Uhhhhh, YES!!! Don't bother trying to give it another thought, Ziba Persian Restaurant is STRAIGHT FIREEEEEEEEE!!! I've only had Persian food maybe 2 other times prior to my visit here and have always enjoyed my experiences with Middle Eastern cuisine. The food always has the best balance of aromatics, fresh herbs, spices, and I especially enjoy the crisp, clean, tart flavors that help tie everything together. I had the pleasure of enjoying lunch here- shout out to my girlie for discovering this gem that specializes in traditional dishes and going above & beyond in ensuring the authenticity. With a quick search I discovered Ziba being a family owned restaurant that is known for their delicious basmati rice. Being a carb-y kinda girl, it was a no brainer in having to give it a try. Lunch for our party consisted of: *PERSIAN CHICKEN BURRITO *KOOBIDEH COMBINATION *CHICKEN KABOB x2 *MASTO MOOSIER [creamy garlicky yogurt] x2 Food: The meal started off with a traditional plate of flatbread and fresh herbs. This was delicious on it's own but pair that with the masto moosier leaves you with flavors that will make your mouth water. Don't sleep on that delicious yogurt. Our portions provided were massive in size and the bed of rice was plentiful. It truly is a carb-lovers dream. The basmati rice was flavorful, fluffy, and honestly very addicting- this says a lot coming from a person who generally prefers noods + breads. I'D COME BACK SIMPLY FOR THE RICE WITH A BOUNTIFUL DUSTING OF THE SUMAC + SQUEEZE OF LEMON. The combination koobideh was wonderful- the skewered meats were flavorful, tender, and allowed me to not have to commit to one specific protein. The chicken kabobs were plump and charred just at the right places and flavorful. Elevate all dishes with that garlicky yogurt because... why not?? 5/5 stars. The menu isn't overwhelmingly huge so it makes navigating through the cuisine more managable. This is the perfect spot for an avid fanatic of Persian food or someone who is just trying to get their toes a little wet. The restaurant is clean, cozy, and has a nice relaxed feel to it. The food is a bit pricey but is absolutely delicious. I'm 100% a fan and would not hesitate to come back. read more

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An absolute lifesaver and a true gem for quality Persian food. We placed a to-go order on very, very short notice, and that too late in the day, and yet the team at Ziba handled it flawlessly. Not only was the order ready on time, but the food was exceptionally tasty, incredibly fresh, and prepared to absolute perfection which is not easy to pull off for a rushed takeaway order. We ordered Koobideh for a small family gathering, and it was just perfect. The koobideh was cooked to perfection, beautifully seasoned, juicy, and quite literally melted in our mouths. Every bite tasted fresh, well-balanced, and made with care, as if it were prepared for a dine-in experience rather than a late to-go order. The hosts deserve a special mention for their absolute 5-star hospitality. Accommodating a last-minute request with such professionalism and warmth says a lot about this place. Pair that with 10-star quality food, and you've got a restaurant that truly stands out. Ziba Persian Restaurant is reliable, consistent, and clearly takes pride in what they serve. Highly recommended for gatherings, last-minute plans, or anytime you want truly authentic, high-quality Persian food. We'll definitely be ordering again. read more

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My Family and I really love this welcoming, clean and cozy Persian eatery. We usually ask for the yellow rice with mixed barberries mixed in. In addition we ask for the combo kubideh of grilled chicken and beef. We also love to order the eggplant antipasto which is so delicious: roasted eggplant mashed with sweet caramelized onions, yogurt, walnuts, and fried mint. Nancy, I believe is the manager/owner and is lovely to speak with her. I wish I could speak Farsi so I could order other dishes as well. read more

Came here on a recommendation from a foodie Persian friend and really enjoyed it. Super convenient location with lots of parking, which is always a plus. I had the chicken and beef koobideh. Both were flavorful, juicy, and tasted really fresh. Everything felt authentic and well made. Service was prompt and friendly, and the restaurant was clean with a nice, relaxed ambiance. Solid spot for Persian food and definitely somewhere I'd come back to. read more

Outstanding Persian food. My family and I are regulars here and we only like to come on Saturdays because that's when they have their famous lamb shank. That dish is roasted for hours to perfection until the meat is so soft it falls right off the bone. Another dish we got was the gourmi subzi(sorry if i misspelled) which was this green colored bean meat dish. Little on the oily side but other than that it was phenomenal. Also got the beef wrap which had a kebab, some veggies and a tasty orange sauce smothered throughout. Our last dish was a falafel salad which was good, but we did think the falafels were too dry. Would probably stay away from that and try other meat dishes next time! Service is sometimes a bit slow if they are busy! But we love all the staff and they are super friendly. read more

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I've been in the area for awhile and sadly haven't tried this place until most recently. It was recommended to me from someone who has been going there for some time. We decided to place a pickup order through Door dash but the option wasn't available so we called it in. They're down the street from me so it was an easy pickup order. What we ordered: Khoresh Bademjan (Baby Eggplant Stew)-Baby eggplant stew. Sautéed baby eggplant, beef, homemade tomato sauce and special seasonings. Served with basmati rice. Persian Chicken Burrito-Skewer of marinated chicken wrapped in lavash bread with basmati rice, parsley, cucumber, tomatoes and special house hot sauce. Veggie Kabob- Zucchini, onion, eggplant and bell peppers lightly seasoned with a BBQ Tomato. Everything was delicious and it was my first time trying Khoresh Bademjan, it was really good! I also really enjoyed their hummus and the Persian Chicken burrito was a very generous portion. I recommend their business! read more

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Love Zibas. Always delicious, flavorful! My husband LOVED the lamb and we had enough left over from both our meals for lunch the next day. The mastodon-khair is beautifully done texture and season wise. I should have order 2 because my husband and I went thru 1 quickly. And the lovely family that owns Zibas, merci! read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Baghali Polo with Lamb Shank - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

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Good Persian food with nice ambience and decor. They have good service, slightly pricier than others in the area.

Ziba Persian Restaurant at 4628 Meridian Ave, San Jose, CA 95124 Cambrian Park is a place I have never been to before. I brought a group of 4 with me so I could get their input. A reservation was made the day before and I want to commend the restaurant for letting us know they had a big catering order on Saturday and asked us to arrive at 12:00 Noon instead of 11:30 AM, scheduled opening time. We arrived at noon on Saturday and were greeted by Nancy, who was very kind and hospitable to us. The restaurant was not very large but was clean with nicely spaced tables and chairs. The interior was attractively decorated with pictures and other items. We ordered a variety of food from the menu: Dip Sampler - Appetizer Hummus, masto-moosier (thick Persian yogurt dip with shallots) and masto-khiar (thick Persian yogurt dip with cucumbers and herbs)served alongside their very own saffron chips. Torshi - Side Dish Pickled mixed vegetables Kashke Bademjan - Appetizer Eggplant dip with caramelized onions, whey, garlic and saffron Koobideh Kabob - entree Two skewers of freshly ground beef tenderloin charbroiled to perfection served over basmati rice and bbq tomato Chicken Kabob - entree Marinated chicken pieces served over basmati rice and bbq tomato Baghali Polo with Lamb Shank (Saturday only special) - entree Two lamb shanks, served with Basmati rice, lima beans and dill weed Zereshk Polo with Chicken - entree Chicken served with barberry rice. Veggie Kabob - extra side B.B.Q. tomatoes, zucchini, onion, eggplant, bell peppers lightly seasoned. Everything was outstanding but my personal favorites were the lamb shank and veggie kabob. Kudos to their home made pita chips. Everyone in my group agreed this was a 5 Star Yelp experience. Our server Nancy was so attentive and really made this a wonderful experience. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Ziba! read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

Went here about a week ago. To suffice, I'm persian and this is amongst the best. Recommend the Ghormeh Sabzi, Koobideh + Bargh combination, and a kaskhe bademjan. The owner works with a smile on her face and is extremely welcoming. She deserves all the hype. read more

Ziba is a very unassuming Persian restaurant in a fairly quiet plaza. I didn't realize they had been around for so long, but nice to have something local. Service can be a bit hit or miss. While the woman who I believe is the owner is extremely nice, sometimes there are long times in between where you don't see her, assuming that she's helping in the kitchen as well. So I have seen customers sit there waiting for a bill, or waiting for a refill on something. Maybe that's why one of the patrons just waltzed in, seated himself and his friends, and just started ordering as soon as the lady walked out of the kitchen. The food has been spot on every time. The Persian tea is really good, not overpowering in flavor, and something nice and hot to sip on. If you can stand raw onions, the free lavash with onion, butter, feta, and mint are all really fresh. Nice to have something to munch on while we wait. I attempted to order one of the stews on the special dishes portion, but they weren't serving it, so I went with the barg kabob instead while my partner ordered the koobideh combo platter, that came with 1 skewer of chicken and 1 skewer of beef, and we added the falafel salad. The meat dishes were all cooked well and super flavorful. Even ordering the barg at medium well, I felt the meat was cooked at just the perfect temperature and was still tender and easy to eat. While the beef koobideh won out for me, the chicken was just as flavorful. But all our dishes had waaaaaay more rice than necessary. We ended up saving so much rice, we used it for 2 more dinners with other proteins we cooked at home. The salad for me was just okay. The spring mix was fresh, but I still don't think I can eat any other falafel than from Falafel Drive In. Though there was a spicy dipping sauce, and a yogurt sauce, the falafels still tasted dry, flavor was just okay, and was too crumbly for me to enjoy. But I did top off my meal with the pistachio ice cream, which was delicious and creamy. A satisfying way to end the meal. read more

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Have ordered from Ziba dozens of times as we live nearby. Their food is consistently delicious. Very fresh and flavorful. We will continue to be repeat customers. read more

I was introduced to Persian food by my friends in grad school in Chicago and have always sought it out since then. The Monterey Peninsula doesn't have any Persian restaurants so I swing by Ziba whenever I'm in the area. My favorites are the tadig with ghormeh sabzi, and koobideh. I've had the chicken and barg kabobs in the past and they're good too. The rice with butter and sumac is mouthwatering as a side. Mix in pieces of the BBQ tomato with the koobideh and it's heaven. Highly recommend; clean and great service! read more

I grabbed some takeout from here recently of their fesenjoon and it was pretty good. The restaurant was very clean and the lady who helped me was friendly and welcoming. I will definitely be back to dine in sometime and try other dishes but it seems like a nice spot to try if you're looking for some good Persian food. read more

First time at Ziba and I'm impressed. I had the Soltani and it was perfectly cooked -- super tender and full of flavor. The kashk e bademjoon was rich and delicious, and the doogh was the perfect refreshing pairing. Great first experience -- I'll definitely be back. read more

Came in 30 min before close and the staff was sitting at a table and got the rudest look and was refused service. I totally understand but I apologized for showing up late and said if they couldn't accommodate I understood but still got a very rude response and very mean eyes. I always like to help family owned restaurants, but I will never return. So many better Persian food places in the vicinity. read more

Everything was perfect. We went last Sunday and ordered chicken kabobs and soltani which were all delicious and the portions were generous. They had very aromatic tea and desert was baghlava and had a very nice decorative shape. Ziba had a really nice ambiance and customer Service was great as well. I'm looking forward to go there again soon and suggest Ziba to everyone. read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Chicken Kabob - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

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My mom and I went here for a late lunch and a very nice lady greeted us. One we were seated she took our order and was very and attentive throughout our meal. The restaurant was very clean with classy decor. The food was delicious and authentic. It's what I'd refer to elevated home cooking, which I'd expect from a dining out experience. What I really liked was that they was specialty items on the menu I haven't seen at other Persian restaurants. I will definitely plan to return on a Friday and Saturday for the dishes that are authentic and only served on those days. read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Appetizers - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

We were craving a hearty meal on this chilly overcast day. Persian middle eastern food was the perfect place and Ziba did not disappoint. Both the service and food were great. The Ghormeh Sabzi stew was delicious and the Persian Beef burrito was also wonderful and super filling. Honestly this is one of the best Persian restaurants in South Bay. read more

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Ziba has some really delicious Persian/Middle Eastern food including kabobs, falafel, and the most melt in your mouth, buttery saffron rice. I loved their combination koobideh - I only had their chicken but it was delicious with the rice and the side slices of onion and roasted tomato they give. It does take a while for the food to get made so I would get appetizers to hold you over. Their hummus is so creamy and served with bread and also pairs well with the rice. read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Koobideh Combo - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

I liked that it didn't feel like it was trying to impress anyone, just good honest food and people who care. The place felt welcoming without being overdone. The staff were kind, attentive in a quiet way, not constantly hovering but always seemed nearby if you needed anything. I liked that. The food was good, maybe not mindblowing, but dependable and cooked well. One of those meals where you leave feeling like you actually ate something nourishing instead of just full. Presentation wasn't fancy but everything was warm, well seasoned, and tasted fresh. One dish had this really nice balance between sweet and savory, not too much of either. I appreciate that kind of restraint. Nothing about the experience felt forced. I'd say if you want a place that just lets you enjoy a meal and be treated nicely, this works. read more

We stumbled upon this restaurant after shopping at the Persian Market a few doors down. We got there around 3pm for a late lunch. It was really nice inside. Spacious and they had tables available. The server sat us immediately and was really nice. It was my first time having Persian food and always wanted to try it. The menu was self explanatory. They're known for their kabobs and so that's what I ordered. My cousin and I decided to share an appetizer & entree So glad we did because they were a good sized portion. The appetizer was a smoked roasted eggplant dish that was served with a side of lavash, cheese and fresh herbs. It was similar to babaganoush. Honestly I enjoyed it more than babaganoush. It had more flavor and was delicious! The entree was Chicken and Beef Kabobs with fluffy basmati rice and that hit the spot too! I can't wait to go back and try more dishes. read more

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A new fave place Discovered Ziba about three months ago, after my haircut next door. The fam and I have eaten there five times since. lol Our faves: -Koobideh combo is phenomenally tasty. Combined with the rice, grilled tomato, and seasoned rice, it's relatively light as a meal and still filling. -The girls love the chicken kabobs. Quality chicken pieces, good serving size, and packed with flavor. -Shirazi salad tastes fresh and is popular with our daughter who eats healthy. The ambience inside is nice and well-appointed. The service from the owners/staff is always pleasant and they are kind to the kids. Definitely deserving of their positive Yelp! scores and glad I looked them up when walking by. Bonus: We always have enough for lunch the next day, too. read more

Wow! Ziba Persian is delicious, and I dream about this place a lot. Was craving skewers one Friday and decided to give this place a try. I felt bad that we walked in for dine in 30 minutes before closing, but we were seated immediately with a few parties still lingering in the restaurant. Koobidehs: Never had I ever had meat so soft, tender and juicy. I really want to learn their secret recipe so I can replicate the texture at home! The protein was perfectly cooked and smoky, and went very well with the lemon provided on the side. Rice was also nicely seasoned with a bit of flavor, and the charred tomato was an interesting side to pair with the dish. Super delicious, and I highly recommend. I definitely will be dropping by again. read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Chicken Koobideh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

Given that I'm half-Persian, I'm a pushover for the food of my people. It was my birthday weekend a few weeks ago, and I was in the mood for Persian food. We figured we'd go to a Persian restaurant that we'd never been to before, so after doing some research and finding out about Ziba, off to San José we went. It was a quiet Sunday night, roughly an hour before closing time when we arrived. There was one other party in the restaurant. The waiter seated us immediately, but he seated us at a table that did not have any napkins, plates or cutlery like the other tables had, so we had to snatch them ourselves from the table next to us. But, other than that little hiccup, he was nice and brought everything else to our table in a timely fashion. Prior to ordering our main dishes, we ordered an appetizer of greens/sabzi, and complimentary and plentiful bread was brought to our table as well. Not every Persian restaurant I've been to has greens/sabzi on the menu, so I'm always happy whenever I encounter one that does. For the main dish ordering, the owner herself came and took our orders. I ordered the Barg kabob. It came with rice, a grilled tomato and onions. The barg could have been a little more flavorful, but it was still cooked well, and servings were plentiful as well. As for the others, everyone else liked their food though one small complaint was one stated that their Ghormeh Sabzi was a bit too oily. Overall, it's worth it to come here if you're nearby and in the mood for Persian food. It's very nice inside, the menu is extensive, the owner is really nice and hospitable and they even have Middle-Eastern and Persian music playing inside the restaurant as well. 4 stars read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Signage - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

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Tasty! Ordered this place to go, and the food was very yummy! I had the combo kabob, a la carte veggies, salad, and the dolmeh. The salad was good! Fresh and good quality. Nothing to complain about. The veggies were delicious! Well cooked, good flavor, still juicy. I really enjoyed them. The combo kabob itself was also delicious! A HUGE portion, much too large for one sitting! The meats were juicy and flavorful. The tomato it came with was also great. I do think the dish overall was a tad bit on the drier side/could use a sauce of some sort, but still enjoyed it. The dolmeh, I must admit, was quite lacking and I was disappointed. It was dry, not flavorful, and overall very lackluster. I would not order it again. Can't comment on the service given it was an order to go, but the food itself was prepared quickly if that is any testament to the service and quality of the restaurant. Overall a solid Persian place, would recommend/eat here again. read more

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Just as good as I remember. Restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a casual upscale feel. Food is delicious and portions are very generous, especially the koobideh pieces. The rice lacked some flavor would be my only critique of the meal. Appetizers dips were tasty and the lavash bread was fresh and soft. Service was attentive by our friendly server and the bussers at the restaurant. Glad to see Ziba still around after all these years. read more

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The atmosphere was nice, the staff were kind, the food was very mediocre, lacking flavor, lacking spice, and salt

In a fairly non-descript storefront, in your average strip mall is a portal to another world. Looking from the outside, you can hardly tell there is a restaurant here, but once you step in you know you're in for quality. Ziba, is a family run spot. As we walked up a young man was cleaning the windows, and we stepped into immaculately clean surroundings. The owners take a lot of pride in their venture. They start you out with an appetizer of flatbread, some mint leaves, butter, onion, and some cheese. Combining all of them onto the flatbread really cleanses your pallete, and the onion opens up your sinuses. When your food comes, you are fully prepared to take it in with all 5 of your senses. My Shish Kabob was cooked perfectly, the meat was so tender. My wife and daugher had the eggplant and beef stews. My daughter nearly finished her beef stew and my wife and I both couldn't finish our plates and had to get take home. My son got the Chicken Kabob. Since this spot was new to us, everyone sampled each others plates. Portions were large, prices were decent for food/portion of that quality. Service was top notch. We were seated as soon as we entered, and we were ordering within 5 minutes, food was out in about 10. Being a mostly Italian family, Persian is not our main go-to but we loved Ziba. We're already picking our next meals. read more

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Been getting food from this place for a long time. There are things that I like about this restaurants and there are things I dislike. Things I like: 1. The host and owners are generally very nice 2. Kabobs are good and the portions are big 3. Their zereshk polo is pretty good Things I dislike: 1. The stews are not my favorite. I've tried Gheyme and fesenjan. I'm a big fesenjan fan and the one here is been pretty disappointing. I have ordered it a few times with the hope that it might have been a one off but it's just the way they make theirs. It's defiantly not like the fesenjan I know or the ones you find in other places. 2. KashkBdemjan: too oily and not my fav 3. I'm not the biggest fan of the rice the use. It doesn't have a good smell and just not fluffy enough. The things that I dislike are just my personal opinions and others may disagree. I just hope the owners and others find this review helpful. read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Fesenjoon?! Doesn't really look like a fesenjoon tbh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

Saturday Lunch at Ziba was fantastic. The cool and quiet interior pairs well with the delicious food.  The appetizer selections, main dishes and wine list make for a complete experience. Prices are extremely reasonable and the service is outstanding.  Looking forward to many more meals in the restaurant as well as ordering takeout (full menu). Generous portions are easily split. We ordered Koobideh Kebab (beef filet) + Kashe-Bademjan (sauteed eggplant) Thank you Nancy! read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

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Was in the mood to eat some middle eastern food. Looked at Yelp reviews and decided to order (delivery). Not many places offer Chicken Koobideh, so I was happy to see that on the menu. The food was packed very well. 1. Chicken Koobideh - The chicken is very tender and full of flavor. Went really well with the Basmati rice. 2. Falafel wrap - Very tasty and filling. The portion size is very generous here. Highly recommend this place. read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Chicken Koobideh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

Nice little spot hidden away in an easy to park in strip mall. The food is delicious! We ordered koobideh and fesenjan and both were great! The flavor was very good and you would tell that they used good quality ingredients. The staff were very pleasant. We will be back. read more

Food is excellent, the ambiance is comfortable and clean, a hidden gem in my opinion. Service was superb. It is now my preferred Persian restaurant in the area read more

Ziba never disappoints! I drive 2 hours just to have Ziba food yummmm . Customer service is 10 .

We have gotten takeout from Ziba's a number of times for just our family and when we have had guests over. Our girls (7 & 9) really like the Chicken Koobideh (ground chicken) and my wife and I like the Shish Kebab and Chicken Kebab. Our all time favorite though is the Kashke Bademjan appetizer (Sautéed baby eggplant). On our last order the meat was a little on the dry side but that has not been the case on our previous orders. Hopefully it was a one time thing. The staff there are very friendly and the service is great. read more

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My wife and I decided to give this Persian restaurant a shot during our business trip in San Jose. The chicken kabob and Barg kabob dish were really good. We were served by Mrs. Ladan during our visit. Ladan was very nice and attentive and left us with a great impression. We'll be back. read more

We had a spontaneous decision to have Persian food. We found Ziba to be in our travel path. The restaurant is cute, clean and elegant. We were greeted by the hostess and quickly seated. The menu was brought very quickly. We asked for Kotlet and Tahdeeg. the drinks, herbs with butter, feta cheese came quickly. After a few, one of our appetizers (tahdeeg) was served. We found it stale and tooth breaking crunchy. I have had tahdeeg many times but this was not good. Although the Gheymeh on top of it was tasty. We never got the kotlet. The portions served were huge. I ordered combo kobideh while my wife ordered a chicken wrap. Both main dishes were excellent. I just wished they didn't serve the tahdeeg that was stale or they could have got five stars. read more

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Pros: clean and nice indoor, fresh food, food (both kabobs and stews) tasted good, attentive staff, good size portions Cons: no outdoor seating, rice didn't smell good! Hard and stale tah-dig. Catering price is higher than other persian places in the area read more

Ziba Persian Restaurant - Stews for tah-dig - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Sanjose, California

WHY WE WENT HERE: - late lunch/early dinner THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located in a plaza off Meridian Ave and Branham Ln THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - clean - business casual THE MENU: - appetizers - special wraps and salads - main dishes - special dishes WHAT WE ORDERED: - Tahdeeg with Khoresh Gheimeh (Beef Stew) - Combination Kabob - Persian tea THE TASTE: - the Tahdeeg was WAYYY too hard, the only good thing/edible thing about it was the Khores Gheimeh on top - Combination Kabob was tasty - Persian tea was good CUSTOMER SERVICE: - at the time we went, we were the only customers dining there, so I understood that they were trying to give us privacy, but I also felt like we waited forever (to get our orders taken, to get the check, for the payment to be taken to be processed) read more

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