Kabul House is a restaurant I've had on my 'to-do' list for literal years now. Of all the things I've managed to procrastinate on and put off without rhyme or reason, this is by far the most regrettable. Honestly, everything was so unbelievably outstanding that now that I've had it, I don't know how I was able to fake it through life pretending I was happy without ever having these inimitable Afghani flavors hit my lips. I'd attempted to eat at Kabul House several years ago but when I arrived I found a strip mall with blacked-out windows and a paper sign on the no-longer-inhabited storefront explaining that they were in the process of moving to a different location and were currently closed. Bust... BUT worth the wait and then some as over time Kabul House has found a way to perfect the unique suburban Bib Gourmand dining experience. Having been named one of Michelin's 2013 Chicago-area Bib Gourmands as well as being praised the likes of the always-outstanding Yanyao N and legendary Johnny T, I knew I'd be in good hands making the minor trek out here from the western 'burbs on a weekday night. We arrived about an hour and a half before closing time and were able to snag one of the two open tables this very hoppin' Skokie hot spot. We were greeted by a beautiful woman with the warmest. most welcoming smile I'd ever seen. She got us promptly set up at a booth along their windows and not too long after that I was already in a heated internal struggle with myself about what to order. Was there a way I could get everything and not look crazy? Or more importantly, did I even care if looked crazy? My answer: No. My dining partner's reply: Let's not go crazy. You don't need to OD on Afghani. I promise we can come back. And from there, without even tasting a single bite, we knew we'd back based on the aroma in the air and array of options for vegetarian/pescatarians like ourselves. I think in general, there's a negative connotation when the word 'Afghanistan' is used, and the media doesn't do the greatest job in bringing uplifting news from foreign countries to the attention of the masses, and while there might not be anyone out there who would avoid patronizing a place because of what they've heard about about a place in the news, I figured it was worth saying in case their was someone who fit that profile, or even for someone like, sayyy, my mother, who doesn't have an open mind when it comes to food that isn't basic Italian, German, Mexican, Chinese take-out, or American fast food, that denying Kabul House a shot because you're unfamiliar with the cuisine and not sure what to expect, would be doing a great injustice to yourself. I, too, wasn't exactly sure what to expect as far as flavors, but I was truly blown away by what I experienced. I think in my head I'd convinced myself that Afghani food would be like a mixture of light, fresh Mediterranean-fare and heavier, creamier Indian-fare, but clearly I'd just made all that up since Kabul House was NOTHING like that. Never have I ever tried any cuisine quite like this, but at the same time, nothing was all that foreign tasting with the except of my cardamom hot tea, which was superb, by the way. If I had to choose a favorite of everything we ordered I might implode. It would be an impossible task and frankly, I can't commit to answering a question of that magnitude at this time so I'll leave all the Sophie's Choice-ing up to Meryl and just leave with the labeled photos of all our dishes as a guideline while strongly urging you to do what I did not and get EVERYTHING. Kadu it! read more

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What more can I say, other than my food and lunch experience here was perfectly divine. After reading the amazing reviews on Yelp, I was more than excited to experience Afghan food for the first time. I honestly had no idea what to expect...surprises can be a very good thing and especially in this case. As soon as we opened the door and walked in, the aroma of wonderful seasonings drew us in. The music set the scene, and overall the space was inviting and immaculate! We were immediately greeted by our server who set up a table for us. Because I spent some time reading the reviews and looking at the menu, I wasn't lost when it came time to order. I went right for the Murgh Chicken (chicken kabob) with dill rice. All I knew about the Murgh is that everyone says it's amazing, and they were right! Tender bites of chicken that will melt in your mouth marinated in a very light tomato-based marinade. The dill rice was cooked to perfection, not dry or too sticky, but light and fluffy and beyond flavorful. My husband had the Tomato Lentil Soup accompanied by a side of veges and dill rice. We actually ended up sharing the soup, because he insisted (and I gladly accepted). What I liked most about it was how light instead of hearty I expected it to be, and seasoned but not salty. Served with a basket of fresh, warm pita-like bread, we used extra pieces to scoop up our remaining soup and sauce from the chicken. He also ordered an extra side of veges and an order of dill rice. He's not a big eater, so I was beyond thrilled to see him enjoying every last bite. When our server asked us if we wanted dessert, my husband said, "even though I'm stuffed, if I wanted anything for dessert it would be another bowl of soup!" Service here is definitely worth mentioning. One thing in particular that I noticed, and greatly appreciated, is that our server gave us just the right amount of time to taste our food before checking to see if everything was okay. He left us to enjoy our meal and enjoy our date too! Upon leaving, I felt like I got just the right amount of food and was not stuffed. And, I forgot to mention that our bill with tip came out to be about $15! Overall, there is nothing I can say about this place other than Kabul House deserves my 5 stars. read more

Kabul House - Kabul House Murgh Chicken - Afghan Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Wow, everyone was right. What amazingly fantastic food! Gosh, where to begin? Well, at the beginning, I guess. My wife and I ordered both of the soups and swapped them back and forth. Both the tomato-lentil and the aush-rishta (vegetable and noodle) were delicious, but I give the slight edge to the latter. Despite the recommendations of the waiter plus various reviewers in favor of the mantoo dumplings, I chose the aushak appetizer. I might try the mantoo another time, but I can't imagine visiting Kabul House in the future without ordering the aushak again. In a meal full of incredible flavors, this was my favorite item. So, so, so, so delicious. I mopped up the leftover sauce with the table bread. For trying a new cuisine, the variety of the kabob combination platter appealed to me. This was another great choice. The lamb was merely very good, while the murgh (marinated chicken) and koubideh (seasoned ground beef) were outstanding. The waiter brought a little dish of green relish to the table, and of course that stuff was just as awesome as the rest of the food. I didn't catch what it was made of; I detected perhaps chiles and cilantro, but in any case it was bright and lively and paired up brilliantly with the lamb and beef. I also sampled liberally from my wife's vegetarian platter: sabzee (spinach), gulpi (cauliflower), boranee baunjan (eggplant), and kadu (pumpkin). While I liked all four, the spinach and cauliflower were my favorites, and I feel that the pumpkin was so sweet that it should be on the dessert menu. So basically that is about ten awesome things to eat in a single meal. This is really a 4.5. My only complaints are relatively minor: first, I found both the seasoned rice and the dill rice to be pretty bland; and second, one of my three pieces of lamb was full of gristle. Quibbles aside, I really loved this place and plan to return again and again. If it's as good the second time as the first, they will easily earn that fifth star. read more

My first Afghan experience and it simply can't get any better than this. 10 dishes, all stellar? Who ARE these people?? To have tried so many different items with each one fantastic- not just ok, or average- but each one spectacular? I mean, when was the last time that happened to you? For me, that is rare. I don't know if there are many Afghan restaurants out there; I've never really investigated that. But I do know that should I ever run into another one in my travels, Kabul House is my new standard by which all others will be measured. In fact, make that for any restaurant. Kabul House just upped the ante. Take note all other restaurants. You just got served. ;) From the moment we walked in, it felt warm, inviting, friendly, calm and smelled amazing. I really liked the beautiful simplicity of this restaurant, it's design and decor. It just made us feel at home. Having done my Yelp due diligence, I knew we would be ordering the Aushak as an appetizer, and these leek/scallion filled dumplings did not disappoint. Light, delicate and flavorful. Only thing that will stop us from ordering again would be trying the Mantoo appetizer next visit. And there will be many visits over our lifetime. This is the kind of restaurant that creates such delicious, unique dishes that you question your ability to ever move away. Really, it's such a great place. Our entrees each came with soup. We loved our soups, each swearing ours was better than the other's, but in truth, both were great. I ordered the vegetarian platter which came with 4 different veggie concoctions, including spinach with garlic and lentils, roasted cauliflower with tomato, an eggplant blend, and cooked pumpkin with honey. Not a bad item in the bunch. This also came with a huge side plate of Afghan rice. So for $12 I got a bowl of soup, plate of rice, 4 veggie dishes, not to mention the complimentary flat bread-- and everything had great flavor and texture and nothing overly spicy, if even at all. Oh, the cilantro chutney was quite spicy but it was sooo yummy. My husband ordered the 3 kabob combo entree, and I'm telling you, at least in our experience, the chicken kabob (murgh) was cooked PERFECTLY. Super flavorful and juicy. Perfect texture and perfectly grilled meats which means they have their technique mastered. I've never had more flavorful grilled chicken. The other two kabobs were also fantastic but to me, the chicken was the star. Oh and the basil-mint sweet tea is such a lovely departure from the usual suspects. I had a hard time deciding between that and the hot cardamom tea, but I will be trying that next time since we will definitely be back to enjoy it again, as well as one the desserts- mostly likely the bread pudding or the cardamom, rose water, homemade ice cream. We also enjoyed our server. He was perfect: nice and friendly but not overly so, prompt, attentive, made excellent recommendations, and answered the many questions we had about the cuisine. And he had a cool, calm and confident vibe going on. But look, the point in going comes down to the food. This food feels light (not heavy with oil or butter), and is made by talented people who really know what they are doing- and take pride in doing so. All this awesomeness also came with a 10% discount via the Yelp Check-in. Our appetizer, two large entrees, including 2 bowls of soup, flat bread baskets, and two drinks came to a mere $40 plus tip ($44 before yelp discount). Worthy every penny and more. Kabul House is well worth the trip across town or the suburbs. I wish I had gone sooner. It is by far the best restaurant I've been to in some time- and that's saying something since I've been seriously Yelpercizing lately! And quite affordable period, but more so considering the entire experience. If you are timid about new cuisine, this is a wonderful place to start. Our experience was simply perfect, and we will be finding excuses to be in the area just to visit the restaurant again. And boy, do I have the place to take out-of-town guests!! Score! (Note to the tea lovers: They sell a small bag of house tea leaves for $5. I wonder if it might be the same tea they serve. ) read more

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Very good middle eastern food. Never a bad meal for me. Try it. I've never had anything that was bad.

Kabul House has really good food. The aromatics they use are amazing, you can smell the delicious food outside.

I've had Afghan food before, in Queens, made from some Afghan friends and well, there a few more times. Bib Gourmand or not, Afghan food is very close to comfort food to me. Mantoo, not only reminds me of my grandma's dumplings, but it also was like a small bit of home plus tomato sauce! Kabul house has some pretty good dishes but it's got 4 different kinds of kabob which are, good, but it's a part of Persian, Levantine and Turkish and Greek cuisine, nothing super Afghan about it. Shrimp kabob? If I showed a shrimp to an Afghan in Mehtar Lam I don't think any of them would know what the hell it was. Definitely not something I would have eaten there. However, the Palau is pretty good it's pretty authentic, if fancy. I like the food, I guess I'm just wistful for some Biryani or Haft Mae'wa and it's not something I can find here. read more

Came here for Yelp night a few months ago and we were able to sample just about every appetizer and main dish. Yelp and Angela!, thank you for a wonderful night and for selecting Kabul House. I enjoyed the baby eggplant and mantoo (beef dumplings). The yogurt and green sauce (I know that's not too descriptive) were a great combo on everything. The beef and variety of rice was also flavorful and new to me. I've been to Reza's and Pita Inn many times but this place serves a unique, fresh flavor. Such delicate combinations from a country that's beyond reach for many travelers. But take heart, come here to Kabul house for a taste of Afghanistan. read more

Kabul House - Yelp Night out at Kabul House!!!!! - Afghan Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I came here last Monday for a Yelp elite event, and everything was fantastic. I decided that I would bring my family here to try it. Then I won a $40 gift certificate. On Saturday we were in Skokie with friends, and I convinced them to come here. Everyone loved it! We started with the kadu and gulpi. They were both wonderful. I love the gulpi. I could eat 2 or 3 of those myself! I had the lentil soup, and I was disapointed. Online people say this is the best lentil soup ever, but this is nowhere near as good as my favorite lentil soup (Cedars in Hyde Park). Next time I would get the vegetable soup. Since we didn't have lunch until 3 we were all starving. Two people got the murgh, one got the lamb, and I got the murgh chalau. Everything was good, but I think the murgh chalau was the best, the the murgh, then the lamb. I just kept eatting long after I was full because everything tasted so good. We finished everything, and were very full on the ride back into the city. This place is BYOB. It's not super cheap, but it is really damn good. read more

A solid 3.5 stars. I went in for a quick lunch and also grabbed some takeout. I would have ranked it 4 stars, but a few shortcomings with service led to me giving it one half less star. The restaurant was nice and clean, large windows allowed plenty of natural light in. I was told to take any booth seat, which was perfect for street views. I ordered the kabuli pulau as my entree and was told that includes a soup. So I had a aush-rishta. They served complimentary bread, which tasted very fresh. The soup was ok, it had some noodles and chickpeas I think. It was described in the menu as a "thick" soup, but what I got was pretty watery, the liquid was more of a thin broth. The soup lacked any distinct flavor, it was pretty much a salty broth. My entree of kabuli pulau, was the opposite, absolutely delicious. The rice was perfectly seasoned and the perfect amount of doneness, the carrots and raisins were soft and added a little sweetness. And the lamb was perfectly fork tender. I have become a fan of the kabuli pulau. For takeout I ordered a mantoo and a three meat combo. The mantoo is a ground beef filled dumpling. It's also found in Uzbek cuisine. Except this version is more flavorful as they cover the dumplings in tomato meat sauce as well as the traditional yogurt sauce. It was very flavorful and yummy. The three meat combo consisted of grilled chicken, grilled lamb cubes, and koubideh (ground sirloin kabobs). I'm sure the meats would have been better if I had eaten them fresh off the grill at the restaurant. By the time I ate it later that evening, the meats were dry, and the lamb was tough. But the koubideh flavor was on point. The reason I didn't give it four stars was for the following reasons: 1) Perfunctory service. They staff was courteous, but no warmth. 2) if serving bread, they should provide bread plates. I had to hold the bread in my hand until I asked for a plate. 3) the staff was speaking to one another loudly and it was actually distracting during my meal. And it seemed unprofessional. I think that's the first time I think I've had that complaint at a restaurant. Granted, on my way out two peopke wished me a good day. However, my lunch experience had already been marred. But to give credit where it's due, although they weren't talkative with me, I did overhear a number of repeat customers the servers were friendly and chatty with. read more

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The Good Food quality is always consistent. The Better The Aush-Rishta Soup is always a go-to as well for us. With the yogurt and smoked paprika spices its a great starter. We always order either the Mantoo or Bulani apps and they never disappoint. The Best Our favorite item to order isn't on the menu - its a Koubideh and Murgh combination platter with dill rice. Minus one star - Always busy. Be prepared to wait as they don't take reservations. And if you come with a group, be prepared to wait a long time as their service slows down with large groups. We have also dined here on few occasions after peak dinner hours and have been told numerous things on their menu were not available (dil rice, soup, apps). So if you are craving something in particular, avoid dining later. read more

Kabul House - Afghan Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Kabul House used to be located on Dempster, but they moved to the downtown Skokie area. I saw them on 'Check, Please!' years ago, and had this restaurant on my 'to-eat' list for a long time. It was a Friday evening, and the place was bustling - we had about a 10 minute wait, which wasn't all that bad. A basket of bread came out, and we started off with a bowl of Aush-Rishta (which had chickpeas, lentil, red kidney beans, noodles with fenugreek, parsley, cilantro and garlic - it is like an Afghan version of minestrone), and a bowl of Tomato Lentil Soup Yellow (which contained split lentils and it was tomato-based and a bit more heartier). My friend and I shared the Murgh, which were charbroiled boneless pieces of chicken that were extremely juicy and flavorful - probably one of the best kabobs I've had. Usually, I go for beef kabobs and stay away from the chicken (since they seem to be dry and/or bland); however, Kabul's was very tasty. You can have either 1 or 2 skewers. The side of the Afghan rice was okay (I think Cherry Blossom in Sterling is actually more tastier). We also shared a plate of Mantoo, which were steamed dumplings filled with spiced ground beef, shredded carrots, and onions, topped with a tomato meat sauce and yogurt mint sauce. These were so tasty and delicate, and I loved the sauces on top. Our waiter was a little absent-minded (maybe the owner's son?) as we also ordered the Kadu (the sweet baby pumpkin appetizer dish), but he never wrote it down and so it never came out :( We were a little disappointed as we were looking forward to that dish. There was another really friendly waiter (with the glasses), and overall, the restaurant was friendly and very clean/modern. Definitely a good solid place for some good chicken kabobs and Afghan dumplings! Parking can be found around the area. +Murgh kabobs :D +Mantoo - steamed dumplings +hit-or-miss service read more

I was in the area and saw that Kabul House had amazing ratings on Yelp, so I started reading the reviews and saw that everyone on of my friends that had dined her (including 3 community managers and a Yelptern) had given them 5 stars. It was then I knew I had to try Kabul House! The experience definitely lived up to its reviews. We arrived for an early dinner at about 5 pm and were told that their specialty soup would not be ready which was a bummer. But at least I know everything is going to be fresh! Forgive me, this was my first Afghan dining experience, so I am not sure about the names of the dishes. For an appetizer we ordered the ravioli like dish. This was incredible and next time I will be ordering the entrée version of this for my dinner. For dinner, I had the lamb over spinach which I also loved. It came with lentil soup which I added the pomegranate seasoning too. The seasoning was different, but made the soup even better. The service was super friendly and everything was prompt! I am so happy my Yelp friends pointed me in the right direction here! read more

Only two stars because delivery was fast.. And I can taste why.. And the saffron white rice was delicious! Chicken Quarma!? First bite reminded me of hot lunch at pope John when we had the chicken and rice microwave meals! It has the flavor of reheated tomatoe soup! So disgusting! Not even disgusting it's just the flavor is of that of gruel served in the Ninja turtle sewers! I want my money back! Just lack of flavor! I will stick to Usmania on Devon! read more

This is more like a 3.5. We came here around 1 pm on a Saturday with a party of 4. The restaurant was pretty empty and we were seated right away. We were put at a booth next to a window and it was kind of chilly, but it was fine. The server first brought us some bread to snack on. The bread was tasty and definitely homemade. He then took our order and let us know that we would receive complimentary soup with our entrees. There was a lentil soup or a vegetable noodle soup. We looked over the menu and decided to go with 2 starters: the pumpkin (kadu), as well as the veggie dumplings (aushak). For our entrees, 2 of us both decided to order the murgh koubideh (ground spiced chicken skewers) and the other 2 went with the Kabuli pulau (lamb shank with raisins and carrots with rice). Our soup came out first and was well spiced and warming. It was perfect with the bread. They saw that we were enjoying the bread and brought more for us. It was a bit of a wait after the soup before the appetizers arrived, but we were not in a rush so it was okay. However, if you were in a hurry, this could be an issue. I loved the pumpkin. It had so many delicious spices. It tasted like the holidays. The veggie dumplings were also nice and the filling was flavorful. We waited a long while before the entrees came out, but it was okay since we did not have any place to be. The lamb shank was very tender. My husband found the dish a bit sweet to his liking, but I feel like it is not surprising the dish would be a bit sweet with raisins and carrots. I loved my chicken skewers. They came with rice and I chose the dill rice. It was so fluffy and delicious. However, if you are not sure if you like dill, order a different type of rice since you might find the dill overpowering. Overall a tasty and affordable lunch. The entrée portions are very generous and we had leftovers to bring home. I don't think I would drive all the way here just for the food, but if I were already in the area, it would be a decent option. read more

Very enjoyable, I usually don't sit down and review a place the same night I dine there unless I really was satisfied with the whole experience, from greeting in, food, service and the goodbye when leaving. Tonight was one of those experiences, soon as we walked in the door we were greeted with a friendly hello and seated immediately. Right after we were asked if we wanted hot tea, which sounded like a good idea on a February night. We had the Kadu for an appetizer, it's a pumpkin dish with some spices. We polished that off. Our entrees were delicious, I had the Murgh Chalau it's Chicken sauteed in garlic and onion in a most flavor packed tomato base, my husband had the Mahi and my mother-inlaw had the Qabili Palau which is lamb served under rice with carrots and raisins. Portions are generous and since everything was so good we ate heartily so much so that there was no room for dessert. Speaking for myself, when it comes to dessert, I have a sweet tooth and always leave room and usually take home a doggie bag. Well not tonight, there was not a piece of chicken to be found on my plate. At the end of the meal, we settled our check and lingered a bit over some more hot tea, there was no pressure to move along. The place itself is clean, bright and decorated beautifully without being cluttered. I left ahead of my party to get the car and was wished a good evening with a very warm we hope to see you again, to which I replied you will. Thank you Kabul House for a most pleasant dining experience. read more

I had a fabulous meal and experience at a Kabul House tonight. The waitstaff and Billy our waiter knocked themselves out for us. Extra touches such as tea and a constant check on our portable heat lamp wicks really made our dining experience extra special. The food was outstanding as always. Service was incredible. It is restaurants like these who are going the extra mile that really need customer business and support during these difficult times. Please support Kabul House. You won't be disappointed! I will be going back again and again! read more

LOVE this place! I've been here twice so far and both experiences were great. Everyone here is welcoming and makes you feel like you're part of the family. The first time I came here, we had to wait for a table since we came on a Friday or Saturday. The last time I came, this past week, we were seated right away since we came at a later time on a weekday. They gave my friend and I each a complimentary soup (lentil and veggie) along with warm bread. The bread was soft, dense, and perfectly accompanied the soup. I preferred the lentil soup more than the veggie since it was creamy and tomato based. As for our entrees, I had the "Three Kabob Combination" which came with 1/2 skewer of chicken, 1/2 skewer of lamb, and 1 skewer of Koubideh (ground sirloin), side of your choice of rice, and grilled veggies for $16.50. I really enjoyed the chicken and koubideh since both were so tender and seasoned to perfection. I wouldn't recommend ordering the lamb since it was somewhat chewy and didn't taste like much. My friend had the Murgh chicken kabob and she loved it as well. Portions are pretty big for the price and I usually have leftovers. Our server was really sweet and checked on us the right amount, enough to show he cared but without being overbearing. I highly recommend checking Kabul House out if you want to try some bomb Afghan food in the burbs! read more

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This place is so cozy and inviting . Its busy during dinner but the wait wasn't that bad . I love afghan food and was super excited to try it . The borani was good and the bread is so good they have with it . The lamb dish was splendid as well as the appetizers. The dessert and the tea was also great . They catered an event I recently attended and the food was just as good if not better . Its been awhile since i went to the restaurant but the food I had at the event reminded me that I should head over to the restaurant ! read more

Kabul House - Afghan Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I had not realized how much i loved this place until Covid hit and i wasn't able to dine in for lunch. I believe they are now open and i will definitely be coming in this week. Their chicken kabob lunch entree is so delicious and such a great deal. The lentil soup is better than my moms, which is really hard to beat, and the chicken barg is a little healthier version because it's made with chicken breast. The cilantro chutney is served with pita bread before the meal and it is unbelievably delicious. I've been working in this area for 6 years and unfortunately just discovered this place last year. I had never had Afghan food and regret never having tried it before. I have definitely been missing out. I don't live near the area, but once they open for dine in, i look forward to making the approximately one hour drive in to bring my husband. read more

Amazing! We made a reservation - Covid and all, but the seating area wasn't busy. Tables well spaced and staff were all masked and gloved. But the food! Hubby and I split an order of Kadu - baby pumpkin with honey and onions, perfectly spiced. Unlike anything I have ever tasted, and perfect. We each had a bowl of soup, I the tomato with lentils, he the Aush - again, totally different and totally perfect! The spices were perfectly balanced. We split an entree of lamb chops, melt in my mouth lamb chops, with Afghan rice. Service was good, the meal timing was spot on, the decor attractive and clean. Great atmosphere all around. If you want a special meal, with out of the ordinary flavors, give this place a try, you won't regret it. read more

High quality and awesome environment Polite staff One of my favorite places in the area For sure recommend it read more

Went here recently for lunch and the meal was great. This location use to be Billy's Sandwich shop and for the longest time, the storefront was empty promising that Kabul House will be there soon. Kabul House existed before and this was their new location. I have never been to the original, but this one was well done inside. It was not as cheesy as some ethnic restaurants tends to be; the ambiance was simple but classy. We sat down and were given bread, which was fresh. During lunch, they have 4-5 specials. I got the vegetarian special. It came with a large portion of rice, lentil soup (with a great greek yogurt on top), and 4 types of dishes in smaller portions - eggplant, okra, pumpkin, spinach, which taken as whole, was quite a large meal for me. Broken down, the eggplant, the okra and pumpkin dishes were delicious, but keep in mind that the pumpkin is a bit on the sweeter side. The spinach was a bit too salty for my taste, but not inedible. I left with a full stomach and the prices were very reasonable. The waiter was also nice and accommodating. read more

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Authentic dishes are actually authentic. Excellent ambience, service & food prep. Lamb & chicken were soft, juicy, cooked & spiced to perfection. Iced (chilled) cardamom tea was superb. They are excellent w/ food allergies & ensure there no cross contamination. If it wasn't for the damned mosquitoes bites... I would've given the place a five star rating. C'est la vie ‍ read more

June 13, 2021 - We were visiting Evanston for our daughter's graduation. We've never been to an Afgan restaurant before and wanted to try out Kabul House. The waitstaff was very friendly and the food was great. We had the Lamb Shank, Beef Barg, and the Chicken Soltani. Each dish was very good and prices are reasonable. If we are ever in the area again, we will definitely return. Highly recommended. Parking lot and BYOB. read more

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Kabul House has amazing food without a shadow of a doubt.. we ordered the Aush soup, the combo platter, and chicken kabob with salata. The ambiance is very pleasing too! But with every good compliment there is a complaint too. Kabul House for the most part is always serving a full house.. the part that is very irritating is that they only reserve if there is a party of 6 or more. (a year ago I reserved for 12 people and still waited over an hour.. and I had this same convo with the management) It's a tiny restaurant to begin with.. would it not be in your best interest to reserve so your lobby isn't over filled with hungry guest.. guest with children or even wheelchairs? Perfect example, yesterday I called twice to ask the current wait time.. I was told "5-10 mins".. I called upon while I was 10 mins away (drove over an hour to get there!) had to find parking (which took 10 mins).. got inside and holy shit there are sooo many people waiting. About a good 30 people. We ended up waiting outside in the cold.. the front of the house couldn't say much to make me feel better. Just that we will take your name down. We waited and waited. Remember that Seinfeld episode, "The Chinese Restaurant".. yeah that was us. The restaurant was so over crowded that the host would randomly sit people. Some people got seated in 10 mins while others got seated in 1.5 hours. My husband asked the host and she her response, "wellll okayyy.. I will seat you now! Didn't see you!" I was like girl.. you better check your self lmao! We got seated right by the door.. so as we are trying to eat we have people watching us who were waiting to eat. We ate real quick because it was so awkward! We wasted so much food trying to eat faster because we felt pressured My server, Malik! He was just a joy.. this kid has been running around for 12 hours at this point! He made sure we had a good experience! I wanted him to just eat with us! Tip to mgmt.. although your food is amazing.. the waiting time and the lack of tables and servers was not appreciated. I know you relocated in the past.. time to relocate again..not only did I waste time driving, parking, and waiting.. I missed a great opportunity to enjoy my meal which was at 9:45 pm. There are a lot of great Afghan restaurants in the area.. we chose to visit Kabul house. read more

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An absolutely special place. Your taste buds will thank you. The symphony of flavors arranged on your plate strike every chord--sweet, citric, tangy, and meaty. Aside from the food, the ambiance provides an elegant accompaniment to your meal. This is what food should taste like. read more

This place was freaking amazing. Best middle eastern food I've ever had - and I've had a lot. I'll definitely be back.

Simply. Amazing. It's hard to find a flaw in this flawless restaurant. Food: As an Afghan food connoisseur, this restaurant went above my expectations. Ambiance: The ambiance was itself was an experience. Loved the welcoming, warm, and completely new. The place was clean and spotless. I even got to go behind the scenes and see the kitchen. Everything was new, organized and clean as a whistle. Def could taste the freshness in the food. Service: the wait staff was incredibly attentive and efficient. We ended up becoming friends with Hector! Owner: Akmal's the best! We interacted with him and he was beyond hospitable. His passion food and Afghan culture are very visible in his restaurant. read more

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This is a great place to try some Afghan food in the suburbs. I've been here numerous times with my family, and the food has consistently been good. The decor and vibe of the restaurant also really sell the Afghan theme. During our recent visit we started with the black cardamom tea which was strong and had great flavor, and I appreciated the fancy large pot it was served in. Next, we got the hummus appetizer, which tasted like typical hummus and came with soft bread to eat with. For my entree, I got the spicy chicken barg which is the star of the show and the reason I keep coming back. It is some of the juiciest and most flavorful chicken I have ever had at a restaurant. I got it with the Afghan rice which is unique with with the carrot and raisins. I highly recommend the place. read more

Kabul House - spicy chicken barg - Afghan Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This Afghan venue has been on my hit list ever since the buzz I heard from others, as well as, the terrific experience I had at their sister restaurant. The wife and I were in Skokie for an event and finally had the opportunity to experience. Prime time on a Saturday night the place was packed but even so, a table for two only involved a 15-20 minute wait, not too shabby. A good ethnic turn out which always makes me feel good at an ethnic restaurant, but a good mix of folks as well. The atmosphere was just right and the service was friendly and polite. We started with the soup, wife ordered the tomato/lentil, i ordered the chickpea noodle, they brought two tomato/lentils. Apparently the a new batch of chickpea noodle would not be ready for 20-30 minutes. I was bummed not to be able to experience, but was also encouraged that it was being made fresh. Next was a perogi type pasta app that they also offer as an entree, you would be well advised to choose that option, very good. For entrees, my wife ordered a lamb dish, I ordered the famed chicken. Both were good, but my lord is there a lot of rice. The basmati rice was good, but there was a lot of it. We had the dill rice and also the carrot raisin. Don't make the mistake I made, I ate the rice and drank a ton of water which lead me to be miserable afterwards. It is also good to note that this venue is byob. For dessert, there was a dairy, rose water, pistachio number, so light and wonderful that the wife and I both shared. It was good, but not sure if it was I have to come back good. If I did come back, I would probably order the entree version of the perogi type pasta. Overall, I felt the cost of the meal was very reasonable. read more

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One of the most delicious food I have had in a long long time. I had to give up because my stomach couldn't had more. With every entree ordered, you get a lentil soup and some amazing bread...super soft and fresh. Lentil soup was nice and filling. We had one veg person in our group of three and hence ordered veg platter. Eggplant entry was nice..so was cauliflower. Rest two items were ok. But that all is noticeable till you have tasted the afghan rice which comes with it. Sweet, sour rice with carrot and raisins on top, colored with saffron and distinct rice grains. Perfectly cooked. Reminded me of Kashmiri Pulao i have had in my childhood! The quantity was good enough for two. If you're going for a brunch (and hence more hungry), order 2 for 3 people. We ordered their Chicken Kabob and it came with more of that Afghan Rice. Finger licking good! We couldn't finish the whole and they were happy to get a to go box for us. Their staff too is very helpful, smiling and pleasant to deal with. Pricing too is very reasonable. Overall, a must visit for sure! read more

Amazing food and service. Even if the food was bad (which it wasn't, at all!) I would come back because of the exceptional customer service Daniel offered us. Some of the items we ordered were: Mantoo (ground beef dumpling) Aushak (vegetarian dumplings) Murgh Kabuli Palau Koubideh Everything was scrumptious! All the entrees came with white rice, dill rice, or afghan rice. My favorite, of course, was the afghan rice... I'm not a fan of raisins and carrots, however the rice is amazing. Just found out they cater as well... I'll definitely be catering from here next time! read more

Kabul House - Afghan Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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We had 2 orders of Tandoori Chicken for pickup. The pictures speak for themselves. We called the restaurant and spoke to the manager and gave her the details of the burnt items, she said she will call us back in a few minutes and we haven't heard back from the restaurant. This was a very poor customer service experience. read more

Kabul House - Burnt Chicken Tandoori - Afghan Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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My sister in law is Tajik, and she and my brother met while they were both teaching in Kabul. So, it was natural that we go there for dinner when they were in town. Great food! Attentive service! Terry and Hamroz even gave me a gift card for the restaurant the following Christmas. read more

Very bad service from the reservation desk. We called in the afternoon and they said you don't need a reservation for a party of two. When we arrived they asked if we had a reservation and said the wait time is 3 hours. Never going back there even if the food is absolutely great. Beware if you are planning a night, very diaappointed. read more

We have only ordered to go, but it is always good. Real food. So much better than Pita Inn.

Loved the food. Will be back very soon. One complaint however: No free iced tea refills! Will just stick with water in future visits.

I give this place five stars mainly for the wonderful service and great food! It's not often you find such a quality restaurant outside of downtown!!! read more

This is the only Afghani restaurant I've ever seen. It has Afghan specials like Mantoo, kabuli polo and bolani. I love there Ash soup as well as their lentil soup. Try the Beef koobideh with Dill rice or Afghan rice. Best food. Authentic. Best customer service imaginable. Gerber the manager is top notch! Try the Soltani! read more

Kabul House - Afghan Near Me - Evanston, Illinois