This is one of my favorite places when I visit the Bay Area. I hope that my comments will be taken as constructive criticism. We ordered a Soltani and a chicken kabob. The meat was undercooked and the chicken was much overcooked and dry. The rice was cold in both dishes. And yes we started with a tahdig where nothing was crispy. It was a busy day as it was lunch time during the weekend. I really hope that this place goes back to its tradition of offering excellent Persian food. read more

Service was great food was amazing Over all very good experience. If your in the area stop by they are one of the best

Disappointing Experience After Years of Enjoying This Place My family and I have been dining at Alborz for the past few years, and the food has always been great. However, my most recent visit was extremely disappointing. We ordered beef koobideh, chicken koobideh, Cornish hen, and the combo appetizer plate. While the meat was still tender and juicy as always, several issues with service and food really soured the experience. Firstly, our waitress, Daniella, who seemed new, was impatient while taking our order. When the appetizers arrived, the hummus was far too salty, and things only got worse when the rest of the food came. The salad had no dressing, so I asked for some, and Daniella brought out a side of watered-down dressing that tasted awful. After trying it, my wife and I both agreed it was inedible. When I mentioned this to her, she simply said, "That was the last of it," without any apology. To top it off, when I went to the restroom, there was a terrible sewage smell, making it hard to stay in there longer than necessary. Finally, when I got the bill, I noticed a 22% gratuity fee, even though the menu clearly states an 18% fee for parties of 6 or more. There were 5 of us, two of whom were toddlers sharing from our plates, and we also had a 3-month-old infant who was asleep in her car seat. Daniella counted the infant as a person, which I found ridiculous. She did eventually remove the gratuity when I pointed it out, along with the salad charge after I explained how bad the dressing was. I was ready to let it go until Daniella rudely commented on my tip, asking, "You're only leaving $1.60 tip?" I explained that I tip based on service, which was subpar. She then threatened that next time she would charge gratuity and I'd have to pay. There will not be a next time. I truly hope management looks into this because the food has always been good, but bad service like this can drive loyal customers away. Alborz used to have great vibes and friendly customer service, but this experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I won't be returning unless there's a serious change in staff and service quality. read more

Amazing service and great food. My favorite was funny enough the barbari (type of bread) with onion, butter, and mint that they bring out at the beginning. I've never tried this combination but it was INCREDIBLE! We got several other dishes that were quite tasty as well, my other favorite being the zershek polo, the rice with barberries was absolutely delicious and the chicken so moist. Incredible service and a lovely expierence with beautiful decor. Portions are huge especially for the price and quality, we easily had enough for two plus meals for tomorrow! read more

If you have any previous good experience with Persian foods, do yourself a favor and don't ruin it with dining in this place!

Very inconsistent service. I visited the restaurant twice. The first time, they provided bread, onions, and vegetables. The second time, they completely eliminated the bread, onions, and vegetables. I had to ask for sumac. The rice was ice cold, while the kebab was warm. The kebab was excessively salty and inedible. The Gheimeh was awful. It looked like the type of food shown in movies that is served to prisoners. As a Persian, I know exactly how Persian food should look and taste, so I can judge with confidence. I strongly recommend against ordering from this restaurant, especially if you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure. The food quality was terrible. I had to wait a long time to receive my food, and even then, the rice was cold. The service was awful. I don't know how a business like Alborz even operates with such low-quality food and service. I won't be going back. I prefer In-N-Out Burger--it's at least consistent and much cheaper for what you get compared to the overpriced food at Alborz restaurant. read more

AVOID this place, we waited for 30 minutes to get some service and then when the server came and we complained about time he told us to "shut up"! If you want mediocre food with insults go there. read more

This is my favorite Persian food place in Berkeley and the staff and the food are so incredible and amazing and I always have the best time here. Thank you so much to Ayden for the amazing service!! read more

Alborz - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Fabulous food, as always. I have bern here & to S F location. Last week lunch was superb. Good service Good spacing between tables read more

The food is great , we come here often , Unfortunately the service is not good at all when the owners are not around. We came on a Sunday evening and there were two women working who we didn't recognize from before . I'm not sure if they were new or not but they were both very Rude . We usually come here as a family almost every other week, and we were surprised to see how rude and disrespectful the staff was . I'm sad for this business because the owners are very nice but they have not hired good staff . We asked for some more Sabzi( mint and onions) on the side and they said : ok it will be 4.50 extra and they left . We ended up saying no we don't want it . No one came to check on us all throughout the one hour. Also there is no music at this place ! So everyone was just hearing each other's conversations. I recommend only coming on the days that the owners are there because even though the food is good the experience is not and as a good business they need to hire better staff . Also no , we were 4 people and they brought one plate of Sabzi for the whole table. You should bring one plate for every 2 people. read more

Last Saturday, my friends and I went to the restaurant, and their food was absolutely delicious. They serve the best Barg Kabob and Koobideh. I was really impressed with their dishes. We also tried the Mahi Kabob, which is a grilled salmon skewer flavored with saffron, giving it an amazing taste. The waiter and manager, Ayden were extremely friendly, providing some of the best customer service I have ever experienced. I will definitely be returning to this place soon. read more

Too expensive, $4 for a coke for example. The food is also pricey, can't recommend. Koobide with rice $22 plus tax and tip is way too much. read more

Service is attentive and friendly. Food is delicious and price is reasonable. The house special roasted eggplant lamb shank with tomato sauce is a must try. They generously offer free Naan with butter, mint leaf and onion. The Turkish coffee is unique and flavorful. They have become our new favorable restaurant in Berkeley. P.S: It is a great spot for date night. read more

I'm so happy that Alborz decided to reopen in Berkeley! I've been a fan for many years. My husband and I would travel to all the different locations throughout the Bay Area. The restaurant is pretty large. If you want you can start off with having a drink at the bar. They always start with complementary bread and butter. My favorite item is the Koobideh two skewers of seasoned ground beef mixed with onions and rice. The meat is always so juicy and the rice is always cooked perfectly and buttery. My husband's favorite is the Joogeh Soltani which is one skewer of beef and skewer of chicken (not ground) and add on the Shirn Polo which is rice that comes with almond slivers, raisins, orange peels, pistachios and saffron. Something about the food make me feel like I'm having hug. The food is always served hot. I would definitely recommend that you come here if you have never experienced Persian food. read more

This restaurant is one of my favorite Persian restaurants in the bay area. Their qualify of food and level of service has always been consistent. I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for good kabobs and Persian food. read more

Great kebabs and very clean restaurant. The seating feels very fancy and the service is great. The pilaf with the kebab is great.

Awesome food, great service, the ambiance is nice. Overall great value! Will come back again.

I had never tried Ghorme Sabzi before but it was incredible. Came with a side of rice with saffron (most of their dishes do). The orders were ready within 30 minutes and the staff was very friendly and nice. Will definitely be coming back. read more

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I remembered Alborz from its time on Center Street and was delighted to learn that it had opened in the space formerly occupied by Saturn at the corner of Fulton Street and Allston Way. Briefly, Alborz is just north of, and across Allston from, Gather. The new Alborz is quite cavernous and includes a bar with two TVs. At the moment, the owners have no alcohol license and are encouraging diners to bring their own beer and wine. Their alcohol license is on its way and could arrive any day now. Once Alborz can serve its own drinks, diners who bring their own wine will be assessed a $15 corkage fee. I came with a large group. We ordered an assortment of appetizers to share and individual main dishes after the appetizers. The appetizers reminded me of an Israeli hotel buffet breakfast but were all in fact very good to excellent. Most of my co-diners ordered kebobs. I decided to get a lamb shank with kidney beans and was happy enough with my selection -- but thought that the kebobs looked even better. Persian rice is served in large portions with every dish. This restaurant is very convenient to the UC campus and would be a great choice for diners who are going to a basketball game or a performance at Zellerbach or Berkeley Rep. I imagine that I'll be a repeat customer. Welcome back, Alborz! read more

Alborz - Lamb shank with kidney beans and thick sauce - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Been here once for a quick lunch near campus. As many people have mentioned, several items worth recommending. Kashk Bodemjan, the roasted eggplant appetizer is one of the best of it's kind you can find in this area. Our server was very helpful with suggestions, and interacted in a kind manner. There were Persian families, students from Cal, people of different ages seated at other tables, that is always nice to see. Ambiance is good but this is not exactly a place for a date. Giving 3 stars because the owner seemed to check in and spoke at every other table except ours. Hard to say if this was a genuine miss or subtle discrimination. We may not return soon to find out! read more

Alborz - a plate of food on a table - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Very disappointing. Curt receptionist/waitress and an understaffed dining room. The appetizers took almost a half hour to appear and the main courses over an hour. Really how long does it take to heat up a Persian stew and grill kebabs? We won't be back. read more

My Persian food fix here every time I fly in to Berkeley. It's deceiving bc it's not packed w people but the food is good. Perfect quiet intimate getaway if you're into deep conversations w dinner. read more

Rudest server ever!!!!! We (8 people) waited 25 minutes and no one came to our table. When the waiter finally came I told him that we had been waiting for 25 minutes and no one attended to us! Not even bringing water. He said that he is only one person (which is not acceptable). I told him that I would have left no tip if I had the option and he told me to "shut up"!!! Seriously?? That's when we decided to leave. Never going to this place ever! read more

I particularly enjoyed the beef and eggplant house special. I felt that service was a bit slow. read more

Alborz - Filet of Lamb - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I'm so happy this place reopened in Berkeley. Their food is really excellent the salmon kabob was really really tender and flavorful. Everything was delicious and the staff was very friendly and professional. Highly recommended!!!! read more

I found this place online and placed a to go order. Got a few items, Koobideh kebab, Tahdig with stew, Masto khiar The food was great, honestly I was so surprised they didn't have that many customers on a Saturday evening! The Koobideh kebab was well cooked and the rice was good. The Tahdig with stew was amazing. I mostly liked the stew though. They served the bread tahdig with the stew which is not the norm, but I was ok with it, I expected the crispy rice Tahdig but anyway it was pretty good. The stew, Gheymeh was amazing and tasty. Masto khiar had an amazing taste to it and nothing like I tasted before anywhere else. The only downside was pricing! Really expensive for an area like Berkeley! Masto khiar by itself was 9.50 which was ridiculous! Same with the rest of their items! I ordered based on the menu that was posted on their website but later found out that the prices were outdated which is not cool! The tall guy who checked me out was pretty nice and friendly and provided utensils and extra items on the side. Good experience and five star for this place which has great food, if I return to this area I'll probably give them a try again. read more

The koobideh is my favorite dish, put a little butter on the saffron rice and enjoy the deliciousness. I love the savory aromas and classy ambience of this restaurant. The staff is friendly, attentive and welcoming. Great place for dinner, I highly recommend! read more

Alborz - Koobideh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

My wife and I had a light lunch. We ordered ash-reshte and kabob kubide to share. Ash-reshte was superbly done and kabob was excellent. The hostess was very nice, gracious, and attentive. All together the experience was great. We strongly recommend this restaurant to all. read more

This place is on fire delicious! I had the saffron grilled tiger prawns and homemade yogurt with cucumber and mint. I seriously wish I had 2 stomachs so that I could eat all of this amazing food. The service is fast and friendly and the restaurant is open and airy. Everyone is wearing a mask and practicing social distancing. If you are ever in Downtown Berkeley, definitely hit this place up! read more

Alborz - Saffron Grilled Tiger Prawn - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ugh I love Persian food so much but I somehow just paid a few cents under 10 DOLLARS PER SKEWER, BEFORE tip! This space is obviously way too large for them and volume is really low in the summer, but MAN talk about living in the highest cost region on the planet. read more

We've been to alot of Persian restaurants but the kabob here is some of the best I've had including some of the bigger names from Las Angeles. read more

Alborz - Best kabob in the bay area - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Berkeley, California

The service was good as was the food, we ordered two different types of the koobideh. You can pay quickly online through a QR code.

Horrible food, unsanitary conditions, worst service ever. There are many great restaurants in the Bay Area working hard to keep their doors open and to earn your busuness. Do not support restaurants with such horrible customer service. read more

The best Persian food in the East Bay. My favorite dishes are ghormet sabzi (sautéd greens with tender lamb shank) and fesenjune (walnuts purée, pomegranate paste with chicken or beef). read more

Great service. Staff was warm and inviting. The ambiance was very nice and overall quiet. We were able to enjoy a wonderful dinner! Highly recommend the salad croutons and the delicious meatball appetizers served with the same bread as the croutons are made from! What a nice treat! read more

This is the best Persian kabob in California. Beautiful setup on a beautiful street. To top it all up, we had the best service ever. Everybody was so kind and friendly. read more

Great food and wonderful service. Mrs Zhaleh is very friendly and professional. She knows about the food and listens carefully and patiently to your request. Everything tastes good specially the koobide and barg. read more

I ordered pickup last night. It was truly mouth watering! We ate Fesenjoon and Khoresht Bodemjan. Cant wait to order again. Chef and woman at pickup counter were both very polite, i was in and out in about 60 seconds! Nicely boxed and bagged for transport home. read more

Excellent persian food and service! The flavors are authentic and the hospitality is fantastic. Alborz is one of the few persian spots in East bay and has never disappointed. If it's your first time, get the Alborz plate for two and try a variety of their kabobs. Don't forget the AMAZING saffron ice cream and faloudeh. read more

I didn't know I liked Persian food! The other one nearby didn't have many vegetarian or pescetarian options so we tried this. I'm so glad we did! First, we got the combo appetizer plate. The kashk bodemjan was delicious but the koo koo sabsi blew me away. I had never tasted anything like it; herby and a little caramelized, I had to order another full dish of it. The walnuts were also unlike any walnuts I had ever had before. I wonder why I spent my whole life disliking walnuts that turned out to be totally subpar. We went with the shrimp kebab and it was flavorful and the right texture (sometimes shrimp can be awful grilled but this wasn't). We also got the fesenjoon without meat and it was great. Service was kind, patient, and prompt, but not stifling. I am looking forward to having my leftovers! read more