Photo by Janet Ganbold on Unsplash
These are the best Persian restaurants in Los Angeles you need to try.
For freshly baked flatbread and signature kebabs, this local favorite brings a taste of Persia to Westwood Blvd. Flame is famous for its steamy tanori bread made tableside in a clay oven, that serves as a meal itself when coupled with flavors of fresh mint, lemony basil and Persian tarragon. Other specialties made from farmer’s market-bought ingredients include vegetable-based stews and skewers of marinated and ground beef, chicken and lamb, which can be washed down by a hot Persian tea and finished with pistachio ice cream. 310.470.3399, flamepersiancuisine.com
Inspired by authentic home-cooking, the Michelin-rated Raffi’s Place presents creative and classic Persian dishes to Glendale. The indoor-outdoor space modeled after a Mediterranean courtyard is just blocks away from the Americana and attracts customers from all over Los Angeles. The extensive menu covers every must-try Middle Eastern dish—from appetizers like a yogurt dish mixed with cucumber and herb to rose-water infused sorbet. Raffi’s place also prides itself on hand-selected, hand-seasoned and carefully grilled meats that are served on a bed of basmati rice. 818.240.7411, raffisplace.com
Elegance and authenticity take form in Darya, Santa Monica’s finest Persian restaurant which serves lunch and dinner daily. The highly-acclaimed spot is known for having the juiciest kabobs in the city, such as the steak-styled “barg” skewers and ground beef “koobideh” skewers. Darya also delights with an array of soups, salads, stews and rice dishes which incorporate key ingredients like saffron, tarragon, eggplant, lentils and fresh herbs. 310.442.9000, daryarestaurant.com
Dubbed the “twin sister” of Darya Restaurant with a modern twist, Sadaf fuses traditional recipes with fresh culinary concepts. The elegantly designed indoor space on Ventura Blvd. in Encino utilizes the leanest cuts of meats and freshest vegetables made with 100% olive and vegetable oils. Specialties include “Albaloo Polo,” steamed white rice mixed with sour cherries, and the “Salmon Kabob” which is lightly marinated and charbroiled served with dill-based rice. 818.981.8100, sadafencino.com
This spacious, semi-industrial Mediterranean and Persian spot amid a bustling Olive Street scene is the perfect place for a dinner party or mid work-week lunch. Shekarchi’s friendly staff and upscale beverages complement vegetarian and gluten free appetizers, entrees straight from the grill served with rice and salads and wraps served with cucumber yogurt, hummus or tomato, onion and cucumber blend salad. 213.892.8535, shekarchirestaurant.com
For a delicacy on the go, Attari Sandwich Shop converts famed Persian recipes into quick and casual bites. Located in a courtyard on the corner of Westwood and Wilkins, Attari serves sandwiches made with specialties like “Kuku Sabzi,” a quiche-like dish made from herbs, and “Beef Kotlet,” a ground meat patty mixed with vegetables and spices. The tongue and brain sandwiches may seem avant-garde, but are authentic menu items that Attari is known. 310.441.5499, atarisandwiches.info
As another player in the “Tehrangeles” strip of Westwood Boulevard, Taste of Tehran introduces guests to a comprehensive Persian dining menu. This female-owned, order-at-the-counter shop is known for its beefs and chickens that can be found arranged on a skewer, wrapped in sandwich bread, boiled in stews and paired with thinly baked bread, saffron rice and cucumber-base salads. Other must-tries include “Fesenjoon,” a stew made with pomegranate juice, walnuts and poultry, and “Mast-o-Mousir,” a thick, sour yogurt mixed with chopped shallots. 310.470.0022, tasteoftehran.com
This brother-sister owned spot serves fan-favorite Persian dishes as well as Northern-Iranian specialties. The Westwood eatery is big on giving guests a full course meal, starting with light starters like roasted eggplant dip and pickled vegetables, and continuing with mains made with beef, chicken, lamb and seafood. The “Zeytoon Parvardeh,” green olives marinated with walnuts, pomegranate, molasses and herbs, as well as the “Akbar Joojeh,” deep-fried chicken served with buttery, saffron-topped rice, are hard to come by elsewhere. 310.824.8188, toranjrestaurant.com
With a mission to create a sense of home away from home, this catering company that came about mid-pandemic is the talk of the town with its gorgeous tabletop décor and mouthwatering menu. Owned by a mother-daughter duo, Golden Rice Co. is centered around “Tachnin,” its namesake crispy rice dish that is saturated with saffron, made light by yogurt and topped with barberries. The menu also offers a slew of beautifully intricate starters like a Mezze Grazing Board and dill-topped yogurt bowl, as well as an herb-based rice and stew, hummus and eggplant dips, salads and sweet treats like baklava, roulette cake and sweat teas. goldenrice.co
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