Kabul's first restaurant serving traditional Arab cuisine to high-end diners has finally opened. Thanks to an Afghan entrepreneur.

Al-Arab Mandi, which opened on March 1 on the fourth floor of an upmarket shopping center in Kabul, offers a variety of dishes popular in the Gulf region and beyond, as well as authentic flavors and an atmosphere with Arabic music. Separate dining rooms are there for families, and a spot to smoke shisha.

Mandi, a traditional meat and rice dish from the Arabian Peninsula with a unique blend of spices, is the restaurant's specialty. Abdul Mujib Rahmat, the owner who is in his early 30s, has brought in a Yemeni chef as well as imported spices from the Gulf to retain the original favor.

The majority of the workers are Afghans who, like the maker, have spent a considerable amount of time in the Middle East.

“We are indirectly providing a source of income for around 250 people,” Rahmat told Arab News. He said that he had invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the restaurant, which would have been cheaper elsewhere, but that he wanted to employ in his hometown.

While many Kabul restaurants serve Middle Eastern cuisine, Rahmat's is the first in the city to concentrate solely on Arab cuisine, serving traditional delicacies such as lamb midfoot, whole lamb, various kebabs, and traditional fish dishes in addition to mandi.

Despite increasing political uncertainty and security issues, fine dining establishments continue to open in Kabul, even though foreign troops stationed in the country are expected to leave the war-torn country soon.

Elyas Walizada, the restaurant's general manager, told Arab News, "We want our customers to feel relaxed, like a prince, to enjoy their time here and forget about the ongoing calamities."

Though dining at Al-Arab Mandi is not inexpensive, customers say it is worth the money.

“I had learned about Arabic food but had never tried it,” said lawyer Jawad Turab, one of the diners. “I found it tasty and healthier because they use less oil,” says the author.

He said, "I think I'll come here at least once a month and invite friends and others who can afford it to come here." “You will unwind and enjoy the meal.”