Khyber Pass Zarparan

I love the food at Khyber pass! I have been eating at this restaurant for probably 25 to 30 years now, since they started in the Kearny Mesa area and later moved to Hillcrest. I believe the ownership has changed, however the food is still just as amazing as ever! Everything I have tried here from soups (both vegetarian, but very hearty and delicious) to the entrees to all of the different vegetables and rices that they serve here are amazing and so delicious. In fact, I challenge you to try the Sabzi (cooked spinach), it doesn't taste like any other spinach I've ever tried. Almost takes like creamed spinach but without any cream or dairy products at all. Better than cream spinach, literally the best spinach in San Diego. If you know of any better spinach than this, let me know! Anyway, the kabobs and the curries are also phenomenal. Love the apricot and cherry chicken dishes and the rices, omg. I'm not the kind of guy who gets excited about rice, but here it's a whole different story. They have cherry rice and rice topped with cooked carrots and raisins and flavored with seasonings that will blow your mind. I'm also a huge fan of their banana squash (Badu), it's so delicious and such a unique vegetable for a restaurant. I truly hope this place stays around forever because I will never grow tired of the food here. If you've never tried Afghani cuisine, go try it.

Came in for dinner last week and the experience overall was a bit of a mixed bag. The interior of the space is a decent size and it the decor is done rather tastefully and gives visitors a fairly authentic presentation on Afghan/Persian design motifs. However, it was a fairly warm evening and their AC/Fan usage wasn't the best and you definitely feel the heat a good amount. The service was friendly enough and one of the managers there used to be on staff at Darband Restaurant so he really knows his stuff and is very personable. The Naan, Bolani, and Sambosa appetizers were all very good and I particularly like the Sambosa; the meat was flavored very well and was not overcooked. The chicken (joojeh) kabob was also done very well and the Afghan take on it with added spice was very interesting. On the negative side I didn't really enjoy either the Kofta (Koobideh) kabob or the steak (Chengeh) kabob. The Kofta was too thick with an overly soft texture and was lacking flavor while the Chengeh was not evenly grilled for certain pieces. Worth checking out if have never tried Afghan food before but if you're looking to try kabobs there are better places out there.

This was an amazing introduction to a type of regional cuisine I hadn't tried before. I'm not sure I would've stumbled upon this hidden gem had my friends not recommended it - I'm glad they did, and I'll definitely be back! The service was fast and incredibly friendly. You could tell the staff were passionate about the food and providing new customers like me with a great experience. I was recommended the Afghan Yaghoot Chalao, a sweet and sour lamb dish with white rice. The portion was huge and I'm a bit ashamed to say I scarfed the whole thing down. It was amazing! The lamb was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the cherry sauce mixed well with the rice to create the perfect combination of savory and sweet. We also got apps - can't go wrong with pita and hummus! Still great, but the main entree stole the show. I also tried a bit of my friend's steak kabob, which was perfectly seasoned. I'd definitely recommend if you're walking through the Hillcrest area! My dish (#34) is apparently a customer favorite - for good reason - but I really don't think you can go wrong, and the staff seemed like they'd provide great guidance if you need help deciding.

Ordered a qabuli palaw with lamb shank and some aushak. Rice was undercooked and had no flavor whatsoever. Aushak was the size of a grape leaf, never seen them that big. Lacked flavor and it had so much oil.

The waiter asked me to try lamb which is the best. Lamb was tender but too much salt. I was not able to eat it. 2. They take 18% gratuities irrespective of number of people. The later receipt also ask for tips so be careful. If they have taken gratuity then tip should not be asked.3. Bolanie was fried and served as an appetizer. 4. There is no free parking nearby or very hard to find.5 it's a big restaurant with good ambiance and they do serve alcoholic beverages.

Took my girlfriend who has never had Afghani food here and it was an instant hit! The Yaghoot Chalao was our favorite and was a mesmerizing mix of sweet and savory that I cleaned up with every grain of rice. Portions are definitely shareable here and is a great place to have a quiet evening out or a more intimate date night. The Chicken Kabob was also juicy and tender, not overcooked for those who are particular about their chicken. I only wish it came with more for the price . We'll be back to try more dishes soon!

Awesome family-style restaurant with delicious food. Prices are a bit higher than I'm used to, but expected in Hillcrest. - Extensive menu with Afghan, Pakistani, Iranian cuisine- Aushak was the highlight of our meal- Plentiful vegetarian options- Kabob plates were rice heavy with less meat, did not come with much else (no veggies, sauce/dips, etc)- Curry came with less meat and sauce than expected, also rice heavy- Has a bathroom for customersOther:- Parking was difficult, street parking and lots are all paid- Workers and service were very nice, felt family-operated

Excellent food service and a little history thrown in by the owner Cyrus. He made us smile and our bellies happy! Went tonight with my international Foodie Meetup group. Everyone loved their food, we had Aushak as an appetizer. It was a flat dumpling filled with meat and had a spicy lentil sauce. My husband had the lamb curry, that was very tender with a wonderful sauce. I also had lamb with a sour cherry sauce. Others had kabobs and chicken dishes. Not to guild the Lilly but we had the saffron ice cream and Afghani custard with nuts for dessert. The portions were large, the setting was great. Unique restaurant in Hillcrest.

Damn this place is good. That 5 lentil soup is mindblowing. I ordered it to have something on the healthy side. I put one spoonful in and did a triple take thinking why is this so good. Head scratcher! Get the soup!!!!

This was my first experience with Afghan and Persian food. The flavors were unique to me and delicious! I started with the appetizer platter which included Dolmeh, Borta, Hummus, Yogurt Cucumber dip, and like Pita/flatbread to dip. Dolmeh are stuffed grape leaves and the ones here tasted fresh. The Borta, which was the eggplant dip, was my favorite. It tasted had a nice garlic taste. Then I got a half order of the Mantu which is savory dumplings filled with lentils and beef covered in a yogurt sauce. This was enough of a meal for me. Also I got a mango lassi which was delicious. Mango lassi is a mango yogurt drink. The one here wasn't tart like yogurt at all and just tasted like mango. I always order mango lassis when I go to places that serve them. I tried my friends' dishes too. The chicken kebab on the Greek salad was really good and moist. The gormeh sabzi had strong flavor with lots of spice. The okra chalao was good too. I heard the Turkish coffee was strong. Our server seemed happy to help and serve us! The restaurant was decorated well with paintings and decor. Parking is difficult in this area of Hillcrest. Typically I've just done paid parking at nearby lots.