I love a good Middle Eastern spot!! The chicken dashi was 10/10 - chicken was cooked perfectly and the spices and flavors were amazing. It came out sizzling on a hot skillet, which made the presentation even better.?Our waitress recommended the butternut squash as a side, and it complemented the meal really nicely. The place was warm and welcoming, and the traditional decor was beautiful. Really great dining experience all around. read more

We ordered on door dash from reading reviews. And super excited to eat. Plenty of gluten free options! Chicken Lawang - sauce was bombbbb, so tasty. Afghan version of a marinara or something, so good Chicken qabili palau. The cranberries were underwhelming and didn't add to the flavor of the meal unfortunately. We liked the eggplant side that came with it and the cucumbers but the dish itself was ok. I'm sure if we went back, we'd enjoy other dishes! And hopefully next time in person :) read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Great place if you want a change of flavor. Mantu is mid; the cover is overcooked and it just fall apart but flavor is okay. The lamb shank is really good, well-seasoned. The rice is cooked with raisin so it has a mild sweetness, which I like. The chicken is a little too salty imo and the dish doesn't have a lot of meat imo. Garlic naan is really good with lots of garlic. read more

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Chicken borani is always our go-to! Packed with flavor and tastes great consistently. The chicken dashi is also a great choice! I do with the pieces of chicken were prepared smaller. The palau - i loved the rice with all the mix ins! All three of the entrees are great!! Definitely order a side of naan, dishes taste great w rice and naan. Can't go wrong with dining here!! read more

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The food was fantastic, as well as the service. First time having this kind of cuisine and was very impressed. The chicken was flavorful and moist and everything was pleasantly seasoned. Although we all ate a ton, we didn't feel like we ate a particularly heavy meal. Finished it off with mango ice cream which was also delicious. It was a great way to end our vacation in the area. read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Kabul Nighttime Delight (SERVES 2-3) and GARLIC NAAN - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

so delicious!! Came here on a Tuesday night at 6pm with a party of 9 and they accommodated us right away! Everyone really enjoyed the food they got and I loved their chai as well!! Super cute family business and would recommend for anyone wanting to try something new and comforting! read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Appetizers - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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This was still an enjoyable meal, but I think I expected more. After hearing such great things and seeing some great reviews, I had high expectations. However, when I went with a couple of friends, the service was slow even though there were multiple workers who saw we were ready to order. Saying that, the servers were still nice, and they also comped a dessert of our choice since they forgot our drinks until near the end of the meal--a nice touch and definitely not something they had to do. The food was good, but not up to the high standards of some of the other Central/South Asian restaurants in SLC. The food lacked a bit in flavor and cohesiveness. The highlight was the lamb dashi and ground beef dashi--they were tasty and had a bit of nice char on the meat. The restaurant is decorated nicely with many interesting things to look at while you wait for your food. Overall, I would suggest visiting other Central/South Asian restaurants in SLC before trying Afghan Kitchen. read more

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Wow!! Best middle eastern cuisine I've had In Utah. 10/10 get the Chicken Dashi, it taste like the best chicken kabob you've had but with ginger, garlic spices. I also got a butternut squash dish, I don't recall the name of it but it's a famous one there so just ask the staff. I can't wait to go back and try everything else. Very nice waitress and setting. read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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I have no frame of reference to compare to since I've never had Afghan food before, but I really enjoyed my meal! I ordered the Beef Mantu as appetizers and the Chicken Qabili Palau as my entree. The Beef Mantu was succulent and flavorful, and I really liked the sauce on top of it. I just wish it came with more! I tried the Chicken Qabili Palau since it's the national dish of Afghanistan. I usually don't like raisins, but it was delicious in the rice. I loved the complex flavors and spices, and I especially enjoyed how tender the chicken was! It also came with a salad and Burani Banjan (eggplant simmered with tomatoes and yogurt-garlic sauce), and the latter was so garlicky, unique, and delicious. I was so happy I had leftovers for the next day! The service was very fast, and I enjoyed the decor inside. I felt like I got transported and got a small glimpse of Afghan art and culture. I recommend checking out their website for some very interesting facts about Afghanistan too! read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - BEEF MANTU - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Idk this place is just aight to me. The food was hot and the server was nice. Never had afghan food before but it was good. I really enjoyed the potato pancake appetizer read more

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Phenomenal flavor, unique dishes, and easy takeout. For my first try here, I didn't choose to dine in, and would like to next time, but my takeout experience was super fast and easy. I ordered the pumpkin mantu, and while it was exquisite, I thought the portion size was a bit small for the price. I also got a chicken kebab, perfectly grilled and seasoned, and the sheer yakh ice cream. I can't wait to go back and try more of their delicious offerings! read more

This was our third time here and we wonder why we don't go here more. Afghan kitchen has seriously the best flavors around! Everything this we tried was absolutely delicious and couldn't choose a favorite. The service is prompt and friendly & helpful if you have questions. read more

Always hits the spot. Amazing food can never go wrong. But also super friendly and kind staff that really make you feel at home and in the kitchen. Genuine people and sense of community is just radiating from this place. Definitely a comfort spot. read more

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Currently craving more as I write this!!! This restaurant is now on my exclusive list of places I will be recommending to everyone coming to the SLc area. Just amazed at the flavor profile of all the dishes and the amount of food provided is so generous! The owners were so friendly and helpful with the menu as it was our first time there. We went with a big group and every single person raved over the meal after we were done. The appetizer dumplings were fantastic! Juicy and drenched in a creamy tart sauce. Delicious The rice was moist and had this pumpkin spice w/ raisins and carrots to it that complemented the meat with its mild spice level. The Naan bread has the flavor that you know it was made with the freshest ingredients and homemade. Also more chewy than other Naans I've had which I liked. Can't wait to show off this restaurant to others!! read more

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So delicious! Second time here and great service and anything you get will surprise you and fill you up :) read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Sheer Chai NAAN LAMB DASHI CHICKEN QABILI PALAU - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

I don't eat Afghan food much but this place was incredible and has me craving more. We got a couple of vegetarian dishes, a couple orders of garlic naan, the meaty date platter, and a lamb entree for 5 people. Honestly, I thought we ordered too much food but we devoured every bit of it. Everything was good but my personal favorites were definitely the naan, chickpeas, and chicken qobili (in no particular order). The service was incredible as well and I would 10/10 recommend this place for anyone wanting a hearty meal in Salt Lake City. read more

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Afghan Kitchen is truly a hidden gem in Utah! The food here is some of the best you'll find in the SLC area. Some of our favorite dishes are the Bolani Kachalo and the Chicken Qabili Palau, but honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The food is consistently delicious and very affordable. The service is outstanding--the servers are attentive, and it's not uncommon to see the owner personally checking on tables and even serving guests himself. This is one of those places that comes to mind immediately when you're craving amazing food. The rave reviews speak for themselves--it's really that good. Stop sleeping on Afghan Kitchen and give it a try. You won't be disappointed! read more

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I've never had Afghan food before, but I'm so glad I did! Ambiance: Unassuming on the outside, but the inside had plenty of character and art on the walls that make the place feel very cozy. Service: No frills. Quick and straight forward. Food: Got the mantu which was delicious, flavorful and was a really different take on dumplings with various sauces on top. The chicken borani was also delicious, hearty, and the chicken and egg plant was cooked just right. The rice it came with was a great combo. My favorite was the garlic naan just on it's own. Overall, great place if you're looking for something that's a bit more off the beaten path. Will definitely be back to try other things! read more

Delicious! We ordered from the plant-based section of the menu. My husband got the eggplant and I got the chickpeas. Both were excellent. We also split a garlic naan and it was incredibly soft and flavorful. The portions are large enough that I could not finish all my rice. read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Garlic Naan - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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We were excited to try some Afghan food during our trip to Salt Lake City. Our experience was a 3.5-4 star one, some dishes were better than others and service was a bit slow. There were a few tables that were full when we went on a weeknight, but only one person working in the front of the restaurant, so she had a lot to keep up with. Because of this, service wasn't the best, but it was understandable. We got the Burani Banjan (eggplant), Bamiya (okra), Pakawra (fried potato fritters), and Pumpkin Mantu (pumpkin dumplings). The Pakawra wasn't my favorite - it was pretty bland and really needed the spice tray that we got later in the meal. The Mantu was interesting, also not the most flavorful, but glad I got to try it. The eggplant was my favorite dish - it was cooked nicely and had a great sauce! read more

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The $14 dollar lunch special was mind blowing. My girlfriend and I came in on a Wednesday afternoon, arriving at an empty restaurant, and they seemed happy to serve us. We were able to try the chicken qorma (curry), chicken kabob, eggplant borani (yogurt dish), (fritters), and beef mantu (dumplings). What a slate, and everything was a smash hit! They came with more heavily-seasoned rice and bread than we could finish. The chai was also solid. I hadn't had Afghani food before, but it made sense that there were both Indian and Middle Eastern flavors represented. It was such a privilege for this to be our first meal in our SLC trip, and it was a great value for certain! read more

Tip: check in for free dessert! The service here was so friendly and welcoming. Would surely come back. I wouldn't think SLC is known for Afghan food but this was an A+ spot and so delicious. We ordered what was recommended with the stars on the menu for both appetizer and entrees, and shared family style. read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Dessert and potato pancake - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

This was our first experience with Afghan food, and it was successful! We tried a bunch of things, and my favorites included the beef/lamb kebabs, pakawra, and pumpkin mantu. The seasonings and sauces are outstanding, even to a palate that's new to these foods. Our server kindly walked us through the menu and explained the basics, which was extraordinarily helpful. I'd get a kebab a la carte in the future, just because I'm not big on plain rice and cucumber salad- YMMV. I was confused why we were some of the only diners on a Saturday night- maybe the other location is more popular? There were two single-stall bathrooms, and one had an "out of order" sign. The other was clogged, so it became my husband's first time unclogging a restaurant toilet read more

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The food was very good! I got the Mantu, the Sambosa, the lamb Kabob and the Firnee for dessert! All delicious!

Delicious! Don't let the surrounding area fool you. Look beyond the front door and you'll see a spacious dining area, full of other first timers and regulars :) From big families to couples, you'll often hear strangers asking each other, "oooo, what did you order?" For an appetizer, we got the Mantu beef dumplings. Very flavorful and a nice way to start our meal. Incredible array of lamb shank options on the menu, so be prepared to sit there and debate over which flavor or veggie you prefer LOL maybe that's why strangers just look over to the next table and say, "I'll have what she's having." Now if you love eggplant as much as I do, then order the Lamb Shank Mughuli. Oh so tender, just fell off the bone. And it's a big knuckle bone so enjoy the fork tender meat then pack the bone to go and save space for dessert!! Trust me when I say, even in 30 degree weather you'll want their Sheer Yakh, homemade Afghan rosewater and cardamom ice cream. The delicate floral flavor combined with a hint of cardamom is truly enjoyable! And to all my vegetarian friends, their menu is bursting with tasty choices! Great food, great service, no wonder everyone is giving 5 stars :) read more

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Oh man, I'm so sad to update my review negatively. It's been five times that we have had AK since my last review. A few times were on Uber Eats. The portions are getting smaller and smaller! I love supporting local ethnic cuisine but am so sad to see them skimping on portions AND having high prices. This was $10 for the few pieces of meat alone and $20 for this lamb shank with rice. They also charge for any sauces you may want. I would be so happy to attempt to dine in one more time, but sadly will not be ordering takeout from them again. Additionally, one time we ordered takeout around 9pm and you could clearly tell the quality suffered, and it was also served to me in a catering pan (not pictured). read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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The 5 star reviews are deserved. Places like this are the gems of our city. Go. Eat. Enjoy. read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Veggie combo - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

This place was really good! We tried it just to try something different and were very impressed. Even our teens liked it. The restaurant was nice and very clean. We tried a family style dinner where they brought out several items and we all shared. We'll definitely be back. read more

Great flavor, the lamb fell right off the bone. Staff was nice and food came out faster than I thought possible (probably because I caught them right before closing). Afghani culture on the walls, hospitality on the floor. read more

The. Best. Food. In. SALT LAKE!!! There. I said it! Holy cow. Okay let me start by saying I am not typically one to branch out when it comes to food. I play it safe, crave the same foods I know I like, and choose places with large menus 'just in case'. So when my coworker recommended this place I was hesitant to say the least. I went out on a whim and asked some girlfriends of mine to try it out. I'm still having trouble finding words. The food was PHENOMENAL! Freshness, flavor, texture, sauces, absolutely everything. I had never tried Afghan food before and now I'll be coming back here at least monthly. I'm so impressed. Small menu but I promise you will not be disappointed. read more

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This place does not disappoint. This is our favorite restaurant in Utah. It blows my mind how flavorful the rice is. We love the beef dumplings and recommend getting the lamb shank. It falls right off the bone. It's perfection. I will take everyone I know here. read more

Food is always very tasty here. Their Naans are the best. The lamb kabobs and eggplant dish are among my favorites there.

My wife and I have been to their Main Street location, which we loved. This State Street location was good. The Lamb Shank Qabili Palau was just as good as I remembered, and I'm not usually a big fan of lamb. The chicken Lawang seemed less flavorful than we remembered. Less spices? Reminded me of a bland marinara sauce. The naan was also made using what appeared to be wheat flour. Seemed a little dry for my taste. If I go again, I'll try their kabobs or dashi. Be sure to check out their website for helpful photos of all the menu items. read more

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This restaurant is great! If you love trying new and unique places to eat, this is one you can't go wrong with. The food is presented artistically and Ive never tried anything that wasn't delicious. read more

A great place to dine! We chose Afghan Kitchen on State Street for our monthly "girls" lunch and we were all delighted that we did. We each tried a variation of the lunch special that included an appetizer with your entree. They were all excellent. I had the pakwara, the eggplant Burani Banjan and the chickpea quorma. The flavors were amazing and delicious. Others in our group tried the chicken kabob, the chicken quorma along with the beef mantu. I was the happy recipient of tastes of those dishes which were equally delicious. The service was excellent and the decor provided a nice authentic Afghan ambience. I am looking forward to going back to try other dishes on the menu. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

I loved the food here, maybe because I like to try foods that are unique and you can't find in all of Utah. The place has good music and the servers are great. We ordered the pumpkin hummus to start off and it was great but they need to give you more bread (naan). Very good overall for the appetizer. I got the Afghan special and everything on the plate was so good and there was quite a bit of food. My wife got the sizzling platter but I didn't like it as much as mine. Everything was spot on, the naan, chicken, sauces, and the hot sauces all tasted homemade and very good. Stop in and give it a try read more

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Awesome food. Awesome experience. My friend and I shared a meal for two, the "Intimate Meal", but it was so much food it probably could've served 3 or 4 people. Not that it bothered me any since I'm a fan of delicious leftovers! The intimate meal came with beef dumplings, chicken quabili palau, beef and chicken kabobs, eggplant, salad, and rice. Everything was delicious, but the star of the show was the chicken kabobs. read more

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This is seriously one of the best restaurants we've tried in SLC! Prior to moving here we never tried Afghan food before and were pleasantly surprised at how flavorful it was! It's so hard for us to decide on what dishes to get, so if we're ever here with a big group we always order the Afghan feast which can comfortably feed 5-6 people. However, we always end up with leftovers and even the rice is the most flavorful rice ever! The Afghan feast starts off with the equivalent of ground beef dumplings covered in the most flavorful, creamy sauce. Then there's a sizzling platter of sauteed onions and bell peppers with surprisingly really moist chicken and I believe beef. Then, on a huge platter there's a lamb shank, three types of rice, eggplant, cucumber and tomato salad, chicken kabob and ground beef stick. The lamb shank was fall off the bone tender, the chicken can be on the dry side, but the beef was juicy and flavorful. One of the rice also had pieces of shredded chicken, raisins and shredded carrots. The chicken soup was bland in comparison so I wouldn't recommend ordering that. Also, the sauces they bring out with the food enhances everything to another level. The sauces include a habanero sauce, a yogurt one, a green herbal chutney and a regular red Chile sauce. My favorite is the habanero and the yogurt sauce! Please don't sleep on this place you won't regret it! read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Afghan feast - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Not only is it beautiful in there the food is delicious also the family dishes comes with a lot of food and good options read more

Afghan Kitchen Restaurant - Interior - Middle Eastern Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Fantastic food excellent service and great vibe. Great authentic seating with cozy carpeted floor booth. Great lamb and authentic spices. read more