Middle Eastern restaurants in Tehran
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A
Azari Traditional Teahouse
This restored ‘coffeehouse’ in south Tehran is wonderfully atmospheric because it remains popular with locals, who use it as an unofficial community centre. The dizi and chicken kababs are rightly popular. A traditional band plays most evenings when the boisterous atmosphere is best enjoyed with a group, and bookings are recommended.
reviewed
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B
Khayyam Traditional Restaurant
Opposite the Imamzadeh Seyyed Nasreddin Mosque (look for the dome), this beautifully decorated restaurant is an oasis amid the chaos of the bazaar area. Originally part of the mosque, the 300-year-old building was separated when Khayyam St intervened. It was restored in 2002. The typically Iranian food (mainly kabab, chicken and fish) is well prepared and plentiful. But on this visit we felt service had dropped and the 15% service charge on top of all the extras you have to pay for is irritating. Still, for tea, qalyan and sweets (IR25,000) after an outing in the bazaar, it’s hard to beat.
reviewed
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C
Sofreh Khane Ayyaran
This subterranean chaykhaneh makes an attractive escape from the fumes of Ferdosi Sq, though prices are aimed at tour groups (ie, high). However, the large Iranian menu has some hard-to-find dishes and a couple that you might not expect in your standard Tehran basement, such as ‘Submissive: IR25,000’. Apparently it’s eggplant, master.
reviewed
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D
Iranian Traditional Restaurant
This underground place is modern Iranian social interaction in microcosm, and full of young Iranians flirting, smoking and eating (in that order) under attractive vaulted and tiled ceilings. The dizi (IR24,000) and kababs are reliably good and well-priced for this location, though at busy times you won’t be allowed to linger.
reviewed
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E
Sofre Khane Sonnati Sangalag
If you're visiting the museums or Golestan Palace, this is the place to stop for lunch (or tea). The green setting in Park-e Shahr, coupled with the relatively quiet space embellished with antique photographs, set the tone. Dizi and the bademjan (eggplant) dishes are recommended. Musicians sometimes play in the afternoon.
reviewed
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F
Istanbul-No Restaurant
This hole-in-the-wall serves a surprising range of lunchtime dishes, with the usual kababs sharing space with huge pots of khoresht (any kind of meaty stew), ghorme sabzi (stewed beans, greens and mince) and mirza ghasemi (mashed eggplant, squash, garlic, tomato and egg). Recommended particularly for budgeteers.
reviewed
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G
Sofre-Khaneh Sonatee Ali Ghapoo
This big, noisy subterranean restaurant is where Iranians go for a boisterous group meal. Waiters in traditional dress set the tone and the atmosphere is as enjoyable as the Iranian food. The fun is expensive by Tehran standards and gets more so after the traditional band starts at 9pm.
reviewed
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H
Khaneh Azarbaijan
Khaneh Azarbaijan is one of four restuarants in Stone Park, but is the best value. Unfortunately, the other three seem to take pride in overcharging tourists. The park is worth a visit, but think about bringing a picnic lunch.
reviewed
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I
Tarighat Restaurant
Handy to the budget accommodation, this lunchtime place serves reliably good interpretations of the standard kababs and zereshk polo ba morgh (roast chicken served with rice and barberry).
reviewed
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J
Ferdosi Sonnati
The Ferdosi is a popular place that is especially busy at lunchtime, when its well-priced classic Persian dishes attract traffic from busy Imam Khomeini Sq.
reviewed
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