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    Bistro Aracosia

    4.7 (389 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Order Bistro Aracosia Takeout or Delivery

    Bistro Aracosia Photos

    BISTRO ARACOSIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Romantic
    Loud
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Bistro Aracosia

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    Evie S.

    Perfection. Everything I have tried in this special Afghani restaurant is done perfectly. Delicious, fresh, beautifully presented, colorful, nice atmosphere and very clear and friendly in regard to vegan/ vegetarian and other dietary options. I highly recommend this restaurant to vegetarians and vegans. Excellent service and the food is truly mouth watering. I love their outdoor patio and they have heaters outdoor for cooler weather. A must try for sure! My general rating system: 1 star: I would stay away 2 stars: Has some good things about it but I generally don't recommend. 3 stars: Pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but a decent place 4 stars: Great place. I would go back. 5 stars: I highly recommend stopping whatever you are doing and making plans to try it out! An Evie favorite!

    Sabzi Dumpling Appetizer
    Kimberly K.

    We were seated in a cozy small dining room with a modern Afghan art and colorful lighting. The waiter was attentive and helpful in explaining the various entrees. The dumpling appetizer was incredibly delicious- we got a combo of pumpkin,beef, leek/scallion so yummy. I had the Lamb shoulder with okra - do tender and the tomato okra sauce had fragrant spices. My dinner guests had kabobs and saffron chicken stew. All the food we was fresh with high quality spices and care in preparation. Portions are generous- could do family style. Love this place

    Complete taste of aracosia
    Alexis C.

    Vibe: 8.75/10 Service: 8/10 Value: 7/10 Complete taste of Aracosia: 7/10 Overall: 7.69/10 (3.84/5) [To clarify our review system: 10 = we'll never have anything else as good as this in our lives (we use 10 very sparingly!) 9 = extraordinary 8 = great 7 = above average 6 = average Anything below 6 is being critical]

    Assorted dumplings
    Kristi K.

    I've visited bistro aracosia twice. The food is always amazing and the service is also great. Everyone is kind and friendly. The bread comes out with four different sauces in the beginning which is nice. We got the assorted dumplings which were very flavorful and delicious. The lamb rack is to die for and the saffron chicken is also very good. I preferred the other two entrees over the lamb moghuli but it might be because I'm not a huge fan of the smoky flavor. The restaurant has a cozy and comforting atmosphere and is pretty quiet. Will be going back again:)

    Michael C.

    Wow. And again, Wow. This is without a doubt the best Afghani restaurant in the greater DC area. Great digs, great service and wonderful food. I am normally quite chatty in my review, but this time, I'm going to let the food do that talking for me. I do want to highly recommend the Pumpkin Dumpling and the Saamarooq Dumpling appetizers. Amazing! We visited on a cold January night for the first time. Then again on a lovely Spring evening, and a hot summer late afternoon and again as the leaves turned in the Fall. Oh my, this is food is for all seasons!

    Qorma with Veal & Mushrooms & Sabzi
    Christina H.

    Fantastic restaurant which is always crowded. There is a front room and a back room called the Poets' Room. The front room is brighter and the Poets' Room is warmer. The Afghani menu is very deep with something for everyone. Our server Adelso took very good care of us. I have enjoyed every single meal here and I look forward to the next time.

    Bread and dipping sauces
    Joshua K.

    A fantastic Afghani restaurant in DC! Although on the expensive side, the portion sizes, were large, the service and ambiance were fantastic, and the food was delicious. I recently went here for a weekend dinner with two friends and we were seated soon after our scheduled reservation time. We were able to order and receive our food in a timely manner despite a nearly full restaurant. Bistro Aracosia provided complementary Afghani bread and dips to start off the meal. The bread was fresh and delicious and the dips flavorful-I especially liked the mango-based sauce. I got the Spicy Shinwari Karahi as my main and loved it. The lamb was perfectly cooked and seasoned, falling off the bone. The lamb paired perfectly with the fresh-baked bread and had excellent spice levels. The onions added excellent freshness and crunch. I would highly recommend Bistro Aracosia for your next night out!

    Pumpkin Dumpling Appetizer Qabuli Combination Platter Baadenjaan Chalou
    Neha R.

    My whole family LOVED the food and the ambiance! So many vegetarian options that can easily be adapted to vegan, as well as loads of meat options- great for a diverse crowd. Also beautiful decor on the walls and chandelier, and a very cute bar in the middle. My only recommendation would be for them to prepare staffing a little better before holidays- we came on Mother's Day and overall had an amazing experience but some asks took multiple reminders.

    Louis M.

    Bistro Aracosia had an excellent environment and nice atmosphere. They have a full menu of cuisine and I had the butternut squash with yogurt, beef, eggplant, and rice. It was one of the best meals I've had in the D.C. metro area. I highly recommend this restaurant for adventurous people.

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    4 years ago

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    Omar M.

    Thank you! We are glad that you enjoyed our tasting menu!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    We had a great dinner here. Great service and food. Day in a neighborhood. Ok so what else can I add. Eat here

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    2 years ago

    I have eaten there twice and more recently ordered carry out. The meals are wonderful and prices reasonable

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    Omar M.

    Thank you David. We appreciate you and your support.

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    5 years ago

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    Page 2 of 10

    Bistro Aracosia Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bistro Aracosia

    Is there parking available?

    Only street parking. Not really difficult to find along MacArthur Blvd or side streets nearby.

    How loud is the restaurant - ie if your dining partner has a particularly quiet voice?

    Even with the sitar background music, the noise level was low enough to have no difficulty hearing conversation at my table. The decor has a lot of fabric and other sound-absorbing elements.

    Are there "child friendly" items on the menu?

    Yes! You won't see them on the menu at the door, but they have a kids menu and it is very much family friendly.

    Why no prices on the online menus?

    I'm not sure, but most of the entrees are $14-24. Very reasonable for the amount of food you get. The beef tenderloin was $19. They also have lunch specials.

    View All 7 Questions

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    Bistro Aracosia - afghani - Updated September 2026

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