Place is clean, no parking lot at the restaurant but street parking close-ish, up north on Belt rd (ok in good weather but you wish it was closer if bad weather). I was craving kebab and this unfortunately did not hit the spot for me. We got lamb and chicken kebab combo (#5) and ghormeh sabzi. The meats were bland and very dry. Usually when I order lamb kebab I expect full of flavor and juicy, but this lamb was TOUGH like I had to really chew and there was no flavor. Ghormeh was bland too and not that many cubes of beef. Pita bread and rice were both good. The staff were friendly but not really helpful...we asked what ghormeh was and he just said it's "beef." I would say gourmet bazaar (Rockville) is much better. read more

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This chain has several locations, but it is notable that the one in DC appears to offer more on the vegetarian side that some of the others do, so this one is specifically what I'm reviewing. The entree was a bit of a cafeteria style thing, but it fit the bill; the menu says it offers not only tofu but some red kidney beans in a stew of greens with lime flavor, and while I can't think of any similar combination I've had in all my travels, it works. The yogurt they offer on the side is a Persian staple, but what really shined was the fresh bread whose odor wafted through my vehicle as I drove my takeout elsewhere. A delightfully thin and browned creation, it was 100% worth adding despite the fact that they already gave me a massive pile of rice (with a bit of saffron rice on top of the plain white rice). This isn't high-end cuisine, but they delivered distinctive flavors in a timely and convenient fashion, and with a good range of vegetarian choices. Of their other locations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, some of them offer these stews with tofu mixed in and some do not, though falafel and a few other options remain available. read more

Maman Joon - Ghormeh Sabzi with basmati rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Saw that the reviews were good and decided to give them a try... The restaurant is basically on front street, so you have to find street parking (be aware of the signs!) or park in the Whole Foods parking lot around the corner. I didn't know what to try, so the cashier recommend the "Combo #1" which was Chicken Breast and Koobideh Kabob served over White Rice w/ tomatoes, onions and Tahini Sauce. And he made sure to let me know that the chicken is marinated for over 14hrs and that I can tell by the taste.. So let me start off by saying the Chicken was my favorite thing! It indeed was well marinated and had a lot of flavor. The Koobideh wasn't my favorite but It wasn't bad, I could have gone without It. The rice was just basic Basmati Rice; I thought It would have some more flavor to It. Then they give you half of a grilled/roasted tomato and onion which was cool. The tahini sauce was a little too sour for my liking and It wasn't needed. Because the chicken was the star of the show. The naan bread was cool. I think they could do some type of pizza with that and the chicken and It would do numbers! (Just a thought) I would come back, but only for the chicken. read more

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The rice is very nice. It has a plain taste but is EXTREMELY soft and plush so it's enjoyable to eat and pairs well with the meat. The beef and chicken were good - I think I liked the beef a bit more though. Both of the sauces were good, but the hummus was amazing. This dish gets better as you eat more somehow! read more

If this location wasn't so far from us they would have all of our money! We always get the salmon kabob and the falafel sandwich to share and this place never falls short. The staff is friendly and helpful. The restaurant is clean and pretty quiet. The only issue is that it's far from home so we only get to go when we're on that side of DC, which isn't often. But that's an "us" issue and not a Maman Joon issue We keep saying we need to try to location in Tyson's but haven't gotten out there yet. read more

The only place we eat when we are at Tysons Corner Center. Love the chicken kabob platter.

The food is great. I have tried many Persian restaurants, this is the best. I have tried the one in Tysons and Gaithersburg. Very clean, friendly staff, and easy parking Highly recommend it read more

Tasty but a bit heavy and oily The kabob koobideh ground beef skewers are super tender and comes with tasty but heavy rice and a delicious tender roasted whole tomato and bread. Really enjoyed the eggplant stew which was really well cooked and had a touch of lime and bitterness and was really balanced. Skip the falafel. Overly heavy and lacking in flavor. Location isn't the best and the inside is a bit of a fast food greasy spoon. I'd get takeout next time. Friendly service. Takes a few minutes because everything is made fresh. read more

Great food and generous portions. We ordered to go. The best is their spicy chickpeas .. a perfect rice topper.

No I don't! The food is not good! It's over priced and the quality is below 3 star! It's a weird atmosphere all together! The one on McLean is much better. read more

A decent fast casual option in Tenleytown. Their grilled chicken is thick and fresh, so if you want your protein, they are a solid option. Hummus is good, but their pita could be a tad fresher. Overall, they deliver a satisfying meal, though. read more

This is a relatively new restaurant in Tenley with both indoor and outdoor seating. Inside has quite attractive decor - light colored wood-top furniture, a few long high tables in front, big scenic photo mural in back, decorative white plastic crates hanging from the ceiling (a creative touch). We ordered two kabob entrees, chicken breast and beef chenjeh. I thought the entrees came with rice and salad so didn't specify when placing the order. Turned out it's rice OR salad but they never bothered asking me to choose an option, instead just automatically gave us both rice which was not what we wanted. The kabobs are ok but with their pricing ($13/$17 for one single chicken/beef kabob) the entrees are not cheap but would be a lot better value with smaller portion of two sides instead of the huge wasteful amount of rice no normal person could possibly be able to finish. read more

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If you like kebab, it is your place. Efficient service, fresh ingredients, juicy kebab, reasonably priced. Nothing fancy, it is an upgraded version of a fast food joint, so would not recommend for a romantic date. If you want a tasty, no frills lunch, it is a great choice. We ate in but you can also order a take out. I took one star off for uncomfortable bar chairs that are difficult to adjust and a not very clean floor near the window sitting. Will be back for more kebab read more

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The appetizers are to die for! I would recommend getting everything lol The food is also very tasty! They are also generous ! Love the place read more

Maman Joon - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great food and superb service! Peter, the founder, was there and was very helpful in giving recommendations. He was very attentive to my experience and even brought out complementary hummus and baklava while I was waiting for my food. I ordered the kashk e' bademjan (eggplant dip) and koobideh kabob (single side order). The flavors were fresh and delightful! Absolutely coming back!! read more

Maman Joon - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Maman joon was fantastic! This is a fast casual restaurant serving Persian cuisine. I tried the chicken kebab platter and my partner tried the lamb kebab. The meat was hot, juicy, and tender. Pro tip - the platters come with a large amount of rice, you can add an extra kebab of meat and have enough for two people. We also tried the hummus which was good, but nothing to write home about. The employees were kind and it probably took about 10 minutes to get our food. Also, there's a really delicious cherry soda in the fountain drink machine! read more

Maman Joon - Chicken Kabob platter and Lamb Tenderloin kabob. Hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food wasn't good. It normally comes with a yogurt and spicy sauce but I asked for just yogurt. I wish they had more sauce options because the meat was great but would've been amazing with something else. Service was great. They gave me samples of everything. It has a great whole in the wall environment that makes it great if you want a quick bite. read more

Maman Joon - Koobideh Kabob Sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

After trying out Rumi's Kitchen in downtown, I decided to stop here next due to the high ratings. Honestly, I have to say I wasn't very impressed with the food. I ordered the ghormeh sabzi with shirazi, and both were underwhelming. The sabzi tasted quite bland and dry compared to others I've tried and the shirazi was incredibly watered down, and lacking enough vinegar/lemon juice. The container the shirazi comes in suggests they don't make it themselves, but instead buy it pre-packaged. I understand this is supposed to be Persian "fast food," but that comes with it feeling a bit cheap. Plastic food containers, plastic utensils, cheap napkins. One plus is that they had a good variety of Persian cuisine. My friend got the joojeh kabob and said it was good. It's also nice that the friendly man running the place was truly Persian. Although my food wasn't tasty, I may have to give some of the other menu items a chance. read more

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Lots of choices. Where to begin? Started with the badamjune eggplant appetizer. Nice blend of spice, and a generous amount of pita for dipping. One of our entrees was the chicken kabob. It was moist, tender, and properly seasoned. We chose a side of rice that had a saffron highlight. The second entree was the beef koobideh. Again, great flavor with that hot off the grill taste. We had a side salad instead of rice (included), that came with olives, tomatoes, cukes, and a decent yellowish dressing. We carried out, but they have ample indoor and outdoor seating. Good Persian food, priced right, and conveniently located. 3 boxes checked. read more

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The place smelled fantastic! Good selection of food options. I was intrigued by the lubiah polo and kabob option. The kabob was delicious. I generally order koobideh as a measure of Persian food quality and it did not disappoint. The lubiah polo was interesting. It had the makings of a good rice dish, but was a little dry and the green beans had disintegrated. My thought was that it's not an often ordered dish and may have been sitting or reheated. Bread and yogurt were tasty as well. All in all a good kabob but would do plain rice next time. read more

Maman Joon - Koobideh and lubia polo - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is my DC go to Kabob place. They're always so friendly and kind but most importantly the Kabob and other Persian dishes are authentic. To top it all off their fresh made bread is so good. If you want to know where Iranians go to eat Persian food in DC this is the place. read more

We order from here once a month. Fresh, healthy, delicious food! We get the chicken, salmon and ground beef. I like their cold beets and grilled tomatoes. Always happy with the take out- a great family meal! read more

If you love Iranian food, this is your jam. In the center of Tenleytown, Maman Joon is set up like a fast casual restaurant with an open kitchen concept. The menu itself is massive so definitely ask for recommendations. To feed our group of four, we got the family combo with four different meats, an appetizer and three sides. Honestly, the food was underwhelming. The massive pan of rice was dry, the bread burnt and the meats lacking flavor. Once we added salt, it was much better. The one dish that wowed me was the Persian shallots in yogurt. So good! read more

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Our family visited Maman Joon while touring American University with our daughter. We loved the food, and were lucky enough to meet the owner, who spoke to us and made sure we had a great experience. Everything was delicious. read more

I ordered 3 family platters to cater my birthday party. We've been here many times and wanted to share with friends. Several people asked us for the restaurant name so they can go again, too. I would say the food was a hit. Thanks, Maman Joon! read more

Maman Joon - Party dinner from Maman Joon - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great lunch experience. Got baghali polo and ghormeh sabzi and both were very good, coming with complementary bread and hummus. Amazing customer service, the manager and owner are very kind, providing complimentary tea and letting us try different dishes. Definitely coming back! read more

Maman Joon - Baghali Polo with Lamb Shank - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The fresh homemade baklava is phenomenal! Do not miss! Good atmosphere, fun people, and delicious food! Ahmed is funny, friendly, and super helpful. read more

Maman Joon - He said, "These aren't onion rings, they're onion bracelets!" - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Maman Joon serves really delicious, and hearty food. I definitely recommend their falafel. It's so savory and a great value as an appetizer. They're large (size of Roma tomatoes),always very fresh tasting, moist on the inside, and so crispy! Fried to perfection. I also really enjoy their side of tomatoes, it's such a warm and comforting small dish. It seems odd to crave a side of tomatoes, but on cold days I usually want to stop by Maman Joons just to pick up some of these. This is great spot to get some quality fast casual food in Tenleytown. read more

Maman Joon - Falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ultimate tasty and nutritious fuel food I could order on the go. Joojeh, their chicken breast kebab, is their claim to fame. Being so lean and high in protein, Maman Joon still manages to preserve the juice and flavor so that rice and chicken isn't as hard to stomach when I'm getting my macros in. Their rice is a literal pillow I could lie on when I eat it, and the bread is light and fluffy almost like an Indian naan but less greasy. All in all, a solid Persian place for kebabs, but tread lightly outside the chicken kebabs and rice as the other meats are rather mediocre. My go to place if I'm trying hit my macros with some lean protein options and rice. read more

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The hubby and I decided to have a quick lunch while running errands and this place had great reviews. Service was amazing and food was top notch! The owner really loves his food and was such a gracious host. We tried so many delicious items but some of our favorites were the hummus, the tomato cucumber salad, the saffron chicken, the baklava and the hot tea! we can't wait to come back again! read more

Maman Joon - Tomato cucumber salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food is fiiiiire!! I tried the soltani with the combination of barg and koobideh (different kinds of beef! The service is great! The owner is so friendly and helpful from parking to picking what time eat. The ambiance is fantastic as well because it has an authentic Persian vibe! read more

Maman Joon - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had a delicious dinner at the Tenleytown Maman Joon tonight. The lamb and chicken kebabs were tender and had great flavor. Everything we ate was great and the owner is delightful. read more

Great Persian restaurant in Tenleytown. Diverse menu and excellent service. Don't miss it.

We were so excited to celebrate Ghormeh Sabzi Day by ordering this special dish to be delivered to Alleanna and Amani. We substituted salad for the rice in the second dish and it was a big salad. Also they included bread and yogurt on the side. The best place for Persian Food in DC! read more

Overall, Maman Joon was mediocre. My friend and I ordered delivery, all vegetarian dishes. The order via the app came on time with no issues. We ordered three dishes: the Ash Reshteh (Persian Greens, Bean and Noodle Soup), fessenjan with tofu, and Ghormeh Sabzi with tofu. The noodles were the only good part of the soup; otherwise, it was salty with a creaminess that didn't fit with the rest of the dish. Additionally, the greens were overcooked. The Ghormeh Sabzi was relatively tasteless, again with overcooked greens. The fessenjan was the best dish we had, albeit with a bit too sweet of pomegranate sauce. Perhaps the meat dishes are better; however, I would recommend other Persian restaurants in DC for better food. read more

Great food and friendly staff. Nice new addition to the community. Ordered some kashk e bademjan (delicious) koobideh and combos (also delicious) I hope to go back soon to try their loobia polo read more

So excited to finally have tried Maman Joon today! I shared the family platter with my partner- and we both agreed everything was amazing. We were really pleased with the taste, quality, and amount of food we received. The service was also quick, and everyone very friendly. It said the family platter feeds 3-4, and I would say that is accurate. We ate really well tonight and have plenty for round two tomorrow. We ordered: skewers of beef skoobideh, lamb chenjeh, chicken breast; hummus; pita; beets; cannelini bean salad; borani; pita; and, basmati rice. My favorite items were the beef skoobideh, borani, and basmati rice (but I enjoyed everything). My boyfriend said his favorite item was the lamb- it had great flavor. But he too inhaled everything on his plate. We can't wait to return to try more items! Sorry I didn't take pictures... my phone had died and we were hungry. read more

We stopped for dinner this weekend before seeing a movie. I was underwhelmed. Nice idea to try to adapt Persian food to the fast-casual concept, but the food we ordered was not so hot compared to the Persian food we have eaten elsewhere. My wife got the ratatouille, which had no eggplant that we could tell and hardly any red bell peppers -- all zucchini and summer squash. Spicy koobideh was an interesting idea, but the chicken for the koobideh itself looked to have been pureed instead of ground -- texture not great. I did like the fact that the bread we got with the must o mooseer was hot, and both the must and the yogurt sauce that came with the koobideh were tasty, More than enough rice to eat with the meal so we had leftovers to bring home for lunch the following day. Servcie was prompt and friendly which was a plus, but not enough to outweigh the food itself read more

I was excited to see Maman Joon take over the former Beefsteak store front. It is a welcome and unique addition to the Tenleytown dining scene. Don't let the fast casual set up fool you - it is seriously good food that has been prepared with care. We ordered the Beef Chenjeh Kabob, Vegetarian Fesenjan, Mediterranean Platter, and a side of Vegan Okra Stew. As soon as I saw the golden crust of the tahdig I knew we were in for a treat. I was also thrilled to see the thoughtfully crafted vegetarian menu. Everything was fresh and flavorful, the dishes were all distinct. Even my picky toddler cleaned the plate! When I ordered a side of Must o Khiar over the phone, the manager nicely told me it would be included with our entrees. He then remembered me when I came in and gave me a little extra! That kind of personal touch is so lovely. We will be returning soon! read more

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Great, affordable Persian food. Huge portions. Really excellent stuff. Run by very kind people. Great for carry out or quick dine in. You should absolutely support them. read more