The cleanses is totally awful and the food , as we order Charsi Chicken Karahi with Afghani Pulao…read morewith Lamb Shank , the karahi had a bad smell and the worse thing was afghani Pulao , they can not cook afghani , it's like punjabi they should change afghani name.

The low Yelp scores for this place makes zero sense...except that I have some theories that are the…read morestuff of fan fiction. Here's my first guess: This place is awesome and the people in the know don't want others knowing about it. This is the one that makes the most sense. They already do a brisk business and the current customers don't want to wait any longer than they already have to. My second guess: some people are totally clueless and don't understand that this is a place where your meal is an event and not just dinner. If you want to eat and run, go to McDonalds. This is the place where you come to eat, sip your chai, and enjoy the company of those around you. Food takes time to cook...figure it out people. Okay...about the food: WOW! So delicious and all perfectly cooked. I have to open with the one dish that was absolutely stunning: the lamb chops. The seasoning was spot on and flavorful while the cook point (which appears to be hard for many restaurants it seems) was flawless. Tender from end-to-end without a sign of chewiness. Next up on the menu hit parade was the Chapli Kebab. That little bit of char on the outside combined with the seasoned meat made this a repeat order for sure. Check the pics and you'll see what I'm talking about. The last but definitely not least on the list was the massive Namkeen Chicken Tikka. There was enough food on this order for three people and it was awesome! There was a smokiness to the meat that permeated beautifully and each piece was amazingly tender. We couldn't finish this one and it ended up in the to-go bag. Seriously, it huge. The service, decor, and general ambiance of Shinwari was so great too. The staff were totally professional and the families enjoying the props (which included a auto rickshaw) where fun to watch. I will be coming back here FOR SURE. Bring a close friend or five and enjoy an amazing evening.

As a place to pick up food and a few Indian grocery items, this is a great place. A few parking…read morespaces are available but it's easy to miss the place if you're driving by. The ambience and the store itself is nothing to write home about, but the food. The masala dosa (spicy potato stuffed crepe) is great, and probably one of the few places in north Arlington to get this South Indian standard, and the Chana masala (chickpea curry) is just hands down one of the best - one of our favorite places to get this in our household. Don't let the appearance of the place put you off - as others said, it's not the place you'd go for a first date, but the food is great.

I've been coming to Minerva Express and the adjacent grocery store here for a few years now. The…read moregrocery store part is solid--everything I've needed for Indian groceries is here. The fresh refrigerator section is great and I've loved getting the fresh okra, fresh eggplant, fresh cilantro, etc. here. My other favorite is the shelf with the selection of different kinds of mixture--mmm love Indian mixture. It is a small store with a lot crammed in so it can be challenging to maneuver the aisles. Luckily when people come in here, they're grabbing what they need and are coming in and out quickly, so you're never on top of anyone for too long. The adjacent restaurant is overall decent. I've ordered a bunch of times from here and the food can be hit or miss. The idly sambar and vada sambar are solid and there's no one else in the Arlington area where you can find those (or I haven't yet...) so whenever my South Indian tastebuds get their craving, I know I can satisfy here. I called in a large carryout order today for $90 worth and was sad to come home to see 1 of the sambars missing and all of the rices that were supposed to accompany the chicken 65, bindi masala, and channa masala missing. Also the chicken biriyani was off--it seemed like it wasn't cooked thoroughly and tasted stale. Also the chicken 65 is nothing like how it's made in India--it was kind to be in a gravy, instead of little fried chicken pieces which is what the menu described. I ordered everything to be mild but some of the items were really spicy. When Indian food is spicy and done right, the flavors come through bold and delicious, but when it's not done right, it's just not enjoyable. Normally I'd just eat a little more raita/yogurt and move on, but part of the meal was supposed to be for my kids who are not spice tolerant. I called the manager who surprisingly was awesome and understanding, and processed a refund for me immediately and apologizing for the issue a few times. Because of the great customer service, I'd continue coming back here.

delicious, authentic Pakistani & Indian Cuisine. My sister enjoyed her first kabob, which she…read moreadored. we were equally blown away by the very unique, punchy spices and flavors of all the dishes. it seemed like this restaurant was being run by one single dude, who was incredibly kind and accommodating to vegan diet. i tried to bus our table at the end but he was insistent that he should do it himself, really hospitable guy !! the food was a wait (or perhaps i was just ravenous and impatient) but it's probably cooked fresh so i'd rather a wait than a rush for succulent meal. plus, there seems to be parking in the back as well as on the street. tldr: authentic food, friendly service, driving accessible

Overall a solid experience with great service and good food. The butter chicken and shami kabob…read morewere definite highlights -- flavorful, well-prepared, and very satisfying. The chapli kabob, however, wasn't the best I've had and could use some improvement in taste and texture. The restaurant is great for takeaway, but there are also plenty of seats if you prefer to dine in. Friendly service and a comfortable setup make it an easy spot to visit.

This place has a new energy! It was refreshing to walk in and see women running the show. The…read moreexperience was so different given they actually want to make sure you have a good experience and enjoy you're food. They walk you through customizing your order if you don't want certain sides and they started cutting and toasting the afghan naan which makes it hard to stop eating. They are in the middle of renovating the left side so we ate in the banquet side. Can't wait to see how they decor the whole place. Will be back soon to get my sambosas and kabobs!

It was sooooooooooooooooo good you should go their the food was good and the people was niceread more

My party of 9 arrived at 6pm and we were treated to a fantastic feast. We shared a variety of…read moredelicious appetizers, to include: dal puri, haleem, pakora, paratha, and naan. We were already full! Then our main orders came... biryana, kabobs, and curries... all delicious and all authentically prepared. When we could not have another bite, we were treated with the most wonderful gulab jamun. Most of us had enough leftovers for another meal! I strongly recommend that you visit Aladdin. I suspect you will be very happy!

We recently visited Aladdin Restaurant in Washington, DC, and I must say, it was a wonderful…read moreexperience for anyone who loves authentic Bengali food. From the moment I walked in, I felt a warm and welcoming atmosphere that reminded me of home-style dining. The staff were polite, friendly, and very attentive, making sure everything was perfect throughout my visit. I ordered several Bengali dishes, and every item was full of rich flavor and traditional taste. The rice was fresh and perfectly cooked, the curries were well-balanced with spices, and the fish and meat dishes were tender and delicious. The bhorta, dal, and vegetable items tasted just like homemade food, which is hard to find in many restaurants. The aroma and presentation of the food made the experience even better. What I loved most was the authenticity. You can truly feel that the chefs understand Bengali cuisine and prepare each dish with care. The portion sizes were generous, and the prices were reasonable for the quality and taste. The restaurant was clean, comfortable, and suitable for families, friends, or even solo dining. Whether you are missing Bangladeshi flavors or simply want to explore traditional Bengali food, this place is a great choice. Overall, Aladdin Restaurant is a hidden gem in DC for Bengali food lovers. I highly recommend it and will definitely be coming back again.

I'm not even sure how people are dining here without realizing they are being over-charged/…read morescammed! Like absolutely ridiculous!! If I don't know how much the menu items are, I'd be scammed every single time. I get 2 "side orders" and the guy rings me out for 40 bucks!!! I get a chicken karhai which was the ONLY thing that was worth getting over the years; was charged 45 bucks for a portion that seemed like leftovers. Looks like forty something is their goal for every one who either dines-in/ carry out. Please be vigilant and don't get scammed!! Also, please be aware that -- should you use your card , you are not charged twice. I was paying half in cash, and remaining in card, the guy ringing me out, charged me the same amount both in cash and card - again "double"!!! Either the people there do not know basic math, or their system is outdated, or he just thinks people are stupid! Definitely the latter.

This is going to sound the same as everyone else... I have probably eaten 50 Gyros from Arun. I…read morewent in and the 2 "younger guys" were working. As soon as I picked up the bag I knew it wasn't right. It had two pieces of lamb meat on it. I asked them if they could make it like it is normally made and he made some nasty comment so I asked for my money back. Such a disappointment because Arun it's so great. If it wasn't for him, this would be a one star, but I do not like being treated like that and I am no snowflake. Where is my Gyro! Oh wait they had to throw it away instead of adding some meat to eat and not making nasty comments.

Really happy we tried this place! Ali's service was great and the food was delicious. Their chat…read morepapri was perfect IMO, not drenched in sauce, and had a great balance of flavor and texture. The butter chicken was delicious, a little greasy but still very tastey. Their desi chicken karahi special was the star of the show. We've never had a Karahi like this, the tomatoes were stewed down and jammy, which added a smokey sweetness flavor that really balanced out the spice. Will certainly be back!

The chicken shawarma and garlic naan were so delicious. My only note is that I didn't realize there…read morewould be olives so now I know not to ask for them next time!

The buffet for $18 can't be beat. The buffet food is hot and well cooked. There's also dessert and…read morefresh fruit. My friends and I were pretty happy with the meat and vegetarian options. The only thing to note is there are more limited options if you're vegan. The restaurant is clean and spacious. We got there at 11:30 and were some of the first customers of the day. The place slower filled up as we had our lunch. The servers were friendly and kept coming around to refill our waters. I will definitely be coming back.

Best south asian buffet momos I've had both plump and juicy, not dried out. The mango chutney is…read morebright and tangy and I went back for it twice. Naan came out soft and blistered with real flavor, and the palak paneer was creamy with tender paneer. Service was elegant and attentive without hovering. I'll be back.