Great Afghan restaurant near the Hopkins hospital area. Parking can be difficult, though paid street parking is available. Large, high ceiling interiors making it easy for large parties. I loved the kaddo borani (pumpkin with yogurt garlic sauce) -- sweet baby pumpkin balanced by a hint of the savory sauce. The chicken kabob bowl and naan were also good and filling. There appeared to be some variability in the chicken kabob bowls (some of us got potatoes/turnips, some of us got a spinach mash in the bowl though we ordered the same thing). Would love to try their main location in Mt Vernon some time! Have heard that the Kabuli Pallow is delicious. read more

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Absolutely amazing in every aspect! The food is incredible and the waitress was so kind. The restaurant is so beautiful and comfortable. We ordered the Chicken Kabob, Kadoo Borani, Kadoo With Lamb, Salata and Banjan Borani with rice. (We ordered some sauce on side). Each dish was absolutely amazing. Everything was absolutely perfect - the lamb was AMAZING and so was the pumpkin, eggplant, salata and everything else. The cilantro sauce was so good I ate some by itself. This place has incredible service and incredible food. I would recommend everyone try this amazing restaurant and thank you so much for such great food and service! Next time I come here I am definitely going to try the Shalgham appetizer and Lamb Shank :) read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Great place near Hopkins. My colleague and I had a really nice warm dinner on a cold spring afternoon. The flatbread with green spicy sauce is delicious. I had a veggie bowl with rice with cumin seeds, and stewed vegetables, including cauliflower. My friend had chicken kebab bowl. They were delicious. Service was a little slow. The interior is nice and spacious. read more

Good food! Different and authentic afghan flavors- seriously some of the best since I was there. Ambiance a little bright but nice little bar with great happy hour! read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Menu view - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The lamb lawand was a lot of food. It was delicious and tender. What really surprised me was how tasty the mushrooms were! I ordered out but the inside seemed like a nice quiet spot for a lunch or dinner. The service was very fast and a great post workout meal. read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Lamb Lawand Bowl - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

A good Mediterranean spot near where I had to be for work. I got a wrap which was good, once I asked for extra sauce ;) read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Koufta Meatball Wrap - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

First time having afghan food, and was impressed w the inexpensive, yet flavorful appetizers and mains. Cilantro mint sauce is a must! + Banjan Borani ($7): tender and well seasoned eggplant, perfect to pinch and pick up w the naan (8/10) + Banjan Laghatak ($7): also tender and not that spicy! (8/10) + Kabuli w Boneless Chicken Bowl ($13.95): large portion of big chunks of chicken w soft vegetables, over super flavorful long rice and plump raisins. Definitely drizzle the cilantro mint sauce too! (8.7/10) read more

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A wonderful introduction to Afghanistan dining. This is a great spot for lunch but I recommend a reservation to be on the safe side. Service is prompt and friendly. This spot is large party friendly which is nice. I cannot recommend the Kaddo Borani enough, it is such a delicious dish to start with. Overall all the food is good, I like the quality of lamb they use. The Lawand bowls are a classic. read more

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This food is dangerously good, and dangerously addicting. Both times I have picked it up for a to go order, I literally scraped my plate clean. The staff is very knowledgable about gluten free options (and a lot of their food is naturally gluten free), which I always appreciate. Both times, I got the Seekh Kabob (photo attached). I can't thoroughly speak to the ambiance, although when I've walked in to pick up my food, the place is clean and the people working are friendly. Absolutely will be back! read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Seekh kabob - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

At lunch time, Kabobi is always crowded with people working at Johns Hopkins. I like their dishes with lamb because they are delicious and nutritious. Considering their quality of foods, I think the prices are reasonable. There were a lot of lamb chunks and beans in the mashawa soup. Yogurt mint sauce goes well with them. The char-broiled marinated lamb tenderloin was also tasty. read more

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A coworker/friend of mine has been raving about this place for a while, and I was finally able to check this place out during lunch on a Tuesday. It's a quick 2 minute walk from my work, and I was very hungry. Like everyone else said, they are super efficient and quick. When we got there, we were the only ones in there. I copied my friend's order and got the slow roasted cauliflower and chickpeas with pumpkin and a yogurt sauce rice bowl. I literally had it in my hands in less than 4 minutes. Everything is precooked and ready to go. We made the quick walk back to our desks to dig in. The food was still piping hot and smelled fantastic. And once I took a bite, I couldn't stop. It was a good portion size too. The veggies were so good and had so much flavor. I loved the sauce with the rice. It also came with some pita (?) Or Naan bread. Great for dipping in the sauce. My friend got the baklava twice and loved it. I might have to get that next time. It was about $12 and change for it, not too bad for the amount of food. I'll definitely be back. read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Slow roasted cauliflower chickpeas and veggies rice bowl - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The vegan dishes are great my favorite. Consistently well prepared, flavorful and good portions. The service is attentive and friendly. This is one of my favorite places for vegan food in the city. read more

Another great lunch at Helmand Kabobi. The food is always delicious and the presentation, portions, and quality remain consistent. I love the Kaddo Borani (roasted pumpkin) appetizer. We ate it up before I could snap a picture! read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Chicken Lawand Bowl - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The food was more that excellent as suggested in the app. A little hard to find on a walking tour but lunchtime meal was SO TASTY! Service was excellent even though I was only 1 or two for a late lunch. Beautiful decor! read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Lamb Lawand Bowl and Nan. - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Pros: good Variety, vegetarian friendly, nice drinks. Grows: restaurant venue could have more personality. Tips: order the meatballs, rice dish with lamb and carrot, and Cardamon pudding. The restaurant is conveniently located near Johns Hopkins and the Marriott. I came here as part of a group event, we rented out the restaurant and sampled all the food! This was my first time trying Afghan food and I was blown away. My tastebuds were very happy as each dish was unique yet complemented the whole meal. The service was impeccable and I feel I learned about the culture through the food. Food rundown: we started with the eggplant and pumpkin which came with a delicious yogurt sauce and was perfect for working up out appetite. The meatballs in tomato sauce and rice over lamb with raisins (forgot name) were both 10/10. The lamb was so tender and complimented the rice well. The steak was perfectly juicy and seasoned, still dreaming about it. Our least favorite was the lamb steaks which were overly gamey. I would also recommend the spinach or potatoes to balance the meat. Dessert was the cherry on top, we loved the Cardamon pudding and preffered it over the Baklava. Overall a welcoming restaurant with explosion of flavor. Definitely recommended if you want to try something new. read more

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The service is very quick and the food is fantastic! I highly recommend the Bowlani as an appetizer. An order comes with two potato filled shells and two leek ones. I prefer the potato ones. The naan is nice and fluffy and the chicken kabob bowl is juicy!!! The inside is clean and modern as well. read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Interior bar in the dining area - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The food was AMAZING & full of flavor. I would definitely recommend this place. I'll definitely be a regular customer.

Recently tried a takeout order of their cauliflower and chickpea platter with rice and side of baked pumpkin - the portion size was generous and the food was very flavorful and delicious; plus it was ready for pick up within 5 minutes of placing the order. Overall very happy with the food, quality, and speed of service! read more

Haven't been to the main restaurant in far too long but love this little place when I'm over by the Hopkins medical campus. Great vegetarian options. read more

Five stars, and would give 10 if I could. This was possibly one of the tastiest and yummiest and delicious meals I've ever had. Our server was amazing, friendly and cheerful, especially when she saw how I savoring my meal. It was close to closing time so the restaurant was empty, which worked out because we were tired and had the place to ourselves. I had the chicken kabob and my husband the vegetarian dolma. Now THE most amazing appetizer was the BANJAN LAGHATAK with the naan bread.That itself was enough for me to go into food nirvana. Anyways, you get the idea- best meal in Baltimore we've had in all these years visiting since 2014. Sorry, no photos- we had nothing to eat since 9am and were starving by the time they served us. read more

I have mixed feelings about Kabobi. I've heard great things about the place, and was really a fan my first time ordering the Kabuli with Boneless Chicken (rice bowl). I stopped by for lunch and the service is fast; they have an efficient setup with paper bags all prepared/aligned for quick and easy packaging of food (esp if you're doing takeout). Didn't wait for long at all and I notice this is because the items are all prepared in advance and in bulk (makes sense since most of the meats are stewed) so they just scoop out portions into takeout containers to order. Items are priced fairly for the quantity. The Kabuli rice was really unique in that it comes with long julienned strips of steamed carrot and raisins (which I enjoyed) and tender simmered chicken thigh meat. It was delicious! I thought their stewed turnips were quite tasty as well. Being my first time trying Afghani food, I enjoyed it enough to return the next day and ordered different bowls: Koufta Challow and Chicken Lawand. These two weren't as special or great as the Kabuli (the chicken breast in the Lawand was on the dry side) and honestly I noticed the 2nd time around how VERY salty the rice (which appears plain white), spinach side, and the overall seasoning is here. The tomato base sauces they use to stew the meats kind of seem to blend together/are very alike. Third time I ordered (all within a span of 2 weeks lol), I tried their infamous Chicken Kabob in a wrap, which was better in terms of tenderized meat (since it is marinated in yogurt) but the chicken was very very salty... I ordered close to closing time after 7pm. The wrap took longer to prepare for some reason and I was pretty sure I almost ate a long piece of smushed plastic wrap (which I couldn't chew and spit out), likely from what they use to cover the deli station items. Unfortunately as a result of eating from this place for several days in a row, I didn't feel too good from the high sodium and oil content (I'd notice a significant pool of oil coated on the takeout container after finishing my rice bowls). And I wish they disclosed what kind of spices they use as well since there could be potential for allergies/food sensitivities. read more

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Came here for a work lunch since it was just by the hospital, I wasn't expecting much but it was really good! We shared an appetizer, I forget the name but it was steamed eggplants and mushrooms in some garlic sauce. It came with bread and butter, and some yogurt on top- very delicious. I got the chicken lawand bowel, and my coworker got the lamb lawand bowel. The meat was very soft and everything was flavorful, we both really liked our choices. I'm glad to have found this spot! read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Chicken Lawand Bowl - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Reading other reviews, I was so excited to try this place. What a letdown. Was originally going to give three stars, but the restaurant put STALE bread in my to-go order, and that lost them a star. Who gives out stale bread? Maybe birds like it, but not any human I know. Got the large salad with chicken addition. Salad greens were starting to wilt in places, chicken was bland and somewhat dry plus hard, in chunks way too big to eat. Try cutting that with a little plastic knife in a plastic container on your lap! Dressing was okay, but you don't get nearly enough. They charge for extra, which strikes me as nickel and diming customers. Continuing the theme of under seasoned food...my husband got the Chicken Lawand and he was disappointed in the bland meal, lack of seasoning. Same story with the Shornakod salad. With lots of salt and pepper, it was sort of edible. I don't like giving bad reviews to restaurants in the time of covid, but I spent close to $50 with tax and tip and feel ripped off. Plus, with a relative in the nearby hospital, this was our one full meal of the day, and it sucked to be so thoroughly disappointed. read more

Kabobi is one of the best lunch spots I've been to! Their setup is designed to be quick and delicious, with food prepared ahead of the lunch rush and ready to be plated and served to get you out in under 5 minutes. I've come a few times and I have yet to be disappointed whether I order chicken, lamb, or vegetarian dishes. There's sure to be something you'll enjoy and enough variety to please everyone you bring with you. It's just down the street from the JHH and in the heart of the hopkins research buildings. It's a great choice for a tasty lunch for a good price that won't take too long. I've also come for happy hours in the past and those have generally been enjoyable. There typically isn't much of a dinner rush, so it's a nice and relaxing environment to grab a beer or a glass of wine. Give it a try either for a quick lunch to-go or for a drink with coworkers/friends. read more

Best takeout spot near the Hopkins medical campus for sure. The restaurant also does indoor dining now, but I've only gotten food to go and can't comment on the dining experience or service. But the food is so good!! My go to dish is the kabuli pallow, a rice and lamb dish with raisins that's the perfect balance of sweet and savory. I'll definitely be putting raisins in all my rice dishes from now on. The dish also comes with a side of turnips, which are actually probably my favorite part of the meal. I've also had the meatball dish, which was tasty but not as good as the pallow in my opinion. This is the perfect place to treat yourself after a day of work or to order lunch from for your team! Plus the meat is halal! read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Kabuli Pallow - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I go to Washington DC 3 or 4 times a year, from NJ, and stop in at Kabobi on the way down and back home..I usually buy two bowls on each trip down and back. I was last there last September before prices skyrocketed this time around. I happen to have kept the takeout menu from last year and noted...gulp....that the "bowls" all went up in price anywhere from 6.2% to a whopping 33.4% (as in the case of the Lamb Lawand). the Kabuli pallow (which I always bought) increased $4 to 19.95, an increase of 20%. the "soups" all went up from 13.5% to 42.4% (as in the Aush). the desserts from 7.7% to 16.6%. the "small plates" that were then listed as "apps & sides" on the menu all went up 27.8%. these are incredible prices increases in such a short time. yes, it's very flavorful food but these increases are just outrageous. I'll find something else that'll preclude me making the out of the way diversion to Kabobi. you folks can have it! read more

This place is okay. I thought Afghani food is supposed to be more flavorful because they have mix of Indian and middle eastern flavors. Unless they are trying to cater to just American people, their food is honestly bland. I think there is a middle Eastern food truck one street away and the food is much better and flavorful. The only good thing is that it is located in Hopkins campus and attracts lot of Hopkins employees but honestly other middle eastern restaurants makes better flavorful and moist kebabs than this. Their kebabs be it chicken or lamb, it is generally so dry, tough and not at all flavorful. Thus, I prefer the kabuli Pallow because the meat is simmered and it is softer. read more

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Helmand Kabobi Cafe is just as good for in-person dining as it is for delivery! Very clean and spacious restaurant that abides by all covid policies. Service was stellar--very friendly and attentive staff, even the cooks said goodbye on our way out! Menu is extensive with multiple options in each category for mostly everyone, and the prices are so good for the portion size you get! The meats are absolutely incredible, you truly can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Even the side sauces are zingy and delicious. I ordered the chicken kabob bowl, and just like I've heard, the chicken, veggies and rice were each very flavorful and delicious. I even had enough leftover for a second lunch the next day! I will most definitely be back to try more of Helmand Kabobi Cafe's dishes, and can't wait to order delivery too! read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Chicken Kabob Bowl - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

After trying the Kabobi by Helmand in Herndon, I was excited to get a chance to revisit Afghani food! This time the lamb lewand. So delicious! No gamey flavor, just delicious chunks of beautifully cooked meat in a tasty tomato-based sauce. I wish we had this in Texas! I could eat this everyday! read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Bar - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I've heard great things about Helmand Kabobi, so was excited to finally try. Location wise, it's only a few blocks from Bloomberg, so it's a great meet-up spot. The restaurant was bustling during lunch hour, but I was able to get a table for two. I ordered the lamb lawand and the portion size was pretty big for the price. The lamb was perfectly tender, and was served with rice, mushrooms, and some collard greens. I don't eat Afghan food often, so definitely want to come back and try some more dishes. read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Lamb Lawand - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I went on a Wednesday to grab a quick lunch. The service was great and handling the lunch rush really well. We really enjoy the Helmand and Helmand kabobi lives up to that quality. I got the koufta challow bowl and it was very tasty. The spicy meatballs were super flavorful and paired with the green sauce. The sabzy was made to perfection. Definitely worth a trip to try the food! read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Koufta Challow Bowl - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Casual Afghan place with same owners as the Helmand. Literally half a block from my apartment and food is amazing (and affordable). Wouldnt recommend the kabob because it's sometimes too dry and overcooked, but the kabuli pallow, dwopiaza, and lawand I could eat every day. The dishes are the perfect blend of savory and sweet, with the shalgum. I usually come here to get take out for lunch or dinner at least once a week because it's so convenient. Also, during dinner service the same items on the menu are more expensive so it's much more worth to just get take out. read more

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Being a big fan of The Helmand in Mt. Vernon, I couldn't wait to try their newest (and closer) location near Hopkins. The area is pretty bustling in the daytime, so we felt safe walking a block from street parking @ 50 cents/hour. It's a transitional area so don't park too far away. Upon entering the Helmand Kabobi Cafe, we were greeted by a distinguished older gentleman (I believe he may be the owner) who led us to the lower level dining area. The upper level is mainly setup for some serious carryout. The decor is a bit more modern and minimalistic than their downtown location. The menu is similar to The Helmand's, so I quickly ordered my favorite pumpkin appetizer along with 2 Chicken Lawand Bowls. OMG, everything was delicious - the chicken, the sauce, the turnips, the fresh spinach and their rice. I can't say enough - just go and try it! Prices are reasonable and portions are good. read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Chicken Lawand Bowl (I highly recommend) - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This is one of the nicest restaurants in Baltimore, I have been to in the last 6 months. The best thing is the price you are paying for this well crafted food! We were a group of 16 people and the food was quickly served even during such a busy hour. I had lamb dowpiaza which was awesome. I also tried beef kabob bowl which was mouthwatering and juicy. Such a worthy place to go. read more

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The food was tasty but they left the drink out of my pickup order. I had to go back and was told they didn't carry that drink even though it was on the menu. So why didn't they tell me when I came the first time? They couldn't be bothered. With that attitude they don't deserve to have customers. read more

Went here with coworkers again and had a great experience. Perhaps I should've ordered something new to try out, but I got the dwopiaza again and very much enjoyed it. Also had a bit of another person's soup (not sure what it was called) and a piece of their naan, and I liked those things too. The service was also good, just as before. Perhaps my four star rating from before was a bit too low, especially considering the price point of this restaurant. I wanted to just edit my old review, but don't seem to be able to do that? Anyways, we'll probably be back again sometime. read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Lamb Dwopiaza - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Beyond amazing! First time trying Afghan food and the food is superb. Got Kabuli Pallow and Kaddo Borani. Kabuli Pallow is Afghan style rice with braised lamb and carrots+turnips and raisins. The sauce has spice kick and some curry/Cumin? But nothing overpowering. Carrots are glazed. Meat is seasoned well. So a good mix of sweet, salty, and spicy/zest. The Kaddo borani is a pumpkin which is sweet paired with yogurt garlic sauce. The dish is very good with naan which is what we got. Just want to say this place is beyond my expectations. Presentation is solid, as is the customer service and atmosphere. read more

Helmand Kabobi Cafe - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Wow, wow, wow. I am counting down the days until I am able to get food from Helmand Kabobi again. We got delivery, so the five stars is strictly for the food, but I honestly can't imagine anything that would diminish the experience in person - that's how good the food was. I didn't know I was a fan of Afghan food, but it appears that I am!! The Kaddo Borani (pumpkin appetizer) is not what I expected - sweet and soft, it would have worked as either an app or dessert. The naan is thicker and tougher than when I've had it elsewhere, but a perfect compliment to the entrees. Speaking of entrees, my group ordered four and each one was better than the last. Dwopiaza, Lamb Lawand, Chicken Kabob, Aushak - everything perfectly seasoned and delicious. Even the rice is a mix of delicious flavors like I've had now where else!! OK, I'm going to need to stop before I make myself hungry. But the main point: eat here! You won't regret it. read more

Numerous orders from this restaurant and the taste is consistent. Highly recommended!

I am from out of town and would fly back to Baltimore just to eat here again. It was that outstanding. The flavors. My. God. Incredible. Run here. Get the eggplant app and the cauliflower dish with pumpkin on the side. I think I saw heaven. Outstanding and delicious. read more