Afghan Grill is a no-frills Afghan restaurant in Bethnal Green, where generous portions, traditional dishes and plenty of grilled meat are the order of the day. The focus is firmly on the food rather than flashy interiors, making this a straightforward option for anyone keen to explore the comforting flavours of Afghan cooking.
The dining room is relatively small and simply decorated, with Afghan details adding colour and character. Alongside conventional tables and chairs, there’s a section of traditional floor seating for a more authentic experience, while a separate dining area is also available for women.
Rice and meat form the backbone of the menu, and the obvious place to start is kabuli pilau, widely regarded as Afghanistan’s national dish. Here, long-grain rice is cooked with lamb before being topped with sweet strips of carrot and raisins, creating the sweet-and-savoury combination that characterises the dish.
The grill provides plenty more to get stuck into. Chapli kebabs are flat patties of seasoned minced meat, while chopan kebab offers another lamb-focused option. Elsewhere, lamb karahi takes its name from the wok-like pan in which it is cooked, arriving as a rich, hearty alternative to the restaurant’s grilled dishes. Vegetarians aren’t forgotten either, with aubergine featuring prominently among the meat-free choices.
Don’t expect everything to arrive loaded with chilli. Afghan Grill’s cooking tends to favour balanced, aromatic spicing, with garlic, onion and herbs playing just as important a role as dried spices. An assortment of house-made sauces and chutneys accompanies the food, adding extra freshness and punch. Overall, Afghan Grill is an unfussy neighbourhood restaurant that puts traditional Afghan flavours front and centre.