Heidar Baba Persian Restaurant - 1511 East Colorado Boulevard Pasadena California 91106 is a great…read moreplace 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.

Service matters and when you are ignored and people that arrive after you get seated, and you…read moreactually have to say out loud "is someone going to help me" you know your "kind" is not wanted. Sad but I truely feel discriminated against. Shame on the server that did not speak even one word to me. To the establishment owners, it only takes one person and one bad experience to lose a long time customer. Unfortunately I had one today and it left a very bad taste in my mouth that your food can't overcome.

I've been coming here for years and the device is always 5-star. Food is sooooo good!read more

The best Iranian food I've had (bar none) and probably the most delicious meal I've had this year…read morethus far! Raffi's Place was my most anticipated restaurant on my SoCal trip. The soltani kabob was to die for; the flavors in the beef barg and koobideh were so rich and cooked to perfection. The mastery of these dishes was absolutely on display. The mast moosir was a great creamy and savory side dish to complement the entrees. I HAD to get the tahdig (crispy rice) too! I also had a bit of the lamb shank which was really flavorful, tender, and paired perfectly with the baghali polo. The yogurt soda was a bit of an acquired taste for me, but I'm happy to have tried it for the full experience. We finished off our delicious meal with a floral and sweet Persian ice cream wafer sandwich. The portions were enormous, so we left feeling full with leftovers to look forward to! We came on a lively weekday evening. They don't do reservations, but we were warmly greeted and quickly seated with lavash and butter on our table immediately. The restaurant has a beautiful and romantic atmosphere, with hybrid indoor/outdoor courtyard dining. Our waiter was attentive and made us feel very welcomed. I'd give this restaurant more than 5 stars if I could!

Visited here during the soft opening... I know, it's long…read moretime ago, but the service was really good with great food.

I love Mediterranean food! We had appetizer sampler, and a combo of lamb chops & chicken thighs; it…read morecomes with grilled vegetables and a side - we opted for half rice/half potatoes. All the food was flavorful & delicious! Bring your appetite - portions are large. We were disappointed they no longer carry Napoleon & syrniki for dessert but tried honey cake and thoroughly enjoyed it. Service was fast and couteous. Space is open & contemporary.

I love Azizam! Took…read moremyself on a solo date here about two months ago when I moved into the area. When you first walk in you're welcomed with a cool retro vibe that feels pretty homey. Since it was my first time here I asked the person working at the front ( you have to order up front where they then give you a number) some questions regarding the menu. They were supper attentive and friendly. After I ordered I sat outside to people watch which was honestly really nice. Reminded me of Paris. My food came promptly thus after. The Tumeric braised chicken is amaaazzzinggg the chicken is so juicy and falls off the bone. The rice has some sort of crunchiness to it that compliments the entire flavor profile of the dish. The eggplant dip reminded me of the one my grandmother makes, dipped with the chicken made my meal feel really nostalgic. I've been back four times since and never regret it. One of those meals that just makes you feel really good after!

one of my favorite restaurants in LA. mazeh plate is unlike…read moreanything i've ever had defffff get the herbs and eggplant. the turmeric rice chicken is so flavorful and tender and there's so many pinches of pickle which i LOVE. they use long grain rice which soaks up everything perfectlyyyy affordable (everything around $20) and very easy casual counter service style. please come to explore diverse cuisine and support small businesses. so well deserving of all its accolades

The food was good for the most part but inconsistent. I would again but the environment was a bit…read moreloud

Went for my bf's bday celebration & it was such an outstanding experience!…read more The service was incredibly friendly and welcoming, they were super attentive and accommodating. The food was SO good and fresh. Get the steak frites!!!! It was super tender and flavorful. The Greek salad was also light and refreshing. The chicken kebab plate was honestly just okay, and the hummus and Pita bread was solid. The star of the show was the borek flaky bread appetizer and the steak. The patio seating outside was nice and a vibe. I loved it here !!!

So tasty. If you're coming with a bigger party and planning to share, ask them to assemble family…read morestyle and all the meats will be placed together on top of their naan/thin flatbread. Soaks up all that goodness!!! Stand out meats were definitely the chicken thigh and lamb rack + ground beef stick. Super flavorful and will not be disappointed. Their garlic dip on our chicken plate was tangy with a punch but complimented everything well. The rice was decent but my family loved their fries. Can ask for ranch.

After hiking the mountains, friends and I decided on eating at Raffi's Catering and Banquet…read more Service was pretty bad, slow to get everything going for our party of 8. From getting the correct number of place settings, water for the table and food to arrive, service was so incredibly slow. We hunted down the waiter a couple times, as he didn't really check on our party. Dirty dishes from other patrons sat for awhile on empty tables. Despite the wait, food was good, edible. Portion sizes are huge, so come hungry. I got the combo kebab plate (see my pic) and everything taste as expected. Pita bread was a bit dry and hard. Good value for the price here. Inside and outside seating. Large free parking. My group sat outside, as there was outdoor fans cooling us off on such a warm afternoon.

My family and I frequent a lot of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurants, whether it's a sit…read moredown restaurant or takeout--and Sahara might just be the best we've ever had! We heard good things about Sahara and decided to check it out yesterday; and it exceeded expectations. I had the beef kebab plate, while my mom and brother had the chicken kebab plate. We loved how they had complimentary snacks (olives, cheese, and cucumber) and also that the plate came with either soup or salad. The meat dishes were so flavorful and honestly the best we've had at any restaurant. They gave a lot of meat too; 8 pieces each dish. The baba ghanoush was also great. Last but not least, Mary, our server, was extremely pleasant and attentive. We can't wait to go back!

How many times have I driven past this restaurant and never noticed? A lot, but now that I'm…read moreacquainted, well, that's going to change. My first impression was how friendly everyone is, both employees and customers. I also noticed the aroma of mesquite smoke, which is a principle difference between their food and many others that use gas grills. The wonderful lady at the counter welcomed me and suggested the split kabob plate with half each beef and chicken. She also gave me the lunch and dinner menus to peruse. I grabbed a table and didn't wait long before my order was ready. Lots of rice pilaf, hummus, and tabouli. Additionally, there was a portion of garlic sauce. The portion of meat was equally impressive. I was still afflicted with recent dental work so I had to eat slowly and carefully. Their food is very crushable if not for that. They also quarter the pita bread which allows easier dipping or making mini wraps. Anyhow, I'm sure I'll be back sooner than later to try the Lula (aka koubideh), lamb, and other unique house specials. The essence of wood smoke is especially good, so that's a high mark. 4.5 overall My only criticisms are the rice could have been warmer, and the sauce more garlicky.

So this was my first visit to Shamshiri Restaurant, and wow!!! I was absolutely blown away! I…read moreordered the Chicken Koobideh, and let me tell you as an American who absolutely loves Persian food, I have to say this was by far the most amazing and delicious chicken koobideh I've ever had. It was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and so tender it practically melted in my mouth. Everything about the experience was just fantastic, from the warm, friendly service to the cozy atmosphere. You can tell they put real care and love into every dish they make. From now on, I know exactly where I'm going whenever I'm craving Persian food. Shamshiri has definitely won me over!

Fantastic Food. HORRIBLE service. Today I sat down and ordered at the end of the server's shift…read more She left and never put in our order. There were only two tables of people, so you think they would notice that the food order was missing. But they didn't. They offered nothing in the way of an apology. My one hour lunch break turned into 2 hours. GET IT TOGETHER PEOPLE

We came here for Nowrooz lunch. I was skeptical of trying a Persian restaurant in Koreatown as we…read morenormally drive to Westwood for great Persian food. I'm so happy we tried this place - it's Westwood quality without having to drive all the way there. We tried their perfectly made kashkebaddmjoon, combo of chicken and beef shish kebab and chicken koobideh for my son. The food was chef's kiss. We parked in the front meter parking but there's valet available. The service was friendly - our waiter was a younger gentleman. The vibe is like a mixture of casual + fancy. Their restrooms are super duper clean - which I really appreciate as a person with ocd. Will definitely be back! Happy Nowrooz!

I'd say TehranRo Grill was one of the most pleasant surprises I've had in a while, trying new…read moreplaces in Koreatown. I visited with my family to celebrate my birthday on a Tuesday evening, and we were seated promptly, with no wait time. Friendly people, cute little space, but it was the bursting flavors that really made this celebratory dinner unforgettable. We got the beef & lamb koobideh, chicken shish kabobs, and shrimp kabobs. My jaw was already on the floor when I saw the portions--but oh my goodness, everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The shrimp were so plump that even my picky choosy mom thoroughly enjoyed them! I actually get kabob cravings quite regularly. And to think all this time, I've been ordering underwhelming deliveries from the mid places when TehranRo Grill is just a short 10-minute drive from home? Damn. I've been missing out. I'll most certainly be returning and trying all of the different options. Can't wait.

have been coming to this causal restaurant for their whole rotisserie chicken for years. Probably…read morethe best rotisserie chicken in the area. The price is reasonable IMO. They can get busy at times. A little wait is worth it. service is overall sufficient. A local burger joint vibe. I may lack the background to appreciate their mediterranean dishes but I have tried them. I still prefer the chicken, it is a safer choice if you are that not into Mediterranean foods. Hot sauce, garlic sauce, and the pita bread are a must. The nutty dessert baklava is good as well, sweet & sticky. Overall. This is a good place that offers amazing rotisserie chicken, way better than the ones from the supermarkets or the wholesales place. Just my two cents. Make your choice wisely ;)

Here's a cleaner, more polished version you can use:…read more I've had mixed experiences at this Zankou Chicken location in Pasadena, but today was especially frustrating. It was 12:09 and the restaurant was empty when I ordered a chicken sandwich with no tomato and no onion. My order was made incorrectly, and to make matters worse, two customers who came in after me and ordered full and half chickens received their food well before I did. I also paid for an extra side of pickles, which was completely left out of my order. Meanwhile, several employees were just standing around talking. Overall, really disappointing service today.