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    Jalapeño Fresh Mexican Bistro

    4.2 (169 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Halal, Afghan

    Jalapeño Fresh Mexican Bistro Photos

    JALAPEÑO FRESH MEXICAN BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Melvin B.

    Stopped in on the recommendation of my brother. Now this place is unique because they serve Mexican and Afghan cuisine. They also have a few other items such as their seafood fries that don't fit either cuisine. It was not crowded on a Sunday afternoon. I got the meat lovers for two to take home. It is in the upper right corner of the menu pictured. Here is a picture of what you get with the meat lovers. The food is excellent. 4 stars

    Beef and fish tacos
    Armistead J.

    This place is clear not the same i haven't been in 3yrs .I think it's under new management. The place looks nice on the inside but the food is not the same. What restaurant runs out of fries lol

    Taco salad with creamy cilantro dressing
    Shivana D.

    3.5 rating. My parents live in Laurel and this place popped up on Yelp as something I should try, so being the Mexican food aficionado that I am, I had to check them out. Went on a Sunday and the place was pretty empty. There were only two guys working, one in front of the counter and one in the back kitchen. They weren't super friendly or inviting - but it was a rainy Sunday and they hardly had customers, so they are forgiven for that. Ordering was easy, I chose a taco salad that I could assemble myself. My bf chose a specialty burrito that needed to go to the back kitchen to be assembled for the most part. The place seemed clean enough, but a couple of the booth options seemed like they hadn't been wiped down after the last folks ate. The food though, was good. The meat was seasoned well and the salsas and sauces were also pretty flavorful. I wouldn't say they are at chipotle or qdoba level of deliciousness as yet but it wasn't disappointing. They give you a good portion of food for a decent price, so this place is worth popping by if you're in the area and in the mood for something new. I would definitely go back to try some of the other specialities they have on the menu.

    Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas.
    Keisha M.

    Our family's go to restaurant when we want fresh delicious Mexican food. We've tried various items and all has been delicious. The shrimp and fish tacos are one of my favorite. Shrimp and fish are grilled when ordered with your choice of topping. Also, there homemade chips is so so good. I'm super picky. These are not to thick or thin with a nice crunch. A must have every time. They carry a nice variety of toppings to accompany Burritos, Nacho, tacos with meat kind choices of chicken, steak or ground beef. The sauces comes in mild, medium, or hot. They also have vegetarian options but can't speak to those. Minus a star due to the limited drink options. Would be nice if they had more juice options for those of us that's no big soda drinkers.

    Lamb shanks with potatoes and peas and salad
    Monica F.

    Food had great flavor...TENDERNESS was missing - I wrestled with my lamb shank and my husband had the grilled lamb chops - tasted great but not fall off the bone

    Rashonda J.

    I noticed this place while visiting another business in the strip mall. I decided to try it out. It was clean but no other customers were there. Maybe because it was Memorial Day. It was clean, and the food on the bar seemed fresh, considering no one else was there. I ordered a chicken burrito, French fries, rice and black beans, chips and guac and a shrimp quesadilla. Everything was delicious. Of course, I've had better but for the price is was quite good. The guacamole was creamy and the rice and beans were flavorful. I even enjoyed my shrimp quesadilla. I would return to try other items on the menu. Hopefully, when I visit, more people will be in there. I don't like eating at places when there isn't a constant flow of customers.

    Celeta T.

    Definitely "fresh-Mex" this food is always fresh and the establishment stays clean. The owner and staff is always friendly and the lines are fairly short during even the busiest of times. I typically get the tacos or bowl. They are both very filling. The prices are reasonable, a meal is under $10 and the drinks are refillable. A comparable choice to Chipotle for those who live in the Laurel area.

    Lamb Chops Platter
    Stephen J.

    Very rarely do I venture to the same restaurant twice in one week. But then again, I've never been to a restaurant that is a Mexican, Afghan, Indian restaurant all in one. I ordered the lamb chops with pumpkin. The pumpkin was delicious and plentiful pairing nicely with the flavorful rice. The lamb chops were tasty, evenly textured and tender. The lamb chop platter comes with rice, salad, naan and a choice of side. The next day I ordered the chicken tikka with the pumpkin again. Phenomenal. The naan was also freshly prepared and piping hot. All of the platters were a great value, coupling the grandeur/size of the meal with an affordable price. Lastly, the baklava was refreshing and had a balanced sweetness. The customer service was amazing! Treat yourself!

    Jennifer C.

    Joined the bandwagon! Tried this restaurant this evening. I was acknowledged as soon as I walked in. I was in crunch for time so Hamid recommended a few items that did not take as long to cook. Ordered- appetizers eggplant and chicken samosas; entrees - Kofta kabab, chicken kabab, and tandoori chicken tikka. Absolutely delicious!!!! Tender, flavorful, so delicious! All the sides to the entrees were amazing!! Hidden gem! Please try them!! Will be back for sure!!

    Jalapeño Afghan kabab
    Amanda M.

    Not in the best location for what they offer. Really neat taco bar that the employees will walk you through step by step. Super helpful. We ordered from the kabab side. Excellent chicken and lamb kabab. They even gave our son a free juice box. Will definitely return.

    Steak Burrito

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    2 years ago

    Food is good. But very expensive. There's definitely other kabob options just as good and charge less (Maiwand)

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    7 years ago

    This place has the best nachos . I would definitely recommend this place for a quick meal.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Mexican food is not good. Afghan food is great! I had the lamb and the portion was good and Togo's flavor too!

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    This spot was FRESH. Food tasted very "clean" for lack of a better word. It was super flavorful. Think chipotle but fresher.

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    2 years ago

    Great tacos and condiments, and other food! I love their salsa and their con queso and salsa verde.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Jalapeño Fresh Mexican Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Jalapeño Fresh Mexican Bistro

    Is this place really serve Afghan food? When I called and ask if they had traditional popular afghan food the staff informed me that food was not Afghan...? Very confused how mantu or bolani is not Afghan food.

    I don't think they do but maybe they have it off menu and you can ask them in person but I say no

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Maiwand Kabob

    Maiwand Kabob

    4.6
    (154 reviews)
    5.4 mi

    Vegetable Samosas I love the light Philo dough texture to…read morethe Samosa. Potatoes and the peas inside were fresh perfectly seasoned. Perfectly golden fried outside. The thinner dough gives the perfect dough to potato ratio, with each bite allowing you to have a sample of everything has a whole. The dipping sauce has a nice spice level to it, kicking it up just a notch, not overpowering at all absolutely delicious. Lamb curry - Friday special I can't even begin to articulate the flavor explosion in this dish. I Cynivised it by adding seasoned basmati rice. #FeedsMySoulStatusConferred you'll have to go an try it out for yourself. I added the sides: salad and spinach. The salad fresh mixed greens. I think that the dressing was a light vinaigrette base with a strong dill presence. Spinach was cooked to the perfect texture, leaving it still having a little bit of bite and not being mushy at all. Good seasoning as well. Be sure to order a side of fresh bread, it comes out piping hot as it is made to order. Soft texture , with starting this, allowing you to scoop the sauce. Service For it to be a more of a carry out or dine and go quickly atmosphere, the service was top notch, royalty level. Extremely personable anticipating customers needs. Above and beyond service with every customer.

    What great service. The place is clean and comfortable. The falafel wrap was real good, and my wife…read moreloved her chicken kabob salad. She's has plenty of leftovers. We'll be back.

    Photos
    Maiwand Kabob
    Lamb curry with rice and chickpea curry
    Lamb curry with rice and chickpea curry
    Lamb curry with rice and chickpea curry

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    Lapis

    Lapis

    4.3
    (1.2k reviews)
    14.4 mi
    $$

    Lapis is a restaurant I'll think about for a long time. While visiting DC, I knew this was a…read morewell-renowned, must-try restaurant. Not sure how difficult it is to attain a reservation, but my friend made one for 3 the day prior to our dinner on a Sunday evening in one of DC's busiest weekends (America's 250th birthday, UFC at the White House, etc.) We were sat outside on the patio. No one in my party had had Afghani food before, but we were all open-minded and adventurous! Together, we shared all of these dishes: STARTERS starters tasting flight: one of each starter - 24 *bolani: afghan flatbread (choose two fillings) pumpkin (v), beef, onion potato *sambosa trio: a crispy phyllo pastry trio of spinach (v, vg), shrimp & beef - 12 *shamee kebab: small patty of minced beef with potatoes, yellow split peas, eggs, spices, served with cucumber mint yogurt, pickled onions & house-cut fries - 15 (gf) *shore-nakhot: chickpea, potato salad in vinegar, garlic & cilantro (cold) - 7 (v, vg, gt) *pakowra: gram batter cauliflower, spinach & potato- 14 (v, vg) AFGHAN DUMPLINGS *mantoo beef: dumplings with ground beef, topped with a yellow split peas & carrots tomato sauce finished with strained garlic yogurt - 4 pcs --16 / 6 pcs - 22 SIGNATURE DISHES gabuli palow: rice pilaf, boneless braised lamb, carrots, & raisins - 35 (gf) veggie - 22 (v) FROM THE GRILL lamb shank: bone-in braised lamb, herbed tomato sauce, basmati rice -- 38 (gf) My favorite dish overall was the gabuli palow. There was something so novel about the sweetness of the carrots paired with raisins in the soft rice and decadent lamb. Just amazing. Overall, Lapis is a culinary adventure with attentive service, chic ambience, and masterfully crafted foods -- worth every penny.

    While I love a family owned business, Lapis was underwhelming for me…read more Start with the good: Doogh Punch: 5/5 best mezcal drink! Smooth, well balanced. Atmosphere: relaxed, warm! Love the photos on the walls giving that family vibe. Candle lit as the sun went down. Nice vibe. Meh: Shrimp dumplings: 3/5 shrimp in a dumpling. No flavors stood out even with the sauce. Beet salad: 3.5/5 this was an arugula salad with maybe half a beet cut up on top. The description of ingredients were flakes of toppings. I had to request more beets as there were few. I could have had more nuts and cheese, but I just wasn't in the mood to really complain. Chopawn: 3/5 lamb chops, tender but lacking flavor. "Picked" salad on top, not pickled. Just cut up onions and peppers with sumac. Buranee Kadoo: 3/5 also ok. The garlic sour cream sauce needed more tang.

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    Dining area
    Dining area
    Aushak Afgan Dumplings
    Aushak Afgan Dumplings
    Lamb Kebob

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    The Helmand

    The Helmand

    4.2
    (808 reviews)
    20.4 mi
    $$

    This is a great place to go when you're "elevated". I think I would die happy if I ate this food on…read moremy death bed. For appetizers, we got Mantwo and Bowlawani- it was absolutely DEMOLISHED. Mantwo is basically afghan dumpling, and the filling was incredible savory and had a meaty texture. The was my favorite appetizer, stuffed with spiced potatoes, lentils, and chives/leeks from what I saw. The dipping sauce of yogurt and mint went amazing with it. For mains, we got the Lamb Lawand and Lamb loin chop. The lamb lawand was this savory rice dish- they served it with mushrooms and a side of beautifully seasoned spinach. It came as a stew that you were able to mix with your rice as you please. As for the lamb loin chop, it was incredibly tender- falling off the bone. Dessert was difficult, as I am deathly allergic to all nuts. My partner got the hazelnut chocolate cake, and from what I heard they rated it very highly. I got the afghan ice cream; the flavor were incredibly unique, with notes of cardamom, saffron and rose water. I usually have a problem with rose water in my desserts, as it ends up tasting overly flowery or soapy, but I think it was executed well. The toppings of dates, mangos, and figs went incredibly well with the flavors of the ice cream. My only complaint was the service being a bit slow, but at the time we went it was incredibly busy, and I don't blame the workers. Otherwise, this was a great place to go to for an elevated meal! Not TOO fancy, but not too casual either.

    The wife and I finally made it to the Helmand. We got there right around 6 and got a spot right…read moreacross the street. When we walked in, we were sat in the very large dining area and our server came right over. The atmosphere definitely lends itself to a smart casual outfit vibe. Very cutesy!! We started off with the bowlani. It was a freshly gently fried samosa if I had to describe it. I enjoyed it very much. I wanted to try multiple items but for some reason wasn't very hungry so I went with the vegetarian aushuk and the mashawa soup. I also ordered the bread to dip in my soup. Everything was very tasty. The service was excellent and the overall vibe of the restaurant was pleasant. I'll be back for sure.

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    Here comes more bread
    Here comes more bread
    Aushak
    Aushak
    Decor

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    Decor
    Aracosia McLean

    Aracosia McLean

    4.8
    (478 reviews)
    19.4 mi
    $$$

    Loved my lamb dish! Surprisingly reasonable pricing when you at opening/lunch too!…read more Nice cozy but elegant vibes. Great to take out your family or significant other. Interesting art on the wall and nice bathroom. Park on the parking garage below or on the side street/lot nearby. Make sure if you don't finish your lamb and ask to put it in a takeaway box go specify that you want your lamb scraps. Learn from me because my waiter tossed all my lamb and just boxed up the rice likely thinking I was done with them. Big bummer since I was looking forward to my leftovers but oh well.

    Overall it was a good experience! We absolutely loved the bread and the difference sauces that…read morewent with it. The pumpkin dumplings and pan fried veggie filled dumplings were great as well. I thought my salmon wrap and the chickpea side was ok. Interesting flavors for sure. As for the service, there was always someone filling up our waters and our waiter was very nice checking in every now and then. The only downside of the experience is at the end when the waiter was boxing up all the food for us. Very sweet that they do this but when boxing up my partners food, they only boxed up the rice and they got rid of the lamb that he was looking forward to eating more of later. So that was kind of a disappointment for us. I think if we go again, we would request to box our food ourselves since I'm not sure why they decided to get rid of all of his lamb.

    Photos
    Aracosia McLean
    Aracosia McLean
    Bread - good.

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    Bread - good.

    Jalapeño Fresh Mexican Bistro - mexican - Updated July 2026

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