Afghan cuisine is based around several key ingredients;
bread in the form of naan and lavash,
rice, which is the key ingredient in the national dish palao (pilaf),
pasta, which is served as dumplings - similar to
manti and various
kebab dishes, including the chapli kebab - which is a fried hamburger.
Image Credit: Rochelle Hartman (Wikimedia Commons)
Typical dishes include
bonjan salad; which is a spiced eggplant salad,
dolma; stuffed grape leaves,
bichak; a savoury pastry and
aush; a tomato based soup with handmade noodles, yoghurt and mint. Main meals include
kalah pacha; a lamb or beef stew,
chopan kabob; grilled lamb chops and
maushawa; pulse and yoghurt soup. Common sweets and desserts include
Afghan cake; which is a pound cake with fruit or jelly,
gosh feel; a pastry dish with sugar and pistachios and
khoujoor; Afghan style doughnuts.
Image Credit: Miansari66 (Wikimedia Commons)
In Melbourne there are several places where you will be able to find these fantastic dishes and in this listing we aim to highlight some of the city's very best Afghan cafes and restaurants.
You will also have the chance to contribute to this listing.
To kick this listing of the best Afghan restaurants in Melbourne, let's start with three celebrated establishments.
Persian Flavours Takeaway & Eat In, located in Forest Hill, is not a true Afghan restaurant, but it is known for serving several authentic Afghan dishes. In fact WeekendNotes writer
Mish Johnson declared this establishment as having Melbourne's '
best butter chicken'. The menu, as you can tell, is a bit of an international affair, but there are some Afghan favourites available, such as
chicken masti; grilled boneless chicken, which has been marinated in yoghurt and spices and
lamb koobideh; which is similar to a kebab, but it features lamb mince. Polow is also served; there are two types -
Kismish; rice with sultanas, fried onions and saffron and
Zereshk; rice and pomegranate seeds. Desserts include
faloodeh shirazi; a traditional frozen dessert made with coconut, sugar and water and
akbar mashti; a saffron, pistachio and rose water ice cream. This establishment is quite affordable with mains priced around the $15 mark.
Image Credit: Executioner (Wikimedia Commons)
The delightfully named
Nights of Kabul in Oakleigh is our second pick for great Afghan and Middle Eastern cuisine in Melbourne. The menu features a range of delights;
borani bonjon is a fantastic eggplant dish with yoghurt and tomato purée and
bolanee with potato and leek is also served here. Another great entrée is
mantu dumplings made with minced lamb, onion and mild spices. For a main, you can opt for a
kabab koobideh; a minced lamb skewer, served with rice, salad and dip or
kabuli palau, which is a rice dish with lamb shank pieces and lightly fried caramelised carrot, sultanas, almonds and pistachio. You can finish your meal with
halwa,
baklava or
gulab jaman. This is also another affordable establishment with the mains priced around the $20 mark.
Image Credit: Miansari66 (Wikimedia Commons)
Finally, there is also one CBD option;
Afghan Tasty Food, which is located on Elizabeth Street. I mention this establishment as it is easily located in the city and it is it has a relatively affordable menu. You will find typical Afghan dishes here;
chapli kabab served with Afghan bread,
ashak and
manto, which are filled pastry appetisers, as well as various types of
bolani and two types of
palow; rice with orange, pistachio and almonds or rice, carrot and sultanas. The menu is limited, but for a quick feed in the city, it is a great establishment. Mains are priced around the $15 mark.
We have only named three celebrated Afghan Restaurants in Melbourne, and I am certain there are many more that could be included in this listing, so if you have a recommendation, please share it with us by leaving a comment.
We look forward to your feedback.
