It's a nice and clean restaurant. It can get busy and loud at times. I have attended several catered parties at the area which they occasionally open to the general restaurant when they get extra busy. Service can get slow when busy but understandable. The food is excellent except their tah dig needs revisiting. Needs to be thinner and crispy. The naan they give you free is very white and there is no need for that. They can make it from 50/50 wheat ans white to make it more pliable. The bread you order is excellent. I personally appreciate read more

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Shalizaar is a great spot for Persian food! One of the highlights is the delicious, fresh bread made right in the fire oven and served complimentary. They also bring out fresh herbs and greens, feta cheese, and walnuts at no extra charge, which is a really nice touch. The beef koobideh was decent, and the Shirazi salad was fresh and very good. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere inside, and the service was friendly and attentive. Overall, a nice place to enjoy Persian food, especially the freshly baked bread and traditional appetizers! read more

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Our second time to Shalizaar and it didn't dissapoint, although I've had better Persian food in Westwood LA. As an easygoing person, I think food here is still solid. Food: the koobedeh mix consisted of minced beef kabab and minced chicken kabab. I prefered whole chicken meat not minced. Still it's quite good. I'd recommend opting for kabab plates (ordered three all good!) as I found stewed food such as Gheymeh average due to its pre-made and reheating nature. Service: polite, kind and attentive. They gave whatever we asked, e.g. extra bread and butter. Ambiance: Beautiful and neat place. There was a huge blue colored open oven baking fresh bread, adding a nice touch to authentic Persian dining. I found it captivating as a center piece. Frank conversation flowed after biting a freshly baked bread with walnut, sabzis and butter in it. That's the beauty of life. Owner: Always glum. But I liked when he said, "Sit wherever you want." The freedom to pick my table! read more

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Nice Greek salad and lemonade. I like the store in the parking lot too. Will go again. read more

Shalizaar - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Belmont, California

Fancy Persian restaurant in Belmont. Party of 4 in an empty restaurant since everyone was watching the World Cup (no TVs) and waited 30-45 mins for our food. The bread was stale pita bread. The eggplant puree was not good, needs more oil. My steak and my husband's chicken kabob were small. Tons of rice that I did not eat. Overall would not come here again. read more

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I haven't been here in so long but decided to stop by for an early dinner. The ambiance of this place has always been great. It's a nice, comfortable, clean restaurant to enjoy a meal. And service is always great every time I have gone. The food unfortunately is not as good as it used to be, I'm not sure if they've changed chefs or recipes or what but I've just had better kebabs near me. The main difference in this restaurant versus other Persian places is their homemade bread that they bring to the table which has always been good. I would return but keep in mind that my kebabs are just going to be ok. But judging from some of the other reviews, people have had the same experience with other items on their menu too. read more

Shalizaar - Koobideh Morgh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Belmont, California

Great food and amazing vibe! I love this authentic Persian restaurant! One of the best Persian restaurants in Northern California. read more

Our favorite restaurant! We always come here with the family for holidays and special occasions. It holds such beautiful memories in our hearts. Thank you for being a part of our lives. read more

Iranian approved! Food was great and authentic. Atmosphere was lovely. Service was so fast and attentive. Bonus shopping at Anita's on your way in or out! Cant wait to come back already. read more

I will first start off with the positives as there are few of them. The atmosphere was really nice and they give big portions. The service is abysmal and the food is mediocre. The host at the front looks very miserable and unpleasant. He did not greet us and seemed to be dismissive of our presence. I think he may be the owner which says a lot. My girlfriend's food had little hairs in it which were definitely not her own (different color). When we brought this to our servers attention, he looked almost annoyed and just asked what else we wanted. I had to ask for our bill twice and waited almost 10 minutes before I got up and took it to the front to pay. I've had a lot of Persian food and the rice and koobideh were just ok. The bread tastes like saltine crackers. Overall, I do not recommend going here. It's a shame because the place is really nice, but the staff are terrible. read more

My best friend and I visited Shalizaar for lunch on March 28, 2026. We were pleasantly surprised to be served sabzi as soon as we were seated--a fresh mix of mint, goat cheese, and walnuts, paired with warm lavash bread. I ordered the ghormeh sabzi, one of my favorite dishes. The makhlout, featuring both bastani and faloodeh, was wonderfully refreshing, icy, and delicious. The ambiance was beautiful. While our server was occasionally slow to attend us, the wait staff remained attentive throughout our visit. read more

Shalizaar - Ghormeh Sabzi - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Belmont, California

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I love Persian food and was really excited to try this place. Beautiful interior and exterior and gives off a Tuscany restaurant vibe. Their starters were amazing: kashk-e bademjan, sabzi, and tah dig were devoured quickly. A little sad their entrees weren't as delicious. Kebabs and meats that we ordered weren't seasoned much and we found ourselves asking for extra seasonings to enjoy them better. Also, the tiramisu was absolutely drenched in alcohol - couldn't taste anything else! Our fault for ordering an Italian dessert at a Persian restaurant. Overall an OK experience read more

Shalizaar - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Belmont, California

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Went here earlier tonight and I had to write a review asap. The service was friendly and fast, and the food was great. We ordered: Dolmeh - 5/5 Mast moussir - 5/5 Salad shirazi- 5/5 Gheime - 4/5 Joojeh - 4/5 Koobide - 10/5 I found the joojeh to be a bit dry , but the koobideh... that was something else. So incredibly juicy and tender-- I ate well beyond being full. It's been a while since I found a Persian spot I liked and this was perfection. I will definitely be back! read more

I just went to this restaurant for the first time and everything was so good. The shirin polo was so fragrant. The ambiance was beautiful and the prices were so reasonable. Of all the Persian restaurants I have been in the entire world and I have been to many--the complimentary bread, butter, cheese, radish, walnuts and herbs was amazing. You are getting like a 15 dollar appetizer complimentary! It was really really great food. Usually Persian restaurants serve only bread and butter. read more

Shalizaar was excellent. The food quality and taste were very good, and the service was attentive and warm. You can tell they take pride in how they serve their guests. Overall, a wonderful dining experience. read more

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We have been to Shalizzar many times and keep going back. I probably have tried all the dishes on their menu, especially kabobs. They are delicious, very tasty, generous portion; in short fabtastic! read more

This is hands-down the best Persian food in the Bay Area. The dining room is spacious and never feels overly crowded, but it still has that warm, family-run atmosphere that makes you feel welcome every time you visit. The food is fantastic. I always order the koobideh kebab, which is consistently excellent, but honestly, you can't go wrong with many of the other items on the menu either. Everything is fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The service is another highlight. The staff is incredibly helpful, and if it's your first time trying Persian food, they'll gladly walk you through the menu and make recommendations based on what you like. I absolutely love this place and recommend it to anyone looking for authentic Persian food. My only suggestion would be to join a delivery app - I would order from here all the time during the week when I don't have time to dine in! read more

Death, taxes, Shalizars serving good Persian food.............. Is it 'THINGS THAT ARE INEVITABLE" We have had a long relationship with Shalizars. From the tiny restaurant in San Mateo, to the larger Mountain View location (we had one of 2 wedding receptions there), and final the spot most know, the Belmont location. Persian restaurants can be a bit of a nightmare. It is literally feast or famine and even promising eatery may die out without notice, even when they have spectacular food. Shalizars bucks that trend and has done so for decades. The interior of the restaurant has a nice modern feel. Its upscale but also maintains a causal edge. They have an expansive wine list, draft beer, and some of the best doogh in the business. The food: Sabzi Plate with bread: The plate comes as part of the meal. Filled with mint, walnuts, feta, and herbs, it is perfect to eat with the house made flatbread that is being cranked out of the wood fired oven at the end of the restaurant. Torshi: basically pickled vegetables. It is a usual go to for us as it will help with the inevitable richness of the incoming kebabs. The acid hit of the vinegar also helps with balance and evens out the butter rich rice Salad Shirazi: combination of chopped tomato, onion and cucumber it also adds a vegetable and fresh element to the kebabs. I am not going to lie, I also will roll this up in the flatbread with some sabzi and it is heaven Sultani: is traditional one strip of Barg (Filet) and one of Koobideh (ground beef). The Barg was tender and juicy. Tender, juicy and perfectly spiced. The Koobideh was a perfect balance of soft but had a nice mouthfeel to it. The char was a nice contrast again to the overall richness of the meat. The Persian rice here will be a rich affair with a ton of butter. Saffron infused rice topped the regular rice and in addition to adding a bit of color, it also pairs perfectly with the meat. Doogh: Yes an acquired taste, but the combo of carbonated water, mint, yogurt, and salt and pepper is not to be missed The service as always was friendly and on point. The true appeal of this place is that is it is just good all of the time. read more

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Went on a quiet Sunday evening and our food was ready quickly. We got a complimentary appetizer. The order of best for the meat for me was: salmon and beef tied. Then the game hen then the shrimp. (Normally I love shrimp) read more

Shalizaar - Shrimp, game hen and beef Combo - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Belmont, California

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Simply outstanding--delicious food, wonderful service, and a gorgeous atmosphere, highly recommend.

Good Persian/Iranian food on the Peninsula! You know you are at the right place just from the smell in the parking lot. You can tell they have a serious grill going. We have actually been here twice already, first for a big holiday party in the private room and again in the normal dining room. The grilled meats are excellent as is the lamb shank. We appreciate that the foods aren't too heavily seasoned. We can adjust ourselves as needed. The eggplant dip and homemade yogurt went great together. We accidentally got all rice after ordering half salad, but our very friendly server fixed it right away. read more

Shalizaar - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Belmont, California

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After being loyal customers for years, this was our FINAL visit to Shalizaar. We were OVERCHARGED $30 for a so-called plate-splitting fee that was never disclosed and incorrectly applied. When we questioned it, the OWNER was DISMISSIVE and RUDE, responding with "So what, a lot of people come all the time." That attitude says everything. The food honestly doesn't justify this behavior anymore. NEGEEN has better koobideh and better food overall, without nickel-and-diming customers or treating them like they're disposable. Plenty of better Persian restaurants in the area. Save your money and go elsewhere. Transparency and customer loyalty clearly no longer matter here. As someone who shares local dining experiences with a large online audience, this is not something I can ignore. We will not be returning. read more

Shalizar is where you go for good authentic Persian food! This place has been opened for over 20 years. You know it's good when Persian people eat there ! Service was great and vibe was awesome. This place has won a lot of awards! Must check out ! read more

Shalizaar - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Belmont, California

I love Persian food. While I have had a love and dislike relationship with Shalizaar (was going there when they first opened on 25th Ave in San Mateo) they are only decent Persian restaurant close by. We went there today from a late lunch! The same unfriendly host who has been with the restaurant since the beginning barely greeted us! We were doing him a favor! The food was good and the service was average since there was no body in the restaurant ! We brought a bottle wine and when I got the bill, the corkage fee was $40! Yes $40! There is no place on the menu states corkage fee! Having dined in fine restaurants all over the Bay Area, and the country, most fine dinning restaurants, charge $25 to $30 which is reasonable ! $40 at Shalizaar??? Who the heck they think they are?? I know most Persians do not drink, but this does not justify to rip your customers off! The waiter should have told me that there was a $40 corkage fee or it should be stated on the menu! I wanted to confront the host, but did not want ta make a scene as he would not cared! He is more interested being on his phone than showing any interest in serving the customers ! What happened to the owners? Is business that good that you allow this BS at your restaurant for this long? Train your wait staff and tell your host to care and give a crap about your business unless you don't care either! read more

Barg Kabob is plain with no flavor like u r eating a piece of paper or and rice is always "shefte". I really wish quality of food would improve because I live super close to this restaurant. read more

I can't say enough about how bad the service was. This restaurant clearly seems to be cutting down on servers, and the staff appeared overwhelmed and disorganized. Communication was difficult, which led to multiple mistakes with our order. One server in particular was especially rude and even became upset when we politely pointed out that the order was incorrect. The food itself was okay at best, but the poor service completely ruined the experience. Overall, I'd rate the experience no higher than a 1/5 because the service issues overshadowed everything else. read more

We came here with a party of 11 and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience from beginning to end. With a group that large, accuracy and organization really matter, which is why it was concerning when our server insisted on taking all of our orders without writing anything down. As expected, several of our meals came out wrong. We were understanding and gave the restaurant a chance to fix the mistakes, but even after the food was remade, a few of the orders were still incorrect. That made the situation even more frustrating. On top of that, we had to wait an additional 45 minutes, which is a long time when people in your group are sitting there hungry while others have already been served. What made the experience worse was that nothing was done to make up for the inconvenience. There was no meaningful apology, no effort to compensate for the repeated mistakes, and no sense of urgency in resolving the issue. The food itself was mediocre at best, so unfortunately it did not make up for the poor service. Overall, the service was disorganized, the food was underwhelming, and the entire experience was frustrating. I would not return based on this visit. read more

High end Persian restaurant, nice seating. Quite early but it gets crowded for dinner at like 6:00pm. Their ice cream is killer. Their bread is made fresh in the dinning room. Love this place, I recommend anybody who's never been to go at least once and check it out. read more

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We had come to this place from out of town on the recommendation of several friends. I can't tell you how disappointed we were. The outside of the restaurant is nice, but the inside has poor design and not inviting. We were not greeted in any warm way. The food was nasty and tasted awful. Don't recommend Shalizaar to anyone . read more

Food is amazing and so fresh, service is impeccable fresh bread, fresh feta. Water even tasted good. The restaurant is fancy and clean. I will come back. The prices are great for the amount of food you get on your plate. You will leave FULL and satisfied. read more

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Shalizaar is still my favorite Persian restaurant in the Bay Area, so much so that they are my default choice for birthday meals. And I cannot believe that I only just recently discovered that they make their bread in house, fresh, from their wood fired oven! No wonder if always comes out so warm and fresh tasting. Also, if you let them know it's your birthday, they will bring out a dish of rose pistachio ice cream and sing to you, which is a very nice touch. Their service is always super efficient and friendly, and somehow, they've also managed to keep their prices super reasonable even with inflation and prices rising precipitously. Shalizaar is still tops in my book! read more

Came here with five friends on a Friday evening as I've heard good things about this restaurant. Left full and very happy with coming here. All of the staff were super nice from the person who greeted us at the door to all of the servers and people cleaning up. Food: - Joojeh: I've been to multiple Persian, Mediterranean, and Greek restaurants and have been disappointed by the chicken because it's usually dry. The joojeh at Shalizaar is so good! It was flavorful, it was moist, and overall cooked so well. I know they have so many dishes that are highly recommended, but this dish was so good that I want to order it again! Comes with option of salad, rice, or half and half. - Koobideh: this dish was also tasty and comes with the same side options. Quite a big portion and definitely enough for one person - Mast-o-khiar: fun appetizer to eat with the free "bread" they give in the beginning - "Free bread": I couldn't catch the name of the free dish they give in the beginning. It's not bread or pita, but in between? They bring it with mint, walnuts, and feta cheese as well - Tah dig: we ordered this with two different stews. Nice and crispy and more flavorful with the stews - Mirza Ghasemi: eggplant dish that we also ate with the "bread" and Tah dig. Flavorful and tastes healthy Miscellaneous: - Parking available via parking lot and street parking - We came at 6:30pm on a Friday and it started filling up around 7:00pm. Recommend a reservation if you're going at peak eating hours - Good for pairs, small groups, and large groups. They also have a private party room if you have a larger group read more

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Food is delicious authentic Persian / Mediterranean cuisine. Service is fine with attentive responsive waiters. Location is good with many dedicated parking spaces. Good for kids, groups and small parties. There is in house stone oven to bake fresh bread / naan. Try yogurt drink (doogh) for sure with Kabobs. Highly recommend this place for Persian food. read more

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We stopped by this Persian restaurant one day while in the area for some type of different food experience than I am used too. There was fresh bread from a wood-fired oven in a beautiful restaurant inside and out. The food was delicious and different a good experience all in all. read more

Shalizaar - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Belmont, California

Been going here for over a decade and it's the best Persian food in the Bay Area. The bread is also the best around.

Second time visiting this restaurant & I have to say I'm very impressed they still provide the cheese & greens bucket. It's so nice to have a pre-appetizer complimentary. We ordered the kashk bodemjon, must o'khair, chicken koobedeh w/ green rice, combination koobedeh meal & Sinei kebab which my kids loved. The food is good only thing is the chicken koobedeh lacked flavor. Our waiter was very kind. The restaurant has a nice warm atmosphere. There was a lot of talking & I think nice soft instrumental music would help drain out the noise. Overall I would definitely go back for a meal here. It's a great place to bring out of town guests as well. read more

Shalizaar - Complimentary greens after we ate the cheese & walnuts - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Belmont, California

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The owner was very rude and charged me an extra $60 as a tip without my consent. I clearly told him that I did not want to leave a tip on my card and that I only wanted to be charged for my food, which was to-go. The food was already being paid for by the person who invited us, and I only ordered food for my kids to take home. Despite explaining this, he still charged me for additional food and added the tip without my permission. This was very upsetting and unprofessional, and I did not agree to these charges. I will never visit there any more and on top become out asking us that you didn't put TIPS read more

SO disappointed- we ordered food to go today for my Mothers Day dinner I got the barg and shared a Greek salad with my husband The barg was inedible - VERY dry with zero taste or seasonings. I could only choke down one bite of it by drinking water with it. read more

We had delicious lunch. I had the chicken Kabobs..and pureed eggplant . It was yummy. We had a wonderful server as well. I will be back. read more

We recently visited this restaurant and unfortunately had a disappointing experience. The quality of the food was poor compared to what we expected, and the person at the front door was very rude and unwelcoming. We hope customer service and food quality improve in the future. read more