What’s on offer?
A friendly Afghan taxi driver, Omid, told me that his favourite place to eat is D’Grill on Aungier Street in Dublin. There are not many Afghan people living in Ireland, and for him, Wali Seddiqi’s restaurant and takeaway, which opened in 2016, is a true taste of home. Seddiqi tells me that Afghan cuisine shares similarities with neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Iran and India, but it also has distinct features.
Afghan cuisine incorporates elements from Central Asia’s culinary traditions, such as kebabs, dumplings (manto), and pilau (pulao), and while spices are commonly used in all neighbouring cuisines, Afghan food tends to be less spicy compared to Indian cuisine. Commonly used spices include coriander, cardamom, cumin and saffron. Afghan cuisine has been influenced by Persian and Indian culinary traditions, evident in dishes such as Qabuli pilau (rice pilaf with raisins and carrots) and kebabs. It typically uses less dairy than you would find in Indian cuisine, where in many regions dairy products such as ghee, paneer and yoghurt feature.
As well as uniquely Afghan dishes, D’Grill serves charcoal grilled kebabs, southern fried chicken, wraps and burgers.
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What did we order?
Mantos (dumplings), Qabuli pilau (lamb and rice) and aubergine with rice.
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How was the service?
Ordering online was easy and the food arrived in good time, piping hot, although the plastic containers are quite pliable, and a little bit of food had spilt out.
Was the food nice?
It was a real treat to try dishes that I had never eaten before. The mantos, steamed dumplings of silky dough that are filled with a mixture of lightly spiced minced beef and caramelised onions, were delicious, sitting on fresh yoghurt, topped with lentils, fresh coriander and dry herbs. The Qabuli pilau is a slow-cooked lamb shank on beautifully made rice which has a pop of sweetness when you bite into one of the plump raisins. It is a mild dish, but there is a green chilli sauce on the side which can be added for heat. The aubergines were also very good, slow-cooked so that they were rich and soft, in a sauce made from sautéed tomatoes with yoghurt, garlic, mint and masala spices.
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What about the packaging?
The food arrived in a paper bag, but the containers are the flimsy plastic ones that really aren’t great for reuse. They are recyclable.
What did it cost?
It was €49.49 for dinner for three people: mantos, €13; Qabuli pilau, €18.50; aubergine with rice, €15.50; and service fee, €2.49.
Where does it deliver?
Open daily, 1pm-1am, Sun-Thur; 1pm-4am, Fri-Sat; available via Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats within a 20km delivery radius.
Would I order it again?
Most definitely, this is delicious food and there are unique dishes that you won’t get anywhere else.
