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Helmand Dining Room - The Helmand Restaurant, Cambridge, MA

The Helmand Restaurant

4.7
4.7
745 Reviews
$31 to $50
Middle Eastern

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 15 times today
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Vegetarian-friendly
Helmand Restaurant offers Afghani dishes with a wood-burning oven where the famous flatbread is cooked on one side of the room and an intimate fireplace is on the other side.

Helmand Restaurant entrées include tasty choices like qabelee, which is pallow rice baked with chunks of lamb tenderloin, raisins and glazed carrots or mantwo, a homemade pasta shell filled with beef and onions. If you like spicy dishes, try the koufta challow, consisting of beef meatballs with Afghan seasoning sautéed with sun-dried tomato, hot peppers and green peas in a fresh tomato sauce. Several vegetarian entrées are also available such as the kaddo and banjan challow, which is pan fried and baked pumpkin and eggplant served with challow rice and yogurt garlic sauce.

*Due to limited patio seating, we do not take reservations for our patio . Please note the patio or any other special requests in your reservation, or ask upon arrival, and we will do our best to accommodate.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Middle Eastern, Afghan, Halal
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (617) 492-4646
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Neighborhood
    Cambridge
  • Cross street
    Bent Street<br />Across from the CambridgeSide Galleria
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Close to the Lechmere Green line T stop & bus station
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Kosher, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 745 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Helmand Restaurant delights patrons with its "fabulous food," "wonderful service," and inviting atmosphere. Known for its authentic Afghan cuisine, the restaurant offers a delightful mix of flavors, including standout dishes like the baby pumpkin and lamb. It's a "not to be missed" experience in Cambridge, perfect for adventurous diners.

745 Reviews
  1. RAJAT

    Detroit

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service was very nice ! I requested to do something special while making the reservation and I mentioned " birthday". I wasn't expecting anything but they arranged a beautiful dessert with a candle on top and brought it to our table! That was a nice gesture!!

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  2. david

    Greater Boston

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Enjoyable dining experience. Pumpkin appetizer was delicious. The meatball and lamb stew entrees were delicious. Highly recommend.

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  3. David

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    27 reviews

    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love coming to Helmand and bringing out-of-town friends. It never fails to amaze!

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  4. Irv

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    76 reviews

    3.0

    76 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It has been much better in prior visits. A shame.

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  5. Eman

    Oxford

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    It is very good 👍 and delicious food and very nice

    Is this helpful?

  6. Merrick

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Helmand is by far the best Afgan restrurant in the Northeast, if not the entire country. The food was FANTASTIC, beautifully and spicefully prepared, a delicious collection os mouth watering taste bitess and super-friendly staff. We have visited the Helmand for 3 decades and necver had a poor diniung experience. On a scale of 1 - 10 (10 = the best), we would give the Helmand a 10.

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  7. Alexander

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    28 reviews

    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic restaurant you won’t be disappointed!!!!

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  8. Jeff

    Washington DC

    77 reviews

    4.0

    77 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    First time. Food was great - among the best of any Afghan restaurant I've been to in the US. Service and timing of food delivery could use some improvement. We ordered 2 apps and 2 mains. The apps came almost immediately, and then the mains showed up a few minutes later, before we'd finished the apps. I noticed other tables had better spacing between dishes. In addition, I had to ask for water refills from the server's assistant more than once. I also ordered a glass of wine, and I would have loved a second glass, but our server never checked in our food or to ask if I'd another glass - until they were clearing out plates.

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  9. jenni

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We always love eating at Helmand! The food is different and delicious and service is always good.

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  10. Debra

    London

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We had two appetizers and two small plates - all vegetarian - plus shared 3 desserts. It was more than enough for us. The food was interesting and delicious. The outstanding ice cream + baklava dessert is not to be missed!

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FAQs

The Helmand Restaurant does offer delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. The Helmand Restaurant also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 492-4646.

The Helmand Restaurant is rated 4.7 stars by 745 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 15 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Helmand Restaurant

143 1St St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Bent Street<br />Across from the CambridgeSide Galleria
  • Neighborhood
    Cambridge
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Middle Eastern, Afghan, Halal
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Close to the Lechmere Green line T stop & bus station
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Kosher, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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