Heidar Baba Persian Restaurant - 1511 East Colorado Boulevard Pasadena California 91106 is a great place to have lunch or dinner. It is easy to find located across the street from Pasadena City college. The large awning outside the building announces the entrance to the restaurant. Once you enter you find an area with dining tables and a counter area. I was given a menu, and directed to a table to contemplate my order. The menu has a lot of great items. There were quite a number of unusual items and I had no idea what type of food or flavor to expect. When the waitress returned, I was able to ask her questions about what I should order. She had great suggestions that would give me a best example of their unique food and flavors. I decided on one Chicken Kabob and one Chicken Koobideh. Each of them came with a choice of soup or salad. I chose one of each. Barley soup with the chicken and Greek salad for the beef. It took about 20 minutes or so to get my meal to go. They had a number of occupied tables. When I got home I carefully unpacked what I had ordered. I was eager to try everything at once, but decided to start with the soup. Barley soup was filled with barley and had great flavor. I decided to add a little bit of kick by dropping in some hot sauce. The side salad was impressive. Fresh greens, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, and cucumbers. A little squeeze of lemon with all it needed. No extra dressing needed. Both the chicken and beef skewers had a great grilled aroma and were delicious. They held their shape even without actual skewers. They both tasted just as good cold the next day as they did warm when I first got them home. There was an abundance of rice included since this was a dinner order. It also had great flavor. It was fresh and had great seasoning. A bunch of condiments were included in a separate bag for all the items. I look forward to coming back and trying a number of the other items on their unique menu. read more

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So my friend and I went this past weekend, I had been boasting to her about how good the food was, blah blah, blah for quite some time and we needed to come eat here. Come to find out the food is now actually blah blah blah! The cold super thin pita bread was cold & flavorless and oddly comes with a cold cube of butter, what the heck am I supposed to do with that? It won't melt on a cold piece of pita bread. Then the iceberg salad comes out with two small dressing containers to use; this salad had a lot of "bones" [what the hard white parts of lettuce are called]. At least the cucumbers were crunchy, as well as the 2 pieces of tomatoes. I ordered the Koobideh Combo [Beef & Chicken]; and my friend ordered the Chicken Kabob [white meat]. The lacking of flavor in the Koobideh beef & chicken was unbelievable, I asked for a grilled serrano or jalapeno chili and the waitress said they had ran out. I was 2:00 p.m., what do you mean you ran out? We were looking for something to "save" this blandness of both our dishes; thank gawd they have containers of sumac & salt at the table. The basmati rice was bland as well. The beef koobideh, tasted like plain hamburger meat with minimal seasoning. Bottom line, I didn't finish my dish, I just left most of it. My motto is: "If it's not worth the calories, don't eat it." As for the environment: No music, etc. I really don't mean to bash the place; but you guys need to spruce up the place. My seat at the table was ripped; and the table was dirty when we sat down and asked for it to be cleaned (again?). I wish you nothing but the best in this economy! read more

I have not dubbed here in many years. While in the area and hungry I decide to eat here. The service was not to great. They were all watching the soccer game. They need to upgrade furniture. The good was good . The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Parking in front of location on the street . read more

Really good Iranian food! I got the tahdig 1/2 and 1/2 which is crispy rice with different types of curry on top. Service wasn't the best, as they never check in on you, so you have to flag them down for everything. There is a free parking lot behind the restaurant, that you have to drive through an alley way to get to. read more

Heidar Baba - Tahdig (1/2 1/2) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

The Koobideh Combo Chicken and Beef comes with one skewer of ground chicken and one skewer of ground beef, both mixed with grated onions. It also comes with basmati rice, a grilled tomato, and chili. All cooked in an open fire. read more

Heidar Baba - Koobideh Combo - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

We were on the hunt for cherry rice without making the drive to Glendale for Raffi's, and Yelp led us here. While we did enjoy our meal, Raffi's still holds the crown when it comes to cherry rice, which is a unique and flavorful Persian dish that's hard to beat. I ordered the salmon plate, and my husband chose the lule plate, adding a side of chicken kabob just in case. Little did we know how generous the portions would be, we definitely had enough leftovers for another meal! The plates also came with a choice of soup or salad; I opted for the soup, but it was quite bland and needed some extra salt. Our meal also came with pita bread for the table, though it's worth noting that the entrees didn't come with any hummus. The restaurant wasn't busy during our week night visit. It's conveniently located right across the street from PCC, and we were able to find street parking easily. read more

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The Barley Soup is Fire. And me and my girl love the Beef Kobediah. She does not eat meat as much as I do, but she loves the Barley Soup and Rice. Our first time eating, and its some of the best Iranian/Persian food I have had in awhile. Sauces are good and flavorful.. Right across the street from PCC. Now I can skip out on Zankou and eat real Middle Eastern food. read more

AS a vegan, I appreciate the one vegan kabob dish they have. The dish is ok, some veggies are smoked, others taste boiled. Its honestly just veggies & rice (nothing creative). The plate is huge which was a decent surprise ! Their They also have a barley soup which was mid. They presented the table with a thin flatbread which was cold & unpleasant to eat. If you're out with friends, there are definitely vegan options, I just wouldn't comeback for their culinary artistry. read more

Heidar Baba - Veggie Kebab - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Came here as recommended by some coworkers, and it was great. This is a nice and close location compared to Raffi's in Glendale, but it definitely gave me my Mediterranean fix. This is located across from PCC and they have a lunch deal, so I imagine this place being pretty popular during the weekdays with the local students. Coming here on the weekend, it was pretty empty and no special deals. My husband and I decided to share the Beef Soltani and added a spicy chicken koobideh as well as an order of hummus to pair with the complementary pita bread. Unfortunately, they were out of roasted chili. The hummus was really good, and I took the leftovers home to eat with raw bell peppers. We got the soup, which was really flavorful ! They also brought out two separate plates of rice so we could share the Soltani. Of the meats, my favorite was the beef barg, it was seasoned perfectly and had a nice bite without being too chewy. My husband really enjoyed the spicy chicken koobideh which had chopped green chilis in there (which made us wonder why they said they didn't have grilled chilis?). The beef koobideh was good as well. I thought the rice could be a little more seasoned, not sure if it usually is but perhaps not! I was interested in the bastani sonati but was too full to eat it. They sell it to go for $12-13, otherwise it's $8-9 for a smaller dine-in portion. Pricy meal overall, but I would return to get the Barg again and hopefully try the Persian ice cream. read more

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I really like the food We went on a quiet day, so the service was pretty good too And I like the ambience as well it kinda reminds you move back home Overall, we like it and I like the portion as you can send pictures they're pretty good and the staff are pretty nice read more

Heidar Baba - Chicken Kebab with salad and half rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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For a weekday lunch, we randomly visited because our intended lunch spot nearby is temporarily closed. The food was bland, literally the blandest Middle Eastern food ever, agreed by both of us. This was uniform across the beef and two types of chicken. The bread was thin, dry, cold, and papery. The rice and veggies were merely ok. So overall, super duper disappointed and cannot fathom why this place has good reviews. The service was ok, they seem a little distracted due to the amount of carry out they were servicing, but it could've been better. Ambiance was nothing to write home about. read more

My coworker recommended this place as a more local restaurant to get Mediterranean food as opposed to driving all the way up to Raffi's. This restaurant is located across from PCC and there is street parking right in front. We came for lunch on a Saturday and was seated quickly. the servers were very nice and provided us with recommendations. For our appetizer, we ordered the hummus, which goes along well with the complimentary and refillable pita bread. For our entree, we ended up getting the beef soltani, which comes with a beef koobideh and beef barg and serves two people. You have a choice of getting soup or salad, so we chose the soup option. This entree also came with basmati rice. We also added an a la carte spicy chicken koobideh. My wife really enjoyed the hummus and the soup. We both enjoyed our beef soltani entree, with the beef barg being our favorite. The beef was very flavorful and seasoned well. I was a big fan of the spicy chicken koobideh, which included grilled peppers inside of it. There is a small spicy kick that added to the flavor. The menu stated that we could request grilled peppers. However, the server said they were out for the day (although there were grilled peppers in the spicy chicken koobideh). We will have to come back again in the future to try this out. Overall, we both enjoyed our experience here. We are glad that we found a local restaurant where we can get Mediterranean food. We will definitely be back! read more

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Great portion sizes, and tasty lamb and beef options! A soup or salad is offered with each plate, the soup was good but needed a lot of salt. Both plates were 80$ with tax which is a little pricey but I had a lot left over. 2 people can share a plate if you don't want any leftovers. The place is super cute and has nice Iranian decor as well! read more

Heidar Baba - Beef Soltani Lamb Soltani - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Was excited to try this restaurant after a neighbor mentioned it. Unfortunately, it was not what me or my friends hoped for. No ambiance, terrible lighting, no music, not inviting. They brought a basket of cold pita bread. I asked if they served fresh herbs like traditional Persian restaurants did and was told no. The food was very disappointing. Ordered beef barg and it was just warm and not seasoned. We then got rushed to pay our bill because they were closing. read more

Service matters and when you are ignored and people that arrive after you get seated, and you actually have to say out loud "is someone going to help me" you know your "kind" is not wanted. Sad but I truely feel discriminated against. Shame on the server that did not speak even one word to me. To the establishment owners, it only takes one person and one bad experience to lose a long time customer. Unfortunately I had one today and it left a very bad taste in my mouth that your food can't overcome. read more

This is my go to casual Persian restaurant. It's not pretentious and very good in my opinion. My choice entree at any Persian restaurant is the Koobideh with mast o khiar. Here, the entree comes with a choice of soup or a regular salad. You can pay an additional amount and get the shirazi salad, which is what I did. The mast o khiar is ordered as a side. The koobideh is juicy and perfectly flavored as is the rice. The portions are also generous. There is plenty of parking on the street or in their lot behind the restaurant. Each time I have come, I have never had a wait. If you're in the Pasadena area, definitely give this place a try if you're craving some Persian grub. Tip: if you have leftovers, ask for extra pita bread to go. read more

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Their Ice creams are incredible mouth watering especially on a hot day like this week and their chicken kabobs are heavenly

Great service Thanks so much Vita you're d best. If you're ever in Pasadena check out Heidar Baba. We love this place and been going here for years. Our favorite is beef Shish Kabob and Lentil soup with Hot Pita bread and butter read more

Heidar Baba - Lentil soup - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Absolutely incredible Persian food. Everything tasted authentic, fresh, and full of flavor--from the perfectly seasoned kabobs to the fragrant rice. You can tell a lot of care goes into each dish. The portions are generous, the service is welcoming, and the atmosphere makes you want to stay and relax. Easily one of the best Persian spots around--I'll definitely be coming back. Also, the Ice Cream is phenomenal read more

Not vegetarian friendly - usually most places can give you the stews in a vegetarian option but not here. The walnut sauce was super sweet and apparently has added sugar. Service is nice but not coming back. The place had a 3.8 star rating with other reviewers and there's a reason for that read more

I love Heidar Baba. They have such an amazing delivery service. Great communication via text. Food is delicious. We've tried the hummus, baba ghanoush, and beef koobideh. read more

Heidar Baba - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Food was ok. Not specially good for the location with so many Iranians. Service was slow even though there was only 3 customers there when I arrived. Ambiance ok. read more

The Ghormeh Sabzi was next level, only my mother made it better. Great takeout. Kabob was delicious as well.

We had dinner here, Anshu was our server, she had such a friendly personality, we like coming here. Love the lentil soup, they also have home made ice cream, it's great. read more

Heidar Babar is a hole-in-the-wall with all the charm right across from Pasadena Community College. Food is authentic, the portions are generous, and the prices are easy on the wallet. read more

Heidar Baba - Chicken & Beef Kebab - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I have to say its one of my favorite places to eat. They give you nice size serving!! The servers are very kind and take care of you. There parking in the back so thats a plus. Now craving it!! = ) read more

The owners are so kind and hard working. They were always on their feet! The spicy koobideh could be more spicy. Rice was great! I should have got some hummus to go alone with the pita bread. Easy parking across pcc on a side street. Has booths for interior. And ice cream!!!! read more

Great food! A bit pricey, in my opinion, but the quality and portion sizes are fair. We often visit Raffi's in Glendale but prefer not to drive there frequently. The lady who answers the phone is a bit snappy when I place an order. I mentioned that the prices on their website don't match what she quoted me over the phone, which felt misleading. Instead of acknowledging the discrepancy, she made me feel like an inconvenience. When I picked up my order, the same lady handed it to me, and she was much nicer in person. We'll give them another try next time--hopefully, we can dine in soon! read more

This place has been my absolute favorite Persian restaurant for kebabs throughout nearly my entire life. The food here has never disappointed and even want to be cater food for our events. The food is always absolutely perfect. The same as it would be if we dined in. If you're looking for amazing Persian this is absolutely the spot by far. Parking lot is in the back and seating is quite open and comfortable. Service is fine and pricing it's a little on the higher end however, it is worth the quality. read more

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Best meal I've had in years! SO GOOD! They even made the dish vegetarian for me. I LOVE YOU HEIDAR BABA!

Fantastic all around! Took mounds of food home. Everything very fresh. Yelp yelp yelp yelp yelp yelp read more

We came here for a family member's birthday on a Saturday around 6:30pm. The dining room was fairly empty. It wasn't until after 7pm when almost the entire restaurant was packed. I think it was because of Ramadan. I was surprised by the portions of the food. I wasn't expecting it to be so much food. Even the sides were generous in size. My favorite was the chicken Koobideh. The chicken was nice and juicy. I will definitely come back here when I am craving Persian food. read more

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I go here every few months with my family and I have to say, it's pretty good. Now the reason why I wouldn't consider it 5 stars is that some specific places aren't that clean. The food is very good but could be a little better if it were a bit more tender. The waitresses sometimes don't speak good English but we manage. On your way out you can get a free lollipop which I like, but the back entrance (where we usually come in from) is kinda hidden from the public in an alleyway. I'm pretty sure that's why it's not crowded. Overall, I think it's pretty good. read more

Great taste and excellent service! I love the cuisine of this restaurant very much and that's why I visit this restaurant all the time! read more

Heidar Baba - Beautiful restaurant! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Heidar Baba is great! The food is excellent, and the portions are amazing. I've been going for years. This last visit, my family and I got the beef koobideh, the spicy beef koobideh, the barg, and the boneless chicken. The barg was my favorite, followed by the spicy beef koobideh, but it was all great. My favorite thing about this place is that it's entirely halal. Most Persian restaurants either offer a partial halal menu (the barg/filet mignon being the item that is most often not halal) or are fully halal but also serve alcohol. Heidar Baba is fully and proudly halal. In terms of ambience, this is a restaurant fit for any occasion. It somehow nails accommodating both casual and fancy/celebratory outings. The place is beautiful, and the servers are kind and attentive. I also love how principled the owners are. Just walk by their front door, and you'll see their commitment to justice. I love this place. read more

Dinner in Pasadena, California... When Nadia suggested that we dine at Heider Baba for dinner, I agreed right away! It sounded like we were going to an exotic location with delicious food! Yes! There's free parking behind the building and on the street. The interior of the restaurant looked authentic. Service was efficient and polite. Food was a fun adventure! We started with a warm flatbread, topped with butter, pepper, and tasty seasoning. Barley Soup was filling and delicious! I ordered the Koobideh Combo: beef and chicken skewers with basmati rice and grilled tomato. I liked the beef flavor more than the chicken. (I gave my chili pepper away... LOL!) The serving was very generous! We all took leftovers home! Thanks to Val, Gloria, and Nadia for an awesome experience! read more

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Great food and big portions. Decent prices too. We come from Sacramento to eat here whenever we are driving to LA

They give you so much hummus and flatbread but honestly wasn't good in my opinion. The hummus has zero flavor and the bread is basically a hard thin tortilla. The plate we got though, it was really good and portions are generous. We ordered 3 plates and it was enough for 3 adults and 2 kids. I think price is okay for 3 read more

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Most delicious Persian Foods with great services , very friendly , good quality foods. Very healthy dishes.

My family has been going here for years! Located right in front of PCC. It's my dad's favorite place to order for this birthday. We ordered the Beef Soltani to-go, it comes with barg and koobideh. If you order multiple entrees to-go, they offer to combine the orders into a platter for family style; this is super convenient! Lamb and chicken are super moist. Make sure to ask for sumac (spice/seasoning, has a slight citrus taste for me, not spicy); I put this stuff on everything, it's so good. Staff are friendly. I think this place is comparable or possibly even better than Raffi's. read more

Heidar Baba - Beef Soltani (2 orders, family style) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California