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Helmand Palace
Afghan Restaurant$$$$
Polk Gulch, San Francisco
"This Place is just great!!try kaddo (pumpkin)!"(10 Tips)
"Lawand and dwopiaza are both excellent"(4 Tips)
"Qabelee was ok"(4 Tips)
"baked pumpkin with yogurt"(3 Tips)
32 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- kaddo
- lawand
- qabelee
- pumpkin
- yogurt
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Luke BornheimerAugust 1, 2017The vegetarian platter is tasty and has kaddo (baked pumpkin), banjan (pan-fried eggplant), sabzi (sauteed spinach), bendi (okra sauteed in tomatoes) and pallow (baked rice with cinnamon and raisins).
- Luke BornheimerAugust 1, 2017The gulpea (cauliflower sauteed with tomato, hot pepper, fried onion and turmeric) was delicious and a one of favorite parts of the meal. Also, the portion for the side was a great value!
- Luke BornheimerAugust 1, 2017The complimentary bread is warm, and the included sauces are tasty and plentiful, the bread pails in comparison to the fresh, homemade Afghan bread you can find in Fremont or The Helmand in Cambridge.
- Luke BornheimerAugust 1, 2017The sabzi, sauteed spinach with onions and spices is falvorful and has a great texture — chopped small, but not too small, and rendered to a nice chewy and crunchy state — worth ordering a side of it.
Time Out San FranciscoSeptember 17, 2014Influenced by the flavours of India, Asia and the Middle East, the food is deliciously aromatic, with marinades and fragrant spices. Specialities include leek ravioli and lamb lawand. Read more
- Luke BornheimerAugust 1, 2017The kaddo is unique and flavorful, but less cooked, sweet, rich, and spice-heavy as the best I've had (at The Helmand in Cambridge, MA).
Everything. Seriously. Today, I had the Qabelee. Perfectly cooked lamb and the right, slight touch of sweetness.
Really good food. I'd suggest the kaddo (baked baby pumpkin) appetizer followed by lawand (lamb) and theeka kebab (beef) entrees.
tablehopperAugust 3, 2014Regulars go crazy for the kaddo ($5.95), an appetizer of pan-fried and baked pumpkin, topped with a ground beef sauce and yogurt-garlic sauce. Dessert for dinner! Read more
Kitzzy AvilesAugust 9, 2014Everything here is really good. Try the pumpkin appetizer. Sounds weird, but the flavors work really well together.
Shrutika SachdevSeptember 20, 2017A mix between Indian and Mediterranean food for those who have not tried Afghani food before!
Nouras HaddadApril 3, 2018Great vegetarian dishes; pumpkin, eggplant, cauliflower are all very tasty.- Javier Cambon SanjurjoAugust 11, 2013Kadoo is yummy, a must as appetizer (seriously, it's awesome!). Didn't like the bowlawni much though, won't order it again. Qabelee was ok, the lamb was very good, but the overall dish was a bit dry.
Mark PundsackOctober 11, 2010Amazing food! Don't know why this place isn't busier. Ambiance isn't great, but fantastic. Never had Afghani food before so don't know if it's particularly a good example or not.- BlackboardEatsMarch 3, 2011Can’t wait till next Autumn for your pumpkin fix? Try the Kaddo (pan-fried and baked pumpkin with yogurt and beef sauce) for pure squash satisfaction at Helmand Palace. Read more
Rick CerfDecember 11, 2010Exceeded expectations. Theeka kabab was tender and excellent. Lawand had a great curry sauce. Quormay ma-he did not disappoint.
Carolyn BNovember 17, 2014Extremely slow and inattentive service. Food was good, but I wasn't blown away by any means...pumpkin was tasty though. We were comped dessert b/c of the service issue, which helped.
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Foursquare © 2025 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Since 1971, Helmand Palace has been offering delicious Afghan cuisine to the San Francisco community.
Closed until 5:30 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Thu, Sun
- 5:30 PM–10:00 PM
- Fri–Sat
- 5:30 PM–11:00 PM
(415) 345-0072
Features
Reservations
Yes
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Visa & MasterCard)
Outdoor Seating
No
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- 8.4
"Everything we had was great: the bolani, the triple kebab, the dumplings. Be warned: portions are huge."
Benjy Weinberger - 8.2
"Stuffed falafel is delicious! Combine with mossabaka and a carrot juice! The outside patio with the water fountains is very relaxing!"
Gus - 8.8
"my favs tonight included shishlik, a rice dish (we had one with chicken & dates in it), the "special treat" dessert, choclava... but *everything* was tasty... go with 4 people & share everything."
sadie c
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- 8.2
"I get the yogurt, check the specials. Once they had a full "carrot cupcake" mixed in; it was ridiculous and I loved it!"
Reed Jones - 6.9
"Great neighborhood spot. Cheap drinks, pool table, and a jukebox. They also allow dogs. Bonus: awesome fireplace for the chilly SF nights."
Rob Ray - 8.1
"Really great owner, very friendly !!!"
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