Nothing brings people together quite like a good meal. It’s also a great vehicle to share culture, stories and community and overcome barriers of race and language. The team behind Kabul Social knows this and they’re putting their real-world culinary expertise to good use. Located in the MetCentre in Sydney’s CBD, the eatery is bringing the rich flavours and cuisine of Afghanistan to Sydney. Along with sharing excellent dishes from their motherland, the restaurant is also striving to make an incredible social impact. Kabul Social is the newest extension to the Plate it Forward family, creating jobs for refugees in need, helping those facing food insecurity and donating meals to Afghan communities.
Kabul Social, CBD
The kitchen is spearheaded by a team of Afghan women, led by manager and Afghanistan refugee Swita who landed in Sydney just six months ago. With a heart to give back to the community in both countries, Kabul Social fuses incredible food with a social purpose. Every meal you eat is two meals donated — basically something you can feel real good spending your money on.
“Our hope with Kabul Social is to not only highlight the issues for Afghan people and refugees by bringing forward these voices, but also to encourage people to see how simple it can be to start creating change and create meaningful impact through something as simple as buying your lunch,” says founder of Kabul Social and co-founder of Plate it Forward Shaun Christie-David.
The restaurant’s menu is a clear labour of love. We’re talking hearty classics like dumplings, delicious burgers and classic Afghan recipes with a fresh spin. Expect Chicken Kabuli Burger with charcoal chicken, crinkle cut fries and wrapped in House Made Afghan Bread plus traditional Afghan Spiced Kebab. Also on the menu is Eggplant and Pumpkin Kabuli, red pepper or green chilli chutney, plus lush loaded boxes that’ll have you coming back for more.
The eatery’s warm blue-white interiors, traditional cabinetry and friendly vibes compliment the food perfectly. The intimate space currently seats around 25 diners but hungry punters are encouraged to grab takeaway or order online. The fit out pays homage to the city of Kabul and it’s historical relationship with the colour blue. Staying true to the theme of giving, the cut out has been generously donated by The Building Guild.
Kabul Social is now open and if you’re passionate about helping out, you’ll want to add it to your list of things to do stat. You can also read more about the Plate if Forward initiative here.