Yesss, finally a Persian restaurant in Gainesville! And it's DELICIOUS especially the khoobideh kebab, some of the best I've ever had. Excellent fluffy rice and overall a great authentic menu. We made a huge takeout order for dinner and they were so nice and accommodating and packed everything up safely. Portions were generous and everyone in my family was very satisfied with their meals. We were a little worried about the construction in the area but parking was easy and there was a path marked out to access the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Loved it and plan to eat there often! read more

In Gainesville for a work trip and staying downtown. Was looking for something a little different and saw this Persian restaurant. Excited to try something new and went to check it out. Currently, the street is under construction, but Lor Kebab remains open. Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by the owner, Mohammed. He was extremely helpful in making a selection from the menu, and even offered for me to try the beef kebab rather than just sticking with standard chicken. There were a lot of interesting things on the menu, but having never had Persian food before, I was trying to weigh in slowly. While my food was cooking, Mohammed and I discussed the Persian philosophy towards the approach of food, all about balancing elements. After my food arrived, Mohammed brought by the yogurt shallot sauce, which name I cannot recall despite his repeated attempts to help me, which I learned is a recipe pass down from his mother. The chicken was exceptional. Flavorful, moist and spot on. The rice was very well done and the yogurt sauce really added to the meal. The beef kebab was good as well, but I'm more of a chicken person honestly. The beef had some lamb in it, but not an overwhelming taste (I do not care for lamb). It had a good balance of spices and was exceptionally tender. I was expecting it to be like Gyro meat and it was not that, but it was still very tasty. I don't know that you can find a friendlier or more passionate small business owner, and that came across in the food. Would definitely recommend and would be excited to try more on the menu. read more

Lor Kebab - Chicken and beef skewers - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

We had a wonderful experience at this family-owned Persian restaurant. From the moment we walked in, we felt genuinely welcomed. The husband and wife are so sweet and really make sure to give you an authentic experience to persian hospitality. The food was delicious. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care and tradition. You can really tell the recipes come from the heart, and each dish had a perfect balance of spices and richness. Make sure to try the baklava. But just an FYI this baklava is different to the greek and turkish style of dessert. But i definitely recommend giving it a try. what made the experience even more special was knowing it's family-owned. There's a level of pride and attention to detail that really shows, both in the food and the service. If you're looking for authentic Persian cuisine and a place that feels inviting and special, this is definitely a spot worth visiting. We'll absolutely be coming back. read more

Lor Kebab - So delicious! - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Such an authentic meal! Amazing feel-good food. The owners hearts are truly in this restaurant. New business that is definitely worth a try! I can't wait to come back and try more. Very calm peaceful presence. The owners are very kind and helpful. Highly recommended the Joojeh and Koobideh alongside the Lor Maste & Musir !!! read more

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This is a great family owned business in the downtown Gainesville area that adds a distinguished flavor that is much needed in the city. Due to the construction in the area, it is a little covered. But I stopped in around lunch time and the place is a quaint restaurant with the husband working the front and the wife was cooking up the food. I got a chance to hear his origin story and wow. The dedication and passion the owners have to showcase Persian/Iranian food definitely makes me want to come back even more. I got the single koobideh which is a kebab made of ground lamb and beef. It comes with rice and salad. The kebab is the standout in this dish. It's very fresh, flavorful, and seasoned well. Surprisingly, the kebab is very large so one was good enough for me in addition to the rice and salad. I really do hope that this business sticks around as it is an unique cuisine to Gainesville and offers halal. Support local business! read more

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This is a new Persian restaurant that just opened downtown, and it was my first time ever trying Persian food, so I was really excited to check it out. They mentioned they're still in a soft opening phase, but service was quick and very friendly. You can do takeout or eat inside. We chose to dine in, though seating is limited. The menu features a lot of authentic Persian options like stews, wraps, kebabs, and baklava. I went with the koobideh kebab, which came with a generous portion of rice and a roasted tomato. You also have the option to do half rice and half salad, which I liked. They included a packet of sumac, which tasted kind of lemony, almost like a citrusy paprika, and it added a nice extra boost of flavor. The meat was very juicy and soft, and the rice was perfectly cooked. It felt like a great value for around $15, especially for the portion size and quality. I'm really glad this place opened and would definitely come back to try more dishes. read more

Lor Kebab - Koobideh kebab - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Great family owned environment! You get a lot of food and it tastes so fresh! I can't wait to come back, the rice was so good! read more

Lor Kebab - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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This is a wonderful place. You can really see that the owner cares about making sure everyone enjoys their experience. Real food, not junk food. Everything is very delicious. I recommend it to everyone, and I will definitely come back when I'm in this city again. Thank you. read more

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Absolutely fabulous food! The owner was so sweet. He told us all about the menu and was so kind. The cook and his wife have such passion for the food. The chef brought us a beautiful dip or spread that was from his mother's recipe. You can literally taste the love and care that went into making it. I had never tried Persian food before. I'm so glad I did! 5 very solid stars for this business! I wish them great success!! read more

Lor Kebab - Tenderloin, rice and salad, YUMMY!!! So fresh and delicious. - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Authentic food and an authentic experience! Don't expect anything fancy, but expect an extraordinary meal. Don't be scared by the menu - the owner is so sweet and will take the time to explain the various dishes! Passion and pride go into everything that is served. If you want authentic Persian food, look no farther! This place is the real deal and I can't wait to go back. read more

I'm Persian so I'll be the first to admit I'm picky about Persian food -- and Lor genuinely surprised me. The rice alone is worth coming for. Long grain, perfectly fluffy, beautiful saffron color, and none of that oily aftertaste that can ruin a plate. The koobideh and joojeh were both so good -- the chicken had this perfect char on it and everything just tasted really clean and fresh. And the koobideh actually tastes like real meat and onion, the way it's supposed to. You know that processed frozen meatball flavor some places have? None of that here. It tastes like someone actually made it. It's a small quiet spot and I honestly just want more people to know about it because the food is some of the best Persian food I've had in a really long time. Tastes like someone at home who actually knows what they're doing decided to open a restaurant. Just go. You won't regret it. read more

Lor Kebab - 2 skewer koobideh (beef) and 1 extra skewer of jooneh (chicken) kabob - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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The food was impeccable the service was stellar the people world class. Generous kind

Hands down one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The food was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked, the rice was fluffy, the meats were tender and well-seasoned, and the sauces took everything to the next level. Every bite was comforting and packed with flavor, and the portion size was more than generous. What really set this place apart, though, was the service. Mohammed and his was super friendly, welcoming, and genuinely kind, which made the whole experience even better. You can tell they care about their customers and take pride in what they do. If you're looking for incredible food paired with amazing hospitality, this spot is a must-try. I'll definitely be back!!! read more

Lor Kebab - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Lor Kebab is new to the Gainesville food scene, in the middle of their soft open, located downtown. For starters, the food is excellent, great flavors, good variety, solid portions, good price, and fast. The service is friendly and outstanding. I'm happy that Gainesville has added a Persian/Iranian restaurant, especially in the downtown scene. Lots of potential here! I'll be back! read more

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One of the best Halal food in the Gainesville area. The quality of the kebobs is very high. We tried Joojeh and Koobideh, both are very good and juicy. If you like the downtown ambiance try there. The inside environment is cozy and small but you can choose to sit outdoors and enjoy that. This is a family owned business and staff are friendly. read more

Finally got a chance to eat here, and we were not disappointed. The food was great and we will definitely come back!

The food was amazing! Perfectly grilled juicy meat and chicken, quiet environment and very hospital nice people. They do catering and I will go there often. read more

Yummy authentic Persian food. The owner and his wife were kind and helpful. They added a QR code on their menu to show pictures of the food in case you aren't sure what some things are. Would definitely recommend giving them a try! read more

Lor Kebab - Joojeh Soltani / Chicken & Beef/lamb skewers with half rice half salad - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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We tried three different types of kebab on Saturday and they all were delicious: the meat was juicy and cooked to the perfection. The rice and baklava were very tasty as well. All the food was just right: kebabs neither too marinated nor too dry, rice neither too spicy nor too plain, baklava neither too sweet nor too paper-like as stores sell. The place has a couple of cute tables outside and the gentleman taking orders was very friendly and customer-oriented. Food is served in disposable trays, which appeared to be convenient as I could not finish my meal and grabbed it to go. read more

I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for quality, delicious food. I am not normally a fan of this sort of food, but this restaurant "wowed" me. The staff was incredibly nice and very informative and welcoming. read more

I love Persian food and stopped in to get take out to share with my parents after reading in the Main Street Daily News that they were having their soft opening. Ordered the large Koobideh (beef + lamb) kebab plate and the small Joojeh (chicken skewer) plate, along with the Fesenjoon stew - slow-cooked chicken in walnut-pomegranate sauce. The plates come with wonderful rice and a grilled tomato. The Lor Maste & Musir, a homemade yogurt sauce with shallots and herbs is fantastic on the kebabs. And the baklava was delicious - small "pillows" that don't fall apart. Exceptional food (especially the very unique stew) and generous portions. The service was impeccable and the owners are very kind. I love the space, with the big windows over one of Downtown's prettiest brick streets. This will be on regular rotation for us, and I'd encourage anyone to try it! read more

Lor Kebab - Menu - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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This is a Persian restaurant in downtown. The food here is so amazing. Everything on the menu looked so spectacular we are definitely going to come back to try more. It really is authentic Persian food. The people here are also so amazing and super nice. The chef even came out and personally asked us about our meal. Overall everything about this place is 10/10! read more

Incredible food with an exceptionally friendly staff and chef. My two year old never eats meat normally but happily downed a kebab. She kept saying "I like it! I like it!" A wonderful new addition to downtown. read more

Amazing and authentic food! So glad Gainesville has this place now. Highly recommend!

We've tried other persian restaurants in Tampa and Clearwater and this is the best one by far. We're so glad they opened up a restaurant in Gainseville. The food is fresh and delicious and the owners are very kind and friendly. read more

we had the koobideh and mirza ghasemi and it was all very delicious! the owners and staff were super friendly

So glad Gainesville finally has a Persian restaurant! The food is delicious and the owners are so nice. We will definitely be back again, highly recommend!! read more