Order Sami's Kabab House Takeout or Delivery
Sami's Kabab House Photos
SAMI'S KABAB HOUSE ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like Sami's Kabab House
Recommended Reviews - Sami's Kabab House
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Ordered delivery from here and had a great experience! Got the Uzbeki qabuli pulao, Mantu dumplings and chicken afghani kebab. The qabuli pulao was the standout, followed by the dumplings. Really liked the pilaf and the sauces were great. It was also a ton of food and we had a lot of leftovers - the dream. Would order again!
Stopped by because I had a friend rave about the service and food here - unfortunately, I think I've had way better afghani food. Service was also unfortunately very slow although we were one of two groups dining there. Note: they also don't provide tap water so we had to order drinks. My friend and I shared the vegetarian mantu dumplings to share. They came out after the entrees, which was a bit odd, and the flavor of the filing didn't mesh well with the sour yogurt in my opinion. Then we tried the chicken kofta kabob and chicken afghan kabob - both were quite delicious, and a great portion as well. Their main dishes seem to be a hit!
This is a neighborhood restaurant we've always wanted to try! It's small inside with a couple of tables. When we placed our order, our waiter told us they don't provide water and you can only buy bottled water. I thought this was illegal in NYC but whatever... we bought 2 bottles. We ordered 2 appetizers: the kachalau and manti. The kachalau was crispy and filled with potatoes, but we all loved the manti. They had a great kick to them and the beef inside was yummy. Two others got the lentil soup and chicken soup, and said they enjoyed both. For entrees, we got the chicken kofta kebab, bamiya (okra), and the lamb chops all with the delicious rice with raisins and carrots. We also got a side of afghani bread. The food was very tasty and the highlight was the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection. Don't forget to mix the rice with the white sauce and the green/red hot sauces! We had an issue with our food originally. The owner did a good job of fixing the issue and giving us a new dish. He also gave us tea and dessert on the house, which made up for this issue. Overall, we had a good dinner here but do wish they provided tap water for guests!
What a find! It's a small place so please call ahead! We started with the afghan green tea which was so delicious - had hints of cardamom with green tea. We have started copying this in our house now lol Next highly highly recommend the mantu. Technically they are dumplings but so flavorful and light and just packs a punch. They gave us salad on the house - standard and a generous portion. Recommend ordering some sodas as food is meat and carb heavy. May be just me though. We ordered the lamp chops, kabuli pulao and mixed afghan dish. Each and every kebab was amazing. They were flavorful, aromatic, the meat was tender and juicy and beautifully seasoned. The lamp chops were my highlight cos I'm biased to lamb. Also highly recommend the lamb shank (which comes with the pulao dish). Amazing prep! The rice that comes with these dishes are long grained rice; they didn't stick to each other and was perfectly seasoned and spiced The dish us some dry fruits so it's sweet and hearty :) We ended with the phirni that I didn't love tbh but I didn't care at that point as I was so high on the food. There's a slight chance the owner heard me say that (so so sorry btw) and he did not charge for the phirni. I feel terrible, yes! Will I be back? Heck, yea!
Quality has changed Chicken is horribly dry Spend close to 50 dollars on dry chicken I'm very disappointed This was suppose to be my dinner
Mmm what a great find! This is a casual restaurant with maybe 5-6 tables. We started off with the eggplant appetizer which was very good with the pita bread. Our group got the salmon, chicken and lamb kebab over rice with slightly pickled carrots and raisins. The salmon was so flaky and juicy while the chicken was seasoned well and charred. The lamb was slightly overcooked but the rest of the group liked it! I really think the pickled carrots and raisins really elevated the rice and brought a good balance to the meal. Definitely will come back!
This is my first time at this kebab house. I've had it on my list for a while since a good friend of mine recommended it. I typically travel all the way out to Long Island or the other end of Queens for similar food. I was looking for something more local. I am obsessed with mantu and I'm really excited to say that I did enjoy theirs! it was my first time having Afgan on which was OK. It was good bread. it was also my first time having the Afgan rice & I will say that much to my surprise I did enjoy it. Our waiter bought all of our protein and rice out as a family style so we can all pick at each other's orders. The chicken was pretty tender. The lamb kebab was my favorite. But I will say the lamb chops were so tender, and I would order them again. Unfortunately, the menu indicates that you will pay the same price no matter if you order rice with your protein or not. You can't order a separate order of just protein. I'm not sure if there is a miscommunication when I was requesting that from the waiter, but he also agreed that we cannot get a side order of extra protein. You would have to order the entrée, and it is our choice whether or not we are going to ask for the rice that is already included in the price. Genuinely wish they would allow us to order extra protein on the side instead of wasting so much rice. I ended up packing extra to go home since it was so good. In addition, we had a party of three adults and two babies. The bill had an automatic service charge of 20%. So just a heads up for you guys! When I come here again? Yes! Do I recommend it? Yes! The person that was attending to us also gave us a free dessert on the house. It was a pistachio rice dessert it seemed .. kinda like a custard. It was semi sweet and absolutely perfect for me.
I saw instagram post about this restaurant and decided to try. I must say I made a good choice. Lamb shank is really tasty and meat fall from the bone. Rice is flavorful yet not too overwhelming. Afghan bread and egg plant is a good combo too. The decoration is clean and simple. They already added 20% service charges just to make you guys aware. I would come back to try Kabab and lamb chops.
We came here with a fam of 6 adults, 1 baby. We had three tables pushed together and they had a nice clean high chair for the babe. This is our first time trying Afghans cuisine and we were loving it! All the dishes were great picks! Our favorite was the lamb braised lamb dish. It was so good we ordered another after we finished all the other foods. The mantu was kinda spicy even without the sauce. I generally hate carrots and raisins but I gobbled these up because they were sweet. The guy there is very friendly and provided great service. He gave us some green tea and custard desserts at the end. We have never had this kind of tea or custard before, it's so different from our Chinese teas and custards. They had a very unique flavor taste to it. We definitely recommend this place and would love to come back. I will probably pick up take out if I'm close by and in a rush. Great choice for a freezing day!! I have earned more points as the event/outing's coordinator of the family :)
Ordered: Bolani Kachalu (~$6): fried thin pocket of dough filled with potatoes, sweet onions, cilantro, leek and various spices Mixed Afghan Kabab (~$24): beef kofta, chicken breast kabab and lamb kabab on a single skewer with rice; carrots and raisins added (+$2) Chicken Korma Chalao (~$18): Afghan style chicken stew with rice; carrots and raisins added (+$2) Aya's take: I love Afghan food and have been to Sami's Astoria location many times; we were in the area and decided to check out the LIC location. Off the bat, it's much smaller (6-8 tables) and is more meant for takeout orders. The menus are similar, if not exactly the same. We started off with the Bolani Kachalu which was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and seasoned nicely. The menu says this is "served with our homemade garlic mint yogurt sauce" which we didn't receive. The Mixed Afghan Kabab is my go-to whenever I'm here. The chicken kabab and beef kofta were delicious - super tender, juicy, and well-seasoned. The lamb kabab was a bit tougher and lacked flavor. The portion of rice was also drastically less than the Astoria location. I never had the Chicken Korma Chalao before but it was a great warm dish to have on a cold day. The stew was made with tomatoes and onions, and the chicken was falling apart - unbelievably tender! What I didn't appreciate is that there is a 20% tip added automatically for parties of 2 or more. I would understand if this was a rule for large parties or if our waiter checked on us which he didn't aside from bringing us the food. I think they should reconsider this added fee or limit it to large parties. This review should be a 3.5, but I'll go with a 4 considering it was still a decent meal but I wouldn't come back to this location.
Kebabs were all delicious. Also tried the salad which was quite plain with hardly any dressing. Seems to be mostly a takeout spot but there are 4-5 tables for dine in. Service can be a bit slow during peak hours. They do not clearly disclose beforehand that there is a 20% mandatory tip automatically added to the bill. Prices are already pretty steep at $20+ for a kebab. Also no tap water served, you are forced to buy bottled or soda for a hefty markup. I'm pretty sure it is illegal not to give tap water so I definitely will not be returning.
Do yourself a favor- despite the food being great, avoid this place at all costs. The owners are complete scammers regardless of if you go to the Astoria or LIC location because unfortunately the same thing had happened to my dad at the Astoria location. Long story short, the owners will try to rip you off in any way possible. My girlfriends and I went during Ramadan to break our fast the server/one of the supposed owners named Yusuf Zaman (pale, curly hair glasses) was kind enough to give us dates but it went downhill from that. He completely ripped us off on not one thing but FOUR ITEMS. Yes, four! The most upsetting part is when I called to ask them what happened he apologized saying it was Ramadan and he gets forgetful when he fasts. This is BS and as a Muslim and as a human being I'm DISGUSTED by this behavior. You can claim to be a good person but actions speak louder than words and it was clear as day greed was the only thing they care about. So albeit the food is good (I won't lie), this is NYC there's a million other options and to lie straight to my face as a fellow Muslim was beyond upsetting. I'd never go back and I'd save your money for people who run an honest business. However if you choose to go here- CHECK YOUR RECEIPT THOROUGHLY! Here's the rundown for everything they charged us purposely incorrectly with a picture of the receipt for reference- 1. We ordered 2 bottles of water not 3. 2. As you can see in a picture of our spread, there's only one green tea not 4. 3. As you can see in the picture of our spread, there's only one Afghan bread not 3. 4. A VERY clear indication of malicious intentions to scam people is on the menu itself (also attached a picture of this) it says that "all kebabs or entrees are same price with or without Qabuli." Well that would be great IF it was true! See my receipt where they clearly charged a dollar for each dish for qabuli. All in all, I'm very disappointed in this place. And why put up a facade with Ramadan decorations and dates? They are clearly not good people and are scammers and are a disgrace to my religion. I've never been so offended at a place to be deliberately lied to and demeaned. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
Three of us came here for dinner last night (Tuesday). At 7:00 pm, place was pretty quiet. The restaurant is small-ish and it looks like most tables are for 2. We got a four-top at the front of the place. The restaurant decor is pleasant. It's a bit dark inside, but welcoming. Our server was very friendly. We started by ordering three starters - Mantu Dumplings (described in the menu as: steamed dumplings w/ beef, onions, cilantro + spices, topped with garlic mint yogurt sauce and garnished with lamb gravy and yellow split peas), Borani Banjan (eggplant) and Bamia (okra, stewed with tomato and onion sauce). Each of the starters was great. I think my favorite was the dumpling, followed by the eggplant and then the okra. Although the okra dish was delicious, it seemed like the simplest one, and one I could make most easily at home. The server suggested we get an order of Afghan Naan to go with the starters. The Naan was "OK". I would call that the weak part of the meal. It was fairly flavorless and didn't really enhance the flavors of the starters. The three of us shared two entrees - Chicken Afghan Kabob and Salmon Kabob. Each comes with a large side of rice. We also ordered one Qabuli (a rice topping made of raisins and carrots, sautéed in a cardamom syrup). The Qabuli is an extra dollar. The server said he would put it on the side, which was an excellent suggestion, because the rice was flavorful on its own and the Qabuli on its own made an excellent, sweet side dish. The Kabobs were both very good. The chicken was moist and tender and nicely seasoned. But the salmon - oh my gosh - the salmon light, flaky texture melted in my mouth. I couldn't stop eating the salmon. The rice was flavorful and the texture consistent. Before serving the entree, the server brought over a small salad to share, which was refreshing - lettuce and tomato and cucumbers. We didn't order dessert. But the server comped us a Firnee (homemade custard), which was very good. We were so full we couldn't finish it (or most of the rice from the entrees). The portions here are a nice size. Bottled waters were $2 each. They were ice cold and a good value for a restaurant. Honestly, the prices here overall are very reasonable. The food is good and nice portion sizes. read more
Food: I ordered the Mixed Afghani lunch special from here for $12.99. Lunch specials are to go only. The lunch special included a few pieces of chicken kebab and a ground lamb kebab along with salad and rice. The rice was very flavorful and delicious. The meat was overall good, but some pieces were a bit dry. Overall, I really enjoyed the flavors of the food and would get it again. Service: Staff were really friendly, but the service was quite slow considering we were the only ones ordering food at the time. I wouldn't come here if you're looking to grab a quick lunch to go. Ambiance: The restaurant is small but has tables for you to eat at. They automatically charge a 20% gratuity for parties of two or more if you want to dine in. Overall, I would recommend this place! read more
One of the few times I've had Afghan food, and it was delicious! The chicken was grilled really well, extremely tender and juicy! Their carrots and raisins were also really tender and flavorful. I would highly recommend this dish! The lamb was also decent, but definitely not as mind blowing as the chicken. The owner said dessert was on the house if we paid in cash, but we were a bit short for that. He still gave us dessert anyways and the dessert was pretty good! read more
Ordered delivery from here and had a great experience! Got the Uzbeki qabuli pulao, Mantu dumplings and chicken afghani kebab. The qabuli pulao was the standout, followed by the dumplings. Really liked the pilaf and the sauces were great. It was also a ton of food and we had a lot of leftovers - the dream. Would order again! read more
Stopped by because I had a friend rave about the service and food here - unfortunately, I think I've had way better afghani food. Service was also unfortunately very slow although we were one of two groups dining there. Note: they also don't provide tap water so we had to order drinks. My friend and I shared the vegetarian mantu dumplings to share. They came out after the entrees, which was a bit odd, and the flavor of the filing didn't mesh well with the sour yogurt in my opinion. Then we tried the chicken kofta kabob and chicken afghan kabob - both were quite delicious, and a great portion as well. Their main dishes seem to be a hit! read more
This is a neighborhood restaurant we've always wanted to try! It's small inside with a couple of tables. When we placed our order, our waiter told us they don't provide water and you can only buy bottled water. I thought this was illegal in NYC but whatever... we bought 2 bottles. We ordered 2 appetizers: the kachalau and manti. The kachalau was crispy and filled with potatoes, but we all loved the manti. They had a great kick to them and the beef inside was yummy. Two others got the lentil soup and chicken soup, and said they enjoyed both. For entrees, we got the chicken kofta kebab, bamiya (okra), and the lamb chops all with the delicious rice with raisins and carrots. We also got a side of afghani bread. The food was very tasty and the highlight was the lamb chops which were cooked to perfection. Don't forget to mix the rice with the white sauce and the green/red hot sauces! We had an issue with our food originally. The owner did a good job of fixing the issue and giving us a new dish. He also gave us tea and dessert on the house, which made up for this issue. Overall, we had a good dinner here but do wish they provided tap water for guests! read more
2 years ago
What a find! It's a small place so please call ahead! We started with the afghan green tea which was so delicious - had hints of cardamom with green tea. We have started copying this in our house now lol Next highly highly recommend the mantu. Technically they are dumplings but so flavorful and light and just packs a punch. They gave us salad on the house - standard and a generous portion. Recommend ordering some sodas as food is meat and carb heavy. May be just me though. We ordered the lamp chops, kabuli pulao and mixed afghan dish. Each and every kebab was amazing. They were flavorful, aromatic, the meat was tender and juicy and beautifully seasoned. The lamp chops were my highlight cos I'm biased to lamb. Also highly recommend the lamb shank (which comes with the pulao dish). Amazing prep! The rice that comes with these dishes are long grained rice; they didn't stick to each other and was perfectly seasoned and spiced The dish us some dry fruits so it's sweet and hearty :) We ended with the phirni that I didn't love tbh but I didn't care at that point as I was so high on the food. There's a slight chance the owner heard me say that (so so sorry btw) and he did not charge for the phirni. I feel terrible, yes! Will I be back? Heck, yea! read more
1 year ago
Quality has changed Chicken is horribly dry Spend close to 50 dollars on dry chicken I'm very disappointed This was suppose to be my dinner read more
Mmm what a great find! This is a casual restaurant with maybe 5-6 tables. We started off with the eggplant appetizer which was very good with the pita bread. Our group got the salmon, chicken and lamb kebab over rice with slightly pickled carrots and raisins. The salmon was so flaky and juicy while the chicken was seasoned well and charred. The lamb was slightly overcooked but the rest of the group liked it! I really think the pickled carrots and raisins really elevated the rice and brought a good balance to the meal. Definitely will come back! read more
2 years ago
This is my first time at this kebab house. I've had it on my list for a while since a good friend of mine recommended it. I typically travel all the way out to Long Island or the other end of Queens for similar food. I was looking for something more local. I am obsessed with mantu and I'm really excited to say that I did enjoy theirs! it was my first time having Afgan on which was OK. It was good bread. it was also my first time having the Afgan rice & I will say that much to my surprise I did enjoy it. Our waiter bought all of our protein and rice out as a family style so we can all pick at each other's orders. The chicken was pretty tender. The lamb kebab was my favorite. But I will say the lamb chops were so tender, and I would order them again. Unfortunately, the menu indicates that you will pay the same price no matter if you order rice with your protein or not. You can't order a separate order of just protein. I'm not sure if there is a miscommunication when I was requesting that from the waiter, but he also agreed that we cannot get a side order of extra protein. You would have to order the entrée, and it is our choice whether or not we are going to ask for the rice that is already included in the price. Genuinely wish they would allow us to order extra protein on the side instead of wasting so much rice. I ended up packing extra to go home since it was so good. In addition, we had a party of three adults and two babies. The bill had an automatic service charge of 20%. So just a heads up for you guys! When I come here again? Yes! Do I recommend it? Yes! The person that was attending to us also gave us a free dessert on the house. It was a pistachio rice dessert it seemed .. kinda like a custard. It was semi sweet and absolutely perfect for me. read more
I saw instagram post about this restaurant and decided to try. I must say I made a good choice. Lamb shank is really tasty and meat fall from the bone. Rice is flavorful yet not too overwhelming. Afghan bread and egg plant is a good combo too. The decoration is clean and simple. They already added 20% service charges just to make you guys aware. I would come back to try Kabab and lamb chops. read more
3 years ago
We came here with a fam of 6 adults, 1 baby. We had three tables pushed together and they had a nice clean high chair for the babe. This is our first time trying Afghans cuisine and we were loving it! All the dishes were great picks! Our favorite was the lamb braised lamb dish. It was so good we ordered another after we finished all the other foods. The mantu was kinda spicy even without the sauce. I generally hate carrots and raisins but I gobbled these up because they were sweet. The guy there is very friendly and provided great service. He gave us some green tea and custard desserts at the end. We have never had this kind of tea or custard before, it's so different from our Chinese teas and custards. They had a very unique flavor taste to it. We definitely recommend this place and would love to come back. I will probably pick up take out if I'm close by and in a rush. Great choice for a freezing day!! I have earned more points as the event/outing's coordinator of the family :) read more
8 months ago
1 year ago
Loved - Borani Banjan (with the Afghan naan) - Uzbeki Qabuli Pulao - Korma Chalao with lamb - Shir Birinj - Fast and friendly service Liked - Afghan green tea - Simple and tasteful decor OK - Complementary salad read more
Ordered: Bolani Kachalu (~$6): fried thin pocket of dough filled with potatoes, sweet onions, cilantro, leek and various spices Mixed Afghan Kabab (~$24): beef kofta, chicken breast kabab and lamb kabab on a single skewer with rice; carrots and raisins added (+$2) Chicken Korma Chalao (~$18): Afghan style chicken stew with rice; carrots and raisins added (+$2) Aya's take: I love Afghan food and have been to Sami's Astoria location many times; we were in the area and decided to check out the LIC location. Off the bat, it's much smaller (6-8 tables) and is more meant for takeout orders. The menus are similar, if not exactly the same. We started off with the Bolani Kachalu which was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and seasoned nicely. The menu says this is "served with our homemade garlic mint yogurt sauce" which we didn't receive. The Mixed Afghan Kabab is my go-to whenever I'm here. The chicken kabab and beef kofta were delicious - super tender, juicy, and well-seasoned. The lamb kabab was a bit tougher and lacked flavor. The portion of rice was also drastically less than the Astoria location. I never had the Chicken Korma Chalao before but it was a great warm dish to have on a cold day. The stew was made with tomatoes and onions, and the chicken was falling apart - unbelievably tender! What I didn't appreciate is that there is a 20% tip added automatically for parties of 2 or more. I would understand if this was a rule for large parties or if our waiter checked on us which he didn't aside from bringing us the food. I think they should reconsider this added fee or limit it to large parties. This review should be a 3.5, but I'll go with a 4 considering it was still a decent meal but I wouldn't come back to this location. read more
3 years ago
Kebabs were all delicious. Also tried the salad which was quite plain with hardly any dressing. Seems to be mostly a takeout spot but there are 4-5 tables for dine in. Service can be a bit slow during peak hours. They do not clearly disclose beforehand that there is a 20% mandatory tip automatically added to the bill. Prices are already pretty steep at $20+ for a kebab. Also no tap water served, you are forced to buy bottled or soda for a hefty markup. I'm pretty sure it is illegal not to give tap water so I definitely will not be returning. read more
Do yourself a favor- despite the food being great, avoid this place at all costs. The owners are complete scammers regardless of if you go to the Astoria or LIC location because unfortunately the same thing had happened to my dad at the Astoria location. Long story short, the owners will try to rip you off in any way possible. My girlfriends and I went during Ramadan to break our fast the server/one of the supposed owners named Yusuf Zaman (pale, curly hair glasses) was kind enough to give us dates but it went downhill from that. He completely ripped us off on not one thing but FOUR ITEMS. Yes, four! The most upsetting part is when I called to ask them what happened he apologized saying it was Ramadan and he gets forgetful when he fasts. This is BS and as a Muslim and as a human being I'm DISGUSTED by this behavior. You can claim to be a good person but actions speak louder than words and it was clear as day greed was the only thing they care about. So albeit the food is good (I won't lie), this is NYC there's a million other options and to lie straight to my face as a fellow Muslim was beyond upsetting. I'd never go back and I'd save your money for people who run an honest business. However if you choose to go here- CHECK YOUR RECEIPT THOROUGHLY! Here's the rundown for everything they charged us purposely incorrectly with a picture of the receipt for reference- 1. We ordered 2 bottles of water not 3. 2. As you can see in a picture of our spread, there's only one green tea not 4. 3. As you can see in the picture of our spread, there's only one Afghan bread not 3. 4. A VERY clear indication of malicious intentions to scam people is on the menu itself (also attached a picture of this) it says that "all kebabs or entrees are same price with or without Qabuli." Well that would be great IF it was true! See my receipt where they clearly charged a dollar for each dish for qabuli. All in all, I'm very disappointed in this place. And why put up a facade with Ramadan decorations and dates? They are clearly not good people and are scammers and are a disgrace to my religion. I've never been so offended at a place to be deliberately lied to and demeaned. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. read more
I only had one dish here - the eggplant sabzi - but I thought the flavors of everything from the light carrot-raisin garnish for the pulav to the yogurt dipping sauce to the melt-in-your-mouth eggplant were all on point. The portions were generous, service friendly, and environs somewhat humble but generally very cozy, especially in the back room. Doesn't hurt that they give a free phirni for dessert with your bill (or at least we got one). Will be back to try the aushak and more of the sabzis - vegetarian approved! read more
If you like yourself some meat done just right, then you'll enjoy this place. Cute, clean spot, charming service. The lamb is to die for, literally fall off the bone GOOD. Chicken is also tender as all hell. I don't even like raisins with my food but with the pulao dish it's a must and added even more deliciousness to it. My only gripe is the "white sauce" that's served on the table. I'm not a fan of the mayo-y white sauce that NY chooses to add to Middle Eastern south/central Asian foods. Also, the food here is good and juicy enough without other condiments. Also, Ali was so lovely, chatted us up and was super sweet and informative. Thanks Ali! read more
2 years ago
Afghan food in NYC seems to be focussed on a low-ish cost, casual restaurant where you can fill yourself up or grab or a large takeaway. While I do think this absolutely an important niche to serve, especially in more residential neighborhoods like Astoria, I must admit that this isn't a niche that I usually aim towards since I'm more likely to just cook for myself. Vibe in the restaurant is casual but really friendly. The Afghan green tea was really mild with just a hint of cardamom and this is coming from someone who generally prefers their tea borderline under-extracted. Its most notable quality was that it was hot. The mantu are these dumpling dressed in lamb stock and a garlic mint yogurt sauce. The dumpling skins are nice and thin, the meat inside was juicy and flavorful, and the dressing on top just provided some welcome acidity and an extra hit of savory flavor. Actually pretty solid although something you should finish while its hot as I do feel like it got notably worse as it cooled down but that's not at all the fault of the restaurant. Entrees here are served with rice and optional Qabuli, an option I do recommend going for if you've never had it before. The rice and qabuli is a nice mix of slightly sweet and spiced although maybe a bit greasy for some. Meats at this point are generally nicely flavored but not amazing texture-wise. Kababs had a nice char but were a bit tough and the korma was a smidge dry but still well within the edible range. The eggplant was arguably my favorite thing of the bunch as it still had the spice and flavors that they do a good job at without suffering at all from imperfect meat. If you've already had and enjoyed Afghan food in the city, then I'd say this restaurant is an easy recommendation if you want something filling and comforting. If you haven't I think its worth giving it a try here, just make sure to come in expecting a restaurant aimed at feeding a community rather than impressing visitors. read more
I'm glad to see a restaurant that started in Astoria expand into LIC! The LIC location is great: with good food and service Food: they start you off with some pita bread which essentially tastes like naan and salad which is so good, especially with the white and green sauces. For my main, I ordered the chicken kofta with the carrots and raisins in the rice! The chicken kofta was so flavorful, I loved all the spices! The rice was delicious and definitely get the raisins and carrots. I do have to say that everything is very heavy and it does feel oily but honestly it was so good! Price: reasonably priced! I took home about half my plate because it was so filling. The meal will cost you about ~25 if you just order a main Service: good service but they don't give water which is weird Ambience: a low key set up and small place and overall clean read more
I can get used to Afghan food after trying out Sami's. The rice with raisins was so unique and savory it was almost like a dessert . The chicken was perfectly cooked and the surprise salad( came with meal) created for a nicely balanced meal. I was thoroughly impressed with everything . I ordered their version of naan but without butter I just couldn't get through it although it was definitely a good bread . Don't understand why they can play western music but can't give butter to go with the bread .I still love this place and highly recommend it if you're looking for some hefty portions and clean eating . read more
4 years ago
The Chicken Afghani Kabob deserves a medal here. Thick, juicy, flavorful! Will probably get this every single time here, or just come here for that. White sauce and red sauce are poppin on the complimentary fresh baked bread and salad. Entrees are usually served on rice with optional sautéed raisins and carrots on top (a bit too sweet for my liking so I only eat it partially but my bf loves it). He also does not recommend the stewed beef shank... the mantu dumpling has a lamb gamey smell to it although its beef (other wise its good if you dont mind lamb) Super friendly server and owner came out to check up on us and offered free dessert (shir birinj, rice pudding). We loved it! read more
First time having Afghan food and it's awesome. LIC's diversity is growing. While some may think the two kebab restaurants located opposite of each other is the same, I can tell you that they are very, very different from each other. The beef kofta is a mix of ground beef and lamb seasoned with spices over the most delicious king grain rice. The beef is super tasty and the portions are huge. The chicken thigh kebab are big pieces of season chicken grilled to juicy perfection. The mantu dumplings are awesome. Something I've never had before but so delicious. The lentil soup is very different from other lentil soups I've had and that's great. The ingredients are chunky and savory. The firnee is a custard that is freaking amazing. I could have ate an entire one myself. Love this place and can see myself dining with them again, again and again. read more
1 year ago
The food here is amazing! The borani banjan -- an eggplant and tomato dish -- was one of the best things I've eaten in a while. Definitely order it!! I also tried the chicken breast kabab and the chicken was incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful. The rice was buttery and delicious anIt was topped with a sweet mix of carrots and raisins (qabuli). We also ordered aushak, the leek dumplings, which were nice but a bit too tangy for my taste. This 1 main dish and 2 small plates was more than enough for two people. Unfortunately you have to purchase bottled water (no tap). Friendly service. The place is casual and seems to be more of a takeout spot, but there are a few tables for a satisfactory dine-in experience. I believe the Astoria location has a better ambiance. read more
4 years ago
We came by on a weekday and shared the Norma lamb stew and chicken kofta kabobs. Everything was awesome, but I especially liked the chicken. Would definitely come back to try other things! read more
1 year ago
Delicious spot, can't wait to try all the other dishes from here! We tried (takeout): - lamb korma 10/10: hands down our favorite dish!! The flavors were excellent and the meat was so juicy and tender and plentiful. Also a very generous heaping of rice - lamb kabab 8/10: im not the biggest kabab fan so it might be me but this one was ok, lamb was a wee bit tough - borani banjan 9/10: my first time having this dish and it was great! Very saucy and delicious - afghan naan 8/10: not sure i've had afghan naan before but this one was a bit dry and hard for my liking The dishes also come with a side of salad, which was much appreciated. read more
2 years ago
Lovely, kind, respectful owner who treated us like family. Absolutely delicious and authentic food! I would highly HIGHLY recommend both the chicken kebab and the uzbaki. Both are made fresh and with love. Quite honestly we were amazed by the chicken- spiced to perfection and crazy tender. Owner was kind enough to send us on our way with a dessert and some tea. Will definitely be making our way back just to try some other menu items! read more
Sami's Kebab is the same restaurant as the one in Astoria. This location is much smaller and without a restroom but the food is just as delicious! I had the korma chalao and the lamb chops. The lamb chops comes with 4 pieces nicely grilled but could use a little bit more flavor. The korma chalao is delicious and comes with plenty of meat. It's basically like lamb shank but in smaller pieces. There is also complimentary bread and salad. Put the white sauce on top of the meat and salad for some creaminess. read more
3 years ago
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Long Island city. The food is so comforting and delicious and the value is amazing. The chicken and the salmon grilled are the best and the lamb shank is fall off the bone my favorite. Make sure to ask for the qabli rice. It can be quiet inside sometimes and other times packed so don't be put off if there's no one there when you go consider yourself lucky because it gets filled up at night. read more
This place is seriously incredible. We ordered in delivery, and the food was magnificent. I ordered the chicken kofta kabab and my fiancé got the beef kofta. We both loved the tenderness and flavorfulness of the kababs. They came with deliciously seasoned rice and a choice of whether or not to get qabuli- sweet julienned carrots and raisins on top of rice- which was also, you guessed it, delicious. We got hummus and sabzi (spinach) apps. The hummus was SO flavorful with fresh herbs in it and almost fluffy. The sabzi was a great side to eat with our meal. I had enough to eat as leftovers for lunch today and it was unreal again. The meals also come with a side small salad. We can't wait to order again. We may have to get hummus this weekend... read more
Ayooo Sami delivers every time. This is my second review. 2 for 2! This is food everyone would and should love. Flavorful, plentiful always hot and never misses. The salmon kabobs are tender moist and super flavorful. The rice with qabuli is a must. (Carrots and raisins) Sweet savory and compliments any dish. The dill yogurt dressing is perfect for the fresh salad. And the dumplings w similar dressing and the gravy are d lish us! Taste and texture similar to momos if you've ever had them but fluffier dough used. I'm tellin you the 5 star ratings for Samis are 100% accurate. If you ever want to try afghan food or are tired of Thai and pizza nightly give Samis a call immediately! read more
1 year ago
Page 1 of 3
More info about Sami's Kabab House
Ask the Community - Sami's Kabab House
You might also consider
![Xi'an Famous Foods - [N2] Spicy & Tingly Beef Muscle Hand-Ripped Noodles](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/_PhZYUBMLj8u6TBXJzz1nA/ls.jpg)
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
3 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
4 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
