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    Afghan Kabab Express

    4.4 (151 reviews)
    InexpensiveHalal, Afghan, Mediterranean
    Open 11:30 am - 9:30 pm

    Order Afghan Kabab Express Takeout or Delivery

    Afghan Kabab Express Photos

    Business Info

    AFGHAN KABAB EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Afghan Kabab Express

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    Mix Gyro Over Rice | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie
    Jacqueline T.

    It's not often I find an Afghan restaurant, so when I saw this on our trip to Albany I wanted to try it. My husband and I shared: - Falafel Pita Wrap - Badenjan - Mix Gyro Over Rice - Bolani I enjoyed everything, but my two favorite things were the Bolani and the Mix Gyro Over Rice. We got takeout and all of it held up very well with takeout.

    Chicken kebab!
    Allen G.

    Hostess was a sweetheart very interesting place used to be a Chinese food restaurant. The aesthetics hasn't been changed. Kind of reminds me of a restaurant in Williamsburg. The food was really good if you're in a rush this is definitely the spot the chicken and sumac are perfect!

    Lamb/beef gyro over rice
    Jessica W.

    Afghan Kabob Express - overall good portions, light on the oil and yummy rice! Lamb/beef gyro over rice- they make the food fresh to order so we had to wait 15 minutes. The rice was the best part- very light on the oil yet still flavorful. The meat was ok, it was cut into very small pieces which was easy to eat but didn't have much spice. The white and red sauces tied the dish together nicely. The proportion of meat to rice was a bit low- I would have liked a few more veggies and less rice or more meat. Overall a very satisfying meal!

    Falafel plate
    Lu-Shien T.

    Outstanding food at an unbeatable value. Sketchy part of town, the cafe entrance is inside a hallway of what may once led to offices or a small mall. Ask for the key to the restroom. The Falafel were small but crisp and flavorful and were served with fries and rice. The lamb kebabs were tender and flavorful. A pleasant surprise since most lamb medallions have been chewy at other restaurants. The lambshops were more of a bone in rump steak with bone chips and gristle than the lamb cutlets pictured. Still tasty, but a challenge to cut up. The koobideh was excellent and moist with balanced spices. Surprisingly, I preferred the lamb kebabs over the koobideh this meal. The Afghan rice (pulaw) can be substituted for regular rice for an extra charge and is more flavorful. The blaklava is pretty darn good.

    Nina M.

    What a delightful delicious dinner. Everything we order was delicious. Salad dressing was so good. I wish I could tell you more about authenticity but it was just delicious I recommend having delivery as there is no easy

    There are some vans parked next door
    Fox E.

    Afghan and done it again. My friend Bob says this place sucks. Well you're wrong, K Bob? XXXXXXXXX. Oh sorry, that was an accidental X press. WHAT TO GET: The Kababs. WHAT ELSE: My ex is depressed. She's Afghan Kebab Exdepressed. Four stars in Albany doesn't always mean something is great. However in this case, it's underrated, if anything. The kebab was a little dry, but still extremely tasty Persian style deliciousness. They didn't have Kobedeh, which is why I came (and my fave type), but the chicken was lovely, and I look forward to returning. The rice is absolutely delicious too. John Rice-Davies was actually named after this rice, as was Ray Rice and Rice University. It's easily the best Middle Eastern food I've tried in Albany, and goes along with the excellent nearby Gyros and the Italian Sandwiches to form the backbone of the state capital's hidden gems and top treats. The wait is long, so I recommend ordering ahead.

    Sauces.
    Addy B.

    Bolzani. Thin, crispy, golden brown. The potatoes inside were soft. Carbs encased in carbs, I'll be back of these. I had the gyro over rice. The rice was fluffy and seasoned well. The gyro was tender and it all mingled well with the white and red sauces. It was also served with a small salad. It's filling and inexpensive the gyro plate, ideal for lunch or takeout. Note-$10.00 minimum for credit cards.

    Menu time! Bring a friend for secrets stuff on the menu
    Nita C.

    This is a quaint and great place to get some delicious Afghan Kabab. I got the mixed rice, which rice with shredded chicken and beef, which was delicious!! I have never really had much experience with Afghan food, but it was definitely very good. The meat wasn't dry, and the flavours were all just right without being too overwhelming to the taste bud. They have this "white sauce", and it's super yummy. They also have a green, mint sauce, which also really adds a zing to the concoction. If you're a fan of spicy food, they have mixes of red spicy sauce as well, and it definitely satisfied my craving for some spicy flavours. They do have take out, so if you're up for some yummy noms like this for a movie night, this would definitely be on my menu! Just remember to ask for some extra white sauce and green sauce to take with you.

    two plates of food on a table
    V M.

    $20-25 meal for two people. Amazing food! The rice was so damn good, it's making me drool just thinking about it. The man behind the counter who waited on us was super nice. Will definitely be back when I'm in town!

    Kebab chicken dish with their unlimited white sauce, mmmm

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    7 years ago

    The tenderest lamb. Stuffed grape leaves - warm as intended. Rice, the best flavors. The simplest of salads were very fresh. Check it out.

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    7 years ago

    Mediterranean fare. I had lamb kababs on saffron rice. Very good tasty food.

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    7 years ago

    Delish food - comfort level! Please try... lamb kabobs were juicy and so well seasoned!

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

    I am wiling to drive again from New York City to Albany just for the food. Hands down the food is a bargain compared to price.

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    6 years ago

    Delicious lamb over rice. Ask for the hot sauce on the side since it can be pretty hot!

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    7 years ago

    Best food ever I recommend everyone to go check it out. Specially the chicken over rice and the lamb over rice.

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    9 years ago

    Great kebab! The place could add a few updates though. But food was very delicious and service was fast and courteous.

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    9 years ago

    Does its job! Good food, friendly customer service. I love my kebab on rice and tea. Always good!

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    8 years ago

    The food is great! I recommend the chicken or gyro over rice. The owner is also very friendly. I eat here frequently.

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    Page 2 of 4

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    Kismet Mediterranean Grill

    Kismet Mediterranean Grill

    4.4
    (186 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I've been dying to come here ever since I drove by a month ago. Finally! It's a nice, clean…read morerestaurant with great service! We started with some appetizers of cigar rolls and falafel. Mmmm delicious. The cigar rolls were so good we ordered another one. It comes with five rolls and a side of tahini. Crispy and fluffy with feta. The falafel comes halved and was crispy and delicious. Everyone pretty much tried everyone's dish because you just had to. I got the chicken shish. It came with a generous amount of char grilled juicy chicken chunks on a flat pita with a generous portion of yellow rice and a side salad. Dinner mate got the braised lamb shank and the other got the braised short ribs. They both came with generous sides. The asparagus was nice and tender. The short ribs just melted in my mouth. The chicken kavourma came fancy and just bursted with flavor with lots of chicken and vegetables. I didn't get to try the lamb because it got gobbled down so fast. The strawberry mimosa was delicious too. A must try in that row of restaurants on Madison. We got the best spot in the house, the window seat, where we saw people walking their dogs and lots of friendly people waving with their dogs and cars with dogs and cool cars driving by. Very entertaining for a seven year old. Baklava with ice cream for dessert. Amazing! They do not have a kids menu so if you have a picky eater, plan ahead! We did make a reservation for a party of five.

    I'd give it 10 stars I could. The hummus was incredible as was the rest of their dips. I got the…read moredonair and the meat was juicy and delicious. The server was really friendly and the food came out fast. The artwork was cool and the restaurant was very clean.

    Photos
    Kismet Mediterranean Grill
    Lamb Chops
    Lamb Chops
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    Shish Kebab Chicken
    Mamoun's Falafel

    Mamoun's Falafel

    4.4
    (147 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Before Mamoun's Falafel, I would have confidently told you that I'm not a falafel person. Turns…read moreout, I just hadn't had good falafel before. And now that I have, it's actually a bit of a problem -- because whenever I travel and order falafel somewhere else, it almost always ends in disappointment. Mamoun's completely changed my opinion. The color, the texture, the seasoning, and that perfectly crispy bite in every mouthful -- whatever their secret is, this is the falafel that made me love falafel. The owner is also one of the kindest and most welcoming people you'll meet. Always polite, well-dressed, and genuinely warm. If you see him there, say hello -- he's a pleasure to chat with. Beyond the falafel, I've tried most of the platters on the menu. The kebabs are very flavorful and juicy. The baba ghanoush, hummus, and falafel are consistently fresh and delicious. The bourani might actually be my favorite way to eat spinach, and the mjadra is a fantastic, flavorful alternative to the usual white rice. I've been coming here for years and the quality has never changed -- which is rare and worth appreciating. I sincerely hope it stays exactly the same for many years to come. PS: unfortunately they are open just for take out since Covid-19

    I loveeee the gyros at Mamoun's. It a go to lunch for me. My favorite thing to get is the falafel …read more It is so fresh and tasty, even the lettuce tomato and onion. Their sauce is fresh as well, and you have to try the mint lemonade. Fantastic! The owner is so friendly and sweet and they have been here for years. It's takeout only now so you have to either call and place your order or order online and pick it up. Works for me! Love it here!

    Photos
    Mamoun's Falafel
    Combination -- Vegetarian
    Combination -- Vegetarian
    Falafel appetizer

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    Falafel appetizer
    Ali Baba

    Ali Baba

    4.5
    (363 reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    My son had stopped here on the way to visit and based on some of the leftovers, we knew it had to…read morebe on the list. Traveling within about 5 minutes on the way to visit a good friend, and it happened to be right around lunch time, the opportunity finally came. It's a casual place, lots of 2 and 4 top tables, but what caught my eye when we went in was the cooler full of amazing side options. Then you look up and there's a beautiful oven and a dough station. This is looking great. We sat and ordered lamb kebab and doner kebab. A couple minutes later, a large (~11x17?) wooden tray appeared with a piping hot lavash bread and a plate of dill yogurt sauce. If the meal had stopped there, I would have been a happy camper. We had just had a few pieces when the kebab arrived, each with a pepper, tomato, some red cabbage, and onion. Both meats were authentic and delicious. My favorite way to eat my doner was with a bit of the bread, a bit of the dill sauce, some onion and cabbage, and a bunch of meat - a mini gyro, if you will. We took away about 1/3 of the generous portions and ordered a large mixed plate (all 10 of the sides) and baklava to take to our friend. It's a bit of a drive for us, but any time we're anywhere close, we're going to be back for sit down (if it's mealtime) or takeaway if it's not. I highly recommend you do the same.

    Alibaba is probably the oldest Turkish restaurant in the Albany area, and it recently got a nice…read moreupgrade -- from the furniture to the serving plates and menus. The place feels much more modern and inviting now. Our family especially enjoys the beyti kebab, the güveç, and their pide. I haven't tried the pizza yet, but since their pide is very good, I imagine the pizza would also be solid. For me though, the real highlight at Alibaba is the mezze. In Turkish cuisine, grilled meats and kebabs are almost always enjoyed with a variety of mezze. They might technically be sides, but they're a big part of the whole experience. These days there are several Turkish kebab places in the area, but none of them offer a wide selection of fresh, house-made mezze like Alibaba does. At many places you're lucky if you find one or two options, often just a basic ezme. At Alibaba you'll find around ten different mezze and each one tastes distinct and freshly made. Every time I tell myself I'll just take a little... and somehow I end up filling a big mezze plate. Honestly, even when we grill at home, our motivation is picking up mezze from Alibaba to go with it. I'm not sure if it gets the credit it deserves, but don't skip the mezze here -- you'd be missing out. In fact, start with the mezze and figure out the rest later :))

    Photos
    Ali Baba
    Ali Baba
    Mixed Kebab

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    Mixed Kebab

    Afghan Kabab Express - halal - Updated July 2026

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