Monday Munchies: Afghan food in Rogers

I've eaten at a dedicated Afghan restaurant one time in my life. It was a wonderful experience, and it wasn't in Northwest Arkansas.

🇦🇫 The latest: We now have BEK Restaurant & European Gourmet Market in Rogers, where diners order off the Turkish or Afghan menus.

The vibe: BEK has both a food truck outside and an indoor restaurant that shares a building with a market carrying foods from Eastern Europe. The indoor restaurant feels casual and café-style, but the food does not.

Wandering around the market after lunch gave me the chance to discover new-to-me treats.

Uzbek Manti.

🍽️ What to try: I recommend the Uzbek Plov ($14), a dish with rice, lamb, carrots, raisins and onion. The lamb was tender, and it was overall a savory lunch. Be sure to add in some sumac, a spice from ground berries you'll find on the table.

Doing it right also requires ordering the Uzbek Manti ($14) — steamed dumplings with beef, onion and garlic served with yogurt, split pea sauce and cilantro. Sure, it's two red meats at one meal, but the flavors are varied enough that you won't mind.

💰 By the numbers: My husband and I split both dishes, and it was just the right amount of food. And we were happy with the $36 meal for two after tax and tip.

📍 Stop by: 11am-8pm Tuesday through Sunday at 1149 W. Walnut St. in Rogers.