Chicken Street Kebab Stalls

The Chicken Street Kebab Stalls are a row of street grills and bakeries along Chicken Street in the Shahr-e Naw district of Kabul, Afghanistan. The street, formally Kuche-ye Murgh Foroshi, is the city's best-known address for carpets, antiques and handicrafts, and the grills and bakeries here supply quick, inexpensive meals to shoppers, shopkeepers and travellers working their way along the strip.

Chicken kebab is the staple, marinated in yoghurt, onion and spices, threaded on skewers and cooked over charcoal until lightly charred, then served by the stick or the plate with naan, sliced onion and chilli sauce. Naan-e afghani, the long oval flatbread baked in a clay tandoor, is made in the street bakeries and sold hot, often eaten with the kebab or with tea. Mantu, the steamed dumplings with minced meat topped with yoghurt and tomato sauce, are served from larger stalls and tea houses on the street.

The atmosphere is smoky, brisk and informal, with the sound of fanning grills, shop touts and traffic. Seating is minimal, with small stools or benches at some stalls, and many customers eat standing or take food away. Dress is casual and modest, and customers should observe the usual etiquette of eating with the right hand. There is no alcohol.

Prices fall in the $ band, among the cheapest ways to eat in Kabul. The stalls operate daily from late morning to the evening, with the busiest hours around midday. No reservations are possible. Visitors should choose stalls where the meat is cooked fresh in front of them and, because of the security situation, check current advice and avoid the street after dark.