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    Shinwari

    3.5 (44 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order Shinwari Takeout or Delivery

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    SHINWARI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Shinwari

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    Pulao lamb shank
    Saba M.

    This place just keeps getting better and better. The flavors!!!! The scent!!! The way things are cooked to perfection fresh!! Excellent attentive service!!! #foodheaven if you havent already been here your playing yourself RUN!!! ‍ don't walk to these beautiful gem of a place

    lamb
    Hana R.

    Delicious everytime I come here! All of the skewers are amazing and the naan is perfect here. Also really liked the jamun. Reminds me of the restaurants my parents used to bring me too as a kid. Don't have much of this anymore on the west coast so i really enjoyed it! 10/10

    I've been their with my family twice, both times with the large group and for Ifthar. The interior decorations are authentic and cultural. Colorful vibes. Nice setup. We got the private room with the floor seating. Food was great both times. Great service offered by the friendly staff named Said Abubaker. He was very attentive and took very good care of the entire group.

    Outside
    Rebecca A.

    Fantastic place for the carnivores! All the dishes were well flavored and spiced. The fish was fantastic, the skin being completely crisp and the fish tasted fresh. The lamb karai was succulent and flavorful. The Kheer and milky tea (with hint of caramel) was a perfect ending to the meal. I just wish there were more plant based sides to choose from to balance the meal (chickpeas and spinach maybe?)

    Mint Lemonade
    Naveen H.

    Tl;dr: A must-visit if you're in the area. Every Eid it's customary for our family to get all dressed up and have a proper sit-down dinner outside. This year we decided to visit Shinwari on the second day of Eid. From the get to it's evident that they've put a lot of thought into making your visit an experience. From the decor and ambiance to the food and service, it is an authentic Pakistani Shinwari meal. There are plenty of seating options (including palangs and jhulas), you can make reservations ahead of time or walk-in. Keep in mind if you walk-in, there may be a bit of a wait. It's a family-friendly and easy-going atmosphere. There were children running around and playing on the decorative rickshaw and bike, and we were able to admire the beautiful artwork and collectibles while we waited for our dinner. The food is served family-style and piping hot. The aroma alone is enough to satisfy your palate. Of the items we ordered the dishes that stood out were the chapli kabobs and the charsi chicken tikka. But all the food was prepared well and really hit the spot. The chai was delicious but a small serving with no refill option. For a Desi restaurant it's borderline scandalous to not have some chai on tap. Overall it was a great experience and I hope to visit Shinwari again soon (maybe once more before I go back home!). Cheers to the staff and team, I hope you keep getting better.

    naan
    Imran S.

    we had heard a lot about shinwari - about the food and decorations so decided to check it out. the restaurant is a former hotel/motel restaurant and is still connected to the hotel/motel. they did decorate the restaurant with Pakistani and Pathan decorations - a lot of decorations and artwork we sat down and ordered naan, dum pukht, kabobs, and drinks. the naan was good, the drinks were good and so was the dum pukht; the kabobs were decent but could've been better. all the food had very little spice so that was good for some and not good for others. overall good pathan/pakistani food but no veggie options

    Michelle H.

    Very addictive, great food. I heard they order fresh lamb every day. Everything I had was amazing!! I'm definitely going to be their regulars Ambience, very homey Service, very attentive and helpful with questions Overall, would recommend you to stop by if you are in the area! Great prices for yummy food (FYI, they only open at 5pm at this time)

    Outside
    Khadija S.

    Y'all, overall not worth the Uber ride from downtown DC. I got there a little after 6 and was the only patron. Ordered the chapli kabob and tarka daal. Both entrees came with a naan each. Did not try the mint lemonade which they're known for. The food took sometime to come out. The chapli kabob were hefty. Flavor wise, bland. Texture, chewy. I was not impressed at all. Would be better if they made thinner patty's and served more than two on the platter using the same amount of beef. This was not good. The tarka daal was also flavorless and full of oil. There was literally no seasoning. The naans were the best part of the meal. As far as services goes, it was so bad. I was checked on once after I received my meal. And then I waited, waited, and waited. No one offered to refill my Diet Coke or offer me water. I got water with my check. They also add 18% gratuity to each check- fyi. The ambiance is fun that may be the only saving grace for this bad food restaurant.

    The 6inch salad plate of Appetizer smh...

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    2 years ago

    The food was delicious and plentiful. Authentic northern Pakistan cuisine and decor. Service was quick and attentive.

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Excellent authentic Afghan, Pakistan foods. Gratuity is included in the bill and hope it goes into servers pockets.

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    2 years ago

    This place has everything to offer! You won't find a more authentic Pakistani flavor anywhere else. A must try!

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    3 years ago

    Amazing authentic food. Quality is great for the price too. Will come here again for sure.

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    Charga

    Charga

    4.6
    (223 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Had a great experience at Charga. We ordered the tandoori chicken, chickpeas, wings, and the…read moreribeye steak kabab skewer, and everything was absolutely delicious. The food was full of flavor, freshly prepared, and really exceeded our expectations. The ribeye steak skewer and tandoori chicken were especially outstanding. The seating area is small and compact, but the quality and taste of the food more than make up for it. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for flavorful and satisfying food!

    About a 2-2.5: I was excited to check out Charga, as this seems to be a popular spot with the…read morelocals to get their various styles of chicken, momos, and curries. We came here for an early lunch, and we ordered: +a samosa - served with a small cup of chutney +the Chicken Steamed Momos - filled with ground chicken; these were just okay, as it was ginger-forward; seemed to have been slightly oversteamed, and the skins easily ripped +a 1/4 Chicken with 2 Sides - went for the Charga style, all-white meat (this also included the neck, which was a little weird); opted for the chickpeas and the plantains; the chicken was overcooked and super dried out, which made it inedible; the chickpeas were okay, and the plantains were the only enjoyable part of this combo meal +the Boneless Chicken Tikka Kabob Meal - served on top of rice with a side of salad, chickpeas, and a large naan; the kabob was okay, slightly less dry than the quarter chicken; had an off taste to it +and, a Butter Chicken - served with rice and a large naan; this was more tangy and more tikka masala-like; it was thick, creamy, and still enjoyable! The naan was soft and fluffy, and a great complement to the curry Staff and service was friendly; we did request our orders to be free from coriander and cilantro, but items still came topped with the herb; we were able to pick it off, somewhat. There seems to be a constant flow of patrons picking up catering and to-go orders, as well as some deliveries. Providing to-go containers and a brown bag was generous. Parking is available in the small shared strip plaza lot. +Butter Chicken +avoid the Charga chicken +inaccurate orders +parking available

    Photos
    Charga
    Sajji Quarter
    Sajji Quarter
    Charga

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    Namakmandi Shinwari Grill

    Namakmandi Shinwari Grill

    3.6
    (47 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    PLEASE READ BEFORE GOING:…read more I decided to give this place a try after being recommended their Chapli Kabobs and being told they were the best. I couldn't resist and decided to treat my mom to a dinner on Mother's Day. What we ordered: Chapli kabobs, lamb karahi, chicken biryani, lassi and chai. Food was okay, i honestly think any Pakistani moms' biryani would be better. Chapli kabobs were pretty good but not to die for. And i honestly think you can find better karahi for cheaper. I loved their chai the most out of everything. Total came down to around $120. Plenty of parking is available in the back. But it was completely empty when we walked in around 5pm on a Sunday. This place has ROACHES. When we got our naan for the karahi, it came on a skewer stand that came out of a wooden block. As soon as the waiter set it on the table and left, a baby roach crawled out of the wooden block. I killed it and told the waiter and the only thing he said was "Oh my God" and took it back to the kitchen. No apology or acknowledgment. But there was some yelling heard from the kitchen. We got our new fresh naan on a plate this time. After we got our chai and were relaxing, I look up towards the tv, there is ANOTHER ROACH crawling up. I got the check and just wanted to leave. The bathrooms were clean enough but there was a leak coming from the flush handle in the women's bathroom and there was a bucket underneath for the water to drip. Overall, I would not recommend and would rather try the other Middle Eastern/South Asian restaurants in the area to try.

    Restaurant is run down and kinda dirty. Food was mediocre at best. The worst part was the service…read more The people running the restaurant seems to have no idea what they're doing. My party and I spent close to 2 hours waiting for our order and only some of the items came out. Two pain courses failed to arrive. It food wasn't even that good. Definitely not worth the wait. Would not recommend coming back here. This restaurant is a disaster. They also automatically charge an 18% tip for a party of TWO or more. So even if service is atrocious, you'll still be forced to tip.

    Photos
    Namakmandi Shinwari Grill
    Namakmandi Shinwari Grill
    Chicken bryiani

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    Chicken bryiani
    Saffron Indian Cuisine

    Saffron Indian Cuisine

    4.1
    (379 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Saffron is a great neighborhood spot for consistently good Indian food. Portions are generous, and…read morethe flavors are well balanced, with just a gentle hint of spice even at the lowest heat levels--perfect for anyone with a sensitive palate. They're efficient with delivery, though it's noticeably cheaper if you order directly from the restaurant. The fish curry is a standout and absolutely worth trying, but you really can't go wrong with the classics like butter chicken, saag paneer, or any of their vegetarian options. Everything we've had has been excellent. Finish it off with a solid mango lassi, and you've got a very satisfying meal. Definitely a reliable go-to in the Falls Church neighborhood.

    I've eaten here 4 times. Very consistent and generous dinner portions. The $20 lunch buffet is a…read moresolid choice, with around 10 entrées with fresh ice-chilled condiments. A concerted effort towards variety is evident, with distinct proteins and vegetarian choices in specific curries/sauces creating a beautifully balanced array of different colors. I love this. (An example of the opposite: When there's a paneer tikka masala AND a chicken tikka masala on a buffet - I don't count these as being 2 different entrées.) Saffron is way better than the musty neighbor Haandi Indian across the street. A long time local recommended Haandi over Saffron and I believe she must have lied to me about having tried Saffron, because there is absolutely no comparison. Saffron is wayyy better. There is actually flavor and attitude in the dishes at Saffron. Haandi is boring and bland. Pro tip: ask for your naan bread "crispy" and it will come out nice and toasted. Naan is included with the lunch buffet. Would be 5 stars if it were $15. $22 can get you AYCE made-to-order sushi lunch down the street, so $20 for Indian buffet lunch here seems all-the-money. Delicious, though! Oh and another possible star deduction reason: I saw a few stains on some tablecloths at Saffron that appeared to be days-old from not being changed or noticed. This is a "glass top on top of red tablecloth" kind of place. They need to get rid of the tablecloths if they're not changing them with each customer.

    Photos
    Saffron Indian Cuisine
    Cornish Hen Tandoori
    Cornish Hen Tandoori
    Saffron Indian Cuisine

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    Bawadi Mediterranean Grill

    Bawadi Mediterranean Grill

    4.2
    (543 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I came here with my sister's for Iftar during Ramadan. The restaurant is decorated beautifully…read more The place is huge and good for groups. They have only buffet during Ramadan. I got there after 6pm. It was packed. It was my first there and had no idea what I was getting into. The menus doesnt explain much nor were prices mentioned. Its like $39.99 They also tacked on a service fee. Which is deceiving since its not mentioned upfront in the menu. You find out when you get your bill. The service was 5 stars. The young man very attentive and friendly. Ushered our dirty tables and brought us our drinks. I had minty lemonade which I recommend if your gonna eat a lot. Here's my gripe. Its very important to label food. None of the food trays or stations were labeled. I have several food allergies and I had no idea what was what. I had to ask what was this or that. One tray had rice and I saw something that had deep fried crispy something. I thought it was chicken... it was fish :( The hummus was good though. The baklava meh. The pita bread was good. Some rice tray had kabob type of meat but it was lukewarm. For the price I paid, its not worth it. Please label your trays. Im give this place another try with my husband after Ramadan. , I saw on the dessert menu they have Knafeh.. a delicious middle eastern dessert that I love. Can't wait to try that.

    We came for the Sunday lunch buffet. They had a great variety of dishes and everything was…read moredelicious. Nothing was labeled but the young man hosting was happy to tell us what every dish was. We liked the decor and the music, outdoor dining area looks nice too.

    Photos
    Falafel and more
    Falafel and more
    Bawadi Mediterranean Grill
    Meats and rice section

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    Meats and rice section
    Naan & Beyond

    Naan & Beyond

    4.3
    (24 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    We got the chicken biryani for lunch when we were shopping at this mall. The portions were big…read moreenough for tow people to share one which I loved! They also gave us generous portions of protein which malt places refuse to do and just load your box up with rice. The chicken pieces were big as well. The flavor of the biryani was a little different than the many different types of biryani I've tried but it wasn't bad - just different. They also have snacks from different parts of India - north east west and south. I will return to try those snacks too. For dessert, they also have the matka kulfi which is clay pot ice cream like dessert. I absolutely love kulfi and will return to also try the kulfi and other desserts and report back.

    I had a really disappointing experience around 5 p.m. at Tyson Court. I came in planning to place…read moreabout a $40 order, but I ended up walking out because of how I was treated by the man working the register. From the start, he was visibly annoyed. He rolled his eyes while I was speaking, didn't want to answer simple questions about the dishes, and acted like helping me was an inconvenience. I was polite and just trying to clarify a few things before ordering. Instead of basic customer service, I was met with attitude and dismissiveness. It takes a lot for me to walk away from a $40 order -- especially when they had my favorite dishes available -- but the interaction was so rude and uncomfortable that I chose not to give them my business. Customer service matters, regardless of the order size. I hope management addresses this, because no customer should feel unwelcome for simply asking questions before placing an order.

    Photos
    Corner Spot
    Corner Spot
    Very very VERY GOOD !!!
    Very very VERY GOOD !!!
    Mango Lassi

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    Mango Lassi
    Arlington Kabob

    Arlington Kabob

    4.6
    (439 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    High Protein, Strategic Eating…read more If you are navigating a serious health journey or, like me, currently in the middle of a "Biggest Loser" contest to start the year, Arlington Kabob is a strategic goldmine. Under normal circumstances, I would happily indulge in their fragrant basmati rice and that delicious, fresh-baked tandoori naan. However, staying disciplined requires a different approach, and the team here makes it effortless. The High-Protein Order Hack: I ordered the Chicken Shawarma platter but requested a total carb-swap. I asked to replace the rice and naan entirely with a double portion of vegetables. I went with the chickpeas (channa) and the sautéed spinach. The result is a nutrient-dense, high-protein win. The chicken is lean and perfectly charred, the chickpeas provide steady energy and fiber, and the spinach adds great flavor and micronutrients. The 50% Strategy: Even without the bread, these portions are significant. I ate exactly 50% of this platter for lunch, which provided an estimated 38g of protein and 450 calories. It is the perfect meal for someone who wants to feel satisfied but stay strictly within their caloric and macro goals. Community Inspiration: I have to give credit to local Northern Virginia foodie Mya Yoon. Her social media posts documenting her own health journey and "smart eating" choices inspired me to start looking at local menus through a more intentional lens. Following the modifications she shares online has been a game-changer for my own progress. Service & Vibe: The staff here deserves a specific mention. Despite my request to skip the core staples of their menu (rice and bread), they were helpful and happy to modify the order to meet my goals. It is rare to find a spot that is both a neighborhood staple for comfort food and a reliable partner in a weight-loss journey. Everything was delicious as always. If you are looking to stay on track without sacrificing quality or flavor, this is the place to do it.

    About a 2-2.5: We were really excited to check out Arlington Kabob, as this place has been around…read morefor a while, and it seems to be a local favorite. We came here for an early lunch, and we ordered: +a Combo Platter for 2 - this came with chicken kofta, beef kofta, and a choice of chicken, lamb, or beef kabob - we went for the beef; for the sides, we went for the potatoes and the lentil soup, and for the rice, we went Quabli style Out of all the meats, we thought the chicken kofta had the best flavor; both the beef kofta and the kabob were just 'okay'; the beef kofta had a more game-y flavor - not sure if they had mixed it up with lamb first; the beef kabob was overcooked and dried out, more on the chewy end, which was not enjoyable. The Quabli-style rice didn't really enhance anything - the carrots were way too soft, and there were hardly any currants, which was disappointing. Potatoes were forgettable, as they were bland; the lentil soup was piping hot, but could have had more lentils - it seemed like just broth with just a spoonful of lentils in it. The white sauce was more dill-heavy and ranch-like which didn't complement the kabobs and the kofta at all. There was complimentary tea for those who dine-in, which was nice, but the tea wasn't steeped well and was too watered down. Staff were friendly, and there's limited parking in the tight strip plaza lot. +chicken kofta +game-y beef kofta +dried-out/overcooked beef kabob +avoid the Quabli style rice +friendly staff +limited parking in lot available

    Photos
    Arlington Kabob
    Beef Kofta Kabob Ground beef, mixed with chopped onions and seasoning, char-grilled.
    Beef Kofta Kabob Ground beef, mixed with chopped onions and seasoning, char-grilled.
    Beef Kofta Kabob Ground beef, mixed with chopped onions and seasoning, char-grilled.

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    Beef Kofta Kabob Ground beef, mixed with chopped onions and seasoning, char-grilled.

    Shinwari - afghani - Updated June 2026

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