Faryab

FARYAB IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!
We were set to try it last night. We could find no sign of the closure online. The phone rang through to an answering service. Only on site did we find notice that the restaurant is closed for renovations. In the meantime, if you have a yen for middle-​eastern food, let me suggest the unpretentious Bistro Lazeez, just around the corner. As a rating is required to submit the review, I’m giving Faryab the benefit of any doubt!

All my years of eating at restaurants in the Downtown Bethesda area, and I have yet to be blown away by anything. This place was no exception. The food itself was good, but it is stupid pricey for the amount of food they give you. We ordered the Lamb Kabuli Palao (rice to lamb ratio was totally off…), mantu appetizer, and a side of pumpkin. Granted, we did not order a lot of food because we weren’t too hungry, but even so it was a minuscule portion. The restaurant was very dead for a Saturday, and at one point we were the only ones left in there. Nothing is more unsettling than eating a mediocre meal, speaking in hushed whispers, with no other sounds.

The Pallow was pretty good. I enjoyed the lamb and I do not like lamb. My biggest gripe about this place was the price and then the portions they bring. It was stupid small portion, mind you there was plenty of lamp, but almost no Pallow. The Mantu was okay at best. I am a big Mantu person and I thought it was just okay. I don’t plan on coming back.

Pricey, but great service and great lamb dishes.
The ambience was very quiet and stately — not very much clientele. I do hope this place is doing financially okay, as it is a solid establishment in the fabric of Bethesda’s restaurant scene.

The food was great! Had the Chalow Kadu (pumpkin), Mantu (dumpling with ground beef), and Aushak (dumpling with scallion and meat sauce). They were all so delicious. The Chalow Kadu was sweeter than I’ve had before but I still loved it. The portion sizes were just right. The atmosphere could use an updated look and the restaurant was almost empty when we got there on Friday evening but the service was good and I will definitely come back.

For an appetizer we tried the following: Sambosa-​e-​ghousti, Pakowray Kachula and Aushak. Each was tasty but surprisingly not spectacular. For the main course I ordered the Shrimp Kabob and burance badenjan (sautee eggplant with yogurt). Server lost my shrimp kabob order and did not bring out any Afghan bread to the table. The shrimp were tasty, reminded me of Greek shrimp. A subtle garlic flavor with lemon, cooked right, meaning not over cooked and with charring; but $ 24 for 6 small shrimp… hmmm, maybe not. The egg plant was similar to Sicilian eggplant with a few drops of plain yogurt that unfortunately could hardly be tasted. The food was good but I was surprised not as good as I expected. I am certain we just hit an off night (hey the restaurant was full and it was Wednesday night).

The Unilocal Luck Club’s February destination was Faryab for some Afghan food. It’s right in downtown Bethesda and an easy walk from the metro. Major downfall for me was that we went on a Friday during Lent, which means no meat. They do have some vegetarian options, but when you check out the menu, meat is the money dishes. We did the whole thing family style, so we had so many dishes. I tried the Aushak (scallion-​filled dumplings) without meat sauce, Pakowray Kachalu (fried eggplant), and Chalow Kadu (steamed pumpkin). All of them were fantastic. The Chalow Kadu definitely took the cake though. I can’t even explain how delicious that dish was. All the meat dishes looked incredible, so I definitely want to go back to try them.

Feeling frustrated? Tired of the same old places and carryout choices? Then, head down to Faryab, located in the heart of downtown Bethesda.
Faryab was the Unilocal Luck Club’s destination this month. We feasted on samosas, which were triangular shaped pillows of goodness. Crunchy on the outside and soft, creamy filling on the inside. These appetizers were filled with ground beef and chick peas, but they tasted like mashed potatoes to me.
Then, we also shared Pakorway Badenjam or delicately fried eggplant slices with a creamy yogurt sauce on top. They disappeared quickly and deliciously.
For the main dish, I ordered Kabob– E– Goustfad, don’t let the name fool you, this was a lamb kabob served with basmati rice. The meat was tender and and the juices flowed as you cut or bit into your kabob. It was cooked perfectly. Masterfully done, Faryab!
One of the most talked about dishes of the night was the Chalow Kabu or stewed pumpkin served over basmati rice with a light yogurt sauce on top. We ordered three of these dishes and they were a huge hit with our crowd. The pumpkin was was soft and sweet and the cool yogurt sauce was the perfect compliment to this dish. One of diners even ordered an extra serving to go!
Other dinners that were very good were Qualabi Pallow. This was seasoned lamb with rice, raisins, and carrot strips. Also, the Kabob-​E– Kofta, which was spiced ground beef broiled and served on a skewer. It reminded me of a ground gyro meat.
We had outstanding service and our glasses were always filled. There was complimentary Afghan tea that had a hint of spice to it. The décor was quaint and welcoming. We feasted on Afghan food and no one had any room left for dessert.
Fun, Friendly, and fabulous, be sure to visit Faryab and enjoy the feast!

I couldn’t believe how good the food was. The tastes were excellent and unique. Every component was great from the main dish to the rice and bread and even the Afghan tea.
Service was also quick and courteous with a very quiet atmosphere.

The food, the atmosphere… very very good. I didn’t try anything I didn’t like!
I tried so many things so you may just have to go off my description and pictures… :)
The sambosas were great! Just the right crispiness. Filling was just enough and loved the flavor. The cripy eggplant was a little too oily for me. Would skip next time. Also had the tea. Just ask for sugar if you need it. I think it was good on its own. Hints of spice in your tea.
For the mains. Anything with lamb. The lamb ground meat. Good combo of spices and cooked just right. The lamb with eggplant. Yum! Again cooked perfectly and the eggplant was delicious. Lamb under spinach. Loved the creaminess of the spinach. Lamb was a bit smoky. Sooooo good. The juices combined with the spinach. :D the chicken kebob. So juicy so succulent. Ha! I want more! The dumplings– love the sauce and texture… ah… when should I go again!!!
Oh and last but not least the pumpkin. On the very sweet side. But I absolutely lived it!!! The texture, the smoothness and melt in your mouthness… the flavor of candied pumpkin with select spices… a great complement to the meal. Or could be your whole meal ;)
I will be back. But it will be hard to choose!

WOW! The hubs and I came here for February’s Unilocal Luck Club, and boy, was I excited: D This Afghan restaurant has been around since ’97, and is owned & operated by David Hashem and his family. The menu offers a nice selection of appetizers (such as the aushak and the bulanee kachalu), meat/​seafood entrees (such as qualbili pallow and shalgham goushti), vegetarian options, side orders, and desserts. We each had a little bowl of fresh iceberg lettuce, drizzled with yogurt sauce — nice and refreshing, as well as a cute woven basket full of noon barbari (Afghan sesame bread). For food galore, we tried: Sambosa-​e-​Goushti (fried pastries stuffed with spiced ground beef and chickpeas — these looked like little fried crab rangoons, but they were filled with a nice blend of seasoned ground beef and mashed chickpeas — yum!); the Pakowray Badenjam (fried slices of eggplant, topped with yogurt and meat sauce; these were slightly more on the oily side, but still crispy from the battered, and that yogurt sauce was a nice creamy touch!); the Aushak (scallion-​filled dumplings, topped with yogurt and meat sauced, sprinkled with mint; delicate little dumplings with not too much of a filling); Kabob-​e-​Gousfand (tender lamb kabob on skewers, broiled, with a side of basmati rice; the lamb was perfectly-​cooked and flavorful! I loved the fact that it didn’t have a gamey hint at all!); Kabob-​e-​Murgh (chicken breast kabob on skewers; these were good a little dry, and I definitely prefer the lamb over these!); Kabob-​e-​Kofta (spiced ground beef, broiled on skewers; one of my favorites of the night — I’m usually not much of a kofta fan, but BOY, these were DELICIOUS! They were so flavorful, and great ‘egg-​shaped’ mounds of meat, perfectly broiled!); Qualbili Pallow (seasoned lamb under basmati rice, raisin, and carrot strips — I love it when rice has raisins and carrots! The lamb was indeed tender and there were ample amounts of it); Sabsi Goushti (lamb cooked in onion and garlic-​flavored spinach); Badenjan Goushti (braised lamb topped with eggplant, onions, and tomato; baked); and, Chalow Kadu (stewed pumpkin that is sweetened, topped with yogurt; another favorite of the night, it was like having dessert for your main entrée! The pumpkin chunks were so tender and so yummy, and that yogurt sauce — YUM!). Some of us also tried the Afghan chai, which contained cinnamon, cardamom seeds, and ginger powder — this was unsweetened, but definitely warmed you up! The servers, Mr. Watt and Ms. Meow, were both so attentive and oh-​so-​lovely, and made sure that our drinks were always refilled and provided extra plates. The restaurant is also very cozy, with the textile décor and the nice paintings. I will definitely be back to try out their Bulanee Kachalu (turnovers filled with mashed potatoes and ground beef), their Shrimp Kabob, and their desserts, and, of course, for some repeats of the favorites! Definitely a delicious, magical place: D
+yogurt sauceeeeee: D
+Sambosa-​e-​Goushti
+Kabob-​e-​Kofta
+Kabob-​e-​Gousfand
+Aushak
+Qualbili Pallow
+Chalow Kadu
+ask for Ms. Meow and Mr. Watt: D
+limited metered-​street parking (difficult on Thurs/​Fri); choose the metered-​garage

A quaint, friendly place that serves the tastiest Afghani dishes. We enjoyed the Aushak and Mantu appetizers for the table, and then the Cuabili Pallow and a couple of the Goushti dishes for entrees (my favorite had the garlic spinach), plus a side dish of savory pumpkin.
And I actually liked the Afghan Baklava better than traditional Greek.
All-​in-​all, a delicious evening out.

Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in the DC area. I have random cravings for the Ausk when I’m back home in San Francisco because it’s that good. The service here is great and it’s got a nice, simple interior. I also highly recommend the Quabili Pallow which is a very traditional Afghan dish with lamb and raisins. My parents are big fans of the pumpkin dishes as well.

3.5 stars round down. This place was overpriced for above average food. Don’t understand all of the good reviews especially when there is a lot better cuisine in the dc area. I had the lamb and rice which was pretty good but not worth 22 dollars. My wife had kababs and as did my sister it was 18 and 21 dollars for each for a good amount of Kabab and rice. I would say they were not as good as Kabab palace which for 30 dollars you could get a lot more Kabab and rice but they were good nonetheless. The service was good and our waitress was very nice and the place has a good clean ambiance. I won’t be back but I am glad I went.

3.5 stars. This is my first time trying Afghan cuisine, so I don’t have much to compare. I ordered some of the most popular Unilocal dishes like the pumpkin, the eggplant, and the chicken. I thought that the chicken and the eggplant were quite yummy, though I don’t know how you can charge $ 16 for eggplants. The pumpkin was a touch too sweet for my taste. I really liked the dumplings, esp with the yogurt and meat sauce.
Overall, it was a fun experience.

Yipeeee! Yum! GO HERE. DO IT. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much, but just go INSIDE. Delicious Afghan food!
The tea was wonderfully spiced, add some sweetener to your liking.
The bread they serve is puffy and great just by itself. It’s also great to pick up any of the yogurt/​meat sauce that is leftover from your food.
And yes, yogurt and meat topped on everything is always great!
**Green salad — This came with the food and the dressing (I believe a yogurt based one) was delicious!
**Pakowray Bademjan (fried eggplant with yogurt and meat) — The eggplant tasted of fried goodness, and the yogurt made it feel a little less oily.
**Sabsi — Just a bowl of garlicy spinach. Great on its own… but extremely great with the basmati rice or with the bread.
**Kabu (pumpkin and yogurt meat sauce) — The pumpkin is soft (just the right consistency), sweet and warm and the yogurt meat sauce gives just the right amount of savory taste to make this side dish great. (This is definitely a must)
**Mantu entrée — Dumplings dumplings oh dumplings! The wrappers have been cooked just right… and meat on the inside and meat on the outside with yogurt? It really can’t get better than that. The spices and onions and garlic make it just right! The appetizer comes with 4 and the entrée comes with 8 of these dumplings (I believe so, but I ate too fast to keep count)
**Kabob-​E-​Gousfand (lamb skewers with basmati rice) — OH THE BASMATI RICE was GREAT. Look for an entrée that comes with that rice! The lamb skewers had just the right marinade, many layers of taste… the only thing was it was a little tough to eat (it could have been a little more tender) —
The reason I give 4 stars and not 5 is because the service could be a bit better (the food was slow to come out, it took a great deal of time and waiting to get our checks, etc) — however, the staff was friendly. In addition, the food is a little overpriced, but it can definitely be worth it if you’re willing to splurge at some point!:)

Five stars as hot as the sun. Oh Faryab, you’ve eluded me. Sitting so daintily across the street from Caddies. Oh, you just sit there, don’t say anything. Don’t be flashy at all. All quiet like being like «yeah, I’m good».
Just sit there with your red sign that says «Faryab: Afghan Cuisine» and be like. «hey, I’m a small restaurant that serves Afghan food.»
And then we like go there on a Saturday night and it’s almost like packed. Like the next table had to wait. That’s how full it was.
You look at the menu and you’re like. That sounds delicious and that sounds delicious and that sounds delicious. Pretty much everything has yogurt. But, it’s not like yogurt I’ve had before– it’s much more delicious.
Let’s take you through the meal.
1. Small salad (with yogurt dressing). I would buy that dressing if it were in a bottle
2. Mashed potato and meat turnover. Delicious. Comes with a yogurt dipping sauce.
3. Dumplings with scallions and a yogurt meat sauce on it. I could have eaten those as my entire meal with some rice they were so good. I think they do actually have it in entrée size. They didn’t have an overwhelming amount of scallions. The dumpling wrapper was like perfect. The meat sauce was delicious
4. Eggplant with a meat sauce on top. The most delicate and delicious eggplant ever.
5. Chalow Kadu– the pumpkin dish. Simply the best pumpkin I’ve ever had. Stewed, delicious, sweet, that has depth, and is so tasty. This also has a little yogurt on top. It is SO Good. The portion is a little smaller. But with the rice, it’s just enough.
They also serve this bread with all this delicious pumpkin shiz.
This is a place that you NEED to try out. It’s one of my new favorite restaurants. I want to go there right now. No joke.

New favorite restaurant! Go here! Seriously, everything was sooo good. The chalow kadu entrée (stewed pumpkin with basmati rice) was amazing. So delicately spiced and perfectly sweet with yogurt sauce. I could have eaten it forever.
We ordered several appetizers, all of which involved a variation on ground meat and yogurt sauce, and all of which were different and fantastic. The fried eggplant app was a personal favorite. Even the salad was great, with a tasty dressing of– you guessed it– yogurt! The food was so good, we were thinking about going there for lunch again the next day, but it was closed.
Just a heads up, the man who greeted us and seated us was a bit off-​putting. He gave us a lecture on not using phones in his restaurant, because they are evil, which is a valid point– but also, I’m about to Unilocal the crap out of this meal, and I need my phone for that. He just kept going on, and we were like, whatever sir. Lay off the lecturing of patrons. But I would absolutely put up with it for more of that sweet, sweet pumpkin.

Faryab is a very good restaurant in Bethesda. We got there 30 minutes before the place closed and they seated us and got us our food quickly and piping hot. That’s probably do to the modular nature of their menu, but it was nice to get food fast.
We split one entrée between two plus another side and that felt like the right amount of food. We had lamb with spinach. The lamb was alright– a little grisly. The spinach itself was very good. The eggplant side was fantastic, especially the yogurt sauce. The salad with yogurt sauce was also very good.
The price point was a little bit more than you would expect in a restaurant like this, but not egregiously so. We would go back but wouldn’t propose going there.

Faryab is the epitome of ethnic foods. I took my parents here for dinner a year ago and they loved it, too.
The Quabili pillow and pumpkin kadu are a must. I would order them together to bite the sweetness of the kadu. I also recommend the sabsi as an entrée or app since I’m a sucker for slow cooked spinach. Samosas were good and is an easy app to share.
I thought the speed of the service was fine; no outrageous wait times.
This is pretty much ethnic soul food and it left here w/​the inner foodie very happy. Give this place a try if you’re ready for something new to wow you.
Street parking or garage parking.