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Bistro Aracosia, Washington, DC

Bistro Aracosia

4.9
4.9
2210 Reviews
$30 and under
Afghan
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.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 37 times today
Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Afghan, Vegetarian / Vegan, Middle Eastern

  • Hours of operation

    Lunch Tue–Sun 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Dinner Mon 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (202) 363-0400

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Executive chef

    Sofia Masroor

  • Catering

    Please call us at 202-363-0400

  • Neighborhood

    Palisades Northwest

  • Cross street

    Dana Place

  • Parking details

    Street Parking

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Kosher, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Mini Taste of Aracosia

    $44.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Are you struggling to decide what you want for dinner tonight? You can have it all with this amazing spread of our favorite dishes. We call it "Mini Taste of Aracosia", it includes three of our qormas (stews), two of our marinated meats, two variations of basmati rice and four of our roasted vegetables.

Popular dishes

What 2,210 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Washington, D.C. Area

    Best Food

  • Washington, D.C. Area

    Best Value

  • District of Columbia

    Best Overall

  • District of Columbia

    Best Food

  • District of Columbia

    Best Service

  • District of Columbia

    Best Value

  • District of Columbia

    Healthy

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  1. Annette

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food4service5ambience4
    Wonderful attention to food allergies. Excellent service, food was very good.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded todayThank you, we are happy to hear that you felt comfortable and enjoyed dining with us!

  2. Greatrestaurant

    Washington DC

    33 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    33 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Excellent dinner. Of the four of us, only I had eaten their before. Pleasant waiter made great suggestions. Everything was yummy. The dumplings are the best!

    Bistro AracosiaResponded todayThank you for your kind words! We are happy to hear that you and your loved ones enjoyed dining with us!

  3. OpenTable Diner

    Glasgow

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A fabulous find in NW DC. We had the tasting menu and it was both brilliant and *huge*. The grilled meats were a highlight, but there was nothing we didn't like: dal, chickpeas, eggplant, curried chicken. Would highly recommend: great value as well.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded todayThank you for your kind review! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our tasting menu!

  4. CatherineF

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome food with interesting seasonings, as befit its origin. Lively service and ambiance.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded todayThank you, Catherine! We are glad that you enjoyed!

  5. Lauren

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Easily the BEST restaurant in Washington, DC! The food is delicious, the staff is warm, and the owner is kind and gracious. In fact, he once stopped by my table to welcome my friend and me to the restaurant, and gave us each a beautiful lapis lazuli bracelet handmade by women in Afghanistan. It was such a special, personal gesture on top of an exquisite meal. Every time I go, I'm floored by the complex flavors in every dish. I've never had a less than perfect bite here. Never been? Try the "Taste of Aracosia" sampler. Outstanding.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded todayThank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review! We are so happy to hear that you have enjoyed several meals with us. We appreciate your support!

  6. Susan

    Washington DC

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, especially the leek and scallion dumplings and vegetarian sampler. Everything was delicious- service was excellent too.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded 4 days agoThank you, Susan! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us!

  7. nashpaul

    Washington DC

    37 reviews

    5.0

    37 reviews

    Dined on March 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Really excellent, tasty, and creative food choice with a substantial menu for carnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike. Service was friendly and the space is lovely. Couldn't have enjoyed our meal more!

    Bistro AracosiaResponded 7 days agoThank you for your kind words and support!

  8. JWinRockville

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Pleasant early evening dining experience. The menu contains a wide verity of Afghan dishes. All are wonderful. This menu is supported by a quality wine list.
  9. THGS75

    Washington DC

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on March 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Large menu with many intriguing options. The pumpkin dumplings were outstanding.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 17, 2023Thank you! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed our pumpkin dumplings!

  10. MonicaM

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    Delicious food in huge portions (& a tasty Manhattan, a cocktail I’d never tried before); our server was charming & helpful with menu selections…and made no effort to hurry us along when we stayed at the table chatting & considering dessert/after-dinner drink options for @ a half hour w/o ordering any.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 17, 2023Thank you, Monica! We are so glad that you enjoyed our food and hospitality!

  11. PascalP

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food is excellent. The menu is a bit daunting to navigate, but well worth the effort.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 17, 2023Thank you, we are glad that you enjoyed our food!

  12. BrianK

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a good and pleasant experience. Good food, service and ambiance.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 15, 2023Thank you, Brian! We appreciate your kind words and support!

  13. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 13, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Friend’s birthday

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 15, 2023Thank you!

  14. Leebur

    Washington DC

    74 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    74 reviews

    Dined on March 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A really great menu with lots of options for vegans/vegetarians. Also able to modify many dishes for gluten sensitive diners. Fun sections of cocktails and a very impressive beer/wine lineup. Service was magnificent and the food was delicious. Will definitely be back.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 14, 2023Thank you for your kind words and support! We look forward to welcoming you back!

  15. JosephR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was my wife's birthday and she wanted to enjoy a delicious meal with family. She is vegan, and I am a meat eater, and we both were loving the meals we ordered. Everyone at the table had a wonderful dining experience. They even surprised my wife with a birthday treat! We will definitely eat there again.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 13, 2023Thank you, Joseph! We are so glad that you enjoyed celebrating with us! We appreciate your kind words and support!

  16. ErikR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Incredible experience for all. We will be back, soon!

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 13, 2023Thank you, we look forward to seeing you again soon!

  17. JillT

    Washington DC

    37 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    37 reviews

    Dined on March 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious food and wonderful service. One of our favorites!

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 13, 2023Thank you for your kind words and support!

  18. GabrielM

    New York Area

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on March 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    We had an excellent meal at Bistro Aracosia. Our server Brianna was great and efficient, and also gave us recommendations when asked. The food didn’t take long to reach the table, and was very well explained by the runner. The turnovers were a great appetizer, and the lamb qabuli palou was exquisite. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary, they took notice of that through the Open Table reservation and were kind enough to offer us a complimentary dessert. In sum, delicious food and excellent service.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 9, 2023Thank you for celebrating your special day with us! We are happy to hear that Brianna took great care of you!

  19. FreqDiner

    Washington DC

    43 reviews

    5.0

    43 reviews

    Dined on March 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    First time at Aracosia - and it earned its high reviews. Nicer friendly neighborhood place. Food was really good. Lots of new things to try, and the flavors did not disappoint. Service was attentive, and prices were maybe a couple of dollars higher than what I might have expected, but that's true everywhere now. Once the food came, truly excellent and large portions - I actually thought it was a great value. Recommended cocktails were also creative and delicious. We'll go back for sure.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 9, 2023Thank you for dining with us! We are glad that you enjoyed your experience and we look forward to your next visit!

  20. MomtazW

    Washington DC

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on March 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Scellent food and service. Keep up the good work.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 7, 2023Thank you for your kind words!

  21. Judith

    Washington DC

    30 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on March 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent staff. Delicious food. Comfortable seats and not noisy. I love it.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 7, 2023Thank you, Judith! We are glad that you enjoyed dining with us!

  22. Retiredloon

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our dining experience at Bistro Arcosio was truly enjoyable in every way. The service was attentive without being overbearing; everything our party of four ordered was beautifully prepared, generously portioned, and absolutely delicious; and the restaurant ambiance was spacious and lovely. It was a perfect evening!

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 1, 2023Thank you for sharing about your experience, we are glad that you enjoyed it!

  23. gw77

    Washington DC

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was delicious--both the vegetarian flight, and the tasting; the service was excellent--very attentive; and the ambiance was comfortable and very pleasant. Great experience overall!

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 1, 2023Thank you for your kind words and support! We are glad that you enjoyed!

  24. JeffT

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Food and service were great. The lamb and dumplings were incredible and such a great location.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 1, 2023Thank you, Jeff! We are glad that you enjoyed dining with us!

  25. Marsh

    Washington DC

    71 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    71 reviews

    Dined on February 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful restaurant! Great food, great service and a warm atmosphere. Highly recommend!

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 27, 2023Thank you! We appreciate your kind words and support!

  26. RickH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    We had a very enjoyable dinner for 4. The food was delicious. Zach was a great waiter.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 1, 2023Thank you, Rick! We are glad to hear that Zak took great care of you and that you enjoyed dining with us!

  27. WendyS

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best food and service we’ve had in years! Try the tasting menu, you won’t be sorry.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on March 7, 2023Thank you, Wendy! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed dining with us!

  28. CarrieJ

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Atmosphere, staff and food were all excellent! Our server, Zach, was wonderful and very helpful in answering questions and helping with our selections (there were so many interesting dishes to try, we had a hard time narrowing it down!). I appreciated that the tables were nicely spaced, and that we could easily conduct a conversation without having a hard time hearing. Highly recommend - we will definitely be back!

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 27, 2023Thank you, Carrie! We are happy to hear that Zak too great care of you during your visit. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again soon!

  29. DanaW

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Eat here. Your taste buds will thank you. Also, one of the tastiest celiac friendly places we've found. Try the okra -- if you think you hate okra, brace yourself for a delicious surprise.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 24, 2023Thank you, Dana! We are glad that you enjoyed dining with us and that our okra was a pleasant surprise! We appreciate your support!

  30. NancyS

    Washington DC

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on February 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great atmosphere, attentive service and wonderful food!

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 23, 2023Thank you, Nancy!

  31. nancys

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food great service. The parking is tough but once you’re in the experience is great and the food is so fresh and delicious.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 20, 2023Thank you for your kind words, we are glad that you enjoyed dining with us!

  32. DavidMc

    New England

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A local favorite, always excellent but diverse and reasonably priced tasting menu options put it over the top.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 20, 2023Thank you for your kind words and support!

  33. FrankP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    First visit - the menu is full of great choices, so we ordered the tasting menu for 2 which included 10 + dishes (beef tenderloin, lamb shank, lamb chops, & chicken, plus eggplant, butternut squash, lentils, chickpeas, etc.). Every dish was excellent and plentiful - we had a full meal remaining. A neighborhood gem for sure and worth trying. The number of excellent reviews were right on target.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 20, 2023Thank you for dining with us! We are glad that you enjoyed our tasting menu!

  34. SusanG

    Washington DC

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful in every way!!! We ordered the vegetarian combination and the mixed grill and tasted as much as we could . Everything had a distinct taste. So delicious. Our server was so nice and friendly.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 17, 2023Thank you, Susan! We are so glad that you enjoyed your experience with us!

  35. NupurM

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Good food and good services. Quite place and we enjoyed a Valentine’s Day.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 17, 2023Thank you for celebrating Valentine's day with us! We are glad that you enjoyed it!

  36. MariannS

    Washington DC

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on February 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wow. I was really impressed. Lovely atmosphere, attentive service and the food was delicious. I had a simple chicken kabob dish that was incredibly flavorful. The roasted butternut squash and rice were a delightful combination. When we declined to order a dessert, the waiter brought us one to share. We thought that was very kind and generous. I highly recommend them for a lovely evening out.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 13, 2023Thank you, Mariann! We are so glad that you enjoyed your dinner with us! We appreciate your support!

  37. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was great in that server was very helpful.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 13, 2023Thank you, we are glad you enjoyed!

  38. smg123

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was just about perfect. Professional, friendly staff. Very nice atmosphere good for a date or a cozy dinner with friends. And the food is superb. I highly recommend.

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 13, 2023Thank you very much for your kind words and support! We are glad that you enjoyed!

  39. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of my two guests has a gluten allergy so we couldn’t order the Appetizers Sampler for all of us. Our very helpful server suggested we order it for 2 of us and he brought my other guest a couple of gluten free appetizers, which she loved. He also brought her some diced carrots and cucumbers so she could dip them in the 4 delicious sauces they serve for the meal. Our server also reassured my guest that the Aracosia Sampler meal for all of us was gluten free. In summary, a delicious lunch made even more pleasant by our server’s thoughtful suggestions. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 13, 2023Thank you for dining with us! We are so delighted to hear that our service was attentive and thoughtful. We are glad you enjoyed your experience and hope to see you all again soon!

  40. Rawr

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding experience. Food and service never fails

    Bistro AracosiaResponded on February 9, 2023Thank you for your kind words, we are glad you enjoyed your experience with us!

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Bistro Aracosia offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 363-0400.

Bistro Aracosia is rated 4.9 stars by 2210 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 37 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Bistro Aracosia

5100 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC 20016

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Dana Place

  • Neighborhood

    Palisades Northwest

  • Hours of operation

    Lunch Tue–Sun 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Dinner Mon 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–10:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Afghan, Vegetarian / Vegan, Middle Eastern

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    Street Parking

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Sofia Masroor

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Kosher, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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