Main St. Location
3142 S Main St,
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(385) 229-4155
Hours
Tues-Sun: 4pm–9pm
Closed Monday
Order Online
Our Menu
About Afghanistan
The Capital City of Kabul
Recent wars and terrorist attacks have created an impression in the Western world that Afghanistan as a barren wasteland, but that could not be further from the truth. Afghanistan is a country rich in history and culture. Humans (both settlers and nomadic people) have been living in the Afghanistan region for over 50,000 years [1].
With a population of more than 4.1 million people, Kabul is the largest city in Afghanistan. It is located on the Eastern side of the country in the valley of the Hindu Kush mountains. The average elevation of 5,876 feet (1,790 meters) which makes Kabul one of the highest capital cities in the world [2].
The city of Kabul is one of the oldest settlements in the world, roughly 3,500 years. Kabul was strategically located along the Silk Road [3] which connected the East and West between the 2nd century and the 18th century.
Istalif Pottery
About an hour north of Kabul is a beautiful village named Istalif. Through the village runs a tree-lined river which gives life to the rich orchards of grapes, roses, and wheat.
Apart from being historically renowned as one of the most beautiful places in Afghanistan [4] Istalif is also famous for the handmade pottery. The turquoise glaze applied to each finished piece is what gives Istalif Pottery its distinctive look. The glaze is made from ishkar root (a plant found in the Istalif mountainous regions) mixed with quartz and copper oxide. The tradition of making this pottery goes back hundreds of years and is being revived post-Taliban with the help of Turquoise Mountain.
Buzkashi
The national sport of Afghanistan, buzkashi, is a relic of ancient times [5]. A test of strength, speed, and courage, buzkashi involves athletes atop fast and powerful horses as they navigate around determined opponents to deliver a goat carcass into a chalk circle. Once the sport of rich rival warlords, the sport still draws massive crowds of supporters [6].
Buddah Statues
In the towering cliffs that surround the Bamyan valley there are two carved alcoves. Empty now, these alcoves were once home to lovingly carved statues of the Buddhas of Bamyan. These statues were carved early in the 6th century during the Kushan period and watched over the valley for nearly 1,200 years. Deciding that the statues were idols, the Taliban destroyed these ancient artifacts in 2001 leaving gaping holes in the mountainsides and outraging the world [7].
The Bamyan valley is between the Hindu Kush and Koh-i-Baba mountain ranges. Similar to Kabul, this settlement was a strategic part of the Silk Road trade routes. The Bamyan Valley once housed several Buddhist monasteries and was once a flourishing mecca for religion, art, and philosophy.
Afghan Rug/Carpet
Afghan rugs are among the finest rugs made in the world today. Each is exclusively designed and is a unique work of art with its individual color palette. They cannot be ordered to size, ensuring a one of a kind rug. A unique Afghan rug design appeared in the early 1980s that came out of the violent occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union. Ever since then, these Afghan "war rugs," as they’re often known, usually contain iconic imagery of war through their design of helicopters, assortment of weaponry and tanks in the background of a more traditional rug style. They offer a fascinating and realistic glimpse into the lives of an artistic culture besieged by war.
Turquoise Mountain
Turquoise Mountain was founded in Afghanistan in 2006 by Prince Charles. The foundation is focused on reviving Afghan traditional crafts, architecture, culture, and restoring historic areas destroyed by the taliban or during the war in Afghanistan.
Click HERE to learn more about Turquoise Mountain and the work they are doing to preserve the culture and historic traditions of Afghanistan.
COVID-19
Thank you for your continuous support and loyalty to the family at Afghan Kitchen in this very challenging time.
During this unprecedented time we continue to take your orders for dine in, in-store pickup, curbside pickup, and delivery.
The health and well-being of our team, guests, and community remain of utmost importance to us. We have taken these additional measures to ensure that our guest are safe and comfortable while ordering takeout and delivery from Afghan Kitchen:
We operate as a smaller team, all of whom wears face masks and food-grade disposable gloves.
All of our team members and guests have access to hand sanitizers.
We frequently sanitize all commonly touched surfaces after each use.
At the front entrance there are separate buckets for new and used pens.
Everything is done from a distance.
We have partnered with ChowNow so that you can order and make your payment directly from the website.
We are carefully monitoring our team members for any symptoms of illness and we will take immediate action if any symptoms of illness is present.
Hand sanitizer dispensers and touch-less paper towel dispensers are available in all washrooms.
Additional seating space on the restaurant’s front patio to increase distance between tables to 6 feet.
Tableware regularly wiped with professional grade sanitizer.
All storage units & washrooms sanitized at an increased frequency.
Food-grade, disposable gloves are used while preparing all drinks.
Single-use, disposable dishes and silverware will be used for the time being.
We do encourage you to use the menu on your phone.
We continue to ask for your patience as we navigate into this new normal.
Do not hesitate to raise your concerns or ask questions directly to the owner: contact@afghan-kitchen.com
Thank you once again for your continued support in this difficult time.
