Iranian Restaurants near Bethesda, MD

“I come here a lot with friends. The food is more fast food style but still very flavorful. There is great Farsi music and beautiful paintings inside. Would recommend getting the Koobideh kabob and make sure to ask for your rice to be Tahdig. You won’t regret it :)“

“Delicious, delectable, outstanding. Service topnotch!“

“Amazing food and terrific atmosphere. We went for Christmas dinner and there was something on the menu for everyone.“

“We were in DC for just a short time and glad we went there. If you are of Iranian background, you will enjoy the nostalgia, if not, the space had lots of stories to tell. The Executive chef took the time to talk to us and give a tour of the top floor lounge with all the interesting pictures. The food was great too. Order a few things to share with friends. It’s the Persian way!“

“We had the best time at KooKoo DC last night. They accommodated a table of 14 for my spouse's birthday and never let us feel like an imposition. The food was so fresh, authentic, and reasonably priced - I did a double take when we got the bill. I even felt like we went all-out with apps, drinks, and desserts! The owner was also so kind - we just felt so cared for the whole time and can't wait to visit again.“

“So glad Maman Joon opened up on Capitol Hill! I didn't want to cook, and it is right next to the Metro. We got the family meal so we could try a bit of everything for future take-out. It was all delicious! The chicken, beef, and kofta kebabs were all tasty -- not overcooked or dried out. The falafel was light, but crispy. We got a huge portion of rice, which was light and fluffy. The humus, tzatziki, and eggplant spreads (much like baba ghanoush) were great. There aren't any tables for seating, but that works great for us! Will definitely go again! The staff was really friendly too!“

“Absolutely delightful food, people, and atmosphere. My first visit was an urgent stop—I stopped in with a travel weary, overly hungry child who was quickly sated with delicious pastries. The gentleman behind the counter handled the situation so well. He turned our day around and wouldn’t even take payment for our food. I go back now as much as I’m in the area, and it’s consistently wonderful. The food is delicious. Despite being attached to the busy mall, it’s always clean and accommodating. The staff is friendly and has a welcoming attitude that makes it feel like a standalone restaurant where you can sit and linger a bit. Thank you for your kindness. I look forward to many future visits. 🙏🏻“

“Exceptional Service. Culinary Excellence. Our dining experience at JOON was extraordinary, made even better by the exceptional service from our server, Yacine. His thoughtful recommendations, warm demeanor, and perfectly timed attentiveness made for an unforgettable evening. Even as the restaurant got busier, Yacine maintained his focus on us— a warm and welcoming touch that elevated the entire experience. Thank you! As fans of Persian cuisine and frequent shoppers at Yekta Market in Rockville— having recently tried our hand at making Persian dishes like Fesenjan at home— coupled with all of the culinary accolades— we had high expectations for JOON. It not only met but exceeded them. Mast-o Musir, yogurt dish with Persian dried shallot and rose petal, was exceptional— more elevated and nuanced than any we’ve had. The mushroom Khoresht stew with white truffle was another highlight, offering perfectly balanced flavors something hard to do with white truffles and a satisfying richness, complemented by the perfectly crunchy Tahdig, iconic golden rice crust. The braised lamb shoulder which Yacine suggested was the undeniable highlight of the meal I which each dish was excellent. Tender and flavorful, it was paired beautifully with texture. It’s a signature dish that rivals the best we’ve ever had, bringing to mind the legendary Bo Ssam pork shoulder from David Chang’s Momofuku— bold, unforgettable, and expertly prepared. The Gormeh Sabzi, short rib stew with its delicious sour depth, was excellent but couldn’t quite match the lamb’s showstopping brilliance. Two very minor points. While the food and service are exceptional, the main dining room lighting would benefit from dimming. A water filtration water system could make a big difference as well. JOON has firmly secured its place as a must-visit dining destination for us. We can’t wait to return and explore more of the menu.“

“Absolutely amazing experience!!!“

“Great food at great prices and fabulous service…best in the DMV…“

“The restaurant has been closed but the market and kebab counter is still in operation. The market has a large selection of Persian and Turkish products. You can find unique tea that isn’t available in other markets. The kebab counter is pretty good. Definitely go check out the market.“

“I’ve lived in this area for over 40 years, and any time I wanted really good kabob, I always drove to Virginia. Well… not anymore! Darband totally surprised me. The food was fantastic. You can tell right away that the meat is great quality. Super flavorful, cooked perfectly, and just really well done. For me, a good kabob place is all about the Koobideh, and theirs was awesome. The Barg was juicy and honestly one of the best I’ve had. The restaurant was packed (for good reason!), and honestly they should expand because I have a feeling they’re only going to get busier. We finished with some tea and baklava, which they get from Yas Bakery next door, and it was the perfect ending. Really good baklava. Bottom line: if you want amazing Persian kabob without driving to Virginia, Darband is it. Highly recommend!“

“To start with Shamshiry in Tysons is still halal except for their steak. I asked them and they reconfirmed. I am sure a lot of you have been to Shamshiry , and their food has not changed since forever and it’s always so flavorful. I also love their newly renovated restaurant, it give such a nice feel to the experience. As always, the restaurant was full as usual and we added our name to the que. The new change is, this time they gave us a buzzer, something that I would love all the Muslim establishments have. It makes wait looks more reasonable. While we waited I saw live grilling from their kitchen which is in the wait area. The kitchen looked clean and the staff seem to look happy and enjoying what they do. After about 20-25 minutes wait our buzzer went off and we were promptly seated. We all love their Kubeida Kabob (Beef skewers) and every individual in the family ordered that. We also got cokes and small pitcher of Doogh. While we waited for our food, complimentary fresh baked breads (Roti) with butter, and spicy chutney was served. My boys love making the bread sandwich, by spreading butter, adding samak and a few drops of olive oil with a hint of spicy chutney and making it to a roll. While we enjoyed the self made rolls our food came out in a timely manner. Kubeidas were freshly made and the flavor was amazing like always. It was moist and juicy. If you like Doogh this is the place to get it. They make fresh Doogh with perfection in house. The wait staff was not readily available as the restaurant was full, but always responded back when asked for help. Shamshiry not only upgraded their restaurant but overall experience. Instead of serving pre-made bread they now bake their own bread. The wait buzzer is a good addition as well as it reduces the crowd near the counter. The water bottles are with the restaurant name engraved. It’s a nice blue bottle and for some reason the water tasted crisper. It might be in my head. The food is always on point and I’ve never had bad food there since 2006. If you haven’t been to Shamshiry lately, give it a shot. Be ready for long wait and not the best service, but the food is gonna make up for it. For all you bathroom lovers, you may not wanna come out of it, nicely upgraded with upgraded no touch faucet and dryer with real towels to wipe hands.“

“We used a Groupon to give this place a try and we were pleasantly surprised. The food was delicious! We ordered takeout — we chose both Italian and Persian items. The rigatoni, the dinner salad and the salmon kabobs were all well-prepared, great portion, very enjoyable. But the star of the meal was the Italian meatball appetizer, which could be a meal to itself. Let me say that my mother’s side is Southern Italian from outside of Naples, and was part of the immigrant generation 100 years ago that invented spaghetti and meatballs. I have never had a restaurant meatball that compares to our family recipe. Until now. This comes very close. Big meatballs, full of flavors, made with care, excellent sauce. I was so pleased. The decor is bright, the owners are friendly, the vibe is a warm neighborhood spot. It is a short walk from the Shady Grove Metro Station, on the other side of 355 from King Farm. This neighborhood has needed a place like this for a long time. Great meal, nice experience.“

“i thought I cooked good basmati rice. The rice I had there today kicked my rices butt!“

“Good food. Been around for decades. Only issue is take away is served styrofoam and the rice tastes like styrofoam… why can’t they learn? Old owners hate change.“

“We've been driving all the way down to Moby Dicks at the Kentlands, and then to the new Shady Grove restaurant, from Thurmont, MD. Yes, the food is that good! Now there's one in Frederick.���“

“It was good. Stellar option for a light dinner“

“The food and service at this place is always awesome. Especially the gentleman who runs the front of the house. His name is Marvin, and he's the nicest guy you could ever meet. If you want good food, pretty quickly, and like people in general, this is a great place to get it. I've become a regular customer and I love this place.“