Best Persian in OC or LA???

[CurryLover]

We are a family of four with two teenagers arriving in OC during Christmas break....on our list of culinary destinations is a Persian restaurant in LA or OC. It is widely said in the Persian circles in Ohio that there is only ONE Persian restaurant in the entire state of Ohio - Columbus, OH. And, I am aware there are quite a few Persian restaurants in the LA area. I don't want to start a Persian war - I'm just looking for recommendations. Want to be able to say, ok, we're near Griffith Park/Observatory or the Getty Center or Santa Monica Pier, and here's our options for lunch or dinner....thanks. Any ideas would be great.

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Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049

[junglekitte]

+1 for Darya in OC. Excellent.

Darya Restaurant
3800 South Plaza Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92704

[CurryLover]

Wow! It is nice to have so many choices. Thank you for all your suggestions. They all will be helpful during our time in OC & LA. Can't wait to eat our way thru CA!

[junglekitte]

btw if anyone is vegetarian in your party Darya has vegetarian versions of Persian stews that are delicious!

[sushigirlie]

Even the worst Persian food I've had in LA has been good, so I'm sure you'll do well!

[Navid]

Darya is the best food

[Jerome]

I love (shahrzad_) flame. IT's at 1422 westwood, it's the same as shahrzad or next door. They have a great tan(d)oor in the restaurant and the bread flies off the sides. And the flames are visible. fesenjan, kashk-e bademjan, shirazi salads, torshi plates, polos - zereshk, estamboli, qabili, albaloo, all fantastic. I'd say for four ppeople, two polos, and a fesenjon, a kashk-ebademjan, a shirazi salad, you're set. Save room for a dessert or go uop the street to bulbul or whatever it's called for the perisan ices or ice creams, esp the floral ones with the sour cherry syrup.
javan is also good.
ok nextg door to shahrzad 0-
1442 Westwood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90024

they were once owned by the smae people. Saturday night i sgood, open late. ALSO - near the getty center. So if you go to the getty cneter saturday night (free parking after 5pm, save yourself 15 bucks for dinner) then go to Flame, afterwards (getty closes 9;pm saturday) you'll eat well. There's also the chicken place, canary down the street on westwood, also Perisan and open till wee hours on satruday night.
1942 Westwood Boulevard
CA, 90025
[phone]
www.canaryrestaurant.com/
i; like flame better but the persian scene late at night on the weekend at canary is a sight.
(fri sat open till 3:30am
)PS although they push the chicken at canary - i like the dizi special.
have fun

[sushigirlie]

I like Shamshiri Grill quite a lot, but haven't been in a couple of years. Javan is also good. Haven't been to the others mentioned, but I expect all of these restaurants in the Westwood area (a few miles from the Getty Center) are good bets. Jonathan Gold put a Persian restaurant called Flame in the area on his list of 99 essential LA restaurants.

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Shamshiri Grill
1712 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049

[Porthos]

Been to Shamshiri, Darya, and Flame. I prefer Shamshiri. I feel the stews at Shamshiri set it apart. The kebabs and koobidehs are all good (chicken, lamb, beef). Side by side, Darya's koobideh and kebabs may be just a touch more succulent. Shamshiri gives you mint and sliced radishes gratis while Flame and Darya make you pay for it. It's the little things. I was just there this past weekend and Shamshiri is as good as ever.

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Shamshiri Restaurant
19249 Roscoe Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324

[Jerome]

the bread at flame is spectacular, and i never was charged for shallots or herbs. maybe it's a new policy.
but shamshiri is very very good. as is javan.

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shamshiri
1712 Westwood Blvd, Westwood, CA 90024

[goodhealthgourmet]

Shaherzad in Westwood - some of the best Persian food in LA.

i remembered a discussion from a while back about great Persian in Glendale so i did a search. high marks for Raffi's in this thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/685157

just thought i'd throw it out there since you mentioned the observatory - it's right near there.

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Shaherzad
1422 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Raffi's Place Restaurant
211 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205

[cls]

The problem with Raffis is it's a kabob place and has a limited menu.

[goodhealthgourmet]

thanks for the clarification - i was just going by what i picked up from a brief glance at that other thread.

[cls]

Not meaning to dissent, Raffi's is good, but I'm always disappointed if there are no stews.

[New Trial]

I would opt for Javan (West LA only) or Darya (locations in both West LA and OC).

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Javan
11500 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Darya
12130 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Darya Restaurant
3800 South Plaza Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92704