Bamian Afghan Cuisine

Address: 5634 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

Phone: 703-820-7880

Neighborhood: Falls Church, Baileys Crossroads

Cuisines: Middle Eastern, Afghan

Opening Hours: Open Monday through Saturday 11 to 11, and Sunday 11 to 10:30.

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Kid Friendly: Yes

Nearby Metro Stops: East Falls Church, Ballston-MU

Price Range: Inexpensive

Dress: Informal

Noise Level: Intimate

Reservations: Not Needed

Website: Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes Mantu with ground beef; aushak with chopped scallions; bulanee; carrayee, a lamb stir-fry; sauteed eggplant; sauteed pumpkin with yogurt; lamb-chop kabobs; qabili palau; baklava.

Price Details: Appetizers $3.95 to $4.95, entrées $9.95 to $14.95.

Special Features:
Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly

With its ornate chandeliers and small stage, this Afghan eatery feels like a banquet hall—for a more intimate experience, ask for one of the cozy booths. Appetizers such as the mantu, oversize dumplings stuffed with ground beef, and the potato-filled pastries called sambosas come with tasty dipping sauces, but the stir-fried eggplant, topped with tangy yogurt, is the standout starter.

Entrées include a terrific rendition of qabili palow—chunks of lamb topped with shredded carrots and sweet raisins and served with a meaty stew. A sampler called the Bamian Platter lets you try that along with tender ground beef, lamb, and chicken kebabs.

Also good: Aushak, scallion-stuffed dumplings; kadu, a dish of sweet sautéed pumpkin; firnee, a pistachio-topped cornstarch pudding; baklava.