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Bistro Aracosia

Bistro Aracosia

Someone from this business manages this listing.
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+1 202-363-0400+ Add website
Hours
Sun
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Tue
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Wed
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thu
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Fri
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sat
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
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Ratings and reviews
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles

RATINGS
Food
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
CUISINES
Afghan
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
features
Menu

Appetizers (Mazza)
Bistro Signature Mix Grill Mazza
Marinated and charbroiled lamb shoulder chops, lamb rib chops, lamb tenderloin and beef tenderloin, served with spicy fresh herb chutney
$20.95
Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Mix Grill Mazza
Marinated and charbroiled salmon, ground beef, beef tenderloin and lamb rib chop, served with avocado yogurt
$15.95
Gluten Free
Hot Mazza Assortment
Aushak, mantu, baadenjaan, kadoo, topped with garlic yogurt, dried mint and cayenne Vegetarian option available
$16.95
Quroti
Afghan bread topped with a minced beef and lentil qorma, yogurt, dried mint and cayenne
$9.25
Baadenjaan Bouranee
Roasted eggplant topped with garlic yogurt, dried mint and cayenne
$9.95
Vegetarian
Gluten Free
Kadoo Bouranee
Butternut squash topped with garlic yogurt, dried mint and cayenne
$9.95
Vegetarian
Gluten Free

Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?
About
Bistro Aracosia is a critically acclaimed authentic Afghan gourmet and Chop House located in the Palisades neighborhood of Washington, DC. Aracosia has been acknowledged as 1 of 50 best restaurants in the nation for Vegetarians on Forbes Magazine, written up and reviewed by top food critics from the Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine and numerous other publications. Bistro Aracosia has been awarded 100 Best restaurants for 2 years in a row in the Washingtonian. Aracosia accommodates any diet and is proud of taking cooking back to its origins. Chef Sofia Masroor diligently ensures top grade quality cuts of meat and the freshest produce in the market. All foods prepared at Aracosia are prepared with love. No artificial ingredients MSG& or preservatives are used, nor do we cook anything with nuclear such as microwaves and pre-made stations. Full Bar , extensive Wine and Beer menu Come and experience authentic and classical Afghan Gourmet and hospitality at its finest.
CUISINES
Afghan
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles180 reviews
Excellent
145
Very good
26
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
1

Ceci T
Washington DC330 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2020 family
Aracosia continues to provide amazing food even during the lockdown. We ordered the family special - great selection and delicious, plentiful meal at a very reasonable price. Convenient curb side pickup. Please support Aracosia so that they and other neighborhood restaurants can weather this crisis.
Written May 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MBlair1
Arlington135 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 none
My family and I had a wonderful experience here last weekend. Waitress was very knowledgeable and pointed out a handful of the most popular items (which we ordered and loved). The complimentary hot bread with 4 dipping sauces was a fun way to start the experience. We ordered 1 app, 4 main dishes and desert to share. Perfect amount. They also went above and beyond for my sisters birthday which was very much appreciated. Cozy family friendly atmosphere. Parking is easy - out front or around the side in the neighborhood. We will absolutely be back!
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pioneer30893148298
MBlair1, We’re delighted you selected Bistro Aracosia to celebrate your sister’s birthday party and thank you for sharing your experience. We’re thrilled you enjoyed your servers recommendations as well as the chutney selection. Looking forward to welcoming you back on your next visit. Warm regards, Aracosia family. P.S. The chutneys you enjoyed at the restaurant are now available for purchase to enjoy at home.
Written January 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ElGuap0_1
Paris255 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 none
This is a new Gem along MacArthur Boulevard. The theme is Afghan cuisine, but similar dishes may be found in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and smaller Central Asian republics. Their main staple is lamb, which may be served grilled or in a rich stew with tomatoes, eggplant and/or okra. The interplay with regional spices makes each dish I’ve tried an absolute delight. FYI, this place is HOT! It tends to be crowded, and difficult to get a reservation. Part of that is because it’s new and features a different cuisine — but that also reflects the fact that they serve good food at reasonable prices.
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aracosia
ElGuap0_1, Thank you for dining with us and thank you for providing Geographic context for our cuisine. We’re thrilled that you found the interplay of spices delightful. Looking forward to welcoming you back on your next visit. Warm regards, Aracosia family.
Written February 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

matrixcl55
4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 none
/we were excited to go here after reading all the 5 star ratings. Unfortunately, we were met with disappointment. We were sat by the kitchen and ask to be moved. We moved over, but our menus did not follow. So we had to ask for those. We were greeted by a waitress how seemed friendly enough but the only thing she could say about the food was that's a popular dish. We ordered wine and she knew nothing about the 2 options to give us a recommendation, The appetizers were not appetizing. The potato turnover was so bland I swear it came from a bag. The pumpkin dumplings were a big meh. The wine came out warm after the appetizers were served, I think it came from their grocery store. I ordered salmon that I could not eat. It was covered in a saffron sauce and the salmon tasted fishy. There must of been 2 cups of rice on my plate with those pitiful salmon medallions. My husband ordered the mixed grill and the quality of the meet left something to be desired. I noticed that the lady next to be ordered the salmon as well and barely touched it. The best thing we had to eat was the dipping sauces for the bread. Those were good. Maybe last night was a fluke? Not sure, but we won't go back.
Written June 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dblbell56
174 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 none
My foodie nephew wanted something different for his birthday so he chose Afghanistan food. We studied the menu and picked a variety of items. Unfortunately the descriptions from the menu were not what was delivered in our take out order... We ordered 2 different Kabob entrees. NONE of them were actually served as kebobs. The Surf & Turf described as "a skewer of Salmon and a skewer of Tenderloin" had one very small piece of fish and several strips & a chunk of "meat" (see photo) Neither showed any indication of being in the same kitchen as a "skewer". The fish was nicely grilled and still maintained some moisture but we were very disappointed at the portion of fish. The "meat" was very seasoned, tender but well done. Again never saw any indication of contact with a skewer. The two rice servings were adequate but unequal in serving size. The other "Kabob" entree was Chicken and Tenderloin. Chicken was a little dry and the "skewer of meat" was a different serving than the other entree. BOTH "meat" dishes should have been the same size/type of portions. (see photos). Rhumi's Chicken is described as "chicken slowly cooked in a spicy tomato sauce". The sauce was interesting but the chicken "slices" didn't have the flavor infused that simmering should have imparted. Nor did the chicken have color that the cooking technique should have shown. It was dried out. There is NO MENTION of the slices of green pepper that were in it. Can't find any dish listed on the menu that has them either. A casual search of Afghanistan foods failed to turn it up as an item used in their dishes. Hmmmmm... The appetizer of Leek and Scallion Dumplings [Aushak] was flavorful but was dumped into a container that was way to small for even this inadequate sized portion. As unique as this type of food might be we found the portion size issues, the questionable execution of cooking techniques and the discrepancies of menu description versus what was "delivered" displeasing. I can only wonder if the failure to execute simple kitchen techniques is a desire to put out quantity versus quality, cutting prep time or just laziness. We gave this a courtesy rating of average but "skewer" it disappointing..
Written October 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ismailbandook
Pune962 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 family
Washington DC has a number of restaurants serving cuisines of different countries around the world. Living in India we always look forward to sampling different foods whenever we visit the US. Afghan food is not generally available in Bombay and thus we lunched at this quaint Afghan restaurant The authentic food is modestly priced. The ambience is pleasant and the service efficient. We drank hot saffron tea with flat Afghan bread and dips (complementary). The mango and avocado dips were the best The starters were quroti and mantu. The first is Afghan bread layered with minced meat and topped with spiced yoghurt. The mantu are Afghan dumplings topped with yoghurt. The boneless juicy chicken thigh kabobs were soft and melt in the mouth. The beef kabobs were however a bit dry. Both the main dishes were served on a bed of saffron rice. A very satisfying experience for sure .
Written March 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aracosia Family
We're happy that you were able to join us for a meal during your visit! We are glad that you enjoyed your experience and we appreciate your kind words!
Written March 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

NJass
74 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 none
What a quaint and welcoming restaurant. We were a large party of 8, we were greeted very warmly and were seated at our table. Wanted to try the various dishes so we ordered a variety of appetizers and mains. Every single dish was better than the first one.The presentation of each dish was unique and each bite made you want to eat more. One of the best restaurants in DC for sure!
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aracosia
NJass92, Thank you for dining with us. We’re thrilled that your party of eight enjoyed the various dishes you ordered. We are delighted you found the food delicious and we thank you for your kind words. Looking forward to welcoming you back on your next visit. Warmly, Aracosia family.
Written February 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jane H
Washington DC12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 none
Unless you know it's there you may not find Bistro Aracosia, but it's worth discovering. This is authentic Afghan food, with complex & fabulous flavors, the most delicate dumplings and the best lamb I have ever eaten. The sort of place where you can do a business lunch, a gal pals gathering, a couples night with old friends, or an intimate dinner for two. It may not be a hip trendy spot, but it's certain not to disappoint. Bistro Aracosia has an extensive, varied and delicious menu to choose from, a cozy and hospitable atmosphere, and is always brimming with happy customers. Try it, and it will likely become one of your favorite go-to regulars.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aracosia
Jane, Thank you for dining with us. We’re thrilled you discovered us and enjoyed your dumplings and lamb. We’re humbled that you consider our lamb to be the best you’ve ever had. Thank you so much for your kind words. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit. Warmly, Aracosia family.
Written February 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Matthew C
Chevy Chase131 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2020 none
Wonderful neighborhood. Service was personable and most importantly the food met my expectations as I heard many good things about Bistro Aracosia. Friends, wife and I shard the Hot Mazza Assortment. My main plate was the Lamb Tenderloin (cooked medium) . My wife's Lamb Shank was very impressive. Will return soon.
Written December 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gabriel_Winter
Washington DC113 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 none
We've always had good experiences here, but hadn't visited since the start of the pandemic and had forgotten just how good the mix of ambience in the food and in the place itself actually is. Once again, the mazza (their spelling of what is in the Middle East generally termed mezza) is. We ordered two out of three of the house mixes, one of which featured standout pumpkin dumplings and the other which featured standout mixed grille in which everything stood out. The seasonings are complex and subtle. The condiments served with the bread are piquant and I really didn't need to get to the entrees to be entirely satisfied. But then there are the stews . . . We had out of town guests who are foodies from Chicago who spent time in LA, NY, and New Orleans - they said they'd never had anything like this. Yes, this is a rave. It's at least as good as ever.
Written April 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mgnelu
Rockville254 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 none
This was my second visit to Bistro Aracosia. I remembered how good the Chicken Aracosian was the first time around and I wanted to taste it again (it didn't disappoint). I will definitely try something else next time. I really missed the middle eastern welcome and friendly service that I experienced 3 years ago (when we were treated like family). The waiter was definitely professional (that's why I kept the rating at 5 stars), but you could tell that she was brought up in a different culture and had the typical millennial attitude that felt somewhat distant and less caring.
Written November 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aracosia Family
Thank you for your kind words and feedback! We appreciate your support! We are happy to hear that the food was as good as your last visit!
Written November 15, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

exsushi
Washington DC89 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 none
Very delicious Afghan food. The menu is replete with stews and rices and the appetizers are delicious too. A great addition to the Palisades. The owners have another restaurant somewhere in Springfield, VA (Afghan Bistro) and are getting ready to open a new one in McLean, VA. Wish them all the best. Keep the good work!
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pioneer30893148298
Thank you for dining with us and thank you for your kind words. Thank you for mentioning our sister restaurants Afghan Bistro in Springfield VA, and Aracosia in McLean VA. Actually, Aracosia McLean is now open so if you’d like to join us, we’d be delighted to welcome you. Warmly, Aracosia family
Written January 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Cocobware
Savannah1594 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 family
Two of us had dinner at BA a couple of weeks ago and thought it was so good that we would come back before leaving town. This time was a totally different story. Our server was friendly but gave us a rehearsed spiel where he tried to upsell us on some special menu. There were three of us this time so we decided to split the hot mazza assortment. It was mostly dough with very little filler. Would definitely not get it again. Also the price was 18.95. When I got the bill the price was something like 24.95, and in parenthesis it said for 3 people. Nothing on the menu indicated this and our waiter didn’t mention it. Yes it’s just 5 dollars but I find it dishonest. I was so turned off by it I didn’t even question the waiter. I had the chicken aracosia for my main dish as I did 2 weeks ago. This time it was not nearly as flavorful. The people I was with who live in DC and have been to BA many times, agreed last night was a major downgrade from the usual experience. It was Friday night and they were busy but still no excuse. Will give it some time before I return. Still annoyed about the upsell and the dishonesty.
Written January 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aracosia Family
Hello, we are so sorry to hear that you felt service was not up to your/our standards. We strive to make our guests feel like they are dining with us in our home and what you describe is not what we want our guests to experience. We apologize for the confusion in pricing and the feeling of an attempt in upselling. We will talk with our staff to ensure this doesn't happen again and we will also look into the consistency of the food as well. We appreciate you taking the time to write us and hope that we will see you again for a better experience.
Written January 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

RoyStormer
Guangzhou338 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2020 family
We got take out from here and it is only my 2nd time earing Afghani food so I was not sure what to expect. It was great! It is much more then simple kebabs and the flavors are new and interesting. It seems like we tried all the chicken dishes and really liked them all. The sweet and savory dumplings were far better then I expected and I wish we had more. The soft dumplings and the pumpkin ones were not crowd pleasers but thats just our preference. I will be sure to order from them again!!
Written May 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jim_in_Bethesda
Bethesda23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 none
I have been to Bistro Aracosia many times since it opened. The food is always excellent and the wine list provides new selections to try. Ask the wine steward for a recommendation and you will be offered a sample of a great wine without the imposition of up-selling. Many of the bottles are reasonably priced. As for the service, this is the most hospitable restaurant I have ever found. You will be treated like an honored guest. If you are visiting DC, this is an oasis after a busy day.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aracosia
Jim, Thank you for dining with us and thank you for your kind words. We’re glad you enjoyed our wine selection and we’re delighted our hospitality met your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back. Warmly, Aracosia family.
Written January 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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