I went here for a quick lunch on a busy day. The service was excellent, as I got my food quick. The food was pretty good as the chicken was flavorful. The vibe here was nice as well: containing a fountain and light music. Overall, a place worth visiting. read more

I was in area on a Wednesday evening (6:15pm) and read the reviews for this restaurant and was intrigued. Sat down, was offered menus inside (we were only diners inside... a couple was eating in parking lot), then was promptly ignored!!! No water. Nothing. Saw that they immediately added 18% to bill for gratuity. ..." and you can add more" I looked over and server and another employee were rolling silverware!!!! Totally ignored After several minutes, we got up & left. Nice ambiance. I was looking forward to a nice dinner..... which I had down the road and $pent $$$$'s read more

I recently moved to this area and was looking for some yummy middle eastern food. I ordered here and thought the food was okay. My husband and I ordered veggie samosas, lamb kabob wrap, karahi (dish served with a protein choice and sautéed with fresh tomatoes, and rice), and a combo of barg and lamb. The portions were much smaller than what I expected and the price was not worth the meal. I may be comparing to my favorite place kabob palace but I think the drive there is more worth it for the quality and quantity of food. read more

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Wonderful hidden gem. Atmosphere is so relaxing with indoor fountain and pillow seating. Delicious food! Pot of tea in antique teacups. read more

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Fantastic little place ! Had a tea here and it was such a lovely experience! Highly recommend read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Tea, fruits, sandwiches - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Loved Mazadar. Interesting when you walk in--not your average strip mall restaurant. Delicious food, great service, very friendly atmosphere. Can't wait to go again. Maybe we'll take in their afternoon teas every day 2-6 pm. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Vegetarian Delight--spinach, butternut squash, eggplant, with rice. - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

The fountain and couches with lots of small pillows made this place comfortable. The lady who served my table was very kind and informative! I loved the flavor of the saffron tea, the barg and koodibeh kabobs were perfectly cooked and the Kabuli rice was tasty! I will be back with the family soon! read more

Was in Fairfax for 2 weeks and found this restaurant my second week. I went twice during the week, and wish I had found it sooner. I absolutely loved this place! I am gluten and dairy free and there were so many options without having to make special requests. Absolutely loved this place, and couldn't recommend it more! read more

I could not even begin to tell you how great Mazadar is. From the sampler, lemon chicken soup, and all 6 entrees we had were fantastic. We did not try the dessert. Will definitely return. read more

I came because of the fountain and saffron ice cream. But will return because of the lemonades and the mantu (dumplings). The mantu was so full of flavor. Oh my gosh. And the appetizers of hummus and salad. The service. Everything was fantastic! Great for date night or with family. read more

My husband and I love this place. The service is fantastic, and the food is even better. I am mostly plant based and my husband eats everything. I usually go with their veggie sampler or falafels, and my husband would probably give an arm for the lamb shank. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful, exotic, and peaceful. We come here every Valentines Day, and we also had our rehearsal dinner here. They were extremely professional and courteous. I recommend this restaurant without hesitation. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Lentil Soup and Tea - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

We tried this for the first time this evening and loved it. Everything was perfect from the lovely setting and atmosphere to the service to the food. We went early so were one of only 2-3 parties, which probably helped. I loved the way each of the dishes we tried was basically traditional but with an extra spark giving them extra character. Even the hummus had a little extra spice of some kind. The bread was wonderful, fresh from the oven. The prices are reasonable, too. We'll definitely be returning. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Appetizer sampler with bread. - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I was invited to go here for a family dinner. The Ambience is nice. They have a water fountain in the middle. Seems like a nice cool theme but you will constantly hear a water fall noises in background . The food smells good and looks good but taste is far fetched. The service was not that bad since they were not too busy. We ordered some kabob platters. A chicken Biryani upon on the servers recommendation it was supposed to be an authentic Pakistani style biryani (NOT AT ALL). The reason I am giving it 1 star. The food is HORRIBLE!!! It is not authentic. This place is big on tea pots and other things as I noticed people getting those more than the actual food. The Biryani had no taste and super oily. They took some chicken curry and mixed it into their afghan rice and served it. Kabobs were OK. The Quabli pallao (rice) not so good tasting. I have had way better afghan food than this. This explains why I saw not a single afghan or middle eastern family eating here. It is definitely tasteless. My request to the owners please change your chef or make changes to your taste buds and make the food taste better. We will not be returning at all. I was so disappointed and didn't even finish my food. What a waste of money!!! read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Chicken Biryani - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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We met friends here for dinner and weren't disappointed. We ordered the lamb biryani which is served on a very aromatic basmati rice and the lamb kebab, also served on rice. They brought their version of naan bread which was a long oval of bread rather then the usual round style. Two naan were enough to share between 4 people. The food was delicious but the portions were quite small. There were 3 chunks of bone-in lamb on the biryani and only one medium sized skewer for the kebab. Most places will give you two. However, they were very tasty. By the way, when you go wash your hands in the bathroom, be warned that the faucet handle is to be pulled sideways not back and forth. And I wasn't the first one who tried it the wrong way, given the marks on the wall. A little sign explaining this would go a long ways towards avoiding frustration. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Lamb Biryani - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Third time at Mazadar. Food is amazing! As is the decor and ambience. Service is very attentive. Will continue to have this as one of our top restaurants in the area. Kabobs, avgolemono soup, Afghan dumplings, lamb shank, and mantu meat dumplings have been excellent. Restaurant offers a great mix of Mediterranean ethnic foods. read more

It was my first time at this restaurant and it was truly amazing. The little place is so cute and cozy. The service was outstanding. And oh my god the food was delicious. They even serve tea in this cute tea pot from a area party. The hibiscus tea was delicious. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Hibiscus tea pot - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Food is always delicious and our experience is always pleasant! We've been going since they opened and would recommend to anyone!

Our family ate at Mazadar Restaurant and the food was excellent. Our waitress was young and still learning as she wasn't as attentive as she should have been. But the food and the owner were outstanding. The chicken biryani (med heat) was excellent. The potato salad and gyro was excellent as well. We ordered a plate of gyro meat (not on Sunday menu) that came with Greek salad and a potato/egg/dill/pea/pickle salad that was surprisingly good too. We had a chicken kabob and steak kabob platter and french fries. The fries were hot and fresh and also delicious. read more

I love this restaurant. It's located in a small strip mall but you wouldn't know when you're inside. Sit at a long bench with colorful pillows or at a table by the quietly bubbling fountain in the middle. They are clearly short-staffed but the food still comes out fast and hot. The food is flavorful but in a delicate way, not overpowering. I am such a wimp when it comes to spiciness, and the server was honest about what would be too spicy. But she also asked my spice-loving boyfriend what level he truly wanted and when it came out he was satisfied. Spicy enough to enjoy but not so spicy that his tongue melted off. Vegetarian options are plentiful as well as what meat eaters enjoy. I have been here several times and liked everything I've tried. Their soups are delicious. Warning: it can get expensive if you come hungry. But it's worth it for a date night. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a change from the various fast-casual restaurants in NoVa. I just ate dinner but after writing this review I'm now thinking about the food at Mazadar. read more

Came here for dinner with my SO and it was a great time. It's larger inside than you think and the fountain is pretty cool. We ordered the mantu for appetizer and it was delicious. Perfectly portioned and the seasoned beef was tasty. I asked out server Hassan who was great, for kebab recommendation and he said the Mazadar chopan kebab. Well, it was definitely a 5/5 item. The tenderness of the lamb meat was perfect, so soft and easy to eat. The flavor of the marination was the icing on the cake. My 4/5 was the chicken kebab. It was a little dry and not as juicy as I would hope for. Still, it was filling and tasted great. We got firnee for dessert and it was pretty tasty. Not overtly sweet which is always good. I would definitely come back here for those lamp chops. read more

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This place is very cute with nice decor and comfy seating area. We have had dinner here multiple times and it's always a good time. Their serving size is huge which I love bcuz that means I can take away some of the yummy food with me. They start you off with delicious bread with this spicy green and yogurt sauce which pairs so well with the bread. Definitely recommend the mantu. Customer service is good. For checking in we got free appetizer so check in when you get here and see if offer still valid read more

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The interior of the restaurant feels very glamorous and lux with a fountain and large copper oil or tea decanters (I unfortunately don't know whether teapots and oil pots are designed differently). But beneath the fanciness, the staff feel incredibly warm and friendly and made me feel welcome. I cannot make claims to the authenticity of the food but the chicken kabob was juicy and tasty, the bread was warm and comforting, and the tzatziki was cool and refreshing. The firnee, a rosewater custard, was an absolute astonishing standout and reminds me of the malabia in Jaffa in Israel. The portions are smaller than you may expect and I easily could have eaten another kabob but overall it's an exceptional experience. read more

The most Horrible Horrible Horrible experience ever!!!!! I cannot believe we paid over $100 for a small platter of rice, kabobs, bread with NO salad, and no sauce and no chutney! All served on tiny dessert plates! Service was horrible, waitress/server acted bothered by us being there and she gave zero insight on the menu or what we should order for our large group. Waste of $$$$, save it and spend it on your local kabob house! At least you'll get some sauce and salad! I hope the owner reads this and fixes this! read more

This is my first time eating at Mazadaar, and I have to say that IDA named her restaurant that gave 100%justification to her food and place. Legitimately the best restaurant in FFX. I am sure it doesn't matter what I got; I licked my plates. The food is exceptional! Very tasty and well prepared. I highly recommend Mazadaar Thank you, IDA.... Great job read more

Tried this place looking for a good koobideh near me and went with Masadar. Food was hot and ready for pick up and so delicious!! Definitely recommend. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Persians like me always wanna buy a FASTER CAR And we always drive we don't like to be the PASSENGAR But I spent all my money cause I had to take an UBER FAR And on this trip the girl that I was with somehow LOST HER BRA But when I get kebab I just always wanna RAISE THE BAR Always want a new deal, that's why they call me FDR A lot of NOVA Persian places honestly are BELOW PAR Until I discovered the miracle of MAZADAR! What. What to get: Any kebab, especially Kobedeh/Kofte What else: Incredible Eggplant Dips Other Stuff: Pretty much everything they sell tastes like heaven What does heaven taste like: Depends what lotion she uses and when she last showered Who is Heaven: Oh, my ex-girlfriend. She's a dancer This is some really a-Maza-ing kebab-type food. My family was very insistent that it's not actually as Persian as the Persian they are used to. This is probably because the place is run by people from Afghanistan, as far as I can tell. But here's the secret: Afghan kebab is every bit as delicious as Persian kebab, and probably slightly cheaper. All of the kebabs were amazing, from the kofte style, to the barg, to the shish style, the chicken, and the eggplant dips. You name it - it was perfect. The restaurant advertises itself as Persian and Afghan food, and it excels in both areas. Every dish we had from here was not just 5-star excellent, it was off-the-charts spectacular. My family thought it was amazing, as they catered our family reunion, got the food ready at short noticed, charged about half as much as some of the Persian places in NOVA would charge, and the food was much more moist and delicious. My family have some issues, so while expressing how delicious the food was, they also kept whining that some of it wasn't technically traditionally Persian, and it turned into a big drama. So if your family cares more about where the food is from than what it tastes like, you might go with a more expensive, less amazing, and more "actually specifically definitively and solely Persian" place. Sigh. Personally, though, I have amazing taste in food, and this is some of the best kebab food I've ever had. Like Rehab I will meet you while we are sittin' IN A BAR Like Charli XCX, I will then take you to the AFTERPAR (ty) Like Taylor Swift, you know I might leave you with a NASTY SCAR Like Timbaland, I can't help it, that's just the WAY I ARE When we online we always be changin AVATAR When we on SNL we do the skit with SUPASTAR We be top shelf where yo mama hides the COOKIE JAR And we only get kebab in DMV from MAZADAR! What. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - I dar you to say this kebab isn't amazing - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Very cool layout for a restaurant as many seats focus towards the centralized fountain. Staff is very friendly and polite. I ordered a chicken and ground beef kabob entree that had the best basmati rice I've ever had. It was a very enjoyable meal and I liked it more with each taste that I had read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Chicken & ground beef kabob - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

We were choosing between two middle eastern restaurants for diner for the family tonight. We picked Mazadar based on the Persian ice cream photos. yes I know that's not the best reason but for some reason it really intrigued me. We arrived to an empty restaurant. Not a great sign but we were a bit early in the evening. On entering I noticed a help wanted sign for full time servers. I later figured out why. We were seated in a corner sort of both. the kind with lots of pillow you often see in middle eastern restaurants. It was quite nice for the 5 of us. the decor was inviting. We ordered and asked the server a few questions. we got nondescript not really helpful answers. We showed the Yelp check-in coupon for a free app with purchase of two entrees. the waiter seemed to have no idea what it was but said he would take an app off the bill. We ordered the Falafal and Hummos apps and two Barg (beef filet kebobs) for the 3 small kids and a lamb biryani for me. I asked for the spice and it was. A big plus. the Lamb was quite nice. On the bone and flavorful. the Barg was very heavy on rice and quite light on the filet for the price. We ordered an additional skewer of Barg because the kids were still hungry and even that wasn't enough. But all totaled, that was $50 for three kids 11, 8, and 6 and they didn't get enough beef. Wife ordered a chicken dish with basmati rice which was also quite nice. Huge amount of rice, and a fair bit of chicken. Through most of the meal I was out of water. Had to finally ask the waiter to bring me more. He brought a bottle of chilled tap water. No ice refill. By this time was ready to eat my much anticipated ice cream. When it later came, it was orange. It looked nothing like the photos I had seen from previous diners posted here. and I have to assume tasted nothing like it either. It was quite meh... Since most of the food was good I would have considered four stars, but since the service was marginal, and the app was there on the bill (my bad I didn't notice until the credit card was already charged) I am going with 3 stars. Likely won't return. and based on the fact that when we left there were a total of 3 tables it seems others are feeling the same way. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Persian Ice cream looks much different than all the photos I saw from prior diners. Not that great... - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

One of our favorite places. Atmosphere, service, and food is excellent. It's in a strip mall but excellent parking and convenient. A must try read more

Came here for lunch today and the food + service was incredible. I had the lamb karahi which was perfectly tender, in the most delicouly spiced sauce, and served with a huge portion of bread and rice. I also got a side salad and was obsesssed with the complimentary yogurt and chutney they provided. I can't wait to come back to try their falafel platter! read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Lamb karahi - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I went here with my SO for a meal, and we got the bolanee kachaloo to share, while I got the lamb karahi to eat. I can't remember what my SO got, but we both enjoyed enjoyed our meals, and the bolanee kachaloo was excellent as well. I'd definitely come back here if I get the chance, and would encourage people to give it a shot too! The interior is very interesting with a fountain in the middle too so it was an interesting experience for me. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Lamb Karahi - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

A truly delightful experience. Great food and a relaxing environment. Staff was friendly and attentive. I'll be back! read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Lamb Biryani - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I came here late afternoon on a weekday and was pleasantly surprised on the hospitality, ambiance and also food. I ordered the Machicha Pulao which was really delicious. It was pretty saucy and different from menu options I see at other Afghan places. It also came with a freshly made naan which went really well with the curry. I was the only one in the restaurant at the time and actually had a great conversation with the owner. What's more is that when I was leaving I had forgotten my water bottle on the table and the owner personally came out to give it to me while I was getting in my UBER. I will definitely be back here when I'm in the area! read more

Mazadar Restaurant - The interior is really gorgeous perfect for a date - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I came here two years ago, and it was a great restaurant. I come here today, August 2022, and I must say, it is AMAZING! The owner is the kindest person you'll meet that day, and she didn't mind sharing facts about the food, the restaurant and herself. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the water fountain is a nice touch. I highly recommend the Karahi with lamb. Simply amazing!!! Would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for sophisticated flavors, great atmosphere and an experience. Oh and they have tea hours: 2-6pm. Check it out!!! Robin read more

Where to start with this restaurant? I recently tried Mazadar and was honestly disappointed. The restaurant is described as "Authentic Afghan" but as an Afghan myself I did not feel the food was an authentic reflection of Afghan food. I ordered the Mantu, Kubeidah Kabob, and a Coke and the only thing that didn't disappoint was the coke. From the top- if you want a cute place to go to, Mazadar is nice, but if you want good food you're at a loss because Mazadar does not provide that. Once seated it took 45 mins for us to receive our food and when we did receive it everything was cold. The Mantu, the yogurt sauce on top is advertised as "yogurt and mint" but it was made out of sour cream without a doubt. The top meat (kimah), had more of a tomato paste taste rather than meat. And the actual dumpling filling was: under cooked and seasonless. I felt as if I was eating raw meat. The Kubeidah Kabob and Rice- The kabob was cold, had no flavour, not cooked properly, not juicy, and just not what you would expect of Kubeidah Kabob. The rice was cold and that alone was a disappointment. If I could give this restaurant a 0 rating I would. Honestly, disgrace to call this place "Authentic Afghan". read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Kubeidah Kabob and Rice. - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Love this cosy restaurant and their tea service. Feels like I'm dining at a friend's home. Everything I've ordered has always been very good, hot, and savory. Highly recommend their borani bademjan appetizer and any kabob. Chicken kabob was juicy, flavorful, and not dry. Lots of vegetarian/vegan items on the menu. read more

This restaurant is fantastic every single time we visit. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We started with the sampler appetizer, moved on Mantu (beef and veg), Shrimp Biryani and then chocolate cake and rice pudding for dessert. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. It's a must visit. read more

Mazadar Restaurant - Afghan Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I had dinner with a local friend there. She knew where taking me to impress me. The decoration of the restaurant is warm and beautiful. We ordered Dovga soap and Borani banjan. Oh gosh, both were delicious, hame made taste. I felt like i am having food in a friends house. Not have such a feeling for long time specially with the tea and dessert. All beautiful. read more

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Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Pretty much all I have to say! We like to frequent many middle eastern/Mediterranean restaurants and have a few select favorites but I think this weekend we found a place that is triumphing it all! Stopped by on a Friday evening after seeing the top ratings, and they were all true! Let me just first start with, I was slightly blown away by the inner decor and setting when I first walked in, cozy, spacious, well-decorated, with an adorable central fountain. What a cute date night spot! (And family too! They definitely accommodated larger families as well). Next up: the food. Wowzers. We ordered the Sambosa with meat- absolutely delicious. Came out piping hot and filled with chunks of meat and a burst of flavor. We were also recommended mantu, which I saw many other tables get- definitely something we will have to try as I think it's a good staple here! We also ordered the quabili Palow and mahachi palow at the recommendation of our server. YES, the lamb shank y'all--- so jealous my boyfriend ordered this ahead of me because it was delish!! The quabili Palow was also delicious, the super tender braised meat hidden in bed of soft basamati rice with a punch of mild sweetness from the raisins and crunch from the carrots. THIS was the perfect concoction. Heaven. Absolute heaven! Because everything is freshly cooked, made to perfection, it did take some time for the food to come out. But that's simply because they make their food to the best quality- I didn't even know that so much time elapsed because I was too busy enjoying my courses! Not to mention the superior service. If you don't go here, ya snooze. read more

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From the moment you enter this delightful restaurant and hear the calming water fountain to the last bit of delicious desert, expect a lovely experience. The food is outstanding! I love the starters, especially the eggplant Borani Banjan and the Veggie Mantu. Have had several entrees and ALL were exceptional. And the chocolate cake with saffron ice cream - dreamy! The servers and owner are so welcoming, you will certainly want to return again, and again, as I have! read more