First time having Persian food and I got to say ...it was incredible. I will be back for the food and great service. Highlight was the lamb shank. Lamb Shank: It reminded me of a turkey leg, but it's lamb and packed with lean, tender meat and flat out flavor Again, these flavors are all brand new to me and I am glad to have experienced it here. If you haven't had Persian food, I would recommend to try it here . I mean just look at this spread - read more

Middle East Cafe - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place was pretty big and you have to order from the counter but the lady at the counter walked away and took a while for her to come back. We already knew what we wanted because we had looked at the menu online. We tried the lamb shank with the fava bean rice for 24. We also ordered the beef stew with added eggplant for about 17. The portion size of the stew was very small like a shallow small plate. This was not a cheap lunch for 44. Everything tasted fresh and had authentic flavor. Nothing was too salty or strong flavored. You have to order the stew if you want to have flavor with your rice. It was too bland otherwise for me. Like another yelper said, the water tasted straight out of the faucet. For these prices, they should really offer you a hot tea on the house. My husband enjoyed the lamb shank but I honestly thought it could be even more tender. Also the food was lukewarm. The plus side is that the food came out immediately because it was already pre-cooked. It's like eating buffet food. We will come back whenever we're in the area. This is pretty good Persian food. read more

I came here to celebrate a birthday lunch with a friend, and we got the fensenjan with Zereshk Polo, tahdig, lamb shank, kabab rice dishes, and roasted eggplant dip. It was my first time having this type of stew and rice, and I loved it! The closest comparison I can think of that I've had is mole, but I'm not a fan of the chocolate flavor in moles. In contrast, the sweet and tangy pomegranate molasses along with the aromatic rice agreed much better with my flavor palate. The employees were extremely friendly, there was clean and plentiful seating, and I would highly recommend this place if you're craving Persian/Iranian food! read more

Most hospitable Host, Amir, great menu and amazing cooks ! The best middle eastern restaurant around and wonderful market next door ! It is our favorite restaurant !!0 read more

We stopped by Middle East Cafe for a post-hike meal and enjoyed our food, especially the lamb shank! It wasn't that crowded when we came by Sunday evening around 5:30 pm. We ordered at the counter and got a number for our food. They have both indoor and patio seating, but it was a bit chilly outside even with the heat lamps so we decided to sit inside. We shared an order of falafel ($7 for 3) as our appetizer. One friend ordered the chicken wrap ($17), and I shared the koobideh plate ($21) and the lamb shank with baghali polo ($24) with another friend. First thing we noticed when the food came out was the portions were generous. We all struggled unsuccessfully to finish the food and I ended up taking some of the lamb and koobideh home. The best dish by far was the lamb shank, imo. It was fall of the bone tender and incredibly flavorful. I wasn't a huge fan of the baghali polo (made with basmati rice) that it came with, as it's cooked with dill which I usually don't like, but it was nice to have rice to eat with the lamb shank. The koobideh i.e. ground beef/lamb skewers were also very tasty. Normally it comes with basmati rice on the side, but since we were already getting rice with the lamb shank, we subbed in lavash bread, which is like a large thin sheet of flat bread. We weren't sure how to eat it but ended up breaking off pieces of bread and wrapping it around the meat. It's definitely harder to eat than rice as you have to use your hands, but it was nice to try something different. Most underwhelming for us was the falafel, which I found dry and bland. Would skip next time. My friend enjoyed his chicken wrap but found it a bit bland. He was dumping hot sauce on it like crazy for more flavor. Don't forget to head next door after your meal for some delicious baklava and Turkish delight! read more

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Came here on a Saturday around 6pm and had no trouble finding a seat. It's a casual, café-style setup where you order at the counter and the staff brings the food to your table. Service was super, friendly staffs. We ordered the chicken and beef kebabs. The chicken was a bit dry with minimal seasoning, while the beef was tender but lacked flavor. We ended up grabbing chutney from next door and pouring it over the kebabs to make them more enjoyable. Unfortunately, the kids didn't really like the kebab. The rice in the dolma is too moist. read more

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Middle East Cafe opened in El Patio's space a few months ago. Decor changed. Patio/garden dining available. Heat lamps provided. Offerings (Persian): kabobs, stews, specials, rice plates, sides, wraps, drinks, desserts... Drill: order, pay at counter, choose dining area, food brought quickly to table ( 5ish minutes). Bites:Lamb Shank+Baghali Pollo (Fava bean rice)23 -most diners choose patio, fills up fast. -lamb shank was semi-dry, pre-cooked, ready to serve. Soaking it in its broth made lamb tender & juicy again. Lamb prepped with onions, cinnamon, salt & pepper, turmeric. Baghali Pollo was plentiful. Flavas aromatic. Made with dry dill, fava beans, basmatic rice, oil, saffron. Best eaten with lamb, cuts the greasiness, soaks up flavas from broth. 4.5 stars: Worthy. Quality: very good Quantity: reasonable. Many Persian options. Repeatable. read more

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My friends and I stopped by Middle East Cafe on a Tuesday evening for dinner and we had a fantastic meal. My wife and I shared the koobideh plate -- opting for the zereshk polo instead of regular rice, along with a side of maast moosir and some lavash. The skewers of ground beef and lamb were juicy, tender, and flavorful. I really enjoyed the smoky flavor of the grilled meat. Paired with the fluffy rice, a dollop of maast moosir, and some slivered raw onions, it's *chef-kiss* the perfect bite of food. At the table, there's also a shaker of sumac available if you want another layer of flavor. Whenever I visit SoCal, Raffi's is always one of the spots I hit up if I'm craving Persian food and am in the Glendale area. I'm honestly beyond thrilled to have a Persian place with such delicious food available here in East Bay. The folks working here couldn't be nicer and I can't wait to stop by again. Be sure to check out the beautiful back patio if you're dining in -- you won't regret it. read more

Middle East Cafe - Koobideh plate - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing ambiance outside with shade and free delicious tea. Food was amazing with huge portions and Service was fast and efficient.

I absolutely love Persian food with every fiber of my being. How could I have gone so many years without knowing about this gem? Middle East Cafe is absolutely amazing. The service is great, and you are always greeted with a warm smile upon entry. The cafe is very cozy and has a comforting atmosphere; it is the perfect spot for lunch on a rainy day. The food is amazing. My personal favorites are the chicken kabobs and koobideh, though I must admit I have not yet had anything here that I have not liked! Middle East Cafe is now a "regular" in my rotation, and will continue to be for a long time. read more

This is a cute little spot next to the middle eastern market on San Pablo Ave. The dolmas were delicious and the chicken noodle soup was rich, salty and satisfying. There was also live music which was lovely. read more

Middle East Cafe - Tea - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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As an old customer of the market, I was so happy to see the cafe expansion. The staff was so welcoming to our group of 6. The drinks were delicious (with ingredients like pomegranate and rose), and the food recalled some of the best of what I remembered from the original market when I lived in the neighborhood years ago, but expanded and elevated for the restaurant setting. Savory and sweet options for everyone. All in all, a lovely afternoon on the patio. Great for groups, but if I was a solo diner or traveler, this would also be a welcoming spot. I hope to be back again soon! read more

The koobideh platter is a little bit better than the chicken thigh, but you need sumac for both to really bring out the flavor. Good value for the price $ 20. would go back to try the other kinds of chicken. read more

We often shop at the store next door and decided to give the cafe a try. We shared Baarg & Soltani plate with garlic yogurt and Persian tea. Portion is big and overall pretty delicious. Baarg could use more spice though. I really like the fact that the cafe showed how food was cooked in Iran in their large TV. read more

Middle East Cafe - Baarg Soltani plate - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food is so good. Got gheymeh, tahdig, barg kabob, mast-o musir , and kashk bademjan. It was all so flavorful. Love the casual style and their patio. read more

Amazing food with large portions. The place is really small but nice with lots of food options. Service is also great. read more

Middle East Cafe - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I love stopping by Middle East Market to grab ingredients for cooking. Now they've opened Middle East Cafe right next door, and it's even better! The koobideh plate was perfectly seasoned and juicy, and the cocktail was surprisingly good--fresh and balanced. The patio is such a relaxing spot to enjoy a meal or drink. Great vibes, great food, and super friendly service. Highly recommend checking it out. read more

Middle East Cafe - Koobideh plate - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Not sure I understand the 4.9 stars. For middle eastern food, it was bland at best and dry at worst. There were four of us. The lamb shank was good, but everything else was just fair. The Veggie Plate was the best dish. Wraps were the worst. Even the water was just straight, luke warm tap water. Staff were nice. The cafe has not been updated in a while. If you are looking for a higher end ambiance, this might not be the place. If you are looking for a budget experience, this place would be a good choice. read more

A warm, inviting Persian place that's so delicious even the uncles are speechless after the first bite. I called in a catering order and Amir manager/president of catering/all-around great human helped me build the order for our Yalda party. His kindness and thoughtfulness made all the difference, especially when I came to pick up the order. I felt welcomed and part of the family the moment I walked into the restaurant, which means a lot to an halfzi like me! The staff were so wonderful (thanks for checking the tahdig Aiden!) Everything was packaged up expertly so nothing spilled after an 30 minute drive. And the food? An absolute revelation. Here are some highlights: Fesenjan was INSANELY delicious, perfectly balanced so even my picky fesenjahn-hating uncle went back for seconds. Kubideh was well seasoned, juicy, and frankly addictive. To quote my cousin, "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it's better than Rose Market." (Persian grocery store/kebab Mecca in San Jose). The chicken thigh kebab was also a hit. Ghormeh sabzi was wonderful, the meat was tender and the stew itself absolutely delectable with its greenery and seasoning. My dad tried to take the mahst-ah-moosir home with him without telling anyone and that guy is a veritable connoisseur. (I have also had the pleasure of getting gheymeh here as a takeout order and it was so good I ate the whole thing standing up in my kitchen with a bottle of fizzy mint doogh) By the end of the night there was almost no morsel left and my entire family made us promise we would take them to the restaurant when they were back in town. Truly the night was a mad success thanks to the food. I am so glad Berkeley and the Iranian community now have a new place to call home in Middle East Cafe. I can't wait to go back! read more

This place has become my favorite restaurant. Staff is great and the food is insanely good. Back patio is super cute, perfect for a party. Live music on Fridays! Cant wait to come back! read more

Middle East Cafe - Lunch special: chicken and koobideh combo - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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we tried the lamb shank, tahdig, mast masoor (lebneh w/ shallots and a veggie platter. having read previous reviews, I expected more from the lamb shank: it was fine, but the sauce wasn't very interesting or complex I had never had tahdig before, and it was different from how I expected: I thought it would be crispy rice from the bottom of the rice pot, but it was non-crispy rice stuck to crispy lavash. It was tasty but very oily. My favorite part of the veggie platter were the dolmas, they were tasty if on the small side. My girlfriend said the falafel were dry, and neither of us were crazy about the hummus. The lebneh was great, but it's hard to go wrong with lebneh. staff were lovely and it's a pleasant space, and I appreciate having the option of drinking wine or beer with Middle Eastern food. read more

Middle East Cafe is a gem we have been looking for. The food was amazing and the customer service was excellent. Amir (who we later found out was the owner) was so welcoming, accommodating and just a great first person to help us with the menu. I had the chicken and khoubede kabob and my husband loved the lamb shanks. Delicious and super generous portions There is also a hidden patio in the back that is great atmosphere and brings the experience to another level. If you're looking for good food, great service and a wonderful ambiance, this is the place. read more

We went to Middle East Cafe, a Persian restaurant, with my family. Everyone really enjoyed the food, and the staff were very friendly and provided great customer service. I highly recommend trying their delicious and healthy Persian dishes. read more

Middle East Cafe - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

This restaurant is amazing. My son goes to Berkeley and he was so sick he couldn't even order food. And I know he loves Ghormesabzi. I called these guys 15 min before closing and they jumped into action. The delivered the food in 15 min. And even included tadig for him. My son was so happy, I think their food healed him. Thanks for great food and service. We are definitely coming back. read more

If I could give these guys a 6 starts for service, I would. The service was amazing. They are warm and friendly. I forgot I was at a self serve cafeteria style place and thought I was in a proper restaurant! I think they are new and are an expansion from the Middle East Market next door. I ordered Koobideh with rice. It was pleasant. They offered me some tea on the house and the was what I would come back for. Overall, I loved the experience. I do know of a couple of place where I liked the Kabab more, but this place is good enough that I would not be able to deduct any stars in all fairness. Keep up the good work! read more

I got food to go, but I wish that me & my hubby had time to eat at the Middle East Cafe. Amir, the charming man behind the counter was very nice, he told us about the restaurant, which is an off-shoot of the market next door where I used to get my food to go. Three months ago they opened the cafe. It had a really nice vibe & a really cute patio dining area. I got the Falafel Wrap and it was delicious & HUGE! It will be enough for 3 meals. My hubby got the Koobideh Plate, the meat was flavorful & tender and the rice was fluffy! He was only able to eat half of the meal because it was so big! The meal was reasonably priced too. Highly recommend this place. I can't wait to bring friends to have dinner here! read more

Middle East Cafe - Falafel Wrap. Cut Falafel, w/ cilantro, tomato, onion, lettuce, pickles, shallots & lots of yoghurt! CREAMY!!! - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Middle East Cafe has one of the best koobibeh in the East Bay! It's a very casual, cozy vibe with a patio in the back. We started with the Kashk eh badenjan and bread. Then we had the koobideh, with rice, tahdig, and masst moosir. And finished with the baklava and chai. Everyone was so friendly and hospitality! Definitely coming back! read more

We've been going to the market for years. This was our first time at the cafe. Fantastic food of course. Great service. Such nice people. Would definitely go back! read more

Fresh and delicious foods. I got the salmon dish several times and others in the party vegetable plates, lamb shanks and chicken or lamb kabobs. Noone complained. To top it off the service staff are extremely pleasant, read more

the food does not match the pictures. I ordered kabab kobedeh. it was was not grilled long enough and was light gray. I called and I was told that is how it should be. I looked at the website and you could clearly see that more care was taken with the food that was photographed. taste is ok. no comment on ambiance, for I was getting it to go. read more

Middle East Cafe - This from website - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Amazing food! Every dish was incredibly good. I cannot wait to go back, and I live in LA.

Dope place, you feel welcomed as soon as you step inside. First time trying the cold yogurt bev, hard to put a taste on it for first try, incomparable tho.. I'm looking forward to the food...it was great and I will be coming back to try more. read more

I've been coming to the Middle East market for years and finally had the chance to try the Cafe! The vibes are so cool, very down to earth and with a great bar! The food was out of this world. For sure the best Persian food in the east bay. I'll definitely be back with my girlfriends. read more

This newer Cafe, located next to the 50-year Middle East grocery store with Iranian roots, is a great addition to eatery in the Oakland. They have all the special items typical to Persian cuisine. In typical Persian tradition, the staff is very accommodating, pleasant and attentive. This is not a white tablecloth, Restaurant. It has a large, covered back garden and ample seating on the inside. The portions are quite generous, and the rice is stellar as it should be in any Persian Restaurant read more

I just got turned on to this place when my friend who spent her childhood in Iran ordered food from this place for her birthday party. I'm a vegetarian and the vegetarian options are really good and unique. You'll want more. I will get food from here anytime I find myself in Berkeley now. Also, they're really nice and friendly. I don't go out to eat much, but these are flavors that I would not be able to make at home. read more

So thrilled that Middle East Market has opened their own cafe! The lamb shank was so intensely flavorful, I'm really impressed. Plus, the service was so warm and genuinely inviting. And the back patio is a really lovely place to sit on a nice day! Highly recommend!! read more

I don't write many reviews, but I had to write this one because this restaurant is great! From the friendly service and variety of options and most of all great tasting food, you can't go wrong. There are not many options for Iranian food in the neighborhood and I have been searching for a good place that had good food and finally found this place. They serve delicious black tea while you wait that reminds me of tea that my mom used to make me and their service and ambience are very welcoming . The best Aash I've had besides the one my mom used to make me!! read more

Full bar! I loved the Georgian wine flight and my friend enjoyed the date old fashioned. Great spot to sit at the bar and enjoy a good meal. I had the lamb shank - delicious. Friendly, attentive service. Something for everyone with vegetarian and meat options. Next time I'm going to try the Moroccan wine - this place is a gem. read more

Simply put: This is a gem. I hesitate to encourage everyone to come here cause I don't want them to be too busy for me! I've been a regular customer of the market for several years. The new restaurant space next door to the market is a casual environment that invites a slow lunch or dinner. This is NOT fast food. Rather, a place to settle in and enjoy time with someone or with something to do. The food is as it should be: delicious Persian cafe food. The folks are the nicest. Another plus: a unique selection of wines from the former Soviet Georgia, a region known for the delicate quality of its wines. read more

I've been going to the Middle East market for years and was pleasantly surprised to see that they've opened a cafe! Food is incredible as always and great value. The outdoor space is beautiful. Staff is friendly. I can't wait to bring my family here next time! read more

Middle East Cafe - Patio - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California