ChI Eats At…
Restaurants – where to lunch, where to dine
Kabul boasts a horde of restaurants of varying ethnicities, to suit most tastes. Some are pretty good…
Most restaurants open fairly early on in the day (even from 10am) and run through till about 22h – though beware, some close at 21h. Some do home deliveries. Phone first to check timings.
Also, there is usually a list of security-cleared locations available to most visitors in Kabul on business.
Find it, if you have not already got it – and take its advice seriously.
L’Atmosphere French restaurant (recommended by the Afghan Embassy in Washington DC, no less, and with a sister restaurant in Islamabad) The food can be variable, but when it is good, it is very, very good! St.4, Qala-e-Fatehullah tel 0799-300264 www.latmospherekabul.blogs.com
Marco Polo. One of the best ways to enjoy Afghan food and hospitality is of course to accept an invitation to dinner with an Afghan family. Other than that, there’s Marco Polo.
Delhi Darbar Now almost everything is available in Kabul, but at a price – because everything imported cost a fortune. Featuring great Indian vegetarian food, the very pleasant Delhi Darbar has now also opened in Mazar-e Sharif. On Moslim Str, near Assa Guest House. Tel. 0799-324899 and 0799-833238
Anything Vegetarian. The name says it all, really.
House 1, Muslim Street, Shar-e Naw
Tel 070 27 7566 Near Masdjed-e Hajji Yacoub
Popo Lano the well-established Italian restaurant, serves good Italian food (pizza and pasta) as well as some French and Afghan dishes. On Charahi Ansari Kabul Tel 070-288116
Lai Thai is run by a Bangkok-born lady, whose entrepreneurial talents have meant that she looks out eagerly for potential trouble spots in the world to expand her chain of restaurants. Not surprisingly, it features Thai cuisine. On St. 15 Wazir Akbar Khan House No.124 Tel. 070-297557; 070-278640
Villa Velebita Restaurant/Bar has a good reputation both among frequent visitors to the city and ChI locals. It features European cuisine, and is located on St 10 Wazir Akbar khan
tel 0799-160368
Istanbul Restaurant (also not surprisingly given the name – restaurants tend to state the obvious here) features Turkish cuisine. It is located in Microrayan residential district, at Microrayian 2, Matba block 104. Tel 070-200116; 0799-356282. Don’t be put off by the Soviet-style legacy in the surrounding visuals.
Microyan Blocks, a middle class apartment complex built by the Soviets
Photo by Kerry Saner and Palwasha Kakar from IRSS-USA
Escalades Restaurant provides European cuisine – and particularly good burgers. On 1st Qala-e-Fatehullah, tel 0799-473763
Golden Key is a Chinese seafood restaurant - (remember how far Kabul is from the sea, anyone?) on Str.13, Wazir Akbar Khan; tel 0799-002800; 0799-016591 One ChIc Informant comments: “Perhaps the most bizarre restaurant I have ever been to – most garish and “OTT” (over the top), and each dish comes with a carved vegetable sculpture. Terrible, terrible food.” ChI leaves it to you to decide…. (but could not resist including it, for the description!)
Kulba Afghan is an Afghan-Italian restaurant in Shar-e-now, Esmat Moslim Str. On the 3rd floor. Tel 0799452151; 070034979
For those in need of comfort food, try the Shahr e Now Burger restaurant, featuring fast food. On Shahr-e-Now, opposite the park. Tel 0799-300797;
070-255788;
Yet more fast food can be found at Everest Pizza, 13 Str.Wazir Akbar Khan. Tel 0799-317979; 070-263636
And, still more, at the Afghan fried chicken joint opposite the EC embassy, is run by a kabuli called John who used to run a fast food place in London – if that appeals?
The Samarqand Restaurant/Bar offers international cuisine in Qala Musa, near Panalpina . tel 0799-234646; 0799-118460
If you fancy Mexican, check out Carlitos Restaurant/Bar on St 15 Wazir Akbar Khan Tel 0799-159697; 0799-167824
The Red Hot Sizzlin’ Restaurant offers good steaks and burgers, and features “international cuisine” – but a ChI Informant observes that “it looks like an Australian outback roadside bar”. Hmmm.
Open 11:00-21:00, located in Old Microryian, ARC Yuksel Camp
Taverne du Liban has good Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine
Open from 11:00-22:00 , located on Str 10 Wazir Akbar Khan
The Flower Street Café Restaurant offers a pleasant venue and nice California-style cuisine and Italian panini. Check out the “manwiches” for massive “man-style” portions. On street 2, Qala-e-Fatullah. Tel 070293124; 0799356319
And for Azerbaijani food, go to Baku Restaurant on Street 15, Lane 5, House, 329 Wazir Akbar Khan. Tel 0799-083918;
0799-827313
Café Zarnegar in the Kabul Serena Hotel on Froshgah St. offers international cuisine, both buffet and a la carte, and has a nice, relaxed ambiance. Tel 0799-654000 ext. 4553
The Silk Route, also in the Kabul Serena Hotel, for South East Asian food. Tel 0799-654000 ext. 4554
Anar Restaurant has a warm environment, and sophisticated-rustic décor, serving delicious Indian food. On St 15 in Wazir Akbar Khan, on Lane 3, on the left, opposite the Lebanese Taverna. Tel 070 284 315, 070 291 857 email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Sufi Restaurant offers international cuisine, low Afghan-style seating, and a nice ambiance. Check out the “Sufi Special” – of the grape variety. Popular with both Afghans and foreigners, and has great Afghan food. Located near Aryoob Cinema, in the second part of Karte Parwan.
The Bistro is a French restaurant which is very popular, so reservations are a must. Very nice quiche, good steaks, good cocktails, and run by a French chef…..say no more!!
If you find yourself in Kabul City Centre and are hungry and strapped for choice (or in case someone suggests going there)…. Shamiana Restaurant provides “multi” cuisine, in a strange, somewhat dead atmosphere. Open 7:00-23:00 Tel. 020-2203131