I've been coming here for over 15 years and the quality is still great as the first time. The best Persian restaurant in San Francisco. read more

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One of the best Persian restaurants ever. It's almost impossible to have perfect Persian stews (khoresht) at restaurants, but Maykadeh shows it can be done, if not always consistently read more

This review is long overdue, as I dined here several months back, but it's never too late to write a review. I wanted to have a dinner with a group of relatives after I graduated from SFSU and we had dinner here several days after commencement. Despite having spent a significant portion of my time in San Francisco while I was a college student and despite being half-Persian, I had never taken the time to come by here and get some food. Some facts: * The interior is relatively small, so it may seem a little cramped once you're inside. * There is a full bar for you to sit at and grab a drink as well. * Most of the waiters/waitresses are bilingual in English and Persian, in case you have people in your group who understand Persian, but not English. * Valet parking available For my first experience here, it was pretty good! The portions were rather large and you get your money's worth. The prices are definitely not cheap, but, at the same time, not ridiculously expensive either. Our waitress was attentive and, overall, I felt like coming here was a good decision. 4 stars read more

So, Maykadeh gets one star knocked off right off the bat...we weren't seated for our 7:30 PM reservation until after 8:00 PM. The food was good, but, in general, not great. Of the three things that I tried, only the kashke bademjan was really noteworthy; the feta spread and Maykadeh kebab were just okay. Top all that off with the fact this restaurant is far from cheap and the ambiance isn't even that great, and I'd probably tell you that I won't be going back to Maykadeh. read more

Food was yummy. Not sure the names of what we ordered but as apps we got something like babaganoush and crispy fried rice with veggie curry and beans. For entrees loved the filet. Chicken thighs weren't my fave. Their homemade baklava was bomb. Solid!! read more

Succulent is the best way for me to describe this place. The ground lamb/beef kabob cannot be missed and if you're into lamb the lamb shank dish was tender and flavorful. Maykadeh looks like a nice date place, but when we walked in, we were pleasantly surprised how many middle eastern families were eating there - a good sign that the food is top notch. read more

My mom had heard so many people say how good Maykadeh was that for Mother's Day this is the resturant she choose to go have dinner at. I honestly don't know how other persian people can claim that this place has such great food. The food was too fatty and compared to other Persian resturants they definately were cheap with thier portions. When you go to a Persian restaurant, it is customary to leave with a full and happy belly, as well as an extra box filled with your yummy leftovers for later. That was not the case for me or my family tonight. The service was bad, the restaurant was small and lacked ambiance, and the food was nothing to rave about. If you want good Persian food I would suggest going to Walnut Creek or San Jose. Stay away from Maykadeh you taste buds and wallet will thank you. read more

This restaurant was very easy to find, tons of street parking. Went in to dine for lunch and it was amazing. Persians cuisine is very tricky to get right, the fact that this place is a staple says A LOT! I've been to probably 20-30 different Persian restaurants worldwide. We ordered: mast o khiar (cucumber yogurt), Cornish hen and koobideh! Every table automatically gets fresh herbs and fresh warm pita bread. If you have never tried Persian food, you must!!!! If you are a Persian food connoisseur it will not dissapoint. TRY, TRY, TRY! read more

Maykadeh is one of the few Persian places in the city. It is a fantastic date place. The service is good, the selection of food is limited, but that makes it real easy to choose. I love Persian food - its so very simple. Rice, meat, mint leaves, onions, that's it really. Love it. I've had the lamb chops here both times (I'm just obsessed with lamb chops). The hummus doesn't quite taste authentic. The meat was cooked to (my) perfection and was extremely tender. Good stuff, yo. read more

Walked in the door on Sunday evening with my date to a half full Maykadeh greeted by a smile and "welcome, how may I help you?" As I began to respond, the host, without excusing himself takes a phone call while I was still talking to him. Walked out. Found my way to North Beach Restaurant. They put much more emphasis on service. Note: had to wait a few days to cool off before writing this review so that it would be appropriate for this site. Maykadeh, I've enjoyed your food in the past. And would like to enjoy it again sometime soon. read more

This persian princess says it's one of the best, I've had in Cali. It doesn't compare to my dad's cooking but it's close. The parking is horrendous, the waitstaff is somewhat nonchalant and eager to turn over tables, and prepare to wait an hour to get your car back from the valet on a weekend night, but once you have some of that rice and fesenjoon, it's all good. The Kashke Bademjan is the best appetizer there. Not a big fan of the fact they use dark meat chicken for all their chicken recipes though. read more

This is my Dad's favorite restaurant, We come here quite often with him and my stepmom (who is persian) I always get the Soltani which is marinated filet pounded out really thin, and a koobideh kebab. Both of the meats are like butter. I order mine with the zeresk polow because I love the tartness of the barberries. I also love the feta, basil and onion appetizer they give you, good combination of flavors. The portions are huge, so if you come for lunch, you will definately have enough for dinner later. read more

I went to Maykadeh for the first time last night. The pronunciation of this restaurant is a bit tough, but I sounded it out for you at the bottom of this review. :D First Impressions: Valet parking for $10 - cool option Easy to get a table Contradicting ambience Ambience: What I mean by contradicting is that it is white-tablecloth, complete with a candle and a rose on every table. However, the lighting was pretty bright and the clientele seemed to be dressed very casual. Yelp says it is "romantic" and "classy", but I would definitely categorize Maykadeh as casual, despite it's desperate attempt to be a "romantic" fine dining restaurant. Food: For appetizers, we ordered the Greek salad (average) and the Baba Ghanoush (excellent!). The Baba Ghanoush was definitely the highlight. As my entree, I tried the Chelo-kebab Koobideh, which is 2 skewers of a beef/lamb mixture and a very large portion of rice. The rice could have used some flavor, but the meat was tender and the spices were yummy! For dessert, I tried both the creme caramel and the poached pears with ice cream. I would recommend the creme caramel (unless you have had my grandfather's, which is hard to beat). The poached pears with ice cream was definitely different, which I liked, but it didn't really stand out. Conclusion: Maykadeh won't make-ya-day or break-ya-day. read more

Excellent and never failing delicious diners! And special Thank you! For making my sons 16th birthday a very special one!!!! You guys took a great care of teens! They had blast! read more

My wife and I live down the street from a relatively new persian restaurant in the Inner Sunset (Lavash). We have eaten there several times and enjoyed it - so we wanted to figure out if we loved persian food or we just loved Lavash. THE SERVICE: Valet parking ($10) at Maykadeh was very helpful given the neighborhood and its lack of parking. We walked into the (empty) restaurant and were greeted politely and taken to 4-person table, made from two 2-top tables. They set both our menus in front of me and then proceeded to take apart the extra table. I wish they had just put us a a two person table to begin with and the extra 3-seconds to nicely set the menu out in front of both of us would have been appreciated. I always feel like I'm in a diner when they bring a stack of menus and set them in front of one person. About 10-minutes after sitting waiting (remember, restaurant is empty) we were approached and asked if we wanted anything to drink. I requested some water (surprised it took so long) and my wife a chardonnay. Jumping to the end of the meal, we ordered a bahklava (sp?) and the check and never got the check. We had to flag them down and ask for it again and then they never came to pick it up. I finally got up and walked it to the front so we could pay our bill and leave. So- Service rating: 2 stars. THE FOOD: We had the ground meat kebab and the joojeh saltani (sp?). The ground meat was was really nice. I wish they had the lavash bread a bit thinner (these were more pita bread) and also if they had it underneath the dish so it could soak up the delicious juices. All in the all, the food was 3.5 to 4-stars. Great flavoring. Big portions. Only thing I would rate 2-stars was the Bahklava. It was really not great and when we had 1 bite of it nobody bothered to ask if it was okay or suggest they remove it from the bill. It had caramel drooped over it and the consistency wasn't great. read more

The best Persian food in SF. Hands down. They give you generous portions and all of the flavors remind me of my childhood!

If I had to pick a word to describe Maykadeh, it'd pick "reliable." I've been several times and everytime it's right on. There's nothing outstandingly special about it, it's just a very good Persian restaurant. Anyone who enjoys Mediterreanean cuise will enjoy Persian food as well. I had the shish kabob, which was juicy and tender. The rice was good too (even I ate it and I view rice as a waste of space usually). I especially appreciate the herbs, pita, and feta they serve at the beginning, much more interesting than bread and butter. I promise to take a bite of the onion next time too! :) The decor is simple and conservative enough to bring the fam, but no one who will be disappointed. Also, don't even bother looking for parking in NB, the valet is very worth it in this neighborhood. read more

Yes, yes, yes...this is THE place to go. I have nothing bad to say about the +5 times that I've come here for great food. EVERY time has been great. read more

The service is pretty good, the food is tasty but a tad pricey for some meat and rice. I have only had the kabob, it was lovely. The decor is nice, very Persian restaurant-y...they all seem to be similar, but the restaurant is laid out a bit weird...the tables are at these odd angles that I find uncomfortable for some reason, but its no big deal, once you sit, it is pleasant. They play melodic Persian music which made me all nostalgic. I only come here with family or out of town Persian tourists and everyone seems to like this place. I guess if you are hankering for some Iranian food, this is the place for it in San Francisco. Parking is a bitch in north beach, beware. read more

When R suggested taking us to the best Persian restaurant in the Bay Area, we jumped at the invitation. It took us a while to find where Maykadeh was tucked away in the North Beach area -- luckily we were saved from another 30 minutes of wandering about by a very handsome French-speaking gentleman... ^_^ Maykadeh is well appointed and its clientele were hip (the young man at the next table had the new iPhone) and well dressed. The wait staff was attentive -- our water glasses were kept filled -- and our silverware and plates replaced after each course. Our waiter caught our eye on the first attempt, so every need was met promptly and efficiently. We started with pita bread onto which we spread feta cheese and butter, and inserted basil leaves and sweet onion. Now, if you told K, here, eat this basil leaf and a slice of raw onion, she would have slugged you. But the atmosphere must have tamed her because she ate the pita wraps, and she liked it enough to go for thirds. We sampled Kashke Bademjan, a warm spread made out of eggplant, and Ghorme sabzee, lamb cooked in onions, chives and lentils, over crispy rice. We were so full after our Breast Kebab, Sirloin Kebabs and Ground meat Kebabs -- which were well seasoned with a hint of citrus -- that we didn't have room for dessert. Ah well. R. showed us how to rock to Iranian music. Four stars because parking in the area sucks. read more

I had my first Persian Food at Maykadeh on Tuesday and just can't stop thinking about it! The eggplant is the best eggplant ever! It's soft, tender, flavorful and simply addictive. I also finished my meal with a cup of Persian coffee that has a strong aroma with herbal and floral hints. I've already made plan to go back on this Sunday bringing another eggplant maniac like me. Almost forget to mention the atmosphere and crowds, they were classy. Well, at least it was like that on a Tuesday night. read more

Not that good for Persian Cuisine. The meat isn't that great and the service is not good either. I don't recommend this to anyone who wants to try Persian food for the first time... and I've got some insider information about the way they manage their kitchen....you won't want to eat there! Try Shalizar instead! or Alborz.... Shalizar goes first! read more

I am Iranian and very foody!, The food was generally good but cooked in not healthy way. The "Khoresht Bademjan" or Eggplant Stew was fake and cooked by some shortcuts and cheating. The "Kobideh Kabad" was full of oil. compare to north cal other restaurant it is good but not outstanding at all. I also think they are a little sneaky on your bill! read more

Amazing, clean food ...never worry about their health score as some places have pretty low scores. Very tasty kababs, appetizers, best Persian food in SF. Very quick and clean delivery. read more

I am THE kabob-snob, so naturally when I went to San Fransisco I had to check out this Persian restaurant. While I am partial to my family favorite in Chicago, I must say this place was great! It's nearing lunchtime at work and I am salivating thinking about Maykadeh's Kabob Kubideh. Yeah, I'm a Kabob-Snob that only desires Kabob-Kubideh...don't hate. The Kubideh at Maykadeh was cooked to perfection. Very soft, not well done, but just right. When I was there we also ordered the kashkebademjan and some Aash soup. If memory serves me correctly, I liked both, but they were not stand outs. In fact, the one problem with the menu is the lack of Veggie combinations for entrees. I know it is hard for Persian restaurants to have true vegetarian dishes, but they should at least try. So, if you're vegetarian you might be forced to order off of the appetizer menu. The location might force you to do some parallel parking, but it's worth it. I liked the atmosphere inside the restaurant just fine, but it's basically the same as any Persian restaurant. Persian restaurants try to include some of their Iranian culture, while maintaining a more American feel as well. I would definitely go back here if I am ever in town again. I suggest people who are interested in trying something Persian and different to come here! read more

I would say, go there the first opportunity you get. Amazing food, as close to authentic Persian food as it gets. Their portions are huge. A dish is probably enough for 2 people with medium appetites. I recommend the Lamb Tongue dish. Warning : The alcohol is a little pricey. read more

Great gem in north beach for delicious Persian food. My Iranian friend who I went with says that their food is authentic. I got the Maykadeh kebab which was fantastic. The venue is nice and decorative. Would recommend for a nice occasion read more

When we came for dinner on a Saturday night we made a reservation probably like 45 minutes beforehand but ended up being a bit late because we couldn't find parking. However when we got there, he didnt even know we had a reservation. Granted we had made it so last minute, but it seems like if you are allowing us to be able to make a reservation at that time, then it should probably work. We ended up having an extremely long wait with not seats and really crowded small lobby. WITH THAT BEING SAID, the rest of the night was amazing! The wine we delicious and the good was large in quantity and super authentic and yummy gourmet. Felt fancy. The service was also great and she will our wine glasses really attentively which is uncommon. We ate so much and loved it all :) Hate to say it, but worth the long wait when we got there! read more

Best Persian food in San Francisco. In fact, I'm eating take out from there now... Highly recommend the Chelo-kebab Koobideh (for those who like lamb/beef), Hummus (which comes with pita), Joojeh Kebab (for the chicken lovers), and if you're in house.. the Persian Martini. 5 stars every time; they never disappoint. read more

Pretty much, hands down, the best Persian food in the city...Alborz isn't bad but portions are smaller and service is inconsistent, IMHO. Maykadeh suffers from the poorly conceived parking blackhole aka North Beach location but valet service is a big plus. If you've never had Persian cuisine before, realize from the getgo that food comes in large portions-Cheesecake Factory style...Also, if you are not a vegetarian, you MUST try Barg once in your lifetime...Best kabob going...If you are a vegetarian, realize that Persian food has a lot of great veggie dishes too...Eggplant dishes are a signature of Persian food. I still can't figure out why the Ruby Skye music is pumping through the speakers but the atmosphere is pretty tolerable if not oddly paired. For the true Persian enthusiasts, this is as good as it gets in the city...Not quite LA-Raffi's standard or some down in the peninsula, but quite good...A bit overpriced, IMHO, as well. Dishes to try: Zeresht pollo, Geymeh, Barg, Fesenjoon, Mosto Khiar and any of the other kabobs. read more

Having read Yelp reviews, I along with two colleagues of mine went to Maykadeh for lunch on a weekday. We ordered a boneless chicken kabob, Koobideh (2 ground beef skewers) and Fesenjoon (walnut and pomegranate stew) with Shirazi salad (a mix of cucumbers, tomatoes, mint, lime juice and olive oil) (4/5) and cucumber yogurt (3/5). The chicken kabob was okay - nothing special though - too dry. (3/5) Koobideh - was extremely average in quality - large portion on the positive side though! (3/5) Walnut stew - the taste was almost right, but not the texture. (3/5) Our serveur was very accommodating and friendly but not very attentive. (4/5) Bottom-line - I was a bit disappointed as my higher-than-average expectations for their higher-than-average priced menu were not realized. I might give them a second chance next time I get to visit San Francisco, but 3 out of 5 stars overall is all I can give them for now. Until then, I will think of Maykadeh as overrated. read more

Great food, and yes, I'm Persian. I liked that the bread, cheese, and sabzi were brought to the table gratis, because, well, that's just Persian hospitality. It's not right to charge for them. I'm a little irked by how pricey Persian food is at this point, because I know most of it is not costly to prepare, but I can't blame them for going at a price point they know they can get. The barg was great - tender, flavorful, and plentiful. My fiance was in kebab heaven. We had PLENTY for leftovers the next day, so it was nice to get two meals out of one for the price. The kashk-e bademjan was good, too! read more

I first ate at this restaurant nearly 25 years ago. I've probably eaten there somewhere between 20-25 times. Since I don't live in the city, it would have to be a special occasion for me to make the drive. I always order the lamb tongue and the soltani (filet mignon and koobideh). I also love the ghormez sabze because it taste just like my Persian friend mom's home cooking. The hands down favorite is the tongue. I've never had anything like it. I'm going to have to elaborate on this order because I found the best way to eat it. It's tender, tart and creamy but not the milky creamy taste. More yogurt creaminess. It's an appetizer but I always ask for it to be served with my meal. It goes so well with rice, the red tart stuff, and raw onions. YES, the raw onion adds a sweet kick to the tart flavor. You'll thank me on the onion suggestion but not your significant other. The only downside to this place is how pricey the soltani has gotten over the years. It was in the high teens back in the early 90s but it's over $30 now. I don't mind paying for good meat, and it is supposedly filet mignon. However, I would rather eat filet mignon at a steakhouse. Their koobideh is nearly just as good. For $19, you get a generous portion. Also, they used to provide complimentary feta cheese with the bread and sabze, but it's now extra charge for the cheese. I would give 5 stars if the prices are more reasonable or maybe if they brought back the feta cheese (lol, I know it's just cheese but I hate it when something is taken away). Also, I love how this place retain their employees. I've seen some of the same people from the 90s! read more

Food was ok nothing to impressed by specially if you are Persian. Service not so good since they don't check on you as often as they should. We had a vegetarian Asian guest and when he was asking for food options the server was not so helpful and acted as if he was bothered with all the questions. Won't go there again since there was much more Persian options in San Fransisco. The place was not so busy otherwise I won't blame the service on it. Bathroom sink was leaking and dripping water all over you as you were on the toilet. Disappointed! read more

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One of the best persian restaurants I have been to. Food was so delicious from juicy chicken and beef kabab to tasty rice and amazing faloodeh and ice cream. I wish I could give them 10 stars instead of 5. If you are in San Francisco, this is the place you should definitely check out. read more

Persian eats in North Beach? I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Truthfully, I tend to associate North Beach with Italian restaurants, strip clubs, and pubs - and not much else (except maybe Citizen Thai and the Monkey). However, now, much to my surprise, I've learned there is an excellent Persian restaurant in the hood too. So here is all you really need to know about the place: The interior is posh looking. You'll look around and start to worry that maybe entrees will run you $30+ a pop - but you'd be wrong. From my memory all the entrees here ranged between $13 for a delicious meat/lamb combo to $27 for an excellent steak. From my perspective, these are reasonable prices for a "nice" meal out. Speaking of the food - it is excellent. I tried the lamb/combo dish that I previously mentioned, and it was delicious. I also had a little of the chicken skewers, and can tell you that they were also great. Additionally, though I can't say I've tried it myself, I've been told that the baby chicken receives the highest recommendations. Another reason to check this place out for dinner is because they serve you a basket full of delicious pita bread with onion, feta, and basil with your dinner. Finally, the staff here was super friendly. Not only was the wait staff attentive, but the host (who may have been a manager or owner actually - and I believe his name was John) was very, very friendly and checked with us from time to tim to see how we were doing. Summary: high end (but casual) ambiance, moderate prices, excellent staff together makes this a great place to bring your family when they visit or a nice place to impress a date. read more

Overall 3.5 stars Things I liked: - friendly waiter (great discussion on the current world cup standings) - eggplant and mint garlic sauce appetizer (aka Kashke Bademjan) - running into an old friend Things I thought were ok: - ambiance - a bit on the loud side - chicken kebab and basmati rice with berries (aka Zereshk Polo) - marinated chicken thighs (aka Joojeh Kebab) I still prefer Chelokababi in Sunnyvale and Molana in Boston. read more

Yes the food is good (the rice isn't great though for a Persian restaurant) and the price point works too. What doesn't work is the pace. We simply don't like when the food arrives so fast and the whole dinner lasts exactly 1 hour (including appetizer course) instead of 2. Feels flat for a date night. We end up coming here once every other year which is about what it takes for the memory loss. read more

Best Persian Restaurant in the city ( & Bay Area).... and that's coming from a Persian. ;) Went there last night with 3 french friends (all their first time having persian food) and...they loved everything! I'm pretty sure, we ordered pretty much the entire menu ( or so it seemed), we had 2 of the Eggplant Appetizers, Yogurt with shalot, the Tah Deeg with fesenjan stew over it ( this was is off the menu so you have to know to request it) the tongue & brains in saffron, for appetizers....and a variety of all the kabobs for main. Everything was absolutely delicious! I had the lamb shishkabob, it was juicey and tender. Service was fast, friendly and efficient. Overall a wonderful experience. Highly recommend it. read more

Came here on Saturday Nowruz for lunch, happy with everything, the lamb tongue is the bomb here, great flavors, melt in your mouth texture, the lime flavor sauce is finger licking good... read more

Maykadeh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - San Francisco, California