Chopahn Restaurant, San Diego

At Chopahn Authentic Afghan Cuisine, guests dine under warm golden light as the scents of seasonal Central Asian dishes swirl around them. Meals often begin with an appetizer of sauteed eggplant drizzled with yogurt before the entrees arrive. These range from hearty lamb loin kabobs to beefy stews poured over beds of basmati rice. Feasts are completed by a litany of wines drawn from all over the West Coast and Europe, as well as desserts of creamy pudding, elephant ears, and baklava.