Why go: Hearty Afghan stews are perked up with seasonings—sumac, coriander, mint—and a yogurt sauce that adds a silky tang. Cooked-to-order ovals of bread, the Afghan version of Indian naan, are a nice alternative to a fork.
What to get: Sambosas, fried pockets of potatoes or beef; mastawa, a thick, three-grain soup finished with yogurt-garlic sauce and ground beef; daal chalou, meatball-like rounds in a rich lentil stew; vegetarian chalou, a spicy mess of sautéed spinach; smashed sweet potatoes, an occasional option for a vegetable sampler.
Best for: A dirt-cheap lunch—there’s a $7.99 all-you-can-eat buffet. Vegetarians won’t find many options here—even the vegetable-based platters have a ground-beef sauce.
Insider tip: The decor in the dining room is tired, but takeout travels well. The kebabs are hit or miss—sometimes tender, sometimes tough.
>> See all 2010 Cheap Eats restaurants here.
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
