My mom has been wanting to check this place out and so glad we did! I wasn't too hungry but wanted…read moreto spend time with her. We went on a Wed at 4:30 and we had the whole place to ourselves. There was someone mopping so you know it's clean. The owners were very kind and the chef recommended the lamb and chicken over a bed of rice with chicken and raisins. We also split a Greek salad. The entree was so delicious! And they had some yummy sauces, not needed but added extra flair. The lamb was my favorite and my mom favored the chicken. There was enough for leftovers. My husband had a bite when I got home and loved the chicken, now he wants to go! So we will be back! Price was very reasonable for his yummy it was and the wonderful staff.

We came here for a lunch and this place surpassed my expectations. Upon entering the establishment,…read morethe place was nearly empty and appeared like a catering place for events with plenty of seating and an empty buffet area near the back. There was also a little grocery/market section on the side. Promptly the waiter came over and seated us and took our order. We had the mantu, chicken seekh tikka naan, and qabuli palow. Everything we had was full of flavor that's in harmony. The mantu was soft, creamy, and savory with slight tanginess. The meat from lamb shank was falling off the bone and the rice beneath absorbed its juices. This dish was fantastic but don't sleep on the chicken because it was moist and seasoned perfectly with the spices. This place is a keeper.

The best lunch ever. I had the Zardaloo chalow with the lamb. It was stewed in fresh apricots and…read moreserved next to fluffy basmati rice. It felt very fancy and was one of the most exotic things I have eaten in a long time. We also got the dolmas (grapes leaves) and the Bolani (turnover stuffed with leek and potatoes) as an appetizer. The dolmas were ok, but the bolani was exceptional, like a leek and potato quesadilla but lighter. It was hard to put into words. Just order it and enjoy! Lastly, for drinks we got a Cherry Blossom Tea (Sheer Chai). Again, it tasted like nothing I have ever ordered before, which is hard to do because we are adventurous eaters. It tasted like cream straight from the cow mixed with a cherry blossom-y and strawberry-ish Chai flavor+ black tea flavor. One of the best drinks that I have experienced in 2025 by far. For the La Jolla neighborhood and how fancy the inside feels, the prices were similar to any regular sit down restaurant. Quite the bargain for the bouquet of flavors and beautifully executed dishes that we had. I would definitely recommend them.

Beautiful hospitality. Eating inside is a wonderful…read moreexperience. The food is rich, fresh and flavorful. I would recommend this place to anyone who would like to try authentic Afghan food. Try everything on the menu at least once and pick your favorites.

Food 5/5 Service 5/5…read more Ambiance 5/5 I have been dining in for many years. They just opened again for lunch buffet it was good . $16.99 I recommend it They are open for lunch buffet and ordering from 11 am to 3

TLDR: Unassuming from the outside, eccentric from the inside. The food is what I expect from…read morerestaurants. Something that I cannot make, something that I've tried, yet the establishment still finds a way to give me a different and enjoyable experience. Boneless Chicken and Beef Koobideh Combo: One of the most dangerous things to order, as both things can either come out as dry, or start off as great, then dry up before you can finish. None of those scenarios happened here. The chicken was soft, juicy, seasoned very well, and it stayed that way. The beef koobideh had this smoky flavor profile, which is different from what I normally expect, and I liked it. Potato Boloni: I've never had boloni in my life, and the closest comparison I have is a Chinese or Korean pancake. The boloni had areas of spiciness, and I think it had room to go higher. It's definitely an appetizer, and I won't mind having it again. Service: There were only 2-3 occupied tables when we went. I think the staff had plenty of time to take our orders, give us water, and the food arrived within a reasonable time. Ambiance: You could tell that the restaurant was designed to host wedding receptions or larger parties in mind. Stage, lights, and a bunch of stuff that may be overwhelming for some. I didn't mind. Good food is all that matters.

The best food great prices must try if your San Diego amazing kabobs…read more Excellent service very friendly all fresh food We had alomist everything in the menu all great tast suddenly will go back it was our second time and loved it you will not disappointed with food

I was quite disappointed with this restaurant. Waiting time to order and to get the food is very…read morelong. Food is just meh, overall it wasn't a pleasant experience. Not going back.

1. The owners are very nice. This is a family-run place, you can truly taste their authentic…read morerecipes, dishes made from scratch. The hummus is freshly made in their kitchen, very good. 2. It is real food made with love. This place surprised me with how good their food is! 3. The mango lassi is the best I ever had, flavorful, real mango, yogurt and it's lightly sparkling which makes it lighter and very refreshing. It's not as dense as other places but it is very rich in flavor. 4. The owners recommended some Afghani dishes and we had a very enjoyable experience. 5. The place was very clean and air-conditioned. Nice art pieces. The restaurant is comfortable and well-managed. 6. Highly recommend!

The name includes "kebab," but when we went to order, we were told they didn't have any kebabs…read moreavailable due to a catering order. No complaints though, because what we did order was incredible. We had the chicken tikka masala, qabili palau, and lamb karahi -- and honestly, every single dish was a hit. Amazing flavor, high quality, and generous portion sizes. Everything tasted fresh and perfectly seasoned. I can't say enough good things about this place. I'm officially a regular now. If you haven't been here yet, what are you waiting for?!

My godson and I tried Baba Kabob yesterday while we were taking a break from playing Magic at At…read moreEase Games near Harbor Freight. Baba Kabob is no-frills, but friendly, down-to-earth, and pretty tasty. I ordered a chicken shawarma sandwich and my godson ordered the Baba kabob, which is essentially the same but with gyro meat included. Both sandwiches also came with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and tzatziki. My favorite thing about these sandwiches was how non-greasy they were. Sometimes halal street food can get greasy or overly oily, but these sandwiches weren't like that. Also, the meat tasted pretty high quality. The large bottle of sriracha at the table was a nice plus, too. Overall, pretty tasty, fresh halal street food. Prices are slightly steep, but the quality, atmosphere, and customer service offset that enough.

Delicious dinner tonight at Baba Kabob. The small spot was full of Afghani families, and we were…read morefortunate to nab the last booth. For me, the rices were standout here - both the plain and the extra side of cranberry/carrot kabuli rice that I ordered because the menu pic looked so scrumptious (and it was!) As for the meats - never tried Chaplin before, and enjoyed the bold spices. The lamb kebab was puzzling, as it didn't smell or taste like any lamb we'd tried before. The spicy chicken shawarma was so juicy, and definitely packed a punch, which was tempered by the soft and pillowy pita bread. Friendly service, and warm, family-oriented environment.

This place is AMAZING!! It was my first time here and they did not disappoint! Everything we…read moreordered was delicious. It has a great ambiance, the staff are super friendly and inviting. If you're in the area I highly recommend stopping in!

Free parking in large lot, clean establishment, easy location to find. They offer low prices and…read morefilling portions . Unfortunately, the staff were not warm/ welcoming or even friendly. Heavy language barrier, to the point that one of the orders in our group was incorrect. The atmosphere gave the impression that it is a locals spot. Food quality was on the lower end, chicken shawarma came out cold and a bit hard like it had been sitting out a while. By the time our group of four left, no one was pleased with their meal or service rendered. It was a unanimous decision that we would not return or recommend.

Incredible restaurant in the heart of Hillcrest! So hearty and flavorful - absolutely adored…read moreeverything we ordered: - mantu: topped with ground meat, these were so savory and delicious - aushak: bright flavor profile from the leeks made it a perfect pairing for the yogurt dill sauce - aush: comfort food soup with noodles! - the chicken and beef were spiced + charbroiled to perfection. too good with the upgraded raisin carrot rice. accompanied with heart and a spicy pepper. the service was amazing. absolutely above and beyond. the dining room featured high ceilings and unique art. can't wait to return.

I was planning a lunch date with a dear friend today, and she mentioned she'd never tried Afghan…read morefood. Since we were going to be in Hillcrest, we chose Khyber Pass - and wow, what an incredible decision. This was easily some of the best food I've had in a very long time. We started with the Bolani. Absolute perfection. It had a beautiful crunch, perfectly seasoned filling, and none of that sogginess I often run into with Bolani elsewhere. We could've ordered another plate and been thrilled. Next came the Aushak with ground beef: one of my all-time favorite Afghan dishes. Think of it like delicate leek-filled ravioli topped with savory meat and tangy yogurt. It hit all the right notes. We also shared the Kofta Kabob, served with grilled vegetables and fluffy basmati rice. The seasoning was spot on, and the meat was juicy and tender, similar to Persian koobideh, but truly memorable in its own way. Our server recommended the Afghan Yaghoot Chalao (Cherry Curry) with chicken. Yes, cherries! Sweet, sour, rich, bright. I had to resist the urge to literally lick my plate clean. And then: the Qabuli Palao with lamb. I do not like lamb. My friend loves it, so I agreed...and I'm so glad I did. I genuinely loved this dish. The saffron-coriander rice with carrots and raisins was aromatic and comforting, and the lamb was tender and flavorful. If you're hesitant about lamb, trust me, this dish might convert you. Portions were generous, we came hungry, and still left with leftovers. I also ordered the house-made Doogh, a mint yogurt drink. It's not for everyone, but it's pure comfort to me. We finished with hot tea infused with cardamom, black for me, green for my friend, and it was the perfect close to a perfect meal. I told our server that this food was even more delicious than what my mother makes. I'm Afghan born and raised in San Diego. That is not a compliment I give lightly. I believe the restaurant is under newer management since around 2020/2021. I last ate here in 2015, and even back when it was on Convoy in the late '90s, and this is the best it has ever been. I highly, highly recommend Khyber Pass to anyone: adventurous eaters, first-timers, comfort-food seekers, well everyone. I'll definitely be back, and next time I'm saving room for dessert.

The meat I bought was completely spoiled -- the smell was awful and it looked unsafe to eat, so I…read morehad to throw it away. When I went back to talk to the staff, the new manager was rude and told me not to say anything in front of customers instead of apologizing or taking responsibility. This isn't the first issue either -- a friend recently paid extra for kabob with his Kabuli Palaw and didn't get it. Poor quality, poor service, and zero accountability. I won't be returning.

Under new ownership! This place used to be kind of old and beat up but the new owner has come in…read morewith his enthusiasm and charm and experience and is gonna take this place to new heights. We just stopped by and saw how huge their kitchen is. They serve amazing food and produce. Lots of exciting changes coming. Excited to see what's in store! You will not be disappointed.

So proud of a halal restaurant being awarded MICHELIN Bib Gourmand every year since 2021…read more100% halal and alcohol free!! It was a big party hosted by friends. Loved the decor. Ample parking in the structure and maybe some on the street. Sameer our server handled a huge crowd with ease. Very sweet and friendly. We had a few appetizers, Pani puri pretty good and easy to eat because how it's served like shots, bhel puri was ok and tasted a bit old. The lamb seekh were a bit hard and too gamey for me. The new york steak and tomahawk were pretty darn amazing!!! Perfectly moist and juicy with the right amount of flavor. Their boneless karahi was ok though do love the flavor of the one they serve at The Mint. Their mocktails we tried were the Mango Mojito, Falsatini and Smoked Negroni. Love them all. Then for desserts we had hot chocolate samosas and hot shahi gulab jamun. Both very good. Definitely a must try!

Waiter was nice but we sat there for a full hour before getting any food - meanwhile the women…read moreseated halfway into wait after us since one came late got their food within minutes. Everyone agreed salmon was overdone, palak paneer tasted more salt than spinach but good portion & more spinach than most places, butter chicken was slightly dry but good, garlic naan barely garlic'd & bland, gulab jamun was good.