Afghanistan, Nov. 9 -- In written responses to Khaama Press, the chef of Washington's Lapis and the team behind Vancouver's award-winning Zarak say global rankings cannot measure an entire cuisine.
No restaurant based in Afghanistan appears in The 50 Best Restaurants 2026, the global ranking announced in Lima, Peru, on November 4. None appears in the top 50 or in the extended 51-100 list released in October.
Afghan restaurateurs abroad who answered questions from Khaama Press say this reflects limited exposure more than the quality of the food. Two sent written responses. One is Shamim Popal, the Afghan-born executive chef and co-owner of Lapis, a Michelin-recognized Afghan restaurant in Washington, D.C. The other is the team behind Afgha...