Beautifully designed and decorated classy restaurant featuring exquisite Persian cuisine. Lovely elevated outdoor covered patio. Staff very professional. Appetizers feature very fresh salads and dips. Puffy hot bread accompanies dips. Entrees of lamb, fish and chicken. Delicious crusty rice with barberries and pomegranate. Slow simmered stews. Flavors complex. Extensive wine choices. Several yummy sounding desserts but didn't have room for one! My only complaint was that the music was too loud. It was pretty tho! read more

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What a lovely meal. Perfect place to share a bunch of dishes. The wild mushroom appetizer was awesome. It comes with a pita like bread but they made it gluten free for me with a homemade sumac dusted potato chip. The lamb was amazing, Do yourself a favor and ask them to add one more chop to the dish. It' has a really tasty glaze on it and served on a delicious yogurt spread. We also had the chicken kebab. The manager was amazing and stopped to chat with us at the end of the meal and asked about our experience. The service was top notch h as well. Ambiance is moody and perfect for a date night or a girls night out. read more

First time experiencing Persian cuisine (that I recall). This place was gorgeous. From the entrance to all the staff. They definitely made the space warm & welcoming. Went with a few friends and we were informed that most of the dishes are brought out in a family-style sharing set-up. Which was perfect for us. I feel like we ordered almost everything on the menu i doubt it as I saw some things on other tables that I will for sure be going back for. All in all the time there was amazing and the he food was incredible. I have place some photos and a video of our main meals below. I really hope you go and check this place out. Maybe you'll even get Nathan our server. He was amazing and had such good recommendations. read more

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I love this new-ish spot in Austin! The location in north central means parking is no issue but I hope it continues to do well. We went early on a Sunday and love everything we tried. Service was wonderful. read more

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OVERVIEW: Nowadays, finding restaurants that check all three boxes (food taste and quality, excellent service, and great value) is rare. Roya easily fits the bill. I had heard nothing but raving reviews, and they truly met and beat my expectations. Our visit was lovely and I can't wait to return! We opted to participate in their SOFREH experience for $85/person (the entire table must participate if you choose this route). It's ideal for first-timers or if you don't know what to order, and honestly I felt like it was an incredible deal. You get a little of everything across the menu, tea service, dessert, and we were even gifted a parting wooden gift box with two cookies and a bag of tea to take home. Seriously, I felt like it was my birthday! For only two people, it was quite a lot of food (they do adjust it based on your party size). It was an amazing experience! QUICK FACTS: - Reservations? Yes, recommended. They still get quite busy! - Parking? Yes, open/shared lot with plenty of parking spaces. - Happy hour? No, not at this time. read more

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I'm so glad to have finally found a Persian restaurant that I'm sure I'll come back to often. Walking in the restaurant feels like you're transported to Persia with the lighting and the music. The servers were all amazing, ours in particular (Tim) was spectacular. He gave us great recommendations and even made the choice for us in some situations. The food was very unique and flavorful and super vegetarian friendly as well. read more

Roya - Cauliflower kebab, chicken kebab, rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm not Persian so can't really say how authentic Roya is, but the restaurant and its food are both gorgeous. One can tell how much thoughts went into planning out the space and the food - they're both cozy and warm, yet classy and sophisticated. We went for my husband's birthday, did the Sofreh experience, and thoroughly enjoyed it, though we'll likely stick to à la carte next time. Everything was good, including the service, and the cardamom rose tea at the end was exceptional, along with the halva. We really enjoyed it and will definitely be back! read more

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I have been to Roya a couple times already but not for a full dinner experience. I've only sat at the bar before. There were 4 of us and I was the only one who had already been here. We had a great time and everyone enjoyed the food from bone marrow, skewers, whipped feta, mushrooms, and cocktails. I only snapped one photo this time as I wasn't sure I was going to do another review, but I had to get a photo of the layout before we started eating the main dishes this time! It's conveniently located with easy parking options and great, authentic food! I look forward to the next time I find myself here again. read more

Really enjoyed dining at Roya. The atmosphere is beautiful and thoughtfully designed with Persian-inspired decor, music, and artwork that creates a warm, upscale vibe. The food was very good, we had ghormeh sabzi and koobideh kebab with taftoon bread, both well prepared and satisfying. We also got complimentary salad shirazi and a creative appetizer that was like a light puff pastry filled with feta cheese and vegetables, which was unique and delicious. Service was excellent; our waiter was attentive and gave great recommendations. At the end, they included a small card with a quote from the poet Rumi along with our check, which was a really thoughtful touch and a nice memory to take with us. I really wish they would open a location in Dallas-Fort Worth. read more

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Came here on the recommendation of a family member. We were Definitely not disappointed! Great ambiance with bar seating, indoor seating, and I guess when the weather is nice some outdoor seating. Everyone was super nice and genuinely wanted to make sure you enjoyed the experience. We passed on the sofreh because we had a few picky eaters, but would like to come back and try it. Started with the Wild Mushroom Borsni. We loved it, had a charcoal taste but amazing. For dinner our group had Gormeh Sabzi, Koobideh Kabobs, Jujeh Kabob, and polo sefid. Meat was extremely tender, and enjoyed sharing the different plates. All were excellent. Finished with the ice cream sandwiches. Wish they were a tad sweeter, but now I am being picky. read more

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Beautiful restaurant with a traditional design that creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. The staff were incredibly kind and friendly, and Manager Reuben took the time to stop by our table and chat with us, which made the experience feel even more welcoming. The food was very good. I ordered the traditional Ghormeh Sabzi with rice, which was served with a small salad on the side. The flavors were delicious, and I especially enjoyed their Sour Cherry Margarita--it was unique, refreshing, and complemented the meal perfectly. My only disappointment was that the Ghormeh Sabzi did not include the boiled dried limes (limoo amani) that are traditionally cooked into the stew and contribute to its signature flavor. As someone familiar with the dish, I felt that element was missing. For dessert, I tried the halwa. While it was well prepared, it was a bit sweeter than my personal preference. Overall, I had a very enjoyable experience thanks to the welcoming service, beautiful ambiance, and tasty food. I would definitely return and recommend it to others looking for Persian cuisine. read more

Roya - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is gorgeous inside! It also has a long menu of delicious food. Our server was able to explain items on the menu that we weren't sure of and also provided some recommendations. We all enjoyed it very much and we will definitely be back to try it again. read more

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THE BIG: Upscale Persian food has now hit the Austin scene! Located in North Central Austin and on the second floor of the building. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a modern classic vibe. Plenty of parking in the lot. THE BLACK AND WHITE: We came here with a couple of other friends and got sat at a long table to enjoy an early dinner. Service is great, informative and fast. Food and drink wise, we got the jujeh (chicken), koobideh (lamb), polo sefid (persian rice), borani (eggplant yogurt), and glass of chablis. The chicken was very good, however was super small, it was around $30 and was one skewer... koobideh was delicious and tender. The sefid was nice and crunchy but lacked any flavor, which might be the point due to the flavorfulness of everything else. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Damage done for our feast was around $120. Definitely a delicious meal and I would definitely try some other items. read more

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Exceptional experience. I'll speak to my fellow Persians in this review. My husband had two cocktails. First was the Albaloo marg. Basically a very good and tart sharbat albaloo with tequila. And then the Ahura Mazda which was like a carrot juice/ turmeric/mezcal drink. Both very well executed cocktail interpretations of traditional Iranian drinks. They start with a fun bite of noon o paneer in a creative amuse-bouche. We ordered the following: Ghormeh Sabzi: one of the best I've had and the bone had so much marrow we didn't even have to fight over it. Luckily my brothers weren't there. Koobideh: super juicy. Great flavor from the lamb and they use a really fatty mix of meat the way it should be. Prob at least 75/25 ratio. Chengeh: really delicious sauce on top and the meat was super tender and well grilled. I would like to see a barg or chengeh option on the menu that's not waygu and maybe like $35-$40. I called my dad after dinner and couldn't bring myself to tell him I paid $65 for a seekh of chengeh. Still recommend though. Joojeh: again perfectly grilled. Great flavor. Really love the way they slice and stack it in thin layers. It makes it's really easy to eat. Nicely done polo sefeed. I was upset when I didn't see tahdig on the menu but turns out every rice comes with its own small tahdig dome. We ended with the akbar mashti ice cream sandwich. Very nostalgic. Tea was also lovely. Service was really top notch as well. I thinks it's hard to make elevated Persian food. l've been to serval resturaunts that try and fail. It's usually smaller portions and higher prices which sucks. Roya really did everything right. Meats and stews done exceptionally well, good portions, and an atmosphere that makes for a great vibey date night. 10/10 recommend. read more

Roya - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I've come here twice now. Once on valentines day and once this Friday. Photos are from my valentines day trip. We did the Sofreh, so the chef special. This time we did ala carte and we had 2 friends join us. The cocktails are really good. I've had the talla and Ahuta Mazda. Loved both of them but would do the talla again. My friend hadbtge Ajeel... Very interesting flavour profile. All the cocktails are unique so if definitely recommend. For the appetizers try the bademjaan and wild mushroom borani. For the mains we did Gheymeh and the Wagyu and Koobideh kebob.they were all wonderful. The Wagyu while expensive was a must try... It just melts in your mouth. If you love Persian food or want to try Persian food this is the place. read more

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Not gonna lie I was a little skeptical when I got here. The ambiance is 10/10 they really took their time designing and decorating this place I absolutely love the interior. I thought it was going to be another vibey middle eastern spot with mid food.. but boy was a wrong. They really put their heart into the menu and have stuck close to authentic Persian flavors with an elevated twist. The cocktails were delicious and unique. My favorite was the ghormeh sabzi and the eggplant appetizer. The shrimp was also AMAZING. The servers had great hospitality and service all around. I will definitely be coming back here! read more

Roya - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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What an amazing dining experience! A friend of mine suggested this place and made us a reservation which we were late for but they were very accommodating. We were celebrating my work anniversary and they had a sign up for us as well. Thank you! This is a gem for sure. Really enjoyed it all. Service was excellent and covered all bases for us. We ordered a lot and they brought items out slow for us so it wasn't a table full of food until the end. Not a complaint. I'm having a hard time choosing a favorite because it was all so good. Unique to my pallet but savory and flavorful. I'd get it all again. I don't think you can go wrong on anything here. The place itself is very well put together. Very clean and pleasant all around. The decor is superb! Highly recommend for a date night. Must try! read more

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So the location I have to say is very random for where it is. The restaurant overall is cute when you get upstairs it does feel very date night/Mediterranean. I do recommend a reservation cause it does tend to get packed. I have to say the waitress we had was amazing. She was so nice and knew how to explain each dish very well. I personally enjoyed it, but I will say some of the items were OK for the price points. I did go with somebody that's Persian and they said that this food was more Mediterranean than Persian. The only thing that I will say was phenomenal to me was the lamb shank that's definitely what would get me to keep going back just to order that. We ordered a couple of different plates as you can see there on the photos that I named I will say for the appetizers. I loved the mushrooms because they had that chard taste to them. The yogurt sauce was like tzatziki so really nice. The kebabs were OK. I felt the meat needed a little bit of more flavor. The rice was good, but it was interesting that it had like the crispy ends, but I didn't enjoy a lot of the saffron taste in there. Overall, it's a cute restaurant, but I will say the influencers are making it to a lot more when it's not. Definitely a date night/girls night dinner spot. read more

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Our server Sammy was wonderful and the overall experience was first class all the way. We ordered: Bedemjan, paneer sabzi, and borani appetizers. The one with the mushrooms was the best bite of the entire meal. Do not skip. I have a mushroom hater in my family and he not only tried it but ended up finishing most of it. Our selected entrees were 2 orders of koobideh kabob, which were small and delicate and you could taste the lamb and beef combo. We all got the Australian Wagyu. My youngest liked it best. I enjoyed it but wouldn't choose it as my own meal. We also ordered the Sea Bass, which is my favorite fish. I did not enjoy this dish. The fish was "fishy" and quite expensive for just a piece of fish with nothing accompanying it. The Shirin polo (jeweled rice) was perfect to go with the meats and their taftoon bread (pita) was delicious. While we didn't leave hungry, we didn't have anything left to bring home. For 2 adults, a teen, and a child with 1 alcoholic drink (total) we spent $320. This was definitely an elegant and elevated experience. We love Persian food and are so pleased to have another option in Austin. They ended our meal with some delicious rose/saffron ice cream sandwiches. They were delicious and a perfect small bite to finish up our celebratory meal. read more

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Beautiful restaurant with good food + needs more service refining. Roya is a gorgeous space with beautiful decor and dim light dark interior. As you came in, you felt as if youre transported to a different space. We did reserve before hand but it was not hard to snag one. We had a few things to share: wild mushroom bogani (garlic labneh with very strong wild mushroom taste - very good), lamb kebab (came as two kebabs, very tender and flavorful, one of the best kebabs I have ever tasted), the beef with bone marrow and beans (Ghormeh Sabzi) was unique and quite tasty too. Beef was tender and melt in your mouth. Overall food was good, 8.5/10 in my book, I dont really have a strong taste for Mediterrenean so that might be me. Their service/staffs can be better though. We waited a while before anyone came to check on us and overall staffs probably need more training/refining. Makes sense since they just opened. read more

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Roya was recommended by a Yelp friend. Roya is a whole vibe. It's located on Shoal creek Blvd next door to District Kitchen. The name means "vision" in Farsi. You are transported to another place in time...tranquil, calm and meditative. Colorful mosaic steps leas you to the restaurant. You are first struck by the decor...middle eastern flavor, spectacular chandeliers and dark blue soothing walls. The restaurant has a large mirror which reflects the restaurants ambiance. If feels like every square feet of this restaurant was thoughtfully planned. First, the kitchen delivered a gift...petit for of puffed pastry with whipped feta. It was a happy mouth flavor explosion. Roya also have partitioned off rooms for ultimate privacy. I ordered the lamb shack initially but it was a little too fatty for me. My server, David, gladly exchanged it for the Chilean sea bass.. The sea bass was light and extremely flavorful topped with caviar. Really enjoyed this entree. A colleague ordered the short ribs with bone marrow. He enjoyed it very much. There is free parking in front and on the of the building.. read more

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Tried the Sofreh Experience which is a curated family-style tasting menu. Loved the variety of dishes it had. Some of the standout dishes were the kebabs, ghormeh sabzi and the braised lamb shank. Would recommend doing it with someone that has a similar taste as you. read more

Roya - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Amir finally get's to cook from his heart and I'm a little bit mad at him for waiting so long. Roya, imo, is the jewel of his food empire, joining Keepers, The District, Oasthouse and Daisy. I met Amir when he opened a little place called District in my hood and has blossomed to multiple restaurants all of different themes. I was ecstatic to hear he was going to bring food from his culture to Austin. Roya is a Persian delight. We were able to snag a seat at the bar, which is where we find ourselves often. He had 200 covers on a Monday night reserved. Best to get a reservation or show up at 4.15pm like we did. The restaurant is very well thought out and beautifully decorated and appointed. It's warm and cozy. Amir came out to say Hi. Our barkeeps were smiley and talkative with us. Amir went through the menu and the obvious choice was the Sofreh, where we could sample several of the dishes and let him choose. Brilliant choice. Suzie had a Zeytoon Martini and I a glass of Chablis. We also had a celebratory sparkling Berlucchi. Delicious. Then the food started showing up: Bademjan. This featured a black tahini with eggplant, onions, chickpeas, crispy garlic, mint, kashk and taftoon. This was a first and will repeated as soon as possible. The puff bread that came with was perfect for dipping/scooping said hummus into my gob. Reminded me of a puffer fish, with sesame seeds on top. Perfect. Grojeh Farangi Salad. Fresh, crispy, tomato, cucumber, with walnut, feta, olives and a herb vinaigrette. Great way to cleanse a palate before tucking into our mains. But prior to that we needed to chomp on an amuse bouche. Olivieh. Just go ahead and bung the whole thing into your pie hole. It was seriously delicious and complex. All the parts paired together for a wonderful punch. Get these.. heck get two orders. Ghormeh Sabzi. Ok, the shiz just got real. What an impressive presentation. Caveman style short rib peaking out of a dark, saucey, roux ocean. It wasn't a roux by any means. Rich herb stew with chunks of short ribs through out. A well placed demi spoon was sticking out the top of the shank and I just grabbed it and took a spoonful of the rich, umami "meat butter". It had a mild, slightly nutty, and sweet flavor profile. The stew was hearty, tangy and delicious. Chunks of tender shank were delicious. The crown of the meal so far. Koobideh and Jujeh Kabobs. A blend of two different kabobs. One of chicken and the other lamb. Each were prepared well and very tasty. Again cooked appropriately, not chewy and lathering some of the sides, like the Mast for instance worked well. Mast, Shirin Polo and Torshi. These are all little like side dishes to munch on and dip stuff into, like the Mast with the Kabob's in my case. The rice (Shirin Polo) which had nuts, yogurt and Zereshk. The outside of the rice will remind one of Socarrat you find in Paella. The rice arrives dome shaped, crispy outside and flavorful soft well spiced rice inside. The Mast was delicious, with the Museer (Persian Shallots) shining through. Where the heck can I get some Persian Shallots to replicate this at home? Bueller? Bueller?.. anyone? Torshi was a pickling concoction of veggies with a herby base, a little goes a long way. We were stuffed, I bagged the rice to take home. There was a special desert, which I didn't get enough information on, served with aplomb. Caramelly in texture and perhaps hazelnut, swimming in a sauce poured on at serving. With a fantastic twill chocolate on top courtesy of the TV Chef winning rock star Dennis. As we finished up and got our tab, two little boxes showed up from the staff. It was a special gift due to our 16th Wedding Anniversary I think. No big presentation, just a heartful Thank you for coming in. Not going to share what was inside, you need to go and check it out yourself. It was a delightful end to an amazing evening. Staff, all were welcoming, efficient, knowledgeable and kind. They all seem as excited to be there as we were. Thank you Amir, for cooking from your heart and bringing this to the rest of Austin. Michelin worthy me thinks. read more

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We really enjoyed this place. The food was amazing - very exotic. My favorite was the beef dish with bone marrow. It felt like a home-cooked meal. The salad was also really good with a lot of fresh herbs. The pita was really fresh and complementary, which was great for dipping! Another favorite dish was the kebabs, highly recommend! They were very tender, and the flavor was unique. The service was great, although the server kept bringing out bottled water when we had asked for Tap several times. I'm not sure if that was to charge the bill or what?? Overall, it was an amazing experience, the ambience was very classy and the food was amazing. Would love to go back if reservations weren't so challenging to get a hold of. read more

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Great Persian restaurant! Booked a reservation for Wednesday night so we got seated right away. The interior is really beautiful and the seating was comfy. Came with a group of 5 so we ordered a bunch of things and ate family style. Started off with some appetizers. We got a few dips which come with some bread. The Wild Mushroom Borani and Bademian (eggplant base) were my fave. The Paneer Sabzi was solid. Since we were a group of 5 we destroyed the bread and our waiter was nice enough to get us more. We also got the Olivieh was delicious, would highly recommend. For our main dishes we ordered the Ghormeh Sabzi, Aash-e Anar, Fesenjoon, and Koobideh Kabob. They were all great. We also ordered the Shirin Polo, which is a jeweled rice which was great to eat with all the entrees we ordered. The Mast and Torshi were great additions too. We were real big back and ordered the Bastani Sonnati and Pesteh Entremet for dessert. Of the two I think I liked the latter more. Washed it all down with some Black Tea which was served in a beautiful teapot and glasses. Really glad I got to try this spot. The service was fantastic and we all had a great night eating to our hearts content. Would absolutely recommend! read more

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The interior of Roya is beautifully decorated. You walk in and go upstairs to the main restaurant where tables are spread across a few rooms, with a beautiful bar in the middle. Servers are above and beyond kind and welcoming, walking you through each part of the menu and guiding you through the Persian dishes. All dishes are meant to be shared. We ordered the Gojeh Fareh Salad to start, which is not to be missed with a light, but delicious dressing and sprinkling of feta. Our other strater of Wild Mushroom Borani atop garlic labneh, was also outstanding. Our main dishes of the chicken kabob and beef rib stew with bone marrow were also tasty. The rice! Really no words to describe this special rice, please just order and trust us. We finished wih a dessert of ice cream sprinkled with pistachios and rose flavoring - subtle, but also rich with flavor. read more

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Went last night (March 9, 2026) and overall left pretty impressed! The restaurant itself is beautiful. You walk up a staircase to get to the dining room, and the space feels warm, almost transportive -- dark blue walls, dramatic chandeliers, and a lot of Middle Eastern design elements. It's stylish but still cozy, and the lighting makes it feel like a good place for a date night or a long dinner with friends (though I prefer more bright spaces). Service was excellent throughout the night. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, and our server took time to explain the dishes and the story behind the restaurant. We decided to do the Sofreh tasting menu ($85 pp). Price-wise it doesn't really save money compared to ordering à la carte but the benefit is that it gives you a more complete experience. They start by laying a tablecloth at our table. The kitchen also sends out a small complimentary bite to start (for us it was a puff pastry with whipped feta I think inside). One thing I did find interesting though: the server mentioned the dishes are chef-selected and might vary depending on the night. But after looking at other reviews, it seems like most people end up getting almost the exact same lineup of dishes. Olivieh - 4.5/5 This was the first dish. It's essentially a Persian chicken salad bite with a creamy texture, but the flavors were surprisingly complex and really well balanced. A small bite but a great way to start the meal. Bademjan - 5/5 Probably my favorite dish of the night. It almost feels like baba ghanouj, hummus, and tahini combined into one dish. The roasted eggplant, chickpeas, black tahini, crispy garlic, and herbs worked beautifully together. Gojeh Farangi (Tomato Salad) - 4/5 Very fresh and clean -- tomatoes, cucumber, herbs, feta, and vinaigrette. It's nicely done but compared to the other dishes it feels more traditional and not particularly innovative. Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb Stew) - 4.5/5 A classic Persian herb stew with very tender short rib. The sauce is deep and aromatic with a slight tang from dried lime. Not necessarily innovative, but definitely very good and comforting. Koobideh Kabob & Jujeh Kabob - 4.5/5 Both kabobs were cooked really well. The meat was juicy and nicely grilled. Flavor-wise they lean traditional rather than creative, but the execution was strong. Taftoon Bread - 4/5 Freshly baked sesame Persian flatbread. Nothing particularly unique but clearly made fresh and great with the dips. Shirin Polo (Jeweled Rice) - 5/5 This was honestly one of the highlights of the meal. The rice arrives dome-shaped with a crispy tahdig layer on the outside and soft fragrant rice inside. It had nuts, yogurt, and zereshk (barberries), and the crispy layer added incredible texture. They also brought small sides like mast (yogurt dip) and torshi (pickled vegetables) which worked well as palate resets. Pesteh Entremet - 5/5 Dessert was beautiful and very well executed. It's a pistachio layered cake with kataifi crunch, pistachio sponge, white chocolate, raspberry gelée, and yuzu pistachio mousse. The textures were great and the flavors were balanced without being overly sweet. They served it with Persian tea, which was incredibly fragrant and honestly one of the better teas I've had at a restaurant. The whole place feels very intentional. From the atmosphere to the pacing of the meal, you can tell a lot of thought went into the experience. read more

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M daughter told me this place was a must while I visited Austin. We were able to get a reservation for a Friday afternoon. As soon as we walked in we were greeted and sent upstairs . There is an elevator if stairs are difficult for you . We were seated and shortly afterwards greeted by Tim our waiter . The room is nicely decorated and spacious . I liked that the volume was not loud at all. We picked the chef's experience. Plate after plate of exquisite food! A glass of wine on the side to savor all of the Dey flavors and at the end tea and a special dessert. I can't repeat all the names of the dishes but every single one of them was amazing in presentation and taste . This place is so amazing that we already made a reservation to come back before we leave . 5/5 stars read more

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Elevated Persian dining at its finest and the hottest new restaurant on the Austin dining scene! My amazing girlfriend snagged reservations for opening week because she knows how obsessed I am with Persian cuisine. This place does not disappoint!!! Stunning ambiance, interesting artwork - a beautiful blend of ethic and modern. Creative, moody, vibey. Perfect for date night or any special occasion. We kicked it off with a couple of mezcal cocktails (absolutely delicious) and decided to splurge on the Sofreh (tasting menu). For $75 per person we received a huge sampling of signature dishes. Each item was better than the next! The small bite appetizers to start (paneer sabzi and chicken salad bite) were bursting with flavor. The salad was refreshing. My favorite items were: - Bademjan - an eggplant dip appetizer served with a delicious soft sesame bread. Presented beautifully with edible flowers and all! - Gormeh Sabzi - fantastic short rib dish in spinach and herb stew. Just melted in my mouth! They served a lovely surprise Persian tea after dessert. It was the perfect end to the experience. The only things I thought could've been better: - The kabobs were a bit undercooked/rare for my taste. - Plates were tiny; would've been nice to have plate and utensil changes between appetizer and main courses. - Service was good but not great. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Beautiful! They did such a great job on the Reno for this restaurant. I loved the vibe and the crispy rice. We were in the main dining room and it's just so pretty. I wish they opened earlier. I've wanted to grab a late lunch a few times but it's not open. I'd like to go back to eat at the bar. It looked really nice. read more

Amazing food and drinks. Great service and wonderful ambiance. A great variety of dishes. Highly recommend it.

My group was really glad we did the Sofreh experience - not pictured is the wine pairing we included. Everything impressed us and the 4 of us left satisfied and FULL. The Fesenjoon (chicken thighs with pomegranate) was a crowd favorite. I don't have a photo of that dish because it went quickly. We also started with a spread that had grilled peaches, which I didn't see on the main menu, but it had us hooked from the very beginning. The restaurant is beautiful inside and the staff did a nice job presenting our dishes, articulating the flavors and the tradition behind it. read more

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Have you been here yet? No? Then get over there. The Shortie's pizza that previously occupied this location made a fine example of the very niche Connecticut Greek style pizza. The owners say they'll bring that restaurant back someday, but until then, the same owners have decided to delight Austin with Roya. Kindred Persian spot, Caspian Grill on Research, is pretty darn good but this place ups the game several notches. What's Great: While unassuming on the outside, inside, it's one of the most beautiful restaurants I've seen in Austin -- on par and maybe better than Fonda San Miguel. The food, best served family style, is excellent from start to finish including seasoned olives, creamed feta, aromatic rices, lamb stews, and perfected seasoned lamb, beef, and chicken kabobs. Not so Great: Overbearing unprofessional waiter, or maybe just the one we had. Despite giving him many (MANY) hints that we preferred to just read the menu, he kept talking and talking. I timed him. In our 1 hour 10 minute visit, he talked for nearly 20 minutes. Less is more. Read the room, guy. Our group of four was happily enjoying a spread of small appetizer dishes, maybe 80% done, and he started grabbing plates and silverware from the table. When he started putting new serve ware down, he just plopped plates down wherever there was space and tossed a fork and knife on top like it was a picnic with paper plates and plastic cutlery. I appreciate a fresh set for our main course(s), but we were not ready for that, and this was sloppy even by grease pit diner standards. Maybe that's where he was trained? I'd give this 5 stars if not for the poorly trained wait staff. Everything else was amazing! read more

We came in this past weekend with a party of 4 and our experience was absolutely unforgettable! The ambiance, the food, the drinks, and our server Nathan surpassed all of our expectations! Nathan was gracious and incredibly knowledgeable of the cuisine and drink menu. We could also sense the incredible synergy between Nathan and the chef. The service at the hostess stand and the bar was exceptional and everyone was very friendly. It truly was a stunning and beautiful evening out with friends! Definitely a night to remember and we will be returning! read more

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This place has great atmosphere! I am vegan and my wife is vegetarian and the waiter was so knowledgeable about the menu and what and how the kitchen adjusts ingredients to make something vegan. With that said, so much of their menu can be made vegan. And the food was INCREDIBLE!!!!!! We will absolutely be back! read more

The vibes are great and the inside is beautiful! We loved the yogurt dip with the potato chips and the rice with the hard shell however as vegetarians we felt there wasn't a lot of flavor a a few dishes that were available for us. It might just be a cuisine is more meat based. But overall it was ok. read more

My husband is half Iranian and we love Persian food and were so excited to try out Roya! I've had a number of the dishes on the menu (though not all of them by any means) and I was absolutely impressed by the flavors as well as the presentation of everything we tried.  We actually attempted to walk in a few weeks back with another couple and were told around 7pm on a Wednesday that their first opening would be 9pm, so this time around (7pm on a Monday) we make sure to make reservations!  When you first walk in you are greeted by a cozy little library nook filled with books of Persian poetry, with the staircase leading up to the restaurant to the side with lovely tiled risers.  It is beautiful as soon as you walk in! I love the vibe that is throughout the entire restaurant, entry way, stair case, dining rooms, and patio! The decor is lovely and really makes you feel like you could be in a restaurant in a different country.  Our server was so pleasant with the perfect balance of friendly and approachable without being overly attentive or in the way (which drives me crazy). When we said we hadn't been before she told us a little about the chef and the restaurant, and made suggestions for the number of dishes to get for a party of 4 which was helpful! Without her we would have probably each ordered an entree and been buried in food! There was not a thing we ordered that I wouldn't recommend or order again, and I look forward to coming back to try everything we haven't yet!!  The food! We ordered:  Starter: Bademjan $17- black tahini hummus with grilled eggplant: this was amazing! The black tahini really gave it an extra punch of umami and each time you got a dried garlic chip it was a blast of flavor.  They were also kind enough to provide us with thin sliced veggies in addition to the flatbread as one of our party was gluten sensitive.  Mains:  Gormeh Sabzi $27- short rib and herb stew with kidney beans and bone marrow: Gormeh Sabzi is the most classic Persian dish (and one of my absolute favorites) so we had to try it! This was delicious! Rich and savory, the kidney beans and meat were cooked perfectly, and the bone marrow was just an extra splash of rich flavor.  My only very small complaint is that I love to actually cut up the dried limes into my stew and eat little bits with each bite; but I don't know that I've ever seen them in the dish in a restaurant so oh well. -Mahiche Geymeh $42- braised lamb shank with split peas and shoestring potatoes: I had never had this dish before and it was fantastic! Again so rich, but with the lovely tartness that so many Persian dishes have, and the nice hefty split peas to go with it.  Delicious!  -Jujeh Kabob $25- chicken thigh kabobs: chicken kabob is always one of my favorites, especially when its thigh meat! The typical lime flavor was there and they were nice and juicy, definitely no complaints.  Rice & extras: Polo Sefid $6- their 'plain' rice and Shirin Polo $9- jeweled rice with barberries and nuts: the rices were great, ordering two for 4 people was probably more than we needed but I think if we had just ordered 1 we would have run out.  The tahdig was good, though slightly more chewy and less crunchy than we make it at home. Still tasty! I think we didn't really pick out the best mains to eat with the jeweled rice; personally I preferred the plain rice with the two stews we ordered.  -Torshi $5- pickled veggie condiment: my husband makes torshi so we had to try Roya's, it was delicious though spiced a little differently.  I love the vinegar crunch of the pickled veggies, especially with such rich dishes as the two stews we ordered.  Cocktails $18/:  All 3 cocktails were very good (though I'm not a bourbon person so I didn't love the Talla but my husband did).  I think the Ajeel was my favorite, I loved the nutty flavor! It was so nice to have cocktails that were both genuinely unique with flavors and infusions I hadn't seen before and also genuinely tasty! -Ajeel- pistachio/walnut infused vodka, golden currant syrup -Ahura Mazda- mezcal, carrot juice, honey turmeric -Talla- bees knees but with turmeric infused bourbon Desserts- I can't remember the name but it was a layered cake with a pistachio sponge, cream, a jelly layer, and crispies on top; unsurprisingly it was amazing! read more

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I absolutely love how they embedded Persian culture to the core! I had a date night to myself (at the bar). The chef is phenomenal, and brought in rich flavors to the traditional dishes. Complimentary Chef's dish was delicious! I actually appetizer, cucumber yogurt, and a main dish. AND I even ate dessert, and ended it all with charmon tea!!!!!!! I am so coming back. As a persian, thank you so much for making me feel like im home. I was missing my bebejoon! read more

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My first time at Roya and it was exceptional. When you walk in, you transported to another country. The music, the ambiance, the dark lighting, the mosaic art, I was mesmerized. Then the food. Wow. The meal was delicious I don't know where to began. Thankfully our server was helpful as it was my first time having Persian food. We started with a whipped feta, followed by saffron rice and beef. Ending the night with a rose tea. I went almost 3 weeks ago and I still think about that meal. I will be coming back! read more

Roya - Middle Eastern Near Me - Austin, Texas

The restaurant is absolutely stunning from deep jewel colored paint, table cloths and lighting. Our server was amazing and they made my birthday special. We did the Sofreh meal and they were able to accommodate me being a pescatarian. The dips, breads, rice, seafood - all amazing- and the tea! So flavorful! I cannot wait to go back! read more

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