Bamyan Kabob's lunch buffet is one of those rare spots where you feel like you've discovered something special the moment you sit down. The standout for me was the chicken soup--rich, creamy, and packed with flavor in a way that feels both comforting and indulgent without being heavy. It's the kind of dish you go back for more than once. The variety of rice offerings was equally impressive, each with its own distinct seasoning and texture--from light and fragrant to more savory, spiced options that pair perfectly with the rest of the meal. The chicken dishes on the buffet were tender and well-marinated, with a depth of flavor that clearly comes from careful preparation rather than shortcuts. I also appreciated the small touches that round out the experience. The tea was warm and soothing, a perfect complement to the meal, and the dessert selection added a nice, subtle sweetness to finish without overwhelming you. Overall, Bamyan Kabob delivers a well-balanced, flavorful lunch buffet that feels both hearty and thoughtfully prepared. It's a place that doesn't just fill you up--it makes you want to come back. read more

My first Yelp event was at Kabul House on Oakton (Skokie), before they moved to Dempster (Evanston). And from that moment to this, I've always been amazed by Afghanistan style cooking. And that's why I was attracted to Bamyan Kabob. I drive down Lincoln Avenue every week it seems, and guess what, there's Bamyan that I'm seeing out of the corner of my eye. So I finally came in, at least three (3) times now and I really enjoy the greetings from the employees, they are very friendly. They also have videos showing how the food is prepared and cooked, which is very insightful. As for the food, definitely get the mantu entree, these are the beef pot stickers, these are incredible. I would also select the steak and chicken kebabs with salad. Although we've asked for rare steak, it's been on the medium well side. But both the steak and chicken breast cubes are still very juicy. Excellent service too, in this neat and clean environment. When it was warmer, we sat in the outdoor enclosed area and that was cool, literally. read more

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10/21/15 - Afghan Bamyan Kabob on the corner of Lincoln Ave & California. Walking up you see all kinds of breakfast & lunch specials. I ordered the lunch special that comes w/kifta kabob over a bed of biryani rice w/raisins, & carrots, a small chicken soup, & 3 sides. I got the hummus, spinach & potatoes You can substitute the meat for a chicken leg, chicken kabob, beef shawarma, fish or other proteins along w/3 sides for $11. Very nice assortment of afghan dishes along w/American food for the less adventurous. The staff/people & owners are all super nice & make you feel welcome. The food was pretty good & reasonably priced w/nice sized portions. Now that I'm aware of Bamyan Kabob I'll be back (I feel like Arnold Schwarzenegger lol read more

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I'll be honest. We were just looking for lunch at any authentic Afghan place, and landed at Afghan Bamyan Kabob by sheer chance. But what a feast we were in for! First, the appetisers (which I thought was reasonably priced at not-crazy numbers): Afghan Mantu (Pelmeni) - You call this "ground beef dumplings"? Nay. These are five damn-tasty morsels of heaven accentuated with a light tomato sauce, split peas, herbs and garlic yogurt sauce. I nearly cried when the spouse misunderstood me, and thought my leaving the last two dumplings meant I didn't want them! Not to worry, I plan to come here again ^^ Kaddu Borani - A plate of sauteed pumpkin, herbs, garlic yogurt sauce, and an entire basket of crispy naan-like bread. Vegetarians would love this (spoiler, am not a vegetarian), but those mantu still called to my heart. Chicken Soup - On top of that, these lovely people served us little complimentary bowls of soup. We had no idea what was in it but it obviously had turmeric, chickpeas and carrots. I couldn't believe how wholesome, hearty and flavourful it was--finishing it to the last drop felt like a hug on the insides. Was very amused to learn they just call it chicken soup; it didn't even have a description in the menu. Entrees: Kabuli Palaw - I wanted their most authentic dish, and they did not disappoint. This was a huge platter of basmati brown rice dotted with raisins, caramelised carrots, and sneaky bits of almond all piled over stonkingly generous chunks of tender lamb underneath. I personally added a bit of salt over the rice, but after both of us cracked into it, we packed the rest and still had enough for two meals afterwards. Falafel Plate - The spouse stayed faithful to their vegetarian theme here, and also because falafel was one of the few words they recognised on the menu XD When I was in Scotland for three years, they had falafel places everywhere, but I've never tried until now. Crispy, comforting and filling, was how we'd describe it. It came with tasty hummus, more bread, and a salad my spouse didn't finish funnily enough. They insisted 'crunchy water' didn't count. For dessert, we had Jelabi--two pieces of spirally tasties which is apparently fermented batter deep-fried, then soaked with syrup. Not refreshing but definitely an eye-opening experience. There were other desserts like Firnee, a creamy pudding, but we wanted to try Jelabi for how cheap they were. And because we didn't want to choose the obvious (yet tempting) Baklava, which the restaurant sells in boxes along with Afghan shortbread-like cookies and pastries. All this, in a charming dining environment with decorative stained glass lamps, Afghan music, and warm hospitality. There is so much to try out in the menu that we will definitely come here again! Edit: Forgot to mention they have lunch specials at $9.99, weekdays from 11.30am to 3.30pm (oddly specific). The choices are various kabobs, or marinated white fish, both with rice and salad. Not bad. read more

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Hidden gem in Chicago. Banyan Kabob delivers authentic Afghan food that we'll def be back for. Borani Banjan sautéed eggplant with tomato and yogurt sauce. This was my fav! Beef dumplings with a savory yogurt sauce Lamb Karahi was brought in a hot skillet simmering in spicy sauce & served with fresh flatbread Mango drink was a cooling balance to the spiciness of some dishes. Attentive service, spacious inside with Afghan music playing. While we had no problem getting a table on a weeknight, we were told weekends it fills up fast! read more

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Very disappointing experience. I tried both dine-in and delivery, and spent over $300 total, but the quality was extremely poor. The food was undercooked in some parts, burnt in others, and had a burnt smell. No bread was included, and the order came without utensils or napkins. I chose this place for halal Afghan food, but it did not meet expectations at all. read more

The service was excellent and fast. Really enjoyed the complimentary chicken soup with chicken peas. Very nice of them to offer while I waited fir my takeout. I ordered beef kefta kabobs entree and beef skewers. I woukd come back read more

Bamyan Kabob - Complimentary chicken soup while I wait for take out. Very goid - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was amazing , will definitly be coming back. Ambience and service would say good. Not amazing but good overall. Thank you Bamyan and will definitly be back for more amazing food. Their lamb was spot on!! read more

Bamyan Kabob - HUMMUS LAMB KARAHI COMBO#2ENTREE with chicken - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ok, I've been wondering why I see people here all the time when I drive or walk by and now I finally get it. It's GOOD. I had the combo platter #1 and my fiancé had the Kabuli Palaw, both were delicious! I wanted to try the mantu as well but I wasn't sure I would have room for that much food. After our 2 dishes, it was the right call. Just means I have to go back which I am more than happy to do. read more

Order delivery - everything was piping hot. The star of the show was the mantu. Oh my gosh, they are so good. The bolani was a bit disappointing, the menu said it's potato and green onion but there was zero potato in the stuffing. Also got the tomato lentil soup- it was fine. I will be coming back for the mantu!!! read more

We've been wanting to try to place for a while, and it did not disappoint. If you're looking for delicious Afghan cuisine , this is the place. If you haven't tried that cuisine before, would highly recommend you dive deep here into it. Try their eggplant appetizer (Borani Banjan) to start off, and then get a Lamb Karahi entree, which is both rich and spicy at the same time. If you have some stomach space the Aghan Mantu (beef dumplings) is delish. We ordered baklava to go as well. It has a quiet ambiance as it appears to be 50/50 takeout vs dine in but the service is so friendly. Would absolutely come back again #neighborhoodgem #Afghan read more

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I love to order Afghani food- especially kebobs. The plentiful variety in my area allows me to try many restaurants, and I recently tried Bamyan Kabob. Let me first say- the Kabuli Palaw was great! Tender raisins and shredded carrots garnished soft rice. However, the kebobs were more limited. While the lamb was flavorful, it was a bit dry, and the beef kabab had excess gristle and chew, and the chicken did not seem fresh. The baklava was acceptable, nothing to write home about, but tasty. The bread was okay, but nothing special- it was soft and thin. However, the kebobs and sauce portions were generous and large. There are better options for Afghani food within the area, such as Kabul House in Evanston- however, in a pinch, Bamyan Kabob could work. I recommend the lamb kebob and kabuli palaw. I cannot speak specifically to service as I ordered takeout, but my Shedo Chai drink was unfortunately forgotten, though they were quick about refunding it. Overall, Bamyan Kabob was dissapointing, and I would direct anyone looking for delicious Afghan cuisine or a quick lunch elsewhere. read more

Bamyan Kabob - #3 Combo and Baklava - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bamyan Kabob is a nice homely place for Afghan food. All the food is freshly made and loved each and every one of them. The corn soup is very delicious. The serving size is generous. Thank you read more

Very unclean rat infested droppings everywhere roaches crawling around and I learned of their being dirty too late after getting sick on their food which was overpriced and not authentic full of oil just bad ! read more

delicious food and great happy service, I recommend this spot for sure!! Emilio Diaz. read more

Came here with our friends from Afghanistan. It was so nice to see them comfortable and speaking to the owners and servers in their language! We appreciated that right off the bat. We also came during Ramadan and they were respectful of people who prayed and breaking fast. Food was good. The lab kabob was my husband's favorite, I loved the chicken and we all LOVED the Afghan Palaw. Also, my chai was so great. We were also celebrating birthdays and they let us bring in a cake and brought extra plate, etc. for us. Great food for a good price. Highly recommend. read more

Bamyan Kabob - Inside dining - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a few blocks away from my house and I've been wanting to try it due to good reviews but I was disappointed, I ordered a takeout one of the the combo lamb, chicken and beef kabob with white rice , what I received was the rice with raisins and carrots which was greasy and lacking flavor, the meats were all flavorless and dry . I really want to like this place because it's in my neighborhood bit I will not be coming back . read more

Food was amazing and the service was great aswell. The lighting and setup of the restaurant are all really cool as well.

This is one of the best and most unique paces to get middle eastern food. The dumpling are truly the star of the show. I would highly recommend going out of the way for this place read more

Simple place with amazing food. Everything tasted like homemade comfort food. The service was incredibly fast and the staff was awesome. The lamb shank and eggplant were my favorites. read more

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Very good food. Rice was delicious and the chicken kabob was very tender. Will be back very soon!

Devine taste. I can honestly say I've never been satisfied eating at a middle eastern restaurant ( don't believe me look at my reviews) this place by far is THE BEST I've had. We did family style so I had a variety of food to taste. The kabobs were cooked to perfection. The lamb would melt in your mouth. The mantoo was super tasty and rich in flavor read more

Bamyan Kabob - More fooood - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Over rated. I ordered combination grill, the meet was overcooked and dried, the Afghan Kabuli meat was beef not lamb also tasteless and overcooked . Nice people so I hope they pay attention to the feedback, as I've been in 2 other Afghani restaurants in Chicago area and the food was way better! read more

Holy Cow what a find. We have driven by many times and always noticed the full parking lot but had never stopped. So on a cold damp dreary Chicago afternoon we decided we needed to visit and find out what Afghan food is all about. Well we are now fans of this little gem. We were greeted by the cheerful and rightful proud owner, Farida. She helped us with our order and provided our entrees with just the right amount of heat. We ordered Afghan Ashaki,( Vegetarian Dumplings) the dish was presented beautifully and as it turned out the flavors ended up complimenting our other dish perfectly. The other dish was a house speciality, Lamb Karahi. This 1 Lb bone on flavorful dish came to table in the small wok type pan it had been prepared in. At Farida's suggestion it was seasoned to a medium level of spiciness. for us it was prefect. I did eat a large piece of chili that brought a call for water please. But that only added to our experience. All and all the meal was outstanding. Not being knowledgeable about Afghan cuisine we weren't sure if the food was authentic or just delicious. It was confirmed that it was at the real deal when another diner leaned over and proclaimed his meal the best Afghan restaurant food in Chicago. Looking at his plate which was bare who were we to disagree. I nearly forget the black tea was piping hot and welcome on this damp day. So as is so often the case with great ethinic dining in Chicago don't choose your restaurant based on the exterior come inside and enjoy the warm hospitality great food and reasonable prices. We will be back soon, there is a big menu for us to work thru. read more

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Good portion sizes. The lamb kabob is very good. You do have to wait a bit, but that is because everything is grilled on the spot. You can also ask for more salad on the side. read more

It's really amazing food I recommend some of our troops who been in Afghanistan can have a good times here. read more

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Beautifully decorated including the classic National Geographic photos of the gorgeous green-eyed mom who suffered during Russia's war vs. Afghanistan. Super outdoor shaded seating, good social distancing inside. Chicken kabob was tender and juicy. Rice was a bit dry but they let me duck inside & scoop chicken sauce on the rice ! The Afghan SheDo Chai drink was a revelation. Staff were super helpful & friendly. My buddies are big dudes who gorged on the hummus & Afghan Ash Soup etc. read more

Meat was cooked to perfection -- especially the lamb kabob; tender and juicy but still well cooked. Rice complimented the meat very well. Mantu was delicious too! Definitely recommend this place read more

Delicious and friendly service - the servers were very accommodating and were able to modify orders as needed! Super affordable prices also!!!! read more

Bamyan Kabob - CHICKEN SHAWARMA PLATE with side of hummus - SO DELICIOUS and zesty!!! Very flavorful. Come eat here and give them a review!!! - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

On road trip all the way from California. Stop by at this particular afghan restaurant. As being pathan, we admire afghan culture and their food. Had delicious food here with five star customer service. Thank you so much Love from California. read more

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S.E. Corner of Lincoln & California. Great-tasting kabob/wraps. Opened in late October, with the friendliest owners/staff. Beautifully-designed decor, cool hanging glass lamps, music with a beat over the PA. PS- Ask for the sweet Jelabi dessert--a twisted dough with lemon & cardamon. read more

Bamyan Kabob - the name of the restaurant - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Both times I've had their food it's been delicious, with a striking balance of spices and flavors, allowing bite after bite to be savory yet sweet yet slightly hot. I recommend the Uzbek Palaw and can't wait to try more of the menu. read more

Thanks to Michael Gebert and Fooditor for the extra encouragement to visit after having spotted Bamyan Kabob on Yelp. We dropped by on a Friday night and focused on items that we hadn't tried elsewhere. So we went with the manti (ok we've had manti at Afghan restaurants before, but this was still stylistically different - larger and not pre-sauced). Pelmeni next time. Also got the oromo (this is a must get) - is a steamed noodle pie with a meat filling. We compared it to Serbian burek if it was steamed instead of baked. Maybe along with the manti it was overkill on the stuffed pasta, but yet we ate them both. On the side, we get a large bowl of borscht (my guess with beef rather than lamb). It's large, almost a meal for one, sharing for two. Also got the olivye salad which is close in description as an egg potato salad. Restaurant remains new with a few other diners (primarily Central Asian from our guess), and a television in the dining room. You might sit away from the windows for extra warmth. They've got their own parking lot up front with plenty of spaces. There's lots more on their menu in terms of kabobs and offerings you can find at other restaurants. Their staff were happy to explain menu items that are labeled just by name and photo and help compare choices that you may be considering. read more

Excellent flavor. Had the pelmeni. Comes with generous proportion of sour cream Bread was fresh. Great atmosphere. read more

Bamyan Kabob - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First of i dont like leaving bad reviews but This place needs to be shut down so the owners could learn a lesson. Do not go here. Food poisoning. Took 15 minutes to make the food which normally should take 40 minutes. Everything is precooked and heated in the microwave read more

The staff was friendly and the food was amazing! Plenty of room, tables well spaced out. Will definitely dine there again! read more

Bamyan Kabob - Halal Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food wasn't terrible but combined with the serving size and how much it cost. This place is horrible deal. You're paying close to 20 dollars for maybe half a meal. It's mostly rice with just a few pieces of kabob. I cannot recommend. If you can serve a full meal for 20 dollars you shouldn't have a restaurant. Would give 0 stars if I could n RIPOFF read more

Food was good here up until a few months ago. If you order ahead the food won't be ready when you arrive no matter what--this has happened to us twice now. Shish kabob sandwiches were still cold and the pita was stale. Quality went down while prices went up $3 in 3 months. read more

Looked up for original dinner options and found that germ. The food I amazing!!! Karahi is to die for....I usually don't write the reviews, but this time I just had to... Tender meat, original spices, excellent service... It should be added to your culinary bucket list of Chicago!!! You won't be disappointed! read more

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Came for an early lunch. They do offer some good kabob lunch specials but I was super interested in trying some other traditional dishes. I settled on the lamb karahi which was served in a hot pan along with crisp bread. Highly recommend it. I'm sure the place is busy at night but was nice and open at lunch aside from takeout orders. Will be back soon as this place was excellent read more