Why Long Island Foodies Are Driving Hours For This Unreal Afghan Meat Platter

When a spot cooks meat so tender that it practically melts off the bone before you even pick up your fork, you do not walk away. You devour. That is exactly what happened when I walked into Kandahar Grill in Hicksville, New York.

Look at this spread!

This family-owned staple has been crushing the game for years, and they do not mess around when it comes to massive portions. I kicked things off with their bolani appetizers. They stuff seasoned sweet potatoes inside super crispy dough, pan-fry them until golden brown, and serve them alongside their signature white sauce. One dip, one bite, and I was completely hooked.

Next up came the mantu. These thin, steamed dumplings come stuffed with Afghan-seasoned ground chicken. They cover the plate in garlic sauce, smother the dumplings in a rich chickpea curry, and finish them with fresh cilantro, a drizzle of white sauce, and their custom Afghan spice mix. The result? Unreal. I polished off the whole plate in minutes.

Then came the heavy hitters.

First, the chicken gyro pita sandwich. They take a fresh pita, layer it with white sauce and flaming sauce, then stack it high with grilled chicken gyro, pickled onions, and fresh cucumbers. Then they add another massive layer of chicken, double up on the sauces, and top it with cilantro. It is a absolute unit of a sandwich. I have no idea how they manage to fold it all together, but every bite hits with sheer flavor.

I was still hungry, so I asked the chef to go big. He loaded every single meat from the grill onto a giant tray over a mountain of fresh Afghan rice. We are talking chicken tikka kebab, chicken kofta, beef kofta, lamb tikka, and juicy lamb chops. They top the whole tray with caramelized carrots, raisins, fresh onions, cilantro, sumac seasoning, and a serious smothering of white sauce.

Drenched in sauce. Piled to the ceiling.

The lamb chops on this platter are easily some of the best I have ever had. The char from the grill combined with that cool white sauce creates absolute magic.

To finish the feast, I had to try their braised lamb shank. They lay down a tender shank, pile on more rice, and top it with those sweet caramelized carrots and raisins. The moment I touched it, the meat fell clean off the bone. Mixed together with that white sauce, it is pure comfort food bliss.

If you are anywhere near Hicksville, this spot needs to be on your bucket list immediately. Who is hungry?