Bamian Afghan Cuisine
5634 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
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
Nearby Metro Stops: East Falls Church, Ballston-MU
Price Range: Inexpensive
Dress: Informal
Noise Level: Intimate
Reservations: Not Needed
Website: http://www.bamianrestaurant.com
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
Why go: With its glittering sconces and vested servers, this restaurant couldn’t feel less like your typical kebab house. The kitchen holds up its end, turning out a consistently good lineup of Afghan hits.
What to get: Freeform dumplings stuffed with scallions (aushak) or ground beef (mantu) and draped with yogurt, dried mint, and a brightly flavored meat sauce; flaky scallion pastries called bulanee; qabili palau, a mound of rice sweetened with carrots and raisins and piled over lamb; a not-too-sweet rendition of kadu chalau, stewed pumpkin with yogurt; lamb-chop kebabs; baklava.
Best for: A celebration—tables can seat 10 to 20, and the room hosts private parties and weddings; a date in one of the plush, private booths.
Insider tip: Ask for an extra helping of the blistered flatbread to go with leftovers. A variety of coupons is often on the restaurant’s Web site.
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