Having just spent 2+ hours waiting in line for nearby Christmas pop up bar Miracle, my wife and I were hangry and in need of some sustenance at a relatively late hour. We chose the Mantu based on our love of Afghani and Middle Eastern cuisine as well as their ability to accommodate us for a sit down meal at 9. We arrived to an empty restaurant, which was surprising given the relative popularity of this place in various food publications. The space itself feels open and manages to strike a decent balance between its warehouse like environs and more elegant, Middle Eastern touches. Since we were famished, we ordered two appetizers (potato skins and the vegetarian mantu) and two entrees (lamb shish and chicken tikka kabobs). Our appetizers both arrived fairly quickly and were fantastic. The potato skins possess a perfectly crispy yet tender texture which soaks up the zesty pepper tomato sauce they are tossed in. My wife and I have never had anything like that dish, and the closest comparison I can make is a cross between an Indian chaat and loaded fries. The eponymous mantu were no less delicious. The homemade dumpling wrapper had the texture of an excellent fresh pasta (supple and chewy), and the butternut squash filling was subtly sweet and spicy. The dumplings were crowned with a tangy yogurt that melded all the flavors together exquisitely. I wish we enjoyed our main dishes as much as our appetizers, but they fell a little flat in comparison. Both arrived sizzling hot and with an accompaniment of high quality basmati rice with assorted toppings. The meats themselves had a decent char from the grill and tasted fresh, but lacked the bold flavors we anticipated given our experience with the appetizers. We did not detect much spice on the meats themselves, and found some of the cuts a touch chewy. We did enjoy the bed of well roasted and tasty mixed vegetables the meats arrived upon, but ultimately felt the kababs weren't necessarily worth the $25-30 they each cost. We had no issues with service, though the end of our meal felt a bit rushed since the staff were (reasonably) trying to close and leave. Since our mains were quite pricey, our total on the bill was eyebrow-raisingly high. All told, we found some truly compelling dishes in the appetizers we sampled here but felt that the main dishes were somewhat lower in caliber. We enjoyed our meal here overall, though we'll likely stick to smaller plates upon return. read more

The food was really good. I'm giving it 3 stars for service and atmosphere. We went for lunch on a Sunday. First off, they should probably start a lunch menu because our lunch was very expensive. The lighting is really dark and the tables have bottled water on them which is very odd for a restaurant in Virginia. The service was bad. The menu says choose your rice and when my dad tried to do that it led to so much confusion. He also messed up beef kebab and brought out chicken. I would consider going back for the food, but everything else was off. read more

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Welcoming restaurant. The owners welcome Afghan refugees with a true afghan meal upon their arrival. We went to support them and enjoy some very good food. Service was great and masked ( there was a little issue called Covid when this was written). We ate outside under an awning. Some pictures below- I tried everyone's food and it was all fabulous! Definitely try the potato skin appetizer- not what you might expect but excellent. We had an egg plant dish, a sizzling chicken kabob that was so tender and spiced just right. We also had the beef dumplings and the tomato cucumber salad. I just wanted to keep ordering and eating! read more

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I stopped by last night just before the dinner rush began. I enjoyed my Beef Tikka Kebab. The entree was served on a pipping hot sizzle pan and I'm just a sucker for grilled, charred vegetables. I ordered mine with a side of Kabuli palaw and loved the carrots and raisins in the rice. Great place to try Afghan food in Richmond. For anyone that is gluten-free, the menu states that all kebabs are gluten free. read more

The Mantu - Beef Tikka Kebab - Afghan Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The staff was very nice, clean place. First time for us, recommended by a local. Lamb chops were our favorite. The dumplings were good if you like yogurt n sour cream. It's afghan food. To give you an idea of taste...a mix of Mexican fajita with Indian spices. It was good. Basmati rice a cute touch. It's white with the extras on top. So raisins n carrot choice was not as odd as I first thought. My daughter got the one with cranberries... fixed the same way. Try them all. The urban chic decor is simple but a good vibe. Nice staff as well. I had beef dish and it needed salt to bring out the flavor. Although the restaurant says closed at certain times on Google, the place was open. Call first. read more

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Some food was good, others not really, but the price is somewhat expensive so not sure if I would come back. I really like the lamb chopan: well-seasoned, meat is well-cooked. The beef mantu is a little different from normal dumpling but nothing special. Most disappointed is the nargis kebab, boiled egg wrapped in a mixture of ground beef, lentils, and Afghan spices, then deep fry. I didn't really taste anything except the normal boiled egg. The garlic bread is delicious. read more

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This place was on our list for a while so we finally decided to try it out . The good: ambiance , presentation of food and fast service, as well as being checked up by the chef himself. The bad: food had an odd (old) dairy like smell to it. I'm not sure if it was the yogurt marination of the grilled items but it just didn't sit well with me and didn't taste very fresh. The food is very mild for our taste buds . If you like a lot of flavor and even some spice I wouldn't recommend this cuisine. read more

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I've been here 3 times now and each time has been wonderful!! The food is so unusual but delicious. The vegetarian Mantu is my favorite, and the cranberry rice is so good. They had lamb kofka as a special this last time and it was phenomenal! The chef and his family are so sweet and the restaurant is decorated urban chic - it's cool. Definitely recommend going here! read more

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The food is super fresh with good vegetarian options. Very cute ambiance and The service is fantastic!!!

We've now had three excellent meals at Mantu! Tonight was my guys birthday, and it was a wonderful meal great food... And Mantu lamb, scallops, soups... All fantastic! And then out came the chef with a birthday treat!! read more

The Mantu - Afghan Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Simply wonderful. I've never had Afghan food before, but I always am looking for something new to try. I was the third customer during their grand opening, and it exceeded my expectations. I read about chef and co-owner Hamid Noori, a Richmond resident and refugee from Afghanistan, in Richmond Magazine. The Mantu, named after a type of dumpling, brings modern food from Afghanistan to Carytown. Located in the old Burger Bach building, the restaurant is small but beautiful and intimate. I love the industrial exposed ceilings mixed with sleek dark wood and carved metal wall decor. The dimmed but not dark lighting, bright white walls and linens, and simple candle votives and tulips on the tables were classic and elegant, not what I expected to find in a strip mall style shopping center. The staff was incredibly welcoming, warm, and genuinely happy to see customers arriving. The opening night jitters were evident, but it was a charming part of the atmosphere. I will happily accept a few hiccups in exchange for being able to be present for someone's dreams become reality. I was greeted and checked on by just about every member of staff numerous times, and could feel their excitement. I ordered the namesake Mantu cocktail which was strong and refreshing. The host brought me and complimentary Afghan flatbread with a yogurt and dill dipping sauce and it was delicious. I could have eaten nothing but that for dinner. For my entree I ordered the chicken chapli kebab. It came out of the kitchen extremely quickly and was beautifully presented. The menu said all entrees were served with rice, which was forgotten, but the staff quickly brought it to me after I asked. Everything was truly excellent. The chicken had just the right amount of spice and was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and juicy inside. It was paired with two sauces, one yogurt based and the other extremely spicy, depending on if you wanted to notch up the heat or calm it down. The rice was well seasoned and was a perfect addition to the chicken. As I was finishing my entree I was thrilled that Chef Noori himself stopped by my table so I could personally tell him what a great job he did. The restaurant had baklava and tres leches cake available for dessert, but I was so pleasantly full from my meal that I didn't feel the need to order anything else. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I was certainly be back. If it's this good now, I can only imagine the sky is the limit once the restaurant gets its sea legs and gains a following in the community. read more

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The food was good, not exceptional. The service was slow. It took a while before they took our drink order. We ordered salad as our side and it came to the table before the appetizer rather than with the meal. Nice ambiance. read more

HIDDEN GEM!!! I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. The food was delicious. Everything was a winner. We enjoyed various types of meats (chicken, beef and lamb). We tried the seemyan and potato skin appetizers, the Afghan salad, and naan. All the food was so good, and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The service was also wonderful. Our waitress was incredibly kind and attentive. The chef even came out to ask if we were enjoying ourselves twice. They also gave us extra naan and sauce to take home. HOT TIP: They sell containers of the yogurt sauce for cheap! The restaurant environment was relaxed and welcoming. 5 stars all around! read more

Went on a whim with my husband tonight.. our first experience with Afghan food. Delicious. We loved the flavors of the food. Will definitely be back. Highly recommend. read more

The Mantu - saffron cake for dessert. Light and moist. - Afghan Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I have tried to like this place three times. Each time with refreshed hopes that they've gotten their sh*+ together and can at least seat us without issue, but that hasn't even happened. To be fair, our first visit was opening night and they were absolutely not prepared. The second visit was about a year later and I was so shocked by the fact that we were the first persons in and still couldn't get appropriate service in addition to how many items were "not available" on the menu. The third time I was legit FLABBERGASTED at how AWFUL the BANJAN BORANI was -- I described it as a dish that might have fallen into a dirty water fountain, coated in dawn soap, that spurts rust before making its way to me. It was the single worst meal I have ever had. Two stars simply for the EFFORT factor, wherein I can't believe they're still open and that so many people have rated them over two stars. Either they've changed something (I don't know that I can risk a fourth try) or a lot of people in Richmond have been dining on dirt for most of their lives prior to coming here. I hope it's the former. read more

First time trying Afghan food at a restaurant. My roommate makes it at home and I've had mantu that his mother/relatives have made but this restaurant made them absolutely deliciously. A single order of the beef mantu was surprisingly filling. Also tried the lamb soup (my roommate said to break the bread into it and let it soak) which was delicious. The fried potato skins were amazing as well. My roommate said it was great and I agree you have to try it, will take any out of towners here - fresh quality food. The chef was incredibly nice too, stopped by our table to chat for a bit and also split the check for ten people!! read more

The Mantu - Beef Mantu - Afghan Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Wow! This is why we come here for big celebrations. We are so thankful for this special restaurant. Each time we have come it has made such a memory. Beef mantu was phenomenal! Wow The beef tikka kebab was so flavorful! The potato skins almost made me order another order, especially with the jalapeño sauce. The eggplant dish was so delicious. Thank you for another great evening The Menefee's read more

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I've never had afghani food and enjoyed everything we had. I went with my husband and two friends - we got the beef and veggie mantu, the lamb kebab, the chicken chopli and a beef dish (each entree came with rice). Plenty of food that we were able to take back to our Airbnb and repurpose as fried rice! read more

6/5 stars! The Mantu is a must-try for any foodie in RVA! My family and I ordered take-out. We ordered: Potato Skins, Beef Mantu, Vegetarian Mantu (#1), Kachaloo E Dashi, Banjan Borani, Kabuli Pallow, and Zamarut Pallow, with naan, yogurt sauce and chutney on the side. First off, the Beef Mantu was outstanding. When I read that only three pieces would be included, I was unsure - traditional mantu is wrapped in wonton wraps (which are quite small), but these were no traditional mantus; they were formed by hand in the shape of rose petals. The flavor did not play second-fiddle to the aesthetic. The Banjan Borani and Zamarut Pallow were both incredible. Banjan in particular is one of my favorite Afghani dishes, and it did not disappoint! Pouring the yogurt sauce on top only made the dish more spectacular. The Zamarut Pallow was something I haven't had before, and I was taken aback by how delicious it was. My family and I had the opportunity to talk to the owner, Chef Noori. He was very kind and offered to give us extra food, to which we politely declined. His dedication to sharing the often unseen aspects of Afghan cuisine and culture was inspiring. A reminder that people are not a reflection of their countries' media headlines. As an Afghan-American, I cannot stress it enough - this is the best Afghan cuisine I've ever had at a restaurant. The food was very authentic, as if it came straight out of any of my aunt's kitchens. The key difference being that The Mantu's flavor was bolstered and improved upon by the professional technique of Chef Noori, the quality of his ingredients, and the care he took to hand-craft every aspect of the meal. It is no exaggeration to say that the love Chef Noori has for Afghan cuisine and culture could be tasted in his cooking. I will absolutely be back. read more

The Mantu - Top left to bottom: Zamarut Pallow, Kabuli Pallow, Potato Skins, Vegetarian Mantu (#1), Beef Mantu, Banjan Borani, Kachaloo E Dashi, Naan - Afghan Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

It was a spur of the moment decision to try this place out, and we were not disappointed! The food was unbelievable and the flavors were phenomenal. We were talked into taking home some baklava, which was some of the best that I've tried in the area. It had a mix of a casual ambience but also fancy if you'd like it to be. Not even an hour after leaving we were discussing when we could come back read more

I had a great experience, I was greeted at the door, and they were super friendly. They were informative about the menu. And catered it specifically to me given I was looking for vegetarian options. And the food was delicious, I ate everything. And the restaurant was beautiful. I will definitely be returning and bringing others. read more

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I didn't anticipate this having a lunch-buffet vibe. To be clear, this is not a buffet, but it had the same empty, kinda soulless energy. Food was very good. I was excited to try Afghani food, but unfortunately nothing besides the food was exciting. read more

I love the food at the Mantu. Their vegetable mantu is one of my favorite dishes ever. The service can be a little uneven sometimes because of language barriers. It's a beautiful little space with tables not quite jammed together. I always appreciate white tablecloths. My one major complaint is the 4% surcharge for using a card. I think most people consider this a cost of doing business these days. Who carries cash? read more

My team just had the best dinner at The Mantu in Richmond . If you have not tried it yet put it on your list sooner rather than later. Amazing upscale Afghan food. Chef Hamidullah Noori puts such love and care into his food and you can taste it! His heart for his community encourages us all to do a little better for others. Our party was open to trying as many things as we could. If you are not sure what to order--just ask. Favorite and most surprising appetizer- potato skins, most favorite entree was a tie between the sea bass and lamb. The veggie dumplings were so good too. Lots of veggie options. Favorite dessert was the saffron cake.The very attentive staff was amazing. They were so welcoming and helpful. Whether you are looking to try some new flavors, need a good date night, or just want a great meal I highly recommend The Mantu! Reservations are a good idea. They also have great lunch options. I can't wait to go back! read more

Came here for a rehearsal dinner with dishes all preordered. The meat mantu, grilled meats and eggplant app were stellar. Loved the bread and rice side dishes as well. Perfect blend of flavors and fresh ingredients. Absolutely delicious and would totally return for another meal. Highly recommend to others!! read more

"I couldn't live day to day. That was a luxury. I had to live moment by moment," Chef Hamidullah Noori told the stunned Mr. RVA; recounting his life in the warn torn country of Afghanistan. "Chef, people will be in awe of the Glory, but won't know the Story," I replied. Kasra Zahedi sang of a Black Rose, as white ones suspended effortlessly along gray walls, next to ebony metal embellishments, within the reposeful establishment. White linen cloths draped table tops while gigantic wood panels accented the caramel colored concrete floors below. "Saved to Serve" was the mantra of the evening as I pondered the journey of the refugee, poet, and owner that stood before me. His love for God and humanity enveloped each word spoken throughout our conversation. Almost one year to the date, Chef Noori blessed The Food Network with his culinary expertise on "Beat Bobby Flay." His epicurean prowess is evident in each dish on the menu, which consists of authentic Afghan cuisine with a slight modern twist. Ladies and Gentlemen of Discovering RVA, from the thorns to the rose, Mantu. @themanturva . Appetizer ¹- Beef Mantu~ Homemade Pastry Shell stuffed with Ground Beef Ginger, Garlic Paste, Cilantro, Turmeric, & Coriander, sprinkled with Dried Mint & accompanied by Microgreens with Yogurt, Split Pea & Tomato sauce & drizzled with White & Red Dressing. . Appetizer ²- Afghan Salad~ A mound of freshly diced Tomatoes, Onions, Cucumbers & chopped Cilantro with a fresh Citrus Dressing garnished with a slice of Lemon. . Entree- Lamb Chopan Kebab~ Succulent Lamb Chops in an aromatic marinade of Citrus, Onion, Garlic, Ginger & Sumac accompanied by Potato Burani, grilled Vegetables, & served with Kabuli Pallow consisting of steamed Basmatic rice mixed with raisins & carrots, flavored by cumin & cardamom. . Wine Pairing- a glass of 2014 La Mura Oganic, Nero d'Avola Rossa, Terre Siciliane, Italy. . Naiman- Thank you for your hospitality, service, & recommendations. . Chef Hamidullah Noori- Words can't express the energy felt while conversing with you. God Ordained! I'll be seeing you soon. . Please, if you haven't already, follow me on my official Instagram page @Discoveringrva and take a journey with the Gentleman, "Mr. RVA" and uncover the hidden gems of our noteworthy city. . #discoveringrva . #804 #va #virginia #rva #richmond #richmondva #rvadine #rvaeats #Rvafood #food #foodies #foodshare #foodstagram #foodiesofinstagram #yummy #foodblog #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpost #foodography #delicious #delish #foodpic #eating #foodandwine #eeeeeats #foodiegram #igfood #forkyeah read more

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This place has been on my list of places to try for sometime now. Finally got the chance to try their food. Places like this are few and far in Richmond and we definitely need more ethnic places like this here. We ordered a variety of things to try to get a feel for the food. I have never had Afghan food before so we were excited to try. From the soups, entrees, and drinks we really enjoyed the food. Everything was very flavorful and delicious. Ambience was nice. Interior is nicely decorated. The staff is very friendly. We will definitely be back to try other items on the menu. read more

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Good quality food that doesn't come cheap; enjoyed the mantus (dumplings) and entrees (especially the scallops); service was good and food was fresh and delicious read more

We wanted to try Afghan cuisine and had high hopes, but the food and service was sadly lackluster. The food is lacking in flavor, where is the spices? Everything tasted under salted. The meat was dry and cold despite a sizzling plate. The namesake dish did not taste fresh and the wrapper parts seemed dry. The egg dish on the appetizers was $8 for a single fried egg. C'mon this is not Michelin. Worth the try if you want to say you had Afghani food, but I can't say that I really had any authentic Afghan food. I should have read other reviews that are similar to this. I always had a rule that anything 4.5 stars is a never a let down. There goes that rule. read more

Not worth of money. You will get so little of food, beautifully decorated with lots veggies and potatoes. If you are used to international food then you will not be fooled. I had potato skin: good Lamb Chopan Kebab: Amazing, but only 4 strips in $32 what I remember. Chicken Tikka Kebab. Hard as rock, those are like when I failed in my own kitchen. Again very expensive, 4 pieces. Rices: Very good Buklava: What were those? I have visited many middle eastern countries. Sorry. They are something else leftover. Tea: Very good. Please try other places. I will. read more

I saw a previous bad review and all I can suggest is for the reviewer to give it another try. My food was very well prepared and seasoned perfectly. We loved it. The service was sophisticated- attentive and spot on. The young waiter was expert in his table craft. Ambiance was a very pleasant surprise )as was the full bar in an Afghan eatery!) Art, decor, white linens and all tastefully done. read more

Lovely decor and has an outdoor seating area with globe lights. Friendly and courteous wait staff. The beef mantu is DELICIOUS and GORGEOUS, definitely ordering that again and I highly recommend coming here for the mantus! My potato veggie entree and my husbands chicken entree were overpriced for the amount of food we actually got, but nonetheless tasty and the plating was food-network worthy. The rice was very generous for portions and beautiful in presentation too with a little watercress on top. I came for the custard but impromptu ordered the cheese dough ball dessert. Warning, it was not sweet at all by American standards but I loved every bite of it because it wasn't a block of sugar! It was creamy and nutty and spiced and simply perfect with a texture that was like coarse polenta in a cream sauce. Yum yum yum! So final review,come for mantu and flavorful desserts!! read more

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The food and decor were really nice! However, my friend and I had a hard time enjoying them fully because the server was terse and fairly rude. We had to keep reminding each other that the meal was nice in spite of the waitress. read more

Food was very expensive. I got lamb shank and there was barely any meat on the bone and it was relatively flavorless. read more

I AM SO ANGRY that I didn't know about this sooner! This is my first time back on Yelp in over a year because this restaurant is so frickin good! My husband and I visited this lovely establishment for dinner this evening, and we had lamb shank, beef mantu, garlic naan, and cranberry custard. The bartender was extremely welcoming and gave excellent menu recommendations and made me an excellent mudslide, despite it not being on the menu! We got to meet the owner/chef and we are so blessed! He has such a heart for the community and his patrons and we are so so so happy that he chose to persevere with The Mantu despite the hardship of COVID. I mean this literally: this was the best meal I have ever had. I've eaten at some good places before. This is my new favorite. This was my first time ever having Afghan cuisine, and somehow it tasted like home--so comforting and warm and delicious. I'm so jealous of you, Richmond. My husband and I took a day trip here, and now I wish we had a Mantu near us! I honestly cannot believe how good the lamb shank was--it was so hearty and savory and the best lamb I've ever had. It's served with a side of lentils--I have had lentils before and I've always felt mostly indifferent towards them, but these lentils were too good to be true! Idk, they must've absorbed the sauce and the lamb juices because the lentils with the roasted peppers and rice could have been a completely and totally satisfying meal on their own. And look man, I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but the chef described the custard and we just had to give it a try and once again I couldn't believe my taste buds! my husband and I kept asking each other, "HOW?? HOW DO THEY MAKE THIS FOOD SO DIVINE??"--I don't know! All I know is that I was amazed and I'm conflicted over whether the I love the lamb shank or the cranberry custard more, cuz that custard caught me totally off guard, man! Anyway, 95 stars out of 5! read more

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My very first time having Afghan Cuisine and it was definitely memorable. We started with Beef Mantu and i loved the explosion of flavors on the first bite was a happy surprise. The Chicken Chaplin Kebab was very flavorful and well made. The Atlantic Salmon was my favorite choice, it was cooked to perfection and season to where you can still taste the salmon very easily, no topping overcame the other, delicious balance. I'll def return. read more

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This is a fantastic restaurant. The staff was so great, they answered all our questions. I would definitely consider it a hidden gem. The food was absolutely incredible. You should definitely come hungry because they are good sized portions! read more

I'm from Middle East and finding some similar cultures especially in food. After trying a few meals my expectations went to negative side. Food was looking good in the pictures. Lentil soup was diluted, no pita served with lentil soup. The Mantu, my favorite dish in childhood, me ordering it hoping it will bring up memories.... No, only disappointed. The pastry was overcooked and falling apart, barely any meat/squash inside.... Just now what I have expected. They don't have a traditional white sauce, they use tatziki from Aldi. When you order a wrap, I haven't found a chicken in it, maybe chicken sausage or something looking like it. Maybe once being famous restaurant turned into such a bad experience for me, it's upsetting. Do not recommend. Food didn't feel "home made" I felt like I ate processed food Service was good. read more

Excellent. This was my first trip and first Afghanistan food. I was not very crazy about the Dolmeh E Kalam, but Beef Mantu was very good. My wife had the scallops and said they were very tender. I also had the Beef Chapli Kebab, which I really enjoyed. Brought to table sizzling. It may not mean much to some but I love iced tea with no sugar. I know they put some saffin in the tea but I think it is the best tea I have had in a long time. I wish knew how to make it at home. The owner waited on us and was very helpful and great to chat with. We went at opening so they were just getting busy as we left. Definitely a repeat trip across trip soon. read more

This is the best kept secret in Richmond. Food is amazing! No wonder he was on Beat Bobby Flay. read more

The Mantu - Afghan Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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