The Helmand in Baltimore

Delicious food with intense & balanced flavors. Service was fast and good.

Might seem a little pricey and certainly quite noisy (its always full of people!But this place is the place for Afghan food in Baltimore. Warm atmosphere, great food, nice and helpful waiters. Worth going for any occasion!

Ive only eaten here once during a graduation dinner and it was insane. The food was AMAZING and so flavorful, the atmosphere was very welcoming, and the staff was so helpful and nice. I cant remember what I ordered, but this was nearly a decade ago and I can still think of how good the food tasted. If you want a fancy dinner or you need to impress a date or something, for the love of god eat here.

Generous portion size, great selection of wine as well! Excellent service. But might be a bit too heavy / greasy for my taste.

One of our top date night out choices and where we often take guests from out of town that have never tried Afghan food. The food is delicious. Starting with the pumpkin appetizer is a must. I am not normally a lamb person, but theirs is too good to pass up.

The food The Helmand is serving, under the name of Afghan food, is indeed an insult to the authenticity of Afghan kitchen and food. For example; they bury meat gravy full of its water and gravy (Qurmain a plate of sugar caramelized brown color rice (palawand throw a little raisins and carrots on top and they serve it as Qabili Palaw. When I raised a complaint, I received a stupid answer “ this is American Qabili”. Please respect the authenticity of Afghanistan’s food. Food is not politics to lie about it.

Incredible food, great service and decor, best value

I love this place. The vegetarian platter was so good. The ice cream is also must!

Just wow. Positively transcendent food, really nice, friendly wait staff and I loved looking at the textiles and other decor. Afghan food is a favorite and this was the most mouth wateringly perfect lamb I have ever tasted. We arrived and had not known there was a restaurant week menu, much to our delight! Appetizers: The baby pumpkin with a yogurt sauce. (Kaddo Borwaniwas absolutely wonderful, and the Bowlani, a delicious pastry with leek and spiced potato with a garlic mint sauce that was amazing! My main course was a lamb chop, beef kabob, and chicken kabob with pallow (ricea chopped Afghan salad and Nan. All delicious, the lamb was perfectly cooked, juicy and flavorful, seriously best lamb ever. The beef kabob was my second favorite, juicy and delicious and the green sauce that came with the meal amped up its flavor perfectly. The chicken was good, and the slightly spicy red sauce really paired well with it. I got to have a bite of the Zardula Challow from my dining partner (Lamb with apricot, tomato, spicy chilli pepper, spicy turnip and challowand it was really delicious, so many flavors. Dessert was a decadent Goat cheese cake that had this slightly sour drizzle that really set off the cheesecake. Finished the meal with little Turkish coffees too, Delightful!

Not to be missed. Every bite was a delight, and they treated me like family. Such a grateful experience.

Had Dinner with my son and nephews at Helmand last Tuesday evening .They have the best selection of Afghan food, I loved the Mantu , the sauce was very delicious.Other dishes I would recommend is the lamb chopFor desert the special ice cream is very good .When ever am in Baltimore I dont miss the dinner at Helmand

Incredible catering and food. Staff was incredibly polite and responsive. The food was very timely and we were checked up on frequently and very tastefully. Speaking of the food, it was very authentic (I’m Afghan!and also extremely delicious for every plate we ordered. Try the ice cream by the way! Ambience is excellent for anyone looking for a place that’s vibrant yet intimate. Was very nice to be reminded of home and absolutely recommending to any fellow students or alumni in the Hopkins area!

Soooo good, one of my Baltimore favourites. Im not a vegetarian but I love the vegetarian platter entree special- so many delicious flavours. Also the pumpkin app looks simple but tastes fabulous 🤤

Amazing location and even better cuisine. Also excellent was the service.

Fantastic food and outstanding service. Many friends were happy to be seated at that hour of the night;

Was served a very poor representation of the Aushak dish. My dog eats better than this.To respond to Helmand’s response:No one asked if our food was good after we received it and we politely ate and left. There’s no reason to try to get things remade when it’s obvious the standard here was below average. I switched food with my bf so he ate half and came to the same conclusion as me. His food was fine but not disgusting.I had the entree. It was soupy and greasy. The meat was barely there and in such tiny pieces it slipped through the fork. The little bit of yogurt was mixed with grease from the meat. The taste did not make up for the poor presentation. The ravioli part was the only good thing but it was spoiled by being drowned in grease soup.We have no intentions of returning. The wall by our table was unclean and we know of plenty wonderful dining experiences in Baltimore. Thank you.

Great area and even better food. The service was great too. I highly recommend trying one of their cardamom infused ice creams for dessert.

The food is excellent. But they have increased the price since I was there in March. But they haven’t updated their website. Also they started to charge %20 gratitude for party of four, which wasn’t like this before. Not worth $78 for two people without having any drink and appetizer. I am really disappointed.

The Helmand is an excellent restaurant. The food is always delicious and the service is outstanding. A special thanks for accommodating my group when we did not have dinner reservations.

Absolutely horrible experience! Made an advance reservation to celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary. Even notified them prior to arrival of the reason for our reservation. We were at this same restaurant 7 years ago to celebrate our daughters graduation. We were visiting the area and decided to dine at this same restaurant since we had great food and experience 7 years ago. Food was not tasty. Service was terrible. The ambiance was okay. Our reservation was for March 29 for 5:30pm. I told the receptionist (a guythat we had reservation. He didnt seem to care. There were three tables occupied in the entire restaurant when we arrived. No excuse!

Excellent. I was very excited to try afghan food for the first time. I got the chopendez and the steak was so tender and full of flavor. Everything looked great. The service was a little too quick, but if you’re looking to eat somewhere very quickly, this would be a good option.

Excellent Food and Superior Service. A large group of friends were grateful to be seated that late in the evening; I wish to thank the Helmand Team for their excellent and gracious service. It was way past closing, but we were having so much fun we did not realize we were the only remaining customers and, all other tables had already been cleared for some time. Here, then, we created very joyous memories! Thank you so much!!!

Everything you get from this place is stellar! I will venture to say this is my favorite restaurant in Baltimore. A couple of months ago, I attended here for the first time and fell in love. I got the aushak and those raviolis were divine with the sauce. Yesterday, I did 3-courses for restaurant week and my entree with tender lamb and apricots had sweetness and spice having the happiest battle in my mouth. Do yourself a favor...book a table on Resy immediately. It should also be said that the service was impeccable both times I went.

The Helmand is one of the nicest and most delicious restaurants I have ever been to in Baltimore. The staff is all wonderful, checking in on you respectfully and making sure you are enjoying your meal. Everything came out in perfect timing and I could not be more happy with the dishes I tried. I went for Restaurant Week and they had three different choices of an appetizer of your choice, a certain entree, and three dessert options. I will most definitely be going again without a doubt in my mind that I will again have an amazing experience.

just didn’t meet expectations of all the reviews. staff and service was fine - we ordered take out bc it was too cold to eat outside without heating lamps. food had small portions and naan was not naan, it was a wholewheat dry bread that we didn’t really eat. food was edible but not delicious, just lacked flavor. overall sadly disappointing.

My family and I came here today. We had a great host, this guy with blonde curly hair who was very helpful and kind. And the food was delicious. The manager had very good observation skills and was very helpful to everyone in the restaurant and noticed when I was looking for the bathroom when so many people and things were going on. The owner was in the front when we came in, helpful as well. Thank you for the great food and service

When I walked into the Helmand, located in the heart of Mount Vernon, I immediately felt under dressed. I thought to myself, this place is too fancy for me in my old sweatshirt. No matter, the staff lead me to a table by the window, filled my water glass, and took my wine order. I decided to start with their Shornakhod - a mostly chickpea salad with onion, potatoes, tomato, and a zesty cilantro sauce - very tasty. I ordered their Chicken Kabob as my main, and heard other customers place the same order. At first bite, I could taste the reason for its popularity. The chicken was cooked to perfection, the vegetables sported just the right amount of char, and the rice bed was flavorful (but I drizzled it with more cilantro dressing anyway). The food was delicious and portioned generously, and the staff was attentive. I spent $30-40, but I have enough leftover for lunch tomorrow. Ill definitely be coming back to try the rest of the menu!

Absolutely MUST try!! I am a total foodie yet rarely leave reviews – but this was one the best meals I’ve ever had in my life.Everything was so perfectly spiced/salted. We started with the pumpkin appetizer, which was delicious and similar to butternut squash. The flatbread was awesome (and made in-house, in a wood-fired oven!). I can’t remember the names of the entrees – one was a salad with the most tender, flavorful steak, and the other was a chicken dish special. The service was also excellent! We’ll definitely be back when in the area.

My favorite restaurant in the world! I fell in love with the food at The Helmand in Wrigleyville (Chicagomany years ago. Any time I’m in DC I make a trip to Baltimore to eat at The Helmand. It’s the BEST food and has a very nice vibe! The pumpkin appetizer is amazing!

I dined solo tonight at The Helmand. The staff was helpful and friendly. The food was delicious and reasonably priced.

Had dinner with a group of friends, first time to try afghani food and it’s worth trying ❤️ the Afghan ice cream the best thing I tried. It has dates and fresh mangoes 🧡

Great Afghani food. We got to eat outside. We shared two appetizers and each got a main course (4 ppl). Would go back.

I like the place, soeviakly close to mt vernon and historic site building. We ordered lamb kabaab and rice kebololi both delicious. For lamb soup taste like goulash soup but more light, very nice.

Absolutely divine. Comforting ambiance, creative-yet-authentic dishes, masterfully cooked and spiced, and stellar service. Just perfect.

1st experience eating at a Middle Eastern restaurant. Good experience. Staff was helpful. Thanks Modesto! Lovely table settings. Clean restroom. Drinks can be stronger. Were adults. 🙂Lamb was juicy & tender. Did not like the green cilantro sauce, its an overpowering cilantro taste. Bread & ravioli appetizer was tasty. Rice & roasted veggies good. Pumpkin appetizers with yogurt reminds me of butternut squash😛. Spinach is also good.

Great food ad usual. Outdoor seating available. Beautiful decor too!

Amazing food!!!! So different and so flavorful. The service was top notch. They were very attentive and helpful when asked questions. We got the top 2 lamb dishes. Omg some of the best food I’ve ever had. Do yourselves the favor and try it out. It is a nicer restaurant so I wouldn’t go in workout clothes.

Favorite place for date night! Masks required, temperature check at the door , and very clean and spaced out. Will definitely be coming back - love Aushak! Highly recommend ♡♡

Dinner at the Helmand is always a treat. The pumpkin appetizer is to die for! Large portions, well seasoned and exceptionally fast tonight. We had Kaddo and Banjan Borwani, Dolma Murch and the lamb Lawand. The spinach has a kick to it.

We ate New Years Eve dinner there almost 30 years ago and again this evening....still delicious after all these years. It is still classy and charming inside. The food is still yummy. This is a great place to go for dinner. Make sure to get the pumpkin app!

I came here for the first time on a work-related dinner. I had always heard about the famous Helmand restaurant, so I was very excited to finally enjoy the cuisine. I have to say I was not disappointed. I do not recall the appetizers that we had, but many options were delicious. For my main meal, I had the kabuki pallow, which was amazing! I love the rice mixed with raisins and carrots, and the lamb was very tender and delicious. The bread that comes with the meal was not my favorite, but the main dish more than made up for it. I would recommend this restaurant for sure.

Amazing food. Full of spices and flavors. Really fast service considering how busy and packed the restaurant was. Very professional service in this busy restaurant yet they were still friendly and patient. Dining room is loud but well worth the delicious food. Parking can be a bit challenging.

This Baltimore Afghan restaurant was a joy to go to when I was visiting from out of town. A waiter immediately noticed that my table rocked a little and before I even noticed it he had fixed it. Service was excellent with multiple wait staff asking if I was pleased. My food was excellent and an enjoyable plunge into Afghan cuisine. Ambience was interesting with carpets adorning the floors and some walls. I would certainly return.

The veggie platter with pallow is the best vegetarian dish Ive ever had. The combination of spices is amazing.

Polite staff, but not too conversational. The food was good too, just good. Its nice to experience different food. My date and I both got lamb which was...good, not great. Tip: Dont spend $6 on the ravioli appetizer, they give you one ravioli.

On a recommendation from a local, my partner and I made reservations at The Helmand, located in Mt. Vernon, near downtown Baltimore. The restaurant boasts authentic Afghani cuisine, and has been open for 25 years.We were lucky to find street parking steps away from the front door on such a cold night. Short of having us sit on the floor, the restaurant had an authentic Middle-Eastern feel. Two dining areas were set with white table linens and cloth napkins. Although the tables seemed too wide for intimate conversation, the staff was amenable to a seating adjustment.The star of the show was the food. We started with the kaddo borawani, an appetizer of pan-fried baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and yogurt garlic sauce. This dish was surprisingly tasty, and not too sweet. We complemented this with a Spanish red wine and a large order of Naan. The small order of Naan would have sufficed for two. If you are familiar with traditional Indian naan, heads up. This naan is heartier, slightly thicker, and seasoned perfectly. The wine list included mostly California, French, Italian and Spanish wines. Many options were by the bottle only, but there were plenty of choices by the glass as well.We shared a main dish, the zardalu challow. Tender pieces of lamb seasoned with apricot, tomatoes, garlic, turmeric, and chili peppers were served with sweet, spicy turnips and challow (specially prepared long-grain rice). An interesting sauce of cilantro and lime was brought to add to the challow. The sweet and spicy flavors of this dish were intense, and paired well with the Spanish wine. I’m not used to eating food with so much flavor; this is where The Helmand shines.After finishing the entre, we ordered two desserts and coffee; we were pleased to discover The Helmand serves authentic Turkish coffee. The feereny was a light custard topped with fresh fruit. It was overshadowed by the Afghani ice cream, however. Listed on the menu as “special ice cream,” the cardamom-infused vanilla ice cream is served on top of dates, figs, and mangoes. Definitely our favorite.Service at The Helmand was timely, but curt. There was no engagement with the wait-staff; they did their job efficiently, and did not interrupt our meal or conversation. This felt like their style.Main dishes range from $14 to $20, with a few choices above that range (rack of lamb, for example). The prices felt reasonable for quality food, authentic atmosphere, and prompt service. With tip expect to pay about $50 per person, which would include one appetizer, naan, two glasses wine, two entrees, two coffees, and two desserts.We recommend The Helmand for date-night, special occasions, or just because you haven’t tried Afghani food yet.

We have always been ardent fans of Afgani cuisine. We were served by Mr. Sadiq. He was very friendly and polite. The food was delicious. The restaurant was crowded but there was no discomfort; the servers did an awesome job, duly attending everybody. There was no rush. The whole atmosphere was very welcoming.

Good food that fell just a little short of being perfect. I had the pumpkin appetizer "Kaddo Borwani" which was very unique. The pumpkin was quite sweet but not overdone and well cooked. Soft but not mushy. The garlic yogurt sauce on top is subtle but an interesting savory component that you might not expect from pumpkin.I got the lamb lawand for an appetizer and this was definitely the highlight of the night with four components plated separately. The rice was well seasoned and quite delicious but there were some crunchy overcooked bits that I could have done without. The lime mint sauce was fantastic and amazing. The lamb stew with mushrooms was quite nice. The spinach side "sabzy" was well cooked but the flavor profile wasnt quite what I liked so used the lamb sauce to complement it.The special ice cream dessert with cardamom and dates, mangoes was not as impressive as some reviewers pointed out and I would personally skip that.Finally the staff were extremely busy but the water refills were extremely prompt and dirty dishes did not sit around on the table for long. Ordering however was quite delayed and could have been more prompt. Overall decor is nice albeit extremely dim.

One of the true institutions of Baltimore, the Helmand continues to serve up delicious and relatively unknown afghan cuisine in a laid back, but elegant environment. The servers are well versed in the different menu options, and are helpful in navigating through the offerings. Recommend getting appetizers involving pumpkin to share, and differing entrees for all guests. This is a great place to take someone from out of town, or a new date. Prices are a steal compared to what you are getting. Highly recommended

The food is absolutely great. Nice staff, lovely decoration, and vegan-friendly. Highly recommended!