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Rumi’s Kitchen

4.5 (925 reviews)
Open • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 1 week ago

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Recommended Reviews - Rumi’s Kitchen

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Lamb hummus
Indy H.

Such a delicious option in DC for an elevated but casual family style lunch or dinner! Everything we tried was great, but the kabob feasts really stand out. The meats are cooked perfectly and so tender. Portions are large and priced well! I would also highly recommend trying one of their homemade sodas. The service was kind and they were very knowledgeable about the menu and answering my questions about Persian cuisine.

Jane M.

Rumi's Kitchen DC was an absolute standout and one of my favorite meals in DC. The flavors were outstanding, and what impressed me most was how beautifully they let the meat shine without overwhelming it with spices or sauces. Even the vegetarians in our group were raving about the food. We ordered the lamb merguez, mushroom hummus, eggplant appetizer, and a family-style spread of soltani kebab, lamb kebab, and chicken barg. Everything was packed with flavor and beautifully prepared. The portions are HUGE, so definitely plan to share. I also loved the fresh sabzi served with pita--it was such a simple but delicious addition. The mocktails were excellent as well and paired beautifully with the food. Service was outstanding. We were a large group, and the team took excellent care of us with quick, attentive, and friendly service throughout. The ambience is fantastic, with a rustic, warm vibe that makes the restaurant feel both lively and inviting. Between the incredible food, generous portions, and excellent service, Rumi's Kitchen is an easy recommendation and a place I'd happily return to.

Kubideh with rice and salad
Aqil C.

Rumi's Kitchen was busy for a Friday night at 9 p.m., with quite a few people waiting, but we were seated surprisingly quickly. We started with the hummus topped with lamb, followed by the kubideh and lamb kabob for our entrées. The Shirazi salad we ordered with the rice was fresh and excellent. We skipped dessert this time, but everything we had was flavorful and well prepared. The restaurant was crowded but still manageable. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and our seating allowed us to have a conversation without having to yell over the noise. The waitstaff was also very friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Overall, a great experience and an easy 5 out of 5. I would definitely recommend Rumi's Kitchen.

Tina T.

I recently visited Rumi's Kitchen in DC and overall had an average experience. The service was good and the staff was attentive throughout the meal, which I appreciated. I ordered the gheymeh along with the yogurt and cucumbers, while my friend got the herb stew. The food was decent, but having also been to the Houston location, I personally felt the flavors there were much stronger and more memorable compared to the DC restaurant. One nice touch was the complimentary herbs, cheese, and bread they bring to the table, which added a traditional Persian hospitality feel to the experience. The inside of the restaurant is also beautifully designed with a very traditional Persian-inspired atmosphere, including artwork and Persian dancer designs that make the space feel elegant and unique. Overall, it's a nice spot for the ambiance and good service, though I preferred the flavor and overall food experience at the Houston location a bit more.

Hedi R.

We had a wonderful time at Rumi's Kitchen last night. From the ambience to the food and the overall experience, everything was nearly perfect. However, one aspect of the service was disappointing. About 10 minutes after our starters arrived, while we were still enjoying the Salad Shirazi, Yogurt Duo, and Kashk Bademjoon, our waiter cleared our small plates and utensils, saying that dinner was coming. We then waited approximately another 20 minutes before our main courses arrived. I understand that restaurants can get busy and may occasionally be short-staffed, but clearing our plates while we were still enjoying our starters gave us the impression that we were being rushed through the meal. Dining should be about enjoying the food, the company, and the overall experience, rather than feeling hurried. I was especially disappointed because I had three guests with me who were not Persian and were genuinely excited to discover and experience the richness of Persian cuisine. I wanted them to savor each dish and appreciate the culinary traditions that make Persian food so special. On a much more positive note, I must mention the Orange Umbrella cocktails, which were absolutely outstanding! Rumi's Kitchen has so much to offer, and with a little more attention to the pacing of service, the experience would have been truly exceptional from beginning to end.

Kate G.

Wow cannot speak highly enough of this place! The food was amazinggggggg! Get the labneh!! Every dish we had was so good. Our server was very nice & helpful. It's dimly lit inside which makes it feel cozy! Would definitely go back.

Sonya E.

Such a beautiful and vibrant restaurant in DC. With a gorgeous outdoor patio for dining and a romantic lightly dimmed indoor setup -- it's the perfect spot for date night or a night out with amazing people. Sat at the bar. Service was wonderful as their system was efficient and impressive. All the staff were in sync and tag teamed each other to serve everyone and it was a packed house. I really admired the synchronized flow from all the servers, bartenders, and staff -- they have a good thing going on this front. Tried Sabzi for the first time which is offered complimentary to all guests -- essentially fresh herbs, radishes, and goat cheese served on the side to serve as a palate cleanser but also to offer balance to pair with rich cooked Iranian meals. So refreshing and such a great addition to the main entree. Ordered the Chinjeh Lubia Polo ($38) described on the menu as beef sirloin kabob with garlic yogurt, braised green beans, grilled whole tomato, and basmati rice. This was absolutely excellent. The beef sirloin was seasoned heavily and every bite was bursting with flavors of onion, black pepper, turmeric, salt, and I think saffron. Maybe even cumin and cinnamon. The seasonings blended so well together. And can we talk about the garlic yogurt? It was so delicious that I ordered a tube of it to go! Dipping the flatbread into it was such a treat. Loved the food, ambiance was such a vibe, and service was top notch. Would highly recommend over and over!

Spinach & Date Salad
Gheeda H.

Rumi's Kitchen has been on my must-try list for a while, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Some of the best Persian food you'll have. Our waiter was very kind and walked us through the menu highlights, which made the experience even better and we took his suggestions. The Spinach Date Salad was refreshing and well-balanced. The Lamb Rack was delicious and came in very generous portions (the photo only shows half a portion). But the standout for me was the Keshk Badenjoon! Rich, flavorful, and paired perfectly with everything else. The outdoor seating was lovely, though there was some construction going on nearby that was a bit loud. I'd love to try sitting indoors next time for a different vibe. Overall, highly recommend, great ambiance and an even better dining experience. Will be back!!

ghormeh sabzi
Hajir S.

Really solid persian spot in DC that has locations elsewhere (Atlanta, Houston). This is good persian food and great cocktails, but while there are some really strong showings, there are also a few areas where there's great opportunity! The Kobbideh kebab was so good, and almost as good as my grandfather's, and the sabzi coming out to the table when you start is really quite persian. I love both of these things and am not sure they could have been done better. The cocktails also were just truly amazing and inventive, and I loved every aspect of every cocktail I tried! The rice was good, but zereshk polo in my opinion needs more zereshk than what we got. It just felt a little light on the Zereshk and other special ingredients, though I loved the variety of rice options and I was excited to try them. They also had tahdig off menu - it wasn't my favorite tahdig, but it was good to show someone who had never had tahdig what it was. The fesenjoon was soo good. It really was the dish that turned heads for those who had not had Fesenjoon before, and I think doing it with duck is the extra special step that gets it attention that a chicken dish wouldn't get on the menu! I think this is a big win. The labne was a bit boring, but still tasty, I thought it achieved the creaminess and beautiful mouthfeel that you want, but the taste was light to me. With extra sumac it came across a bit better. The Ghormez Sabzi was the real disappointment - I just don't understand why it didn't taste good. It was like the herbs were burned while they were being fried - or something like that. I love Ghormeh Sabzi and this was not it - I wish this was better. Overall solid spot from cocktails through kebab!

Falafel
Guillermo G.

Rumi's should be on everybody's short list. Classy with a hip vibe. Great spot for date night, but also family friendly. Service was friendly and attentive. We started out with the falafels. Honestly, among the best I've had. Wonderful color on the inside. The pickled beets on the side were very tasty. My wife and I shared the Soltani Kebab. They provide Sumac for those who want to sprinkle a little on their food. I sprinkled a lot. I love sumac. And together with the rice and beef, the best. For dessert we got the baklava. It came with vanilla ice cream. Perfect way to end the night.

Courtney C.

Service was great. However the food could've been better. Would not recommend the eggplant dip as it is a bit different than expected. Joojeh was great. Koobideh was on the saltier side.

Lamb Kabob + Shirazi Salad
Nakia A.

Such amazing Persian food! I've visited twice and both times the food blew me away! Kashk Badenjoon - 8/10 Lamb Kabob - 9/10 Shirazi Salad - 10/10 Persian Ice Cream Sandwich - 8/10 Baklava - 3/10 The service is always top notch and the ambiance is a perfect mood lighting for an evening dinner with friends or a date night. Can't recommend this place enough!

Falafel and  Crispy Potatoes with Radicchio
Pranav P.

Probably one of the best Mediterranean/Persian spots I've ever been to. The falafal's are extraordinarily fresh and crunchy, the potatoes are extremely delicious and shareable. They give pita bread for the table which was VERY filling Got chicken kebab.. crazy delicious with saffron rice Will be coming back

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Rumi’s Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Rumi’s Kitchen

Is Rumis full menu halal again?

Not as of two weeks ago

What is the noise level like around dinner time (7-ish)? I'd like to dine with an old friend who's in town just for the evening, and would like us not to have to shout to hear each other ...

The sound on a weekend at a popular restaurant like Rumi, of course, is loud. Weekday might be less. We dined at 6:00 on a weekend and it was loud. That being said I believe the quality of the food outdistances a concern.

Is the food halal?

I just received an email from them stating, "At the moment, only our lamb is halal."

Can we sit next to the mannequins, for the experience?

Do they offer valet or have parking nearby?

I didn't see a valet stand but there is a parking garage right next door and a decent amount of street parking.

Do they offer vegan options or can the chef accommodate?

Yes, absolutely

Any gluten free options?

Persian food in general runs gluten friendly - our spices / stews / sauces don't really have gluten additives If prepared traditionally .... Also kabobs and rice are always a safe bet !

What is halal here?

the chicken, stew and beef kobeedeh

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Darvish Kitchen

Darvish Kitchen

4.0(115 reviews)
1.1 mi•Downtown

I was pleasantly surprised by this spot! Heard about it from a friend and it seemed super aesthetic…read moreso another gf and I decided to check it out. I'll say, it definitely fit the vibes for girl dinner. This is an upscale spot but you can also come here for a casual meal. They have valet available for $25 and it's 3 floors. The first two floors is for dinning and the third floor is for hookah, DJ, and food. The third floor also has a bar and sexy mood seating. The service was alright, our waiter didn't do amazing. He wasn't super helpful about the menu and I had questions. He didn't check in much either we had to call him over anytime we needed anything. Probably a one off cause he had a long day or something

I came for a friend's birthday and was excited since I have heard of this restaurant before. We all…read morestarted out with a round of drinks and then some dips. I split the eggplant dip with a friend and would recommend doing the same. It was actually quite big for a dip. It was delicious. The fried onions on top confuse me, but the overall taste and flavor was really good at the dip. It also came with bread as well so just a tip. There really wasn't too much from a vegetarian perspective that was an actual meal, so I did eat beforehand. I did want to give this place a try so I did order the pickled plate and a side of rice. Both were really good, nothing groundbreaking, but they were delicious. I really like that the rice had a nice crispy crust. It was really fun to break and it had a really good moist flavor and texture. Our server was good. No issues or complaints with the service received. It was a pretty busy Saturday night though so I don't think I could've expected anything better. The overall restaurant itself is beautiful. There's so many small and unique touches that really make this place its own. There was one wall that was actually draped with rugs, which is really really cool. It was honestly just a really beautiful space to be sitting in. You can tell that they put a lot of time and attention into the decorations. Overall, I probably wouldn't go back due to the actual limitations of food for non-meat eaters. Well, there are quite a few side options, there's nothing that's really substantial for a meal. I will say that my friends that did or order the larger platters really enjoyed the food and were saying great things about it. I would say if you eat meat and you wanna try something flavorful you should give this a try.

Photos
Darvish Kitchen - Upstairs decor

Upstairs decor

Darvish Kitchen
Darvish Kitchen - Inside first floor

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Inside first floor

Maydan - Roasted carrots

Maydan

4.3(1.4k reviews)
1.2 mi
•$$$$

Went here with my husband for our anniversary, and had a gift card. We chose outdoor seating…read morewithout seeing it, I had previously seen pictures of the inside and assumed the outdoor vibes would be just as fun and vibey. I was very wrong. It was literally in the alley, and was giving Covid setup. Definitely would not recommend the outdoor area to anyone. There was no music, the decor was fine but again, looked very subpar and you could tell everyone else that arrived and sat outside after us had the same thoughts. Now to the food. I will say all of it was good, but for the price? I could find another Middle Eastern adjacent restaurant in DC for less money. It was a little outrageous in my opinion. We did choose the tawle experience. The dips with good, and came with endless flatbread. But it was interesting how some of the portions were huge and then others felt like they were skimping. We got huge portions of pickled vegetables and a giant salad, but then when it came to the shrimp kabobs we ordered, we got 5 pieces of shrimp. I will say the steak portion we chose we large, but then again for dessert, it was just a half mason jar size of a chocolate mousse to split...It was just interesting. Several of the staff knew it was our anniversary and they could've given maybe an additional dessert or a glass of champagne but nothing. Again for a restaurant of this caliber, you would just expect more. I say all of this to say, we did have a gift card that covered most of our $300+ meal. But if I were going without that, I would've been even more disappointed. I know people have raved about this place for years, but the original chefs have changed, and I'm understanding more why they've lost their Michelin star. It was good/fine but was far from exceptional.

There's still technically 2 months left before 2026 ends, but I think this may be the best meal…read moreI've had this year. What an incredible spontaneous hangout and surprise by my friend that lead to this memorable meal! Thank you, again Not only was the beet borani beautiful, the sweetness of the beet mixed with the garlic and rosemary paired very well with the warm and fluffy bread. The fire kissed asparagus are the best asparagus I've ever had in my life. The char was perfect and allowed the asparagus to be the best version of itself. The bed of both cream and herb sauce it laid on top of gave it other dimensions of flavored when paired. It was good on its own or eaten with the other protein dishes we ordered. The chicken shish taouk was juicy, well seasoned and very good with the toum! The seared scallops were the biggest, sweetest and my favorite dish of the night (though I 100% would say everything we got was so so good). The natural sweetness of the scallops paired with the various sauces were delightful. The serpent drink had a sour but creamy foam texture that was fun to sip on throughout the meal. Shout out to Nari, our server sharing her love of garlic and giving us a sample of the carrot havuc which did not taste like carrots at all but more of this light almost sweet potato-like dip with a fun crunch from the crispy onions & for compting our turkish coffee gelato, which was strong and creamy and best way to end the meal.

Photos
Maydan - Tawle

Tawle

Maydan - Shrimp

Shrimp

Maydan - Spiced chocolate mousse

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Spiced chocolate mousse

Rumi’s Kitchen - persian - Updated November 2026

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