Came here in the morning with a good friend and ordered the mantu, lamb shank, and chicken kebab. The mantu were well spiced and served with a yoghurt sauce, and the lamb meat was so tender, it fell off the bone. Yet the unexpected star of the show was the chicken kebab!! It was so tender and marinated I still dream of it sometimes. The dishes came with some scrumptious rice filled with raisins and carrots, as well as a salad. Eating here reminded me that the expert in any field has mastered the basics. While the ingredients were so simple, they were cooked to perfection. [[HIGHLIGHT]]And it was so enjoyable to eat this meal in a restaurant with decor that wasn't over the top, but felt like home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was great, but there is a mandatory 20% gratuity if you come here with a group. read more

Sami’s Kebab House - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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My friend who is local to the neighborhood brought me here; [[HIGHLIGHT]]I was immediately impressed with the decor and the spaciousness of the restaurant relative to how it looked outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food outshined its reputation and the service was great, very friendly staff with even a free milk pudding dessert! We got the traditional Uzbeki Qabili Pulao - THIS DISH my goodness, both my friend and I were thoroughly impressed by how the lamb was seasoned and cooked to perfection, we really enjoyed the rice with the carrots and raisins - even if you aren't a fan of those two items I would try the dish as it's meant to be prepared. For appetizers, we got the Sabzi which was a nice vegetarian option with spinach, as well as the small afghan salad (normal diced cucumbers and tomatoes), the mantu dumplings which were pretty good and the Afghan naan which is just a vehicle for eating the dips. I would 1000% come here again and bring a friend if I were in Astoria. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It seems popular with both locals and larger groups of families; lots of the tables inside had kids.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It appears to be BYOB though we stuck to sparkling water. read more

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I went here for a group meal and I know this is a popular place but I was more than pleased with my meal. The meal was seamless from start to finish, the food, the service, the atmosphere was all great. Food came out quick and our waiter Kais took care of our group effotlessly. I really enjoyed my meal overall, I would say the apps and mains were both delicious but I would give an edge to the mains. The food: Borani Banjan- This was the highlight app for me with some freshly made Afghai Naan. Man this was so good and a must order. The eggplant was cooked perfectly. Bamia- This was like a stewed Okra and I loved this dish, the okra was cooked down but the flavor was so damn good. Mantu- This was a nice delicate dumpling, it was made well but because of the cumin I couldn't help think it reminded me of Tex Mex food. Aushuk- This was OK, it was kinda strange because there was this fermented flavor to it that kinda bothered me. Chicken Afghani Kabab- I am shocked to say this but the chicken was my favorite protein. It was perfection, it was perfectly juicy with a nice smokey outer char, this was amazing. Uzbeki Qabuli Pulao- This was a braised lamb shank and was no teeth required tender. It so incredibly delicate and so delicious. Salmon- Fat slabs of salmon cooked to perfection with a nice outer smokey char. So good. Lamb Kabab- This was fine but not as exciting as the above. The lamb was chewier than I was hoping but the flavor was nice. Beef Kofta- It was like a ground meat patty. It was ok, it was a bit chewy and a bit dry but it was alright. The two I want to try on my next visit is the shrimp and the lamb chops, can't wait for a second visit. read more

Delicious meal. Big fan of the mantu and lamb chops. And I liked the rice with the addaon sweetness. Eggplant appetizer was good too. I do wish there was more protein in the mains. They are generous with the rice though. Really appreciated the dessert they gave us on the house. Milky and delicious! read more

Sami’s Kebab House - Mantu Dumplings, eggplant - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Sami's is a neighborhood mainstay and a cozy and inviting crown jewel of Dutch Kills. The food is excellent--you can't miss with any of the platters, though I'm partial to the ultra juicy Afghan chicken--and comes in solid portions. And, somehow, it maintains a 'grandma's cooking' kind of irresistible homemade quality. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is, by the way a family operation. And it feels like it in the best ways.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It seems wrong, for instance, to describe the 'service' rather than the hospitality. All in, it may be the best and most unique restaurant in Dutch Kills. read more

Sami’s Kebab House - Chicken Afghani Kabab - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Sami's Kabob House is easily one of the best Afghan spots in NYC. Every dish I have had has been packed with flavor, and the portions are consistently generous. What really sets this place apart is the hospitality. They always seem to throw in something extra, whether it is bread, dessert, or just a kind gesture that makes you feel taken care of. It feels like a true community staple, and it is the kind of place I would go out of my way to recommend. read more

What a wonderful lunch experience I had. I came with my team and we truly left feeling so happy and full with the authenticity and plentiful portions. We were greeted with a big smile and such hospitality. The guy who seemed to be the manager and the waiter during lunch constantly checked in on us, gave us suggestions, and made sure we left completely satisfied. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This experience truly felt like I was at someone's home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Can't wait to come back and try more dishes. read more

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Kababs, rice, and mantu were fantastic. Portion sizes are solid. Docking a star because the naan we ordered was pretty dry and hard -- wasn't sure if it was perhaps a day old or sitting out for a while. Staff were really friendly but it took so long to get someone's attention for items like the check and take out containers. Also didn't have tap water as an option and only had bottled. read more

Had a community dinner here Eggplant Okra Mixed Grill Lamb shank my favorite was tandoori chicken and the salmon kebab read more

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The lamb practically peels off the bone with a single nudge. The rice is cooked in the halal meat. You have to order the lamb pulao. It was the highlight. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This restaurant is also beautifully decorated and cozy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a fun place to go with friends and sit, with beautiful sunlight streaming in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The kabob and dessert was also delicious and everything we ordered was great. They give you a free dessert! If you order a plate like the qabuli palau, it comes with salad and bread. The mantu dumplings have a thin wrapper and the yogurt sauce adds a lot of flavor. I would love to come back. Update: I came back for takeout and it was just as good. I swear they gave more food just because we went close to closing. This is a family-owned small business, and it's delicious. You won't be disappointed here! Such good value. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Sami's Kebab House was warm and inviting, service friendly, and food delicious.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started off with the hummus and mantu and ended up doubling our mantu. order because they were so good. We did a plate of mixed kebabs but the star of the show was the Uzbeki Qabuli Pulao. The white sauce was also bomb sauce. I would definitely go back! read more

Sami’s Kebab House - Plate of kebabs and Uzbeki Pulao! - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

We popped in late one night, about two hours before they closed. They were super welcoming and sat us down and were very attentive and friendly. The service was great and our food came out almost immediately. We started with the bolani kachalu which was so good. Super crispy and flaky, and tasted amazing. Then we shared the lamb kebab entree which came with qabuli. The Afghani spices were so flavourful and we loved the sweet carrots and raisins. The portions were great, and the prices were fair. I def recommend trying this spot if you're craving kebabs! read more

Sami’s Kebab House - lamb kebab entree with qabuli - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Delicious food! Always left feeling satisfied with the food. The staff is friendly and helpful too. Get the lamb with rice, carrots, & raisins! read more

5/5 firnee ($7) - This is perfection. It's barely sweet, creamy & amazing. Firnee is usually way too sweet, even when my mom makes it. I don't think this actually contains much rice, if at all. This was complementary for us. I'd go back just for this. 4/5 Uzbeki Pulao ($24)- The lamb shank is so tender the meat really does pretty much fall off the bone with a slight graze of a fork. The lamb doesn't have much of a smell. I just wish the lamb had some more seasoning. Altho all 3 sauces (white, green & red, none ) make it better, wish the lamb itself had a bit more flavor. The rice is pretty basic. 3/5 been kofta kabab ($18)- 1st time I've been served only 1 kabab. Isn't 2 the standard? Wish they had a beef only kofta kabab version, as this is lamb & beef combined. This does smell, esp in comparison to the lamb shank, since it uses minced meat. 3/5 mantu- Decent, wish it had more seasoning. The skin is so soft, it fell apart upon touching it with a fork. I prefer Tibetan momos, which're much more flavorful. 3/5 Afghan naan ($3) - Thought this was supposed to be free, since it was served along w/the salad & they didn't ask us if we wanted it, nor were we informed we'd be charged for it. 3/5 Salad (complementary) - standard 3/5 service- Altho the owner was very nice, they rarely checked on us. We had to wait awhile to get our check & so did the people before us. They apply a 20% service charge. [[HIGHLIGHT]]1 of the bathrooms doesn't close properly. Once I was able to close it, I couldn't open the bottom lock. Took me a few mins to open it again. Also, the bathroom was dirty. Whoever used it before me, didn't bother flushing & doesn't know where to sit to avoid leaving crap for the next person. Not the restaurant's fault. Once I told the owner, it was cleaned. The other bathroom does close properly & was clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Sami’s Kebab House - Firnee - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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I don't usually write reviews, but after our experience with Sami Kabab House, this one practically wrote itself--unfortunately, so did the aftermath. We ordered about $90 worth of food for a small lunch gathering with friends, drawn in by the restaurant's so-called reputation for "fresh Afghani cuisine." What arrived, however, felt more like a cautionary tale than a culinary experience. Let's start with the basics--the naan basket. Calling it "fresh" would be generous. It was stale, tough, and had the texture of something that had clearly seen better days... possibly yesterday. Then came the mixed kebab platter ($25), which promised a variety of chicken, beef, and lamb. What we got instead was a trio of disappointment--each meat dry, overcooked, and completely lacking the juiciness and flavor one expects from Afghan grilling traditions. It felt less like a feast and more like chewing through a culinary desert. The Mantu dumplings and Borani Banjan? Portion sizes so meager that only two people could serve themselves--awkward, considering we had guests. Nothing says hospitality like passing around two dumplings and calling it a day. And now, the part that truly sealed the experience. Later that day, one of our friends called to say they were having stomach cramps. Not ideal--but it happens, right? Except it didn't stop there. My wife and I spent the entire night dealing with what can only be described as a full-scale digestive rebellion. Out of courtesy to our guests (and frankly, embarrassment), we didn't even mention it to them. When I called the restaurant, the person on the phone apologized--but instead of addressing the situation meaningfully, I was told to "write a review" and wait for someone to respond. Well, here it is. A meal that started as an attempt to enjoy "acclaimed cuisine" ended as a regrettable, uncomfortable, and frankly unacceptable experience. Between stale bread, dry meats, laughable portions, and a very real health concern, this is one place we won't be returning to--and wouldn't recommend to anyone planning to host guests unless they're looking to test their friendships. As the saying goes: "Good food brings people together." This did the exact opposite. read more

I normally don't care about rice, carrots, or raisins, but the Qabuli is soooooooo good (and consists of those 3 things I just listed lol) I always get the chicken Afghani kebab with Qabuli, but I'm sure everything is delicious so get your preferred protein! Excellent filling, healthy, and non-greasy meal that's also super delicious and flavorful! There's also a LIC location which is also super great! read more

We dined at this restaurant and were unaware of the 20% service charge added to our check. It was a shame that we were only a party of two, as this charge was significantly higher than what we had experienced in the past. A $12 fee is simply ridiculous, especially when we could have easily ordered takeout. [[HIGHLIGHT]]To make matters worse, the air conditioning was making excessive noise, making the dining experience uncomfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Additionally, they charge for bread when you dine in, but it's free when you order takeout. Another issue is that you only get one salad on the table when you dine in, while each entree comes with its own salad when you order to go. Honestly, this restaurant seems to be doing things in reverse. It's more cost-effective to order takeout than to dine in, as you'll end up spending more money. read more

Sami's is one of my favorite restaurants in New York. My friend and I came here after a full day of eating around the city. Being from the Bay Area in California, we also have a LOT of great Afghan restaurants, but my buddy told me that it was worth going here from LES. I am so glad that we went up because this was one of the best best meals I've had in the city and now my favorite Afghan restaurant. We started with the borani bajan was seasoned so well. My favorite was the qabuli palao which retained so much moisture and had so much depth in the sauce. The rice was also the best I've had and seasoned so well. What made Sami's stand out from the other places I've been to was the mixed kabab. Each kabob was cooked to perfection and so juicy - even the chicken. It's so rare to find a spot that actually cooks each this well. The lamb was also high quality and tender which is uncommon. Our server was very friendly and we got to meet Sami himself as he made rounds to chat with the customers. The customer service is fantastic. We ended the meal with Firnee which was the best I've had as well. It was just slightly sweet the exact way we like it and so refreshing after the meal - it's usually way too sweet. I loved how they had the pickled peppers on the table which really complimented each dish. I'll 100% be back next time I'm in the city - it's totally worth the commute. read more

I've been to Sami's Kabab many times over the years and always had great experiences. I even remember visiting when they first opened and leaving a glowing review back then. We've recommended this place to countless people because the food and service were consistently excellent. Because of that history, we chose Sami's for a very special occasion related to our wedding. We were hosting both families for a goodbye dinner before they left the country, and we had about 10 people total. As we were discussing appetizer and kebab preferences, the owner came over and told us not to worry about ordering -- that he would take care of everything and make us very happy. He was extremely warm and kind, so we trusted him. He brought out a generous mix of appetizers, two very large platters of rice and kebabs, and desserts. At the time it felt thoughtful, though it was honestly far more food than we needed -- so much that one entire family platter had to be packed to go. When the bill arrived, we were shocked. It came out to around $1,400, plus a mandatory 20% gratuity added on top. We were expecting something closer to $500-700 total. The owner had clearly over-ordered on our behalf and then charged us for everything -- including bread, salad, and sauces, which we have never been charged for before at an Afghan restaurant. This worked out to well over $100 per person, before gratuity. Even if everyone had individually ordered an appetizer, main, dessert, and drink, it would not have come close to that amount. What makes this especially upsetting is seeing a Muslim business owner, with his name on the restaurant, do this to other Muslims, during a meaningful family and wedding-related occasion. There is an expectation of honesty and fairness, and that trust was violated. As a business owner, you should not be ordering for customers without clearly explaining what is being ordered, the pricing, or even giving a rough estimate upfront. To present food as a kind gesture and then charge for an excessive amount -- including automatic gratuity -- feels deeply unethical and honestly borderline deceptive. It left us feeling forced into paying simply because of the situation. In hindsight, the kindness felt performative. This experience was deeply disappointing. We went in trusting a place we loved and left feeling completely taken advantage of. read more

They really take a lot of care in making their food. The rice is amazing, the meat is super flavorful and tender. the hummus is super smooth and creamy. read more

Sami’s Kebab House - Lamb shank - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Bring your appetite to Sami's Kebob House for a truly delicious experience. At my friend's suggestion to try Afghan food, he systematically chose Sami's for my first time. A bit similar to Turkish, Afghan food is heavy on meat and carbs. The layout of the restaurant was spacious and inviting. Unlike other Yelpers' comments about good service, I found it to be the opposite and quite lackluster. The fact that it was a Saturday evening and getting crowded might have been a factor. The menu looked good and I shadowed my friend's suggestion regarding selections. From breads and hot picks to soups and salads, we placed our order for starter. Bolani Flatbread, Afghan bread and salad was ideal for starters. The salad was standard--lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers but drizzled with their yogurt sauce, it transformed into a wow salad. Afghan bread, sliced thin was flavorful and light as air. Additional accompaniments were spicy chutneys, green and red. Proceed with caution. The Bolani Flatbread was described as fried thin dough stuffed with potato, leeks, onions and spices. It was a bit oily for my liking and I didn't detect the potato (or maybe I didn't eat enough). For mains we chose Chicken Breast Kebob (my dish) and Ground Chicken Kebob. We swapped a kebob from one another for the sake of sampling the different style of prepared meat. When my dish arrived, I couldn't help but notice the huge portion. A large serving of rice coupled with 8 pieces of Chicken. Their rice was amazing. Known as Pulao, it was caramel colored rice topped with raisins, julienned cooked carrots and cardamon syrup. It was truly outstanding. The Chicken Breast Kebobs were 8 pieces in total: juicy, cooked perfectly with a red hue (food color?). The portion could easily feed two people with an appetite similar to mine. I had to take the rest home. We wrapped up a very delicious dinner with a cup of Green Tea infused with Cardomon. Refreshing, fragrant and the perfect digestive ending to what was a really good first time experience trying Afghanistan cuisine. Sami's was most welcoming. I'd definitely return and highly recommend. read more

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Old food/bad customer service the owner is a horrible person I complained and he didn't care and was rude he didn't even credit me for next time . I ordered for delivery and it was the worst experience I ever had . I am a customer and I dine in most of the time they don't offer water for the customers dining in and on top of that they charge a crasy service charge . Avoid this place the owner is a thief He even charges for bread that is flavorless and hard as a rock read more

Sami’s Kebab House - Dry and old food - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This is the go-to spot for any family celebrations, from birthdays to graduations.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My family and I fell in love with this spot in 2021, and have been going there for every big celebration since. The chef makes rounds to see how the customers like his food. If you're going as a family, you have to get the family platter. It comes with a bit of all the meats over a ton of brown Afghan rice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]As we've been going, they have been expanding little by little every time. From a smaller space to a larger area, there is seating available for everyone.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is a Titanic movie poster for decor in one of the rooms, and it makes us chuckle every time, curious to know why that movie is displayed in an Afghan restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great food ambiance and friendly staff.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My 5 year old and I shared the Kebab sampler and a side of grilled shrimp, followed by the Afghan yogurt dessert. We look forward to coming back soon. read more

OUT of this world mixed Kabab platter with the unlimited white sauce on the table is the best touch in my opinion. Without going into a rabbit hole I hate when you have to ask for extra white or hot sauce on the side, Sami knows this & just leaves the green (delicious) hot & white sauces on the table for your eating convenience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Now lets delve into the atmosphere, as with any NYC establishment you have some level of expectation & this does not disappoint -- from the floor to ceiling windows looking out to the busy streets of queens to beautiful Afghan decor inside everything is curated well to set the tone of the incredible meal you're about to have.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] As for the service, it felt like being at home -- the staff was responsive, helpful & recommended what to get without pushing too hard & honestly just incredibly loving I cannot wait to go back for the Mixed Afghan Kabab. All of the meat was cooked to perfection, fall off the bone tender succulent & seasoned beyond anything i've ever had or expected before. Sami's kebab house was a homerun & if you're in Astoria or even in NYC just go here & enjoy the Mixed Afghan Kabab but make sure you're hungry or bring a few friends becuase that platter is mighty!! Thanks again Sami & team -- we will surely be back very soon!! read more

This was my first time having Afghan food and I'm SO SAD that I've spent 35 years of my life without it! The lamb was absolutely delicious, and the rice with carrots and raisins were fantastic. The mantu were phenomenal. We were brought a complimentary dessert which was very tasty as well. My friend tried the tea and liked it a lot. The restaurant is very nicely decorated and clean, and the service was excellent. I would love to come back next time I'm in the area. read more

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One of the best meals I've ever had! Try their kababs and dumplings! Also the service was top notch and love the conversation with our waiter/hearing his story! 10/10! read more

We've been coming to Sami's since they first opened in 2017; when this was the only Sami's Afghan Kebab restaurant. They have now successfully expanded to four restaurants; Bravo for you, Sami! We've celebrated many occasions here, even meeting Sami and his beautiful family many times. We even have photos with Sami and his family! Abdul must be in high school by now! But I'm so sad to say that the food quality and customer service has gone down hill. We've been back 3 times since COVID, and each time the food and customer service has slowly declined for the worse. On this visit, there were 10 of us meeting for a 6pm dinner. The server kept rushing us to place our order, even though most of our party hadn't even arrived yet. Note that at 6pm, the place was empty, so I didn't understand the big rush. Then we asked for tap water, and they refused. They said we had to buy bottled water. This has never happened in the past. We were always able to get tap water. So they compromised, and said they would give us 5 bottles of water for 10 ppl to share, and they'd only charge us for 2 bottles, and will throw in 4 free desserts. Huhhh?!?! Is this Let's Make A Deal?!? I'll take the prize behind curtain #3, thank you! LOL That was a little crazy. But I guess thanks for the free dessert?! It would have been so simple just to get the tap water. And to top it all off, they brought out ALL of the food at once! Our appetizers, salad, and family platter all came out at the same time! There was barely enough room on the table, and we were scrambling to condense dishes while trying not to spill or drop some dishes. We didn't know what to eat first. Ridiculous! Kebabs: We used to love their kebabs and family platters. On this visit, we ordered 2 family platters with 4 different kebabs on each platter, and they all came out well-done and overcooked. So well-done that they were all extremely dry. I mentioned this to our server, and his reply is: "but that's GOOD! You don't want to eat raw kebabs!"......seriously?! So I said no, not raw but medium-rare or medium would be better... definitely not well-done and overcooked! He just started at me. Again, in the past, I've never had this problem before. Their kebabs used to be perfection. Not any more. Sami's used to be so fantastic, and we all used to rave about this place. Sadly, not any more. Sorry to leave this review, Sami, but there is definitely room for improvement in all areas. read more

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I've done takeout twice here - I would definitely try to dine in next time since the food gets a bit cold by the time it arrives at home and it's always nice to have it displayed nicely over a plate. Food is pretty solid overall with tons of flavor. We got the mantu, naan, a mix of meat kebabs. Great meal for lunch or dinner! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This restaurant is so greedy for money that they sacrificed the dining experience of their customers by intentionally overbooking the restaurant during a dinner rush (Iftar).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]My family and I were seated facing the wall (a makeshift table to accommodate people beyond what they're capable of holding) - no way to talk to each other and constantly scooting in and moving around to make space for everyone behind us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When the waiter came around, he raised his voice over us being a party of 6 instead of 8 (the other 2 were children who sat on the adults laps) because they could've sat other people at our table. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Not only did he then seat another walk in party right next to us (as if this were a family style experience), but he took away a chair so when another member of our party came (6th person was only a few minutes late), there was no seat for him and my sister ended up leaving the restaurant entirely to give him a seat.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When our food came out, they never brought plates or dinner utensils. We had to flag them down and ask for this and they STILL didn't bring us any plates. We had to eat on the appetizer/salad plate for the duration of the dinner. The food itself was underwhelming and clearly rushed, not brought out with the bread it was supposed to come with, and hardly enough meat to justify the cost. Not only did we have to flag down the waitstaff again for the bill multiple times, but after 30 minutes of no service again, I had to go up to the register to pay, where another woman was also waiting to do the same. They had no idea which table I was at, no idea what I ordered, nothing. And after 10 minutes of figuring it out, I see we were upcharged for substitutions and water - all incorrect and never mentioned earlier. And the audacity to charge a 20% gratuity when there was no service and a horrible attitude the entire time. I seldom write reviews but this was such a ridiculous experience that it would have been laughable had it not been so embarrassing for my family to experience that level of inattentiveness and disrespect. read more

Overall, delicious meats, generous rice portions, would recommend!! It was very quiet on a Friday during lunch, we were the only ones there for a while. It was all of our first times, so the ordering process was a little confusing since we've seen many pictures of what looked like a combo platter, but we learned that you can just order the kabobs and they can put it all on one platter family style. We decided to just get 4 main/kabob plates between the four of us: Lamb chops: this was my favorite. It was SO tender and not gamey at all!! Chicken afghani (thighs): my second fav, one of the juiciest chickens I have ever had *drool* Beef kofta: super flavorful, it almost didn't even taste like beef? It was interesting, in a good way Chicken kofta: also very flavorful!! Literally each dish was someone's favorite, so you know it was good!!! They piled on the rice on the plates, and gave us all a bowl of salad to share. I didn't eat the rice so I was still hungry afterwards, but two of my friends mentioned they weren't super satisfied even after finishing a whole plate of rice, but I think it's a decent portion overall. I also got the green tea with cardamom which came in a small cup, I loved it! didn't get to ask if refills were free. The service was okay, and there seemed to be only one restroom. read more

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Minor recs if you plan on going- Order the Afghan Chicken. Order the Qabuli Rice/Kabuli Pulao. Mantu are tasty also. I wish I didn't have to write this redo but enough has changed now that I really wouldn't recommend this place anymore at least with a group. I went here with Andie's group back in February having also gone with the same group prior as well as with other groups of people. I find that the food has consistently gotten worse over time but especially over the last two times but this was the last straw. As can be seen from her review, I found the service to be unfriendly; if not hostile. The place was pretty empty and they were insisting on us ordering early even when many of us hadn't arrived and they refused to give us tap water; eventually giving us a couple bottles for free along with dessert. The food was also worse with two of the kebobs being bone dry so even if I gave the service a pass, I still wouldn't recommend the place. We had the following appetizers along with some family platters: Mantu- Tasty as always. Flavorful yogurt sauce with a nice little meaty dumpling. Would recommend Hummus- Tasty variant but there's definitely better in many other spots. You also have to order the bread separately (which is of pretty good quality though not as warm as the previous times.) Afghan House Salad- A good mix as always with a light but tasty dressing. Bolani Kachalu- Flatbread stuffed with underseasoned potatoes. Wouldn't recommend unless your carb loading For mains, we ordered a couple family platters. These consisted of the following kabobs listed in order of preference all served over their excellent Afghan Qabuli Rice/Kabuli Pulao (i.e. rice pilaf mixed with carrots, raisins.) As per Andy, the meat was mostly overcooked. Afghan Chicken Kebab- Still easily the best kebab here. Juicy and tender with good seasoning. Would still recommend this. Salmon Kebab- Possibly slightly overcooked as the skin was a bit hard but well seasoned. Would partially recommend. Lamb Kebab- Dry and unappetizing and chewy. Very clearly overcooked and not juicy. Not good. Beef Kofta- See lamb but somehow even drier. The meat was almost crumbly with how overcooked it was. Terrible. They gave us some Firnee Shir Birinj on the house as we paid for some of the waters because service reasons which is an okay rice pudding flavored with a bit of rosewater and topped with a bit of pistachios. Their version is alright but it didn't make up for the service especially as it didn't really feel complimentary. This place went from a pretty consistent low 4/upper three to a 3 overtime and now it's a 2. I'm not sure which was worse; the service or the lamb and beef kebab. Would not stop again. Even the Afghani places in Manhattan are better let alone the excellent spots in Brooklyn such as Dunya. Speaking of "Dun"ya, I'm done with this restaurant. 2.3. read more

So good the first time had to do it again and they didn't disappoint!!! The lamb, rice, chicken and shrimp cooked to perfection. Don't have one bad thing to say about them, the servers take their job seriously. Would be back for a 3rd time. read more

I ordered the mantu dumplings as the appetizers and you can definitely taste the yogurt sauce in this dish. For the entrees I ordered the Uzbeki Qabulu Pulao and the Mixed Afghan Kebab. Both dishes had a good amount of rice! I really like the Uzbeki Qabulu Pulao because of the lamb shank read more

This place is my Go-to everytime am visiting Astoria. I think its safe to say this is BEST afghani place in NYC for authentic experience in good prices. Service is very efficient and curteous. Always find a table right away and food quality is always top notch. MUST try. Last trip we loved their Sabzi and Uzbeki kabali pulao-They are the besttttt i have tried so far in the city. read more

Sami’s Kebab House - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Sami I loved your food overall except for the rice pudding . The way the lamb kebab and chicken is cooked is really something to behold . Tip: Don't let the bread sit out for too long . read more

9/10! My favorite was the chicken Afghanistan kebab as it remained really tender and juicy even when room temperature. The beef kofta was flavorful and better when warmed up! The mantu was flavorful as well! The rice was stellar as it was fluffy, sweet and was the perfect side to balance out the savory meats and tangy sauce. I didn't care for the bread though as it seemed a bit stale. But that can be saved if you steam it and toast it again. Ordering the catering proved simple enough and things were all ready when I came to pick up the food. Will order again!! read more

Sami’s Kebab House - Uzbeki Qabuli Pulao Beef Kofta Kabab Chicken Afghani Kabab Mantu Dumplings - Afghan Near Me - Astoria, New York

This place serve very good food. I am personally not a fan of long grain rice but their rice was amazingly good.. not just the rice but everything we ordered were amazing.. food was literally 5 out of 5!!! So why 3 stars??? Service was horrible.. they automatically charges 20% tip on group of 4 or more..,but why??? I had to constantly walk up to front to order our food because nobody came to our table... only time when someone came to take our order was very first time when we ordered the appetizers... that's it! When waiter walked towards our table to seat other guest, I raised my hand to get his attention and we had an eye contact, what does he do? He seat them and turns around pretend he never saw me calling him... it just was horrible experience!!! I will only visit here again for take out since I loved their food but I will never ever dine in here again!! read more

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The main entrance looks like it's just a take out spot but you get less to this a huge seating. The decor is beautiful and simple. Service is kind and attentive. The food was absolutely amazing! Not pictured is the naan and the hummus and chicken soup. We had to get an extra basket of the naan. The afghan rice is delicious and sweet but not overly sweet. Both the chicken and the lamb is delicious! Tender, savory, and deliciously marinated. Service happened to be a little slow that night but also the spot became packed which is not an issue when the food is amazing! Definitely will be returning. read more

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Food was great; we're suckers for kebabs and koftas. Service was nice. We were served right away and got there before a rush came into the door. Atmosphere was modern and had lots of decor that spoke to the Afghani culture. Here's why I recommend and what to look out for... We came in to eat the $200 family platter but found that it would be break our bank. Lol. So we didn't get it but instead we enjoyed their Afghan naan which was fluffy and more bready than your typical naan from Indian restaurants. Their fried eggplant (borani banjan) which was cooked in their own sofrito sauce... absolutely amazing, very similar to shakshouka. Their mixed Afghan platter had beef, lamb, and chicken. While that dish was filling and very delicious, I felt like it could have had more meat. But I feel like that is always the case!!! I hope one day, I'll finally meet a platter that has the proper ratio of meat to rice. Some thing to look out for is the 20% service charge. I do understand that restaurants have a right to charge this and it's just the way of the food world... but it can be a burden to see this cost added to your bill after spending a lot already. So be prepared for that! And no, that service charge is not the tip... so make sure you still leave a tip. This is definitely a pricey spot but a great one that is spacious enough to bring family with you. It seems like a nice place to eat at with your big family!!! I'll definitely be back with either friends or family to finally get our hands on that $200 platter!!!! read more

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