A narrative of hope and humility.
Afghan food holds a key to the history and cultural story of Afghanistan: It establishes love, communication, collaboration, and unity between families, relatives, and strangers — turned into friends.
When we begin to think about the world, we think of globalization as a uniquely modern phenomenon, yet two millenia ago, it was a fact of life, one which presented opportunities, through goods & ideas between the West & the East. In many ways, Zarak embodies the Silk Road. It has been well-documented that foods, tastes, and spices of Afghan dishes are a tasteful blend of the regions that surround Afghanistan: Stepping away from an Afghan table hungry, simply never happens.
Zarak is sharing Afghan heritage through exemplary hospitality, innovative cocktails, and elevated dishes.
We are a small team and this is our passion project that unites and showcases our people: Mum’s generational recipes, chefs’ creativity with modern technique and Afghan ingredients, our unique take on cocktails through our personal histories, our Front of House staff who work relentlessly through busy dinner rushes and impossible brunch hours but give it their all with every guest experience, our prep cooks who start at 6AM every morning, line cooks who fry, grill, make rice throughout the night, dishwashers who scrape every plate.
Thank you for believing in us and loving us. Without you, there would be no “us”.
Chef Zohra’s Story
Our story begins with our mother, Zohra.
In 2003, she brought her four young boys to Canada after the passing of her husband while they were living as refugees in Pakistan during the first Taliban regime. Arriving in a new country with no English, no formal work experience, and the enormous responsibility of raising four children on her own, she carried with her only one thing she knew well: her passion for cooking.
Long before Canada, Chef Zohra was known among family and friends for her food. She learned how to cook from her own mother and often catered for gatherings and celebrations back home. In Vancouver, while working multiple low-wage jobs to support her family, she never let go of her love for the kitchen. She continued to cook at home, experimenting with flavors, creating dishes, and sharing her food with the community around her.
She spent years working in local bakeries across Vancouver, quietly holding on to a dream of opening her own restaurant one day. That dream came true in 2017 with the opening of Afghan Kitchen.
Chef Zohra’s style of cooking is rooted in tradition yet layered with depth. She believes Afghan food should be soulful—homemade, simple, and made with love. Today, she still works in the kitchen at both of our locations, leading a family of over 40 staff and continuing to share her recipes with the same care she always has.
And if you’ve heard whispers about the famous “Mum’s Cake,” yes—it’s real. Chef Zohra still bakes it herself, just like she always has at home.
Her journey is not just about food. It’s about resilience, love, and the belief that even in the hardest of circumstances, dreams can come true—with a little patience, a lot of hard work, and a recipe passed down from a mother’s hands.