unremarkable
by ICBerg
June 18, 2009
We had a reservation, but that didn't stop us from waiting way too long for our table in the overcrowded, undersized lobby. The wait continued for basic water and drinks; how hard is it to quickly fill a glass?!
The menu looked interesting, even though the prices were high: $45 dinner for two people, not including drinks, appetizer, or dessert. I figured the food would be fantastic. Turns out, it tastes just like kebobs. Who knew? Next time, I'll save the $35.00, plus the tip, and go to my local gyro joint.
- Pros: They have a roof?
- Cons: Long wait, poor service, tiny portions, way overpriced.
Delicious food, small cozy atmosphere by Lori S. at InsiderPages
Contributor
September 16, 2008
I really loving eating here. The flavors you get here are so unique compared to other cuisine that is more common. The restaurant is intimate, so you can have good conversations or a romantic dinner. All the food I've had here is good. But, I love the kabobs, the rosewater pudding and my favorite--the eggplant dish.
No-risk delicious charm
by gwendolynj
June 04, 2008
There is every reason to be ambitious and dabble in this unfamiliar cuisine. The intimate setting and low lighting make this place feel special. The chatty and attentive owner make you feel like an honored guest. The food makes you glad you came for sure! There is nothing risky about this food, very flavorful and not too greasy or too spicy or too anything but just purely wonderful flavors. Very Middle Eastern but also incorporates some spices perhaps influenced by Indian cuisine (which makes sense given Afghanistan's history and location!) This is a complete experience-- an adventure, a treat, a delight to the senses, a buzz in the room, a conversation with the waitor, an inspiration to come back!
- Pros: Family style service, elegant atmosphere, wonderful food
- Cons: Parking mostly zone parking, limited staff
Outstanding, top quality food
by chefsgirl
February 22, 2008
Is Kabul a bit pricey? Yes, but with darned good reason. The ingredients are fresh and local. Everything offered is of the best grade which is what makes Kabuls seemingly "simple dishes" outstanding. The seasonings are freshly ground every day in the restaurants kitchen and the sauces are prepared daily to ensure purity in the flavors.
While I eat meat, my husband does not. Our friends are a mix of omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans. This is one of the very few restaurants where we can all go and each have a dish to throughly enjoy. My personal favorites are the beef kabobs and the rack-of-lamb (a special item that is not always available).
Stick around for dessert - the baklava is flaky and filled with saffron, cardamon, and honey. The firni is also a unique and light treat.
As regular patrons since the late 1990's, we have always appreciated the consistant top quality food, outstanding preparation, and generous owner who allows patrons to sit and enjoy their meal, even when there is a full house.
- Pros: Fresh ingredients, top quality preparation
- Cons: wait staff can get a bit rushed with a full house
Tiny portions. You'll go away hungry -- we complained and the staff yelled at us!
by seattlejrj
January 12, 2008
My group (two couples) ordered the combination kabob (for $42), which was described as "enough for 2". We received 6 small cubes of meat -- three chicken and three beef. All of us were shocked as to how small the portions were. We asked our waiter if the order was right, as we really throught there was some sort of mistake. He was extremely defensive and argumentative -- making the situation worse. He basically proceeded to yell at us for 5 minutes or so, we walked out. Not exactly customer oriented!! We received our bill -- $46 per couple -- and we all left hungry. With so many great places in seattle (try Yanni's in Phynney if you want kabobs), we won't be going back.
- Pros: none
- Cons: Tiny portions! Argumentative Staff! Very poor value!
Great Cuisine by Kareema M. at InsiderPages
Contributor
December 08, 2007
Afghan is one of my favorite foods and Kabul serves some of the most delicious Afghan cuisine I've ever had. It's a little pricey but it's well worth it. The food is authentic, fresh and very filling. It's not a place I'd consider child friendly although I took my children there with no problem.
Great surprise!
by sasquatch2012
October 14, 2007
Kabul Afghan cuisine was a great surprise tonight. We were going to go to an old standby, but decided to give Kabul a try. We?re glad we did. First off, vegetarian friendly. We tried almost all the vegetarian dishes between the people in our party, and every dish was great.
1) Bolani ? fried thin afghan pastry, like samosas but more delicate. delicious.
2) Soup ? this was very interesting kind of like a spicy minestrone with central asian spices.
3) ?Eggplant dish? was excellent (how do you cook eggplant so that it can hold its shape, stay moist, and not melt, until you put it in your mouth?)
4) Qorma-I Tarkari - More like Indian food than any of the other dishes, but still unique.
5) ?pasta? dish ? we were a little hesitant about Afghan pasta, but it turned out to have some great flavors with some interesting textures.
Overall? Great food worth the price. I wouldn?t think twice about recommending this restaurant. If you go look at the ceiling next to the front door? there?s kind of a trippy optical illusion with the way the angles workout (or I?m just nuts).
- Pros: Great value, delicious food, attentive service
Best prepared lambs in town!
by jk0717
August 12, 2007
The first time I visited Kabul restaurant, I was definitely blown away! Starting from the service, every one of the workers was willing to help and shared their own testimonies of their favorite dishes. I was very pleased to see the environment inside the restaurant, which displayed a lot of the culture and lifestyles of Afghanistan. Besides the service and surroundings, I could go on and on about the food! I had never tried lamb before I visited Kabul. I immediately fell in love with the preparation of the meat, and the side dishes. The lamb kebabs were perfectly marinated for me to remember the taste leaving the restaurant. I would strongly recommend trying the lamb kebab special, which comes with the deliciously unique eggplant and rice to balance out the seasons and spices. It doesn?t stop here. Dessert is just as great as the entrees. If you are an ice cream lover like me, you will definitely love Kabul?s gourmet ice cream. My favorite is the mango sorbet, which is not too sweet and perfect for someone craving something fruity. Above all, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is willing to try something new and delicious! The price is great and you won?t forget the excellent taste of the food!!!
- Pros: two thumbs up!! great atmosphere and service!!
Excellent food as always
by mariam12
August 10, 2007
Before life got too busy with raising kids and working, I used to visit Kabul Afghan Cuisine regularly,and I always enjoyed their delicious food. When my niece came to town recently, I used her visit as the perfect excuse for a girl's night out in Kabul. I had raved about their appetizers called bolani, crispy deep fried potato turn-overs-my favorite. And we were not disappointed: from bolani to lamb kabob, spiced and marinated just right, served with plenty of rice, bread and salad, to dessert of Firni and Mango ice cream-the dinner was exquisite and just as good as I remembered from my earlier visits. We lingered over tea, enjoying the comfortable and friendly atmosphere. I had the promise my niece to bring her back on her next visit. Her goal is to try every item on the extensive and mouthwatering) menu. What a great idea! Thanks, KABUL, for a lovely evening!
- Pros: best lamb I have ever eaten
$20 for a kebab?!?! You've got to be kidding me!!
by willenajean
March 19, 2007
I dined at Kabul recently with a party of 5 (squeezed into a table for 4 mind you, even thought the restaurant was not full - annoying). At first I was a bit shocked to see $20 kebabs on the menu, but figured for the price they would probably be really excellent, and served in a fine dining, artful manner. Besides, that $20 also included an Afghan salad and Afghan bread, right? Think again. The $20 kebabs were nothing more than 6 chunks of meat next to a huge pile of rice. The "bread" that you get with the meal is more like a long strip of a tortilla, placed on top of your row of meat. The "salad" is a small dish of salty cucumber and scallions. For 5 of us to eat dinner, plus one bottle of mediocre wine, it cost $125 before tip. Not that I am opposed to paying for a true gourmet, "fancy schmancy" type meal that is artfully plated, but my meal at Kabul was at the cost of a much nicer restaurant, for much lower quality. Needless to say, I left a bit disappointed and will not return. The one good thing was that we did not feel rushed during our dining experience (which also could have been the timing, as we didn't start eating until nearly 8pm). I do not recommend this restaurant as there are other places in Seattle which give you better food for a better value.
- Pros: ambience
- Cons: not good for groups over 4, not good value
