I had the filet mignon skewers and my husband had the salmon. I loved the flavor of the iced tea. The food was amazing and the staff was kind and checked in with us often. read more

I was intrigued by this restaurant that carries a 5 star rating, after almost 100 reviews. We were going to the Hollywood Bowl and decided to grab dinner before the show. Reservations were easy through Yelp. We arrived at 6 and the place was not crowded. The restaurant has only been open for 3-4 mos. Parking was plentiful in the strip mall parking lot, which is a huge bonus in this part of town. The decor was modern and clean. Service was helpful and friendly. They told us to follow them on Instagram and to check out their videos and new menu photos through a QR code. Sadly, half of my party were elderly and not so techno-savvy. The food was pretty good. Dishes were flavorful and prices were reasonable. Portions were ample. The filet mignon kebabs were tender. Some of my party felt it was over marinated in their opinion. The beef koobideh was good but I've had better. The falafel was solid. The stuffed grape leaves were a bit mushy in my opinion. The barberry rice was something new I had not tried before. Their hummus is house made. Overall a solid dining experience. read more

Unfortunately, this was the most disappointing Persian restaurant experience I've ever had in Los Angeles. I really wanted to like this place, but nothing was done right. It started with the bread--just four small pieces for four people--followed by the so-called tahdig ("crispy rice"), which was stale, chewy, and far from fresh. The only stew available for the tahdig was gheimeh, and it was completely off: flavorless, lacking authenticity, and shockingly served without any meat. For our mains, one of us ordered the koobideh, which turned out to be equally bad--overly salty and missing the rich, familiar taste that makes this dish a staple. As someone from LA who grew up with Persian food, I've never walked away this disappointed from an Iranian restaurant here. read more

Delightful fusion of Mediterranean and Persian food with a special focus on meats and kabobs, Vala is the newest restaurant in The Gower Gulch, located at Sunset & Gower in Hollywood, and I hope it thrives here for years to come. "Why is that?" you might ask. Well, because I live all of 1 mile away and it's hard to find high end Mediterranean food of this caliber in my neighborhood. I love Amir and Zankou for shwarma and kabobs and such, but Vala's freshness and flavors cannot be denied, so it will make for a welcome addition to Hollywood as a more high end destination for these kind of foods. We started with an appetizer hummus and it was fresh and unique, textured not to be creamy, but more like how I've experienced baba ganoush in the past. With the green olives atop it, served with piping hot pita bread that is soft and pillowy, it's excellent. Our main courses we order with the intention of sharing, one signature "Vala Chicken" and one "Filet Mignon Barg." As you get the option of rice or salad, we do rice on one and salad on the other as my date and I are sharing everything. They arrive and everything looks amazing. The colors of the chicken and the salad really stand out and I must say, one bite of the chicken and we were glad to have made Vala our Saturday night dinner out-- it's moist and flavorful, a little sumac and it's heaven. The steak "barg" consists of soft strips of the filet, seasoned a little and perhaps tenderized with a hammering (?). My date likes it more than I do and, at $29, I'll opt to try the regular chunk style filet kabobs next time ($23)... still, it's good. Special notices for the rice, very well prepared, soft and not at all sticky, and the truly excellent salad with a zesty Mediterranean dressing that skews towards the lemony side as opposed to one riddled with herbs. Vala gives you a heaping bowl of it too, and the cucumbers and tomatoes are noticeable for just how fresh they are Finally, we had their saffron ice cream with pistachios, a perfect and unique end to the healthy and filling meal. It's attractive and delicious, served in a martini parfait glass and very cold... Try Vala. I think you'll like it as much as we did. read more

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"We do not need another Persian restaurant in LA!" That is the first thing I thought when I heard about this new place but we decided to check it out anyways. We went there for dinner with family and let me tell you it exceeded our expectations. Growing up in Iran and living in LA for quite some time now I have had my fair share of amazing Persian food so I think I can distinguish good from mediocre. We ordered a handful of appetizers and rice and kabobs as main course. Since we were a large group everything was served family style. Drinks: - Homemade Lemonade: light and slightly sweet. Kids loved it - Persian Refresher "Sekanjebin": just the way it is authentically done. Minty, sweet, refreshing Apps: - Hummus: thick and balanced - Persian Eggplant: Rich with the right texture - Garden Salad: lemony, crunchy, fresh - Persian salad (aka Shirazi): standard - French Fries: according to my kids, best fries they've ever had - Chickpea yogurt delight soup: this is an authentic regional soup from northwest of Iran. I have not seen it anywhere else in the US. So yummy and comforting - Shallot yogurt: made in house, pretty good Main: - Barberry rice, white rice and cherry rice - soft, fluffy and buttery - Assorted Kabobs: not overly seasoned, soft and juicy; filet is my favorite Service: Very welcoming and friendly. They made sure all our requests were fulfilled Ambiance: Modern decor with minimalist approach. This is not the Persian restaurant vibe we are used to with fancy and heavy designs. It is more on the simple side but not cheap looking Overall we were really impressed with this place, my kids specifically mentioned several times that we have to come back and try more stuff (thinking their salmon and Loobia Polo) so we'll definitely be back read more

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Most horrible experience in this restaurant. I honestly don't understand why this restaurant has such a high rating. Unfortunately, it was the worst Persian food I've had in Los Angeles. The glasses smelled bad, and even the water had a strange odor. They brought us the wrong order (though they did deduct it from the bill). The filet mignon was really bad. The koobideh had a smell and wasn't fresh. The chicken was very average. Unfortunately, I didn't have a good experience at all. I'll never go back and I don't recommend it to anyone. The only thing that was good was the kashk-e-bademjan. read more

Came on a lunch date and we ordered the Vala Juicy chicken with rice and salad and the chicken koobideh sandwich. Let me tell you.... Everything was delicious! The food came out popping hot (for some reason a lot of food is not hot which annoys me). The garlic sauce and the tahini sauce is made fresh and was amazing. The chicken was so tender and juicy especially it being chicken breast. The sandwich was full of flavors with the homemade baguette. For a girlie who loves Mediterranean food, this is top tier and the pricing is great for the portion size! I will definitely be coming back! By the way this was my first time attending. Great service as well! read more

Best Persian kebab, rice, apps! The ambience is great for date night and the staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. 5/5 and my new LA go-to. read more

Vala Kitchen is one of the best Mediterranean cuisine here in LA. The staff gets the order precisely and serves fast. We also enjoyed and loved the bright and cool vibe in this restaurant. We will definitely go back here. read more

Vala Kitchen - Vala beef koobideh kebab with roasted tomato and Basmati rice - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great food. Service was caring. our server, Sam took great care of us. Great ambience for a date or casual dining.

The restaurant was quite busy but the service was super fast Food was amazing and service was great. We would love to come again. read more

Vala Kitchen - Saffron ICE cream TIRAMISU(HOMEMADE) - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place is amazing. It is a family owned business. They are genuinely loving people and the food is absolutely the best, while prices are lower than other Persain restaurants. I live in Orange County but willing to drive up to Hollywood for this kind of delicious food. God bless these owners for being the best and providing the best Persain food. read more

Everything was so tasty! The Vala Chicken Kabob plate was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The service was excellent, friendly and attentive. I can't wait to come back and try more dishes! read more

Vala Kitchen - Vala Chicken kabob plate with salad. Soooo juicy and fresh! - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place is unreal. I could eat here every day if I worked/lived closer. It started for me as I was walking in, and customers were hugging the host, Sam. That really set the tone for me. I took a seat and literally forgot I was in Los Angeles. The music, lighting, seating, and the general ambiance were transformative. Feels more like a boutique 4.5-star hotel than an Iranian Restaurant. Now, the food. WOW! I ordered half chicken and half steak kabobs. They brought homemade hummus to the table, and whoa, it was outta this world (better than my mom makes, which is honestly hard to beat). The meat was amazing... The texture was like nothing I have ever had before, and the salad was nothing short of amazing. I literally didn't want to leave the restaurant, and I wasn't drinking alcohol... Do yourself a favor, and treat yourself to Vala, and you too will be the next 5-star review. I didn't have room for dessert, but I was so tempted by the homemade baklava, which was a recipe from the owner's grandmother from Iran... read more

Very friendly atmosphere, attentive staff and dogs friendly place! We chose to sit outside because the weather was pleasant. Food was tasty but cherry rice needs to be improved for sure. read more

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The food was expensive for the portion size. The koobideh kebab had a bad smell. Please allow customers to taste the food and decide for themselves whether it's good or not. You praise the food so much before the order, but when it's served, the customer gets shocked. read more

If you're looking for a culinary journey through the heart of Persian cuisine, look no further than Vala Kitchen! This hidden gem has quickly become my go-to spot for an authentic dining experience that feels like a warm hug from home. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that truly sets the stage for a fantastic meal. The staff was not only friendly but also incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, guiding me through their amazing offerings. Now, let's talk about the food--oh my goodness! Each dish has that homemade taste that you rarely find in restaurants these days. The flavors were vibrant and beautifully balanced, showcasing the richness of Persian spices. I couldn't get enough of the succulent kebabs and the aromatic saffron rice. Every bite felt like a celebration of culinary tradition! And if you have room for dessert (which you absolutely should make a point to save room for!), you are in for a treat. I tried their signature tiramisu and it was simply divine; it melted in my mouth with each bite! The perfect sweetness paired with just the right amount of cream left me wanting more. Also try their traditional Persian ice cream! Thank you Sam read more

great food and the owner is super nice, kebab is really fresh off the grill. will probabiy come back.

Food is great very tasty and juicy...Yummy. Ambience is beautiful and very clean and the best service counts a lot did great very friendly and coincidentally the owner is from Santa Clarita. read more

Food wasn't cooked enough. Kind of cold on the inside and very wet? Medium service, not that nice read more

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Excellent food , Excellent service, we visited them from OC . Planning to go back soon. Highly recommend this place. read more

Excellent customer service! I ordered the lamb shank, and it was delicious. The portion size was generous as well. I will definitely come back and try more dishes next time I'm in the area. read more

One of the best restaurants in LA Sam was awesome and super respectful Food was great Definitely will come back in the future read more

Visited this place today for the first time. I ordered the Vala chicken with salad. Everythinf was delicious and the owner was super friendly. Good service as well. read more

This place is by far the BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT we've gone to! I ordered the koobideh 2 skewers (beef and chicken) and my boyfriend ordered the chicken soltani kebab. The meat was super juicy, tender and overall extremely delicious! The whole plate was bursting with flavor including their rice. We also ordered a salad to share and it was very refreshing, it blended really well with our order. The staff was so friendly and they checked up on us frequently in case we needed anything. The place itself is very cozy with cute furnishings. The restaurant overall felt very homey. We will definitely be coming back again! read more

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Best Mediterranean food I've ever had! The owners are the nicest people. Exceptional service and atmosphere.

If you're looking for a great restaurant in Hollywood. Vala Kitchen is the best place to go. The lamb shank was tender. And the chicken koobideh sandwich was delicious. And you have to try their pistachio saffron ice cream. read more

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The food, and especially the service was phenomenal! Went for a birthday dinner with my friends and had the 4 plate meal! They turned the lights off to set the mood, so I do recommend with you want to take someone out in a late dinner date read more

Vala Kitchen - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great Service, with food that will light up the senses. The food taste delicious and is very healthy at the same time. They have a great lunch menu and their dinner here is also spectacular. Beautiful ambience. What a great experience! I'll be coming back and a well deserved 5 stars! read more

Delicious! So glad I finally checked out this place. The juiciest chicken ever. Don't get me started on their homemade baklava. Can't wait to come back. read more

Nice little spot is strip mall. Good service, friendly staff. Great food, nice portions.

Who woulda thunk that in this little strip mall is an amazing Persian restaurant! Service was more like a five star restaurant with real silverware, fancy serving dishes and beautiful glasses. Sam, one of the owners was quite warm and suggested wonderful items. My friend and I opted for the combo to go as we were heading to the Hollywood Bowl. We sat down to the eggplant appetizer and a bowl of the most delicious garbanzo yogurt soup. They brought our salad but we let our server know that we asked for that to go with our main course. He said he would leave it and put another fresh one in our to go order. We thoroughly enjoyed the app and soup. Later, we shared the combo of a ground beef kabob and a ground chicken kabob. It also came with a roasted tomato, and rice or salad. We asked for half and half but I'm pretty sure it was full servings of both. Really fresh salad with a nice simple dressing. Deliciously seasoned basmati rice. The kabobs were also perfectly seasoned and cooked just right keeping them moist and juicy. I can't wait to go back and try more. read more

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Consistently DELICIOUS, quality food! The chicken thigh is my favorite, topped with a side of the freshest Persian Salad... you won't regret a single item on the menu, I promise! Even as leftovers, everything remains as moist, fresh and delicious as day one. read more

When you arrive at a restaurant and are greeted with "Hello, thank you for coming. We're so glad you came.", you immediately feel welcome. The menu is amazing and we had a hard time choosing what to eat. Sam gave us some good explanations of the dishes and we finally opted for the lamb shank with rice - Loobia Polo - and the speciality Kabab Torsh, along with a refreshing glass of homemade lemonade. The lamb shank was meaty and succulent and the accompanying rice quite a discovery for both of us. The sauce was so tasty. The flavour of my Kabab Torsh was excellent with just the right dose of sour. The salad that came with it was crunchy with a delicious dressing. We will definitely be back to try out more of the dishes on the menu and are so glad to have found the best Persian food we have eaten for a long time, if not ever. read more

FIRST TIME! My dad and I ordered the Koobideh Beef (medium rare) and Chicken Skewers and the Filet Mignon Barg Kebob (well done). We shared the plates ofc. I wasn't that hungry to begin with but when I took that first bite, it was a done deal. They were ABSOLUTELY amazing. All the meat were tender and soft and SUPER flavorful. I honestly couldn't believe it. We kept asking each other "why tf is this so good?" It wasn't salty nor overseasoned - just perfect. The salad was very fresh and don't get me started on the grilled tomatoes. We finished our plates clean even though the portion size was huge. We saw other customers togo their leftovers but we finished everything! The ambiance was peaceful with calm lighting and neutral tones for its interior. Music was pleasing to the ears as they played jazz, latin, rnb remixes. Sam (the owner) is absolutely delightful, making sure everyone was enjoying their time and food. Sam opened his restaurant 5 months ago and has been working vigorously to advertise his restaurant. Please go and show him some love! You will not regret it. I'll be back again with my mum this time, Sam! Cheers and congrats on your restaurant!! read more

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Food was amazing and service above and beyond, highly recommended and it worth to try on , you are going to love it

Ordered a party platter for dinner party and it was a hit with my guests. Tasty and great quality Middle Eastern food and super-friendly service. read more

Popped in after a day in the area to kill sometime for traffic to die down before going home. Im iranian and know LA has the bes Persian food! This place was the best iranian food ive ever had! We got the Kabob Koobidehs and Barg Chicken with thir Greek Salad! Mouth watering juicy! Best Quality! OMG! I live in San Diego and looking for excuses to go back! The service was exceptional and homey! This place left a WONDERFUL taste in my mouth!! read more

Vala Kitchen - Bag Chicken With Greek Salad. - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Best food and best service first time visits them and really liked their food and they are so friendly . read more

Vala Kitchen - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Delicious and authentic Persian food! Loved the crispy Tahdig with Ghormeh Sabzi and can't wait to try it with the fesenjon. Haven't had the taste of authentic Persian food in a long, long time, as restaurants are usually limited to only kebabs... and btw, I'm not Persian, but am a fan thanks to the Persian friends I made at USC and the delicious home-cooked meals their mothers would make! Support this small, family run restaurant and help it survive. We need a great Persian restaurant in the Hollywood area! read more