A cute little restaurant hidden in dallas,Tx. The owner/chef/waiter is this super friendly Persian guy. He cooks and serves the food all by himself. Such a lovely cute cafe! Serve fresh food everyday. The prices are also great! Definitely recommend you trying it out once. read more

Samad Cafe - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Taste Authentic Iranian food without the Trip to Iran A small , casual , friendly place, owned and operated by a single elderly gentleman who is very welcoming, friendly , gives you a Daily Special and I guess due to popular demand for the Lamb Shank , it is offered every day ( it was previously available only on Mon) Ghormeh Sabzi ( rice with a mutton curry with chopped leaves) is a "Must Try", their Lamb Shank is very famous. A unique experience for foodies. read more

5/5 for how considerate and cute the owner is. An authentic Persian establishment in what looks like a broken down car garage. I didn't actually believe this was a restaurant until we walked in and ordered our food. Parking is odd as there quite a few parked cars/taxis in the lot, but according to the owner those are always there and you can park in front of them. There is usually enough room for 4 to 5 cars at a time. I would have to say this place exemplifies what it means to be a hole in the wall restaurant. Run at odd hours and may sometimes close early. One man runs the entire establishment. Apparently he lives in Arlington and commutes to Dallas everyday for this restaurant because he enjoys what he does so much and because there is a relatively large Persian community who frequents his restaurant. Specials vary depending on the day, but I always go for the LEG OF LAMB. Honestly, some of the best lamb I've ever come across. The meat slides right off the bones and soaked through with spices. Tender to the touch. Goes perfectly with the served rice or roti. Comes in a small bowl of broth that when poured over the rice is amazing. Just the right flavor combinations. More than enough to fill you up. I often have left over rice and take it home for an extra meal. As you're leaving, the owner will likely offer you a pack of old-time chiclet bubble gum. Nostalgia trip indeed. Also, can't be called a true hole in the wall if it wasn't cash only. Bring those dolla bills. read more

I ate here quite a while back upon the recommendation of my Persian best friend. The lamb shank is excellent. I've been working for years to try and recreate the flavor that Samad had made. Everything was wonderful, and was a good value. If you've never had the yogurt soda, give that a thought before undertaking that. It was different lol read more

Craving Persian food! Samad has been in business for 31 years, very kind and a gracious host inside his small space. Menu changes each day, fresh ingredients & ample portions! We should have ordered 2 orders but went with 4 orders for 50 bucks and have enough to feed a few more people. Cash only and while we took food home, you can eat there until he closes at 4 pm. We were satisfied with the basmati rice and chicken as well as the beef. Happy discovery! read more

This is hard to find: in a house with an auto sales sign up. Dumpy and Divey, but the host is friendly and the food is delicious. I had the lamb shank with green rice: fall off the bone cooked perfectly. See picture posted. $8.00 plus tip. Cash only. read more

Samad Cafe - Lamb with green rice - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Me and Arman K went here based on previous yelp reviews. I didn't get the lamb shank like everyone else, instead I went with the beef kabob. Arman K went with the chicken. I assume we missed out by not having the lamb shank. The price was good, but we both walked out feeling like we missed out. If you are looking to bring a date or have a romantic dinner, then don't come here. This is literally a hole in the wall! Cash only!! read more

Excellent food! Lamb shank is a must have. This place is a home converted to a restaurant and it's really easy to miss it if you are just driving by. But the food is so excellent we didn't mind anything else. read more

I had the lamb shank. It was great! The meat fell right off the bone and was very tender and flavorful. I will be back. read more

Samad Cafe - Month yogurt soda! - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I had just flown into Dallas for some meetings (near Love Field) and my coworkers suggested going to some random (chain) restaurant for a quick lunch. Given the fact I was driving the rental car, I had veto power, and chose to exercise said rights. I pulled over and said, "We are picking the closest restaurant with at least 4-star and 10+ reviews." Needless to say, Samad Cafe came up. After guessing which junk-yard lot to pull into (the signs on the rusty chain link fence were a bit misleading) we found somewhere to park (next to a wrecked jeep) in front of a small brick building labeled, "M&S Auto Sales / Restaurant." This place is literally a hole in the wall (but I mean that in a good way). Upon entering the cafe we were warmly greeted by an older man that I am guessing is Samad. He suggested a few items and we settled on a mix of chicken and beef kababs. After a few minutes, our food came out. My first impression was not great. The rice looked dry (tasted it too) and the chicken didn't look any better. It appeared to have been cooked on a something other than an open flame (by [my] definition, kebabs are supposed to be cooked over a flame -- even if that flame is vertically oriented and fueled by propane). Both the beef and chicken tasted as if they were cooked on a griddle or were previously cooked and reheated in an oven. It wasn't inedible... but it wasn't great either. But I've literally had better kebabs on an airplane (on both Delta Air Lines [good] and Turkish Airlines [fantastic]). I got a good laugh when Samad came out with some pita bread, some (awesomely spicy) onion, and jar of "flavorful spice" for us. I quickly said to one of my (confused) coworkers that he was looking at jar of sumac, to which Samad exclaimed, "Wow, you know what sumac is, you are so smart!" I could only laugh. Samad was so impressed with my sumac-awareness that he went into the kitchen and brought out a small bowl of "something special" for us to try -- which I was able to identify as ghormeh sabzi. Needless to say, Samad was beyond impressed with my knowledge of other his food and told me, "The net time you come back I'll find something you know not about." Oddly enough, the sabzi was the opposite of the kebabs. It look fresh, smelled good, and was quite delicious (and I'm not normally a fan of spinach). In the end, Samad Cafe gets just 3-stars because the kebabs and rice were simply unacceptable. I might have even gone down to 2-stars, but Samad gets an extra star for the "cool kitschy-ness" of the establishment and the fact that he seems like friendly, yet hard working guy. read more

Samad Cafe - I'd much rather see this than some horrible chain restaurant - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Friendly owner and good food I do recommend this place to people who they like Persian food read more

It's a hidden gem near UTSW medical district and Love Field Airport. Great authentic persian food - one or two choices per day. The owner Samad is a so kind gentleman. You would enjoy chatting with him about persian and that part of the world. read more

Samad Cafe is a little hole in the wall. We always come on Fridays for the lamb shank with rice, which is a real treat. Its just a nice homey place with great food. read more

The best Persian food in dfw area with a very reasonable price. It's not a fancy restaurant like other typical persian places. this place is about great food and amazing customer service. looks like one man is running the whole show. i tried the kabob koobideh and it was fantastic. it was grilled over charcoal and seasoned well. if you are not all about glam and more about food, head down to Samad's Cafe. read more

Best hole in the wall restaurant in this area. Don't be afraid if the outside of the building, this is great food. The lamb is amazingly good! read more

I love this spot for picking up a quick homestyle meal. I placed a large catering order last and have been dreaming about the ghormeh sabzi and green rice since. Everything was delicious and a hit with our guests. The presentation was beautiful but I forgot to take picture. I highly recommend trying this delicious food and meeting the very warm owner. read more

I tried both chelo kabob and lamb shank, they were both delicious. The price was very reasonable and I highly recommend this place to those who want to try a real persian food. read more

Another yelp winner! The chicken kabobs were juicy,not dry as can often happen. We had standard basmati rice plus basmati with Lima beans and spices. Very fragrant and delicious ! The owner is a doll! I highly recommend! read more

Chicken kabobs were burnt and extremely dry and rice was very tough. Husband said beef kabobs were bland and dry. Food seemed like reheated leftovers from a previous day. I didnt even want to finish the food cuz I'd be treating my stomach like a garbage can. I have no idea how this place has such high ratings. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

Never ate Persian food before but I must say that I did enjoy my food!...Because my taste buds tingles for anything different outside of the everyday fast food joints, I searched here for food spots close by my workplace. Came across this on here and decide to try it out! Small little hole in the wall spot the Mr. that own the spot was very nice and welcoming. Didn't know they only accepted cash so I put my order in and told the gentleman I'll be back (bet he thought I wasn't coming back ). Anyways I made it back and the food arrive nice and hot with a glass of water....The lamb meat was very tender and fell off the bone....All in all I will definitely go back to try other dishes! read more

Adorable hole-in-the-wall place! It's difficult to spot, but there's a white sign with the name of the restaurant and an arrow pointing towards the place. I've been here twice already and would love to come back again. On my last trip, I ordered the daily special for Wednesdays. I forgot the exact name of the dish but it was chicken thighs served in a soup base. The meat was tender and fell off the bone! I also got a plate of rice with butter. Make sure to mix the butter while the rice is still hot so it can melt. The service was also wonderful. The owner is incredibly nice. The first time my friends and I went, he gave us some free samples of a Persian dish since it was our first time having Persian food. Very, very delicious. read more

The lamb shank special is so tender and delicious. Samad is a wonderful person and so hospitable. Very, very recommended.

I wasn't aware of its existence until today and I loved it. The owner is a modest person, very respectful and my understanding is that there are no other employees. The service was fast and the prices were very reasonable. I asked whether the meat he serves was halal and he told me it was. He gets the halal meat from Restaurant Depot. There are a few things that can be improved such as better air conditioning and keeping hand soap instead of dish detergent. read more

I stopped there and wasn't expecting anything great. It looks like a old car mechanic shop from outside but food is excellent and very authentic. Owner is the chef and very attentive. He made sure everything was good. We will back!!! read more

The food was good but everything else was ordinary including the ambience. It is a cash only place and we had to scramble for some change in the last min. Very friendly staff and the menu changes every day. read more

Perfect taste of true authenticity! I love this spot. Wouldn't even notice it at first, but upon arriving you feel the humbleness and coziness. We arrived on Tuesday where they had Ghormeh Sabzi and Chelo Kabab. Amazing! read more

Love this place. I'm a Persian living in uptown and there are days I don't want to trek it all the way to Plano for some good Iranian food. This place is a whole in the wall (which means the food is usually always good) and the owner is so friendly! I went with my whitey fiancé and we both felt so at home. We got the chelo kabob, lamb shank, torshi, and cucumber yogurt. Our food came with some limes, onions and pita bread. All of the food was amazing and cooked perfectly. The restaurant has been there for 28 years. On Tuesdays and Saturdays their special is ghomeh sabzi. If you haven't tried it, it will change you life. I will definitely be going back! read more

Genuinely nice person who ran the restaurant. He actually gave us more than enough yogurt which is rare of restaurants!!

This is a small place that nobody can guess by its appearance that there is a restaurant there, however a Shirazi person called Samad is waiting inside to greet you. He is so warm and friendly that you feel he is your relative. The food is excellent and it is exactly like a home made Persian food. The price is reasonable and he does not charge you for tax or tip. As an example, a ground beef kabob and rice with bread and onion with a bottle of water cost only 7$. If you want to spend a romantic day in your honeymoon don't go to this place, however if you like to eat a real home made Persian food, you got the best place. read more

Great food.... and such as warm hospitality... we definitely recommend it. That was the best Kabab we've ever had since 10 years ago in the US....don't forget asking for homemade torshiiii(pickles)... read more

High quality Persian food for a very cheep price. You pay 7$ for chelo-kabob which comes with 2 skewers of koobideh along with a big portion of basmati rice and 1.5 grilled tomato and big big slice of butter. You will absolutely get for what you pay. The owner (Samad) is a generous gentleman from south of Iran and treats you very well in the restaurant. read more

Excellent Iranian dishes throughout the week. The owner is a very kind man that refuses to be tipped. The place is a complete hole in the wall but do not let that affect you one bit. The daily specials are absolutely delicious and I recommend ALL of them. You will not be disappointed here! read more

Love this place, daily specials are awesome, Try their lamb shank and baghali polo for sure read more

This place is beyond your mom-and-pop restaurant; it's your grandpa's restaurant. The whole place seems to be run by an elderly Persian man who cooks and serves all food. Knowing this, expect first impressions to match that of a 1-dollar sign restaurant. The furnishing is simple, and it shares parking with a car repair shop. However, the food is pretty darn good, and the restaurant is one you'll feel good supporting. Everything's $9 except for lamb shank at $13. Offerings rotate throughout the week, so look at the picture of the menu provided by a kind yelper. I recommend the quarter-leg of chicken if you want a lot of food, and the pricier lamb shank is yummy too. read more

Loved it. I had the chicken kabob with rice (both dill and white). The man who was serving everyone was so kind - great food and great service. It's a little hard to find, if you're not looking for it, so keep your eyes peeled. I'm so glad I went and will definitely come back to try a daily special. read more

Great food, don't let the look of the place scare you off. The owner is a really nice man. Menu is limited but it's a nice change up.

This place is legit. Everything cooked by the owner. Lamb, beef and rice were excellent!

This is the best Persian Food I ever had. No pretense, great authentic food. The owner is so nice and friendly.

I've been meaning to come here for a few weeks, but my friends have been blocking me due to the outward appearance of this place. Anyway, I was in the area and I was alone so I decided what the hell, why not. As far as i know this is the only Persian place south of 635. It's a small hole in the wall cafe. The menu is very small and changes daily. Everything is fresh and homemade. Apparently, the owner has been there for 23 years. I had the chelo kabob. It came with basmati rice and baghali pulow. It was cheap, hot and delicious. While I was there, everyone who came in ordered the special, which was braised lamb shank. I should have ordered that. It looked and smelled spectacular. Be prepared for some hot sports opinions, because they had Al Jazeera on in the background and the clientele all seemed like talkers. It was a whirlwind of Farsi and English complaining about world politics. Actually it was a lot of fun just to sit back and listen to the roar. Great place if you can get past the exterior. read more

Absolute junk. They microwave food and serve it for around $8-$10. To sum it up I had microwaved chicken, really old hard rice and tortillas (random) and it all tasted horrible. You walk in this hole in the wall thinking you might be about to find something special that your friends don't know about and then you walk away thinking why da faak did I do that to my self. Save yourself. read more