5 afghan rooms worth the trip across United States, editor-ranked. All cuisines in United States.
The Helmand ★ 4.6 · Baltimore
mount-vernon · 806 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
The Helmand on Charles Street has cooked Afghan food in Mount Vernon since 1989, known for its kaddo borawni baby pumpkin and aushak dumplings.
Tip: It is a Mount Vernon institution and books up on weekends; reserve ahead for dinner.
The Helmand ★ 4.5 · Boston
cambridge · 143 1st Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
The Helmand in East Cambridge has run an Afghan kitchen near the Cambridgeside Galleria since 1989. At 143 1st Street. Reservations advised.
Tip: Reservations easy on weekdays. The kabuli pulao is the under-ordered dish; ask for it.
The Helmand ★ 4.5 · Boston
cambridge · 143 1st Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
The Helmand in East Cambridge runs an Afghan kitchen near Cambridgeside Galleria in Cambridge since 1989. Wood-fired flatbread, charcoal-grilled lamb.
Tip: Weekday reservations easy. The kabuli pulao is the hidden order; ask for it.
Lapis ★ 4.4 · Washington DC
adams-morgan · 1847 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
Lapis in Washington DC is Shamim Popal's Adams Morgan Afghan dining room on Columbia Road, a family-run kitchen with mantu dumplings and the Kabuli pulao.
Tip: The brunch buffet on Saturday and Sunday is the city's best Afghan-food deal at under $25 a head.
Sameem Afghan Restaurant ★ 4.0 · St. Louis
the-grove · 4341 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
Sameem plates Afghan kabuli palaw, aushak dumplings and grilled kabobs in The Grove, an affordable kitchen that has fed the city Afghan classics for years.
Tip: The aushak leek dumplings under yogurt and meat sauce are the order to lead with. Plenty of vegetarian dishes too.