Yalda - Atlanta
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I visited Yalda on a saturday for brunch and had such a wonderful meal. The inside of the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous and our host was very kind and fun. We ordered some cocktails which were fantastic, and kashke bademjun to start. The kashke bademjun was very delicious but not as traditional as I was expecting. I had a lamb logmeh next and the flavor was excellent. It was the perfect thing to eat if you're not looking for something overly heavy to start the day. I wish I had room for dessert but i'll definitely be back!
We arrived at Yalda for an early dinner without a reservation, and we were able to be seated in the sun room. The service at this restaurant was very prompt and kind. As an example, I noticed that they asked our table, and a couple others, if we were there celebrating anything special. Our server took our order in a very clear way and our food came out very quickly. The staff were also very attentive to refill our water and in packing up our meal. We ordered a Chicken Shish Kebab with a substitution of an adas polo and a lamb shawarma wrap with fries. As you can see, the portion sizes are generous. I noticed that a majority of people boxed up their meals. We noticed that the chicken was on the dryer side. We really enjoyed the lamb wrap and the fries. The adas polo was delicious. There is nearby valet parking for $6. Overall, we had a good time and were in and out rather quickly and painlessly.
Came for late lunch on a casual Friday...and it was excellent in terms of the low-key, warm vibe outside as well as the super friendly service. The waitress was knowledgeable and accommodating with our requests. We also enjoyed the food! It is arguably more filling than it initially looks, specifically the mirza ghasemi, falafel entree, branzino, and a tasty baklava ice cream. Note that the food is collectively more filling than it may initially appear...so feel free to save some for leftovers.
The vibes here were cute and lively. Definitely a good place to sit and talk for hours, though I'd say the space is smaller and not as vibey as Delbar. Where Yalda really surprised me was the food. The eggplant spread was amazing and somehow tasted like meat even though it's literally just eggplant. Easily a standout. The entrees were strong. The chicken shish kebab was super juicy and flavorful and I liked it way more than the lamb kebab. The lamb was fine, just a little overhyped for me. The baklava was crispy and tasty, slightly oily, but the floral ice cream it came with made it so good. The espresso martini... WOW. Easily one of the best I've had. It's sweet, which is so different from the bitter ones I usually get, and I loved that. Service was okay, nothing crazy, but overall I had a really good time. I'd rate this spot around a 7.5/10.
I finally stopped here after a long time and after multiple recommendations from my friends. the space is cute and vibes classy chic. they have amazing food and did not disappoint. We tried the grilled halloumi as an appetizer and the lamb koobideh. both were cooked to perfection. Definitely swing back to see and try their other options. Servers are fantastic and they have both indoor outdoor seating which is great for the summer Atlanta weather
They really took care of us. The service was really professional and high quality. They found us a table even though we didn't have a reservation. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and helpful. The manager also stopped by our table to check on us. And he also moved one of their space heaters made our table because he must have suspected we were cold. All the food was exceptionally tasty. My lamb shawarma was delicious. My only very small complaint was that their naan (the wrap itself) gets pretty tough and hard to chew. So I just unwrapped it and ate the filling with a fork. They offered the normal side of fries, but for some reason, I decided to substitute a side of the saffron basmati rice instead. That was probably a mistake. While the rice was fine, it was a rather plain and boring choice for a side. Should have stuck with the fries. The others at my table enjoyed their meals as well ... Fried Haloumi, falafel plate, and the eggplant based spread. We had they're pomegranate cheesecake for dessert -- amazing -- the tartness of the pomegranate sauce perfectly balancing the sweetness of the cheesecake. We also wanted to try their pistachio milk cake, but they were out, so they offered their tiramisu instead, which was perfect.
Food - I loved my food, very filling and nicely seasoned! The bread was also nice, warm and soft! Service The service was nice, I will say they checked in on us a lot, to the point where it was too much. However our waitress was very nice, answered all our questions with good recommendations, and made sure we had everything we needed. Ambiance We went on a Friday night, it's very nice for date night, girl catch up dinner, birthday etc
Such a great experience! And the food was amazing. This was my second time here and I was as blown away by the quality of the food, and the amazing service we had. Our server suggested we try a tequila in our espresso martini and while skeptical, it was absolutely phenomenal. The hummus was flavorful and the spicy cheese was surprisingly buttery and well seasoned. The chicken koobideh was huge, sad that we didn't get to finish our plates but the food and ambience was perfect for our date. Highly recommend.
We had the best meal today at Yalda. We were able to choose between the brunch and dinner menus, which is a great option (not all places let you order from both) We started with the Istanbul Board. Amazing variety and so many options. We loved the pistachio butter cream and sarshir. We paired with the garlic toum sauce and Mirza Ghasemi spread off the dinner menu. We really enjoyed how the flavors and ingredients really layered and combined. So delicious! I had the non-spirit Sharbat-E Anar which was delightful and perfect for lunch. For our entrees, we did a sharing platter of the Chenjeh and Chicken Shish Kabob with the saffron rice and subbed in Shirin Polo. The Chenjeh was cooked perfectly as was the Shish Kabob. The clear winner was the Shirin Polo and we really loved the flavors it brought. As we had extra sauce and spread from our appetizer round, it was amazing with our meal entrees too. We capped off the meal with an Affogato with pistachio gelato. A true winner and our server Jenny was a true gem with amazing recommendations and service. Perfect meal and can't wait to go back!
We had dinner at Yalda's West Midtown location this past Saturday and really enjoyed it. The food and drink were outstanding. There were service issues, but the restaurant made up for it by proactively comping dishes. Off the top of my head, this place is up there with Delbar and Rumi's Kitchen for best Persian and Middle Eastern sit-down food in Atlanta. I also have to say, right off the bat, that Yalda's Sour Cherry Tahdig Rice (Albaloo Polo) is one of the best dishes I've had in Atlanta in recent memory. If you see it on the menu, get it. If it wasn't for our server Kimberly recommending it, we wouldn't have ordered it. The menu says it's "limited." My wife thinks that's because it's currently sour cherry season (June-July), so this could very well be a seasonal item. This is Yalda's second location, opened August 18, 2023. The original and I believe more popular location opened December 27, 2022 in Sandy Springs. Months ago, a friend shared an Instagram reel showing off Yalda Sandy Springs' beautiful interior, dishes, and cocktails. I didn't realize there was also a West Midtown location until driving past it recently on the way home from nearby Emmy Squared Pizza. This location is on the ground floor of the Osprey apartment building. You can look for street parking, but I don't recommend it. Yalda directs guests to valet next door at The Brady apartment building -- same valet as The Optimist. Cars were lined up to enter just before 7:30pm on Saturday. Valet cost $6 plus tip and a convenience fee. The fee appeared to be a percentage of the $6 plus tip total. I liked that I was able to request my car and pay with my phone (card). My car was promptly pulled up to the curb. They accepted cash too. Yalda accepts reservations via Resy. I booked last-minute the night before and was surprised to see wide-open availability. Considering media coverage of West Midtown restaurant closures in recent months, I was a bit concerned. However, we were happy to see that the restaurant was actually packed and busy when we were there. Floor to ceiling, the space is gorgeous and stylishly decorated. There are multiple dining areas including two patios and an upper level inside. It's a fun and elevated vibe; great for date night. This place was filled with couples and small groups, but it works for large groups too. Here's what two of us had (we had leftovers): Cocktails * Mitra's Habibi ($16) - Conniption Gin, saffron bitters, lemon, sumac syrup, honey * Ghanari cocktail ($18) - Bhakta, lemon, apricot syrup, apricot liqueur, absinthe * Hafez's Last Word ($14) - Capel Pisco, amaro, lime, passion fruit, orgeat, red wine float Spreads * Kashk Bademjoon ($13) - fried eggplant, cream of whey, mint, crispy onion and garlic * Za'atar Labneh ($12) - strained yogurt, za'atar, extra virgin olive oil; with pickled mushrooms (+$5) Salads * Beet Salad ($15) - pickled beets and onion, walnut, greens, goat milk feta cheese, pomegranate vinaigrette Specialty Entrees * Soltani Kabob a la carte ($34) - Beef Koobideh kabob (ground chuck, hanger, brisket and ground beef), Beef Barg kabob (gently pounded beef tenderloin) * Chicken Koobideh a la carte ($8) - ground chicken in a citrus marinade, harissa Rice & Potato * Saffron Basmati Rice ($4) * Albaloo Polo Tahdig ($12) - sour cherry crispy rice Dessert * Persian Ice Cream Sandwich ($10) - vanilla ice cream with saffron, rose water and pistachios between two crisped vanilla wafers * Pomegranate Faloodeh ($9) - lime and rose water granita with pomegranate-infused rice noodles Everything was presented beautifully. I already mentioned the Sour Cherry Tahdig which is a must-have. Addictive, from the ripe sour cherries to the crisp rice edges. The Kashk Bademjoon and Za'atar Labneh were of exceptional quality. I was impressed with the rich and satisfying flavors. The pickled mushrooms were unique and worth it. The Beet Salad, featuring different kinds of beets, was wonderful; very fresh. The kabobs were amazing. My favorite was the Beef Koobideh. It was remarkable in both taste and texture; extra savory. The other kabobs (Beef Barg, Chicken Koobideh) were excellent as well; seasoned and cooked to perfection, pretty much. They use an open-flame grill. The Persian Ice Cream Sandwich was delicious. However, the Pomegranate Faloodeh was disappointing. It was too sweet and the rice noodles weren't what I was expecting. I expected way more noodles, and that were long and soft. Sadly, there were just tiny bits in this. The cocktails were well made and fantastic, though it did take a while for them to come out. Pacing was also an issue for our Tahdig, so our rice dishes were comped. Also, one of the original desserts we ordered, the Pistachio Milk Cake ($12), was out, so they comped one of our desserts. We didn't ask for any of this and appreciated it. Kimberly was terrific. She was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The hostess was nice too. A manager checked on us twice.
I have been to this spot for over ten times since my last review. There are indeed some good things so I would like to update my review. First, some dishes, such as koobideh kebab, lamb shawarma, and lamb shank, are really good, especially lamb shawarma--perhaps the best around Midtown. Second, the dishes have huge portion size. Most entrees are so large that I dare not order them. Lucikly they offer à la carte so for example I often order just one skewer of kebab and a side dish, like pickled or sautéed veggies. Their complementary bread is also huge, about 6.5 to 7 oz each; in comparison Delbar and Rumi's bread is about 4.5 to 5oz each. Third, service is in general quick if I dine in alone, but is slow if I dine in with my friends. This is weird. Last but not least, the restaurant is sooo close to Georgia Tech and thus very convenient for me to go there! More convenient if you live in West Midtown! Some of the dishes could be improved. For example, sometimes the rice have different textures, some hard while some soft; and the brunch pide could have a thinner dough and could have been crispier outside. What I got was like an unwrapped wrap with eggs and other toppings.
So pumped I finally made it out to Yalda! I have been to Rumi's and Del Bar so I really wanted to try this! We had a reservation and had to wait a couple minutes for our table which was fine. Once seated we ordered some drinks and I got the blood orange mocktail which was delicious! I was work people so I wasn't paying but my one complaint is the mocktails were a little expensive. We got just about everything on the menu. For the dips, the labneh was our favorite but I LOVED the fried egg plants. The chicken wings were also kind of a sleeper pick of an appetizer but super good! For the mains, you really can't go wrong but we really loved the beef and lamb ones. The rice with lentils is also my favorite and it was delish! For the dessert, honestly I kind of loved the lava cake.. Honestly I think this place is great! Between Rumi's, Del Bar and this they all have things they do better than the other but right now I really do love Yalda!
Oh my God, this place 10 out of 10. Till this day, I dream about the tahdig rice & Chenjeh. The rice was so flavorful they gave us a pot of red flakes to go with it. I can't remember what it was called. I didn't think it needed it at all. It was so much flavor. Of course, my group and I were fighting over who got the crispy part because it's the best part! The rest of the rice still had a lot of flavor to it, even though it wasn't the crispy part. I wish I got more pictures because we ordered a freaking feast!! I was so immersed in the eating part I forgot, I'm so sorry y'all. We ordered the chili hummus, which was delicious and creamy. The hummus is also came with this nan read. It was delicious! It was fresh out of the oven and it was so soft! The beet hummus was surprisingly delicious. I don't like beet, but it had a very mild sweet flavor to it, which I thought was different. We also ordered a baba ghanoush , it's not called baba ghanoush. I can't remember what it's called, but it was the eggplant dip. Again I also do not like eggplants, but I thought it was delicious. Along with the hummus , we ordered a bunch of their sauces as well. It is a la carte and you do have to buy each sauce. However, I think it is very worth it to do. We also ordered a variety of sauces, my favorite one was the garlic tum. Oh my God, it was so delicious. I am partial to tzatziki which we also ordered. But the flavor on the garlic tum was on a whole Nother level of flavor profile. We also got the harissa which wasn't spicy. I think I would skip that next time I like spicy. And a green sauce almost like a chimichurri, but I can't remember the name, it was allegedly also supposed to be spicy. Seriously I wish I took a picture of all the food that we ordered because it was delicious ! For appetizers, we ordered the falafel. Oh my God, the falafel was delicious. I can't tell you how much I love falafel and a lot of places don't make it right because it's usually dry. But I could eat a falafel by itself without any sauce and it was just so good! We also ordered the couscous salad, grilled chicken wings, french fries, and roasted veggies. For the main entrée we ordered Chenjeh, roasted vegetable kebab, and the chicken shish kebab. I wish I didn't have to share the Chenjeh. It was so tender so delicious so flavorful oh my God I was in heaven. I also love the naan bread. They put underneath the kebabs because it's soaked up all the flavor. This was my first time going to Yalda, and at first, honestly I didn't wanna go too crazy ordering a whole bunch of food. Since I wasn't sure how the food was going to be. I was a little nervous because my group was ordering kind of crazy. We basically wanted to try a little bit of . Our bill was probably over $1000 and I legitimately think it was worth it. It's a little on the pricier end, but we ordered so much food and so much variety. This is one of those moments where it's like, treat yourself, and it actually delivered. I went in a group of 14 people, and I'm very lucky that we had so many of us that we were able to try a little bit of everything. We also ate family style, so not one person ordered just a single item we all shared. I highly recommend coming here in a big group. Try a little bit of everything. I'm so sad because I don't think I can get that many to come with me again. The one and only thing I would say that was a little disappointing was the cocktails , but to be honest, I didn't come here for no cocktails. I was ready to eat. And they ate!
24 days ago
Took a Day Trip to come for Great Food!!! Yalda has become our favorite restaurant, and we happily make the trip from Houston to eat here. The food, staff, and ambiance are consistently enjoyable -- and that consistency is exactly what keeps us coming back. Josh, the manager, always makes sure we're well taken care of. And Zoe, the mixologist, made me a drink with a pineapple foam froth that was so daringly good. We started with the lamb hummus appetizer, then ordered the Salmon Kebab with Adas Polo rice, and my husband had the Chicken Kebab with Albaloo rice. We also got an order of grilled wings and Shirin Polo rice to go -- it made the ride back to Houston that much better! Can't wait to come back again and again and again. Highly recommend! read more
Unassuming from the outside but beautiful inside, Yalda has that casual charm with great service and even better food that you would want regardless of the occasion you're there. My sister and I dined here for my birthday. Service was very attentive at every table and our server was good. She didn't hover but anticipated our needs. I ordered the lamb chops but subbed out the lentil and raisin rice for the saffron basmati rice. Asked for the medium cook on the chops. Also ordered some harissa for the table. My stare got the lamb kabobs with dill rice. She let me taste the dill rice. It was ok but the saffron basmati rice was far better to me. My sister said her lamb was slightly overcooked by a hair but my chops were perfect! The seasoning was there but the flavor of the lamb was still there. Overall, I enjoyed it and would definitely go back. read more
3 months ago
I visited Yalda on a saturday for brunch and had such a wonderful meal. The inside of the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous and our host was very kind and fun. We ordered some cocktails which were fantastic, and kashke bademjun to start. The kashke bademjun was very delicious but not as traditional as I was expecting. I had a lamb logmeh next and the flavor was excellent. It was the perfect thing to eat if you're not looking for something overly heavy to start the day. I wish I had room for dessert but i'll definitely be back! read more
16 days ago
We arrived at Yalda for an early dinner without a reservation, and we were able to be seated in the sun room. The service at this restaurant was very prompt and kind. As an example, I noticed that they asked our table, and a couple others, if we were there celebrating anything special. Our server took our order in a very clear way and our food came out very quickly. The staff were also very attentive to refill our water and in packing up our meal. We ordered a Chicken Shish Kebab with a substitution of an adas polo and a lamb shawarma wrap with fries. As you can see, the portion sizes are generous. I noticed that a majority of people boxed up their meals. We noticed that the chicken was on the dryer side. We really enjoyed the lamb wrap and the fries. The adas polo was delicious. There is nearby valet parking for $6. Overall, we had a good time and were in and out rather quickly and painlessly. read more
Came for late lunch on a casual Friday...and it was excellent in terms of the low-key, warm vibe outside as well as the super friendly service. The waitress was knowledgeable and accommodating with our requests. We also enjoyed the food! It is arguably more filling than it initially looks, specifically the mirza ghasemi, falafel entree, branzino, and a tasty baklava ice cream. Note that the food is collectively more filling than it may initially appear...so feel free to save some for leftovers. read more
The vibes here were cute and lively. Definitely a good place to sit and talk for hours, though I'd say the space is smaller and not as vibey as Delbar. Where Yalda really surprised me was the food. The eggplant spread was amazing and somehow tasted like meat even though it's literally just eggplant. Easily a standout. The entrees were strong. The chicken shish kebab was super juicy and flavorful and I liked it way more than the lamb kebab. The lamb was fine, just a little overhyped for me. The baklava was crispy and tasty, slightly oily, but the floral ice cream it came with made it so good. The espresso martini... WOW. Easily one of the best I've had. It's sweet, which is so different from the bitter ones I usually get, and I loved that. Service was okay, nothing crazy, but overall I had a really good time. I'd rate this spot around a 7.5/10. read more
2 months ago
I finally stopped here after a long time and after multiple recommendations from my friends. the space is cute and vibes classy chic. they have amazing food and did not disappoint. We tried the grilled halloumi as an appetizer and the lamb koobideh. both were cooked to perfection. Definitely swing back to see and try their other options. Servers are fantastic and they have both indoor outdoor seating which is great for the summer Atlanta weather read more
They really took care of us. The service was really professional and high quality. They found us a table even though we didn't have a reservation. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and helpful. The manager also stopped by our table to check on us. And he also moved one of their space heaters made our table because he must have suspected we were cold. All the food was exceptionally tasty. My lamb shawarma was delicious. My only very small complaint was that their naan (the wrap itself) gets pretty tough and hard to chew. So I just unwrapped it and ate the filling with a fork. They offered the normal side of fries, but for some reason, I decided to substitute a side of the saffron basmati rice instead. That was probably a mistake. While the rice was fine, it was a rather plain and boring choice for a side. Should have stuck with the fries. The others at my table enjoyed their meals as well ... Fried Haloumi, falafel plate, and the eggplant based spread. We had they're pomegranate cheesecake for dessert -- amazing -- the tartness of the pomegranate sauce perfectly balancing the sweetness of the cheesecake. We also wanted to try their pistachio milk cake, but they were out, so they offered their tiramisu instead, which was perfect. read more
6 months ago
Business owner information
Farhan K.
Thank you for dining with us Jojuane!…
7 months ago
Food - I loved my food, very filling and nicely seasoned! The bread was also nice, warm and soft! Service The service was nice, I will say they checked in on us a lot, to the point where it was too much. However our waitress was very nice, answered all our questions with good recommendations, and made sure we had everything we needed. Ambiance We went on a Friday night, it's very nice for date night, girl catch up dinner, birthday etc read more
Such a great experience! And the food was amazing. This was my second time here and I was as blown away by the quality of the food, and the amazing service we had. Our server suggested we try a tequila in our espresso martini and while skeptical, it was absolutely phenomenal. The hummus was flavorful and the spicy cheese was surprisingly buttery and well seasoned. The chicken koobideh was huge, sad that we didn't get to finish our plates but the food and ambience was perfect for our date. Highly recommend. read more
We had the best meal today at Yalda. We were able to choose between the brunch and dinner menus, which is a great option (not all places let you order from both) We started with the Istanbul Board. Amazing variety and so many options. We loved the pistachio butter cream and sarshir. We paired with the garlic toum sauce and Mirza Ghasemi spread off the dinner menu. We really enjoyed how the flavors and ingredients really layered and combined. So delicious! I had the non-spirit Sharbat-E Anar which was delightful and perfect for lunch. For our entrees, we did a sharing platter of the Chenjeh and Chicken Shish Kabob with the saffron rice and subbed in Shirin Polo. The Chenjeh was cooked perfectly as was the Shish Kabob. The clear winner was the Shirin Polo and we really loved the flavors it brought. As we had extra sauce and spread from our appetizer round, it was amazing with our meal entrees too. We capped off the meal with an Affogato with pistachio gelato. A true winner and our server Jenny was a true gem with amazing recommendations and service. Perfect meal and can't wait to go back! read more
We had dinner at Yalda's West Midtown location this past Saturday and really enjoyed it. The food and drink were outstanding. There were service issues, but the restaurant made up for it by proactively comping dishes. Off the top of my head, this place is up there with Delbar and Rumi's Kitchen for best Persian and Middle Eastern sit-down food in Atlanta. I also have to say, right off the bat, that Yalda's Sour Cherry Tahdig Rice (Albaloo Polo) is one of the best dishes I've had in Atlanta in recent memory. If you see it on the menu, get it. If it wasn't for our server Kimberly recommending it, we wouldn't have ordered it. The menu says it's "limited." My wife thinks that's because it's currently sour cherry season (June-July), so this could very well be a seasonal item. This is Yalda's second location, opened August 18, 2023. The original and I believe more popular location opened December 27, 2022 in Sandy Springs. Months ago, a friend shared an Instagram reel showing off Yalda Sandy Springs' beautiful interior, dishes, and cocktails. I didn't realize there was also a West Midtown location until driving past it recently on the way home from nearby Emmy Squared Pizza. This location is on the ground floor of the Osprey apartment building. You can look for street parking, but I don't recommend it. Yalda directs guests to valet next door at The Brady apartment building -- same valet as The Optimist. Cars were lined up to enter just before 7:30pm on Saturday. Valet cost $6 plus tip and a convenience fee. The fee appeared to be a percentage of the $6 plus tip total. I liked that I was able to request my car and pay with my phone (card). My car was promptly pulled up to the curb. They accepted cash too. Yalda accepts reservations via Resy. I booked last-minute the night before and was surprised to see wide-open availability. Considering media coverage of West Midtown restaurant closures in recent months, I was a bit concerned. However, we were happy to see that the restaurant was actually packed and busy when we were there. Floor to ceiling, the space is gorgeous and stylishly decorated. There are multiple dining areas including two patios and an upper level inside. It's a fun and elevated vibe; great for date night. This place was filled with couples and small groups, but it works for large groups too. Here's what two of us had (we had leftovers): Cocktails * Mitra's Habibi ($16) - Conniption Gin, saffron bitters, lemon, sumac syrup, honey * Ghanari cocktail ($18) - Bhakta, lemon, apricot syrup, apricot liqueur, absinthe * Hafez's Last Word ($14) - Capel Pisco, amaro, lime, passion fruit, orgeat, red wine float Spreads * Kashk Bademjoon ($13) - fried eggplant, cream of whey, mint, crispy onion and garlic * Za'atar Labneh ($12) - strained yogurt, za'atar, extra virgin olive oil; with pickled mushrooms (+$5) Salads * Beet Salad ($15) - pickled beets and onion, walnut, greens, goat milk feta cheese, pomegranate vinaigrette Specialty Entrees * Soltani Kabob a la carte ($34) - Beef Koobideh kabob (ground chuck, hanger, brisket and ground beef), Beef Barg kabob (gently pounded beef tenderloin) * Chicken Koobideh a la carte ($8) - ground chicken in a citrus marinade, harissa Rice & Potato * Saffron Basmati Rice ($4) * Albaloo Polo Tahdig ($12) - sour cherry crispy rice Dessert * Persian Ice Cream Sandwich ($10) - vanilla ice cream with saffron, rose water and pistachios between two crisped vanilla wafers * Pomegranate Faloodeh ($9) - lime and rose water granita with pomegranate-infused rice noodles Everything was presented beautifully. I already mentioned the Sour Cherry Tahdig which is a must-have. Addictive, from the ripe sour cherries to the crisp rice edges. The Kashk Bademjoon and Za'atar Labneh were of exceptional quality. I was impressed with the rich and satisfying flavors. The pickled mushrooms were unique and worth it. The Beet Salad, featuring different kinds of beets, was wonderful; very fresh. The kabobs were amazing. My favorite was the Beef Koobideh. It was remarkable in both taste and texture; extra savory. The other kabobs (Beef Barg, Chicken Koobideh) were excellent as well; seasoned and cooked to perfection, pretty much. They use an open-flame grill. The Persian Ice Cream Sandwich was delicious. However, the Pomegranate Faloodeh was disappointing. It was too sweet and the rice noodles weren't what I was expecting. I expected way more noodles, and that were long and soft. Sadly, there were just tiny bits in this. The cocktails were well made and fantastic, though it did take a while for them to come out. Pacing was also an issue for our Tahdig, so our rice dishes were comped. Also, one of the original desserts we ordered, the Pistachio Milk Cake ($12), was out, so they comped one of our desserts. We didn't ask for any of this and appreciated it. Kimberly was terrific. She was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The hostess was nice too. A manager checked on us twice. read more
I have been to this spot for over ten times since my last review. There are indeed some good things so I would like to update my review. First, some dishes, such as koobideh kebab, lamb shawarma, and lamb shank, are really good, especially lamb shawarma--perhaps the best around Midtown. Second, the dishes have huge portion size. Most entrees are so large that I dare not order them. Lucikly they offer à la carte so for example I often order just one skewer of kebab and a side dish, like pickled or sautéed veggies. Their complementary bread is also huge, about 6.5 to 7 oz each; in comparison Delbar and Rumi's bread is about 4.5 to 5oz each. Third, service is in general quick if I dine in alone, but is slow if I dine in with my friends. This is weird. Last but not least, the restaurant is sooo close to Georgia Tech and thus very convenient for me to go there! More convenient if you live in West Midtown! Some of the dishes could be improved. For example, sometimes the rice have different textures, some hard while some soft; and the brunch pide could have a thinner dough and could have been crispier outside. What I got was like an unwrapped wrap with eggs and other toppings. read more
Business owner information
Farhan K.
Hi Leyang,…
So pumped I finally made it out to Yalda! I have been to Rumi's and Del Bar so I really wanted to try this! We had a reservation and had to wait a couple minutes for our table which was fine. Once seated we ordered some drinks and I got the blood orange mocktail which was delicious! I was work people so I wasn't paying but my one complaint is the mocktails were a little expensive. We got just about everything on the menu. For the dips, the labneh was our favorite but I LOVED the fried egg plants. The chicken wings were also kind of a sleeper pick of an appetizer but super good! For the mains, you really can't go wrong but we really loved the beef and lamb ones. The rice with lentils is also my favorite and it was delish! For the dessert, honestly I kind of loved the lava cake.. Honestly I think this place is great! Between Rumi's, Del Bar and this they all have things they do better than the other but right now I really do love Yalda! read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
Oh my God, this place 10 out of 10. Till this day, I dream about the tahdig rice & Chenjeh. The rice was so flavorful they gave us a pot of red flakes to go with it. I can't remember what it was called. I didn't think it needed it at all. It was so much flavor. Of course, my group and I were fighting over who got the crispy part because it's the best part! The rest of the rice still had a lot of flavor to it, even though it wasn't the crispy part. I wish I got more pictures because we ordered a freaking feast!! I was so immersed in the eating part I forgot, I'm so sorry y'all. We ordered the chili hummus, which was delicious and creamy. The hummus is also came with this nan read. It was delicious! It was fresh out of the oven and it was so soft! The beet hummus was surprisingly delicious. I don't like beet, but it had a very mild sweet flavor to it, which I thought was different. We also ordered a baba ghanoush , it's not called baba ghanoush. I can't remember what it's called, but it was the eggplant dip. Again I also do not like eggplants, but I thought it was delicious. Along with the hummus , we ordered a bunch of their sauces as well. It is a la carte and you do have to buy each sauce. However, I think it is very worth it to do. We also ordered a variety of sauces, my favorite one was the garlic tum. Oh my God, it was so delicious. I am partial to tzatziki which we also ordered. But the flavor on the garlic tum was on a whole Nother level of flavor profile. We also got the harissa which wasn't spicy. I think I would skip that next time I like spicy. And a green sauce almost like a chimichurri, but I can't remember the name, it was allegedly also supposed to be spicy. Seriously I wish I took a picture of all the food that we ordered because it was delicious ! For appetizers, we ordered the falafel. Oh my God, the falafel was delicious. I can't tell you how much I love falafel and a lot of places don't make it right because it's usually dry. But I could eat a falafel by itself without any sauce and it was just so good! We also ordered the couscous salad, grilled chicken wings, french fries, and roasted veggies. For the main entrée we ordered Chenjeh, roasted vegetable kebab, and the chicken shish kebab. I wish I didn't have to share the Chenjeh. It was so tender so delicious so flavorful oh my God I was in heaven. I also love the naan bread. They put underneath the kebabs because it's soaked up all the flavor. This was my first time going to Yalda, and at first, honestly I didn't wanna go too crazy ordering a whole bunch of food. Since I wasn't sure how the food was going to be. I was a little nervous because my group was ordering kind of crazy. We basically wanted to try a little bit of . Our bill was probably over $1000 and I legitimately think it was worth it. It's a little on the pricier end, but we ordered so much food and so much variety. This is one of those moments where it's like, treat yourself, and it actually delivered. I went in a group of 14 people, and I'm very lucky that we had so many of us that we were able to try a little bit of everything. We also ate family style, so not one person ordered just a single item we all shared. I highly recommend coming here in a big group. Try a little bit of everything. I'm so sad because I don't think I can get that many to come with me again. The one and only thing I would say that was a little disappointing was the cocktails , but to be honest, I didn't come here for no cocktails. I was ready to eat. And they ate! read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
Yalda is a lovely restaurant for Persian/Middle Eastern restaurant! There is an upstairs and downstairs section. Although some of the tables, especially the ones for two people, are rather small. Additionally, there is also a warm and inviting ambiance inside with beautiful decorations (plants galore!). Our server was very friendly and helpful in terms of giving us further insight about some of the dishes on the menu. My boyfriend and I ordered the Hummus, Chicken Barg, and Chicken Shish Kabob. Before our Hummus arrived, we got complementary naan and side dishes. The naan was warm and crispy and paired well with the Hummus. However, I did want the Hummus to have a bit more flavor. My Chicken Barg was very yummy and came out in a large portion! The chicken was tender and marinated well and I loved the flavor on the basmati rice. Our server gave is a complimentary Baklava as it was our anniversary, which was very kind. The Baklava was not bad; there was a nice flakiness to it but I do wish it was more sweet. However, it did come with Persian ice cream on the side, which was delicious and helped add some more sweetness to the Baklava. Overall, Yalda is great for people who want a more elegant dining experience! I would come back here for another date night with my boyfriend or friends. read more
Artisanally crafted Persian and Middle Eastern plates and cocktails are served in a warm, vibrant, and inviting atmosphere. Known for its authentic flavors and stunning presentation, Yalda has carved a unique niche in Atlanta's Mediterranean cuisine scene. Each dish is made with the freshest ingredients, while their cocktails and desserts are infused with Persian flavors, making them truly one-of-a-kind. Here's what we tried: The Longest Night The Midnight Star Kashk Bademjoon Zaatar Labneh Grilled Chicken Wings with Harissa Aioli The Chicken Barg (traditionally served with basmati rice, but I opted for the raisin and lentil rice--a perfect balance of sweet and savory!) If you're in Atlanta, don't miss the chance to visit this gorgeous restaurant! Let me know if you check it out! read more
Business owner information
Farhan K.
Thank you for dining with us as well as for the kind words Mamta! We…
Yalda was a must-visit since I love Mediterranean food, which is based on Iranian cuisine. No reservations were available, so my friend and I met when they opened. Luckily, the seating at the bar is first come, first serve. The decor in this place is stunning, and everywhere you look, there is another place to take a picture. We were pleasantly surprised to find a happy hour from 5 to 6. I believe there are five appetizers for five dollars and drinks specials for 10. We had the delicious Lebneh. My first drink was Jigar Tala, a unique and tasty drink. My friend enjoyed the tipsy sabzi, their take on a spicy Margarita. My second drink was Yalda's Expresso Martini. My friend had the Gheyrati, and both were delectable. For our mains, we shared veggie kebab and falafel plates. I didn't know grilled onions could taste so good until I ate the veggie kebab. It also had mushrooms, zucchini, and squash, with a massive saffron rice. The falafel had four falafels over hummus, the couscous salad, and a gigantic saffron rice. Everything was so good, and there was so much that we took some home. The servers went above and beyond when they halved our dishes for leftovers. Parking is on the street, or if you want a Valet for $6 plus tip, it is in the building next door to the Optimist. read more
1 year ago
Very aesthetically pleasing inside! Great vibes and energy from the staff. Our waiter knew the menu and made amazing suggestions! I would return without a doubt. Food: 10/10! * Hummus - fresh, full of flavor, left me wiping the plate clean lol! *Chicken wings- seriously order NOW. Grilled to perfection paired w/ sauce. *Kafta - 8/10 pairing it with hummus was magic. It wasn't bad but just not a fav. *Lamb Chops- well seasoned, cooked just right, great portion so I highly recommend ordering! (+ a side of tzatziki) *my friends ordered salmon and chicken kebobs and needed to add salt and pepper so keep that in mind read more
9 months ago
The overall vibe was very comforting, with also an upscale experience. Amazing service and food. Our waitress was very informative when answering all our questions. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Lately, I've been on a bit of a Middle Eastern kick, exploring various spots around town from Lebanese to Persian, and so far, Yalda has been my top pick! I love the balance of elegance and casual comfort at this place. I visited the Howell Mill location, though I've also been to the one in Sandy Springs. The food really stands out compared to other places I've tried over the years, and the menu offers a great variety of options. I went for the Beet Salad, Salmon Kabob, Kefta Kabob, and a couple of appetizers (can't remember the names), and everything was absolutely delicious. The service? Top-notch! One thing I especially like is how they handle the check--you simply scan a QR code and take care of it yourself, which makes things super convenient. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more
Business owner information
Farhan K.
Thank you so much for dining with us, as well as for the kind words…
Me and my wife came to Yalda for a date night. We had heard about Yalda for quite some time, but were never able to make it out. We came to the location in West Midtown, but they do have one other location in Sandy Springs. Yalda is a Persian establishment. We started with some appetizers and some drinks. We got the Za'atar labneh, the cheese kibbeh, and the chicken bites. The labneh was so good. You can add lamb as well, but we just kept as is. It comes with some nice hot bread to dip in. The cheese kibbeh was good, but nothing too special. It was recommended to us by our server. At the time, it was a new dish they were trying out. The chicken bites were really good, but they did taste just like our main course, so I wouldn't have gotten both, had I known. I can't remember the drinks we got, but they were really good. For our main, we shared the chicken barg. It was so flavorful and so juicy. We honestly were not able to finish it, cause we had so many appetizers. I think it would've been good for us to just get two appetizers instead of 3. But I do recommend getting the chicken barg, it was so good. Yalda is a great place to go for a date night or even to just go with some friends. The vibes inside are nice and a little elevated for a more romantic feel. It's a little expensive here, so just keep that in mind. Not outrageous, but just more than normal. The service was a little slow, but it was a Friday night, so that may have been the reason why. We had Ubered there, so I'm not too sure about the parking situation, but I do believe they had someone validating parking at the front. I would just call ahead of time to make sure. I would definitely come back to Yalda. I may even check out the Sandy Springs location next. read more
Business owner information
Farhan K.
Thank you for dining with us as well as for the kind words Anand! We…
2 years ago
SUCH AMAZING FOOD! My friend and I both ordered the salmon kabob and the salmon was cooked to perfection. The portions are also huge so you definitely will have enough for leftovers. Also, the staff were so kind and considerate about food allergies. They made sure we felt comfortable about what we were ordering and detailed everything that was in each of the dishes. I already can't wait to go back! read more
Business owner information
Farhan K.
Thank you for dining with us as well as for the kind words Allison!…
It's a shame I can't name my dishes! Just know that they were delicious. So glad we took a chance on someplace different for brunch in Atlanta. Yalda does have a brunch menu. But fortunately for us they also offer their standard menu. Everything looks and smells delicious. I loved the decor. Our wait staff was friendly and helpful. The two of us ordered together and shared dishes. There was enough for the both of us and leftovers. This is a small but big thing - and speaks to their attention to detail- our server asked what we wanted to pack up - took the dishes away and returned with neatly packaged leftovers in a bag. Remember when this was the standard?? Not the plop styrofoam containers on the table life we get now in most places. Great location in West Midtown. I have no idea where people park. I got dropped off. The seating is outside-ish and so that makes a few flys inevitable. I'd go again. And again. I had coffee. But am sure they have a full bar. Freshest ingredients. Friendly staff. Portions are great. Attention to detail. read more
I can't speak on service or ambiance yet because my coworker picked up from here last week to-go. I got the falafel sandwich which came with fries and harissa sauce. The portion was big and everything was flavorful and delicious! I loved how fluffy the wrap was and all the different textures going on inside the wrap. The sauce was addictive! Can't wait to dine in soon with my boyfriend! read more
Business owner information
Farhan K.
Thank you for dining with us as well as for the kind words Kyja! We…
Check out Yalda's second location. It's located in the Osprey in West Midtown. What a beautiful resto with multiple spaces: indoor, upstairs, covered indoor/outdoor dining area, bar, bar area from patio! Just well done! Love the space!!! Food was delicious. Ivy was amazing and so helpful. We started with the hummus topped with lamb sharma. The crispy duck leg is a must try. The lamb chops were delicious. The fish of the day was a branzino. Atmosphere is a plus and food amazing!!!!!!! They validate your parking if you park in the garage. read more
Business owner information
Farhan K.
Thank you for dining with us as well as for the kind words Nadine! We…
1 year ago
Amazing. Clean. Welcoming. Superior service. I love it here. I will be back for my birthday. Parking can be tricky the first time ... call and ask about parking prior to your visit. Everyone I bring loves it. read more
9 months ago
This restaurant has a really good ambiance! Their apps are so good. Really good Persian food. Service is great. Honestly, some of the best cocktails in the area. Love the baklava. If you go, recommend the eggplant spread with the crispy onions read more
10 months ago
We ordered today and the food showed up burnt, the salad without the vinaigrette and with the cheese we asked to be left off. called and spoke to the manager. He promised to send a replacement order. When I called back an hour and a half later it had not left yet. of course not their fault... No customer care... read more
I made a reservation at Yalda for brunch on a Saturday. I arrived half an hour after they opened and stood by the entrance for quite a while. Although their staff saw me and made eye contact, no one acknowledged me until I continued standing there awkwardly for about 10 minutes. The restaurant was half empty. Our order was taken after my friend arrived. I got the Greek Coffee ($5), Labneh ($10) with Preserved Fruit ($3), and Lamb Boureki ($16). The Greek Coffee had a strong, bitter, and almost burnt flavor. I couldn't finish it and would never dare to order it again. The Labneh was slightly sour, but complemented well with the Preserved Fruit jam and bread. The Lamb Boureki was interesting; I liked the flaky crust, but the meat was dry and the entree lacked flavor. The only thing I absolutely loved at Yalda was the interior decor; it was minimal but chic. I would have given this restaurant another try if I experienced better customer service. read more
Business owner information
Farhan K.
Hi Tanni,…
6 months ago
6 months ago
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More info about Yalda - Atlanta
980 Howell Mill Rd
Unit 4
Atlanta, GA 30318
Westside / Home Park
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(404) 549-3853
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http://yaldaatl.com
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