Iranian Restaurants near Pasadena, CA

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We go for the trout and beef koobideh! Fantastic food and warm, friendly service.“

“We have been coming to Heidar Baba for many years, and it truly feels like a hidden gem in Pasadena. The food is absolutely delicious – authentic Mediterranean flavors that are always fresh and full of taste. Every dish reminds us of the rich and vibrant traditions of the region.

What makes this place even more special is that the recipes go back more than five thousand years, carrying the heritage of the ancient peoples of the East and the Mediterranean. These dishes have passed through millennia yet remain alive in traditional cuisine, preserved with care and authenticity.

The service is excellent, warm, and attentive, making every visit a pleasant experience. The atmosphere is calm and family-friendly, perfect for both quiet dinners and gatherings with loved ones.

Heidar Baba has become one of our favorite places to enjoy not only great food but also a welcoming and relaxing environment. Highly recommended to anyone looking for real Mediterranean cuisine in Pasadena.“

“O. m. G. A must if you are in silverlake region - def get the mazeh plate - the mirsa ghasemi and the wild shallot yogurt were sooooo good. I got the ash e jo & it was so hearty but light at the same time- did not feel bloated afterwards. Super fast service & hella outside shaded seating, perf for people watching.“

“World Café is a hidden gem in Glendale! This small, clean, and humble shop is run by an Iranian-Armenian owner with years of experience running a sandwich shop in Isfahan, and you can taste that tradition in every bite.

I ordered the beef tongue, roast beef, and hamburger. The beef tongue and roast beef sandwiches were outstanding — authentic in every way, reminding me of the classic Iranian style with fresh parsley and onions. The bread was soft and fresh, and the portions were just right. These sandwiches transported me straight back to Iran.

The hamburger, while decent, had spices (especially turmeric and salt) that slightly overpowered the flavor compared to the other sandwiches. But given how delicious the roast beef and beef tongue were, I’ll absolutely be back to try more of their specialties.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for authentic, flavorful sandwiches with a touch of Iranian heritage!“

“Really like the food. So tasty! I guess the price matches the quality and taste. Highly recommend to try this restaurant. I ordered the beef (forgot the name). I guess it is the most popular one since all of us ordered the same thing (my first time here).“

“rica comida , se las recomiendo“

“What an absolute gem!!!! Just go!!! You won’t be sorry :-)

Father son combo team, the food is absolutely as authentic as it comes… we dined in, 3-4 tables seating 2-3ppl each… not a place to go for a nice dinner or vibes, but who needs that when the service, food and authenticity is off the charts?!? I gave them 5 stars all around because the full experience truly was a 10 out of 10!

It’s one of those unassuming places that SHOULD go viral!

LOTs of take out orders while we were there, and a few dine ins… even so, our food was served fast, and perfectly made. So many classic Persian dishes, and their ingredients are so very well sourced, they use Australian, grass fed lamb shanks and mine fell off the bone!

The ground beef kabob was served with a fluffy saffron basmati rice, a fresh and hot pita bread, side salad, raw onions, grilled tomato, peppers and some butter for the rice (exactly as it should be!) truly, an orchestra a flavors in your mouth! We had so much leftover, big portions! Make sure to order it juicy if you get the ground beef kabob.

What a pleasure, will back again and again!!!“

“We decided to give them a try and were absolutely delighted by their service and quality of food. They took our order just before their closing and we picked up the order in 25 minutes. We ordered chicken koobideh, chicken thigh, and beef koobideh wraps (fries on the side) and they all were extremely delicious with generous portions. They also have ready to go food and their cucumber yogurt and olivieh salad were very good and tasty. We'll be back for sure. Thank you to the team at Aiden's. Keep up the good work and consistency.“

“Muy deliciosa comida el lugar muy limpio y acogedor tienen muchos platillos diferentes la comida muy fresca te la cocinan cuando la ordenas y muy rapido gracias farid lo recomiendo definitivamente yo regresare las veces k pueda la carne muy buena calidad t muy fresca bendiciones“

“Todo muy rico y caliente 🔥 buen servicio“

“Probably the best Mediterranean food I have ever had. I tried the chicken kebab—it was delicious. The chicken was flavorful and cooked to perfection. The rice was flavorful. Hummus was amazing. The side salad with the beet dressing added the cherry on top. Will definitely be back!“

“I just had the most delicious Armenian BBQ and Ikebir, honestly, it blew me away! The flavors were so fresh and rich, everything was super clean and perfectly prepared. I’ve never tasted anything like it before. It was fast, authentic, and full of love. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re seriously missing out!“

“Forget about the rest. Try the best“

“The wine bar you wish you could stumble upon every night! Great Persian food- you can tell they use fresh farmers market produce. And arguably the best natural wine list in town. This spot is a real gem. Get the Nazkhatoun (eggplant dip) w/ feta, Ghormeh Sabzi or the Fesenjan - both delicious stews. And their tarts for dessert are excellent.

Vegetarian options: Nazkhatoun (eggplant dip) w/ feta, Ghormeh Sabzi, shallot dip, Shirazi salad (cherry tomatoes and cucumber), cucumber dip

Parking: Their parking lot is just south of the restaurant on the corner of Virgil and Melrose“

“Great food fast and great service“

“A++++++++++++++++++++++++“

“The food es excelente!! My first time buying there, definitely worth it!!“

“First time there and has a good experience 👍“

“Das Essen war reichlich und sehr lecker“

“I had a delightful Iranian breakfast at Cafe de Alley in Los Angeles. The owner is a very friendly gentleman who made my experience truly special. The food was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of my visit. I highly recommend this cafe and will definitely be returning!“

“We are so happy we found this place in Glendale.
Their food is authentic and amazingly delicious.
Their shish kabob, chicken, and lule is the best from the many we have tried over the last five years.
The owner, Harry, is such a nice person and it shows in the food he makes.“

“Update 8/25/2025:

I wanted to make an update since some things have changed since I initially wrote my first review. This is still easily one of my top three Mediterranean spots in the area. The flavors are always on point, the portions are generous, and the quality has stayed consistent over time. One thing that has changed, though, is the gradual price increase. The chicken kabob plate, which comes with hummus, pita, rice, and salad, used to be about $17 but is now closer to $20 or more. I feel a little conflicted because for the taste and portion size it still feels worth it. At the same time, if you are bringing a date or ordering for more than one person you should expect to spend a bit more than you might anticipate.“

“Welcome To Massis Kabob The Original Out In Glendale, California! I am here with Eduard who Highly Recommended this place because of their Very Delicious Persian and Armenian Food that they Specialize In! For Lunch: We are having their Lamb Chops with French Fries which Tasted Very Delicious! I want to personally thank Eduard for taking the time out of his day to do an Interview with ME and participating in my Youtube Channel! I also want to personally thank Eduard for taking ME there as well back on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025. Sincerely yours, Howard Paul Shore Executive, Volunteer Tourism Promoter For Google Maps And Youtube Massis Kabob The Original Visitor And Customer /HPS PS: Please Subscribe To My Social Media Under: Youtube Channel: socialmediawriter Instagram: socialmediawriter Facebook: Howard Paul Shore Tiktok: socialmediawriterr #massiskabobtheoriginal #glendale #california #food #restaurant“

“Welcome To Massis Kabob The Original Out In Glendale, California! I am here with Eduard who Highly Recommended this place because of their Very Delicious Persian and Armenian Food that they Specialize In! For Lunch: We are having their Lamb Chops with French Fries which Tasted Very Delicious! I want to personally thank Eduard for taking the time out of his day to do an Interview with ME and participating in my Youtube Channel! I also want to personally thank Eduard for taking ME there as well back on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025. Sincerely yours, Howard Paul Shore Executive, Volunteer Tourism Promoter For Google Maps And Youtube Massis Kabob The Original Visitor And Customer /HPS PS: Please Subscribe To My Social Media Under: Youtube Channel: socialmediawriter Instagram: socialmediawriter Facebook: Howard Paul Shore Tiktok: socialmediawriterr #massiskabobtheoriginal #glendale #california #food #restaurant“

“One of my top favorite Mediterranean places to go. My go to is the Lamb Gyro Plate with the Dolma's. The serving size is worth the price. It's super tasty and amazing service.

Wheelchair accessibility: No steps to get through the door. Super easy“

“Great food at a reasonable price. My favorite items are salmon kabob, beef lula kabob, Israel. It was a great New Year Eve dinner.“

“The best Persian food that I know of. Raffi's is almost as good, but I think the Beef Barg here is slightly better. The service can be iffy sometimes, just don't be in a hurry and you should be fine. The place looks really nice, both the (admittedly ostentatious) inside and the more relaxed patio area. It's not cheap, but no Persian place really is, and the quantity of food is good for what you pay.“

“The food is great, we order it often! But the delivery guys ALWAYS REFUSES to come bring our food to our office. Why are we tipping for delivery to not be done properly? It’s so annoying I’ve called the restaurant to bring it up but he literally always makes us go downstairs.“