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Alborz
Category: Restaurants Persian/Iranian Persian/Iranian [Edit]
2142 Center St(between Oxford St & West Entrance)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhoods: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley
(510) 848-8877
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
161 reviews for Alborz
Review Highlights
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"Alborz is where I go when I want yummy Persian food." In 42 reviews -
"The plate also came with Saffron Rice and salad." In 17 reviews -
"...a perfect Koobideh (ground beef kabob) which was perfectly..." In 5 reviews
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161 reviews in English
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Review from akimbo j.
Sacramento, CA
5/5/2012
Merci, Alborz, for a wonderful celebratory dinner with my family. We brought my dad here for his birthday, and we were all treated so well. Alborz seems to be getter better and better, and what better way to show your Baba some love other than to take him to a beautiful restaurant with open windows and the subtle aroma of saffron?
Alborz has a very nice wine list so those of us who were drinking ordered some glasses, and then we went on to our meal:
Sumac onions - delicious with butter on lavash, or included in a mini lavash wrap as below.
Sabzi paneer - a platter of fresh herbs, soaked walnuts, and a little bit of feta cheese. Wrap all these in your lavash bread and enjoy.
Mast-o-musir - yogurt with shallots, a very thick and savory dip. I recommend this.
Mirza ghassemi - a tasty egg, tomato, and eggplant dish, which is another good filling for your mini lavash wrap. I usually prefer Kashke Bademjahn, my personal favorite, but mirza ghassemi is good, too.
Koobideh kabob - mouthwatering beef kabobs done just right. I really enjoyed these, but just so you know, my dad told me the secret to ordering at a Persian restaurant "is to order the barg...that's Persian steak." ;) Perhaps next time.
Jujeh kabob - we ordered these "ba ostokhan," with the bones in, because I think that keeps them juicier. These were delicious and the lemon marinade came right through.
The rice and grilled tomato that came with the kabobs were done to perfection. For dessert, they brought out a pie slice of baklava, which I hadn't seen before, with a little birthday candle for Baba. All at the table agreed that this was the best baklava we had ever tasted.
Alborz provides good food and Persian hospitality, just the way it should be. We had a fantastic time, and can't wait to go back!
Note: parking is difficult in this area, but there is a lot across the street (I think for $1 for 25 minutes). If you don't mind a very short walk, you could take BART, too. -
Review from Ashley Y.
CA
5/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Waitress said only reservations were allowed inside but I witnessed multiple parties walk in without reservations (only if there was someone in the party that was non-Asian). Then when I went to go to the restroom one of the cooks stopped me and wouldn't let me go. When another party that was all Asian came, they were not allowed to sit inside either. I thought the civil rights movement already happened. I suppose we're still fighting on.
Food wasn't great either. I feel insulted and will never come back. -
Review from Anna K.
4/8/2012 6 photos
Came here for a get together with old friends at around 7:30. Waddled out of the restaurant at 11 PM, well past their listed closing time...So nice that they waited on turning the light off on us until then. :) I had been passing this restaurant daily ignorant of the decadent foods that resided inside. C for Classy. Dimmed lighting and all that jazz. Apparently the kitchen is run mostly by a Persian grandmother, so big shoutout to her.
Part of my awesome experience here was that I had the luck of being with a group who were very familiar with Persian food, The person who took the lead on ordering even spoke Farsi. Such a beautiful language! The server was super nice and accommodating. He brought out samples of red wine. Decided on a bottle of Cabernet. Went nicely with the meal.
THE FEAST! Did this family style. HELL YEH
I love complimentary food! Twist on bread&butter. There was a Paired with onions and butter! They also brought out delicious yogurt and tomato/cucumber dishes. We went through 3 baskets full of bread. :)
2 orders of beef and lamb kabobs, which came out with a grilled tomato. Both were good but I preferred lamb because it was just SO tender. It came out on the bone and it was just perfectly cooked!
Lamb and eggplant stew. SO GOOD. Probably my favorite dish because the flavors of the stew which had mini grapes in them just infused into the whole lamb shank. The meat literally fell off the bone. LAMB GALORE! My favorite meat.
For the rice, we got saffron rice apparently because this type of rice pairs really nicely with lamb. This was a HUGE heap of rice. I must have gotten 3-4 servings. Addicting and went well with the entrees.
Dessert: Baklava. My Persian and Afghan friends, the best baklava they have ever tasted. A lot of baklava apparently gets really dry because some places use walnuts. This restaurant uses pistachios and hits the perfect balance of soft and flaky. It's a pretty decent size, too! We also tried a dessert with what I can best be described as balls of donut. I think they said something about spun sugar? I wish I remembered the name of these dishes but we just had way too many dishes. This paired perfectly with our mint soaked teas. With actual mint leaves inside the tea, it reminded me of a tea version of mojitos. We got free refills, too! :) You can hold a piece of sugar in your mouth and drink the tea and feel the sugar disentegrate and fuse deliciously with the tea. YUM. Perfect end to the meal.
Dishes were on the pricey side, but it was worth it because of the quantity. We had the honor of having former runner-up for Mr. Lebanon help out a little with the tab even though he only got a glass of white wine, so the price wasn't to harsh on our wallet. $31 for all that food is a steallll. I think this place would be cool to come to with a big group again or a date. Maybe split a plate. Nonetheless, I shall be back for some more Baklava and lamb! -
Review from J E.
Oakland, CA
4/29/2012
Yum. How do they make that rice? Seriously? A classy restaurant, not to fancy, but don't walk in with sweatpants on. Great service and really great food - fresh - that is filling. Nice.
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Review from Artimmis G.
Oakland, CA
4/13/2012
Came here for Persian new year with the family and to my dismay they were out of ghormeh-sabzi and chocolate cake - two vital items on their menu, which is rather disappointing. As a persian I recommend this place, but not for other persians since the taste of their kebobs is not as authentic as any other persian restaurant in the bay area. Also, their service was rather disappointing since they took their time to arrive with the appetizers and dinners - despite seeing the plates of our food being ready in the kitchen. It is too white-washed and fits perfectly with the UC Berkeley environment. This is NOT the place to go if you want to impress your Persian relatives!
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Review from Mutant O.
Berkeley, CA
1/7/2012
The aroma that greets one at the door is luscious, savory, enticing.
The yogurt, cucumber, and mint appetizer looked so innocent and bland, but proved to be a wonderful accompaniment to our bread, and indeed, as a counterpoint to the rest of our meal.
The beef meatballs with angelic saffron basmati rice were perfection. The lamb with beans and potato looked so wonderfully Flintstone, a huge joint with serious goodness within.
We waddled a bit on our way out, but very happily. -
Review from Luiza D.
Berkeley, CA
4/25/2012
The place looks good and I have always wanted to try Persian food. I asked for the lamb that costs $19.95, so I thought it would be amazing. As a matter of fact, it was. The lamb was perfectly done and tasted amazing. But the portion was so small I could finish it with 3 bites!!! And then they serve a lot of rice that tastes like nothing. So...completely unworthy. I am not coming back.
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Review from Lia P.
[pronounced] Alburz; is a mountain range in Northern Iran.
I am not Persian, but I love me some Persian food!
I have been to this fancy classy Persian restaurant a dozen times with my close co-worker. We usually go here when we want to be super indulgent. On my first experience I was quite impressed since I have been able to have authentic Persian food from actual friends and family members. I could tell the place would be good when I noticed a lot of Iranians there.
The food is prepared right and so delicious. It was such a royal treat! And when I'm really in the mood for it, this is the only place I will go to
The space is quite small however to use of mirrors throughout give it a larger appearance. The décor, lighting and genuine hospitality of the wait staff make a quite comfortable fine-dining experience
Start your lunch off right with their Hummus and Yogurt Salad- a mix of home-made hummus, yogurt, cucumber, tomatoes and spices topped with feta cheese, served together with their version of complimentary warm pita bread.It sounds simple- but it will blow you away.
Moving on to the main course the kabob is a must, a Soltani combination will allow you to experience both the koobideh (ground beef) kabob as well as the barg (sliced beef fillet). We usually split dishes..she will order a skewer of chicken, I will order koobideh and we share since they give such generous portions. The jasmine rice is perfect! Very fluffy, airy and seasoned with such exotic flavors. It is presented very elegantly too because some of the rice on the bottom is white and on the top it is yellow because the use saffron seeds. {side note} Saffron flower seeds are very expensive, not the herb the actual saffron flower seeds.
There is a also a small bowl on each table with a baby spoon to add additional salt-like seasonings to your liking.
Wash everything down with a glass of aromatic Persian tea and you'll be raving for weeks about one of the greatest dining experiences in Downtown Berkeley. -
Review from Ben Z.
Berkeley, CA
11/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
As a Persian/Iranian-American myself, I have to say their food was pretty tasty. Took a girl on a date there; we shared an appetizer and an entree, which was more than enough, but for the price they charge, I deem it to be fair.
But, I was not too big of a fan of their tadigh (crunchy rice). It wasn't as crunchy as I would hope for it to be, or maybe my mom does a better job.
When I walked in, the Persian lady at the front immediately recognized I was a fellow Persian (and on a date), so she did everything to tend to us and make it as great of an experience as possible. For this, I truly applaud Alborz for great service; I was truly satisfied. -
Review from Bryce D.
Palo Alto, CA
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here yesterday with the GF since I had never tried persian food. I must admit that the chicken and beef skewer I got was tender and very good. The service was fine, but that was expected since it was us and one other table. I got the caesar salad to start and it was big, a bit over-dressed but the lettuce was crispy. I'm sure we will be back one day.
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Review from DH L.
Alameda, CA
2/7/2012
Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!! Server has a lot of smile and friendly :)
I love the Lamb dishes and portion is perfect! We had 7 people, 3 of us ordered lamb dishes and it taste so good. We did not like the beef kabob that much.
Just don't ever order the Yogurt drink in this place..its like sour cream/ ranch mix with club soda... LOL~ -
Review from Jon D.
11/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Hi;
I grew up on Persian food in LA. OK not only that, but I think I have a good taste for it and quality. I am giving 4 stars as they are the best in the East Bay Area I found. There is a great place in Marin, but nothing like LA!
I think the portion sizes are simply too big. Save some of the value and out that in garnish and extras is my only feedback to them.... -
Review from Sargeant T.
Washington, DC
2/15/2012
Good food, with a wide variety of authentic Persian dishes. The service is friendly and the restaurant looks nice.
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Review from JC A.
Oakland, CA
8/22/2011
A little pricey, but Persian food is my absolute favorite . Maybe I have some hidden heritage here, because this food is just so homey to me. I know how to make a few of the stews and the fabulous rice, so I feel I'm a good judge of the quality and flavor.
They are pretty good at our take out orders, mixing it up familiy style when the order is large. Which, I'll be honest, is whenever I order there. They have only shorted a small item us once out of may 20 times we have ordered. They are pretty far from us and yet I will shlep it there because the food is awesome!
Love the Gormeh Sabzi (green aromatic veggies, kidney beans, and meat stew over rice), chicken Barg (pounded, skewered, grilled, saffron chicken breast), saffron rice, any of the rices really (particularly with currants, cause I'm just like that) any mast, but particularly mast o'moussir (yogurt with shallots). Hubby loves their cinnaminy Ghemeh Bademjoon (tomato and yellow split pea stew with meat and eggplant, which you can get without the eggplant) which I add lemon juice to at home to give it a little kick. The Kashk Bademjoon appetizer (eggplant, yogurt, mint, garlic, heaven - I'm pretty sure its all in there).
Service is always lovely, even when they are crowded. I might go tomorrow for my birthday. . . -
Review from diana l.
Emeryville, CA
10/27/2011
OUTSTANDING
We've been here more times than I can count and have always had a completely wonderful experience. The ambiance is understated low key elegance in a causal sort of way and the food matches. High quality, authentic Persian dishes at a reasonable price. Another plus are the staff - very attentive and gracious. I've brought many a friend here - they thank me for introducing them to this terrific find and keep returning themselves. -
Review from Jean L.
2/15/2011
It seems like you win some, and you lose some here. It depends on when you go.
According to the City of Berkeley's Environmental Health Food Facilities Violation Alborz is definitely still violating some major codes, including "Contaminated Equipment" (see: http://www.ci.berkeley... and search: Alborz), so I can definitely understand why some would get food poisoning there.
Having said that, luckily I was one of the people who didn't. Although we came when they were relatively slow no one approached us or even handed us menus/water for a good 30 minutes, until we got up to get the menus ourselves.
They serve you sangak with sumac and raw onions as a free appetizer, which is nice, and we ordered lamb kabobs, shish kabobs, and chicken koobideh. Pretty pricey towards the end of the meal, as the portions were on the small side.
The food is good, but now I'm scared of getting sick so I probably won't be heading back...Listed in: Eh Dates
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Review from laurie g.
Martinez, CA
11/6/2011
This is my second favorite persian restaurant,.
It is very hard to find a really good authentic Kabob experience in the Bay Area that does all the other Main dishes and side dishes on the same level, too.
I have had the both Chicken and Lamb Kabobs, they were prepared very well, succulent and flavorful- not overcooked and bland, like so many I have tried at other restaurants.
The saffron rice is perfect in its consistency and flavoring, as well.
For me,the most important part of the persian experience is a seemingly strange mixture of ingredients that I learned years ago from my Iranian friends, but makes all the difference in eating traditionally.
When ordering your main dish, make sure you also get "mustomosir", a yogurt based preparation, and plenty of raw onions and roasted tomatoes.
When your entree arrives,( for me, i always order the Chicken Kabob)
mix the yogurt, roasted tomatoes and raw onions all together with the saffron rice, and take alternating bites of the grilled meat. OMG!!
Unbelievable flavors !! I hate roasted tomatoes and raw onions on their own, but this mixture of flavors is synergistic, and ungodly in its sinfulness.
This mixture alone is what makes me crave good persian food.
Ambience is very nice here, but not too stuffy, you can dress casual.
Parking is a difficult pain !! especially at peak times.Be prepared to shell out some extra cash at one of the lots.
Service was excellent, and food arrived fast, even on a Saturday night.
Recommended. Portions are HUGE, always have to take half home, don't understand other reviews saying opposite, maybe they have bigger appetites ?? It is expensive though, bring your plastic if your'e not carrying that much cash. -
Review from Saba S.
5/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a traditional Persian restaurant with delicious traditional food. It has all the basics and a great restaurant for the daring person whom wishes to expand their horizons. I am an Iranian and truly enjoyed the food which we had.
Apps: salad shirazi= diced salad (below average)
Bademjoon=eggplant(amazing)
Tadeek and ghormesabzi=crunchy rice and herb/bean stew(good)
Main course: I had the Soltani (amazing). This is a steak skewer(barg) with a ground beef skewer(kubideh). The barg was smokey and tender while the kubideh was moist and juicy.
The wife had the joogeh kabob (chicken kabob) which also was excellent.
The nuance was great with sliding doors and Berkeley right outside.
The only gripe I have are the bugs right outside. Some of these get into the restaurant. Store owner needs to buy a Blower which attaches to the top of the door and blows air every time you open the door in order to prevent the bugs from coming in.
Highly recommended -
Review from raven f.
San Francisco, CA
7/28/2011
Outstanding, a friend and I went to have a change of pace and celebrate her birthday. I was pleasantly surprise, every dish we had from appetizer to desert was very good.
The service was wonderful, the ambiance was great. we did go on a Wednesday night.
Just one complaint, there was a young child whose piercing screams really threw a wrench in the otherwise soothing ambiance. -
Review from Mel B.
Hercules, CA
12/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
A friend of mine has been dying to take us to a Middle Eastern restaurant and try some Persian food, so on one of our guys night out he was going to take us to Alborz. I was really excited to try it out since I've never had Persian food before. Disclaimer: this is a ROOKIE REVIEW ALERT.
As we went to Alborz this last Friday for dinner the food definitely did not disappoint. We ordered the Koobideh, it came with two skewers, so we asked if we can have one of each, the ground beef and the chicken. It was absolutely DELICIOUS!!! Getting one of each was a great idea because switching up the flavors between each bite made the meal much more interesting. Also try the Somagh (the spice that comes with your meal) on your skewer and the rice to add more flavor. The plate also came with Saffron Rice and salad. To round it off, a bottle of Shiraz completes a great meal.
It was a very interesting first experience. I'll definitely be coming back to try out more from their menu. (Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.)
The location is also very nice. It's directly across from a parking lot, so the parking was very easy. The whole setting has that elegant Berkeley feel to it. It a great place to take a date. So why the heck am I here with a bunch of guys!!!
Oh well. NU-SHEH-JON!!! -
Review from Eji O.
Vallejo, CA
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I recently visited Alborz on Halloween. In truth, as a passerby, I was drawn to the large portioned, colorful, tasty-looking food that current patrons were eating outside. After continuing to walk around the neighborhood, my guest and I eventually made our way back to Alborz.
Alright, so the decor was very dark, but in a romantic type of way. There was a beautiful large window as the store front, which brought in great light and allowed for people watching! The greeter, whom I think might have been the owner was very pleasant and accommodating. I ordered the chicken kabob thing with rice, while my guest ordered the filet mignon equivalent. My food was good, the chicken was a bit on the burnt side, but that could have just been a mistake. The dish also came with a fire-roasted tomato, which sounds much better than it tastes. What I received was a burnt, seriously burnt, mushy Roma tomato. Suffice to say, I left that lovely little feature on my plate. I tasted the filet mignon, which was juicy but a bit tasteless. My friend ate it all though, so I guess it was good enough. Overall, it was a nice restaurant and a pleasant experience. I didn't give the whole five stars because 1. There was dirt on the plates and I had dirty cutlery (a HUGE pet-peeve of mine) 2. My dish was rather burnt. But I'd be willing to give it another shot- maybe. -
Review from Constance C.
East Bay, CA
11/30/2010
Decided to eat in Berkeley with my friend over the weekend when it was raining like crazy so we decided to take refuge at a restaurant.
Gheymeh Bodemjan. Chickpeas, Eggplants and Beef with a Saffron Rice. It was alright, but even better as leftovers the next day when all the spices soaked into everything. It kind of reminded me of this Chinese dish with soybeans and pork that my grandma used to make, so that might be why it was tolerable for me, it wasn't too impressive though.
Okay food, but I do think the one in Walnut Creek might be better.
See photos of food, http://potbellypanda.t... -
Review from Eli Y.
2/25/2011
If you haven't had Persian food then you don't know what you're missing, and this is a great place to get your feet wet or continue your Persian exploration.
The food here is very good. The koobideh (my go to, 2 skewers of minced meet made with some delicious spices, and a side of saffron rice) is always delicious. It's usually perfectly cooked and very juicy. At times it's a bit overcooked on the ends but it's still great. The joojeh (chicken skewers marinated in great spices with a side of saffron rice) is also delicious and a great choice. You can't really go wrong no matter what you order but these are my two favorite.
The dessert is also great. My favorite is the bastani (rose water ice cream, it tastes like eating what a rose smells like). This is great choice. If you're on a date I suggest getting this. It's a perfect size to share especially after the vast quantity of food that you probably just ate.
The service is great and pretty quick. It's also priced pretty similarly to most persian places.
The parking here isn't great though. There is a lot across the street but it costs $5 as a flat rate. And the street parking is nearly impossible to find.
This is definitely a great spot to try out.Listed in: Persian in the Bay
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Review from Mike G.
11/16/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Some of the best Persian food in the Bay Area. 5 stars!
One tip: I usually order "Soltani" kabob at Persian restaurants, which is a combination one skewer each of Koobideh (ground beef kabob) and Barg ("filet mignon" kabob). The Barg here is not very impressive, although usually at other places it is the better. Save yourself 50% and just order Koobideh--they will give you two full skewers for half the price of Soltani. -
Review from angel a.
Berkeley, CA
3/21/2011
Delicious.
I understand what one of the yelpers said about the service not quite matching the warm decor.
I asked for two entrees.
Fezenjoon -waiter asked if I wanted chicken or meatballs. I asked for meatballs. Waiter confirmed I did not want the chicken, but the meatballs instead. However, I got chicken. And it was dry...
I also got the lamb. Yes, it WAS delicious. Somehow, I am a fan of raisins and sultanas with meat. :) I'm also a fan of when touching the meat, that it practically falls off the bone.
Lots of rice. Did I say lots of rice? I sure got lots of rice. lol.
The faloudeh, that was awesome. They serviced it with a slice of Meyer lemon.
I'll be back for the koubideh, if I can round up another person to go with me. -
Review from Schuyler C.
Berkeley, CA
1/17/2012
I've gone to Alborz for at least a decade. It used to be my second favorite Persian restaurant in Berkeley, but then Papa's cuisine closed its doors and we started going to the more westernized Alborz. The food is good, and decidedly less greasy and aggressively-seasoned than most Persian restaurants (which is a good thing in my book). And Alborz has a nice, if somewhat dated, look. Service can be a little slow and difficult, as this isn't a family-run-and-super-attentive kind of restaurant, like so many other Persian restaurants, but just a typical California restaurant that happens to serve Persian food. So if you are expecting the owner to chat with you in Farsi and recommend whatever dish has been the most splendidly-prepared that day by his brother-in-law, this probably isn't the restaurant for you. But if you are looking o get some kebab or Khoresht without the chit-chat, Alborz will suit you well.
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Review from Erin W.
Berkeley, CA
4/24/2011
First time having Persian food at a restaurant and WOW. The pomegranate chicken with saffron rice is something special.
It's a nice restaurant, and thus pricey for everyday dining, but I would definitely come back. -
Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
11/2/2008 3 photos
Meat on a stick.
Anything on a stick, for that matter.
It's hard to go wrong.
Ground up, well... that's another story. Take hot dogs for example. I have close friends that no thanks to Pee Wee Herman and his hot dog tree to this day still have phobias. How I would get them to try the deliciously juicy beef and chicken kobiddehs here, I do not know. But I can confidently say that if you're a believer in meat consumption, this is the supreme form of its ground up existence. Imagine a burger flattened, flame-licked and thrown over a spit. Pair it with a splash of fresh lemon, grilled whole tomato, and fragrant rice and you'll begin to understand the most basic yet gastronomically delightful staple of Persian cuisine.
"Why three stars, Ligaya?", you may ask. And to this I scratch my chin and pull on its hairs and say in a feeble voice that I've had better. That the eggplant dip though bathed in green olive oil tasted like it was made days ago, and that the dolmas though warm lacked a zest of herbs. And that in ordering the paneer sabzi what I got was literally a plate of fresh basil, cilantro and mint, slices of cucumber and tomato, yogurt sauce and a chunk of feta. A little creativity, please.
A little wine to soothe the disappointment never hurts, right? Alas. Our cab as suggested by the waiter was as one-dimensional as the man himself. thought I'm not holding that against them. White tableclothes and all, I expect a level of reservedness though the fork and the knife had erroneously switched places with the spoon. Is that a Persian custom?
In conclusion: a fair option for a tasty meal but for the pennies and ambiance there are finer plates a-calling.Listed in: Downtown Berkeley
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Review from Jason R.
San Francisco, CA
3/27/2007
I'm gonna let you in on a little secret because I like you.
I know it may seem like Persians are really nice, hospitable and good natured people, but they're sketchy as hell.
Hold on, relax, settle down. Don't think I don't see your cultural sensitiveitometer jumping off the charts. It's ok, I'm one of them.
I know, our media is painting Iran out as evil hatemongers. And I know, this is a new kind of war with an enemy who's face we can't see. I've heard it all just like you.
But I'm here to tell you that Persians will take your money and leave you unsatisfied. They will fool you with copious amounts of rice and sprinkle it with more saffron than your white ass ever knew existed, all used to mask the fact the meat they use in their kebab is of dubious quality.
And finally they will present you with a bill that seems pricier than you expected. Do the math. Make sure it's correct. I'm just saying..Listed in: Persian (just a fancy word for…
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Review from Saad A.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2011
Went in for a quick lunch before a movie. The service was super fast and the food was amazing.
I had beef meatballs in a pomegranate sauce over safron rice, and it was absolutely amazing! My friends had the chicken and beef koobideh, which went great when dipped in the pomegranate sauce. For appetizers, we had this thick, creamy hummus and a minty onion dipping sauce.
I'll definitely be going again! -
Review from Daniel L.
7/9/2009 4 photos
After seeing so many glowing reviews on yelp, I came here for dinner eager to get reacquainted with Persian cuisine. The ambiance was quite elaborate with white table cloths, beautiful large windows, and the sparkly clean layout was nothing short of extravagance. I was there as their first dinner customer and conveniently asked the lone server about their lamb kabob. After I was told that the lunch item would come at the cost of dinner ($20+), I decided on their chicken kebob with basmati rice mixed with raisins, almond, orange peels, saffron, and pistachio.
The basket of warm lavosh was a welcoming sight but the side dish of half cut onion was not enough to intrigue. Portions were large with the chicken flavorful but slightly dry. I thought the basmati was rich and delicious, but the hint of white raisin was not enough to counterbalance the dominance of orange peels. Despite this, I enjoyed the use of saffron as the permeating flagrance was a delightful anchor.
Service was very attentive and friendly considering the crowd was slow to trickle in. The meal was not worth the value at $21.35 since I'm able to get it in Westwood for better and cheaper. 3 stars for the decent experience. -
Review from Trina M.
San Francisco, CA
9/1/2009 2 photos
Came here for lunch this afternoon with a friend after passing by this resturant so many times, I finally decided to change it up a bit. We ordered 2 Chicken Kabob and 2 glass of white wine ^^ Got buzzed off of that at 2pm in the afternoon =x haha how embrassing....
Fabolous service & fabolous food !! Our chicken had just the right amout of seasoning, very juicy and tender ^ ^ Their rice was very light as well as their salad. One of the best lunches I had in awhile. We sat near the window that opens all the way so it felt really nice ^^ enjoying the summer breeze while eatting and sipping on a class of wine =) it's as good as it gets =D Our bill came to roughly a little over $40. -
Review from Kathleen M.
San Jose, CA
3/12/2008
The husband suggested to a friend of ours to eat dinner with us here. When the food arrived I was seriously embarassed, especially given the steep prices. Alborz commands the highest prices I've seen in the Bay Area for Persian food ($18-$20 entrees). And the entrees weren't nearly as good as Pomegranate and Shalizaar which charge $5 less per entree.
My Persian Rankings
1. Khayyam's - Albany (the master - now closed - against which all Persian restaurants will forever be judged)
2. Pomegranate - Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Concord (great barg and joojeh kabob with zereshk polo; pomegranate chicken is good but sweet taste can be cloying)
3. Shalizaar - Belmont (I've only been to the old San Mateo location)
4. House of Kabobs - Sunnyvale
5. Chelokababi - Sunnyvale
6. Yas - San Jose (really impressive selection of polos - but other food is just OK)
7. Afghan Persian Kabob - Sunnyvale
8. Leila - San Francisco
9. Kabob House Halal - Santa Clara
10. Rose Market - Mountain View
11. ALBORZ - Berkeley
12. Bijan - Fremont (food too oily, and stews either too sweet or too ketchup-y)Listed in: Eating Within Walking Distance…, I Heart Persian Food
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Review from Jennifer W.
Berkeley, CA
7/9/2009
This is a fancy restaurant that serves Persian cuisine and be prepared to pay for the ambiance! It is nice that they have cloth napkins, tall wine glasses, wood paneling, and other many embellishments, but the food is no much better than what you can get at any other hole in the wall. Dinner was not very busy at all and I never see many people here for lunch when I pass by.
The rice is buttery, but the shwarmas were salty, especially the lamb. However, the muskiness of the lamb was masked by lots of savory herbs. -
Review from Rebekah K.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2008
If you've never had Persian food, you should mos def try it.
I grew up eating Persian food & the only place that truly gets 5 stars is my Mom's cooking--wha? don't YOU think your mom makes the best food?
This place is good. Their Cheloh Kabob [ground beef fire roasted] is pretty good. I think they have the spices in a nice combination. Their Fesenjoon [ground walnuts with pomegranate] leaves much to be desired. It was a little on the watery side. And their Ghormeh Sabzi [lots of greens over rice] was pretty good too.
I ordered a Zulubiyah [sweet sugary yumminess] for dessert, but it tasted a little stale.
I think this place really deserves a 3.5, but I'll round it up to 4 for ambiance & the fact that they *are* authentic & don't make fun of me when I speak in Farsi. -
Review from Hootie H.
New York, NY
6/3/2007
Very mediocre. Rounding up from 2.5 stars to 3 because the location is nice.
Food is mediocre:
-joojeh kabob was eh
-rice was good, not great
-perhaps the most disappointing was the somac had no flavor, and was practically pink! what the hell is that?
Service, also mediocre. We were waited on by about 3 different people, and had to wave people down any time we needed something.
But, the meal ended on a good note, as the zoolbia was delicious. I wouldn't go back - especially not when Bongo Burger is right next door.Listed in: Back to my Roots
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Review from Daniel A.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2007
I grew up on this food so I'd say I have a good palate for it.
Alborz being where it is (i.e. the very Persian-deprived upper bay area), there's a lot of pressure on them to represent their cuisine well. And they do. There is certainly better Persian food in SoCal and even in San Jose, but up here Alborz is the only place of its kind - i.e. legitimately Persian in a nice sit-down environment. And I'm just really happy that my sole option happens to be a totally viable one.
They do everything right - at least everything that one should expect a Persian restaurant to do right. I noticed one of the negative reviews citing a shrimp cocktail and a hummus plate. These are NOT things to order here. I think it's safe to say as a blanket statement that Persian hummus is crap; it's not really a staple of their culture as it is in Arab countries and generally it just marks a Persian restaurant's attempt to reach a bigger audience. And do I even have to explain about the shrimp cocktail? Perhaps this person understood they weren't ordering something Persian, but let me just drop in one of my insights about the cuisine in general.
Persian food's beauty is in its earthiness... not oceaniness. The paragon of Persian dishes would be something like a gamey, fatty lamb shank stewed in parsley and cilantro and onion. You dig? The seafood values of subtlety, freshness, and sterility just don't fit in with that aesthetic.
Onto what is good. They do all the stews right, and the stews are the real representatives of Persian food. If you're new to it and want to get a quick picture of the uniqueness of the cuisine, try the ghorme sabzi - a stew in which various herbs comprise most of the volume. These stews are all very complex and very precise in their recipes, so generally the only degrees of quality are right and wrong. You either achieve the target taste or you don't - and Alborz does.
And finally the kebabs. While these aren't the best I've had, I consider them very important to Berkeley's and the bay's kabob education. In other reviews of local middle eastern places, I've complained about the meat being inferior to restaurants in other cities. Well in case you are one of my three or four avid readers and have been anxious to know what good ground meat tastes like, I can direct you to Alborz. Order a kubideh plate (either chicken or beef; both have their strengths) and behold. There are no words more appropriate than juicy and flavorful. Like the animal drank sauce all its life instead of water.
Alborz fully deserves five stars insofar as it stays in here the bay area. But if you're from somewhere else and already know your stuff, don't weigh it against what you've had before.Listed in: Kebab Kwest: Bay Area
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Review from Elisabeth H.
Berkeley, CA
5/31/2008
why? why must my children act like such little snot-nosed heathens at Alborz? It bums me out to no end because I love gettin' my kebab on here.
This is one of the few places where I eat white rice with relish. Actually I eat it with a big piece of onion and roasted tomato. It's always perfectly cooked with the little scattering of saffron rice over the top.
Which do I love more - the filet mignon or the lamb? I don't know, just get the hell away from my plate.
The food is actually great for kids and adults, but according to my daughter, she acts badly here because it seems "too much like a grown up place."
Get it? Leave the kids at home. Order your kebab bloody enough for sacrifice. Bring them a doggy bag if you feel like it. Enjoy. -
Review from Ella c.
Oakland, CA
2/1/2007
This is my first foray into the world of Persian cuisine, and, as usual, beware my vegetarian perspective.
First off, service was lackluster. They left us with menus for days while my boyfriend ate the raw onion slices with the yogurt sauce (Laura B's comment is right on, all this random stuff appeared on our table and we didn't know what the hell to do with it).
So our vegetarian options were: hummus, salad and veggie kabob so we got all three. The hummus came w/o bread (we'd eaten all the bread with our onions earlier waiting for homeboy to take our order), the salad was blaaah and the kabob was a pile of white rice surrounded by green peppers, onions, tomato and 'shroom. I hate shroom and tomato (I know, I'm a crappy vegetarian) so satisfaction was not mine. -
Review from sara p.
Berkeley, CA
12/13/2010
Delish Persian Food, a bit pricey, but totally worth it! I love the Ghormeh Sabzi, Koobideh and chicken skewers.
My sister-in law and my niece eat here when they are in town, joining them is always a pleasure.
I've taken a coworker for lunch and he enjoyed the lamb dish.
I'd bring others with me in a heartbeat.
