The best delicous afghan dishes I have tried, very satisfying & flavors are rich yet simple & aromatic. The red pepper sauce is to die for. Owner always generous & service makes you feel at home

The lamb kebab comes with plenty of meat and a heap of rice. Perhaps the best tasting rice I’ve had in a loooooooong time. Just don’t come alone. Because all the menu items look so good! Come here with a big group of people and try everything.

I loved this place! Just a few subways stops away and I was transported across the world. My first time trying Afghan food but there are some similarities to Uzbek food. Had a mixed kebab, eggplant and hummus and it was all delicious! The kebab was very tender and well seasoned. The restaurant itself is warm and inviting and the service was excellent.

Good food and vibe❤️ This firni was on the restaurant and it was really creamy👌🏽If you pay with cash you’re likely to get a free dessert.

The food is absolutely delicious, everything tastes fresh, well-seasoned, and cooked to perfection. The kebabs are tender and flavorful, and the portions are generous for the price. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the staff are super friendly and attentive, making you feel right at home. Whether you’re dining in or taking out, the quality is always consistent. Highly recommend this spot if you’re craving authentic, flavorful food, you won’t be disappointed!

Loved their Kabuli Rice with Lamb Shank and desserts! The staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was great! Only downside is their portion size is relatively on the smaller side. Service was really quick!

Solid 5 star on everything, this place has incredible food, the rice is amazing, the meat is always next level, juicy and tender. Also the naan, I can’t just order one, I’m always doubling up because I need more for my hummus because it’s soooooo good! Service is like you’re eating at a friend’s house for dinner, they take care of you, talk to you and even give you a free dessert at the end. Atmosphere wise, this is as authentic as it gets. Honestly, I hope to see this place continue to thrive, it brings me so much joy to see how much they invest in their restaurant and how great the owners are.

Sami’s is great, couldn’t recommend more highly. The food is fantastic. The service is warm and friendly. They don’t serve alcohol, but you can bring your own. We came here for a special occasion and they were incredibly accommodating and made sure we had a great time!!!

This restaurant creates returning customers. The restaurant isn't big, but the food quality stands out. We enjoyed every aspect from flavor to how they plate the food. Staff is consistently friendly and provides thorough assistance. The restaurant offers exceptional food.

Visited a year ago but still remember it being very delicious. Loved the firni on the house. Will be coming back.

It was really great. The place is paked

Did I like it? Well... I'd like them to cater my wedding. We had lamb shank that was amazing. Chicken kebab and salad shirazi. The traditional brown rice with carrots was perfect We also had babba ganoush and the pita bread was served to us nice and warm. The condiments are amazing! They reminded me of fresh salsa. It says real and as authentic as it can get! It's absolutely gorgeous breathtaking inside high ceilings exposed brick walls huge windows gorgeous tables open airy...clean. The bathroom is amazing if you go here please leave a review because I loved it I hope you do too. Looking forward to going back. Wait staff was kind and efficient!

100% Halal and delicious! Yusuf’s service was impeccable and very accommodating. The chicken kabob with the Uzbeki Pulao were on point. The lamb chops and lamb shank were great! The Afghan salad the bread and hummus were great as well. 10/10 would recommend it. They have indoor dining and outdoor. Very clean & the bathroom was as well. Love it!

+2

literally one of the most satisfying meals of my life. everything here was fantastic and so well priced. i can’t wait to bring my friends and family here to enjoy this heart warming food. great service too!!!

Fantastic food, friendly people. A neighborhood gem.

The best food in Astoria!!! Every time I come I’m blown away by how delicious it is. Heavily recommend asking Sami what to order - he always picks the best thing for you.

The food is amazing as always. Service is decent . There is only one guy who takes your orders . Cleans up and brings u food so have patience . The most and only annoying thing about this restaurant is that they don't have window blinds and the sun will hit you right in the face during afternoon dining . They need to install shades !!

The owner/manager suggested mixed Kabab platter. It was a good portion. The food was delicious. We were initially placed on a table facing the wall, but the manager moved us to another table. Tried the firnee. Personally not a fan but other people liked it. Customer service was good as well.

+3

I don't even know where to begin. As I stepped in the restaurant, I was welcomed by the owner as well as aromas of Afgan cuisine. The food was amazing not to mention the owner was very generous ensuring we were satisfied with our meal. Every dish I had here was a trip to "flavortown". I would highly recommend this place to anyone whose looking to try new flavors with a warm comfortable ambience.

+1

You can never go wrong with Samis kabab house ! Their food literally does not disappoint ! Amazing flavor , amazing portion size , comfortable seating area ! My favorite place to go alone or with family !

I order from Sami's regularly; the chicken (grilled kebab) always tastes the same, the qubli is deliciously light and fresh, and the hummus is delicious. Cannot recommend this place enough!

Excellent authentic Afghan food. The interior was great with spacious seating arrangement for large gatherings. We ordered several kebab platters with hummus, and they were served with brown rice biryani. Yes, it is expensive, but if you want to try authentic afghan kebab this is the place! Everything was spot in terms of taste. It is less spicy but you can add extra spice with green chili paste and white sauce if you need to!

+3

The food here is always on point. It's clean and full of flavor. The meats are grilled well done but are still very juicy. The owner is friendly and welcoming.

+6

This place is a treat! The food is great. Ive never been to Afghanistan, but something tells me this food is spot on. You are greeted with warm smiles as soon as you enter. The place is spacious and has great lighting. The food comes out pretty quickly. My favorites have to include the bread, the Balani, and the eggplant (not pictured). The custard dessert is refreshing and tasty. I love this place. I wish they would offer cups of water.

+2

Very nice experience here every time, owner is very kind and always gives us free rice pudding to go when I bring my friends. Can’t recommend this place enough, thank you and see you again soon iA!

Everything about this places is just amazing. The service is great! And the food! Omg so fresh & flavorful. Can’t go wrong with this place.

+2

We ordered takeout of Mixed Afghan Kabab, Lamb Kabab and Mixed Vegetarian Entree. All three dishes were excellent. I am not a big fan of rice, but this rice with julienned carrots, raisins and semisweet syrup was crazy good. If you haven’t tried this rice yet, you’re missing out:)

This restaurant offers Afghan cuisine, reflecting the diversity of dining in Queens. The kababs and braised lamb shank we had were delicious, perfectly seasoned, and served in generous portions, offering great value for money. The vegetable sides and the sauces were very fresh and flavorful. Additionally, their homemade custard was a delightful surprise, with a unique texture and wonderfully complemented by nuts. Highly recommended.

+1

Great place to dine in . Very delicious food and extraordinary service . Our Server Ali was super accommodating and friendly. We will definitely be back

amazing 10/10 as always, they also gave us some firni on the house

Best Afghan restaurant in NYC! The owner is an amazing gentleman and the food is amazing! Great atmosphere for the community. Love live Sami’s and long live Afghanistan!

+1

A ami’s Kebab House was great. The meat was really tender, the rice was delicious, and Christian took great care of us. Definitely worth a visit.

Such a great spot in the neighborhood with such fresh, scrumptious food. Beautiful building that gets such great light and such a warm atmosphere. The desserts are incredible as well. A must try in the neighborhood.

Food was excellent. We all had lamb shank with qabuli polao and lamb chops. Meat was perfectly cooked and was literally falling off of the bone. It was juicy and succulent and very flavorful. Food portion was adequate. But we didn't like the hummus that much, it was little watery and thin. Service needs to be little bit better and attentive towards table. There was little bit of mix-up but no complaints.

Great food! Loved their mixed afghan kabab and lamb chops

Food was great, the servers were friendly. The manager took great care of us. and didn’t let us down. The vibes in the place were great!! came from VA but will definitely come back here when i’m back in NY

Generous portions, authentic food, skillfully prepared. The space is beautiful - especially when eating on a sunny day. Traditional afghan dresses, maps, art, and trinkets adorn the walls. I recommend the Uzbeki Qubali Pulao (rice dish with lamb, raisins and carrots).

The sauces were incredible. Lamb went well with rice. Not too dry. Firnee dessert was given as service - so sweet of them. I recommend eating the dumpling with both red and green chili as well as the yogurt sauce - in one bite makes a difference.

+1

Very delicious food. I had lamb tikka and shrimp both were amazing.

the Afghani Chicken kebab was amazing and im dreaming of the rice with carrots in it, so good! extremely nice folks working here, got free dessert and had a great time. if you’re trying to share, ordering the kebabs family style is a great option for combining everything onto one huge plate.

Raven Williams

I don’t often leave reviews but I feel compelled to leave one. We’ve been to both locations and Every. Single. Time. A banger! Today I tried something new (the chicken stew) and the CHICKEN melted in my mouth. What sorcery! My boyfriend always gets the lamb and 10 out of 10 every time. Never disappoints. Tenderism! We’ll be back!

Ahmet brn

Delicious meat and rice 😋😋 Tea and dessert very good Family friendly restaurant, it’s big you can have nice seats. Halal food When we entered, the Quran was being recited, honestly that was so cool 👏👏 By the way, they are adding a service charge to your bill. Therefore, it might be a bit expensive. Thank you

Honest Reviewer

Great delicious food , excellent clean atmosphere and friendly staff and owner .located in Astoria Queens and serves delicious Halal food in a very authentic atmosphere. They also have different appetizers and their Afghani bread is fresh and perfect with the dipping dishes .

+5

Brian Kang

Loved this place. The kabob platter was generous, tender, and packed with flavor, and the rice was super aromatic. Everything tasted fresh and well seasoned, and the portions were more than enough. Service was kind and fast, and the staff made the whole experience feel welcoming. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, good for both a quick meal and sitting down with friends or family. The dessert was amazing and easily my favorite part of the meal. Overall, great food, great people, and I definitely want to come back.

Jim S. (Chai Bhai)

Food is delicious. Perfect and decadent kebabs over Kabuli rice, their rice pudding

+1

Ahmed Mack

Idek where to begin. From entering the restaurant, we were greeted with happy faces and big hugs by Ali and ahmed. I never met these fine gentleman in my life but it felt like i knew them my whole life. We were seated and we ordered Lamb chops and mix grill, beef mantu with salad. We asked to pray and they offered us an area downstairs, ( btw super clean). After we were done our prayers, food was ready on the table. Everything was so tender and full of flavor. We came a little late towards closing time so we were kindly asked to finish up, BUT they offered us FREE pudding as an apology for rushing us. We were basically done anyway, they also offered us homemade tea with huge hugs on the way out. Honestly i’ve been treated this way in my entire life with so much humility and kindness. This experience was the best by far and food was very affordable ($70 for 2 people for all that food, which we took leftovers home!). May Allah bless you brothers and your business and grant you endless rizq and barakah! Can’t way to come back!

John Lin

Wow this place was good! We got the mixed plate kebabs and all three meats (beef, chicken, lamb) were cooked perfectly - juicy and flavorful. Great, friendly staff.

+1

hassan swaidan

Good food, friendly customers service. It has a vibe of authenticity. If you see one skewer on the menu don’t think it’s a small portion. The skewers are actually large one will be enough for one person.

Martin L

We ordered takeout here on a friend’s recommendation. It was out of this world. We got a chicken kebab with qabuli and bolani kachalu which is basically a deep fried afghani tortilla with potato filling. All delicious. The sauces are heaven. Get extra if you order! Sad it’s taken so long to discover this spot!

Mandy Kuo

Lovely Afghanistan restaurant with beautiful interior. We got the vegetarian platter, national dish (super tender lamb), lentil soup and the vegetable dumplings. Everything was super yummy (would just skip the Afghan nann). The lentil soup had such a unique blend of spices. The green tea with cardonmon was also great. The offered dessert on the house too. Great place!

+5

Gabriel

Went here for the first time with a group of 4 people and the food was amazing. We had different plates, which I don’t remember their name because my friend ordered them🤣, but they were all really good. The service was superb and the atmosphere comfortable, even though the place was full. Its so nice to go to new places and experience new cuisines, will definitely comeback here again and specifically after knowing this is a Mamdani/Bernies place😅🙏

+1

Ahmad Hassan

Absolutely delicious food, probably the best, great customer service, and clean environment. Always a great time with the family here. Definitely recommend coming

Rubaiat Ahmed

We visited this restaurant while in the area with our family and had an overall positive experience. The place is spacious, clean, and inviting, with excellent service and good food quality. As avid Afghan food enthusiasts, we'd rank this restaurant among our best Afghan dining experiences. Standout dishes included the flavorful rice with carrots and raisins, excellent and well-seasoned lentil soup, and perfectly cooked and seasoned mixed grill. The dumplings were adequately prepared, though the lamb broth truly elevated the dish. The rice quality and portions were satisfying. Some dishes fell short of expectations: the chicken kofta was decent but unremarkable, the borani lacked sufficient tanginess and the bolani needed seasoning to be perfect although it was nice and crispy. The service was exceptional, with attentive staff (including what appeared to be the manager or owner) providing complimentary desserts for our children. For a family of five (including three toddlers), the pricing was quite reasonable by today's standards. Overall, this restaurant comes recommended for those seeking quality Afghan cuisine in a comfortable setting with excellent service.

+2

Joseph Lu

Ive heard nothing but good things about this spot. I was in the area so I decided to swing by for take out. The person that helped out was super friendly. He took care of me like one of his own and gave me tea and pudding as I was waiting for my order. That hospitality alone will have me coming back again. I'm sure the food will be as delicious as the pudding. Can't wait to dig in!

Esteban Dutch

Great Afghan food. The lamb chop was really good and the steam dumplings. Be mindful the gratuity tip is 20% add to your bill. I parked across the street. You can order food to go through touch screen. The bathroom sliding door, doesn’t close all the way. You have to pull it to close it.

Delicious food, friendly and helpful staff conveniently located. Heard so many positive things about the restaurant so I finally made my way there. Well worth it!

Delicious food, friendly and helpful staff conveniently located. Heard so many positive things about the restaurant so I finally made my way there. Well worth it!

Delicious food, friendly and helpful staff conveniently located. Heard so many positive things about the restaurant so I finally made my way there. Well worth it!

OUT of this world mixed Kabab platter with the unlimited white sauce on the table is the best touch in my opinion. Without going into a rabbit hole I hate when you have to ask for extra white or hot …

Sami's kebab House was warm and inviting, service friendly, and food delicious. \n\nWe started off with the hummus and mantu and ended up doubling our mantu. order because they were so good. We d…

Sami's Kebab House was warm and inviting, service friendly, and food delicious. \n\nWe started off with the hummus and mantu and ended up doubling our mantu. order because they were so good. We did…

Great food and service! The owner of the establishment added complimentary food on the house as a first timer.

Great food and service! The owner of the establishment added complimentary food on the house as a first timer.

Such a memorable experience at Sami's. The food is to die for, the ambiance is super cozy. Will be back again for sure.

I normally don't care about rice, carrots, or raisins, but the Qabuli is soooooooo good (and consists of those 3 things I just listed lol) \n\nI always get the chicken Afghani kebab with Qabuli, bu…

The lamb practically peels off the bone with a single nudge. The rice is cooked in the halal meat. You have to order the lamb pulao. It was the highlight.\n\nThis restaurant is also beautifully d…

Their food tastes as clean and fresh as the space looks. Their meals leave a lasting impression. The staff shows kindness as well. I found my visit satisfying. We plan to return for their other spe…

amazinh service! great food! highly recommend the lamb chops! nice interior and quick service. Ahmed is a great!

Everything is great. Best is the lamb chop. Normally I don't eat lamb because I don't like the smell of it, but the store just changed me. So tender melt in your mouth and it has a hint taste o…

The best Afghan joint in NYC. Mr. Sami is a very friendly and respectful man. The chicken afghani is out of this world

food was sooooo delicious, service was amazing, ambience was extremely peaceful and very nice. i love it!!! i love afghans!!!!

Sami's never disappoints ! Please go & Enjoy ! The food is always consistent and the place is clean. The meat is the star as it is prepared so well seasoned, and the rice is light and airy not heav…

Picked up for to go from here for dinner. It was ready pretty quickly! We got hummus, chicken breast kabob platter, lamb chop platter, and chicken kofta. Everything was very well seasoned, I li…

Been there many times and I still have the same feeling the food is amazing! The service is even better and the ambiance is excellent.

No way! What a good food and especially the Mixed Afghan Kabab. I really appreciate the spot and it's good quality food. This place is super clean. I won't forget the good costumer service provided…

I stayed at a hotel nearby and I had dinner here 2 times in a row. I couldn't get enough. I don't love the taste of lamb however, the lamb here was perfectly cooked and had a delicious taste,.. …

Superb kebabs. Very tasty starters and entrées with excellent service. Very well priced we left very happy and they even threw in a complimentary dessert. What a gem!

Superb kebabs. Very tasty starters and entrées with excellent service. Very well priced we left very happy and they even threw in a complimentary dessert. What a gem!

the owner is amazing, and you can just tell how much passion he has for his food. the restaurant itself was so busy (note: the service was hard to come by, but understandable) but he made time to chat with us, and also gave us a dessert after we paid. the bread was so delicious… it was unlike any bread i’ve had before. we got the afghani lamb shank, which is the national dish, and the meat was so tender and flavorful. we were most excited about the mantu, but we reminded the waiter twice and it never came sadly. we will have to try it next time.

The entree was really good. We had the chicken kabob with kabuli rice. The rest of the items we ordered were not as good, the soup just tasted like chicken curry with bits of noodles and the dumplings had spice but not enough salt on the dumplings or soup. The main dish did make up for the shortcomings on the appetizers. It was moist, flavorful and satisfying.

I had the mixed kabob plate and loved it. The meat was expertly seasoned and not overcooked as kabobs can often be. The rice was tender and so flavorful, and I even enjoyed the raisins, which I usually hate. The scallion dumplings were also very nice, and the naan was so good -- more fluffy and buttery than typical Indian naan, but absolutely delicious. The service was great, very attentive and the food came quickly. They even tossed in a dessert gratis. One of the folks I was eating with didn't love his meal (the lamb shank) and the prices are just a tad high, hence the four stars rather than five. But on the whole it was a very pleasant experience and if Middle Eastern food appeals to you, you should give this place a try.

First time trying Afghan food and it was really delicious. The hummus was smooth and flavorful, the lamb kababs were grilled to tender perfection, and the stewed lamb meat was great as well. We got the firnee dessert which was a silky smooth custard (supposed to come topped with pistachios according to their menu) but missing the pistachios on top so that was disappointing.

+2

Good large portions of food, humongous mixed kabab platter and complementary rice pudding dessert. Like the new addition corner space with full height glass in contrast with the more traditional feel on the other side. Very popular for iftar during Ramadan. One annoyance is no tap water provided, have to buy bottled water.

+4

Delicious. BYOB. Super fun. Incredibly tasty. Had my birthday and it was a blast. Friendly staff. Only reason for 4 stars was the vegetarian plate didn’t come with vegetarian rice. It can’t be labeled vegetarian…but would recommend 100% to anyone especially for big groups

Sami's kebab house has been around for a while serving authentic Afghani food. Lots of grilled meats, decent amount of seating, amazing flavors & good service. Highly recommend.

+1

Got a bunch of different meats and honestly everything was really good. All the meats were juicy and tasty . The rice with carrots and raisins was actually a great mix . They also give free dessert at the end of your meal. The only issue is the service is a little slow and the price is high.

A N

A very decent spot with a broad variety of decor you’d just keep on staring at. The food is top notch and can serve 2 people easily (some dishes), bread was nice when served warm. My suggestion is to try the Uzbek Qabuli Pulao it is just perfection. Also an fyi they charge 20% service charge for every table with 2 or more guests which is insane, like I didn’t feel out of this world with the service that I’d like to give that much in tip. It is like $25-$30 per dish and total bill was $57 after tax and a $12 service charge. Overall a great place, just order a take out I guess 😂

+1

The service was so bad and food was average.We went with family .The waiter had difficulty explaining the menu he didn't explain how to order family platter . The food came cold the rice and kebabs…

First time going here for lunch on a Sunday. I was the only other person there. That should have been a sign. I ordered the kefka kabob, hummus, salad, and bread. Bread was completely stale. Kabob was delicious. Salad was average and fresh. Hummus was delicious. I had expectations of great hospitality, but perhaps they were short-staffed. I asked for a glass of water, but I was charged for a bottle of water instead. But I was never brought out the water. When I asked about a glass of water I was told they do not offer glasses of water. Very strange practice for a sit-down restaurant! Since I wasn't given the bottle of water either, I asked them to please take it off the bill. I will not be returning.

Chicken kebab was excellent, better than the lamb shank. Be aware that water isn’t free, you’ll get a $2 Poland Spring instead (soda same price), and there will be a 20% tip charged. Your table gets a salad, but would be nice if the waiter didn’t bring it with their thumb inside the bowl.

I think they need to use better quality meat was chewy ( Tough) chicken need to be fresher!! Rice was tasty and super oily! Appetizers meat dough was good but on cold side. Experience was not what reviews indicated 4.6.

+3

Update 2022: Wow what happened to this beloved place. While the food is still good, the dine in experience has gone downhill. The waiters are all over the place, keep forgetting to bring stuff. They don’t also provide you tap water, only bottled. This should be against the law. As others have mentioned the 20% service charge without mentioning it sounds cunning. Glad I checked. Taking off 1 star. I think the NY times reviews went to their head. Bring back the original Sami and hire more competent workers. Don’t think I will back anymore. Good food, rustic decor and homey. Their bathroom is even nicer than the restaurant. Lamb chops were really tasty. The bread/naan is not your typical naan. Has Afgani twist to it. The owner/chef is a nice man who really wants to make you feel welcome. He is running back and forth between being the waiter/server/cook. Go out for a with family dinner, your so, friends you will really enjoy. Not a first date type place though.

+6

I have to say the food is good, we got the lentil soup, mantu, mixed plate for 2 people. Honestly I like their chill sauce on the table. Everything is fine before they bring the bill, they charged 20% service fee without saying anything. I was willing to tip more but this way makes me feel really uncomfortable. Maybe they are not confident about their service. So please double check the bill if you come this place. This is nasty.

+2

The ambiance of this restaurant was beautiful. I love Mediterranean food and have tried it at many places, so I'm familiar with the flavors. I ordered their Kabuli polao with lamb, a renowned Afghan dish, but it didn't quite capture the authentic taste. Additionally, the mixed grill I ordered was overly dry. Kabuli Polao - 5/10 Mantu - 6/10 Mix Grill - 5/10

I visited on a weekday during lunch and the place was completely empty. I ordered a kofteh kebab but instead got a lamb kebab (which was very unfortunate given I clarified my order several times). The hummus and bread were perfect, but the main lamb kebab dish was flavorful. However the portion ratio of meat to rice was completely off, especially for the price. It’s a shame, I’ve heard great things about this place and the inside is so uniquely beautiful, but at the end of the day it was a disappointing experience

+6

Ejaz Malikzada

Not my favorite restaurant. I'd give it 6 out of 10. It's not bad place to get a plate. I'd say an average OK restaurant to get some kebab. The food lacks the authentic Afghanistan taste. Maybe I'm too picky when it comes to food from my home country.

+1

K. Sher

I actually thought the food was pretty good, altho the kebab came a little dryer than we liked but the flavors were good. Wanted to like this place however huge let down with no tap water available and default 20% service charge. Plenty of seats in the restaurant, with tables of various sizes, and it was not busy during weeknight dinner. Perhaps there are other kebab places that are better.

Tonmoy Ahmed

Yesterday, my friend and I visited your restaurant for dinner. We ordered a beef dumpling as an appetizer, and in main course I Uzbeki Qabuli Pulao for myself, and a beef kofta kabab for my friend, with a request to substitute naan bread for the rice. Unfortunately, our dining experience was far from satisfactory. To begin with, the appetizer order was incorrect; they served beef dumpling with fresh herbs and onions. Additionally, naan bread, which was supposed to accompany the main course. During the main course, the two dishes we ordered were served together on a single plate, despite being requested as separate orders.This was unacceptable and undermined the quality of the service. When I addressed these issues with the server, I explained the discrepancies in our orders. However, the situation was handled unprofessionally, leaving us disappointed. Furthermore, a 20% service charge was added to the bill. Per industry standards, such charges are typically applied for larger parties of six or more. Considering the poor quality of service we received, even a 15% service charge felt unwarranted.

+1

Giving a few stars because the food was solid and the staff were kind. But they fully refuse to give you tap water (not illegal, I checked, but very rare and bizarre). If you want water, it’s $2 or $3 for a thin Poland Spring bottle per person. To me, this is a non-starter and I won’t be returning because of it. The food is salty and I drink a TON of water to begin with. To not give glasses of tap water feels scammy and inhospitable. Once they change this, I’ll happily return with friends to dine in.

We went today to celebrate our colleague's retirement around 14 people, the food was decent, however the service was terrible. We ordered 14 dishes one for each person and we all thought that was enough, however, the owner was harassing us to buy appetizers and other dishes and begging us to give him more business, we refused. They offered us Afghani tea, however, they never brought it to our table. We asked the server to take a picture of our group and he nastily replied "Wait brother" (i have never met the guy like most of us), a second colleague asked for one more picture and the waiter sarcastically said that he wasn't going to take pictures with everyone's phone. Despite the bad service, they charged us a 20% mandatory for the service. It is a shame, the food is okay but the service was awful. We all decided to never come back to this place.

🛑Waste of $75. They automatically charge a 20% service fee for parties of two or more, yet the service was practically nonexistent when we needed help. I ordered the Mantu dumplings, which were falling apart and barely had any filling. For $22, I got six pieces of lamb kebab with a mountain of rice — the portion was disappointing. My friend had the lamb shank, which they found merely satisfactory. It came with yet another overwhelming serving of rice, and I personally didn’t like the flavor. Overall, very underwhelming. ⚠️⚠️⚠️ There are so many delicious restaurants right around the area, do not WASTE your time here. 🛑

I've been to Sami's Kabab many times over the years and always had great experiences. I even remember visiting when they first opened and leaving a glowing review back then. We've recommended this pl…

I want today to Sami's restaurant in Astoria we ask the waiter about 2 mixe grill for 4 people but the waiter advise us to take family mixes grill the food was ok but the service was very bad we …

Food was not so delicious! Lamb shank was smelling odd. And with any previous disclosure they charge automatic 20 % gratuity. I may not go again.

food was not so delicious! lamb shank was smelling odd. And with any previous disclosure they charge automatic 20 % gratuity. I may not go again.

Food was not so delicious! lamb shank was smelling odd. And with any previous disclosure they charge automatic 20 % gratuity. I may not go again.

They charge a 20 percent surcharge for dine in. They also refused to serve tap water and only sell plastic bottles of water.

They charge a 20 percent surcharge for dine in. They also refused to serve tap water and only sell plastic bottles of water.

This spot is very sneaky. They charge an automatic 20% service fee without prior disclosure and requests and 18-20% gratuity after the service fee total. Please be advised before eating here. Can you…

This spot is very sneaky. They charge an automatic 20% service fee without prior disclosure and requests and 18-20% gratuity after the service fee total. Please be advised before eating here. Can…

I have and been here many times before and always had a great meal. Unfortunately I think the bottom fell out of this place. My friend and I both order lamb chops and their signature Afghan Ri…

I usually don’t write negative reviews about local business but this restaurants needs to improve the quality of their service and food. First of all, the food was packed so poorly, we requested for some cutleries which were missing. Why would you dump bunch of bones (qorma) on top of the rice, just to save one package? They charged me $5 for a very small piece of uncooked naan. The ashak came with no sidings. Food had no flavour. Don’t waste your hard earned money buying food from this restaurant.

The service was really bad and the behavior was totally unacceptable. We was order the food the guy bring the food to our table he just threw the food its really insulting. Then we didn’t take the food we just come out from samis kabab

Absolutely terrible service. My wife and I walked into a nearly empty restaurant and seated ourselves at a 5-person table by the window to enjoy the view. After about 10 minutes, a waiter came over and rudely told us we couldn’t sit there because it was meant for larger groups. We politely explained that the restaurant was empty, we’d only be there briefly, and my wife really liked the view. Instead of showing any courtesy or flexibility, he forcefully moved us to a cramped 2-person table. We felt very humiliated being moved like that, especially in an empty restaurant where it clearly wasn’t necessary. The attitude was condescending, and the total lack of basic hospitality was shocking. We ended up leaving without even ordering. To top it off, they have the audacity to automatically charge a 20% service fee for parties of two or more — for this kind of treatment? Unbelievable. Would never go back. Avoid if you care about being treated with even a shred of respect.

I just called because I placed an Uber Eats order and wanted to ask about getting white sauce with it. The person who answered the phone was extremely rude. This is my first time ordering from your restaurant, and while I’m willing to update my review if the food is good, the first impression so far isn’t great.

I had a terrible experience. I called and I explained my order I ordered 2 Mantu, 2 kubli with meat, large salad and vegetarian platter The parking was pretty hard so I doubled parked and ran to the store picked my order When I arrived home and the order was missing the 2 kubli with meat & I got small salad instead of large one I called and I was told sorry for that but we don't have anyone to deliver and you must come back to take the rest of your order. Then I went back and I took the rest if the order and found kubli rice only without meat and the person in charge gave me a desert as a good gesture. I told him it's just rice then he said yes I told him on my order it's kubli with meat Then he said you don't know afghan food well!! So back to the review of the food. Mantu was saggy doesn't have any flavor. And the rice was average the vegetarian platter was mostly big chunks of hard potatoes and rice. The salad was pretty good. The chatni didn't have cilantro at all finally the white sauce wS diluted ranch sauce finally the bread isn't related to afghab bread at all. I don't recommend going there

+1

The food test was average. But, the service was so bad. They charged us $10 more than the total food price. We didn't noticed it immediately but onece I was splitting the costs with my friend the we figured it out. Also, they have different prices for the same food on different menus book.

Went there for lunch yesterday and ordered the Afghani Chicken kababs. The chicken thighs tasted AWFUL! It felt like the meat had gone bad from sitting outside for too long. The texture of the meat was off. My feeling is that they buy cheap quality meat which is really a shame for a place that calls itself a kabab house. Never going back. The high number of reviews led us there but it’s not worth your money at all considering what a risk this is to your health if they serve bad meat. Extremely disappointing experience. My partner’s beef kababs were undercooked and he sent them back. They did give us extra lamb and free dessert to compensate for our bad experience but the lamb tasted awful too. He got food poisoning the next day. Also, they don’t offer you tap water.

We visited as a party of 2 and noticed on the menu that a 20% gratuity charge would automatically be added to any party of 2 or more. When the waiter asked what we wanted to drink, we said water, but bottled water was brought out instead of tap. Partway through our meal, the check was dropped off even though we hadn’t asked for it, which made the experience feel a little rushed. We were there for about 40 minutes in total, and the restaurant wasn’t very busy at the time. Overall, the food was fine, but the service and atmosphere didn’t feel as welcoming as I had hoped.

I am a regular customer at this place, but this time my experience was very disappointing. I placed my order over the phone and was told it would be ready in 20 minutes. It took me about 26 minutes to arrive. When I approached the cashier (the older gentleman with a white-lined beard), he had no idea about my order and then told me it would take another 7 minutes. I ended up waiting an additional 15–20 minutes, only to find out that they had just started preparing my order at that point. When I asked a younger employee about speaking to a manager, my question was ignored. By the time I finally received my food, the total wait time was over 40 minutes. As a loyal customer, I am not happy with this experience and hope this issue is addressed so it doesn’t happen again.

We ordered nearly 70 dollars food . The dumplings were too spicy and oily . And the chicken tandoori you can see the pictures how much colors they use . Even all the rice was read . When o touched the chicken all the food colors came to my hand . And taste is not good . And the price so overpriced. Few years back food quality was ok but not anymore . Never going back to them . So disappointed

My brother and I went right before iftar and used the ordering machine inside, which directed us to “order here.” After paying around $60, we sat down to wait for our food. A staff member came over, and when we showed him our receipt, he told us it was “for takeout only,” spoke very rudely, and told us to get up and leave so other customers could take the table. When we asked for a refund, he refused and told us we had to wait for the food to come out. We didn’t receive it until about 20 minutes after iftar. On top of that, the portions were small for the price, and the food quality was disappointing. Overall, extremely unprofessional service and not worth the money. I wouldn’t recommend dining here.

I was recommended this place by a friend and was looking forward to authentic Afghan food, but I was completely disappointed. The restaurant smells like a sewer, the furniture is very old and unstable, and the waiter was rude and disrespectful. Despite all of this, I was still hopeful that the food would be good—but unfortunately, it wasn’t. The food is extremely overpriced, and the portions are very small. We ordered kabobs and immediately regretted it. The rice was very hard to chew, and the meat had a bad smell. On top of that, they automatically charge a 20% tip despite providing very poor service. To all Afghans looking for authentic food, don’t waste your money here. Go somewhere else—this place is not worth it.

Alishbah

I’ve been to Sami’s Kabab many times over the years and always had great experiences. I even remember visiting when they first opened and leaving a glowing review back then. We’ve recommended this place to countless people because the food and service were consistently excellent. Because of that history, we chose Sami’s for a very special occasion related to our wedding. We were hosting both families for a goodbye dinner before they left the country, and we had about 10 people total. As we were discussing appetizer and kebab preferences, the owner came over and told us not to worry about ordering — that he would take care of everything and make us very happy. He was extremely warm and kind, so we trusted him. He brought out a generous mix of appetizers, two very large platters of rice and kebabs, and desserts. At the time it felt thoughtful, though it was honestly far more food than we needed — so much that one entire family platter had to be packed to go. When the bill arrived, we were shocked. It came out to around $1,400, plus a mandatory 20% gratuity added on top. We were expecting something closer to $500–700 total. The owner had clearly over-ordered on our behalf and then charged us for everything — including bread, salad, and sauces, which we have never been charged for before at an Afghan restaurant. This worked out to well over $100 per person, before gratuity. Even if everyone had individually ordered an appetizer, main, dessert, and drink, it would not have come close to that amount. What makes this especially upsetting is seeing a Muslim business owner, with his name on the restaurant, do this to other Muslims, during a meaningful family and wedding-related occasion. There is an expectation of honesty and fairness, and that trust was violated. As a business owner, you should not be ordering for customers without clearly explaining what is being ordered, the pricing, or even giving a rough estimate upfront. To present food as a kind gesture and then charge for an excessive amount — including automatic gratuity — feels deeply unethical and honestly borderline deceptive. It left us feeling forced into paying simply because of the situation. In hindsight, the kindness felt performative. This experience was deeply disappointing. We went in trusting a place we loved and left feeling completely taken advantage of.