Here are 4 things to know 1. LOCATED in the heart of downtown Baltimore, MD. Parking lot is conveniently right next to it for additional shopping within the area 2. When you first walk into the restaurant the atmosphere will let you know; we are authentic and we are here to serve you. After being seated we were immediately greeted as the staff was exceptional and extremely helpful. 3. Skeptics READ HERE: If you have not eaten at an Afghani restaurant this is a great place to introduce new flavors to your palette. Their meals are the perfect size for one and for family sharing. 4. FOOD - Almost too good to be true...each portion was was designed for 2 people so we definitely had left overs! We had 3 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert. Flavors were authentic and fresh. nothing seems to be over seasoned or too greasy from oil. I came in for dinner and they did a great job. Ordered: - Mantwo - Banjan Borwani - Shorwa (Soup) - Lamb Lawand (Entree) - Lamb Lion Chop (Entree) - Baklava Find me myself on IG: @Kristoff_Jones - Kristoff 4.5/5 read more

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This is my favorite restaurant in the city. Friends and family buy us gift cards to this place as a go-to gift for holidays. When out-of-towners come to visit, this is where we take them. Anyone who says their service is slow or their portions are small - I couldn't disagree more. Their portions are perfect, not grotesquely large and American but they are certainly not small. The last time I went, there were three adults at the table and we shared two entrees and an appetizer. (Read: Matthew's dumb review). And for the guy that said they don't change the menu enough - as a small food business owner - classics that stick around are worth their weight in gold. Trends come and go and are the biggest eye roll in the industry to actual professional chefs and bakers. They are making the time-honored cuisine of their home country, which is unfortunate that it isn't trendy enough for your old super-trendy ass (Stuart). I hear you can get great fusion egg rolls at the JFX market, try that next time. I spent last summer in Central Asia, on the border of Afghanistan, and this food is the exact reproduction of the food that I ate over and over again from street food stalls to generous family homes. They know what they're doing, they do it well and they don't need to change a single thing. The Helmand rules. read more

My family came here to celebrate my father's birthday. The food was so fresh and amazing! Everything we got, from appetizers to main entrees, were great. We definitely want to come back sometime soon! read more

Delicious food, and not the kind you come across every day. Fans of Greek and Middle Eastern food will recognize the seasoned rice and vegetables and chunks of meat in the Kabuli Pallow. The "Middle Eastern pastries" were delectable and came with yogurt and cardamom sauces. The portion of the kabuli was generous, although I would have expected a bit more meat. The pastry servings were quite small. I was about ready to take a star off for the price - it is a little on the high side for not having more meat, and for the small pastry sizes - but then again, this IS Mt. Vernon. It's an expensive neighborhood in an expensive state. Otherwise, the food itself is delicious and the place itself is pretty neat. You can dine inside, on the sidewalk, or walk down to Washington Square and dine there by the incredible Methodist Church. read more

This is one of our favorite, go-to places in Baltimore. The ambience is cozy and reminds you of family and the food is out of this world. The chopendez was so tender and flavorful. The house cilantro sauce is incredible. The shalgham challow is also a hit! read more

The Helmand - Chopendez - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Fantastic meal!!! It was delicious!!! They accommodated our big party Lots of veggie options too Highly recommend read more

The Helmand gave me a great experience with my first time eating Afghani food. Pros: -Easy to make reservations -Beautiful and romantic interior. Great for dates! -The lamb was extremely tender and flavorful -Complimentary bread was fresh, delicious, and hot. -Food is flavorful and delicious. I got a lamb dish with very tender lamb. I tasted the chicken shwarma which was pretty good too. Had that grilled taste that I love. Cons: -Parking on the street can be hard at times -The food comes out suspiciously fast...but food still amazing! We had a party of 10 and all our food came out within 15 minutes Give this place a try if you're in the Mt. Vernon area. read more

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Don't skip this place if you are visiting Baltimore. It was the best meal I had while I was here. It definitely deserves the praise it has received. Make reservations just in case! We did since we had a large party, but the place was packed when we were there at 6:30pm on a Tuesday. I had the Lamb Lawand. It came on three different plates/bowl. The meat with the mushrooms and amazing sauce were in one bowl. The spinach and rice had their own plates. It does take some space on the table. If you are overwhelmed by the menu, I would highly suggest this dish. The flavors were on point, and the lamb was tender. Though the vegetarian platter is also a good option, it allows you to try many of the flavors they offer here. There is no beer menu, but they do have some beers available. You just have to ask. read more

The Helmand - Lamb Lawand and spinach that it comes with. - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This downtown Afghani restaurant boasts two very pleasant dining rooms and didn't have any trouble filling both of them when I was there (reservations definitely recommended for peak times). It is notable for having a decent-sized vegetarian menu. Their fried dough appetizer comes with one leek and one potato-filled dumpling, both of which were quite delicious. Among the entrees I sampled, the stuffed peppers were solid, if less impressive and with a side of overly soggy spinach, and I was more impressed with my dining partner's dumplings covered in split peas. There was a yogurt topping for some dishes, but I imagine it wouldn't be difficult for the dairy-free crowd to leave it off. The food was quite salty, characteristic of my admittedly limited experience with Afghan restaurants, but I was happy to have found it. read more

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Food is always so very good and in many years of going, have never been disappointed. Flavors abound and caress the palate.

The interior is attractive, with symbols of Afghan culture placed within the restaurant, including traditional attire. Place seems clean and personnel were welcoming. We ordered the Kabuli Pulao, which was lamb served with raisins, and thin slices of carrots. While the overall portion was very generous, and the lamb was excellent, I did think a little more lamb would have made the dish even better. Compared to almost every other cuisine I have tried that uses rice in their cooking, I think Afghan cuisine has the very best rice, as the flavoring makes the rice so much enjoyable. Most rice just 'sits there' as a placeholder. We also ordered Naan bread, it was good. The Naan was the one thing that has been better at other (Indian) restaurants. Prices were good, we will be happy to return, food here was really delicious. read more

We started with the kaddo borwani and "naan", and then ordered the chopendez, the chicken lawand, and the chicken kabobs. The kaddo borwani was a light appetizer that tasted fresh. The naan wasn't really naan, it was more of a ciabatta bread and it was served with butter. It was still good and satisfying even though it wasn't naan. The meat for all the entrees tasted tender and flavorful. It was spiced well but was not overwhelming. The rice was also very flavorful and the vegetables tasted fresh. The staff was also very friendly, nice, and attentive :) Will definitely be back! read more

The Helmand - Chicken Kabob, chicken lawand, 2 chopendez - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I have only had take out from the Helmand. All of the food was flavorful with generous portions of rice. However, we were dissapointed with the relatively small amount of meat and vegetables served with our entrees. The pumpkin is really yummy - I would order that again! read more

Just a quick update to say we went to try their anniversary special menu and if you haven't tried the cardamom ice cream - you're missing out! Oh yeah, and the dish I ordered - mixed grilled meats - was amazing. read more

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We came back to the Helmand after 20 years of being away from Baltimore. This was one of our favorites in the 90's and we were happy to see it still around and still getting good reviews. Unfortunately, we were underwhelmed. The menu hasn't changed in 20 years. The cocktail menu was not inspiring. The dishes we ordered were good, but not great. It seems that they are living on their reputation and maybe need to put some fresh ideas into the menu. The cardamom ice cream was excellent! read more

Clean, simple food that packs some major flavor. I was expecting more of a casual restaurant but this was an actual nice sit down restaurant with great service. Everything from the mantwo (pastry shells filled with onions and beef on top of carrots and peas) to the Kabuli pallow (lamb rice dish) and the Koufta Challow (lamb and beef meatballs) were amazing. I would say, however, if you're unfamiliar with Afghani cuisine, as we were to not be afraid and asking the servers what they recommend. The pallow was definitely the winner at my table. This makes me really curious about other Afghani restaurants now! read more

The Helmand - Naan and mantwo - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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My wife and I moved to Baltimore almost 23 years ago. The Helmand is one of the few Mount Vernon Baltimore Restaurants we patronized back then that is still open today. Not much has changed there in these past 22 years. The Menu is still about 50 percent vegetarian and 50 percent Meat. Some of the same menu items are offered with meat or with out, equally delicious either way. Our recent visit was hardly different then the past 30 or so made to this Mount Vernon bastion of fine dining we stumbled upon after a nurse at Hopkins first recommended it 23 years ago when we were visiting the area before we moved to Baltimore. The items we sampled recently were the Pumpkin appetizer in a Yogurt Sauce. We also sampled the Aushak and also the Eggplant appetizer. All three appetizers were excellent. For my Entree I stuck with my old standby the Lamb Kebabs medium rare. They were cooked properly with nice Grilled onions and peppers. Another person in our party of four ordered an Aushak entree. One person had the Mushrooms Lawand. All of our appetizers and our Entrees were served fairly quickly but we didn't feel rushed in any way at all. Each person was raving about their experiences and wanted to share a bite of their choices with each other. We had a nice reasonably priced Pinot Noir and each couple split a dessert. We opted for the Afghani Cardamon Ice Cream. It's no secret that many Restaurants come and go in our Charm City. The Helmand I'm pleased to say seems like it will still be here 23 years from now. Please you owe it to your taste buds to try this Gem out. We certainly have treasured it as a favorite for all of these past 23 years. read more

The Helmand is an incredible place. It is the first ever true Afghani food I have ever eaten. The prices are incredibly affordable in an atmosphere that feels high class. Every dish I've ever had there has been incredible. I highly recommend the lamb dishes and the salmon. Don't be afraid that the salmon says it is poached! I found that strange but tried it anyway and it was a perfect cook with amazing flavor combination in the sauces. Lastly, the service is always amazing. Every person who works there seems to truly care about the quality of the food, the experience of each customer, and is delightful to converse with. I cannot recommend trying the Helmand enough! read more

Went here with a friend while I was at the Peabody Conservatory. Spectacular food, absolutely delicious lamb, and the best coffee I have EVER HAD! The smell me back to my childhood, they make it in the Turkish style and it is not to be missed. read more

Definitely a top contender for my favorite restaurant in Baltimore. An elegant, sophisticated atmosphere mixed with coziness and culture is felt when you walk into this place. Halal friendly Banjahm Lagatak 5/5: this eggplant just melts in your mouth, it's so good. Can most definitely eat multiple plates of this Kabuli Palow 5/5: the slow cooked tenderness of this meat is to die for. The flavor is amazing and when paired and juxtaposed with the sweetness of the raisins, the flavor is enhanced. Feereny 4/5: a very fragrant/aromatic dessert. Light with subtle sweetness read more

Came here for the first time! We really enjoyed the fried eggplant appetizer Banian Borwani and meat pastry Mantwo. The appetizers are only one piece though so if you're looking for more may want to order more than one. Will definitely try the pumpkin appetizer next time since apparently that is one of the best apps. We each enjoyed a lamb entree/ there was a specials menu and so two of us got the lamb curried with chili peppers and I got the lamb with spinach. It was delicious- all of the meat was so flavorful. The portions were definitely more than sufficient. My fiancé and I split an entree and that seemed plentiful. The ice cream dessert (both the special and Jala) were a great way to end the meal. The restaurant definitely lived up to its reputation food wise; our one downside was that we were not told until the very end that the credit card machine was down, and I think that applied to multiple tables. We would've definitely liked to know earlier on and would have appreciated more attentive service especially towards the end of the meal when we struggled to get the check. read more

Yum! Very delicious Afghan food. Went for restaurant week, when they were offering an enticing three course menu. I have been to the owner's more casual restaurant Kabobi several times and was curious what the "real deal" would be like. To my initial dismay the menu is almost the same, only with more expensive prices. Amazingly, you can actually taste an appreciable improvement over the already delicious food. It's definitely worth coming here to experiance the food in its full glory, although Kabobi still stands out to me for the price point & location (walking distance to Hopkins Hospital & East Campus). I started with Aushak leek dumplings, had a special kabob sampler, and finished with the chocolate cake. The thing that I just have to say is WOW THE MEAT! It was some of the most tender kabob I've had, and it was very fun to be able to try the lamb, beef, and chicken all at once (don't think they normally offer this). But even one of these meats alone would be incredible. It was just cooked *perfectly* and I don't say that often. Aushak dumpling was good but forgettable and the chocolate cake was tasty (would order & eat again). The ambiance was nice- lack of a reception desk kind of disorienting but nice dim interior and table settings/wall decorations. Appreciated the self-service coat rack. Service was pretty normal. The waiter was reasonably fast, and was able to point out what was Halal and what wasn't on the menu. (Note of caution to Halal eaters: most of the meat IS, but a few items are not. Ask!) Overall very delicious rendition of what I'd already been enjoying significantly over at Kabobi. Will be back. read more

The Helmand - Mixed Kabob Plate- restaurant week special. - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Excellent. One of the best meals I've had in recent memory. Service was attentive but not pushy (my friend and i were chatting for a while before we actually ordered). Food was incredibly flavorful - the menu had so much on it and everything looked delicious, so I finally just picked something. Sadly, it was a special and I don't remember its name (it involved lamb, hot peppers, sun dried apricots, rice, and turnips - which I was surprised to like) but it was phenomenal. Portions were large enough that I had lunch the next day. One shared appetizer, a small shared Naan, and two entrees came to about $50 including tip. Excellent! read more

I have been to this place numerous times and there is nothing on this menu that I have not liked. A must-get in this place is the pumpkin appetizer; I also enjoy the eggplant appetizer. This time we got the beef and chicken kebabs as well as a lamb dish that has raisins (I don't know the name of all the dishes since my mother in law made the order). I typically order lamb dishes here and they never disappoint. We ordered curbside pick up; the food was well plated and the sauces placed in individual containers which kept the food warm and just as served in the restaurant. I highly suggest that if you want to try some Afghan food, you come here! At the news of the meal order the cardamom ice cream and some coffee or cardamom tea; these are must-get items at this place. What an amazing way to start my birthday week. read more

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If you're looking for a nice date spot with new cultural cuisine to try you've got to go to the Helmand in Baltimore. There's something romantic about this cozy Afghani restaurant and the servers are always so nice! I would make a recommendation if you're trying to go on a weekend night because this is a local gem and it does get crowded. Parking isn't bad on the street, but be prepared to parallel park. Ok, so now about the food. Every time I come here I'm never disappointed. The food is always fresh, fast, and full of flavor. I always get the lamb and beef meatballs and it comes with a side of rice. In my meal I got about 4 or 5 meatballs. The flavor is so unique and really is a very comforting meal. My husband tried the special which was a huge portion where you get to pick 1 app and 1 desert to go with your meal for $30. Not a bad deal. My biggest recommendation when you come here is to get the pumpkin appetizer. They are KNOWN for this dish people and there is a reason why. It is so fantastic and different-a must try. read more

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Sparknotes: Kaddo Borwani, soft pumpkin puree with savory yogurt sauce, and Chicken Lawand (tender, juicy chicken in a tomato-based soup) were my 2 favorites. A Baltimore classic restaurant with unique Afghan flavors, the Helmand is located conveniently in Mt Vernon. When you walk in, you feel immediately welcomed by the waiting staff. The interior gives off the vibe of a upscale dining experience without the upscale price tag. Everything from the tablecloths to the menu design were well thought out. Kaddo Borwani is a truly unique dish to the Helmand. You cannot find this kind of flavor elsewhere. It's a soft pumpkin puree drizzled in savory yogurt sauce. It's a great hybrid between sweet and savory. The basket of naan came out warm and soft. Chicken Lawand--slow cooked chicken breast and mushrooms sitting in tomato-based soup, warm spices and drizzled with yogurt dressing. I was impressed with how tender the chicken was and how well the yogurt sauce complemented it. It comes with a side of rice and creamed spinach. Kabuli pallow: Afghani rice with lamb tenderloins topped with raisins and carrots. Again, the lamb melted in my mouth. All the food had so much depth to flavor, but not too greasy or spicy--just the perfect amount. If you are in Baltimore, the Helmand is a must. I will be back for more! read more

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Came here for dinner because of hearing rave reviews. True confession, a little biased because of our experience with The Helmand in Cambridge, MA--not a sister restaurant, but an amazingly good Afghan restaurant. Overall, we liked the food but weren't amazed by the food (again, perhaps because of the other Helmand). We had the pumpkin app (delicious), eggplant (had to remind server to bring it), the special lamb stew, the grilled tenderloin and the hazelnut dessert. For $30 you could have an app, special and dessert, so we got one special and ordered off the menu for the rest. Portions were generous, and I'm glad I resisted the waiter's rec that we buy extra naan since we didn't finish the naan that came with our special. read more

In terms of taste, I'd say the food is somewhere between four and five stars. The discrepancy between food taste and overall rating come from portion size and slow service. In term of portion size, the main course I ordered was fine, but the appetizer (Mantwo) was really quite small. It was essentially a single dumpling/ravioli in a sea of sauce for $7.95 which to me is crazy. Same goes for the four pieces of very average naan costing $3.50. You can get a lot more food for the ~$55 we paid elsewhere in town that tastes just as good. However, the biggest demerits come from service speed. Later, when we were done with our meal, it took a long time for the plates to be cleared. Then when a dessert menu was offered, it took so long for him to return to take our (potential) order that we didn't feel like going back outside to pay to extend our parking time. So now, ready to pay our bill, we waited again for quite a while with no sign of the waiter. He only seemed to come bring the bill because he could see us visibly getting annoyed. The food tastes good enough that I could see coming for a one time stop, but I wouldn't make it a point to return if I was in town. read more

We had a very good takeout dinner from The Helmand this past weekend. Our favorite selections were the Mantwo (afghan beef ravioli with split pea and yogurt sauce) and the Banana Borwani (eggplant and tomato and yogurt). We also liked the Chicken Kabob. The other dishes were pleasing but slightly bland. The signature pumpkin appetizer Kiddo Borani was pleasant and mild. The poached salmon was juicy and nice. The vegetarian korma was mostly stewed root vegetables. The naan was more flatbread than naan. All in all, a nice pleasant meal. read more

Overall (5/5): Delicious food, attentive service, nice food arrival time. Food (4/5): We got a couple of appetizers (all of which are amazing) and I got the seekh kabob. Although the lamb was slightly tough for the requested medium rare cook, the dish overall was wonderful. Service (4/5): Service was attentive and not overbearing. They did pick the weirdest angle when we asked them to take a photo of our group though. Ambiance (4/5): Dimly lit interior with current table arrangement produces a more reserved, formal ambiance. Interior is kind of eclectically decorated. Definitely more of a date night vibe than a casual dinner vibe. read more

The Helmand - seekh kabob - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Very tight seating. Place was dirty when we went in but the staff upon pointing out was helpful and did the clean up. Food was okay but an Afghan place without Chapli Kabab on the menu does not compute. Overall experience - so so Will I go there again - if there is no other choice available read more

One probably would never have predicted this 25 years ago when The Helmand first opened its doors right off of Baltimore's pretty Mt. Vernon Place, but this fine Afghan restaurant has become one of Baltimore's standout eateries. It's always crowded because it has become so beloved. You should make a reservation if you plan to dine here. And make no mistake about it - this is Afghan cuisine at its highest gourmet pinnacle. Named after Afghanistan's principal river, the food flows here from a very competent and creative kitchen. To begin with, one can never go wrong in an Afghan restaurant in ordering Aushak. These Afghan styled raviolis in a savory sauce are totally addictive. They just are. For a main course, I ordered the Afghan lamb dish called Dopiaza. This was also completely tasty. Featuring tender boiled lamb served with pulao and incredibly flavorful turnips, it def hit the spot. The ubiquitous Afghan chatni gashneez (cilantro) sauce was a perfect addition to bring out even more flavor. The portion size was extremely ample but I still ate every morsel. Service was excellent ... attentive to a water glass even approaching being only half-filled. The Helmand is the best Afghan restaurant I have eaten in ... and deserves all its accolades as perhaps the best Afghan restaurant in America! read more

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Tried Afghani food for the first time today and it was absolutely amazing. I had the Aushak- Afghan ravioli filled with leeks, served on yogurt and topped with ground beef and mint. I also tasted the vegetarian platter- sample of various vegetable dishes cooked with the special spices and herbs. Everything was amazing. I came with a group of 3 at 10pm. Our dishes came out extremely fast and the staff were extremely attentive. The interior was amazing and it was candlelit for a romantic dinner. read more

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My absolutely favorite restaurant in Baltimore. In fact, I have literally (not just figuratively) flown into Maryland just to dine here. Was introduced to this place years ago and it still is my favorite. 1. Kaddo Borwani - Pan-fried and baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce - 5 stars 2. Banjan Borwani- Pan-fried eggplant seasoned with fresh tomatoes, spice baked and served on yogurt garlic sauce - 5 stars 3. Entree of Ginger and Tomato Fish - 10 stars!!! This is my favorite dish and the one I fly in just to eat. Beautifully balanced spices - gawd, I'm salivating and looking for flights to BWI as I think of this dish :) 4. Entree of lamb rack - 5 stars - another winner Love this place and gladly recommend to friends read more

Cannot believe I have never been to this place during my years in Baltimore, until now I am back as a visitor! This is a very nice ethnic restaurant for a sit-down dinner without spending an arm and a leg, perfect for a date-night or some special little events. Service is great, everybody knew what they are doing and service arrived always at the right time. Food is reasonably priced (appetizers around 5-8 dollars, mains between 15-20 dollars), and extremely delicious. I was blown away by the baby pumpkin appetizer (kaddo borwani), the combination of the special yogurt sauce with the sweet and soft pumpkin is mind-blowing. Mantwo (the meat dumplings) is the other app with good sauce as well. According to the frequents (my generous hosts), all the appetizers are pretty good but the pumpkin one is a must. Mains are very very good as well. Huge portions. I got the roasted rice with lamb and raisins. Wish the lamb chunks were smaller, but other than that it is great. Kebab is very delicious, perfectly grilled! The Afghan dessert ice cream is a must, it is not a lot but very tasty. The pudding I got is healthier with fresh fruits on top, kind of like Indian rice pudding. Overall, don't be scared by the names of dishes on the menu, it seems everything is very good. And they keep the same special menu all the time, so don't get scared off specials here :-) read more

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We picked up takeout from the Helmand this past weekend when we were staying at a nearby hotel, and I loved this meal. We ordered takeout from Doordash, and our food was ready when we arrived. We started with kaddo borwani (pan-fried and baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce), which I really enjoyed (it's sweet and little savory with the yogurt)! Next, we enjoyed aushak (an Afghan raviolo filled with leeks, served on yogurt-mint an topped with ground beef sauce), which was also very good. We also enjoyed the Koufta Challow (lamb and beef meatballs seasoned with sundried baby grapes, paprika, and turmeric in a green pepper, green peas, and fresh tomato sauce served with rice) and a side of shalgum (spicy and sweet turnips). But the highlight of the meal? HANDS DOWN it was the zardalou challow (tender chunks of lamb simmered with sun-dried apricots, tomatoes, garlic, turmeric, and fresh chili peppers and served with rice). This dish was amazing. I'd eat it again anytime. We're moving to Baltimore this summer, and I definitely anticipate eating at The Helmand many times in our future! Hopefully next time it will be in person and dine in, because their dining room looked gorgeous. I can't wait to eat their food again! read more

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Sleek Afghan restaurant with amazing service. The staff is so friendly and helpful that it's not intimidating to try the food if you're new to the cuisine. read more

This was our first time at this place. The amazing service from Bruno and Modesto were the top-notch of this dinning experience. We had 3 excellent and varied appetizers: Kaddo Borwani, Banian Borwani and Mantwo all with a side of fresh nan bread. Honestly, the food was to die for. Very tasty and flavorful. Last but not least, we shared the main entree. It was the Chopendez: exquisite sirloin, rice, onion, pepper, sauteed with yellow split peas and tossed with onions. Lightly marinated in vinegar and served with pallow and a roasted tomato. Definitely, everything was amazing and the price very reasonable too. Honestly, we highly recommended this restaurant and much more for the exceptional customer service. read more

The Helmand - the Dwopendez - Afghan Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Great food! We ordered takeout, so I can't say much about the service or building, but the food is delicious.

Pumpkin appetizer was very special, and I enjoyed the Choppendez as before. They cooked my steak well instead of medium so I'd order medium rare next time. The pastry dessert was not very good and nothing like Baklava as the waitress suggested. read more