Ravi Kabob House (I)

Worst service ,discourteous desk staff ( probably the owner), when feedback was given about food he said okay whatever . Chapli kebabs were dry and chewy , chicken curry Tasted like salty water with turmeric paste and chicken was size of an ostrich . Chana masala had no taste at all and looked like goop, biryani was full of garam masala. Order was broken down and brought to table so far apart from one item to another that we could not eat food warm. Paratha came without kebabs, rice came without curry. Worst part is the bill was $60 and we came back hungry . The manager was extremely rude . They have no decency to accept that they served wrong items or lack of customer service , probably because they have lines upon lines of people coming In from out of town not knowing what kind of a rip off they are. THEY DONT ACCEPT ANY CARDS ..... CASH ONLY YOU FOND THAT OUT upon ARRIVAL only. HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED DONT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY .

The kabobs are worth the drive alone, a little on the pricey side but the food is filling. Kashmiri chai is really good here. Will be visiting again.

No doubt it\'s an awesome place for very good food and very pleasant staff. But call to make sure first whether u will have place to sit or not. Otherwise it will be a take out. Kabob/tikka and fish all are great. Chana is also good. Karahi is not bad but not the best. The best part is that everything is made fresh in front of u. Highly recommend !

These guys are professional kabob cooks! Only downsides is so busy and CASH ONLY.

Best described as the Seinfeld's Soup Nazi meets chaotic food truck explosion. Not meant to be fancy, this place was BUSY on a Thursday night, with mostly take-out. I had a desi take out special, including chapli kabob, daal, naan, rice and chicken karahi. Food was delicious and reasonably price. With drink, total was $15 per person. Place as messy, packed, standing room only. CASH only.

Best Karahi (chicken or lamb) in town enough to feed 3-4 persons.

Had a Raavi special, karahi chicken and lamb kabob. All were excellent choices. Karahi chicken was large size serving. Naan were plenty and fresh. All meat was well done. Sitting area can be very crowded. Above food was enough quantity for 3 adults.

Confirmed from the source, chicken is no hand slaughtered

Awesome chicken kadai!

I love their chick peas and chutney. When I eat here I like it a lot and I feel like I am getting special service but when I carry out I do not like it. The place is a little small and crowded at times and parking is horrible but I would still return from time to time. It is a bit expensive though and if your not careful you can end up paying a lot. The service can be great depending on who is working.

Positive: All the food here tastes great including chicken boti and haleem. Negative: Expensive place; give way too much rice and chick peas and not enough of the main course. Overall: Great tasting Pakistani food at a price. Revisit: Yes, when in the mood to eat late night and craving good Pakistani food.

Considered best pakistani restaraunt in VA, but not everything is great. Mainly their karhai and BBQ items are excellent.

Went there with my friend on christmas eve. It's a nightmare to find parking and then get a table. Very crowded. We ordered mostly grilled items. The chicken kabobs were ok but the lamb chops were burnt and chewy. Overall the food was not bad; however the service was very poor. From where I sat, I could see the kitchen and the food preparation. The kitchen was very dirty and un organized. They had pots and pans with gravy sitting on the floor with no lids. The workers would take some gravy out to prepare whatever and then sit it back on the floor. Their restroom was filthy too!

The BEST!

We went to that place twice with family. If u go to that place u will agree with me. The owner has nasty attitude. No one care how tasty the food is if u r not treated with respect. I'll never go to this place again.

Probably the best chicken karahi in virginia,visited twice in last 4 months but place is too small n have to wait to get a table.

went here about a week ago, it was delicious, went with my dad and sisters, did not have to wait long, chapli kabab and chicken were the best i've had in quite a long time, the chapli kabab was made like they use to make at the food factory about 20 years ago, seemed to be a good mix of folks here which is always good to see

Open 24/7. Has great chicken, lamb, and seekh kabobs. The sides and rice are a little under par, but their entrees and naan are great. CASH ONLY (they have an ATM if u forgot). Seating is limited for the large number of people that come through here.

A small sitting area and it is very crowded. We ordered chicken karahi, one of the best we had, you have to ask mild, ours was spicy. Gulab jaman and pink chai were also exellent.

This restaurant is very small & sometimes, you might have to wait in the line to be seated. But if you want good food, this is the place to go. The chicken karahi here was undoubtedly the best i've ever had in my life. Their kabas & tikkas looked great too, but we couldn't try those. Next time I'm in DC area, I'll definitely go there.

Yikes, all my friends have raved about this place and it was good, but I think the hype killed it for me. The food was average but the place was crowded. I guess I should check it out again.

I was here a few a years ago. I didn't think it was all that. In my opinion an average Afghan place is better than this.

Their quality has gone down tremendously. No consistency at all. Karhai is a mixture of bones and masala, very less meat. I do not understand why their channay are so hyped. They are just OK. Poor service. High prices. Oh ye, they only take cash which was also a pain!

I do not recommend this place. They took our order and we had to wait an hour for them to return with the order (apparently they had a party of people they had to cook for who would eat there... dunno why people would dine in that place to begin with). When we mentioned this, they said we could go somewhere else. I'll take their advice. I don't plan on going there again. The food's okay... it's not that great, tbh.

Ravi Kabob usually caters most Muslim/Pakistani events in the DC area (and does a pretty amazing job). The restaurant is like most Pakistani restaurants you'd find across the country - sort of small, lots of people, and not a lot of order. You find your own seats, order at the front, and your order number is called out when it's ready - very no frills. The food, however, is great! Unlike Kabob Palace, Ravi Kabob has Pakistani dishes along with their kabobs. I would recommend their chicken karahi and kabob mixed plate - you cant go wrong with either of those. I took my parents here (who can be some of the harshest critics out there) and they loved it. HIGHLY recommended.

The place is awesome.......The food is great, there is a huge selection of South Asian food and it is not too pricey. Although it is more of a self service place the service is decent. The place was extremely crowed (even at 11 pm) and I can see why------it is definitely a place worth going to for South Asian food.

Food is very good. The service isn't bad considering how busy it can be.

I went there yesterday, Jan 24th. Place is same as usual, like other Pakistani places, not clean, not dirty. I ordered Nihari, Chicked kabob, beef kabob. I think they have no idea how to serve and eat Nihari or how people eat this in Pakistan. For a $8-9 dish, the plate has mostly rice and chana, some slalad, with 3 small pieces of meat on side with little gravy. On the top of that, it does not taste good. The Chicken (minced meat) kabob was also tasteless. Only beef kabob was good in taste. Also their prices are not attractive as they used to be.

Horrible! DO NOT GO! Recently visited on rec of a close friend, demeanor of staff was unacceptable, made me wait for over an hour, did not take my order and made insulting comments during our visit. I came for food and because of reputation left unsatisfied.

They made me wait while serving a number of people who come in after me. They forgot my simple order of which I had to remind them of three times, each time reacting as if it was the first time anyone ordered chicken karahi. Apart from service, the food is quite overrated. With regard to the famour chicken karahi, why don't they just cut to the chase and stick in the entire raw ginger root. Ginger should merely compliment the karahi, not perform a Musharraf-style coup d'etat on your palate. This was my third disappointing visit to Ravi Kabob. There won't be a fourth.

The food is really good and probably second best to Kabob Palace. However, I must warn everyone that the staff is not very friendly (not mean or bad but they do not display an affectionate attitude towards customers). Their regular restaurant is very poorly maintained from the inside and is extremely small. However, they opened up a family restaurant, which I have not attended, but seems fine from the outside. Again, the food is excellent, but the service could use a touch up.

This is like the east coast wing of Shalimar (san fran) - only that their nahari is wayy better!

I gave Ravi Kabob House 5 stars because the food is excellent. They perhaps have the best kabobs in the DC Metro area. The location is small and could perhaps be cleaned out a little better and new tiles on the floor and paint on the walls but aside from those things the food is wonderful. As for customer service the guys were fairly nice

The best food in this area.There kulfi is the best.

The very best in all of Northern Virginia!

My cousin's graduation party catered from here and all the food was amazing. The owners were really nice and the day after the party my dad, my uncle and my cousins went back to try the vegetable dishes. I have to put this above all the pakistani restaurants in new york.

The best desi restaurant I have ever been too. I use to frequent this place quite often when I lived in Virginia. I highly recommend it. I always went on the weekend and got: Nehari, Haleem, Channa, and saag alloo... with about 8 naans. Also, in the winter they have the best Kashmiri Chai. It is EXTREMELY authentic north pakistani/Kashmiri style food for a good price. If you not accustomed to the flow of the small restaurant it can be a little annoying. However, you always get fresh, hot, delicious food and lots of little touches like putting fresh ginger, lemon, and chili with your nehari.

Hands down, bar none the best Pakistani restaurant in the area, if not the country. I have tried desi restaurants along the east coast, as well as in Chicago's Devon Street, but nothing in Devon Street even comes CLOSE to this. I remember the first time I ate here, which was about 7-8 years ago, and I fell in love with the food. The food here is honestly better than the food in most good restaurants in Pakistan! The chicken karahi--delish. The kabob karahi--scrumptious (can be very spicy, though). Their grilled items are excellent too MashaAllah. I rate the restaurants for their food which is why I give them 5 stars. They are open until late but I am disappointed that they have not at all upgraded their main restaurant, though they have opened a new "family" one across the street. Given that they probably rake in TONS of money, the main joint is way too bare-bones and crowded. I honestly kept on getting bumped into while i was trying to eat my food--it was quite annoying. So don't expect a fancy dining atmopshere. Also, cash only...very annoying but hey, if you want the good grub that's what you have to do.

Hands down the best. I haven't come one across that can top this. Been to many places, but nothing compares to this place w/ Reasonable prices. Staff is very nice and friendly.

The food is amazing here, i mean amazing, i tried many different kabobs here, and its all good, but the only they lack is customer service.

Always had great food when ever I have gone there. So much so that the people who work there know me now. Brain MAsala is great and so is the other food. The place is usually crowded and sometimes you have to wait to get a table, although they have a second branch right across the road but I still like going to this place. Could use somee more decent wait staff, and better cleanliness of the restrooms and the restarant area.

Very good food, but mediocre service. Cholay is among the best I've ever had, and karahi dishes are delicious.

Owner can be a bit rude at times. Food portions are OK. I thought the karahi is very much hyped about. Its barely ok!

Great Food If you are a food Lover. Decent price and nice big portion always. Beef kabob are always Half cooked, when ever i ordered. Every thing else is Great Tasting.

The quality of the barbecued items are great. The choley are wonderful. Definately go on weekends for the nehari and haleem. Naan is ok, and the karahi is not what it used to be, at least everytime I order it, it doesnt taste anything like karahi should.

Ravi Kabab is pretty good. I ordered the chapli kabab plate. It comes with two chapli (small sized) kababs, one naan, rice, salad, and chickpeas. Price is pretty competitive for the area at $8.00. However, this place CANNOT compete with Kabab Palace, which still ranks at the top as far as service and quality is concerned. I used to go to kabab palace oncce a week for a year and a half and I always loved their food. If in the area and starving, I recommend Ravi Kabab. However, if you can drive and wait for 10 minutes, I would drive over to kabab Palace instead

Positives first: Their Karhai dishes are excellent with huge portions but also expensive about $14. The shami kababs are amazing. There isnt much room to sit down and eat but they have another resturant right across the street. Negatives were their other items wich were priced from $7 - $10 were not that great because they served it with lots of choley and rice.

After hearing rave reviews of Ravi, we finally went there. We have eaten in some of the best and worst restaurants in the country, including pakistani restaurants and had somewhat high expectations based on what we heard. The chicken karahi was indeed good. The kababs were not spectacular, just fine. They were no better than Charcoal Kabab's kababs. I've eaten there now several times and Ravi's kababs can be clumpy sometimes. Pakistani food is meant to be blended but they only offer customers styrofoam partitioned plates which make it impossible to blend your food. The restaurant is very tiny and yet very large Pakistani families of 7 or more people insist on coming and sitting down, sometimes taking up the table right smack in the middle of the restaurant and then not budging when you need to pass by to use their restrooms. Such large families really should be taking up corner tables or getting takeout IMHO. The restrooms are dirty. If you use water in the bathroom and spill it, why would you not clean up your mess?

The owner is sometimes rude, and the place does not seem very clean, however the food is amazing and the atmosphere is fun. You can go here with a bunch of people or can go alone but you will never be bored eating here. The sometimes long lines and the smell that gets all over your clothes gives this place an authentic vibe. If you want tasty food for a good price, check this place out. PS Try their kulfi after your dinner. Food: 8 out of 10 Atmosphere: 7.5 out of 10 Trust the yellow turtle!

Service was horrible but the food was good, karachi was bit expensive, it was pricy for a small portion of 2 people. I'm professional and have stopped going there because of the service, I've eaten twice at this place, my first experience he sends someone to sit with us and on second occasion he pulls me out of the table.

Food might be good, but...Filthy establishment. Service is poor. The customer is treated as an annoyance. I seriously think you risk getting food poisoning here.

I went to this place once several years ago. I don't remember the food being all that great, but the service was bad. The place is so crowded and I don't know why so many people go to this place. Dining area is awful, dirty and so cramped. Thumbs down, not recommended.

Horrible. Disgusting. The service was horrendous. The place was unkempt. The food was above average but the small portions are quite annoying (they supplement it with a plate full of salad). The nans were decent. They need to be introduced to the word "Hygeine" Dont go there unless you want to vomit.

The cholay is VICIOUS. The Karahi is probably the best ive ever tasted.

I'm from Southern California, where I've lived most of my life. And Ravi Kabob is one of the highlights of the DC Metro area. Their food is, hands-down, the best Pakistani/South Asian food I've ever had. Some have told me it's better than the food in Pakistan. :) I don't know about that, but whatever inconveniences about their physical space, it's so worth it. Their style of food/cooking rocks, because it's authentic Lahori/Punjabi, and that's sadly lacking where I live.

Great food, not much space or privacy, trouble with parking, serve yourself. That's all you need to need about Ravi. It is always packed (except maybe around 4 in the late afternoon). The chicken (bone in and boneless), the karahi gosht, and chohle are great. The portions are a bit smaller than other restaurants, but I think it's worth it. There's absolutely no privacy-both walls are covered with mirrors and sisters, you'll really have to try to sit in a corner, facing away from the entire restaurant, blocked by your brothers/husband. Not at all a good place for sisters to go unless the restaurant is empty. However, the food is definately worth eatting at 4 p.m.

This is the best pakistani kabob place in the DC area. Charcoal kabob used to be like this place but they have fallen from grace recently. So this one reigns supreme. Keep it up.

Good food. I have told them many times that size of their chicken karahi is rediculously small. Chick peas are good. Rice can be dry sometimes.

Their food is excellent, esp karahi chicken. I would like bigger helpings. I do recommend they move into a bigger place, and start booking tables--a pain to have to scramble for tables. I never found them rude. Once I found it too spicy, and told them afterwards; they said they would have fixed the problem if I'd told them.

The food may take a little long, but its well worth the wait. This has to be some of the best Pakistani food in America. I would be willing to kiss the man who opened this restaurant.

It took us long time to get served. The place is not attractive and parking is a big proble. Also even the food was not bad but it was very expensive. I would not recommend a family to go to ravi Kabob and eat. The place is very crowded and the service is poor.

Karahi was really good. Rice partially cooked. other food was ok. very poor customer sverice.

Awesome food, miserable setting

i like there chicken karahi and kabob salan but their seekh kabobs are disgusting...they literally made me sick and the rice that comes with it is tasteless

I Love Ravi Kabob! I have been to all the Kabob resturants in the area and I will truly say that their food is excellent. The best! I go there every weekend. The only thing I don't like is commute but will will drive thru thick and thin to eat their yummy, tasty food! The food is truly FANTASTIC!

this place is great. their kabob karahi is just plain amazing. they hook you up with lots of mango lassi and the malai kulfi there is off the hook. one of the only places where you can actually get the good kulfi! my friends and i would go for "kulfi runs" at 1 am in the morning!

Imran Maskatia

Aug 6, 2004•64 reviews

5

Excellent Karhai in all DC metro area but plz dont try anything else you will be very very disappointed

I went to this kabob place and i bought your recommended favorite chicken boneless kabob. I was very dissappointed on my visit. The place was packed with people, there were no space for me to move around to pay for my order, ventilation is very poor (my shirt smelled like curry spices), and no customer service at all. Speaking of friendliness i don't think so. Bec. of packed people eating on the place i had to order mine to go. After waitng about 40mins. to have my order finished this guy i recognized him (the one pictured on his business card) when i asked the guy next to him for my order he said its ready and the to go box had my name written on it. But this guy ravi (owner) said no this order belongs to another and gave to a middle eastern guy and they started speaking their language and ignored me then told me mine is coming up about another 15mins. thats 55mins. waiting time. You see i am half american and half chinese i feel discriminated and had to leave. Maybe he does a good job serving his country men and ignore people like me who can't speak his language. Ravi lost a very good customer. Thanks for the space.

The food is excellent. Especially the kabab karhai, and the chicken karhai.

Even though they are famous for Lamb chops, I did not think too highly of them. Their food to me was average.

Great karahi and lamb chops. Their kashmiri chai is also really good. Its usually over crowded and the seating isnt very comfortable but the food makes up for that!

By far the best Pakistan restaurant in the whole DC area! Excellent food, very laid back atmosphere, no stuck up waiters, just great food! Definately go here and check it out!

They are great when it comes to catering. There is not much seating at the actual restaurant. On weekends there are lines sometimes to be seated. I ordered the 'Seekh Kabob' and the meat wasn't grilled well done. Looking at how busy it was and how many people of different nationalities were in the restaurant (American, Afghan, Paki, etc..) I can tell a lot of people enjoy the food. I do recommend them moving to a bigger space and being more cleanly.

Food is great but the prices are going sky high , but we still go there from Gaithersburg Maryland. Chanae and nan is the best, reminds me of Fridays in Pakistan when we use to eat "kulcha and chanae" . Yum the food is the best. Owner is very good Pakistani. Space is a little smal but it is still halal and Pakistani food. Karahi Ghost " reminds me of Pahalwan's Karahi Ghost at Ghant Ghar in Faisalabad. Just go and try the food urself.

Excellent food and great Karahi dishes. Very good naan too.

ravi is spectacular, the karahi is amazing, just amazing

Wonderful Pakistani taste food. Chicken karahi with real karahi taste. Good service. Overall excellent food.

This is THE BEST PLACE for Nehari in the whole dc baltimore va area. There isnt another restaurant that can provide better nehari. Their naans are tasy and so are the chick peas. I only wish they had it all week long and the place was a little larger. I drive all the way from richmond just to eat there every weekend. I love it.

Food is tasty & fresh but serving are getting smaller while prices keeps going up. Nans are excellent but one does not live by bread alone. Bone in chicken tikkas are better value than boneless. Side dishes are good selection.

MashAllah the food is soooo good! You really get your moneys worth! I would recommend it to anyone!

Excellent food! space is tight so take out is best. People from different parts of the world have different standards. But I do wonder about their cleanliness standards. I went to eat with 2 other people and we had a pitcher of water. When one of the people went to the counter to order our dessert, the guy working there rushed us off the table thinking we were done and he took my half drunk glass of water water and emptied it into the pitcher and placed the pitcher at the table as the next group sat down. Yuck! We informed the people to get a fresh pitcher of water.

Don't be discouraged by the rudeness of the owner. His food is amazing! Especially try the Karhi chicken. It's the best that any Paki-type restaurant has around here.

Pakistani Afghani food of very high quality. Mostly used as a "take out" resturant as there is seating for only about 36 people. Food is of good quality specially their kabaabs such as "seekh", "boneless chicken" & "Chapli" etc. Weekends they serve mouth-watering Nehari and Haleem. I have yet to try a dish here that I did not like. For people visiting the Washington DC area, this is a good place to go for authentic tasting desi food.

Excellent BBQ food and great Karahi dishes.

Yelp Reviewer

Yelp

Mar 1, 2025

4

Good little Pakistani restaurant famous for it’s karahi chicken; it was good but not spicy enough; Naan was nice and hot Meat dishes were nice and tender Restaurant was full when we went for dinner and many take outs; I gave 2* for atmosphere cause they are not known for it; given that, the staff is very friendly

Yelp Reviewer

Yelp

Dec 18, 2024

5

Sitting area is a little tight, but the food was off the charts great. Great little find during travels. Skip the briyani…. everything else including karhis, kabobs, and snacks were amazing. Desserts were great, Kheer & julab jamin were great! Service from Sher-Alam was amazing. He was so helpful, kind, and A1 ! The man behind the counter, his b day is next week so give him a b day wish (it was my husband’s b day so that came up)! Enjoy ?.

Yelp Reviewer

Yelp

May 12, 2024

1

Extremely dirty place. Zero cleanness! Rude, aggressive and dirty personal. Staff wear dirty clothes no hair cover with their dirty hands they would pack your food. I don't know what the hell would be their downstairs where they prepare the food! In my last order small red kind of roache was cooked over rice! They also increased the price which is not even worthy to wait and eat their dirty food! This is the place where they damage the dignity of a Muslim culture! Shame on all of you!

Yelp Reviewer

Yelp

Jun 14, 2023

5

A great little Pakistani restaurant! The serving size is great and the prices are pretty reasonable too. Overall we had a great experience and I would definitely recommend to anyone in the area.

Yelp Reviewer

Yelp

May 29, 2023

4

It’s the go to for Pakistani food. It’s always busy, so order in advance whether dining in or take away. Got the boneless chicken Karahi this time and loved every morsel! Staff aren’t the friendliest but it’s tolerable - but that’s what happens when you’re that good. They prefer cash but accept card. Parking is a bit hard as it’s that busy but wait 2 mins or try around back. 100% worth it!

Yelp Reviewer

Yelp

Apr 1, 2023

4

I have been to few Pakistani food outlets in the past so when my brother inlaw told me about a famous place where he used to eat a decade ago,  I jumped at the offer. First thing first,  don't focus on ambience. If you are not comfortable , get a takeout. Service is good and they bring your order promptly. We ordered the famous Chicken Karahi, Chicken Tikka, and Ravi Kabobs. All dishes are served with rice,  salad, curd-mint chutney and a Tandoori Roti. Veg options are limited.

Yelp Reviewer

Yelp

Jan 24, 2023

4

The food was above average, the portions were big, while the interior & level of hygiene were humble.

Yelp Reviewer

Yelp

May 24, 2022

1

This place is extremely filthy, I had hair cooked in my food. I would advise you to eat elsewhere. This place use to be my go to, but they have gone down hill. If you care about your health and value hygiene this is not the place for you.