Panjshir

When Aziz Niazy opened Panjshir in 1985, he had one simple goal: to introduce the people of Falls Church to authentic Afghan cuisine. Convincing diners to try new things isn't always easy, but it helps when your food is well loved. His restaurant has been luring in devoted regulars for more than a quarter of a century now, and Panjshir, which is now run by Aziz's children, has transformed from one man's mission to the pride of an entire family.

A lot of this success has to do with the food, which is comprises humble, homestyle dishes that rely on simple flavors. Consider one of the restaurant's most popular dishes, kadu palow. This sweet-and-savory curry blends pumpkin with tender chunks of lamb, creating what one food critic from The Washington Post called "a glorious alchemy that makes small children and food critics smile stupidly in wonder." In addition to this house specialty, the Niazy family also serves up a variety of kebabs, meat dumplings, and stick-to-your-ribs vegetarian entrees.