Fragrant Lamb Cooked The Afghani Way

Is there really authentic and ancient Afghan cuisine thriving in a plain and modern strip mall along busy Jericho Turnpike?

Yes, the South Asian cuisine of Kabul Restaurant comes straight from Afghanistan and the Persian-speaking capital of Kabul. The restaurant was opened by the Rahimi family two decades ago. The family welcomes patrons to their little warm and festive restaurant as if you were family coming to their home for dinner.

This House of Shish-Kabab serves succulent meat, chicken, seafood and vegetables satisfying the carnivore or vegetarian alike. The food is prepared with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, and served with garlic-yogurt, homemade honey and dried mint.  The end result are flavors that are aromatic and light, familiar but different if you've tasted Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines; the perfect balance of savory but not overly spicy. 

The Dish:  Rack of Lamb ($24)

What's On It:  Rack of Lamb cut into six pieces served with traditionally seasoned brown rice and grilled vegetables.

How's It Taste:  The delicate and savory lamb chops are grilled to perfection and served on a bed (a light and fluffy one) of long grain brown rice with soft and incredibly tender julienned carrots and raisins that have been lightly sweetened with an old family  homemade honey recipe.

Kabul's marinated and char-broiled skewered chicken, beef, lamb and shrimp kabobs are their most popular dishes served with traditionally seasoned brown rice.  Other dishes include meats simmered in light and fragrant sauces.  All entrees come with a house salad made with a homemade yogurt dressing and sprinkled with dried mint.  

Appetizers such as Aushak, light thin pasta dumplings; Bolani, turnovers; and Hummous are a great way to share and taste a few different things before deciding on your entree. If you like fried eggplant, the Pakaura Badenjan will surely be a highlight of your meal. Some of the appetizers can also be eaten as an additional side to the main course. 

The hanging Afghani tapestries and fringed lamps, along with the Rahimi family's presence throughout the meal, makes for an inviting and authentic dining experience for small groups as well as large parties.

Sides:  Kadu, their famous pumpkin steamed until tender then dipped in the homemade honey and topped with a mixture of ground meat sauce, yogurt and mint is a melt-in-your-mouth must have and a surprise hit.  

Fridays are the ever-popular belly dancing night.  Reservations are highly recommended.  Most entrees are priced from 11.95 to $14.95.

Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday:  4 p.m. to 10 p.m.;
Friday, Saturday: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday: 4pm to 9pm 

Kabul Restaurant Afghani Cuisine, 1153 East Jericho Tpke., Huntington; (631) 549-5506 (across from the Dix Hills Animal Hospital; just west of Deer Park Avenue).