5+ stars Best Persian Rack of Lamb ever! This place serves up the best Persian food in LA. They serve the bread fresh, yogurt dip, house salad, stuffed grape leaves (amazying), chicken, filet mignon kebob and more are INCREDIBLE! I almost forgot to mention the incredible SHRIMP kebobs. This is the second best shrimp dish that I have ever eaten. You can't go wrong at this place. I have been eating here for 11 years and I can't find any other place better. read more

It was hard deciding what to order with so many options. Far more than I have previously seen at Persian restaurants (though maybe I don't go to enough Persian restaurants). In addition to the stews and kabobs, there was grilled fish and there were rice dishes with almost a dozen kinds of rice. I went for stew with plain rice (but very curious about the rice with orange, pistachios, almonds, and rosewater). I visited alone but I was given enough food for more than two. It was tasty and filling, and I plan to go back. read more

I came here last night with my husband and parents. We thought the food was very strong - we ordered a salad, two kebabs (two different kinds of chicken), a lamb stew, and some whitefish. The portions are enormous (seriously, I had leftovers for breakfast and dinner today, and we're not small eaters), and everything we had was tasty. The various styles of rice that came with the entrees were each perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The house bread is AWESOME. I could eat a whole basket. The only downside to our meal was the service. For the first half hour the service was severely inattentive. It took a solid twenty minutes to even take our food order, and probably fifteen to get us water (which was never refilled once). Then they were slow to pick up and return the check. But I would go back for the food and just hope for better service. read more

Filet mignon kabob was pretty good. The other dishes were ok, such as lamp chop kabob. I highly recommend the bread here, its fresh. I feel this place is a bit pricey considering the other options, but the interior and atmosphere are nice... thats what you are paying for. Personally, I would rather save a few bucks and enjoy the food down the street. Regardless, the food here is solid. Wait staff was fine. read more

I dropped in here for an unplanned Valentine's day dinner. Being on a busy west LA street, they offer only 4 car parking, so parking is always an issue. I parked on the parallel road behind. Most Mediterranean restaurant in LA kind of offer similar dishes (Koobideh, Kababs, Fesenjan, Ghormeh Sabzi, Badmejan etc.) so to make out the difference in quality, it is not very difficult. Shaherzad also belonged to the same league. When we entered the place, it was fully occupied. Even after booking a table, we had to wait for 5-7 minutes. Finally we were seated. The waitress looked very courteous and prompt. We ordered Tahdig (rice crust topped with ghormeh sabzi), Fesenjan with white rice polo and Shirin Polo with Lamb shank. Tahdig was a total waste and lacked any flavor. Fesenjan was utterly sweet and it did not have the tasty remains of walnut when you eat it. The lamb shank was not freshly prepared and I could feel the fat on the shank was little bit on stiffer side. Only exception being the Shirin Polo which was outstanding. It had the right mixture of orange peel, almond and pistachios mixed with a hint of rose water. It was on the sweeter side which was not a deal breaker for me. The portions were really big and the service was up to the mark even during this rush hour. All said and done, I have tasted better Persian food in Pa2gh (they have closed west LA location now, wonder why!) and Javan. Will not go back there. read more

I love Persian food. I know I'm biased since I am Persian but seriously, it's the best. Shaherzad has been my recent go to spot. It's right on Westwood Blvd so you can either find metered street parking or there are a few designated parking spots in the back of the restaurant (go through the alley). There are a ton of tables so you never have to wait. We usually start off with the Kashk Bademjan (seasoned eggplant topped with yogurt sauce, sautéed onion and mint - $7.95). We also get the Mast o'Khiar (Yogurt, herbs, and chopped Persian cucumbers - $5.95) and Sabzi Khordan (Fresh mint, basil, tarragon, Persian leek, radishes and green onion served with French feta cheese and walnuts - $6.95). Last night, we ordered the Combination of Cold Appetizers platter and it was a great deal ($13.95). My go-to entree item is the Chenjeh Shish Kabob (succulent pieces of all natural filet mignon, marinated and broiled with bell peppers and onions - $20.95). My man likes the sabzi polo (basmati rice with herbs) so we split it half&half with the plain rice, but you can also split it with salad. I've also had the Chicken Barg (flat pieces of broiled chicken tenders marinated in onions and saffron -18.95) and it's very tasty. The only thing that lacks is the service but that's not completely unusual for persian restaurants. Make sure you finish off with some persian tea. Unless you are worried about staying up all night cause of the caffeine. But it really hits the spot. read more

Fesenjan, Tadigh, Tadigh, Fesenjan and please add the Shirin Polo and Adass Polo. Oh and the Zabzi Khordan just to keep it all fresh and jumping in my mouth. He wants chicken kabob as well. Think we over ordered?! If Shaherzad were the only reason to come to LA from time to time, it would be the best reason. No need for 1000 and 1 nights of stories. Now quiet, I'm eating... and probably will be enjoying the leftovers for the next three days! Fabulous! read more

Shaherzad, I hope my wife removes you from her brain. This place is so unbelievably inconsistent it's a marvel to me they can manage to stay in business. To start, I have only placed deliveries with Shaherzad. If I have eaten at the location, I apologize. It was obviously not memorable enough to make a mental note, but I digress. I anticipate a struggle with delivery from any restaurant. Whether it be a Pizza joint, Chinese or even Persian food a little give in delivery time is expected. It's unfortunate and definitely the M.O. of the SoCal lazy I have come to "live with" around here, but expected. Needless to say when it becomes a consistent pattern something has got to give. This is the 3rd time now that Shaherzad has been late with their delivery. Our order was placed with them around 5:30. At 6:30 we were told they were running behind and delivery would be between 7:30-7:45. Well, thats amazing. Because It is now 8:40 and still not even a "sorry". In fact at 8 when my wife called up to check and see if they forgot about us, she received a short "the driver is one your street" *Click*. No more reason to talk, he still isn't here. Well thanks you dip. Thanks for lying to us again. Still no delivery, and not even an apology for f'n up so many times in one evening. 1-star my rear-end. read more

Walked by looking for someplace new to eat, and glad I decided to stop. I tried both the white fish and cornish hen. Both were so succulent, juicy, and flavorful. Service was great, and the food is so tasty. This is one of my new, favorite places for food. read more

I don't know how people eat at that place. It looks like a hospital (ugly tile flooring and non-existant decor) and stinks of rotten meat half the time. But Javan is pretty bad too. try Baran on westwood for their stews. I am just happy my girfriend has learned to cook persian. Update: After reading some reviews, I tried shahrezad and thought we'd tought it out and see. Despite the zoo crowd, the food was ok. Nothing horrible but nothing amazing. The koobideh in Sultani was tasty but the Barg (filet) was bogus. The veggie eggplant stew and the lima bean rice were ehh, My sista liked her lamb tahchin (but she is not the type who frequents valentino and melisse either). So it wasn't as bad as the ambience I guess. read more

Ate lunch here with a friend. The dining room was half full with a comfortable vibe at 1:00 on a Wednesday afternoon, nicely appointed, with attentive friendly service. The lunch specials were a pretty good deal given the quality of the food, which had that non-greasy good-restaurant feel. $10-13/lunch plate, including wonderful warm flat bread and raw onions (!?) as a pretty tasty opener. My chicken in a lime-spinach sauce was interesting, his chicken kabob looked just fine, nothing special but nothing gross either, as lunch specials so often can be. If it was a dollar or two cheaper I'd go back. read more

Persian food is not easy to make and get right ... it takes years of painstaking practice and experience and when it comes to getting portions and timing right this place has it pretty right. I like their Barg and Koobideh and also most of their traditional dishes are straight authentic. thx for great food S read more

I am soooo disappointed as I've always had wonderful service and cuisine here. I haven't been here in perhaps 6 mos. as the interior changed again and looks very nice. However, I asked for my filet mignon kabob to be prepared medium and it was served well done. I am not Persian and my Persian family was upset I was asking for it to be redone. The waiter did not apologize for my meat being over cooked and I asked for it to please be pink in the middle this time. Again he brought it well done and tough as if it should have marinated much longer and taken off the grill to rest to avoid over cooking. He did not apologize to me but avoided our table and did not check with me to see if I was satisfied. The restaurant charged us and I didn't eat but a half bite. I went back to talk with them later and because they tried twice to get it right it was ok for them to charge for an unacceptable meal and made excuses. I finally got an apology from the waiter who again said it was not his fault the chef did not prepare it correctly. Really? Ok it was my fault then I ordered a $30 meal the chef didn't know how to prepare. Sorry for that. Please, don't make your customers pay for the mistakes of your chef. You ruin a meal for a customer TWICE it is NOT ok! read more

I can get so giddy-little-girl excited when suddenly find myself in a new place, thickly immersed in foreign pride, heritage, & flavorful kick. Even more so when new flame hottie is my 1st time guide here--though I'm quite a 2nd generation foreigner of somewhere else myself! Cute Persian bf amp'd his sexy factor tenfold more, ordered everything in full-on Farsi. So I haven't a clue what these dishes are called but basically placed on our table: fluffy crisp naan bread, fresh chunky onions, dill yogurt dip, assorted oils/butters, eggplant/grilled onion mixture, colorful basmati rice dishes in cherry, lima beans & dill w/schwarma curried meats. All go very nice & well w/yogurt lassi-like mint (non) carbonated beverage & hot yum Persian tea w/chunky honey sugar. Oye! Imagine what this all sounds like in mind-flipping Farsi! I was so enchanted... Needless to add (though I will) extremely satisfying our table of 4 w/3Persian guys, 1VN chick (me)--no, not self-conscious at all! Extraordinarily accommodating actually, as sweet bf made sure all needs taken care of...making me dangerously hooked on him, his culture, & of course, always exotic eats. Only thing not a total fan of so-so decor though very clean. Service quick, efficient & reasonable. read more

I am always looking for good Persian food on the Westside. I actually really liked the ambiance of the restaurant. It really felt like a family owned joint. I was in good hands. Although the service was warm, the food was not up to snub. The tadigh was undercooked and the stew that came on top of it was too bitter. And our kebabs were moist, but lacked flavor. Hmm... Sadly, I will not be coming back here as there are better options in Tehrangeles. Too bad Raffi is all the way in Glendale. read more

I finally had the chance to dine in with a couple of friends. Service is wonderful. But DAMN, that Lamb Tahchin is the shiznit! read more

5 stars for the food here. More specifically the lamb. They have the best lamb I have ever had in LA. I cannot describe how good the food is here. Get the lamb cooked medium. I've also had this red stew soup. seemed like it was tomato based. man thinking about this place makes me so hungry. read more

I enjoy visiting westside persian spots. The ones I have checked out on the west-end are: (Ranked in order so far...) -Javan -Darya -Flame -Shamshiri -Baran -Pa2gh Honorable Mentions: -Sunnin (Lebanese) -Zankou (Greek) So, I have somewhat of a baseline on where to grade the recommendation made to me from an acquaintance I met in westwood. What my friend and I ordered: Tah-dig (Fesenjan stew topping) Bademjan (eggplant stew) Lubia Polo (comes with one kabob [choose sirlion] ) I was a bit disappointed with the Fesanjan. The sweet pomegranate stew is one of my all-time persian favs and they seem to just make it a spread to put on top of the tah-dig instead of a true stew topping on top of the tah-dig pot rice. There was really nothing to the stew, it was more like butter, like mentioned before....just a spread. It was plain and missing bits of meat, walnuts, and salt. The kabob was normal and nothing special with the spices or texture. It was not really sirlion, it was more like Kubideh... Bademjan lacked any eggplant and was more of a chicken dish with no portions of eggplant to be found except one piece. LOL Overall, the place is probably ranked right there with Baran. It was average at best and did not stick out. It was missing that x-flavor that Darya and Javan currently offer. read more

Best Persian Restaurant I've ever been to. Shaherzad packs a lot more flavor into their food and have great stews and rices. since i'm a cilantro-fiend, i personally Love their cilantro rice that you can get with their stews/meat dishes. Their Sabzi Polo is fantastic (it's like a giant barberry rice brick) with chicken. It looks like it should really be a family-size portion, but i guiltily try to finish it in one sitting. i eventually collapse in Sabzi Polo defeat. read more

I went to Shaherzad with a large group of people after a friend recommended it. I usually don't go to Persian restaurants because my grandmother makes Persian food all the time. I had high expectations, but found that Shaherzad is a great place to take friends and family in LA. I had Ghormeh Sabzi, a popular herb stew. It's prepared with a dried limu-Omani Persian lime which, along with he greens, can give it a slightly bitter taste. This is how it is traditionally prepared, so if you're not into it perhaps order a sweeter rice or go for a tomato based stew. It's a lot of food per plate, too, so you can definitely share if you want to try different dishes/save money. read more

I have had many positive experiences bringing Colleagues and friends to this place. Akbar at The restaurant is always fantastic and makes me and the guests feel special. The food is delicious and Akbar makes sure that the food family style and portions are appropriate for the group. Thank you for delicious dishes and amazing service. Thank you Akbar! read more

i hate being disappointed. my office moved from the westside of the 405 to the eastside of the 405 so i'm not in walking distance from javan anymore, but i'm right smack between shamshiri and shaherzad/flame. after extensive review of the yelp comments, i decided to pick shaherzad seemed like it was more traditional. maybe i'm not used to traditional persian food.. i'm used to whatever style javan is. i ordered 2 lunch specials.. no i didn't eat both in one day: Shish kabob (chunks of filet mignon): $10.95 Koubideh (skewered ground beef): $8.95 one with salad and the other with rice (you can also get half and half) of course this was after being ignored at the counter for about 5 minutes and being cut in front of by someone. either way.. i was patient.. so.. 20 minutes later i brought the food back to the office... opened it up and found one flat bread - looks like they make it fresh but it's not nice to wrap with like lavash bread because it's so thick. I just ate it with butter and that was yummy. the strange thing is.. the beef was cooked to this light tan color so it just doesn't seem so cooked and it doesn't look that good. I like the dark brown charbroiled color of beef and steak. maybe it's just me.. but i wish i was closer to javan now.. but maybe i'll try flame and shamshiri and it'll be better.. read more

I am not Persian but i love their food and this place so far is my favorite. The best chicken Kabob and Sabzi i ever had. Very fresh bread and the shirazi salad is to die for. I sure recommend this place. If you don't like meat , they also have fish in their Menu. Great place for lunch or dinner. read more

It was interesting eating here.. but i dont think persian food is something i'd particularly crave.. the flavors are really herbal based.. but it was a good experience.. you get bread.. which you have to eat fresh or it doesnt taste good.. thast why i wish they gave you some fresh bread when your meal acutally comes.. or atleast some sauce to dip the bread in right when it comes.. read more

We arrived around 4pm after watching a UCLA basketball game. Surprisingly, the restaurant was reasonably crowded, despite the time of the day. Because we were both hungry, it was great that they brought out some fresh pita-like bread served with butter and raw onion. Although it sounds a bit odd for those that don't frequent Persian restaurants often, it is actually quite tasty. I ordered the Albaloo Polo (boiled chicken served with risk and tart cherries. It has not ordered this item in years and this version did not disappoint. We also had the chicken kabob, which was also very good. Overall service was pretty attentive and friendly and the prices were in line with the food quality, location, and atmosphere. read more

Good Persian food at a fair price. Took the waiter's recommendation and went with the house special: a Moussaka-like creation sandwiched between layers of fried rice that hit the spot. Ambiance is OK, but most people come (and return) for the food. The basics are covered, so it should appeal to anyone who wants one of traditional offerings. High recommend and will return when in the area again. read more

Worst service ever, food taste terrible and waitresses don't know how to talk to customers.

I haven't had persian food in a while and usually my favorite place to go is Caspian in Irvine. This restaurant is pretty good but just to warn you, it is authentic and classy (clean and friendly service especially being our first time)- my friend's boss who is persian recommended this place and says it's one of the best places for persian food. Like the other yelpers mentioned, the flat bread is to die for and the crispiness and tastiness is due to their clay oven and you can see them make it right before you eyes. I especially enjoyed it with the raw onions they give you as well as with the eggplant (this is da' bomb!) and yogurt with cucumber appetizers we had. Other items (we actually diverted from the usual koobedah or beef/chix skewer items): - Fesenjan- Stew over rice with walnuts, pomegranates and chicken. This was a bit too sweet for me tho' it was interesting to try. - Gormasabzi- Stew with meat (we had veal), red beans, spiniach and herbs (cilantro, leek, fennegreek). This was yummy and would recommend it. - Tahchin- chicken topped with crispy saffron rice. The chicken was a bit dry tho' I enjoyed the crispiness of the rice (reminded me of noo-loon-jee bap for those who know what i mean). -Saffron rice is da bomb tho' I'd rather save my carbs for the flatbread and eggplant. Didn't try the ice cream..bummer..will need to try this next time! read more

Order Kashk Bademjan, Ghormeh Sabzi, I encourage you to order any one of the many rice specialties. This place has fantastic presentation and flavor. Be sure to check out the tandoor oven! read more

The food was so good I forgot to take pictures! We started with hummus, Shirazi Salad (chopped Persian cucumber, tomato and cilantro, with fresh lime juice and extra virgin olive oil dressing), and pita. It was a nice way to wait for our main courses. Between the three of us, we each had one full entree, and took half home. So you could definitely share. I had the Ghaimeh Stew with yellow split peas cooked in a special tomato and onion sauce, and served with diced beef. I was in love! I couldn't wait to eat my leftovers the next day. The base - split peas in the tomato sauce - was so amazing! It was flavorful with just the right amount of spices, but not too spicy. I could eat it all day. It was served with a giant plate of rice - definitely enough for two meals. I tried my friend's Bademjan Stew with baked eggplant, cooked in a tomato and onion sauce with chicken. It was ok, but it was a bit spicier than I wanted. I thought the lentils were way better than the eggplant, even though I usually prefer eggplant. I think it was a difference in the spices in the sauces. My other friend tried one of the house rice specialties. It was a huge portion, but I felt that the stews were juicier and had more flavor, so I don't think I'll try that when I return. Additional pros: Easy street parking on a Monday night around 7, and we missed the worst traffic, so I'll definitely be back on a work night. read more

This was my first experience with Persian food. I left very impressed. We were seated immediately and the restaurant had a nice ambiance; good music, clean and tastefully decorated. The pita bread was delicious, some of the best I have ever had. We ordered the Mast'o Khiar (yogurt and herbs mixed with chopped cucumber) as an appetizer and it was the perfect dip for our delightful pita bread. The Mast'o Khiar was served in a large bowl and even though the two of us were very hungry, we could not finish this large serving. We shared the Lamb Shish Kabob, the lamb was heavenly. It was marinated in some type of citrus dressing - the outside of the lamb was so flavorful and tasty and the meat itself was tender. Although the seasoning on the lamb was strong, the taste of the lamb was not disguised and the two went perfectly together. We upgraded the rice that came with our entrée to Adass Polo (rice mixed with lentils, served with sauteed dates and raisins) for $3. Was well worth it. The service was very good and the portions very large. I loved this place and will be back very soon. It is not that often that one goes to a restaurant and loves everything- it's a good feeling. =) read more

The food here is really good and the portions are large. Definitely try one of their persian rice dishes. The staff was 5 star - very attentive and professional. The decor is outdated: pink, teal and gold. Did someone say 90's? They also have some dusty fake flowers. If you don't give a damn about the decorations, this place is the best. Not so great for dates, wonderful for going out with friends. read more

Solid persian dining experience. Went here with a friend that got a gift certificate so tried the boneless chicken kabob and the steak kabobs. The chicken was ridiculously good while the steak left something to be desired. The servers were prompt and attentive and the atmosphere was very unpretentious. If the prices weren't so high I might consider coming back to this place more often. read more

Persian food is a definitely hit or miss - especially when your palate is more accustomed to oriental cuisine. The thing that hits you first is the sweet and souriness of everything you eat, starting with the drink. Order the yogurt drink and you'll see what I mean. Once you've gotten yourself prepared for that, though, the food is pretty interesting. We tried the veal stew dish - looks like Baja fresh salsa and tastes like...smoke. We also had the meat platter where the lamb was absolutely amazing but the koobideh and the chicken skewer were only average. The most bizarre part of the meal was the rice - sweetened with cranberry. I did not like this at all. I'm sure others will disagree but I don't think asian people would like this. Oh, and as for the bread that people rave about - it's like nan except worse. I'd rather go to an indian restaurant to have their bread. I still had a good meal but probably won't return here. read more

I'm half Persian, and always have been disappointed in Persian restaurants that never even approach my grandma's cooking. I went into this place with no advance info on the place, nor any knowledge of the allegedly amazing bread. That said, I had the gormeh sabzi with lamb, and it was awesome. Obviously not as good as home cooking, but still fabulous. The meat was tender and falling apart, as all well-cooked lamb should, and the stew was full of flavor. The bread was...well bread. I've never been a bread person, but still nothing really stood out to me about this bread as compared to other Persian breads I've had. I'd hit it. Again. Despite the fact that Westwood is the black hole of parking (check them signs!), I was lucky enough to find a spot right behind the restaurant. read more

Craving Persian. Check it out! Lunch special is the way to go!!! I've been going to this place for years, almost 10 to be exact. It has very very solid Persian food. I either get the Koobideh (YUM) or the Chicken Kabab. Rice is fluffy and delicious. We start with the Eggplant appetizer usually, which is very tasty just like everyone else has said. The bread is good. The service is just okay. The ambience leaves little to be desired. The worst thing about it all is parking. It is terrible during lunch (but what Westwood restaurant has good parking anyway?), so make time for that. read more

A perfectly good Persian food option in Westwood. HUGE portions. Also love the whole white onions they serve along with the really tasty pita bread. Really liked the eggplant dip appetizer too. Two pieces of advise: 1) Definitely upgrade the rice on the kebabs and plates to one of the specialty rices. My favorite is the Adas Polo, which has lentils, onions, raisins and dates! 2) Avoid the ground beef and ground chicken options for the kebabs. They're both a little dried out and simply not as good as the not-ground-up options. I went back and forth on 3 or 4 stars. If I was comparing Shaherzad against only other Persian restaurants, then I would give it four stars. But, compared to a broader swath of dinner options, I just can't go that high. I also agree with other posters that the service is sub-par. Last thing: one whole wall running along the restaurant is all mirrored glass, which is kind of unnecessary. read more

This place is delicious. It's no frills (though comfortable and inviting), but is packed at lunchtime and has a good energy to it. I will say that I thought many of the dishes were quite pricey, but you can keep it to around $15-20 per person if you order the right things. Start with the doogh to drink. It's a sour, salty, and refreshing yogurt drink that sounds foul but isn't. Not being of Persian decent myself, I had never heard of doogh before but when I saw it being sipped on by 80% of the other diners, I figured it was worth a try. You can get it with or without gas. I tried it without, which is how the server recommended it. For a starter, go with the eggplant dip (the name of which I have forgotten). It is served with a delicious flat bread and topped with thin, crispy onions and deliciousness. if you leave it on your table too long it will turn grey and gooey looking, so eat it fast! Moving on to main dishes, heed my warning that they are all HUGE. As in two hungry people could share one and still have leftovers. So either share, come hungry, be ready to take some home for later. The stews are all delicious, particularly the one made mostly from walnuts and pomegranate (can't recall the name, once again). I'm definitely getting that when I go back, which I will! All of the stews are served with a ton of rice. If you would rather the rice be the focal point of your meal, then order one of the house specialty rice dishes. The "Shirin Polo" (with orange peel, saffron, and pistachios in the rice) is awesome with the lamb. Save room for desert at Saffron and Rose Ice Cream across the street! read more

I love it. Persians love it. I know this because when I walk in with my boyfriend, we're the only two that AREN'T Persian, a little awkward but we deal with it. The complimentary bread is so good when its still warm; just put on a little butter and a piece of onion and you're golden. On your way to the bathroom you can watch them make it and you'll be oddly mesmerized. I always order the chicken koobideh and its awesome and so is the buttery rice. When I wasn't on a tight budget I used to get the lamb and it was so tender and ever so slightly gamey (in the good way). I used the lamb to gauge the other Persian restaurants on the block and Shaherzad definitely won. The portions are decent now; it used to be much bigger. One thing to keep in mind is that the menu says you have the option of getting 1/2 salad and 1/2 rice but they fail to mention that its an extra $2.00 charge. Why? I'm guessing because they want to capitalize on people like me who like to feel like they're eating healthy with a few green leaves on their plate. The service here is lackluster; they're not really warm at all. They're kind of nonchalant about everything and it takes a while to even get your bill. The service kind of rubs me the wrong way, but the food is so good that I just keep on coming back. read more

Ok, best persian food in the state of california. Excellent food! The bread cannot get better than this, the rice is amazing and fluffy, awesome ash resteh, kabobs are amazing and juicy. If you are in LA, you must come here. The best. read more