We dinned in here because we enjoyed our meal last time in kabab bazaar in Bethesda. But this place was nothing like our last experience. The waitress had a very bad attitude and didn't check on any table while we were there, we had to wave our hands to get her attention as she forgot to give us bread for dizi and kale pache. I asked for dressing for my chicken salad as nothing came with it at the first place but I didn't get anything! The only reason I give it 2 stars is because it had kale pache and my cousin enjoyed it. Otherwise the costumer service is awful. read more

If I had to use one word to describe the Kabob Bazaar, I would say "bland." The pumpkin soup should have been called, cilantro soup, because that's all you could taste. My wife ordered the swordfish kabob. It was overcooked and heavily seasoned with saffron, so you couldn't taste the fish. A couple of bites that were not overcooked were good. I ordered the soltani kabob. The kubadeh (spelling) was tasteless and the filet was so-so. We won't be returning back here. read more

I do like this place very much. Today 05/17/2014 paid only Amount $13.69 USD for lamb Kebob salad and fresh pita. Merchant KABOB BAZAAR,ARLINGTON,VA, Quality was perfect. With salad, fresh made pita. Great waiter service as well. I am local I know the food. read more

Food was awesome and service was out of this world. Our server was an old guy and took care of us greatly

One of my favorite spots. The food is so good and fresh. We tried chicken, lamb and beef tongues. All very tasty and really affordable. The service is great and efficient. highly recommended! read more

One of the best I have tried. Probably because I was never a huge fan of Kabob since the meat is usually too dry but I was pleasantly surprised this time around. Staff are quite nice and helpful with it comes to ordering. Definitely a must go if you are a Kabob fan read more

Yes, yes, yes - absolutely 5 star. KB and Shamshiry are the only places I go for kabobs and I live in College Park! I like some dishes better at each place but prefer the comfortable atmosphere at KB. Everything said so far about this place is accurate. The BEST special, BTW, is on Tuesdays: Lamb Shank w/ fava bean and dill rice. Served with it it is a 1/2 cup or so of rendered lamb fat to pour over everything- - DO THIS. Always get the hot tea, too, even if you think you are not a tea drinker (like I used to think). Go, go , go. read more

Great quality food for both dining in and carry out. I've been really pleased with my meals every time I've gone. Would recommend the chicken and salmon kabobs in particular. read more

I like Kabob Bazaar for the most part, but there are some things that I do not like. I highly recommend eating outside on a nice day here as I had the first few times I came here. The kabobs are great and be sure to get some mast a khar (sp?) to go along with your dish as it adds a nice diversion from the meat, rice, and tomatoes that come with a kabob plate. They have both home made and bottled doogh (sp?), so be sure to say which one you want when you order. If you are looking for some good traditional Persian kabobs look no further. Now the bad. The inside is not that great, it is kind of dingy and dark, but it isn't that bad. I ordered the falafel (I know this is not Persian food but I wanted falafel!) once as an appetizer and it was horrible. It was so bad I don't know how they can offer and serve it in a place that otherwise has good food. It was some oilly, bitter, lumps of nasitness on a brown lettuce leaf with some olives and yellow peppers to the side. Mmmm.... delicious.... So yeah, stick with the kabobs and the specials of the day which include many different khordeshes (sp?). read more

Excellent selection of Persian treats. Beautifully prepared tasty dishes. Extensive offerings. I had the rack of lamb. It was perfectly prepared as requested. Another dinner enjoyed the salmon kebab, others the chicken kebabs. They serve a variety of rice dishes. Very flavorful. The service was excellent. Price was moderate considering the quality. There are several very good kebab places in Arlington. When you want something a little special try this read more

We rode quite far to get here. The restaurant was empty except one other family. We had never eaten this type of food so we were kinda just picking without knowing. The food came quickly but tasted like nothing. I tried putting salt on it but the salt shaker was clogged, lol. I ordered my lamb with rice, my husband ordered steak with bread. We split half and half. I sprinkled a little bit of everything over my food. STILL tasted of nothing. When I first took a bit my husband blamed it on my Latin background, being used to more seasoned food. When he took a bite he agreed with me. Maybe this is what it is supposed to taste like, but I sure didn't like it. The staff was slightly creepy, sittings at the and staring at you read more

This is the best place, IMO, for good food for little money in Arlington. Great quality, service, and you really do get more bang for the buck. I love the Chenjeh (prime rib) with rice and I get half the rice replaced with salad. And they always give you a basket of freshly toasted pita bread, greens (like mint, green onion), radish, and individual yogurt sauce. The only thing I wish was they had Moroccan Mint Tea and stayed open later. (I've never tried dessert there even though they come by with a tray. I don't think they're home made. I'm usually too stuffed to have dessert anyway.) Everything is so fresh and tasty though. Ambiance is all types: families, couples, friends gathering... read more

This place was okay, at best. It was dry, the rice wasnt that good. Considering all the other Kabob places in Arlington, I dont see why anyone would even want this. Maybe, im biased but I dont really like Persian style Kabob.. read more

How does a simple kabob meal taste so damn good? Start with great ingredients, ample servings, very courteous and friendly staff and an environment that makes you feel at home all the time. Nothing but great things to say about Kabob Bazaar and there's a reason everything on that block changed but they are still around. Check them out! read more

Neither bad nor great, and I'm sure there's better in the DC area. I got the chicken shish kebab platter ($11), which featured some very tender and flavorful chicken, but the rice and bread were unimpressive, as was the soup I had as a starter. Service and ambiance were fine, but uninspiring. read more

Literally right across from the Clarendon metro station, this is a quick stop for good kabob. Prices are very reasonable; our meal for 2 clocked in around $27. We were the only table seated inside, and there were a handful of tables outside on an unusually warm March evening. Kabob Bazaar does a strong take out business, as that is mostly whom we saw coming in and out during our meal here. Our service experience was pleasant. We were quickly brought water and our glasses were kept filled throughout our meal. We received complimentary pita bread with tzatziki to start. The bread was warm and the sauce was quite tasty too. My partner ordered the barreh kabob, lamb chunks served with rice. I ordered the lamb shish kabob (medium), chunks or marinated lamb with mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and tomato. I ordered it with bread, but received rice. On second thought, the rice was probably a better option since we started with a ton of bread in the beginning. The basmati rice was tasty, sprinkled with some cheese. The meat, although it wasn't cooked medium more medium well, it was flavorful as were the veggies, which were nicely marinated too. Portions were quite large but we both managed to clear our plates. Overall, this was a really tasty, quick, and inexpensive meal and I'd be happy to pop in for a return visit in the future. read more

Kabob Bazaar - Lamb kabob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The food was good. However the bathroom didn't flush. I told the hostess about it & she said "yea..." like she knew what was an ongoing problem. read more

Went with my friend who has frequented this restaurant throughout the years. Really delicious kabobs and more food than you know what to do with! I'm not sure why I haven't stopped in sooner, and regret doing so! Highly recommend for anyone looking for great kabobs in a nice dine-in restaurant. I got the Super Soltani and asked for dark meat chicken and lamb. Did not disappoint!! Come hungry because I left way too full. read more

Ended up here in my walk home from the Courthouse metro after meeting my wife. I wanted meat and she wanted anything at this point(she was getting a little hangry) so we popped in to get kabobs. Service was a little slow and I had to wait several minutes until my ice water was refilled a few times. You receive free bread and yogurt sauce with your order as an appetizer that was pretty good and comes with green onions. I received the lamb and spicy chicken kabobs with rice and my wife received the regular chicken kabob. Food came out hot and fresh and was really delicious. The outdoor dining is perfect on a nice evening and I will definitely be back for a future kabob craving. read more

Good choice if you are craving Persian or Afghan-style food. Although we came here for the meat, we left preferring the appetizers and bread. The Sampler Platter was a good deal at $9.95 and it included some very tasty hummus and some of the best tabbouleh I've had in a long while. The bread is also fresh and tasty, as is the tzatziki sauce. However, the falafel was tough and over-fried, and we were charged $2.00 for a side of sliced, raw cucumber to use as a vehicle for dip (it sucks how much you have to pay when you want to eat a little healthier :) ) Meat kabobs were average. I ordered the Chicken Barg because it was supposed to be spicy, but it was just dry chicken with a strange aftertaste. Fiancé ordered swordfish kabob, which was incredibly fishy and salty. Service was fine and the place was pretty busy on a weeknight, so those are two positives. read more

Spectacular Persian cuisine. I am saddened by the fact this place is in VA/DC and not in NYC... The food here was so well prepared. Moist pcs of well seasoned meat; beautiful, flavorful rice. Grilled tomatoes! Very plentiful dishes, as well. Leftovers to die for. I cannot wait to go back to DC, visit friends and relive the dream that is Kabab Bazaar. read more

Some of the best kabobs I've had ... ALMOST as good as Rose Kabob in Vienna. One of the best places I have eaten in Arlington. read more

Love this place the food & service is great makes me appreciate every time like the 1st time...My favorite is the koobideh with rice seems like a simple dish but not everyone makes it great! read more

Kabob Bazaar has so many good things going for it: (1) small, local establishment; (2) great, authentic Persian food; (3) affordable prices; and (4) convenience to the Clarendon Metro stop. The place was a little deserted on a Tuesday evening, but that was perfectly fine with me. No wait = big plus. I loved the complementary basket of pita bread with tzatziki and parsley/green onions that started off the meal. The pita bread was warm and fresh and the tzatziki a great mix of tangy/sour yogurt flavors with hints of dill/parsley. For the main dishes, my friend got the vegetarian combination plate. This seemed like a great way to try a few traditional Middle Eastern dishes--and she said the falafel was excellent. I went with the chicken kabob plate with rice. I like the way the rice melted in my mouth, and the grilled chicken was very good--not overly seasoned, so I could really taste the grilled flavor. The service was also friendly a prompt. All in all, a great place to get your Middle Eastern foodie fix in Clarendon. read more

Great place. Great kabobs. We ordered chicken and lamb kabobs, they were very juicy and tasty. I liked the chicken kabob more, it had a lemony zing to it. I also loved the rice , it was very fine and went very well with the kabobs. Make sure you have a reservation, it is usually packed with people. Though finding a street parking is difficult BUT just a lane before the restaurant there is a public parking for $4 after 5PM. read more

This is one of those places, tucked in a bland strip of generic suburban (yes, I consider Clarendon suburbia) chinese and thai restaurants, that you would never give a second look. An Palestinian friend of mine introduced me years ago to this place and we made it a tradition to go on Saturdays. Why Saturdays? Ahhhh, the Saturday Special of course. Which also goes by the name Estamboli Polo. This is a mound of saffron rice cooked with tomato, green beans, melty beef, and a slightly sweet slightly savory spice blend. Top it with butter if you want to make it richer. Top it with the yogurt sauce for tang. Come before 2:00 pm if you don't want to risk it running out, and you can also ask for a "small" Saturday Special if you don't want to risk gorging until it is all gone. Frankly, I've never ordered anything other the Saturday Special or appetizers because well, after kebabs in the Middle East/Northern Africa, you get spoiled. But its worth it for the special. And extra worth it to add an order of the Kashkebademjan (I'm sooooo slaughtering the spelling), the roasted eggplant and carmelized onion dish which comes out with hot perfectly blistered flat bread, tsaziki, and an assortment of greens to stuff in there. And if you can fit it in, end your meal with the roll cake off the dessert tray with some Persian tea. I actually used to go to this place so much, that they still remember when I go back. I always get the same knowing smile because they know that the only thing in my order that changes is sometimes I order the Dolma, which come warm here (ignore the sub-par olives they serve it with and douse liberally with the warm orange blossom? water sauce stuff), instead of the eggplant. There was even one time when they told me that they had run out of the Saturday Special, but the waitress managed to snag me one of the last portions ... that, in and of itself, pops this from four to five stars. The best part is the check -- this is a no frills place where you get a big bang for your buck. There are always Persian people here. There are lots of other miscellaneous folks here, too. Sure, sometimes you have to hunt your server down, but that's just because she's trying to keep up with the unending pack of people coming in. read more

Lamb was cooked just right and the bread was good but the humus and sauce was just OK. Ambiance was nice but not very initiate or personal. It feels more like a lunch place than dinner to me. Service was good. Overall there are just too many good persian and Mediterranean places in DC to make this place anything more than just A-OK read more

Good food, great customer service in Arlington VA. I'm glad they survived the COVID situation and still we have them in the neighborhood.

Been here twice, so this is a combined review of the what I had. Kabob koubideh is pretty good but definitely Moby Dick is my favorite in that category. Shamshiri in Tyson's Corner would be my second choice, so I will give Kabob Bazaar a 3 for that. They do bake the bread, but it's just not as fluffy as the taftoon from Moby Dick either. However, I love the maast o khiar at this place, it is surprisingly spicy as though they combined a regular maast (i.e. what you get at moby) and mixed it with that spicy stuff from Shamshiri and this is what you get, delicious. The second time I came, it was for the ab goosht which is something you can't really find at persian restaurants. Ab goosht is always a lot of work, and is somewhat of an acquired taste (it is a kind of seasoned meat and potatoes with chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, beans). I absolutely loved it, the best way to eat it is to drain the juice out first and rip pieces of bread into it, mix it and eat like a soup. Then mash the meat/potatoes/peas into a pulp and then use it as a dip with the bread. A+ on the abgoosht, but Moby Dick is kabob koubideh supreme. read more

The food was excellent. I loved the hummus and the chicken kabob. The chicken was much juicier and more flavorful than you usually get at kabob places. They had a live musical performance the night we were there, which was a guy on a keyboard - definitely entertaining. Service was ok, but it took awhile to get attention from our server. Also, they don't take American Express, but that's just a personal pet peeve. Great place for lunch or a quick dinner before going out for the night in Clarendon. read more

I'm a big kabob fan, but this place has not got the taste that you're looking for. They dont serve real kabob. Wasting money.

We went here for take out. While we were waiting for our food to be ready, we ordered some Persian tea because I love Cardamom. I do not recall ever having Persian tea that tasted so bitter. Also the person who served us at the bar was either having a bad day or is just an unpleasant person in general. The Kabobs were pretty good but I prefer the Pakistani style kabobs as it comes with some side curry dishes. read more

Good food, but high prices. The dark meat chicken kebab and tabouleh were fantastic. Their falafels were horrible - soggy and flavorless! The rice upgrades were overpriced. I don't regret dining there, but I'm in no rush to return. read more

I have been looking for a great Mediterranean place like this for a while. They had all of my childhood favorites, hot an fresh out of the kitchen. The appetizer plate with the bread and herbs was the perfect start to the meal, alongside the warm eggplant dish that made the bread extra special! We split 2 entrees lamb kabob and the kubideh. both perfectly char grilled. I added shirin pollo to mine to give it that sweetness that magically combats all the saltiness of the dish. The candied orange peel in the rice was some of the best I have ever had! read more

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I recommend the shish kabob beef with rice or shish kabob lamb with salad. The bread and spinach dip are also excellent. The outdoor seating was excellent. Seating was available shortly after 5 PM. The flavor on the meat could be enhanced with more seasoning. I would have preferred more peppers than onions being used. Overall, I enjoyed this restaurant. read more

Great food and service. Enjoyed very much. I had the ghormeh bademjan. I'll definitely be back.

Tasty and affordable Iranian dish. The kabob Torsh came with olives and salad Shirazi which wad good. The kabob was good too. The prices are affordable for a good quality food. read more

Kabob Bazaar - Kabob torsh comes with olive and salad shirazi. The other one is soltani-barg combo. Good quality food with good price. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I went to Kabob Bazaar for a Sunday night dinner with my brother and a friend. I had been with this friend once before over a year earlier, but the service, food, etc is the same: fantastic! This is not a fancy restaurant, but don't let that fool you about how great the food is. We ordered the Combination Platter Vegetarian side dish as an appetizer: taboli salad, hummus, and falafel patties in one platter. They have pretty good falafel here and the taboli and hummus aren't bad either. My entree was the Chenjeh Kabob because their beef kabobs are quite delicious. Although they have plenty of good options, for a first timer you should get a beef kabob dish. Everything here is fantastic. The food, the low noise level, decor, an attentive staff. A real great pick practically across the street from the Clarendon Metro. I would easily go here again if the opportunity arises. read more

I only went there once for dinner on a week night. The menu seemed typical with beef, lamb and chicken kabobs. I think there were some seafood items, and also there were the usual vegetarian options of Middle Eastern cuisine: hummus, falafel, etc. I opted for the special that night - one skewer of chicken kabob and a rice dish consisting of lentils, raisins and dates with rice. The rice was good, especially liked the dates. They were a nice complement to the rice and lentils. The chicken was white meat, and I'm actually the rare person in the USA who prefers dark meat. That said, the white meat chicken was cooked fine, tender and reasonably moist for white meat. Of course, I must mention the bread because that seems to be an important staple in a kabob house. It was good, thin and not greasy. I actually prefer non-buttered Indian-style naan, but the bread at Kabob Bazaar was a decent alternative. I wolfed down every piece that was served to me except one, dipping into the yogurt sauce or spreading butter on it. Atmosphere is casual. There is a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall above the doorway, and it is tuned to Farsi (?) music videos. Since I was dining alone, the music videos made for an amusing dinner companion. I do confess to being amused or intrigued by music videos from foreign countries. Service is okay. It was interesting that most of the waitstaff seemed to be Mongolian. At least, my waitress was, and the other waitress and another waiter looked like it too. I asked my waitress if she knew the owner, and she pointed him out. No, he's not Mongolian. However, it would've been interesting if he were. A Mongolian-owned-and-operated Persian kabob house would've been something. But this is a diverse region, so maybe I shouldn't be so intrigued. read more

After the frustration of finding a parking space, this place was EXACTLY what i needed. Walking down the street, I could smell the deliciousness exuding from the restaurant. The vibe inside is awesome. Locals sit at the bar and enjoy the same high quality food as my husband and I did. We odered one meal to share and a bowl of hummus. HIGHLY recommend the hummus. While sometimes this app can be a bit bland, this was fantastic. The combo chicken and beef kabob-with both salad and rice was just as satisfying. I think next time I'll go wtih just the beef, as the chicken didn't have as much flavor. The wait staff is fantastic and always filling up your water glass. The prices are incredibly reasonable. As you can tell-this is a definite repeat for us! read more