Azeen’s Afghani Restaurant

110 E Union St
Pasadena, CA 91103 (Map)
626-683-3310

(Web Site)

Price: $$$$

Cuisine: Afghan

It’s a shame that this restaurant is concealed in a less-trafficked part of Old Pasadena, as it’s a real prize. Azeen’s offers an assortment of kebabs on the menu, but these are best passed over in favor of the far more interesting options available. The various stews, meant to be served over rice, combine vegetables with tender chunks of chicken, lamb, or beef, seasoned with Afghani spice combinations. Alternatively, try one of the two kinds of dumplings: flat ones filled with mint and leeks, or plump ones filled with seasoned lamb. The superb butternut squash, seasoned with cardamom and topped with yoghurt sauce, is available as either a vegetarian entree or, with a sprinkling of ground lamb, as a non-vegetarian side dish. With a sort of even-odds Russian Roulette on whether your service will be perfectly fine or slow and annoying.