Wife and I were headed to See's for some Easter candy and wanted to have a hearty lunch to keep us…read morefrom over indulging. Looked around and found this Iranian/Persian spot. We have never had food from that regional cuisine so we thought we'd give it a shot. So stoked that we decided to go there because it was delicious. I got the mixed koobideh with rice and Wife had the beef kabobs with naan, and we both had the Persian hot tea. Wife's plate came out with 2 giant naan, one underneath her kabob, lime wedge, mint, onions, and a grilled tomato and the other on top of it all. Mine had a huge amount of rice along with one chicken and one beef kabob all dusted with sumac, lime, mint, onions, grilled tomato, and a pat of butter. Every thing looked, smelled, and tasted delicious. Seasoned, tender meat-fluffy rice, yum. Yum. Yum. Wife gave me one of her naan. It was larger and thinner than other naan I've had. I tore it into sections and created mini wraps with the meat and rice. Delicious! The hot tea came with sugar cubes and had a lovely rose fragrance. It is an order at the counter restaurant, so make sure you peruse the menu ahead of time so you're ready to order. The decor was traditional and gave the place a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Great food, will be back when we are in the area again!

I was really excited to try this place out, as Persian food is one of my favorites and it's pretty…read moretough to find. I decided to order a mini Persian feast: the beef koobideh with rice, doogh yogurt drink, and a saffron ice cream for dessert. This was my first time trying beef koobideh, and unfortunately, this just didn't seem to be very good. The meat itself was okay, decently cooked, and topped with quite a lot of some spice that I can't quite put my finger on. It was okay. The rice though, that is what really disappointed me. Persian rice is usually amazing, but this really didn't seem traditional and it had a strange taste to it. It also came with onion and a grilled tomato, both solid additions. Good portion though. The doogh yogurt drink wasn't homemade like I had hoped, but in all honesty, it still really hit the spot on a hot Austin day. Reasonable price. The saffron rice was also fairly disappointing. Large white chunks (clotted cream maybe? But they were pretty tasteless), gritty texture, not much flavor. Just not really worth it. All in all, a bit of a disappointing dinner in Austin. I'll have to look for a different Persian spot next time I'm in the area.

Stopped into Shandeez Grill on Anderson Mill when I wanted something that felt home-cooked but…read morestill restaurant-level (and I didn't feel like doing the "where should we eat?" loop for 30 minutes). Atmosphere: Quiet, comfortable, and more "family dinner" than flashy date-night. It's a simple dining room, but it's clean and relaxed--easy to actually talk without yelling over music. The kind of place where you can tell regulars come in a lot. Food: This is what you come for. I went the kabob route--juicy, charred in the right spots, and seasoned so you actually taste the meat (not just smoke). Rice was fluffy and came out hot, and the grilled tomato/veggies were a perfect add-on. Also grabbed a yogurt-based side (maast style) and it was super refreshing between bites--especially if you're doing anything spicy or super savory. If you've never had Persian food, this is a solid entry point: it's flavorful without being intimidating, and everything feels filling without being heavy. Service: Friendly and patient--no rushing, no weird attitude, just genuinely helpful. They'll explain dishes if you're unsure, and everything came out at a good pace. It felt like they wanted you to enjoy your meal, not just flip the table. Wrap-up: If you're in NW Austin and want legit Persian comfort food--kabobs, rice, stews, the whole deal--Shandeez is a really easy recommendation. Great "treat yourself" dinner that still feels warm and low-key.

I rarely write negative reviews, but I believe honest feedback is important and I hope this…read morefeedback is taken constructively. Persian food is known for flavor and quality, and this experience fell short of those expectations. Given that this is one of the only 2 Persian restaurants in Austin, we were actually really excited to try it.. The food overall was bland and felt low quality. The barg was extremely chewy and rubbery, with an odd texture and appearance. The chicken breast tasted frozen and lacked freshness and the koobideh was mediocre at best. Unfortunately, the bread served at the beginning with cheese looked as though it had been taken from another table and reheated. It had residue on it, as if it had been sitting with other food, which was off-putting and immediately affected our appetite. We mentioned and showed our waiter the barg and how rubbery it was and impossible to separate. Our waiter was polite and apologetic, though he was not responsible for the food itself. But the response was an offer of ice cream for dessert. We spent $110 for two people and left roughly 70% of the food untouched. The only item that was decent was the tahdig with ghormeh sabzi and gheymeh. Aside from that, it was a disappointing experience.

This is a fun place to chill out a group of friends after a long week or day. The drinks are very…read morefresh. I loved their mango smoothie. The food is also very well seasoned. It was a good accompaniment to the experience. I also enjoyed their various hookah flavors. This place is a one stop shop for dinner, drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. The service is friendly and quick and they also have a DJ that plays music. Very fun for a Friday night

The food was unique and tasty. Everything was cooked just right and the flavors were aromatic!…read more The eggplant dish (vegetarian) -- Kashke-o-badenjan -- was really interesting and I highly recommend. The Turkish kofte kabobs were grilled to perfection and juicy! Pizza was a treat. Will be back!

Checked the place out based on Yelp reviews and was absolutely floored. Clean space, friendly…read morestaff, quick service, and excellent food! We ordered the half order falafel with hummus, mint lemonade, lamb kabob platter, and beef kabob platter. Everything but the salad came in large Texas style portions. I requested the beef be cooked to medium and the temperature was perfect. Tips: Substitute the tahini in the kabob platters for tzatziki and request garlic sauce on the side. The garlic sauce enhances the flavor of rice.

Food is very good, service not so good... I can tell people…read morecome for the food alone. The place is nice and has a nice layout. However, I'll think about coming here again because I didn't feel a good vibe with the service. We had to go look for someone to show us the table even though the place was empty for early lunch. Then, to get drinks or even the order was a problem. It took so much longer than usual. Our waitress was rude, and seemed bothered that we showed up. Then someone else came as the waitress and she was preoccupied with other tables and barely checked on us. A regular lunch which would've been one hour became almost two because of the lack of service. My friend had to stand and look for someone to give us a box to take out the good we couldn't eat because it was getting late and also to get the check because No one came in to check on us at all. It was almost like pulling teeth to get a regular service let alone good service. Again, the food was really good, and that alone was the only positive.

This place is phenomenal, the staff is incredibly friendly, the food is always hot, fresh and…read moretastes excellent. This has become one of our go-to restaurants. Cannot recommend enough!

My first time here and everything is laid out beautifully. Levant is the French name for Lebanon…read more The place was super clean and I didn't feel grunge while there. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. But because I was early there was plenty of seating and I chose indoor. The counter server talked me thru everything and gave me samples of the different side dishes. I chose not to get rice nor bread and stuck to the sauces and veggies. I ordered the Chicken and Lamb Levant bowl. The mixture of all the different flavors was exceptional. Thank you Levant Cafe & Grill for a wonderful dining experience. May 2026 bring you much success! Happy New Year everyone.

Thanksgiving came around and we had zero desire to cook or clean. Our "plan" (and I use that word…read moreloosely) was Golden Corral. We figured if we got there early, we'd beat the crowd. Cute of us, honestly. We pulled up and that parking lot looked like Beyoncé was performing. Cars everywhere: on the grass, on the curbs, people creating their own imaginary parking spaces. People circling like it was Black Friday. Absolutely not. We left with no backup plan and even less hope. Pulled up Yelp and I remembered that Dimassi's buffet had been on my radar for months, but was it open? Called them up and CHA-CHING!!! Money! They were open, guys. That phone call felt like hitting the lottery. Thanksgiving was saved. We arrived and Dimassi's was calm, clean, and the buffet bar was fully stocked with hot food fresh out of the kitchen. They had your Mediterranean favorites: dips, salads, gyro meat, dolma, chicken kabobs, saffron rice, the good garlicky toum, warm potatoes, fresh pita, everything. They even prepared a turkey for patrons who wanted some. Wow. They understood the assignment. Now a couple things could be tweaked. I like my baba ganoush served warm...and maybe they could have had some lamb options? But, honestly? For a buffet on Thanksgiving at $23 a person ($9 for the 3 yr old with us), they delivered HARD. Dimassi's didn't just feed us...they rescued us from the Golden Corral Hunger Games. Thank you for being open. Thank you for coming through in the clutch. You saved Thanksgiving.

I'd been wanting to check this place out for quite some time. There's another location in Round…read moreRock, but many reviewers said the original spot is much better, so we decided to start with the OG location. Parking is plentiful right in front of the restaurant. We came by on a Saturday around 1 PM, worried it might be packed, but it was actually pretty quiet. You can sit anywhere you like, grab a plate, and pay when you're done. The space is large and open, with three full rows of food and drinks plus a dedicated station for fruit and desserts. Everything was fresh, not overly salty, and there were plenty of options. My favorites were the hummus with eggplant (so flavorful with great texture), the salad and cucumber salad (fresh and refreshing), the dolma (perfectly done), gyro (tender and tasty), baked cauliflower (so good), fried chicken (juicy, crispy, and not salty), falafel (extra crunchy), and the lentil soup (simple but delicious). And don't miss their coffee at the checkout--it has a hint of warm spice and is the perfect finish after a meal. Surprisingly, I ended up loving the vegetable dishes even more than the meats. Overall, yes, $26 per person is on the higher side (what doesn't cost these days, right?!), but it's a great spot to try a variety of Mediterranean dishes that are fresh, simply seasoned, and let the ingredients shine--perfect whether you're new to the cuisine or just want a bit of everything.

Very legit afghani food! Portions are big and taste is…read moreunmatched. Loved their goat karahi and kabuli palao- We ordered ahead of getting there and got hot piping food right after we got there. Loved every bit of it and would totally recommend!!!!!

Once upon a time, I was craving some Borani Bajan and Afghan Mantu, so I ordered some and a Tikka…read moreKebab from this restaurant. It is just north of the Burger King, at the south end of a strip mall next to a dollar store and tax preparation service. When I went to pickup, I parked and went inside to retrieve the order. The interior is pretty barebones, with a music video playing on the TV and kids fiddling with a tablet. After bringing the food home, I was pretty delighted. The eggplant in the Borani Bajan had soaked in quite a bit of flavor from the tomato and spices, and the yogurt was a nice touch. The Afghan Mantu were also quite savory, and tossed with yellow lentils and more yogurt. The rice had cumin seeds incorporated within. The kebab was wraps and rolled in bread and encompassed in foil. It was nicely smoky and quite salty. Actually everything ordered was quite good, but everything was also surprisingly salty, especially the kebab. But I liked it. I just think that salt level could have been toned down a bit.

Usta Kababgy is an excellent restaurant for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Austin, TX located…read moreon N. Lamar Blvd. The restaurant has well seasoned, charcoal grilled meats. The kebabs are the true highlight...juicy, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The portions are quite large as the hubs and I shared a wrap. We were sufficiently full after eating the chicken tikka wrap. Interestingly, the wrap came in a Shawarma King packaging with their contact phone number. So, I assume that Usta staff are sub-contracting from Shawarma King. Usta also has freshly baked bread and classic sides like hummus and rice paired with the main dishes. The restaurant has a homey, lived in feel. It has a few middle eastern artifacts sprinkled throughout the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from Iraqi and Adana kebabs to shawarma and traditional Middle Eastern plates, so there are food items for both first timers and regulars who want to explore beyond the basics. They also serve flatbreads where you can have two different toppings. The food focus is on bold, traditional flavors rather than modern takes on middle eastern foods. On the desserts front, they have an assortment of desserts and several sections of ice cream. I had the baklava, which was surprisingly delicious...it was not eye-squinting sweet like a standard baklava. It was crunchy, flavorful, and had nuts that were substantial. Layla, my server, was so super sweet and welcoming. She pointed out that Usta provides its customers free tea. How cool is that? I cannot remember last time I received a free drink.

Usta Kababgy offers amazing charcoal-grilled Mediterranean food that provides authentic, "soul-fed"…read moreexperience that's hard to find elsewhere. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, suitable for a place nice enough for a family/friend gathering. The service is friendly and reassures wanting to provide an enjoyable meal. The standout here is the charcoal grill definitely must try. It's all fresh and top-tier.

Amazing food. Very family friendly. Extremely authentic. Owner very nice. We had a great time with…read morefamily.

Being middle eastern myself and have had numerous shawarma, gyro and more food this place really…read moredisappointed me. I got the chicken shawarma plate, the rice was on the dry side, they the garlic dip was lacking flavor, the hummus need more tahini or something to give it a good flavor, the chicken was also flavorless. The service was good and food was ready pretty fast. The place is a little old with indoor and outdoor sitting. I had seen this on IG and thought it would live up to its hype but sadly it did not.

Troy ATX on Mesa Drive in Austin, TX is a neighborhood restaurant that quietly delivers an…read moreoutstanding dining experience. The restaurant specializes in Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. Troy ATX provides food and outstanding service...feels like home. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, making it perfect for dining. The menu offers a great balance of familiar Mediterranean favorites and traditional Turkish dishes, all prepared with care and bold flavors. Portions are generous, ingredients taste fresh, and the dishes homemade. In fact, the son of the owner was managing the restaurant which he does not do often. He had nothing but rave things to say about his family and the restaurant. I really love that! I stopped to pick up some hummus. It was packaged with pita bread and nicely packed for travel. The hummus felt thick and hearty...not normally how it comes at the grocery store. If you're craving authentic Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine, Troy ATX is absolutely worth a visit.

Stumbled across this hidden gem in North Austin and absolutely love it. I've always said Austin…read moredoesn't have enough "Mom and Pop ethnic places," so finding Troy was a dream come true. The staff was so warm and welcoming the entire time. From giving recommendations, to offering Turkish tea, it was a great experience. The food was solid as well! Definitely recommend the lamb in whatever you get! I had a few coworkers get the wraps, I will say, I do feel like they were a little light on the meat in those, but everything else that was ordered was solid. We will definitely be back!