Kabob Palace

I’ve been here like a million times.
I preferably go to the Sahara café next door Which is affiliated with kabob palace.
You could smoke hookah and wait for your kabobs. Sometimes I enjoy my kabobs inside the restaurant. It has the most delicious kabobs I’ve had in my life.
I literally went here everyday last summer.
The staff if super nice and the hookah is also fantastic.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned living in Northern Virginia over the past few years, it’s that the locals love their kabobs, therefore I’ve decided to kick off a Kabob Kompendium profiling the various joints in the region that can be broken down into a set of common criteria:
1)ethnic focus 2) kabobs 3) side dishes 4) rice 5) condiments 6) bread 7) dining experience 8) unique dishes 9) x-​factor (s).
What better place to start than with Kabob Palace, one of the «founding fathers» of the declaration of deliciousness that liberated local palates allowing Middle Eastern cuisine to make its mark with several others to follow in the region.
1)Ethnic focus– owners are Afghan, but there is also some influence from neighboring Pakistan with various options of curries and lassis. If you order takeout, the styrofoam boxes are plastered with an American Flag/​American pride logo which is either oddly cheesy or sadly a vehement attempt to deny that their storefront has anything to do with terrorist activities. Would be curious if there was any blow back to business in the immediate aftermath of ⁹⁄₁₁
2) Kabobs– flavorful and succulent, the chicken outshines the lamb and sirloin cuts and the latter options also tend to get tougher when reheated
3) Side dishes– Both the aromatic chickpeas and velvety spinach/​potato options serves as a perfect compliment to both the carbs and proteins with just the right touch of spice and an appreciated «soupiness» to bind the other ingredients together. The salad is a rather bland mix of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers with oil/​vinegar so unless you are watching your carbs, make a request to double up on rice/​veggies instead
4) Rice– basmati rice that is flavorful and fragrant with hints of clove/​cinnamon albeit slightly overcooked
5) Condiments– Green yogurt sauce– creamy, spicy, and herbaceous create the trifecta of dipping sauces for both the bread and the kabobs
6) Bread– a dry but thicker naan-​like bread, must be consumed fresh otherwise it becomes progressively tough on the jaw
7) Dining experience– limited parking spaces (avoid parking at CVS) and seating with peak traffic in the evenings due to the constant late-​night crowd, there is definitely a post-​clubbing/​drinking atmosphere in the wee hours that one will love/​hate depending on their level of sobriety.
8)Unique dishes– if you decide to branch out from their signature kabob combos, they have a rotating list of weekday specials (including vegetarian options) as well as a lamb brain curry (sorry, that’s a no brain-​er for me) and a two-​person Pakistani specialty called karahi which is either chicken or lamb stewed with green peppers, tomato, cilantro, and house spices.
9)X-factors– Due to their well-​deserved popularity and ²⁴⁄₇ hours of operation, please know what you are going to order when you call them up or walk up to the counter since they run a fairly tight ship and probably deal with their share of obnoxious inebriated customers round the clock. While price point at first glance appears high, be assured that portions are generous and the biggest challenge will be to resist the urge to pig out and experience regret from overeating. No shame in sharing or leftovers.
In summary, Kabob Palace’s strengths lie in their kabobs, Pakistani specialty dishes, a killer green yogurt dipping sauce, and above average sides, whereas the rice, bread, and salad leave something to be desired. Ambience is a push since ²⁴⁄₇ access allows for a unique late night pitstop that hits a spot in one’s gut American greasy spoons can’t touch although there are diminishing returns in quality with the takeout option the longer the gap between one’s time of pickup and consumption. A local institution that I expect to continue going strong for years to come.
Pro-​tip: Credit cards accepted, advise bringing extra driver if doing takeout to avoid parking, halal meats

The amount of food I got was insane. Two big meals at least. It tasted damn good. Must be from that oil sitting at the bottom of my empty plate.

Really good food and staff is friendly. Stopped in for dinner and there was actually a buffet selection for about $ 11 so I went for it. The rice, the curry, the meats…, it was all delicious. Taste like home cooking for sure. Try this, they have excellent reviews for a reason.

One of our friends who lives in the DC area recommended Kabob Palace; after seeing all the reviews on Unilocal,decided to check it out during our trip. Upon entry, a delicious aroma of seasoned poultry and lamb hits you. I checked out the menu and due to my starving state, ordered a double order of chicken and lamb kabob. You order from the cashier and they will call your number when your food is ready, prepping your meal with your choice of rice, chickpeas, salad, and a massive pita bread. I completely underestimated the sheer volume of food that came with this meal, as it coud easily feed a family of three. The lamb was absolutely amazing, so tender and seasoned to perfection; the chicken was also delicious with a little spice to it that left your taste buds tingling. The rice was embedded with moist chicken, something I’ve never seen before, but tasted great. The pita bread was also freshly cooked off the grill, and much lighter compared to other bread I’ve had before that’s a little more doughy and dense. One of the best meals you’ll experience in the DC area so check it out!
Best,
Charlie

Came here around 12/​1AM? always nice to have ²⁴⁄₇ hole in the wall open with good food.
I had the vegetarian samosa which was great, tried my friends chicken kabob, MOAN WORTHY, so tastey and flavorful.
A lot of ppl coming in for take out and sitting down for a late light meal. Staff seemed nice.
It can be tight if crowded (which it was). But peeps were coming in groups, just enjoying good conversation and eating good food it seemed.
Great place. Would recommend, and would go back.
Enjoy!

Very bad workers and cashier. They will not put enough food. Do not ask for a cup or additional things.
Do respect for consumers.

Great food! Interesting décor. Had to walk around the bucket catching the leak from the ceiling but hey — it’s been raining for something like 21 days straight here in DC.
Food was worth the short wait.

Fantastic amazing food! I wouldn’t call the service super friendly? But they are always professional and courteous! There’s a reason this place has so many reviews– the food is great! I especially love the chicken kabob. Highly recommend!

Kabob Palace ruined me.
It took me whopping 7 years to actually check out this place because my uncultured-​moby dick house of kabobs-​eating self doubted how much better kabobs can be. I happened to be around the area so decided to finally give it a go. I’m not kidding when I say it’ll ruin you. I’ve tried many other local kabob joints around the DMV along with the Americanized Mobys, but there is no comparison. The well constructed and grilled skewers of meat, the chicken rice, the portion, THE NAAN! I’m a believer.
If you’re navigating at night from the main road, Kabob Palace might be hard to spot because it’s tucked away in an alley. You’ll most likely spot the fluorescent lights of Grill Kabob across the street, but don’t settle. Keep vigilant. You will not regret the extra 5 minute detour.

While most of the restaurants are on 23^rd St, this place is right off of it and down the street from the Holiday Inn. Needed a quick place to eat and this place was self serve. Enjoyed all the food here and if you don’t mind the cheesy décor and just want a good Afghan/​Pakistani meal, then this is the place to go.

This place is open 24 hours and is halal! Our plate cost $ 14 but it was huge! We got a kabaab shank, a few pieces of grilled chicken, salad, rice, and chick peas. It was actually enough to feed three of us, but I think it can feed two really hungry guys.
The reason for the 4 stars is because I was told this was a Pakistani place but the food didn’t have Pakistani spice. It was kind of bland for my taste, but if you’re not into spicy food then I think you’ll love it.

This is the best kabob place I have ever try. I try chicken kabob with and without bone. Really love the chicken kabob with bone, it’s so moist and flavorful, cook just right where you have the little crispy outside, all soft and juicy inside. Usually come with salad, rice and one topping for $ 12. Best quality with the great price. Wish it would be closer to fairfax. Oh and no one notice this but they open a yogurt place that also has their kabob, you can order there and they have more space. The yogurt place is couple store down name FroyoTogo the only thing is they not open 24 hours.

Oh man. Kabob Palace has got some good kabobs.
Order at the very awkwardly positioned register which plate you want, pay, and wait for your number to be called. Once it’s called, you can pick the side dishes you want accompanying your kabob.
For me, it’s a #1 (chicken kabob), no salad (it’s a sad salad mix. Not worth the stomach space), half spinach, half chickpea. Yes, yes, and yes.
The chicken is surprisingly tender — most grilled chicken breast I’ve come across at kabob places tend to be overcooked, but Kabob Palace does it justice. With just a hint of spiciness, it can spiral out of control pretty quickly, so better ask for extra sauce on the side.
The restaurant itself is not big at all, so despite being filled with as many seats possible, there’s a chance that you might not be able to dine in successfully, which really isn’t that big of a problem — most people, I’ve noticed, take it to go anyway.
If you’re in the area (or flying in/​out of DCA), Kabob Palace is ultimate comfort food that will set your taste buds on fire.

Found the veggie dishes here to be rather bland from my spinach & potato entrée to the chana masala. Surprising for a place categorized as Pakistani. The portions are huge though and other than the lack of spice, I can understand why cabbies and students flock to the place given that it’s 24 hours.
The place is also small so you may have to do take out by necessity during the busy lunch hours.

They have a best kabob in the universe.
I had had the number 7, boneless and one bone chicken kabob, and chick peas and salad. My boyfriend had the lamb chop, and chicken curry and salad. And we shared them. They were fantastic! The chicken is so tasty and tender! The lamb is so tasty too! I cannot prioritize any of those cuz they are really really yummy. Plus, the amount is huge… Which means our dinner and lunch were both Kabob!

I came here around 9 or 10pm on a weeknight and it was still really busy. If you decide to eat-​in, you’ll have to find your own table. But the turnaround is pretty fast since most people eat and then get out.
I got the #10 Palace Combo — one kubideh kabob and one chicken with bone. The chicken with bone was absolutely delicious! It was extremely juicy and tasted like tandoori seasoning. I love a little bit of the char flavor. The kubideh kabob was good too. I think for the price it is a good value and the bone-​in chicken is enough reason to go back.
Minus 1 star because parking is hard to find and the food took awhile to come out. Although I understand it takes time to cook quality food.

One of my fav late night restaurants. They’re open ²⁴⁄₇! Love the chicken kabob :) I wish they have more space for dine in customer tho

Fairly expensive for what you get. The food tastes good, but it upset my stomach that night and half of the next day. The same thing happened with my companion, so I suspect something was unclean.
The restaurant itself is not laid out well, the line to order crosses in front of where you pick up your food so everyone is bumping into each other while balancing trays of food.
My suggestion is to not order the side salad or a drink, they’ll bump the costs of your meal towards $ 20 rather than $ 15. There is a free water cooler provided. The staff is not personable, though this is understandable considering how busy the place can get.

The delivery service was a bit of a hot mess, which was our first impression.
However, for walk ins, we found their food to be excellent all around, and our experience with the guys working there was that they were really chill and nice. Hopefully found a new kabob spot?

Sheesh, what a kabominable overachiever! I mean how tender can their chicken kabobs get? How yummy can that spinach and channa curries be? And just mopping all that sexy goodness up with the bread. Geez, so annoying!
Actually what WAS annoying was the delivery charge.

I came in for lunch this past Friday after a night of drinking. I ordered the #2 combination bone-​in chicken with rice, salad, and curry spinach and potato. The naan bread was crispy and soft but it lacked flavor maybe a pinch of salt would help. I was hoping for some buttery garlic naan. In my opinion the sides were bland the best thing was the chicken with a hint of spice. I think I’m so used to the southern flavors were everything is really spicy and garlic-​y that this just didn’t do it for me. The green sauce for salad I was hoping was going to be full of body and robust was lacking in seasoning and garlic. I guess it’s a good place to come in and get a real meal but Houston definitely has me spoiled and I feel we have better options here.

Kabob Place is like a local landmark; if the over 1200 reviews and accolades which they post on their walls is not enough, I’ll add my two cents.
Kabob Place is a small place with people constantly coming in and out. The food smells amazing and it makes the wait bearable. Everything is made to order and they take their time. But surprisingly here, people seem to understand that good food takes time and I did not notice any sour faces.
I ordered the Lamb kabob with rice, salad, spinach, and bread. My husband ordered the kubideh with rice, salad, chic peas, and bread. The portions are huge. It was easily two meals for me. The meat was perfectly cooked, seasoned, well, and full of flavor. I also appreciated that they did not skimp on the meat. The spinach had a surprising kick to it, unexpected but still good. Rice– delicious and seasoned. It’s all good. You know you want it.

I’ve been a customer for many, many years and I just love the amazing food here. No regrets whatsoever!
I must however point out that the guy/​s behind the register have no good manners, just rude, and a complete a**hole most of the time. It’s sad because this is such a great place, I would’ve given it 5 stars but dropping it to 3 because of poor service and rude employees.

Hands down one of the best places to get kabobs in the DMV area. Definitely worth the long drive through crazy traffic for their kabobs. Plus this place is open 24 hours which is awesome! Been here so many times with friends and family. I love the chicken kabob which comes with rice, garden salad, and a plethora of sides to choose from. The naan is fresh and soft. The place is cramped so make sure you grab an open table quickly!

Always awesome!
I had today’s special curry chicken and the hubby had the bone in chicken kebab! Cauliflower and potatoes, spinach and potatoes and chickpeas are so flavorful! I don’t eat bread, but when I did, they had the best naan!
OMGoodness, I wish I lived here, I’d eat here every day!
If you haven’t been, you should! You won’t be disappointed I promise!

Kabob Palace is open 24 hours/​day, 365 days/​year (as far as I can tell) and it never disappoints! This afghani cuisine is superb and always leaves my girlfriend and I stuffed. I always order the boneless chicken kabobs, though she prefers the lamb. The sirloin with onion kabob is a bit spicy, but tasty. We share the chicken lambo combo (~$ 18) and if we are REALLY hungry, we order an extra naan ($ 1.37) or an extra side of rice or chickpeas (~$ 2.50). Lentil side is also very good. And be sure to grab a cup of their complimentary chai tea on the side of the restaurant near the door. Everyday they have a different meat and veggie special that is around $ 11. They offer 1 dessert, but I’ve never tried it…
Note: Tables are hard to find around lunch & dinner time. This is the reason I rate it 4 instead of 5 stars. Not easy to navigate for wheelchair users, but possible.

If cooked chicken that is too dry really annoys you, this is the best place to visit. I don’t know how they do it, but their chicken is never dry and their food never disappoints.
The décor of this place is pretty bare bones, so don’t expect anything fancy. During busy hours, it gets confusing because there are so many people standing around and you don’t know who is waiting for their food versus who is waiting in line. A little intimidating as a first-​timer, but once you ask around, it is easy to figure out. You also have the option to call in your order before picking it up, in which case, you can just go straight to the counter and let the man know.

Came here with some intoxicated friends after a DC United game. Portions were generous and the food was pretty good. I had the gyro, which was awesome. Maybe not the cleanest most modern-​looking place in the area, but good food. I was a little surprised at the prices, which were more «sit down» restaurant than here, which appeared more «divey take out.»

This place was insanely packed on December 27^th at 11pm. We waited at least 10 minutes to order and then 30 minutes for the food. I ordered the number one and it was delicious. The chicken was so flavorful and moist. The chickpeas and rice had great spice. I wasn’t really sure what the protocol was with regard to the garnishes so I just followed what other people were doing. I’m definitely headed back for a late night fix.

If you are in Crystal City you need to stop by Kabob Palace. This place hits the spot 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I highly recommend splurging on the Lamb Chop kabob but all their kabobs are decent. The chicken is well seasoned. This places kubideh (ground beef & lamb) is pedestrian but overall it’s a hit.

For anyone who has never experienced Afghani cuisine I can best describe it as a blend of Persian and Pakistani cuisine. I had the lamb kabob plate with a side of rice and salad shirazi. Everything was great and my only regret is not ordering more sides to try. If you don’t care for spicy or hot food then I suggest getting a side of yogurt or the washing it down with a yogurt drink. Ask for the homemade dough (pronounced doogh) or lassi sweet or salty. Don’t settle for the Turkish swill that’s passed off as bottled yogurt drink.
You won’t be disappointed by kabob palace.

I will forever love my good friend for taking me here after The Weeknd concert — the best decision we’ve made together thus far lol!
Food — I ordered the plate with the chicken, lamb and spicy sausage kind of meat with a side of chickpeas and spinach! OMG is all I had say about the food. It was literally orgasmic. All the meat was juicy, tender and hot right off the grill. I really love the fact that they grill right when you order, so it’s legit fresh! The lamb was what I was hesitant about at first but boy was I wrong. It didn’t smell and it was soooooo tender! All the flavors were on point and did not over power any sides I ordered. Every order comes with a bread thing that I was able to dip into both my sides beautifully. I also love their condiment bar! It had ginger, peppers! The best sides ever… who would have thought, GINGER! I feel like I can go on and on about this place and still won’t have enough to to say.
Price — It can get pretty pricey depending on what you order but what your eating is going to be totally worth it :) and the portions are hugeeeeee! 2 scoops of rice… omg!
Service — It was self service so I can’t say much about the service. The only interaction I had with anyone working at the restaurant was when I told them what sides I wanted
I am totally gonna return and devour some other dishes they have!

— Short Synopsis —
Kabob Palace provides a good amount of tasty food for their buffet! Definitely not a fancy place by no means, but it is a great affordable, casual option. It is also close to the Reagan Airport!
— Detailed Summary —
After flying into Reagan Airport, I came here for lunch and they had the lunch buffet out, which I opted for. You pay after you finish. For parking, there are some spots in front of the restaurant along with street parking in the area.
You use paper plates and utensils along with getting your own water. The price of the buffet is not too bad (~$ 11).
My favorite item was their large naan like bread that was part of the buffet. It went well with many of the items and curries in the buffet. I do wish they had a bit more options that used coconut cream in the dish, as I like the nutty sweetness flavor. Oh well, I can’t complain that much as I did enjoy the items that were offered! They had good, strong flavors.
A good place to eat some tasty Middle Eastern food!

I just had dinner here and had the lamb chops with salad, rice and lentil beans. My meal also came with Arabic bread the size of my head.
OMG, it was fantastic. The three chops I had were seasoned and cooked perfectly. They were also very meaty and eat off the bone yummy.
The rice and beans were also very tasty and had a little spicy heat to it.
Overall, you will have a great meal if you come here. I highly recommend it.

This is definitely the best Afghanian spot in the DMV. I’ve overlooked it numerous times while walking or driving in this area. It’s not really a place I would dine in because of the size is small but it’s great for carryout. Their food is very authentic and reasonable priced. I’m bringing a friend along on my return back!

This is food for the soul!
This is my first time having full on Pakistani food and it’s pretty amazing. The okra and spinach is awesome. I’m missing it all right now as I’m writing this review from home in Ohio.

I am completely amazed by this place. When I came to this 24hrs kabob palace I hoped to get a quick bite before work. I should have known when I saw a packed dining area at 11:30pm on a Sunday night that I would be in for a treat. As I walked past a window of kabobs to the register I was lost on what to order. The cooks helped me decide on a meal that included rice, spinach, chick peas,& beef curry (called haleem on the menu). For $ 13 I walked away with a full meal that could feed 2 or 3 plus a side of fresh baked bread.
After eating I am full and feel like I haven’t even made a dent in the amount of food I received.
I will be back soon to try the kabobs of course which I realized everyone was eating as I walked out.

Looks a little sketch on the outside but it’s pretty nice table seating inside. They give you a generous amount of food and the service is very nice. Tip: call in ahead of time if you are picking up. It takes awhile to get your food.
I ordered the most popular combo #11 ($ 20) which came with lamb, chicken, rice, bread and sides of spinach and chickpeas. The meat was moist and flavorful and the spinach was delicious. It went really well with the bread and rice. The portions were huge I could only eat half of it!

When you see cops, taxi drivers, and EMS responders waiting in a long line to eat at a restaurant, go there its good. These are the typically the people that get around the city so much because of their jobs and have tried a bunch of places, before finding their go to spots. That’s how my local DC friends discovered this place.
Any take out plate you order is guaranteed to feed at least two people and a small child. Be prepared to wait 15 to 20 minutes in a mad house and line that seems to spontaneously generate more people by the second. If you’re going during the lunch or dinner rush, just throw in the towel and take your grub home.
My DC friends always get the #1 Palace Combo which has one chicken, one lamb, and one kubideh kabob for $ 21.99. The plate comes with authentic Afghan Naan, salad, and an overwhelming Costco sized amount of seasoned rice and chickpeas.
The chutney that comes with it would make my mother in law envious if she compared hers, and the lamb and kubideh meats were so mouth watering delicious, I wanted to lick the styrofoam after we had eaten it all. Not sure of what is in the rice but it’s flavor packed!
Minus one star for the chaotic wait, poor speaker system to call out numbers (that sounds like that character that mumbles from Charlie Brown) and our chicken kabob could have used more
grilling time.
But if you want an really hearty and tasty meat meal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack, hang over meal or use it as a sober up method (Kabob Palace is open ²⁴⁄₇), this is the place to be!

I might lose friends over this review but I really cannot understand what is the big deal about this place. I would give them two stars but I do like that they open 24 hours as well as their green sauce. Otherwise, I feel the food is at a two star level, at best three stars.
The bread tastes fresh but I’m not here for bread.
The rice has very little flavor. The chicken and beef kabobs were Ok. (kabobs or kubideh, I can’t remember). I came here twice and twice I was sober, maybe that is my problem? I don’t know.
The food is bland. It needs a lot of green sauce. The sides are OK too.
I am sorry but I really don’t like this place. Their samosa is average, if not below average. I know this place has character and is a gathering place for people of many different backgrounds who seem to enjoy their food, but I really didn’t like it.
My husband seems to like it so I know we will definitely be back.