Wife and I were headed to See's for some Easter candy and wanted to have a hearty lunch to keep us…read morefrom over indulging. Looked around and found this Iranian/Persian spot. We have never had food from that regional cuisine so we thought we'd give it a shot. So stoked that we decided to go there because it was delicious. I got the mixed koobideh with rice and Wife had the beef kabobs with naan, and we both had the Persian hot tea. Wife's plate came out with 2 giant naan, one underneath her kabob, lime wedge, mint, onions, and a grilled tomato and the other on top of it all. Mine had a huge amount of rice along with one chicken and one beef kabob all dusted with sumac, lime, mint, onions, grilled tomato, and a pat of butter. Every thing looked, smelled, and tasted delicious. Seasoned, tender meat-fluffy rice, yum. Yum. Yum. Wife gave me one of her naan. It was larger and thinner than other naan I've had. I tore it into sections and created mini wraps with the meat and rice. Delicious! The hot tea came with sugar cubes and had a lovely rose fragrance. It is an order at the counter restaurant, so make sure you peruse the menu ahead of time so you're ready to order. The decor was traditional and gave the place a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. Great food, will be back when we are in the area again!

I was really excited to try this place out, as Persian food is one of my favorites and it's pretty…read moretough to find. I decided to order a mini Persian feast: the beef koobideh with rice, doogh yogurt drink, and a saffron ice cream for dessert. This was my first time trying beef koobideh, and unfortunately, this just didn't seem to be very good. The meat itself was okay, decently cooked, and topped with quite a lot of some spice that I can't quite put my finger on. It was okay. The rice though, that is what really disappointed me. Persian rice is usually amazing, but this really didn't seem traditional and it had a strange taste to it. It also came with onion and a grilled tomato, both solid additions. Good portion though. The doogh yogurt drink wasn't homemade like I had hoped, but in all honesty, it still really hit the spot on a hot Austin day. Reasonable price. The saffron rice was also fairly disappointing. Large white chunks (clotted cream maybe? But they were pretty tasteless), gritty texture, not much flavor. Just not really worth it. All in all, a bit of a disappointing dinner in Austin. I'll have to look for a different Persian spot next time I'm in the area.

Stopped into Shandeez Grill on Anderson Mill when I wanted something that felt home-cooked but…read morestill restaurant-level (and I didn't feel like doing the "where should we eat?" loop for 30 minutes). Atmosphere: Quiet, comfortable, and more "family dinner" than flashy date-night. It's a simple dining room, but it's clean and relaxed--easy to actually talk without yelling over music. The kind of place where you can tell regulars come in a lot. Food: This is what you come for. I went the kabob route--juicy, charred in the right spots, and seasoned so you actually taste the meat (not just smoke). Rice was fluffy and came out hot, and the grilled tomato/veggies were a perfect add-on. Also grabbed a yogurt-based side (maast style) and it was super refreshing between bites--especially if you're doing anything spicy or super savory. If you've never had Persian food, this is a solid entry point: it's flavorful without being intimidating, and everything feels filling without being heavy. Service: Friendly and patient--no rushing, no weird attitude, just genuinely helpful. They'll explain dishes if you're unsure, and everything came out at a good pace. It felt like they wanted you to enjoy your meal, not just flip the table. Wrap-up: If you're in NW Austin and want legit Persian comfort food--kabobs, rice, stews, the whole deal--Shandeez is a really easy recommendation. Great "treat yourself" dinner that still feels warm and low-key.

I rarely write negative reviews, but I believe honest feedback is important and I hope this…read morefeedback is taken constructively. Persian food is known for flavor and quality, and this experience fell short of those expectations. Given that this is one of the only 2 Persian restaurants in Austin, we were actually really excited to try it.. The food overall was bland and felt low quality. The barg was extremely chewy and rubbery, with an odd texture and appearance. The chicken breast tasted frozen and lacked freshness and the koobideh was mediocre at best. Unfortunately, the bread served at the beginning with cheese looked as though it had been taken from another table and reheated. It had residue on it, as if it had been sitting with other food, which was off-putting and immediately affected our appetite. We mentioned and showed our waiter the barg and how rubbery it was and impossible to separate. Our waiter was polite and apologetic, though he was not responsible for the food itself. But the response was an offer of ice cream for dessert. We spent $110 for two people and left roughly 70% of the food untouched. The only item that was decent was the tahdig with ghormeh sabzi and gheymeh. Aside from that, it was a disappointing experience.

Checked the place out based on Yelp reviews and was absolutely floored. Clean space, friendly…read morestaff, quick service, and excellent food! We ordered the half order falafel with hummus, mint lemonade, lamb kabob platter, and beef kabob platter. Everything but the salad came in large Texas style portions. I requested the beef be cooked to medium and the temperature was perfect. Tips: Substitute the tahini in the kabob platters for tzatziki and request garlic sauce on the side. The garlic sauce enhances the flavor of rice.

Food is very good, service not so good... I can tell people…read morecome for the food alone. The place is nice and has a nice layout. However, I'll think about coming here again because I didn't feel a good vibe with the service. We had to go look for someone to show us the table even though the place was empty for early lunch. Then, to get drinks or even the order was a problem. It took so much longer than usual. Our waitress was rude, and seemed bothered that we showed up. Then someone else came as the waitress and she was preoccupied with other tables and barely checked on us. A regular lunch which would've been one hour became almost two because of the lack of service. My friend had to stand and look for someone to give us a box to take out the good we couldn't eat because it was getting late and also to get the check because No one came in to check on us at all. It was almost like pulling teeth to get a regular service let alone good service. Again, the food was really good, and that alone was the only positive.

Usta Kababgy is an excellent restaurant for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Austin, TX located…read moreon N. Lamar Blvd. The restaurant has well seasoned, charcoal grilled meats. The kebabs are the true highlight...juicy, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The portions are quite large as the hubs and I shared a wrap. We were sufficiently full after eating the chicken tikka wrap. Interestingly, the wrap came in a Shawarma King packaging with their contact phone number. So, I assume that Usta staff are sub-contracting from Shawarma King. Usta also has freshly baked bread and classic sides like hummus and rice paired with the main dishes. The restaurant has a homey, lived in feel. It has a few middle eastern artifacts sprinkled throughout the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from Iraqi and Adana kebabs to shawarma and traditional Middle Eastern plates, so there are food items for both first timers and regulars who want to explore beyond the basics. They also serve flatbreads where you can have two different toppings. The food focus is on bold, traditional flavors rather than modern takes on middle eastern foods. On the desserts front, they have an assortment of desserts and several sections of ice cream. I had the baklava, which was surprisingly delicious...it was not eye-squinting sweet like a standard baklava. It was crunchy, flavorful, and had nuts that were substantial. Layla, my server, was so super sweet and welcoming. She pointed out that Usta provides its customers free tea. How cool is that? I cannot remember last time I received a free drink.

Usta Kababgy offers amazing charcoal-grilled Mediterranean food that provides authentic, "soul-fed"…read moreexperience that's hard to find elsewhere. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, suitable for a place nice enough for a family/friend gathering. The service is friendly and reassures wanting to provide an enjoyable meal. The standout here is the charcoal grill definitely must try. It's all fresh and top-tier.

The food, everything, was very good. I had the Shish Tawook (chicken) with tabbouleh and hummus…read more The tabbouleh was fantastic! I don't know if it was authentic or not, but it was so good! The staff member that I dealt with was personable, pleasant, etc. Only one negative--I wish I could give the place a 4.5, but I don't think a 4 is fair--After I indicated that I was finished eating and ready for the bill (maybe I didn't communicate it so clearly?), it seemed to take quite a while before they came with the check. Otherwise, great food! (I did not try the hookah at all.) Oh, I forgot to mention: I was served a bottle of spring water rather than a bottle of "purified" water. That was fairly impressive.

All day Friday I was snacking. Mezze Cafe was one of my snack stops. I was told by a friend that…read morethey have the most delicious homemade hummus. So I ordered their hummus. My friend was spot on. You could tell that the hummus was homemade as it was thick and substantial to eat. It also had some extra virgin oil and some tasty spices. To be honest, I was not crazy about the accompanying pita bread. While it was plentiful, the pita bread was a bit hard. It did not appear homemade, as I expected. Moe, my server, was very attentive and brought my hummus rather quickly. While my hummus was $8, there were built automatic tips up 30%. You could opt to do no tip or a custom tip. Never seen a tip automatically built to that large percent. Their parking lot was a bit small, but was free for customers. I did enjoy my hummus and would recommend it. However, I would ask for crackers to accompany the hummus.

It's wild that this is coming out of a food truck!…read more We ordered the Special Grill to try most of the menu. Beef koobideh, chicken koobideh, barg kabob, kofta and veggie kofta. It came with saffron rice. It was a ton of food and everything smelled amazing when it arrived. The food tasted very fresh and was super appetizing. One of the meats was a little dry but overall they were all good. It's easily good for two people, maybe even three. But my favorite item was the Mix Roll. Fries, marinated grilled chicken and beef, boiled egg, veggies, white sauce, and chili sauce wrapped in bread. This thing was crazy good. Loved the thin bread. The chili sauce gave a little bit of spice to it but nothing too hot. Big enough that two people can easily split it. Food is halal and the menu leans Afghan Persian in style. The seasoning is a little different from what you usually find in other Persian places and in my opinion it is more flavorful. We ordered through Uber Eats and the food came pretty fast too.

I ordered the Mix Koobideh because it seemed like the best deal. The beef and chicken Koobideh was…read moreso delicious and flavorful. The white sauce was pretty solid too. I kinda wished it included a salad but that was an add on. You can get it either with white or saffron rice. I love saffron rice so I picked that and it's pretty solid. It's still missing a particular flavor I'm wanting but I did really enjoy it. The unexpected fan favorite, the roasted tomato was delicious! However, it does cost extra and that was not listed on the menu. So with the tip my meal came out to $20, which is pretty pricey for a food truck meal.

This is one of the few places in town where I know I'm guaranteed to have an amazing experience…read more There are no misses on the menu, everything is pretty much assured to be absolutely delicious. There's really nothing to complain about, the patio and interior are stunning and transport you out of south congress. Service has always been prompt and good, they always refill the pita when you're running low. My personal favorites are the steak frites and the eggplant dip, seriously SO good. Everytime I come here I look forward to the next time I can go again

We recently visited Aba on a Sunday evening for dinner, and it turned out to be a wonderful…read moreexperience overall. I absolutely love the vibe of this place--it's definitely a high-end Mediterranean restaurant, perfect for special occasions. What really stood out was how beautifully everyone was dressed; it added to the upscale, elegant atmosphere of the entire space. The restaurant offers both indoor seating and a beautiful outdoor seating area, which really elevates the overall experience. The outdoor space, in particular, adds to the charm and makes it a great spot for a relaxed yet upscale evening. Since reservations weren't available, we decided to arrive early, expecting a long wait. Luckily, being a Sunday evening, it wasn't too crowded, and we were seated within about 20 minutes. For drinks, I ordered a Tender Robot Hazy IPA, while my husband went with the Verdant Mai Tai. I was a bit disappointed to learn they only serve canned beer and don't offer draft options, as I personally prefer draft beer and am not a big fan of cocktails, which tend to be too sweet for my taste. For the main course, I had the Heirloom Chicken Thighs, and my husband ordered the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Both dishes were cooked to perfection--flavorful, well-seasoned, and the meat was incredibly tender. That said, the portion sizes felt a bit small considering the price point. We ended the meal with the Sticky Date Cake, and it was hands down the best I've ever had--rich, perfectly balanced, and absolutely delicious. Overall, we had a great experience. Between the beautiful ambiance, flavorful food, and exceptional service, it's a place I'd definitely return to. I'm giving it 4 stars mainly because of the lack of draft beer and the smaller portion sizes for the price, but it's still a fantastic spot worth visiting.

Our family was visiting Austin just as a winter storm was approaching. There was a freezing drizzle…read morein the morning but most of the afternoon was dry and the temperature was dropping. A lot of places were closing early so that staff can stay home until the storm passed. As such, we struggled to find restaurants with dine-in option. Thankfully our local friend suggested Kabobzi and we had a very pleasant late lunch. Our friend had the chicken shawarma pita sandwich whereas our family shared the lamb kebab platter with hummus, salad, and rice. It was plenty of food because it was a late lunch and we wanted to save space for dinner. The lamb was tender and flavorful. The complimentary pita bread was fresh, soft, and fluffy.

This place is listed under two names, Kabobzi and Phoenician Resto, but I guess I'll put my review…read morehere since the website seems to be based on this one. This place is so unassuming from the outside but it is EXCELLENT Lebanese food! Everything I've had is fantastic, but on a recent visit, the Splash Garlic Chicken blew me away. It's $42 and it's listed as feeding two, which can sound a little steep but it comes with three sides and unless you are crazy starving, it's really more the serving size for three people. When you sit down, they give you a basket of fluffy puffy fresh pita and a plate of zaatar and olive oil. This bread is FANTASTIC, and I challenge you to not eat too much too quickly. No seriously, don't fill up too early on this, because the rest of the food is great. Hummus excellent. Babaganouj good. Lamb kebob incredible. But my mind keeps going back to the Splash Garlic Chicken. It's so tender and perfectly grilled. It comes with these potato medallions that are so creamy inside. And the whole thing is smothered in this amazing creamy lemony garlic sauce tableside. It's also just such a unique dish that I've not seen at other Mediterranean places which sets Kabobzi apart. Great service too - Julian kept refilling our fresh pita basket and brought us more of the delicious zaatar oil dip that we couldn't get enough of. Oh and there's parking both out front and around the back.

Very legit afghani food! Portions are big and taste is…read moreunmatched. Loved their goat karahi and kabuli palao- We ordered ahead of getting there and got hot piping food right after we got there. Loved every bit of it and would totally recommend!!!!!

Once upon a time, I was craving some Borani Bajan and Afghan Mantu, so I ordered some and a Tikka…read moreKebab from this restaurant. It is just north of the Burger King, at the south end of a strip mall next to a dollar store and tax preparation service. When I went to pickup, I parked and went inside to retrieve the order. The interior is pretty barebones, with a music video playing on the TV and kids fiddling with a tablet. After bringing the food home, I was pretty delighted. The eggplant in the Borani Bajan had soaked in quite a bit of flavor from the tomato and spices, and the yogurt was a nice touch. The Afghan Mantu were also quite savory, and tossed with yellow lentils and more yogurt. The rice had cumin seeds incorporated within. The kebab was wraps and rolled in bread and encompassed in foil. It was nicely smoky and quite salty. Actually everything ordered was quite good, but everything was also surprisingly salty, especially the kebab. But I liked it. I just think that salt level could have been toned down a bit.

This place is phenomenal, the staff is incredibly friendly, the food is always hot, fresh and…read moretastes excellent. This has become one of our go-to restaurants. Cannot recommend enough!

My first time here and everything is laid out beautifully. Levant is the French name for Lebanon…read more The place was super clean and I didn't feel grunge while there. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. But because I was early there was plenty of seating and I chose indoor. The counter server talked me thru everything and gave me samples of the different side dishes. I chose not to get rice nor bread and stuck to the sauces and veggies. I ordered the Chicken and Lamb Levant bowl. The mixture of all the different flavors was exceptional. Thank you Levant Cafe & Grill for a wonderful dining experience. May 2026 bring you much success! Happy New Year everyone.