I live in america and when in adelaide parwana has always been one of my first and favorite stops. I feel they must have lost their chef as the whole meal was so below standard. Nothing on the menu was as it used to be. The standard classic dishes were a major disappointment,they were not nearly as delicious or tasty as they were. There were 3 dishes that we used to enjoy that were nothing like they used to be. Service was ok but this restaurant is absolutely relying on its past stellar reputation. We were so excited for our evening but sadly we were really disappointed and it kind really ruined my first night reunion. read more

OMG!! This place is AMAZING!! I will admit, when friends of mine suggested we go to an Afgani Restaurant for dinner, I was a little apprehensive as to whether there would be anythign on the menu that i would actually eat. There were 7 people in our group, and there were 8 mains on the menu, so we pretty much ordered one of everything. And all of it was DELICIOUS! My personal favorites were the rose syrup drink that I had that tasted like liquid turkish delight, the eggplant dish (eggplants in an aromatic tomato sauce) and the lamb (melt in your mouth aromatically spiced lamb) Seriously, if you are looking for somewhere new to try, give this place a go. They have a BYO licence (so you can bring your own wine) and the service was EXCELLENT!! We had drinks, and LOTS of food, and some corkage and we shared a dessert and all up when we split the bill it worked out to $37 each. Very reasonable for the amount of food that we had and the quality of the food and the service. This place is a MUST try!! read more

Parwana Afghan Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Torrensville, SA

Give us all the dumplings! Why do you go to Parwana? Well... yeah dumplings. Oh, and the lovely storeowner of course. This place is packed all the time. So, if you want to guarantee yourself a seat, make sure you book in advance. It's rare to get a walk in table. The restaurant is not that big and I can see that the owner is frustrated with this fact. They have to turn away a lot of guests. He was talking to us about wanting to rent and open up next door's storefront, but is unable to. Shame really, as I can see it would make a lot of difference for them. Apart from it being so busy, the food is bang on. It is just so fresh and the balance of flavours and spices is perfect. That is a rare thing. I generally look for more seasoning in places, but not here. We ordered the dumplings of course. Full of carrots, cabbage and veggie awesomeness in the most perfect pastry. This is all topped with a tomato minced lamb sauce and cream. It just works. We also ordered the dips which featured beetroot, hummus & a bean dip. All amazing! The hummus had a lovely smoky flavour to it and quite acidic to other places. Last thing we ordered was the Lamb Chopaan. This is tender pieces of lamb served with a fresh chutney and vegetables. The lamb was surprisingly tender. I was a little surprised how tender it was. But, after speaking to the owner he explained that he is very fussy with the cuts and age of the lambs. There is a steaming process the meats go through to help with the tenderness. He also explained that they grind their own spices which really changes the flavours of the meals in comparison to other Afghan Restaurants. Look, if you want to try quality Afghan, this is your destination in Adelaide. Don't worry, if you don't get in you can always try their sister restaurant in town Kutchi Deli Parwana which is open during the day. read more

Parwana Afghan Restaurant - Dips!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Torrensville, SA

Parwana is another of the not-so-secret secrets of the west side. It has been open for a year or so now, and soon after it opened I got a whole bunch of rave reviews from friends. I'll add my approval to the heap. The Afghani style food has some crossovers with Indian food and the surrounding Middle Eastern cuisines, so I found myself recognising some dishes and being surprised by others. From the outside it doesn't look that great, but the decor inside is simple and pleasant. Kerosene lamps, wooden screens, not too much kitschy schtick (no plastic tablecloths - not that there's anything wrong with that), just enough pictures and lamps that it isn't cavernously empty. The staff are friendly but quiet, and the real puller is of course the food. Think: leek, yoghurt, lamb, lime, mint, caramelised carrot, pistachio, candied orange, basmati rice, lentils, paneer, chutney and naan. Order these things for best results: bolani bread, leek dumplings, qabuli pilau. When I went, the desserts fridge was on the fritz. Friends tell me this is a travesty. My best sources inform me the various rose ice creams and jellies are *the best*. I wouldn't mind trying the gulab jamun - I have a soft spot for these sweet syrupy doughnut-like balls, something my Indian grandfather used to make for me as a child. I'll be back to check dessert out. read more

Parwana Afghan Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Torrensville, SA

Nice food but often you can't go back to get something you really liked, the menu changes to suit the chef.

While I can say that I enjoy the food here, it was abit on the pricey side for me for the portion size we were given. The food reminded me of a cross between Indian and Lebanese cuisine with the way the bread was made and the meat was cooked. The ambience inside is really cosy, and though the decor is relatively spartan, this seems to add to the whole atmosphere of the place and adds to the dining experience. Service is good and the girl who serves us is friendly though not very talkative. The man who is usually behind the counter says even less, but he's not rude or anything of a sort. From the street, it might not be very obvious that there is a restaurant there so you have to look out for it. There is parking along the street and its recommended that you turn into the street just after before the restaurant to look for parking if you are heading east towards the city down Henley Beach road. Overall, I'm pleased to say that there is a restaurant in Adelaide that sells traditional Afghan food. My only wish would be that they would be abit more affordable or that they would increase their portion sizes. The food is delicious, so I am compelled to spend more in order to satisfy my appetite... hmm, from a business standpoint it all makes sense now. read more

Parwana Afghan Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Torrensville, SA

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This won't be a long review - because I don't like to gush. But here goes my gushing! Portion size for me was perfect - I like the portion sizes to be the same as what I would do for myself at home - in fact this I probably bigger than the portion I would give myself. So that's a plus. The ingredients were fresh and simple. However it's the combination of these beautiful ingredients that makes the dishes stand out. They were light, and homey. But you know homey if you were a chef. The desserts looked amazing - next time (wistful sigh). And the service!! We were greeted at the door like family. New favourite Adelaide eatery. End. read more

Parwana gets better and better as time goes on. There aren't many meals that'll make you say to your friends in three months time, 'Remember the rice at Parwana? Aww man, that stuff was good!' followed by gargling sounds. Parwana has been featured on Food Safari (I believe, it was one of the food shows on SBS) before and is probably the best Middle Eastern restaurant in Adelaide. The price range is completely affordable, the food is best served as tapas, and there seems to be a complete wholesomeness and family-orientated culture at Parwana which hits you as soon as you enter the establishment. The eggplant and the rice are my personal faves and I would encourage you to try them when you come to Parwana. The menu isn't hugely extensive, but it really is quality over quantity at Parwana, with each bite tasting better than the last. At the end of your hearty meal, do treat yourself to some saffron ice cream and maybe a chai. Top notch restaurant, I enjoy it so much every time I go :) read more

There are NO WORDS for the deliciousness and amazingness of Parwana! Afghan cuisine is something I had previously not tried before plunging into the fragrant delights of Parwana. I would say their food is near perfection. I have traveled all over Australia, and, as a foodie, tasted food from hundreds of restaurants from the very cheap to the eye-wateringly expensive. And, I have to say, Parwana remains in the top 5 restaurants I've eaten at. It's really that great (now I'm afraid you won't like it!). Their dumplings have a rich, multilayered flavour, with the meat in the sauce, not in the dumpling. Their meat dishes range from the mild to the very hot (although I avoid hot!), and each has is spiced with comforting, warming flavours. The rices are perfection themselves. It's BYO, so make sure you bring some really lovely wine to compliment this delicious food. The great thing, too, is that you can get a few dishes between two and eat for a reasonable price, or go crazy with all the amazing options and eat like queens! read more

After spending over a year in Afghanistan, I developed a love for the food and culture. When we heard that there was an Afghan restaurant in town I knew we had to go. It was a while ago, and some of the interior has changed but the food remains spectacular. It's a small place, and we found bookings to be essential as when we did a drop-in a few months after our first visit they were booked out! Apparently it's common for them, and it really shouldn't be held against them. The food is great and the service was very kind and friendly. The food's authentic, at least the kabob that I had. Some may take the meals as a bit simple, but my wife and I both thoroughly enjoyed it. And I got to scratch that itch for a great Afghan meal that I developed out near Deh Rawood. read more

My first experience eating Afghani food and I couldn't have been more delighted. Think middle eastern, Persian and Indian flavours, the food was delish. Most dishes had a blend of spices but somewhat lighter than Indian cuisine, quite palatable. Lamb, chicken and vegetable dishes are on the menu. A good mix of mains and sides as options on the menu and rice dishes to accompany. Between two people, we ordered an entree, one main, two sides and a half size rice. We couldn't finish it, so took the remainder home. Great value and very good meal sizes. Service was great and the place was full by 7.30 on a Saturday night. The eggplant side dish is a must have. Highly recommended. read more

From the time we entered the restaurant to the time we left, we were just elated from our experience with Parwana Afghan Restaurant. Dining on a Wednesday night we thought we wouldn't have to make a booking, clearly we were wrong as we entered the restaurant, seeing scatters of 'reserved' signs on all the tables. However the friendly smiley waiter managed to accommodate the two of us. The menu is simple and straight to the point, I like that in a menu. Nothing worse than being handed a mini novel filled with endless lists of mediocre dishes. It's about the quality of items on offer, not quantity. We ordered the Rose Sharbat and Sour Cherry Sharbat drinks to start of with. I love the florally perfumed sweet taste of the rose water drink, which had basil seeds at the bottom. The sour cherry drink was equally as good and was refreshing and thirst quenching. Our Chukayih came out shortly after. This is a trio of dips served with crispy naan bread crackers. Our three dips tonight was beetroot, carrot and green pea. It's hard to describe each of the flavours of the dishes, they all were intense in flavour and had hints of herbs and spices in each. The highlight of this dish was the beetroot dip! Having had Mantu dumplings from another Afghan cafe before, I had to try Parwana's version. Wow, I sure was glad of that! Soft pillowy white dumplings filled with carrot and onion, enrobed in a mince sauce and garlic yoghurt. My tastebuds danced an Afghan attan dance! Our other dish was the Morgh Degee which consisted of flavoursome, juicy, tender pan fried chicken pieces, drizzled with a yoghurt sauce. It was served with soft naan bread and their housemade Parwana chutney. Once again I could not fault this dish. The chicken was delicious and that chutney, I could eat that over every meal, every day. Highlights of this dish was a tie between the chicken, the chutney and the naan underneath the chicken that soaked up all the juices! Each dish had its intensity yet simple flavours that just complimented and worked so well together. We left there completely satisfied and full, yet not 'OMG I am seriously going to be sick' kind of full. The meals were fresh and light. Flawless! and no doubt we will be back again. read more

We came here for dinner Wednesday night for a friends going away dinner and had a table of eight, we ordered pretty much one of everything on the menu and had it all come up within 10 minutes! Every dish served up was fantastic, unique flavours and tastes I've never had before. This middle eastern restaurant is a must try for anyone who wants to branch out and try a new cuisine. My personal standout was the lamb, so full of flavour and the meat was deliciously tender served with a pita like bread to wrap it up with. Other favourites were the eggplant and dumplings , it's the right move to just order a heap and share so you don't get the buyers remorse wishing you ordered something else.... They are not licensed to sell alcohol so bring your own wine and make a night of it, corkage fee was only $10 each too so after having plenty of wine and a full belly of food, we split the bill and it totalled just $30 each! Great value, great service will be back again. read more

Went here on a Wednesday night, even then it was quite packed! Being a massive Asian dumpling fan I couldn't go pass the dumplings on their menu. I'm super glad I didn't, they were amazing, ridiculously good!! Little parcels of delicious smothered in a beautiful meaty sauce. Do your self a favour and try it! read more

Can't agree more with the reviews. The food is amazing and those dumplings I recommend you need to get both options steam and fried. I always have to order the eggplant dish as I have not had eggplant that good anywhere else. If you unsure of which drink to choose then I would recommend the sour cherry as the other option with rose water is a bit sweet. Booking is essential to ensure you get a table. If you want low level noise and easy to talk then this is not the place for you. Very loud and depending on the size of your table you will miss out on joining the conversation. read more

if you're after ethnic style food or something a little different from fish and chips or pasta stop by Parwana today! Be warned that you'd better make a booking as they are incredibly busy and often assign 'times' to their seating e.g. 6 - 745pm. That said they are incredibly efficient and you won't be sitting for long before being served delicious Afghan food. The little things are also taken care of, there is table water when you sit down and they are more than happy to top up as you go. The wine is byo with $10 corkage - which isn't bad when you can go through a whole bottle with friends at $10 split between you. Now for the food. While the menu is limited with 8 - 10 dishes in total, the high number of people in the restaurant and the size of the smiles on the faces says it all. The food is scrumptious. They have a standard size and a 'main' which is not listed on the menu which costs $4 - $6 extra. I had the lamb kofta which is essentially herb and lamb meatballs in a tomato sauce with onion and garlic. The flavours complement each other brilliantly and I would definitely recommend the dish. While I managed to polish off all of mine (I'm a bit of a piglet) my friend was given a take away container and took hers home for lunch the next day. My other two friends dining with us had the potato qorma which is a potato curry cooked in spices and chilli and the morghe degee which is a large platter with chicken, yoghurt sauce, naan and afghan chutney. We ordered a plate of naan with some cucumber raita which was nice and zesty and as a bit of a tip - add it to the lamb meatballs for another angle on your meal. The whole meal came to $110 (including corkage) which was a fair price for the quality of food, the atmosphere and the experience read more

Parwana Afghan Restaurant - Lamb Kofta - Middle Eastern Near Me - Torrensville, SA

Amazing flavours. The fried dumplings are a must for starters. Both the lamb dishes are excellent. Their special eggplant dish is also a highlight. BYO wine. read more

Parwana Afghan Restaurant - Amazing flavours. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Torrensville, SA

Favourite place to eat out in all of adelaide and i have the recipe book! Its a little small and noisy so if that kind of thing bothers you it may not be for you. To me its cozy, warm and bustling, which is fitting with the large portions and the homely feel. Bring your family and friends in for a big banquet to fully appreciate the charm of this beautiful restaurant and properly survey the delicious menu. Those dumplings! read more

I have to agree with other reviews - the food is superb but a bit pricey given the modest portions. The dumplings are amazing - perfectly spiced. All in all this is a favorite but a 5 star rating awaits a reduction in price (preferably) or an increase in portion sizes. read more

We got there on a Friday night so the place was very full. It was our fault as we hadn't booked. So instead of eating in where it was very loud we got takeaway. And boy was it worth it! It was all do delicious. The favorite was the eggplant. It was melt in your mouth greatness. The lamb curry was also fantastic. It was tender and had such a beautiful flavour. It complemented the eggplant so well! I highly recommend this place, especially if you live close by and can do a takeaway. I can't wait for my leftovers tomorrow... read more

Luv everything in the menu. Always busy, always consistent with food quality. Prefer the later setting

We came here on a Saturday night as a group. Cosy atmosphere, friendly young wait staff and DELICIOUS food - different to anything else I've ever tried before. Also good for fellow vegetarians as there was a good choice of vego dishes, and for some of the meat dishes (eg the dumplings) they put the meat in a side dish so we could all have some. read more

Brilliant food, a little bit noisy but service excellent. They have two 2-hour sittings and it can feel a little rushed, but the food is served quickly. My new favourite place for a delicious quick & casual meal. read more

12 of us enjoyed the banquet on Saturday night. Theres nothing fancy about the restaurant, the service, or the food. It was just good family style afghani, & plenty of it. I have been here before and we thought the serves were on the small side, but we were provided a good amount this time. The spices were perfectly balanced in every dish. The winner of the night was the signature eggplant. I'm not keen on this veggie under normal circumstances but we all hopped into this unctuous dish. The dumplings & chicken korma were good, the aged rice is gently spiced, sweet and so light! The kitchen let themselves down with the lamb, which was cooked dry. My only other criticism is the pace at which the plates are served ... We didnt get a chance to take a breath in between dishes. Very good though & I will be returning for the Fri-Sat menu soon. read more

The food is delicious, amazing sauces on everything. Staff are friendly. Dishes are best to share, don't skip the dumplings !

Exceptionally tasty food in a homely environment. It's BYO (with corkage) as no alcohol is served here however they do a great range of traditional teas and some sher-bats. I thoroughly recommend getting several dishes to share and bring a group, as there's a lot to go around! read more

Very poor management. They cancel my booking 2 hours before our booking on Friday night. I have to rearrange our plan all over again in two hours. Never try to book here if it is important dinner!!! read more