Heidar Baba
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We were on the hunt for cherry rice without making the drive to Glendale for Raffi's, and Yelp led us here. While we did enjoy our meal, Raffi's still holds the crown when it comes to cherry rice, which is a unique and flavorful Persian dish that's hard to beat. I ordered the salmon plate, and my husband chose the lule plate, adding a side of chicken kabob just in case. Little did we know how generous the portions would be, we definitely had enough leftovers for another meal! The plates also came with a choice of soup or salad; I opted for the soup, but it was quite bland and needed some extra salt. Our meal also came with pita bread for the table, though it's worth noting that the entrees didn't come with any hummus. The restaurant wasn't busy during our week night visit. It's conveniently located right across the street from PCC, and we were able to find street parking easily.
Heidar Baba Persian Restaurant - 1511 East Colorado Boulevard Pasadena California 91106 is a great place to have lunch or dinner. It is easy to find located across the street from Pasadena City college. The large awning outside the building announces the entrance to the restaurant. Once you enter you find an area with dining tables and a counter area. I was given a menu, and directed to a table to contemplate my order. The menu has a lot of great items. There were quite a number of unusual items and I had no idea what type of food or flavor to expect. When the waitress returned, I was able to ask her questions about what I should order. She had great suggestions that would give me a best example of their unique food and flavors. I decided on one Chicken Kabob and one Chicken Koobideh. Each of them came with a choice of soup or salad. I chose one of each. Barley soup with the chicken and Greek salad for the beef. It took about 20 minutes or so to get my meal to go. They had a number of occupied tables. When I got home I carefully unpacked what I had ordered. I was eager to try everything at once, but decided to start with the soup. Barley soup was filled with barley and had great flavor. I decided to add a little bit of kick by dropping in some hot sauce. The side salad was impressive. Fresh greens, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, and cucumbers. A little squeeze of lemon with all it needed. No extra dressing needed. Both the chicken and beef skewers had a great grilled aroma and were delicious. They held their shape even without actual skewers. They both tasted just as good cold the next day as they did warm when I first got them home. There was an abundance of rice included since this was a dinner order. It also had great flavor. It was fresh and had great seasoning. A bunch of condiments were included in a separate bag for all the items. I look forward to coming back and trying a number of the other items on their unique menu.
The Koobideh Combo Chicken and Beef comes with one skewer of ground chicken and one skewer of ground beef, both mixed with grated onions. It also comes with basmati rice, a grilled tomato, and chili. All cooked in an open fire.
Came here as recommended by some coworkers, and it was great. This is a nice and close location compared to Raffi's in Glendale, but it definitely gave me my Mediterranean fix. This is located across from PCC and they have a lunch deal, so I imagine this place being pretty popular during the weekdays with the local students. Coming here on the weekend, it was pretty empty and no special deals. My husband and I decided to share the Beef Soltani and added a spicy chicken koobideh as well as an order of hummus to pair with the complementary pita bread. Unfortunately, they were out of roasted chili. The hummus was really good, and I took the leftovers home to eat with raw bell peppers. We got the soup, which was really flavorful ! They also brought out two separate plates of rice so we could share the Soltani. Of the meats, my favorite was the beef barg, it was seasoned perfectly and had a nice bite without being too chewy. My husband really enjoyed the spicy chicken koobideh which had chopped green chilis in there (which made us wonder why they said they didn't have grilled chilis?). The beef koobideh was good as well. I thought the rice could be a little more seasoned, not sure if it usually is but perhaps not! I was interested in the bastani sonati but was too full to eat it. They sell it to go for $12-13, otherwise it's $8-9 for a smaller dine-in portion. Pricy meal overall, but I would return to get the Barg again and hopefully try the Persian ice cream.
My coworker recommended this place as a more local restaurant to get Mediterranean food as opposed to driving all the way up to Raffi's. This restaurant is located across from PCC and there is street parking right in front. We came for lunch on a Saturday and was seated quickly. the servers were very nice and provided us with recommendations. For our appetizer, we ordered the hummus, which goes along well with the complimentary and refillable pita bread. For our entree, we ended up getting the beef soltani, which comes with a beef koobideh and beef barg and serves two people. You have a choice of getting soup or salad, so we chose the soup option. This entree also came with basmati rice. We also added an a la carte spicy chicken koobideh. My wife really enjoyed the hummus and the soup. We both enjoyed our beef soltani entree, with the beef barg being our favorite. The beef was very flavorful and seasoned well. I was a big fan of the spicy chicken koobideh, which included grilled peppers inside of it. There is a small spicy kick that added to the flavor. The menu stated that we could request grilled peppers. However, the server said they were out for the day (although there were grilled peppers in the spicy chicken koobideh). We will have to come back again in the future to try this out. Overall, we both enjoyed our experience here. We are glad that we found a local restaurant where we can get Mediterranean food. We will definitely be back!
Great portion sizes, and tasty lamb and beef options! A soup or salad is offered with each plate, the soup was good but needed a lot of salt. Both plates were 80$ with tax which is a little pricey but I had a lot left over. 2 people can share a plate if you don't want any leftovers. The place is super cute and has nice Iranian decor as well!
This is my go to casual Persian restaurant. It's not pretentious and very good in my opinion. My choice entree at any Persian restaurant is the Koobideh with mast o khiar. Here, the entree comes with a choice of soup or a regular salad. You can pay an additional amount and get the shirazi salad, which is what I did. The mast o khiar is ordered as a side. The koobideh is juicy and perfectly flavored as is the rice. The portions are also generous. There is plenty of parking on the street or in their lot behind the restaurant. Each time I have come, I have never had a wait. If you're in the Pasadena area, definitely give this place a try if you're craving some Persian grub. Tip: if you have leftovers, ask for extra pita bread to go.
AS a vegan, I appreciate the one vegan kabob dish they have. The dish is ok, some veggies are smoked, others taste boiled. Its honestly just veggies & rice (nothing creative). The plate is huge which was a decent surprise ! Their They also have a barley soup which was mid. They presented the table with a thin flatbread which was cold & unpleasant to eat. If you're out with friends, there are definitely vegan options, I just wouldn't comeback for their culinary artistry.
Great service Thanks so much Vita you're d best. If you're ever in Pasadena check out Heidar Baba. We love this place and been going here for years. Our favorite is beef Shish Kabob and Lentil soup with Hot Pita bread and butter
3 years ago
So we just ordered from this place for the first time today. We ordered: HEIDAR BABA SUPREME (came with a TON of rice) and a lot of garden salad) VEGGIE KABOB À la carte: 3 BEEF KOOBIDEH À la carte: 3 CHICKEN KOOBIDEH À la carte: 1 Barg I miss Persian rice I tried it once and never came back for it again. I ordered: ZERESHK POLO and ALBALOO POLO Everything was so delicious!! Please note the meat portions/skewed are very large! Next time I'm gonna get a plate! Fed my parents myself my husband and my mother in law... and we absolutely loved it* read more
1 year ago
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4 years ago
One thing for sure the food is remarkable in presentation and the amount of food for the price is really good. Now this is the reason for the three stars and it's because the food lacked flavor. The greek salad to the Koobideh chicken combo and rice just lacked any flavor or seasoning. The cold cheap pita bread was also a disappointment and even when requested to have it brought to us warm still was a let down. Good food but not great food. read more
2 years ago
This is the worst koobideh I ever had this excuse they don't even taste like meat and they seem to be very old and they charge $24 for it read more
3 years ago
Great food! Super generous with servings Love the ambiance! Service was super A little pricy but totally worth it!! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
By far one of my all-time favorite restaurants in all of Los Angeles. Great food, big plate, well seasoned and in a very nice, clean, family-friendly settings. I love to take my special friends and clients here. Today I ordered Rack of Lamb, and it's so yummy... Highly highly recommending this place for an authentic, home-cook and friendly environment. You visit to Pasadena isn't complete until you've been to Heida Baba! read more
3 years ago
We went for take out after a year or more. But everything was amazing, same nice staff who recognized us rightaway. We got spicy chicken koobideh with extra skewer, same delicious taste! Comes with rice, grilled tomato & pepper. Over all We will be going more often for the service & awesome food. read more
5 years ago
Probably the best place to get Persian food in the San Gabriel Valley. Heidar Baba is conveniently located directly across the street from Pasadena City College. You can find parking on the street or what some don't realize is they have a parking lot in the back. Just turn right at the Harkness Ave and take a right down the alley and it's the second entrance to your left. The alley is called Thurman Alley. You can tell this is a family run establishment. You'll find the staff extremely courteous and helpful as many of them are family members. Be warned they do struggle with the rush from PCC and walk ins/ catering as so it can be a little slow at time. But the food makes up for it. As you can see one plate is more than enough for two people and if you come for dinner time your meal includes the option of salad, soup, or fries. It's a lot of bang for your buck. Expect to spend $20-25 a person for dinner. This place can easily accommodate a large group but call ahead so they can set your table for you. Being middle eastern and having travels to Iran I can attest their food tastes just like the food back home. Closest you'll find to the koobideh you get in Tehran. Very well seasoned and their stews are amazing. I recommend the tahdig with ghorma sabzee or get the 1/2 and 1/2. Two stews for your crispy rice. Also add a side of grilled onions or jalapeños to your order. If you want to support a local restaurant that gives back to the community this is your place. Whether it's dinner tonight or catering your next office party the staff at Heidar Baba with take care of you. I don't think I've ever had a dish I didn't like and you'll always find a family member behind the grill. Tip; If you're catering a religious event they'll give you a special price. Best to call ahead and speak to the manager. I've catered through them before and it's very simple and stress free. read more
5 years ago
The absolute best Persian food around! This place has the most amazing and moist basmati rice- it's by far the best rice I have ever had (and I have had a lot). Amazing chicken kabob- juicy and tender. The barley soup is great- they even have fresh French fries as well. Great service and reasonable prices. Highly recommended!! read more
It is conveniently located off Colorado Blvd across from PCC. I imagine they get much foot traffic from students and staff. Outside/Inside: 3.5 out of 5 The restaurant itself is spacious inside with tables well-distanced from each other. There is a parking lot in the back, but space is extremely limited. They also added a table in the back at the lot for outdoor dining, but the table and chairs looked rather brittle, so we skipped that, even though we truly wanted outdoor seating because we had our doggie friend with us. So, instead we got it to go, walked across the street and ate out in an open space at PCC. Food: 4.5 out of 5 The food itself is tasty and they are generous with the portions. Both the rice with dill and the meats were both high in quality and in large quantity. I can get behind that! The meat was most and quite flavorful. It paired well with the rice, which was very aromatic with the dill. Service: 3 out of 5 There was a staff member that was rude and did not communicate the menu well when I had questions. There was another staff member who did answer my questions and helped me make a decision on what to order. read more
2 years ago
I have been eating at this restaurant for years and never once have I felt neglected by the staff. The wait time for to go orders may be a bit long, but that's because it is a good place and lots of folks order from here. I can't think of a better place to get Persian food in Pasadena. Service is superb every time and food is delicious! Dining in is always a treat because it's guaranteed that I will have enough leftover for lunch the next day. The Persian mint is just delicate and aromatic, the perfect touch to the meal and tea! read more
5 years ago
First time back since COVID (early 2020). They still serve halal meats! Good things stay constant in the face of a storm. Heidar Baba, did just that, they survived and still offer tremendous food. Yes, some things have changed; prices went up, new people work there, and a couple items have departed from the menu, but the quantity and quality remain. Tonight I ordered the following To Go: 2 Muste Khair (cucumber yogurt sauce) 1 Beef Koobideh Plate 4 Koobidheh beef kabobs (a-la-carte) Total $70 Tons of food. It was packed nicely. Meat was tasty and skewers were huge. I will say that the seasoning and ground beef got tweaked from pre-COVID. Also Sumac is not added to food, now it is provided in packets. Previously some would be sprinkled on the food with extra provided. Suggest you ask for extra bread. It's nice with the yogurt. Another change is they no longer give pads of butter with the bread as they did pre-COVID. I still think this place is a winner! Glad they survived the storm!!! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
The students that attend Pasadena City College are lucky to have such diverse and delicious lunch choices off campus, and especially across the street. "Oh, I just love the food from the union" said no student ever, in reality it's more like F***!, I left my lunch at home! While Heidar Baba (HB) might be pricier than many students are willing to spend for lunch I'd argue that the larger portions are essentially two meals or a two-way split. My Yelp bookmarks one evening indicated that my go-to up the road was closing in 28-minutes, so realistically, I wouldn't be able to arrive in time nor is it cool to go so late to a place where business quites down after 7pm. Feeling like a kabob dinner would set me right I saw that HB's closing time was10pm, plus, they were only two blocks up from Game Empire where I was shopping. They do a brisk takeout business too, but dining in is always better. To-go containers wreck the texture of fresh basmati rice. I was surprised that you pay at the end despite ordering at the counter, I suppose that's best in case someone adds to the order. My go-to is almost always the light meat chicken kabobs, and at $16.99 for a plate that included salad or soup or fries it seemed like a good value. The plate of hot fries arrived first and I was surprised, it was a big order. The salad is an interesting combination of piquant sliced peppers and Thai basil with crispy Lavash wedges. I nibbled at that. Then, the entree arrived! Again, huge (bigly) proportions! When my gf arrived our combined appetites could only finish the chicken and grilled tomatoe and pepper. There was so much rice that some was left behind, ergo the fries. I'll definitely return, especially since parking is available out back or on the street and to try the Shish Kabobs or lamb next time. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
The steak Shish kabob was grainy and overcooked well past well done. The fries were equally terrible unseasoned and doused in cooking oil. The complimentary pita bread came to my table cold and rubbery. Freezing cold tomatoes undercooked. Do not eat here. read more
My family and I came here with a glowing recommendation from a local friend we had in LA. So like always, I came here with some expectations. We came during an off time, I could tell because we were the only customers and it was 3pm. We were quickly seated and got to choose (as again, really the only ones there) and were handed menus promptly. Our local friend really failed to express how big the portions were so we ordered 3 dishes for the 4 of us, getting the Lamb kabob, Shish (steak) kabob, and the chicken kabob. And, to my shock, there is NO STICK in the kabob! (My parents were done with me. They said they take them out so its easier for us to eat but then the restaurants I have been going to have been doing it wrong. Plus I love the sticks to play with after eating. Sue me, I'mma kid at heart and in size and age). 1. Lentil/Barley soup: 3/5 I was surprised when it came out. It was not what I was expecting but I've also never had barley soup so I didn't know what to expect. I tried a spoon of it and I had enough. It was bad. But then I dipped te bread they provided and it started tasting good. And then I tried another spoonful and my brain seemed to think "Eat more soup. Soup is good for body. Trick tongue to think soup is good." And with every bite I took, it started to taste better and better. 2. Chicken kabob: 3.75/5 The chicken was GOOD. It wasn't SUPERIOR but it was better than I had expected. It wasn't dry or anything and the seasoning was pretty good. 3. Shish Kabob: 2.5/5 It was okay. It was a little tough here and there and dry but it wasn't the worst shish that had graced my mouth. 4. Lamb Kabob: not rated The reason is that I don't eat lamb. So... sorry if I got your hopes up, I... I just don't eat lamb. If you are a lamb eater and came here for the lamb... I am sorry to disappoint. Now let's get into the real reason I wrote this review (shockingly, not to complain about the meat!) the PORTIONS. SOMEONE call 9-11 because the amount of rice they give you could BURY a human (like you and me) 6 feet under. No, it's not a serial murderer haunting Pasadena, the victims are just all hidden under the millions of grains of rice they serve here at Heidar Baba. Take some rice off and feed the starving college students! Screw 39 cents a day to help a child! More like give them your leftovers from here and it will last them a week!! HUGE! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Went to this place because it was close to Huntington Library. The food was okay, but the portions were really big. Service was good and nice ambiance. Wish the food was more flavorful but other than that this place was good. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
food is served with mold and the staff doesn't bother. Will not recommend this restaurant. The restaurant clearly doesn't follow health safety protocols. read more
3 years ago
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3 years ago
Great Halal Persian place located in Pasadena! Great location , fast service and best of all great food ! Ordered a variety of kabobs , lamb shank , hummus , rice. excellent taste nothing was dry and perfectly grilled. My favorite was the lamb shanks , followed by the kobbideh skewers. Can recommend enough ! read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
Always delicious, we order "to go" frequently. Every thing is fresh and good quality. Their Lentil soup is delicious, I always feel I'm doing something good for my body when I enjoy a bowl. The people are friendly and service wonderful. Highly recommend paying a visit here. Mostly parking on Colorado and nearby streets. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
More info about Heidar Baba
1511 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91106
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(626) 844-7970
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http://www.heidarbaba.com
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Ask the Community - Heidar Baba
Uber Eats can't order, Door Dash now also cannot order???? Today is 11/10/22
What is the Accurate Operation Hours for now Aug 2022? Yelp said close at 10pm but sometime they said 9pm and DoorDash stopped at 8pm
Just wondering, is it under the same ownership as it's always been?
Yes it has not changed.
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