Ziafat Afghan Restaurant Columbia Pike Opens to Strong Demand

Ziafat Afghan Restaurant Columbia Pike is off to a busy start in Arlington, Virginia. Owner Helal Habibi may even skip the grand opening. The restaurant is at 3400 Columbia Pike and serves traditional Afghan food with a focus on hospitality.

Habibi hosted a soft opening in August. He planned a grand opening for next month. Then the restaurant got really busy. Now he is spending his time improving the food and the space.

Why Ziafat Afghan Restaurant Columbia Pike Is Drawing Crowds

Habibi moved to the U.S. from Afghanistan three years ago. His goal was to start a business. He visited several Afghan restaurants to find a favourite spot. Most had no table service. Some lacked the dishes he wanted.

So he gathered the missing pieces and brought them together at Ziafat. He believes many Afghan diners are looking for a good restaurant. You can learn more on the official Ziafat website.

Afghan Kebabs and Traditional Dishes at Ziafat

The menu features chicken, lamb and beef kebabs. Other grilled dishes include lamb chops and chabli kabob. Chabli kabob is an Afghan style beef patty with herbs and spices.

Traditional options include mantu, which are steamed dumplings with beef and onions. Ashak is a leek dumpling topped with a yogurt and meat sauce. Sides include chickpeas, potato curry and spiced sauteed spinach.

Habibi is proud of every dish. He singles out the kebabs and the qabili palau. This classic rice dish comes with lamb, carrots and raisins.

Afghan and Turkish Breakfast Platters

Ziafat also serves a breakfast menu. The platters come with a variety of egg dishes, breads, jams and jellies. Habibi calls the offering "something very new, very different."

The restaurant website promises a sophisticated atmosphere and attentive service. It also promises cuisine that honours authentic Afghan tradition. Habibi says he is just getting started and is still working on the menu.

Ziafat Afghan Restaurant Columbia Pike Hours

Ziafat is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday. On every other day except Monday, it opens from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Monday.

For more food industry updates, read the latest restaurant news from HCP.