Tehran Restaurants

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The Atlas Hotel Restaurant was quite pleasant, although nothing more than that. The first night we were there, they’d run out of rice – unheard of in Iran! The menu was quite extensive, but many of the items were ‘finished’. We ate here a few times, and had Barley soup (picture 1) for starter the first night. The soup was thick, but a little bland and tasted faintly of lemon. For main course I had the Bakhtiari Kebab (picture 2) which was a mixed lamb and chicken kebab, and David had the Kareshi kebab (picture 3) which was lamb fillet. Both dishes were IR 60,000 each and the meat was very, very tender and tasty. They were both served with thick wedges of potato, pickles, chutneys, carrots and lemon.

Favorite Dish: On our second visit, we both had the Soltani kebab (picture 4) which came with one skewer with lamb fillets and one skewer with minced lamb. Again it was very enjoyable. This time it was served with rice which is cooked in such a way that it gets a crusty bottom (picture 5). Yummy!

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Before we’d managed to find our bearings on the first day, we were looking for something to eat at lunchtime, when we came across this chelo kebab place. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you the name of the place, as it was only written in Farsi script (which I don’t understand), and the young chap who ran it did not speak a single word of English.

Favorite Dish: We pointed to the food we wanted (a chicken kebab and a chelo (minced lamb) kebab. They were cooked in front of us and served on bread with chillies (very hot!), onion and lemon. We enjoyed them very much. The establishment also offered a take-away service. It cost us IR 30,000 (approx $3) for two kebabs and two soft drinks. I was amused to watch the young chap threading some unidentifiable meat on to skewers in-between serving customers – I don’t think I have ever seen anyone wash their hands as much as he did! Before and after every customer as well as sometimes in-between too just for good measure.

A great place to go just to get a feel of something old-fashioned in this modern city. This old "ghahvekhune" or coffee-house (coffee not served) is decked out top to toe in traditional paintings, rugs and other handicrafts. The waiters are straight out of the Qajar period with felt hats and waistcoats and they swish about delivering tea, dates and hot biscuits to all arrivals.

You first walk into the coffee-shop part of the restaurant where men are filling the air with sweet tobacco smells from their ghaliyoons. Then you pass through into the dining area which has tables and chairs around the edges and raised platforms covered with carpets in the middle for those who are comfortable cross-legged.

There are three musical acts on every night at the Azeri so it's great to linger.

Favorite Dish: The Azari serves abgoosht, kababs and fried fish only. The abgoosht is definitely what to go for if you want the definitive Persian dining experience. It's a meat and beans stew served with bread, fresh herbs and, of course, doogh. The waiters here bring huge trays to your table and set to work furiously pounding the beans and potatoes while you eat the soup with bread. Don't miss it.

This place is a very hip place to visit and dine and the whole atmosphere is great with young good looking locals sitting down to catch up with each others and flirt like there is no tomorrow. I visited this place on a weekend night and the place was full of young locals having a good time. This underground restaurant offers great dizi and kebabs and it has modern hip music. Good fun.

Favorite Dish: The love dizi but the kebabs were good.

Something to get your tummy filled in the early morning. The only shop open as early as 6.00am. We arrived at 6.45am. specialised in sheep head soup, leg and neck. That is the only thing they serve in the morning. Served in small portion with bread and lemon. Cost me 44,000 riyal with tea (for two person). Quite pricey for this type of food. Enough to get us from getting hungry till 2.00pm. Maybe the fat!

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This is just small outlet located along small lane. The food is good and fresh. highly patronised by local. The shop has created an attic to accomodate additional area otherwise the crowd would end up standing. Our meal (6 kebabs and carbonated drinks) for three people cost 60,000 riyals. Filling and satisfied.

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The Kilt is a world quality restaurant in Northern Tehran. Rustic atmosphere and sizling steaks served on cast iron plates. If you are in Tehran and crave western food this restaurant is an absolute must. the address: 161 Fereshteh Street, tel: 98 21-2204 4947

Favorite Dish: Steak Frites
Sturgeon steak
Caviar and lemon

Close to Khayyam Metro Station, in the heart of Bazaar, this restaurant is housed in a renovated 300 years old building, though it doesn’t compete to the atmosphere of other traditional restaurants we visited in Iran (too much neon lights).
The meals are hearty (as usual kebabs mainly), nicely served, it is pricey (at the moment the only other costumers were Greek journalists) comparing to other restaurants but it is well worth for a farewell meal.