The was best Persian cuisine in Austin! Very authentic!…read more I'm Persian (my dad's side) and grew up eating traditional meals. Oh, the nostalgia... so fulfilling to my soul, especially since my dad is no longer earth-side.

I was really excited to try this place out, as Persian food is one of my favorites and it's pretty…read moretough to find. I decided to order a mini Persian feast: the beef koobideh with rice, doogh yogurt drink, and a saffron ice cream for dessert. This was my first time trying beef koobideh, and unfortunately, this just didn't seem to be very good. The meat itself was okay, decently cooked, and topped with quite a lot of some spice that I can't quite put my finger on. It was okay. The rice though, that is what really disappointed me. Persian rice is usually amazing, but this really didn't seem traditional and it had a strange taste to it. It also came with onion and a grilled tomato, both solid additions. Good portion though. The doogh yogurt drink wasn't homemade like I had hoped, but in all honesty, it still really hit the spot on a hot Austin day. Reasonable price. The saffron rice was also fairly disappointing. Large white chunks (clotted cream maybe? But they were pretty tasteless), gritty texture, not much flavor. Just not really worth it. All in all, a bit of a disappointing dinner in Austin. I'll have to look for a different Persian spot next time I'm in the area.

Today is turning out to be a plant based day with a fruit parfait for breakfast. For lunch I…read moredecided to have hummus, which was made with a blend of tahini sauce, chick peas mixed with fresh lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil. The hummus was thick with a perfect flavor profile. I packed half to go as it was a large portion. Amar was an amazing server! He immediately brought pita bread, cheese and butter to the table. He pretty brought water to the table pretty quickly along with a to go container and bag. Pretty chill vibe in Shandeez Grill...

Stopped into Shandeez Grill on Anderson Mill when I wanted something that felt home-cooked but…read morestill restaurant-level (and I didn't feel like doing the "where should we eat?" loop for 30 minutes). Atmosphere: Quiet, comfortable, and more "family dinner" than flashy date-night. It's a simple dining room, but it's clean and relaxed--easy to actually talk without yelling over music. The kind of place where you can tell regulars come in a lot. Food: This is what you come for. I went the kabob route--juicy, charred in the right spots, and seasoned so you actually taste the meat (not just smoke). Rice was fluffy and came out hot, and the grilled tomato/veggies were a perfect add-on. Also grabbed a yogurt-based side (maast style) and it was super refreshing between bites--especially if you're doing anything spicy or super savory. If you've never had Persian food, this is a solid entry point: it's flavorful without being intimidating, and everything feels filling without being heavy. Service: Friendly and patient--no rushing, no weird attitude, just genuinely helpful. They'll explain dishes if you're unsure, and everything came out at a good pace. It felt like they wanted you to enjoy your meal, not just flip the table. Wrap-up: If you're in NW Austin and want legit Persian comfort food--kabobs, rice, stews, the whole deal--Shandeez is a really easy recommendation. Great "treat yourself" dinner that still feels warm and low-key.

Checked the place out based on Yelp reviews and was absolutely floored. Clean space, friendly…read morestaff, quick service, and excellent food! We ordered the half order falafel with hummus, mint lemonade, lamb kabob platter, and beef kabob platter. Everything but the salad came in large Texas style portions. I requested the beef be cooked to medium and the temperature was perfect. Tips: Substitute the tahini in the kabob platters for tzatziki and request garlic sauce on the side. The garlic sauce enhances the flavor of rice.

Food is very good, service not so good... I can tell people…read morecome for the food alone. The place is nice and has a nice layout. However, I'll think about coming here again because I didn't feel a good vibe with the service. We had to go look for someone to show us the table even though the place was empty for early lunch. Then, to get drinks or even the order was a problem. It took so much longer than usual. Our waitress was rude, and seemed bothered that we showed up. Then someone else came as the waitress and she was preoccupied with other tables and barely checked on us. A regular lunch which would've been one hour became almost two because of the lack of service. My friend had to stand and look for someone to give us a box to take out the good we couldn't eat because it was getting late and also to get the check because No one came in to check on us at all. It was almost like pulling teeth to get a regular service let alone good service. Again, the food was really good, and that alone was the only positive.

Usta Kababgy is an excellent restaurant for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Austin, TX located…read moreon N. Lamar Blvd. The restaurant has well seasoned, charcoal grilled meats. The kebabs are the true highlight...juicy, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The portions are quite large as the hubs and I shared a wrap. We were sufficiently full after eating the chicken tikka wrap. Interestingly, the wrap came in a Shawarma King packaging with their contact phone number. So, I assume that Usta staff are sub-contracting from Shawarma King. Usta also has freshly baked bread and classic sides like hummus and rice paired with the main dishes. The restaurant has a homey, lived in feel. It has a few middle eastern artifacts sprinkled throughout the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from Iraqi and Adana kebabs to shawarma and traditional Middle Eastern plates, so there are food items for both first timers and regulars who want to explore beyond the basics. They also serve flatbreads where you can have two different toppings. The food focus is on bold, traditional flavors rather than modern takes on middle eastern foods. On the desserts front, they have an assortment of desserts and several sections of ice cream. I had the baklava, which was surprisingly delicious...it was not eye-squinting sweet like a standard baklava. It was crunchy, flavorful, and had nuts that were substantial. Layla, my server, was so super sweet and welcoming. She pointed out that Usta provides its customers free tea. How cool is that? I cannot remember last time I received a free drink.

Usta Kababgy offers amazing charcoal-grilled Mediterranean food that provides authentic, "soul-fed"…read moreexperience that's hard to find elsewhere. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, suitable for a place nice enough for a family/friend gathering. The service is friendly and reassures wanting to provide an enjoyable meal. The standout here is the charcoal grill definitely must try. It's all fresh and top-tier.

The food, everything, was very good. I had the Shish Tawook (chicken) with tabbouleh and hummus…read more The tabbouleh was fantastic! I don't know if it was authentic or not, but it was so good! The staff member that I dealt with was personable, pleasant, etc. Only one negative--I wish I could give the place a 4.5, but I don't think a 4 is fair--After I indicated that I was finished eating and ready for the bill (maybe I didn't communicate it so clearly?), it seemed to take quite a while before they came with the check. Otherwise, great food! (I did not try the hookah at all.) Oh, I forgot to mention: I was served a bottle of spring water rather than a bottle of "purified" water. That was fairly impressive.

I gave 4 stars to give them the benefit of the doubt, but my actual experience felt closer to 2…read morestars. The main problem was the noise. The acoustics were very bad. The hardwood ceiling and the glass window in front of me seemed to amplify sound from every direction. I was with a group of six men, and none of us could hear each other. As the noise increased, every table seemed to raise its volume just to communicate, and it became painful. The food had a BBQ flavor, which was different for Mexican food. Some people may like that, but it was not what I expected. It was 4 star food. I think sitting outside would probably be much better.

Friendly service, and everything we ordered was delicious…read more Will definitely come back.

It's wild that this is coming out of a food truck!…read more We ordered the Special Grill to try most of the menu. Beef koobideh, chicken koobideh, barg kabob, kofta and veggie kofta. It came with saffron rice. It was a ton of food and everything smelled amazing when it arrived. The food tasted very fresh and was super appetizing. One of the meats was a little dry but overall they were all good. It's easily good for two people, maybe even three. But my favorite item was the Mix Roll. Fries, marinated grilled chicken and beef, boiled egg, veggies, white sauce, and chili sauce wrapped in bread. This thing was crazy good. Loved the thin bread. The chili sauce gave a little bit of spice to it but nothing too hot. Big enough that two people can easily split it. Food is halal and the menu leans Afghan Persian in style. The seasoning is a little different from what you usually find in other Persian places and in my opinion it is more flavorful. We ordered through Uber Eats and the food came pretty fast too.

Last night was our second visit to ABA, and considering that it's a two hour drive to get to, that…read moresays a lot. Both times, the food has been spectacular, the service off the page, and the atmosphere and ambiance magnificent. We tried three mezzes last night, and each was killer. The hummus was the smoothest I've ever eaten and with the brisket, it was killer! We tried the whipped feta with pistachios, and it was special -- salty/sweet and a little something special to make you wonder just what the spice was. The lamb & beef keftas were also excellent, with the lemon rice and a nice tsadziki -- and we make keftas at home fairly regularly, so we know what a good one tastes like. The only regret that we had was that we only have one stomach each. A second would have allowed us to keep tasting... Don't miss it. Even the patio dining was cool and refreshing -- and it was 86º when we were eating dinner!

I booked this spot roughly 1 month in advanced, and I was only able to snag a 7:15pm reservation…read more(even as a solo diner). Music Lane is a beautiful area with corridors bustling with fresh air, which greatly contrasts the area not too far south of it. Aba lies within these corridors, so I was completely gobsmacked to see the size of the establishment and its number of seating. There are outdoor tables, a dedicated bar section, a decently large interior, and patio and sofa seats for the people waiting. Even then, the place was completely packed, so getting a reservation is an absolute must. Not only are the prices completely reasonable, the food itself had everything that I was looking for: a delicious spread starter, a balanced fiber dish, and an entree with intentional flavors and texture. The Short Rib Hummus is a must get! It is incredibly filling and completely worth the price. The short rib was a nice meat protein since I opted for a seafood main, and the pita bread that it came with was lightly seasoned and was as fluffy as it could possibly be. I could not eat much of my Brussel Sprouts because it was also very large. However it was not too oily or drenched, and each bite had a perfect light crunch, which is the standard for Fried Brussels Sprouts. Top it all off, the Grilled Branzino was the finisher to my savory dishes. The grill gave the fish a roasted flavor, which was complimented by the sweetness from the corn purée. The various greens, roasted tomatoes, and corn pieces themselves added bites of textures and secondary bursts of flavor. I can see why it took a month in advanced to book a decent time at Aba Austin. The atmosphere was so perfect because the air flows through all the doors and windows, allowing the diners to enjoy fresh oxygen. This place is a must visit, both as an experience and a meal that is WORTH the bill.

Amazing service here. Their bread with the dipping oils is other worldly. Everything I've tried has…read morebeen amazing. Great portions for price. Don't be fooled by the outside this place is 10/10

Our family was visiting Austin just as a winter storm was approaching. There was a freezing drizzle…read morein the morning but most of the afternoon was dry and the temperature was dropping. A lot of places were closing early so that staff can stay home until the storm passed. As such, we struggled to find restaurants with dine-in option. Thankfully our local friend suggested Kabobzi and we had a very pleasant late lunch. Our friend had the chicken shawarma pita sandwich whereas our family shared the lamb kebab platter with hummus, salad, and rice. It was plenty of food because it was a late lunch and we wanted to save space for dinner. The lamb was tender and flavorful. The complimentary pita bread was fresh, soft, and fluffy.

Went here for lunch and it tasted great! The inside was amazing and the food was fantastic and the…read moreservice was excellent. We ordered the Kalubi Palow, Mantu Dumplings, and Karahi. The tea was solid as well. The naan was fluffy and the meat was flavorful. Will be back next time I'm in Austin.

Very legit afghani food! Portions are big and taste is…read moreunmatched. Loved their goat karahi and kabuli palao- We ordered ahead of getting there and got hot piping food right after we got there. Loved every bit of it and would totally recommend!!!!!

A Fantastic Introduction to Mediterranean Food!…read more I recently visited Levant Halal Restaurant and brought my parents, who are visiting from India. It was their very first time trying Mediterranean food, and they absolutely loved it! We started with two different types of hummus served with pita. The hummus was incredibly flavorful, and the pita was exceptionally fresh. We also ordered the falafel, which was perfectly prepared and delicious. For the main course, we shared the Chicken Shish Taouk with sides of beet salsa and Lebanese potatoes--everything was cooked beautifully and tasted amazing. Honestly, the highlight of the meal for us was the drinks. The mint juice and beet juice were so refreshing and easily the best part! We finished our meal with baklava and basbousa for dessert, and both were fresh, sweet, and incredibly tasty. Beyond the fantastic food, the ambiance is very neat and clean, and the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend Levant Halal, especially if you are looking for a great place to introduce family to Mediterranean cuisine!

My first time here and everything is laid out beautifully. Levant is the French name for Lebanon…read more The place was super clean and I didn't feel grunge while there. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. But because I was early there was plenty of seating and I chose indoor. The counter server talked me thru everything and gave me samples of the different side dishes. I chose not to get rice nor bread and stuck to the sauces and veggies. I ordered the Chicken and Lamb Levant bowl. The mixture of all the different flavors was exceptional. Thank you Levant Cafe & Grill for a wonderful dining experience. May 2026 bring you much success! Happy New Year everyone.