Best Persian Restaurants in Westwood
Westwood is home to the prestigious UCLA. It is also nicknamed “Little Persia” because of the strong presence of its Iranian community. Did you know that the city of Los Angeles is home to the largest population of Iranians outside of Iran? That’s probably why there are a ton of Persian restaurants in Westwood!
If you walk along Westwood Boulevard, you will find various Persian bookstores, markets, bakeries, salons, and other shops. In this article, we will explore some of the best Persian restaurants in Westwood.
Shamshiri Grill
Shamshiri first opened its doors in 1981, making it one of the oldest restaurants in Westwood. You could walk into this restaurant on any given weeknight and find people on first dates, having dinner with family, or just hanging with friends for a meal. Customers speak highly of the tahchin served here. Tahchin is a baked basmati rice cake that is filled with yogurt, saffron, and barberries. Another popular item on the menu is the khoresht-eh curry, or curry stew.
Attari Sandwich Shop
This iconic shop is only open during the day. If you want to try a Persian meal for lunch, look no further than Attari Sandwich Shop. The bread that sandwiches are made with is called sangak and it has a very chewy texture. Some of their most popular dishes are the olivieh chicken sandwich, kuku sabzi sandwich, soltani, and sosees Bandari style sandwich.
If you come by on a sunny day, you can enjoy your sandwich out on their patio.
Taste of Tehran
If you have any Persian friends, you may have heard them rave about a specific Persian dish called koobideh. Koobideh is a minced meat kabob served with basmati rice and cooked tomatoes. It’s also one of Taste of Tehran’s most popular dishes. This restaurant is known for their meats but you can order anything from the menu at the counter. If you are looking for a spot that offers casual, quick eats, Taste of Tehran is for you.
Café Glacé
Have you ever tasted Persian-style pizza? If you have not, consider ordering it from Café Glacé. Persian pizza has a thin, crunchy crust and the twist is that it does not have tomato sauce. There is a lot of cheese layered on top though. Persian pizza also comes with packets of ketchup and ranch sauce in its takeout box. Many customers like to add toppings like spinach and goat cheese to their pizza. There is a wide variety of pizza toppings to choose from at this restaurant.
Shaherzad Restaurant
This restaurant first opened its doors in 1982 and established itself as one of the first Persian restaurants to open in Westwood. You can order generous platters of kabob here to share with friends and family. They also offer an abundance of free, fresh bread.
Farsi Cafe
If you are planning a casual lunch to meet up with friends, Farsi Cafe is a great option. You do not have to worry about dealing with large crowds. The kabob is juicy, buttery, and even spiced up to perfection. Customers seem to also like the sour ghormeh sabzi featured on the menu. The ghormeh sabzi is a type of spinach and parsley-based stew cooked with a hint of lime, kidney beans, and tender beef shoulder.
Conclusion
There are so many amazing Persian restaurants in Westwood, which makes choosing a spot rather difficult. We hope this list can help you narrow down your choices.
