Azeen's Afghani - Pasadena

After watching The Kite Runner and reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, I came across this restaurant and decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! Everything my friends and I ordered was delicious. One dish was the Smarooq Challaw, which featured tender chicken breasts with mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and green peppers. The other dish was the Quabili Pallaw, consisting of tender lamb with a mound of Pallaw, carrot strips, and raisins. I didn't order anything myself, but fortunately my friends were happy to share their dishes with me. I tried the Kabob Combo as a starter, which was a fantastic introduction to Afghan cuisine. I look forward to trying more dishes in the future. The restaurant has a spacious dining room with plenty of natural light, creating a cozy atmosphere. The service was also quite impressive.

When it comes to appetizers, I have tried most of them and they are all delicious. During my most recent visit, my friends and I shared two appetizers. The Pakawara-e-badenjan, which is fried eggplant topped with yogurt and meat sauce, was a standout dish. The combination of flavors may seem unusual, but the tangy yogurt sauce complemented the seasoned tomato-based meat sauce perfectly. We also enjoyed the Buranee-kadu, a sautéed butternut squash dish topped with yogurt and meat sauce. The fusion of flavors in this dish was truly unique and delicious. In addition to the appetizers, I would highly recommend trying the steamed dumplings at Azeen's. Both the mantu, a beef and herb dumpling, and the Aushak, a leek and scallion dumpling, are delicious and served with homemade yogurt-based sauces. For the main course, we ordered dishes such as the Badenjan Challaw, lamb cooked with eggplants, onions, and tomatoes, and the Gulpi, a cauliflower stew cooked with ginger, onions, and tomatoes. While I enjoyed most of the dishes, there were a few that did not impress me as much. However, the chicken breast kabob was a standout, always moist and tender. Overall, Azeen's offers a variety of menu items, including vegetarian options that are sure to please. Their vegetable dishes are especially flavorful and well-prepared. While the beef and lamb dishes can be hit or miss in terms of tenderness and juiciness, the Korma Challaw, a dish with meat, green peppers, onions, and tomatoes, is always a favorite. For dessert, Azeen's offers Baklava, jelly, and rice pudding with pistachios and almonds. I personally prefer the rice pudding, as it is not overly sweet. In conclusion, I am someone who enjoys trying new restaurants and cuisines, but I have found myself returning to Azeen's multiple times because of the excellent food and pleasant dining experience. I highly recommend checking it out for yourself!