Driven to Sameem after realizing there's no real Afghan food in Los Angeles, their offering of some of the traditional dishes is what made my trip to St. Louis truly great. Sameem is a low-key but popular place for Afghan, Indian and Pakistani style dishes, much of which reflects traditional Mughlai cuisine. Lamb Qabelli Pulao - this is easily my favorite Afghan dish because it boasts the usual pulao characteristics that includes fluffy basmati rice with a great aroma (unlike biryani, which can be peppered to hell), and in this case a lamb shank that melts right off the bone. The two are cooked together and steamed up to provide a fluffy disposition that can only be contrasted with the carrots and raisins that define quabelli pulao. I do think you'll find that the carrots and raisins are put on haphazardly, but the core taste profile is definitely here. The oil on the rice will leave you savoring for more as you mix ingredients to dish out a savory meal. I would certainly come back, likely 30 minutes before closing, or better yet at least an hour as they can close early. Would I order the same dish over and over? You bet. read more

Had the lamb shank and it was awesome! Tender lamb prepared in a delicious base. Very friendly environment and good service.

The basics nice and clean. The price was good and the food and service was great. I am looking foreard to my next visit.

Overall, a good experience. Naan could be crispier but I like the seasoning on and quantity of the food. The chicken and beef were between dry and quality tender. Prices were agreeable. I tried a spoonful of my friend's fried rice and had to try a few more - very tasty seasoning. Waiters very polite and helpful. read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Mixed grill plate - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

So overall this was the weirdest dining experience of my life!! To the point that my friend and i can't stop laughing about it because we were so confused by our service we thought we were on an episode of Punk'd... To start with the pros: the food here is AMAZING!! Like so delicious and everything comes fast... LIKE REALLY FAST. I actually looked at time stamps on my phone cause it was insane how fast it was but our appetizers and dinner were SIX MINUTES APART! It also wasn't super busy or crowded too on a Saturday morning which is great because the dining room isn't super big. But the cons... oh boy. First was kind of a small thing but we weren't given cups, instead they give you red solo cups which was kind of odd for sit down dining but we ignored it and thought even though there are only 2 parties dining (including us) maybe they didn't have anyone on dishes so whatever. But the real kicker was the service... our service was bad. And i mean REALLY bad. There was another family there that finished their meals and took their time to chit chat after and weren't rushed at all, but that was not the case AT ALL for us. When i tell you they literally came to our table every 2 minutes asking if we were ready over and over again from the moment we sat down and basically were like well at least tell me what appetizers are you getting so we quickly ordered some. Then they bring them out and continue coming every 2 minutes asking are you ready yet are you ready over and over (keep in mind we had 2 servers coming to our table at this point too so it was like double distracting because we couldn't even scan the menu long enough). We were finally just like okay yeah we'll take this and ordered our entree. After we get our food they stop for a bit (maybe for like 10 minutes) and continue again. "Hey are you done? Do you want boxes yes or no? Are you ready yet?" To the point where it got so pushy and aggressive we just ate quickly to try to wrap up and leave (keep in mind they didn't do this to the other large parties that we saw were there with us). Finally she comes to our table and says "are you doing okay? I'm just your waiter you know ... so I'm going to keep checking on you" and while it wasn't objectively rude it hit a point where we couldn't even take a bite of food before they were back at our table trying to make us box things up. My friend ended up boxing up half her rice and i just left what i didn't eat and we asked for the check thinking it can't get worse... BUT IT DID. She almost immediately brings the check and doesn't even set it down for us to look at and basically just takes my friends card from her hand and walks away (doesn't ask if we want to split or anything) and then comes back 30 seconds later. My friend (who paid) was still boxing up her food since it was so quick that she SHOVES THE CHECKBOOK INTO MY HAND TO AVOID WAITING 10 SECONDS AND WALKS OFF. Overall the food was sooooo good but the service made us so uncomfortable we just burst out laughing, packed up, paid, and left. I don't know what we did as a party of 2 in their empty restaurant to annoy them so bad but man did they want us gone immediately!! Overall, I hate to leave bad reviews especially on a small family business but I don't think I'll be coming back again. I'll probably just keep going to Sultan instead since it's literally right around the corner and the service is so much better. read more

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Wow, just wow! This has been one greatest food experiences I've had in a long time. Everything looked great on the menu, so I was stuck between 5 items that were all equally appealing. The server picked out something completely different that my boyfriend was already eyeing. We ended up getting the Chicken Marsala and Beef Koobeda Combo. The sauce for the chicken was so good with the rice and naan. Since the plate was long and slender, I was a bit worried about the portion but it was definitely satisfying. The chicken was so tender and so was the Beef koobeda. The beef koobeda was grilled ground beef. The flavor was smoky and savory. The raisins and carrots added sweetness and tanginess to the dish. The service was quick and friendly. We both walked out of there very full and happy. read more

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Sameem is a hole in the wall Afghan spot I'd highly recommend checking out. I wanted a little of everything, so I got the chicken masala and beef koobeda combo. Yum! The rice was buttery and flavorful, and it went great with the creamy, spicy tomato sauce of the chicken. The beef as well was outstanding, peppery, and perfectly seasoned. The only thing that wasn't up to par was the naan--not bad, but I wouldn't order a side of it if it weren't included. It simply wasn't the hot, fluffy bread I've come to love. I'll definitely be coming back when I have the time. I'd suggest the chicken masala and beef koobeda combo for your first time, since you get to sample a little of everything. Next time I'll branch out, but I have confidence that most anything on the menu will br pretty great. If the menu looks good to you, I'd highly recommend coming by. read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Great Resturant. Great service. Owner is always there and provides the best service. Every thing they make is delicious.

Family member had suggested visiting Sameem Afghan Restaurant for dinner while visiting STL and of course I was game! I've only had Afghan style food a few times in my life, so I was happy to broaden my horizon, but many of their menu items may be familiar to many other middle eastern restaurants. The restaurant itself provides ample seating with a first and second floor, so it should not pose any issues during non COVID times. Staff is very friendly and willing to go over the semi large menu as there will likely be some questions here and there. Price points are very attractable alongside their large portions, so come hungry. We opted for the sample dish, vegetarian biryani, and chicken biryani. Sample dish had many treats I'd not eaten in some time, mostly hummus style dips with falafel and mixed veggies (Grilled?). Vegetarian Biryani and Chicken Biryani came out shortly after, which were massive in terms of portions! They were downright delicious though, so no complaints in that department. We also tried a traditional "dough" tea, which was interesting, but for $2.00 it was worth it if you want to experience something different. All and all a brilliant stop and would gladly visit this quite often if I lived nearby. read more

It's a hit or miss. 2 out of 3 times the food was bad. Naan were super hard and not fresh. Everything else was not so fresh.

Really good take out experience. The service was very friendly and helpful. Inquiring about our stories and what we usually like to recommend the right entrées. Even going as far as to letting us not which dishes used white meat chicken vs dark meat chicken. Chicken Karahi and lamb shank were our choices and they did not disappoint. Very flavorful and spiced to our taste. Only reason it was not a 5 is because I like my Naan a little more airy and my mango Lassi more mango than cream, but I do understand that every culture fits this different even if the dish has the same name. We will definitely be going back. PS. Masks were written and hand sanitizer utilized. read more

I found out why this place has such good reviews. Divey little restaurant on a hip street, where I had probably the best vegetable biryani I've ever eaten. And a pretty good Turkish coffee. Friendly, personable service. With a pretty generous tip, my total came to $20. Try the masala sauce on the side....no matter what you order. :) read more

This serves authentic Afghani food.Its also Halal for people that only eat halal food.For the appetizers, we ordered the mid-eastern feast.As for the entrées, we had Emperor platter(perfect for two).They were both really good dishes. Service was bad though, they felt rushed.We told them we would like a table upstairs and the waitress informed us that they're cleaning it and once they're done,we will head there.Once I asked them again,they informed me that someone just called and reserved it.I felt that was just rude and it didn't seem they care about the hospitality aspect that much. read more

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I thought the food was mildly worthwhile - the bread has a strange bitter under taste to it but it works. The food is quite spicy so be careful what you order. read more

I've heard positive things about the food at Sameem. It's easy to miss this restaurant while driving on Manchester. Parking is a little challenging given there's no parking lot. I ended up finding street parking nearby. The owner sat my party in the front of the restaurant. There looks to be more seating in the back area. I ordered the Afghan Pakowra appetizer and Emperor Platter. I also asked for yogurt to go with the meat. The Emperor Platter is plenty of food for two people. The chicken and lamb tasted great. Lots of flavor in the food. The owner was super welcoming and was happy to recommend dishes for first timers. I'm glad I tried Sameem Afghan Restaurant and will visit again for amazing Afghan food. read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Emperor Platter - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

We ordered dinner to go: chicken kabob, butter chicken, salad and soup. Chicken was very dry/overcooked in both dishes, hardly any sauce with the butter chicken, naan bread very dry/stale. Soup reminded me of a can of baked beans with added noodles and the fatoosh-type salad was unremarkable. This was all quite disappointing considering the high ratings here, coupled with fact that the meal was over $45 with tip. Wouldn't return. read more

The white waiter is simply don't care about the customers, I bet he is kind of racist to Asian people. He does not come to refill my water, and hand me checks without I ask him to.The attitude he had is disgrace to this restaurant which they do have a great quality of food. Fire this waiter and everything will be good read more

Delicious flavors! Everything was so good! Our take out order was hot and ready. We were staying in The Grove and so glad we tried this place! read more

The ambiance was cozy, adorned with traditional Afghan decor, creating an inviting atmosphere. The menu boasted a variety of classic Afghan dishes, each bursting with authentic flavors. read more

Sameem afghan restaurant having the best food - Munto Rice pudding are my Fev - There kabab was great too - Thanks read more

The food and service is fantastic! I intend on dining in the intimate setting, or taking out some more delicious Afghani cuisine again very soon! read more

Sameem's is an unassuming establishment that focuses its energy on food. Enticed by the divine smells that met us at the door, we ordered a spread - the Mid-Eastern feast, the chicken karahi, lamb kabob, chicken teekah masala - and everything was fantastic. I do wish the spice level was customizable; not a deal breaker though and I'll definitely be back. If you want a really delicious meal, this no-frills restaurant is for you. read more

We enjoyed our lunch from Sameem. It was our first visit and I would definitely go back. We phoned our order ahead. The staff was polite on the phone and in person. The order was ready when promised. It was our first Afghan food. We enjoy trying foods from around the world. We thought the flavors were good on all the dishes we ordered. We loved the rice (how come my rice doesn't turn out this incredible??!!). We had carry out (because of COVID). Our food was still hot when we ate it. Parking was plentiful on the street. Perhaps we got lucky?? We were able to get in and out of the restaurant quickly. Overall we had a nice experience and I'm glad my co-diner suggested Sameem!! read more

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Love this place. I love dining in and grabbing take away. Definitely, my favorite middle eastern restaurant in the city.

I love this place! They have some of my favorite Indian food, and some North African food as well! It's delicious!!! The owners are fantastic! They let me try an appetizer that I previously didn't like, but theirs was really delicious! They are friendly and cool. They have very generous portions, and you can see them making the aromatic, delicious food! I will definitely be going back! read more

Coming someone who is from Washington DC and knows about Afghan food, this place didn't impress me at all. The order usually comes with a full naan at a stand Afghan restaurant but, however, I was only served one slice as if this was a catering event. The rice was okay but barely any side order and no lettuce. If you want the real authentic Afghan food well either you going to have to make it or just travel to either the East or west coast....... read more

Very casual restaurant, but the food was delicious. We got a sampler platter as an appetizer and the emperor's platter for entree. My fav part of the meal was the eggplant dip. Service was also pretty good. Will definitely be back! read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Inside - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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This is one of the best Afghan restaurant I am been to in St Louis. One day we decided to go there for pick up and now we are keep going there again and again. The menu has both traditional and few fusion options. They also have a decent vegetarian menu for people like me. :-) My Team members loved the chicken and goat biryanis. They are fans of it. I really liked their veggie plate and traditional bollani they were really good. My review is solely based on pickups and we have not experienced their service yet but I believe it will be good as well. Give it a try! read more

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We got delivery tonight for Yelp's Big Night In for our Middle Eastern fix and it did not disappoint: Absolutely delicious Chicken Kabobs, creamy Hummus, Teekah Masala chicken(very similar to the Indian version, but much milder spice and more tomato-y), fluffy basmati rice. Next time i would like to try their Lamb Beriani and maybe Falafel. We did order Sambosa, which i thought would basically be fat crispy Samosas from the description, but they were sad little flat greasy triangles with little potato filling and even less flavor. Also disappointing was the "naan" which was thick, doughy, and not toasted/heated. We also ordered Kheer for desert, but it did not make into Postmates hands to my door. Not necessarily their fault, but OH MAN, I was so looking forward to that rich rice pudding. That's the quarantine talking, ya'll. Anyway, kudos to the best grilled chicken I've had in a while! read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - chicken kabob, teekah masala, sambosa, naan, hummus (cucumber and tomato are my addition) - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Was on the fence between 3 and 4 starts with this review, but the food was decent enough to give the place 4 stars. I got the chicken curry and mixed grill kabob. The chicken curry tasted kinda like a curry you get at an Indian restaurant but was pretty solid. The mixed grill was actually really good with all 3 meats having a lot of flavor. The major downside to this place was the service and presentation. Our server seemed pretty disinterested and not too eager to help. Our food was served to us on paper plates and we were given plastic cutlery which is a bit ridiculous for a sit-down restaurant that serves $14+ for most their entrees. I would consider this place acceptable for take out, but I would never dine in again. read more

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1. This is real true Afghan food, you will truly find authentic food. 2. Staff is super duper nice, so nice girls who can guide you what to eat according to your taste. 3. Staff is amazing nice to the point where they offer sweets and their new dishes free of cost as you can try and taste their additions. 4. Must must try their Mix grill, Afghani pulao/rice. 5. Their appetizers are insanely tasty delicious. Must go, you won't regret it . read more

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Only Afghani restaurant in MO! In a very compact and homey space in The Grove. They only have a couple of tables when you first walk in, but there are a couple more upstairs. Our waitress was not the best. She asked us what we wanted to eat almost immediately after we sat down, and she couldn't give us any recommendations. She also brought us a dish that wasn't ours, and then charged us for a completely different dish. Thankfully she did take the charge off the bill when we told her however. They refilled our water glasses quickly however. My friend and I ordered the Samosas and the Emperors platter to share. All of it was delicious especially the samosas, the chicken skewer in the platter, the goat skewer on the platter, and all of the rice (especially the cinnamon rice). I'm not sure what the other dish she brought us was (maybe eggplant?) but it wasn't great. Overall a great find! read more

Sameem's is an excellent spot for ethnic food. Afghan food has similarities to Persian, using a lot of spices, lamb, and rice. I personally like Afghan a bit better, but it might be that Sameem's is just better. My husband and I came here for lunch mid-week. Their service is fast and the food was delicious. He ordered the lamb beriani and I had the Afghani Muntoo. The beriani was very flavorful and is a large portion. Either come hungry, prepared to take home a portion, or ready to split with someone. The Muntoo is kind of like a ravioli where seasoned meat is stuffed in a pasta like pocket. It was served with a thin blue cheese like sauce. I had never had something like it and I would gladly order again read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Afghani Muntoo - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Wow....I can't believe it's taken me this long to try this place. Holy moly, it is so good. My friend and I got the Mideast Feast for 4 (it was only $15) and it was so much food. The quantity was great, but the flavor and food was so delicious. I'm really picky about my falafel but these were perfectly crispy, cooked well on the inside, and the flavor was delicious. The pakoras were very good too and the dipping sauces for both were tangy and spicy. The side salad was fresh, but hands down the best part was the eggplant boorani. I think I could eat buckets of it. After we finished it, I kept dreaming of eating more of it. The naan was soft and fluffy. I just can't wait to go back!! read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Mid Eastern Feast - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Amazing taste of all the dish we tried Very good Fast service Quality food Will come again when in St Louis read more

Tasty and affordable, it was an easy place to go on a Friday night! Enough people around but also enough space so we didn't have to wait! Food is well priced and plates are generous, food comes out really fast! Great choice for Afghanistan-style food located in the heart of the Grove! read more

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One of the finest delicacies I have tried in STL. Ordered the Lamb Qabelli Pallow and Goat Korma. Both the lamb and goat meat were so tender and juicy. The taste was to the point. Both of these items are a must try! Would go back there again. Definitely check this place out! read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Goat special - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Mmm mmm mmm! The service was fast and the food was sooo delicious! 5 Stars We entered into the restaurant and looked around confused, there were only 5 tables... but then the hostess lead us up stairs to the building next door and we entered into the full blown restaurant. To start, we ordered the Sambosa sampler (8 pieces) that came with a tasty and spicy chimmichurri sauce. Then yogurt with cucumber dip, cucumber tomato salad and the eggplant dip. All were truly spectacular! I then had a bowl of the Ash. It was a little funnier than traditional ash and had a clear broth, but all the flavor! For our main course we ordered the chicken Biriyani, quabuli pollo with lamb, and the chicken tikki Masala and Koobideh kabob combo. All 3 were excellent, but my favorite was the chicken biriyani!! It was sooo flavorful and quite frankly the best I've ever had!! I strongly recommend Sameems! read more

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Had the Mango meatballs at the International Food Festival in St. Louis this summer. Ended up there again this weekend and had a taste for them. Looked up the restaurant and made my way there. It's a small place, nothing fancy, with friendly owners. My girlfriend and I ordered the Babaganoush. We loved it! The naan wasn't as crispy as I like it. When it came to the entrees, I had the bone- in goat platter and my girlfriend ordered the Mango Curry Kofta. We tried each other's dishes and I loved them both. Super strong flavors and large portions. If I ever have the taste for Afghan food and I'm in STL, I'll be headed here! read more

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I came here for lunch on a Friday with my friend. We have been making our way through the top 100 restaurants in St. Louis and we were eager to give Sameem a try. We were seated upstairs with a couple other tables there for lunch. We both ordered the butter chicken and appetizers which they suggested we do a combo appetizer to save a little money instead which we appreciated. The sambosas and pakowra were nice and crispy with good flavor. The butter chicken was delicious and a great portion for lunch. I would probably put this one in my lunch rotation the food was inexpensive with great flavor. Will definitely be back! read more

Sameem Afghan Restaurant - Sambosa - Afghan Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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