Business is going well enough at a new Afghan restaurant on Columbia Pike that the owner just might skip the grand opening.
Helal Habibi, who hosted a soft opening for Ziafat in August, told ARLnow that he has been off to a successful start at 3400 Columbia Pike, serving up an array of kebabs and other traditional dishes, including a breakfast menu, with an emphasis on hospitality.
“I had planned to do the grand opening next month, but then we got really busy,” he said. “Now all I am doing is just improving the food and the restaurant.”
Ziafat replaces another Afghan establishment, Kabobistan, which relocated to D.C. under the name Bonjon Rumi in summer 2025.
Habibi moved to the U.S. from Afghanistan three years ago with the goal of starting a business. As he was adjusting to the area, he visited several Afghan restaurants trying to find a favorite spot, but he said they all were missing something. Most didn’t have table service, and some didn’t have the dishes he was looking for.
“That’s why I collected all the missing things and [gave] them to the people,” he said. “If I couldn’t find it, I’m sure there’s a lot of Afghan people looking for a good restaurant.”
Habibi serves chicken, lamb and beef kabobs, plus other grilled dishes like lamb chops and chabli kabob, an Afghan-style beef patty with herbs and spices. Traditional options include mantu (steamed dumplings with beef and onions), ashak (leek dumplings topped with a yogurt and meat sauce) and sides like chickpeas, potato curry and spiced, sauteed spinach.
Habibi is proud of all the dishes on the menu, but especially the kebabs and qabili palau, a traditional rice dish with lamb, carrots and raisins.
Ziafat also serves Afghan and Turkish breakfast platters, which come with a variety of egg dishes, breads, jams and jellies.
“It’s something very new, very different,” Habibi said.
Ziafat’s website promises “sophisticated atmosphere, attentive service, and cuisine that honors authentic Afghan tradition.” Habibi said he’s just getting started.
“We’re not done yet,” he said. “I’m still working on the menu.”
Ziafat is open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Thursday and from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. every other day except Monday.
Dining and Cooking