Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Greater Boston
  4. Boston
  5. Cambridge
Helmand Dining Room - The Helmand Restaurant, Cambridge, MA

The Helmand Restaurant

4.7
4.7
763 Reviews
$31 to $50
Middle Eastern

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 29 times today
  • Vegetarian-friendly
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
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
  • Area
    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
    Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

What 763 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 in Cambridge offers an "amazing experience" with its unique Afghan cuisine and "fantastic" food quality. Guests appreciate the "intensely flavorful" dishes, including vegetarian options and desserts like their famous ice cream. The ambiance is welcoming, service "attentive," and dining here feels like "an adventure." Highly recommended for both locals and visitors!

763 Reviews
  1. Sharmo

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Great food but noisy and felt like the tables were too close to each other. Cramped up a bit. But otherwise good experience.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Merrick

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wine and our meals were fantastic. Mouth watering appetizers and entre to knock over your taste buds. Compared to most restaurants, their pricing was raasonable. Portions were generous and the staff was super friendly. This is my place to come back soon.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Janeen

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My second time at the Helmand...it was great just like the first time!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Bunny

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love The Helmand. The food never disappoints. The service is full of grace — attentive, thoughtful, friendly, kind, professional. And the smell of the spices is intoxicating and somehow comforting.

    Is this helpful?

  5. D . R .

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    17 reviews

    4.0

    17 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food, service, and atmosphere were wonderful. It is a lovely restaurant with a unique menu. The difficulty was the noise level because we were at a very small table for two that was sandwiched between two very large groups that were also quite loud. This was not the fault of the restaurant per se, but it made the dinner uncomfortable because it was impossible to hear each other without shouting. Next time I will make the effort to request a table in one of a few areas that are not surrounded by large groups.

    Is this helpful?

  6. michael-john

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 4 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We keep going back..worth the two hour drive for us

    Is this helpful?

  7. Prashanth

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 31 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Been here quite a few times and have always been impressed with the food. Reminds me of Indian food, but much more mellow. Intensely flavorful, just the right potion size and their own cake and saffron ice cream is just the perfect way to end your meal. Highly recommended!

    Is this helpful?

  8. David

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on 26 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Helmand has become a go-to place when we are in Kendall Square. This places never misses a beat, food is absolutely fantastic, service is friendly and professional and it's a very comfortable place to have a dinner.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Selena

    Vancouver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 25 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is always superb!! It’s not busy at all when they open so we got service and food very quickly.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Mark

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    45 reviews

    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on 19 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was the first time I have been back in probably 6 years. Why did I wait? Hermann is sooooo good. Really amazing food, service, everything was absolutely amazing. Really, a great meal. The flavors are so interesting and complex. Excellent.

    Is this helpful?

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 763 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 29 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
  • Area
    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
    Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo