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    Cafe Caspian

    4.4 (392 reviews)
    ModeratePersian/Iranian
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Cafe Caspian Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE CASPIAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Caspian

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    Taylor N.

    Came here for dinner on a Friday night and had a lovely experience. Our waitress was extremely kind and helpful. The interior of the restaurant was beautiful. My boyfriend made a reservation in advance so we could sit at their booths, which were beautifully designed. We ordered the Mast-O Moosir, Chicken Chenjeh + Beef Koobideh, and Tadigh topped with Veggie Ghormeh Sabzi. All of the dishes were delicious. However, the tadigh came soggy, making it difficult to chew, as if the ghormeh sabzi had been sitting on the crispy rice for a while. My favorite had to be the beef koobideh, and I'd highly recommend anyone try that one! Overall, I'd come back here again. The service and the food were great.

    Stacey G.

    Such a lovely restaurant. Great vibe and great customer service. Kebabs were juicy and tender though lacking a bit of flavor. Eggplant dip was delicious but very heavy on the mint. The breading was spectacular!! Even better is watching her make it. The fried patty appetizer was lacking flavor and super greasy. Not my favorite. Would totally go back as the menu is so big. So much to try!!

    Gormeh Sabzi
    Andrew L.

    Came here for lunch on an early Thursday afternoon. I had no wait time, they were well under half full. I found the service to be fast and very friendly. I didn't have a specific dish in mind coming in, my server provided a few recommendations and I ended up going for the gormeh sabzi, which was a rich beany beef stew that I really liked! I could especially see this hitting the spot on the non existent cold Houston day. A lot of his other recommendations sounded intriguing so I'd love to come back some time with a larger group to do a family style meal I also had a dough to drink. I'd never heard of it before, but I always gravitate towards new drinks from cuisines I'm not too familiar with, so I gave it a try. It reminded me of a salted lassi with a bit more tang and less weight. I really liked it! If you like funky yogurty drinks I'd recommend it. Overall had a great experience, highly recommend if you're in the area and hope to go back sometime

    Chicken Chengeh
    Maha S.

    I had the need and chicken koobideh and my husband went all out with 2 entrees! He had the lamb chengeh and chicken chengeh, one with regular rice and the other with cranberry rice, which was my absolute favorite! Their food was very tender and delicious. And customer service was 10/10. It was also very pretty and looked like a very nice restaurant!

    Chicken koobideh with salad
    Mindy L.

    We were in the area for an Easter event and needed some lunch and this place received good reviews so decided to give it a try. When we first walked in, my husband's initial response was "are you sure???". The place looked really fancy on first glance and we were a little concerned we had walked into fine dining when we were just looking to grab a casual lunch. Thankfully I saw quite a few families with little kids, so that was reassuring. Also, our friend had already gotten a table for us, so we went and joined them. Since this is our first time here, we decided to order the usuals, koobideh, and badjeman. Our friend got the fesenjan stew, seafood kabob plate, and chicken breast chunks. When the food finally came out (it did take a little while), we all ate it very happily. Yes part of it was because we were so hungry, but the food was really very good. Everything was flavorful and perfectly cooked. I actually enjoyed my friend's fesenjan stew very much even though previously when I tried it at another restaurant I didn't like it at all. (Just to let you know how much we enjoyed the food, my husband and I came back a week later and ordered the same things...) Highly recommend this place for delicious Persian food!

    Entrance
    Sasha G.

    Walking in, it feels like the entrance to Persepolis, with large, heavy, grand doors that immediately set the tone. It truly feels like you're being transported to an authentic Persian restaurant. I've eaten at Persian spots in several cities, including Los Angeles, and Caspian by far captures the essence of Persian culture the best. From the architecture to the décor, every inch of the restaurant, from floor to ceilingi s beautifully adorned. We arrived right at opening, so I took the opportunity to walk around and soak in all the details: stunning Persian rugs, traditional artwork, and an ambiance that felt both elegant and warm. We were seated promptly, and our waiter, who was Persian, spoke both English and Farsi, which I always enjoy. The menu is extensive compared to most Persian restaurants, offering dishes that are less commonly found elsewhere, including a variety of stews and soups. Shortly after ordering, we were served complimentary noon (bread), paneer (feta cheese), and sabzi (fresh herbs)--a traditional Persian starter that's both refreshing and nostalgic. Every entrée we tried was absolutely delicious. That said, portions are smaller than what you might expect at most restaurants, so it's best for each guest to order their own dish. Don't count on leftovers. As any real Persian would, we finished our meal with dessert and a cup of chai because no Persian meal is complete without it. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Hats off to the owner for so beautifully capturing the richness of Persian culture and sharing it with pride. We'll definitely be back and would gladly recommend Caspian to any non-Persian friends looking to try authentic Persian cuisine.

    Michael T.

    Super duper ! We really enjoy dining here for the super friendly environment and kind staff with great hospitality. Our waitress Parisa is awesome with the best recommendations! Everything we ordered was perfectly cooked and seasoned! Leftovers were really amazing the next day :)

    Front of the menu
    Molly P.

    I usually don't give out a 5 star but I will have to say the food was amazing! We got the grand appetizer where you get to choose four different items from the appetizers and I was so glad we did! We got to get a taste of each flavoring. The service was great as our waitress was so nice and made great suggestions. Both mine and my husbands entrees were phenomenal! I can't tell you if is authentic as it was my first time to eat Persian/Iranian food but by looks of the customers that were there it seems it seems they served traditional fare. The ambience was beautiful! Oh and the dessert Havala was so good make sure you order the hot with it!

    Colorful Persian themed new year decorations
    Harris N.

    My Persian friend took me and my wife here for our first Persian authentic experience! We went during Persian New Year in March and everything was colorfully decorated! It was a pleasant time, and after this wonderful experience after trying other Persian restaurants it simply is not the same quality! This restaurant is my favorite Persian restaurant in Houston!

    Jose M.

    This place has been here forever, and it has been consistently great the entire time. The service is prompt, efficient and courteous. The ambiance is casual, not too fancy. Well appointed Persian decorations abound, a classic Persian restaurant. The food has been consistently good for the 20+ years my family has been visiting this establishment. They bring you pita and feta cheese with radish, onions, and fresh herbs when you sit down. We ordered hummus and then koobideh, perfect amount of char, juicy tasty. No complaints, great bang for buck. Check it out!

    Jewel rice (traditionally served at weddings)
    Montie K.

    Iconic Houston restaurant and family! They treat their customers like honored guests and VIPs with an annual appreciation dinner. The food is always amazing here, and I'm always trying new dishes. If you need a special occasion dinner book a large table and order family style. You will be treated with true Persian hospitality.

    Mecede A.

    Very cute decoy, non Persian host was very friendly and helpful! Ordered to go and my order was nicely packed. Liked everything specially the Sabzi. The Caspian salad was ok.

    Tea
    Kyla F.

    We came here with our friend Daniel, and it was wonderful! It was our first time trying Persian food, and we loved it! The service was great, and the atmosphere was gorgeous. It's a beautiful restaurant! To start, we got flat bread and a the Shirazi salad and the sabzi khordan. Both were good, I preferred the freshness of the shirazi salad. We also got the grand sampler, and we tried the kashik-e bademjan (an eggplant dip), mast-o khyar (a cucumber yogurt dip) and the mast-o moosir (a shallot yogurt dip). Of those- our favorite was by far the Kashik-e bademjan. It had this incredible savory unique flavor! Next we had our main meal. We tried three kinds of rice and a few kabobs. The rice we had was the javaher polow, the polow, and the sabzi polow. They were all excellent! My favorite was probably the polow. We had the beef koobideh, beef barg, and a chicken one as well. We loved the koobideh and the barg the most! The barg tasted like a really nice steak, and the koobideh was a ground beef with plenty of delicious spices. To finish out, we had some tea and the saffron and rose water ice cream. They were delicious! We also had the baklava. My favorite was the ice cream. It was delicious! This place was excellent, and we loved to try a new place! We will be back.

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

    Super cute and classy place with authentic Persian food. Love the atmosphere and the service.

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    8 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Beautiful restaurant. Very nice service. Persian food is my thing so my favorite was the poppyseed bread.

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Flavorful authentic Persian food. Excellent service and welcoming ambiance. Definitely making it our new regular.

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    Cafe Caspian Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe Caspian

    Would anyone happen to know who the owner is?

    Yes Mel is the owner and his son works with him as well.

    Hello, do the stews contain any dairy, egg or meat products (such as meat broth)?

    Yes they do contain meat broth so they would not be vegan friendly but no egg or dairy.

    Hello, can the stews be made vegan by removing the meat? The menu says they can be made "vegetarian", but we've cooked many of these stews at home and they do not contain dairy or egg products (and would therefore be vegan without the meat).

    Hello Valerie! Yes all of our stews are cooked without the meat with the exception of the Loobya stew.

    Do they serve alcohol?

    Yes .They serve wine but no hard alcohol.

    Do I need to make a reservation?

    You don't have to, but certain times may be beneficial. They are closed on Monday

    View All 8 Questions

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    Rumis Kitchen

    Rumis Kitchen

    4.3
    (419 reviews)
    8.1 mi

    had a great experience at Rumi's! Complimentary valet, they accept tips, and there is a convenience…read morefee with credit card tips - they have a great happy hour! the lamb is top tier! when you walk in, the ambiance literally lifts your spirits. gorgeous interior, and plenty of staff around to help each other. its definitely a date night vibe, happy hour vibe, and a group dinner vibe as well! I got a sharable salad, all the dips, and OMG the smoked eggplant was drool worthy good. it doesn't come with any chips or bread though so you gotta order that separately. we got kanafe and coffee for dessert and they actually offer decaf coffee as well. I have been twice and enjoyed it both times! excited to come back

    Finally tried this famous restaurant. Highly recommend getting a reservation on the weekend…read more Food: - dolmeh $16 - it came with 5-6 pieces, sour but tasty, highly recommend - kashk badenjoon $17 - pretty inoffensive dish, just fried eggplant, it didn't stand out to me - koobideh with rice and veggies $28 - it was pretty standard, nothing too special, portion was enough for 2 people with average appetites - complimentary Persian ice cream sandwich for my birthday - creamy, fragrant with saffron, great way to end the meal Ambiance: great! Not too noisy because of the high ceilings. Service: the server was a bit passive aggressive but overall can't fault her for any particular thing. She was refilling our water a bit too much. Parking: free in the garage on the right past valet

    Photos
    View from bar
    View from bar
    Roasted Cremini & Mushroom Hummus
    Roasted Cremini & Mushroom Hummus
    Roasted cremini and oyster mushroom hummus - perfection!

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    Avesta Persian Grill

    Avesta Persian Grill

    4.6
    (766 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    It wasn't the greatest start since I was waiting for 5 minutes for a host/hostess to attend to us…read more I think she was busting tables or in the kitchen but she was nice once we were accommodated. Once seated our server Baba introduced himself and made great recommendations. Now I'm not the biggest fan of hummus but I'm glad I got to try it. To start off, they brought us some complimentary bread. It came out hot & fresh. The bread was fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. I also enjoyed the roasted sesame seeds that they put on top of the bread. Then I had the mango lemonade drink which I thought was refreshing and the mango was strong. As stated I rarely eat hummus but theirs is made in house and I can tell because it was delicious. It was creamy, nutty, savory and earthy. My friend decided to get their lamb shish kabob combo and I got the soltani kabob. His came with lamb and chicken and mine came with beef tenderloin and ground beef. Both dishes were amazing especially his since the chicken was bursting with flavor. Nicely grilled and seasoned. The lamb was also solid as well, it was tendered. The beef tenderloin was also nicely seasoned & tendered. The ground beef was my least favorite since it tasted like hamburger meat, but I don't hate it. The rice was cooked to perfection. At the end I ordered their dessert and got the Bastani Irani. It says on the website that it's homemade but our server informed us that they purchased it from a vendor. Not a big deal for me since the ice cream was very good. Creamy, sweet and the nuts added texture to the dessert. Baba was kind enough to give me two more breads to take home since I still had hummus leftover, I'm definitely gonna devoured it the next day. It's rare that I eat Persian food but when I do I know it's gonna be good. They do not mess around when it comes to seasoning. Overall, good service, good food, nice decor. I'm looking forward to trying out their seafood kabob the next time I dine in. I also wanna add that this restaurant is on Yelp top 100 for recommendations and I'm not surprised.

    Avesta Persian Restaurant delivers a well-rounded dining experience with a warm, inviting ambiance…read moreand genuinely friendly service that makes you feel comfortable from the moment you walk in. It's the kind of spot that works just as well for a casual dinner as it does for a relaxed night out with friends or family. We started off with the lentil soup, which was comforting and flavorful--light yet satisfying, with a nice balance of spices. The hummus was smooth, creamy, and elevated even more by the complimentary fresh bread, which came out warm and perfectly baked--easily one of the highlights of the meal. For mains, the Koobideh Combination stole the show. The kababs were juicy, well-seasoned, and cooked perfectly, with that classic smoky flavor that makes Persian kabobs so good. Definitely the standout dish and a must-order. The Salmon & Chicken combo was equally impressive--both proteins were tender, nicely grilled, and paired beautifully with the saffron rice and grilled vegetables, giving you a great mix of flavors and textures. We also tried the Soujuk & Cheese Lahmajun, which added a nice twist to the meal. It had a crispy base with rich, savory toppings, and the cheese brought everything together really well--great for sharing. Avesta is a solid go-to for Persian cuisine in Houston. Between the quality of the kababs, fresh bread, and overall flavor, everything hit the mark. Pair that with the great atmosphere and welcoming staff, and it's definitely a place worth coming back to

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Shrimp Kabob
    Shrimp Kabob
    Complimentary bread, cheese & herbs

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    Shandez Persian Grill

    Shandez Persian Grill

    4.8
    (86 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Came here for a lunch with the SO while we were in the area…read more We ordered the appetizer sampler, koobideh combo, and meat in a bowl (forgot the name but it was one of their specialities). The bread the veggies that came out were very good. The appetizer sampler we got the eggplant dish, hummus, and yogurt and shallot. The hummus was not our favorite as our other go to Persian places seem to have a smoother texture but the eggplant was good. The yogurt was pretty tangy with light shallot flavor that wasn't super detectable but it was still nice. The koobideh was juicy and the rice and tahdig that came with it was super yummy. I don't love the seasoning for the chicken koobideh but that's just a preference thing nothing was wrong or unpleasant about it. The lamb koobideh was on point. The meat that my SO had was very good as well. Beef was tender. The chicken was tender. The only thing I was confused about was that my SO was supposed to also have tahdig on his rice but didn't receive it, he just got normal rice. My SO didn't tell me until the very end of the meal though so we didn't say anything to them but it was strange to forget that part of the meal. We didn't knock them for that because my SO didn't bring it to their attention and I'm sure they would have fixed it if we told them. Service was very friendly. They kept checking on us and were very polite. The outside of the restaurant is unassuming in a strip mall but the inside is pretty. There are some other Persian places that we prefer but the tahdig and the service and the juiciness of the meat were great here. The hummus was not our favorite though which to us is a big component that we like to eat. 4/5.

    I ordered the Beef Barg with Dill Rice last night. It was really well made, charbroiled as kabobs…read moreshould, marinated very nicely, easy to cut and very delicious. It didn't have that metallic, irony taste like liver which I hate thankfully either. The tomatoes were juicy and charred well with a refreshing taste. The dill rice was full of dill, lima beans and a pleasant, balanced earthy aroma as well as butter / oil too. I get it almost every time. Very welcoming, friendly and efficient service as well. The Iranian food is excellent from this cafe.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Shandez Persian Grill
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    Front of building
    Reza Persian Grill

    Reza Persian Grill

    4.4
    (176 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    For me, the debate is settled. Avesta is the Top Dog, but Reza did come strong with a silver…read more Beef Koobideh. 5/5. Succulent juicy skewers of beef kabob. Tender. Enjoyed it with salad. Combo platter 3. 4.5/5 Beef skewer with Cornish hen. Served with FF and salad. Very good. Couple pieces of chicken in the end were burnt Hummus. 4.5/5. Also delicious. Smooth creamy texture. Kashke B. Eggplant. 5/5 Rich creamy texture. It was pretty good. Mint lemonade. 5/5. I actually ordered 2. Since the first was so refreshing and thirst quenching. I had to go for seconds. Their Naan was actually better than Avesta. It just had a better flavor and texture to it. Service was excellent. Our server was attentive and friendly. There was plenty of seating inside. I had a nice peaceful lunch.

    First time and I absolutely love the food here. By far I would say this is the best Persian food I…read moreever had. I got the Reza #3, chicken is super juicy and the charred taste was smoky and fresh. The beef was grounded but very juicy as well. The flavor is well balanced, came with a side of salad, it was little too vinaigrette for me but my boyfriend loves it. He got the Reza #2, chicken was mostly breast I think so was more dry, but still tasted great with the hummus. Overall, the experience was pleasant and we will be back again. Service was fast and friendly, they offered complimentary hot tea at the end too, was very fragrant and refreshing after a homey meal. Interior was nicely decorated in a modern vibe, simple and aesthetic. Parking is ample. I also saw a lot of people ordering their mint lemonade, which I will try next time! Seems like it's so popular

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    Reza Persian Grill
    R2 Specialty.
    R2 Specialty.
    Bread.

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    Bread.
    Darband Shishkabob

    Darband Shishkabob

    4.1
    (333 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $

    We came in a half hour before they closed. First time here…read more No one explained the order, pay and delivery process. We were just told to sit down, only on the right side of the dining area. Thought they would bring out the food. They rang a bell and called out a number. I looked at my receipt, saw the number and told my husband that we had to pick it up. It looks like a full service restaurant, but it's not. My husband walked up to the cashier's counter, expecting the order. The cashier pointed him to the other dining area. It was just placed on top of the food case, no counter. Someone verified it was our order before he took it. I'm short and if I were picking up a bowl of their lentil soup and can't see if the soup is level, there could be a spill. The lamb shank was good, but we had to ask for the sauce that normally comes with it. She brought it. The butter was melted, so dripped over the rice easily. I guess it was too much to ask that the bread plate include feta cheese like at other Persian restaurants. I don't recommend coming in late as the bread was very hard. Dipping it in the sauce helped.

    My wife and i and our son and grandson enjoyed everything we tried. The lunch special skewer of…read morebeef shish kabob and skewer of boneless chicken with rice and bread and a canned soda.... was tender and full of flavor....and very reasonably priced. Our son got the same thing. My wife loved her mix chelo kabob plate, one skewer of beef kubideh (ground beef) and one skewer of chicken kubideh (ground chicken) with rice and bread. We loved helping her finish it off. They brought us a small coffee pot and three cups with some sqvory coffee...on the house. The front of the building had a sign saying they are the oldest Persian grill in Texas...established in 1986. We can see why they've been around as long as they have, great food and service and prices. You order at the counter. They have olive oil and sumac at the counter, they made nice additions to our meals.

    Photos
    A fountain
    A fountain
    Darband Shishkabob
    #3

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    #3

    Cafe Caspian - persian - Updated August 2026

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