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Ali Baba Persian Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Persian/Iranian Persian/Iranian [Edit]
17513 Chatsworth StGranada Hills, CA 91344
Neighborhood: Northridge
(818) 832-0335
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
57 reviews for Ali Baba Persian Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"sitting in a hokey little strip mall." In 3 reviews -
"I had the lamb shank and the special rice." In 5 reviews -
"Great little spot for delicious Middle Eastern food." In 3 reviews
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57 reviews in English
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Review from Dave J.
Los Angeles, CA
3/31/2012
A hidden gem in Granada Hills!
We stopped by for dinner on a Monday night since we heard this place had good food. We were not disappointed.
The atmosphere is dim lit with dark tables. Nice hidden date spot. They have a large flatscreen on the main wall. Booths on the side, open tables in the middle and a long cushioned bench along the other wall.
We ordered the yogurt and shallots appetizer, Beef Koobideh and grilled fish.
All of it was quite delicious! The koobideh was large and juicy. It was not undercooked in sections, a timing error that can typically occur. The roasted tomato was the size of a small rabbit! The fish was delicious, crispy and filled with flavor and spice. Congrats on a well prepared dinner.
The restaurant was not busy at all, although they had some deliveries coming in and out. I feel like the location is hidden, but when people find it, they will be happy they did. We really wanted dessert but just couldn't fit anything in our stomachs! Next time then. Great food and ambience. Would recommend!
See you for dessert! -
Review from Chrystal F.
Long Beach, CA
1/30/2012
Just went to Ali Baba's for the first time yesterday with my mom. We are both newbies to Persian food, so I can't tell you how it compares to other Persian restaurants, but I can tell you that as a stand alone this place was DELISH! The lamb shank was so tender it just fell right off the bone...and the basmati rice was soo good. My personal recommendation is the rice w/sweet and sour cherry mixed in. I can't tell you how incredible this rice was. My mom and I smiled from ear to ear each time we took a bite. I definitely think the ENTREE portions are large enough that two people could share. Otherwise you'll have leftover rice for days...which isn't necessarily a bad thing ;-P Either way the prices are incredible. You can either share and save money OR you get a lot of bang for your buck!
Lastly, I recommend the traditional Persian icecream. The treat we had for dessert was a vanilla icecream with pistachios and rose water. It definitely cleansed the palette and had a real unique, but good flavor. Next time I'm trying their chicken & for dessert some Persian pastries!! -
Review from STEVE M.
PORTER RANCH, CA
12/22/2011
UPDATED MARCH 2012
ok, came with a big party, takin one star off didnt like a few things:
The koobideh(long skewers of grilled meatballs were not good at all, unlike 1st time I tried. The filet mignon shish-kebab was gross, I could not chew 1 single cut without spitting out unchewable tendons and nerves, just freakin nasty, and I was shocked.
If you eat here, clearly 2 frontrunner items, and dont touch anything else---the chicken breast kebab, and the barg flat steak. Thats it, plus rice.
Table was so crowded told waitress to please take my big glass as I dont need for my bottled water. She said "let it stay you may drink something else and use it"
An original yet stupid answer, didn't expect that.
3.5 stars for me
Why is 1st time always the best, anywhere, anything?
(older review)
you kiddin me?
goodness what meats.
Place: Tucked away in a remote corner with a liquor store (you can get your wine/beer, drink here no charge, they even bring you glasses) Better its tucked away, dont want a crowded lot anyways. Clearly a hidden jewel of the valley.
Service: Very warm and helpful, attentive, food arrives fast.
Ambience: Very modern interior, clean as can be (even restroom spotless, big ups)
Appetizers: I didnt like the way they do the cucumber/tomato/cilantro salad, a bit overwhelmed with lemon juice, not bad just not used to that. Parents rave about eggplant appetizer, I hate eggplant but if u like u can try.
Friend had one of their soups--it was bizarre for our armo taste buds but not bad
Their thick yogurt plate with chopped cucumbers, and a hint of garlic is A MUST when eating the meats.
Main dish: their chicken breast is great, scarfed-down sisters leftovers one night.
But when you come here, the superstar is the Soltani kebab. Best carne-asada-style thin cut steak you can eat ANYWHERE, and 1 long skewer of ground lule, or spiced grilled meatball. They are both great but the barg "persian steak" in the soltani is to freakin DIE FOR. The plain fluffy rice with yellow stuff on it good too; suggestion: take the butter they give you with the lavash and smear over hot rice, then dump some sumac (the red spice on your table).....dat iz wad eym tolkin abowut!
I am here at least 2x a month from now on.
Very quiet, pleasant place, service, great food.
Prices: It aint taco bell. A main dish runs around $18 bucks, like the soltani. Side dishes are around $5-7 (yogurts, salads, etc.)They have a gargantuan combo plate with every meat on the menu for like $28.00.
Bottom line: truly amazing food from a truly amazingly picky eater.
Bring a nice bottle of red wine and splurge away...
What people call large portions I call acceptable...because I am a carniverous PIG
Eat the soltani, and feel like one...before, during and after. (sans the harem girls) -
Review from Julie K.
Washington, DC
5/17/2012
You would never expect this restaurant to look the way it does inside. Great decor. Food servings are very generous. They give a LOT of rice! It's maybe 3-4 medium servings or 2-3 large servings. The chicken kebab also comes with plenty of meat. I ordered the pomegranate walnut stew chicken. It was an interesting combination of sweet and savory.
Since the servings are quite large, if you eat normal-sized portions, I recommend getting an appetizer and 1 entree to share with a friend. -
Review from Vallery P.
Northridge, Los Angeles, CA
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food was soooo good!!! I would totally go back!! The food is a bit pricey but it's worth it! I got the boneless chicken kebabs and the Greek salad it was to perfection!
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Review from Cho C.
La Mirada, CA
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very tasty restaurant. I've been to several Persian places, and this would rank amongst the best. Compare to Daryas, Caspians, Rafis, and others, this place is as good or better than those places.
Koobideh was tender and juicy. Chelonia kabob barg was perfectly seasoned. Everything was great.
Only drawback for us is that we don't have this restaurant next to our home in Cerritos. -
Review from Lucia L.
Reseda, Los Angeles, CA
2/19/2012
I started off the new year with food from here and I cannot think of a better way to start! The food here is AMAZING!!!! The chicken is to die for, it's just the most delicious chicken ever. I came here with my bestie the other day and had the Chicken Barg, it was DELICIOUS!!! We had an herb platter, chicken barg, rice, hummus, and Persian ice cream, it was just too delicious! I loved it ALL!!! I can't wait to come back here and eat some more! I wish I could afford to eat here every day. I highly recommend this place! Oh, and the meat here won't give you dog farts or dog burps like a lot of places with spice cooked meats do. :D So, you can definitely come here with a date you plan to bring home after.
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Review from Bob F.
Van Nuys, CA
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I discovered this place thanks to its proximity to the Traffic School I had to attend :-( and was very pleasantly surprised. Despite the strip mall's sort of seedy external appearance, the inside of Ali Baba is rather pleasant. And more important is the food - I just had the Chelo Kebab Barg for lunch and it was quite good. A very pleasant surprise indeed; better than SHiraz (both Encino and Glendale).
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Review from H K.
WOODLAND HLS, CA
11/11/2011
I've only been eating here for a week. It's a pleasant place. Food is good, but they dry the h... out of kabobs, so make sure they don't.
It could be a lot better. Service is good. Try it. -
Review from Casey E.
Los Angeles, CA
2/9/2012
Everything here is delicious! My entire family loves this place, which says something about the quality of food....we tend to have very picky eaters ( vegans, vegetarians, carnivores, diet conscious...ect)
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Review from Andrew N.
Burbank, CA
8/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What makes a place 5 star??? The place not only meets your expectation but also gives does something their competitors don't. For this place is the special rice. My favorite is the one with dates, lentils and tiny raisins.
Quick and dirty pro and con
Pro
- of course the rice
- chicken breast is not dry
- their stewed lamb on a bone....awesome
- cool (temp wise), super important in the valley
Con
- no refillable soda
- parking is not always easy
Best Persian food in the valley. -
Review from S L.
Los Angeles, CA
4/10/2011
Yum. I'm Persian and have ridiculously high standards for Persian cuisine. This place was great the first time I dined in! Make sure to try the Mast-oo-Moosir or the Mast-oo-khiar (my favorite appetizers). My friends and I ordered family style, so I tried a bit of a few different things.
FOOD, 5: The BONELESS CHICKEN KABOB was delicious. The BEEF KOOBIDEH was yummy, and the CHELO KABOB BARG was alright too. The big winner for me was the RICE..wow! Also, the homemade yogurt drink was amazing. The only thing I didn't really like was the Ash-Eh-Reshteh stew, but most Persian restaurants don't make the stews as well as homemade anyways, so it's not like I expected it to be great.
SERVICE + AMBIANCE, 5: Service was very friendly and the restaurant looks nice too--it looks very modern but elegant and charming. I would go back here to dine in, and my family orders from here all the time too. Don't miss this one! -
Review from Carol M.
Quartz Hill, CA
7/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
(5/27/2011, iPhone)
My first Persian restaurant experience..it was fabulous! Came here for lunch with an adventurous friend. Located in a small, older strip mall. Very nice inside.
The waitress welcomed us and upon learning that we were newbies suggested a great eggplant appetizer. Delish! The lunch specials were good, we tried the Turkish coffee.. I can't wait to sample more from the menu!
As we finished our meal alex spotted the shaker jar of what looked like chili powder. We tasted a sample and OMG, it was so good I wanted to snort it! Well, not really but you get my point. Similar flavor to umeboshi.. a lemony tang, a slight saltiness.. It was great! I learned it's called sumac and it's good for you! No sodium.. Helps digestion and cholesterol levels.. Next time I'm shaking it all over my plate! -
Review from N N.
Los Angeles, CA
12/17/2011
The food here is great. Very authentic persian cuisine. The chicken and beef barg are always cooked perfectly through. They have great specialty rices - my favorites are the albaloo polo and adas polo, both taste amazing and always fluffy! The gheimeh stew is really good over rice.
I've dined in only once (nice ambiance), but we usually order take out. Kind staff, food is always ready on time. When you order for the family it can become a bit pricey. Large portions, so you totally get your money's worth. Highly recommended if you're in the area and craving persian food! -
Review from Rashmi V.
9/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Love the chicken koobideh, big portions, tender juicy marinated chicken. Hummus is average had better. The location sucks but the inside the ambiance is very nice. Glad I found a good local persian restaurant, will come back again!!!
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Review from Melissa W.
Los Angeles, CA
11/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
I thoroughly enjoy my meals from Ali Baba's. Lots of food for a really good price. its a carbs lovers paradise.
I always get the koobideh. The meat is really well seasoned and the saffron added to the rice was really nice. They recently started offering half salad half rice which was definitely a good idea. Before it was just rice which made it a little unbalanced. My family members really like the rice dishes with the lamb shank. The lamb is well seasoned and incredibly tender. It comes in all different combinations so there's a lot to choose from when you're just craving the shank. Their hummus order is always quite plentiful and they give a good amount of their flatbread to accompany it.
The place is super cute and never really busy. The servers are really attentive and help you understand the menu if you don't understand. They give really great suggestions so if youre ever stumped just ask! -
Review from Mow S.
San Diego, CA
11/26/2010
This has to be the first time I give 5 stars to any place.. Just because I cannot find anything wrong with this place!! It is near perfect!!
I am from the middle east, but not from Iran. Even though Persian food is different than Arabic food, the ingredients are the same, so I can give you an objective & expert opinion.
This restaurant just got it right, as if you grew up with a mom that is a great cook, that's how you would feel when you eat there!!
All the flavors are exactly at the right level and the food is done to perfection!! The raw material is top quality, many of it advertised as "Halal" on the menu.
Go support this great place so they can continue to provide us with awesome plates like that for years to come!! -
Review from SoCal Mom D.
Simi Valley, CA
10/28/2011
SUPER YUM!
A friend & I wanted to meet at a halfway point & that brought us on a search for a tasty restaurant in Granada Hills... kudos to Mo for finding this place!!!
The location - on a busy street in a little strip mall - seemed a little sketch, but once inside, all doubts subsided.
Our waitress was very friendly & helpful with suggestions.
To start, we tried the eggplant appetizer & it was TO DIE FOR... I could have ordered this alone & my tastebuds would have been happy!!
Instead, Mo ordered the lamb shank & I ordered koobideh with loubia polo (my favorite Persian rice - it has green beans... Mmm!). The koobideh was delicious, the loubia polo beautifully seasoned & I kinda wanted to steal my friend's lamb... like, really. She didn't really need the leftovers for lunch the next day, did she??
But I exercised some self-control & instead we ordered dessert. And tea. I always love Persian tea - this kind didn't have the cardamom & it was super deelish. The desserts were unique (to me - I'm not Persian, so they were interesting) - rose-flavored ice cream (yum) & baklava & something else... all were very tasty, but the latter items were a little sweet for my tastes - of course, they were nicely balanced by the tea and nothing was left behind, so I really have nothing to complain about other than the fact that my jeans were a bit too snug on the drive home!
All in all, wonderful dining experience & I would DEFINITELY go again. -
Review from Feisty O.
Van Nuys, CA
10/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Great little spot for delicious Middle Eastern food! Formerly Nasim's, Ali Baba's has become one of my favorites in the Valley. I used to come here all the time when it was Nasim's. My coworkers loved Nasim's and I found myself eating there more than I liked. Not because the food wasn't good but I like to try something else for a change.
I haven't been back since Nasim's became Ali Baba. I figured over two years since I've been there. Recently I had a chance to have lunch at Ali Baba's and it was a pleasant surprise.
Gone was the tired and plain boring decor that got replaced with new tables, chairs, beautiful curtains, new flooring, modern lights, and eye-catching photographs on the walls. Nice change.
Then there was this menu full of goodies: appetizers, lunch specials, etc. It took me awhile to pick because everything looked so good! I finally settled on the cornish game hen lunch. As an appetizer, I share an order of hummus and khash eggplant. The hummus was a bit too gritty for my taste but the khash eggplant was wonderful.
I had the cornish game hen lunch special that came with a side of basmati rice. The entire bird was sliced up and carefully fanned out on my plate. While the hen was fairly tasty and juicy, there were a few burnt pieces. I don't like burnt food!
Other than having burnt pieces, the overall experience was good. Great place for a filling lunch! -
Review from Chris H.
Granada Hills, CA
If you like Persian food you have to come here, it is very very good!
My favorite dish is the Chicken Kabob (cornish game hen). It comes with rice and a large grilled tomato. The chicken is nicely flavored and moist.
For an appetizer I highly recommend the eggplant. It's really like a dip and you eat it with the fresh bread (Nan?).
The place is family run and they take pride in the quality of their food. They seem to do a lot of take out business but the inside is really quite comfortable. The parking can be tight and the strip mall is not so attractive but who cares, the food is great and reasonable.
The don't serve beer or wine but a few doors down is a liquor store and cold beer and wine. Grab a bottle and your waiter/waitress will open it and bring glasses over. They will even put the bottle of wine on ice if you want! Very cool.
This is a great little gem in Granada Hills so check it out! -
Review from Peter W.
Los Angeles, CA
3/21/2011
First time for Perisian Food
I tried 3 different dishes and the taste is little sour and bitter. it's very similar each other.
I want to learn more about the Persian Culture.
I used to have Kebob or Greek food but it's quite different.
Overall: 3.5
Taste: 3.5 (I'm sorry but it's not my favor taste and not used to)
Food Quality: 4
Service : 4
Price: $$
Ambiance / Interior Decoration: 3
Cleanliness : 4
Environment: 3
Food Facility Rating: A
Toilet : inside restaurant
Parking: Private Parking Lot - Not enough
Visit again : maybe
Credit Card: Yes -
Review from Kelly L.
Granada Hills, CA
10/10/2008
I've never eaten Barberries in my life before here, but Ali Baba has a way of making them the perfect accent to one of the best dishes you've ever eaten. The special they make on Friday and Saturday nights is TO DIE FOR. It's a baked Chicken, rice, berry dish, and you MUST try it.
This place has never disappointed, no matter who I bring there. We bring our own wine and they'll open it for us, and the servers are so pleasant and hospitable. The food is FABULOUS, the decor is surprisingly warm and stylish (despite the strip mall location), and I can't say enough about this place. It's perfect for couples, or friends, or a large family gathering. It feels like an intimate, family owned setting, the owner takes pride in his work, and the bottom line is- you MUST go to Ali Baba! -
Review from G. S.
Castaic, CA
8/13/2010
Ali Baba Persian Restaurant is a hidden treasure within Granada Hills. The restaurant itself is small with a small parking as it resides on a small strip mall on the corner of Chatsworth and Encino. Street parking is an option. But once inside, the decor is very welcoming and comfortable. Go hungry. The plates are big and half filled with delicious basmati rice. The lunch menu is reasonably priced and lists a good selection of kabobs, cornish hen, and koobidehs. The daily fish special (usually trout) is tasty but a bit higher priced. On the occassion they have salmon as their fish, I'd choose that. Their herb and noodle soup "Ashe Reshteh" is wonderful. If you like eggplant, then you'll love their Kashke O'Bademjan appetizer. Sooooo good with the bread.
The only reason I gave Ali Baba 4 stars is their service could be better. Ali (or Ollie?), the manager, is friendly, accommodating, and terrific. But the waitresses are hard to communicate with, don't seem to know all the menu items, and could use additional training.
But overall, Ali Baba is a great Persian food find! -
Review from Keiko N.
San Jose, CA
7/7/2009
I came here with a group of friends last week, and I'd have to say my first time trying Persian food went pretty well. Most of us tried the Kabab Kubideh, which was pretty good, although I didn't know that it was made from ground meat prior to eating. I was looking more for chunks of meat... The rice was really good, and complemented the meat pretty well. I was so full, I couldn't finish the entire meal, and since I didn't have a mini-fridge in my hotel room, I had to say goodbye to the hunk of meat I had left.
The waitress who served us was really friendly and ensured that our glasses of water were full.
I really wanted to try the dessert here, but alas, I was too full from all the meat and rice that I had to skip out on it. -
Review from Lisa R.
San Luis Obispo, CA
7/30/2011
My husband and I were encouraged by fellow Yelper reviews, and we love Persian food, so we planned our travel to LA and adjusted our usual travel route to include a stop for lunch here...so glad we did!
At first look, it was a little off-putting. A strip mall along a main street in a quieter part of town. Not much action on an early Sunday afternoon. We were the first customers of the day. And only two other women came in while we were there.
We started with the Dolmah. There seemed to be two slightly different fillings going on. Either one was good!
My husband went for beef: tenderloin and ground beef. Both were done to a nice medium rare and very tasty.
I usually choose a chicken dish - which the menu offers plenty choices of. But the lamb shank (oddly called Zereskh Polo) jumped out at me. It was sooooo tender! Not gamey, almost a little sweet. And my huge plate of rice - white and yellow-colored saffron flavored rice with such delicious barberries - made for great left overs.
Then the meal got even better with their Traditional Persian Ice Cream! It's a dense sweet ice milk sugary wonder of saffron and rose water, wrapped in a thin wafer. We should have good one order for both of us!
The prices are very reasonable and the service was OK.
There's much more of the menu to explore...wish we lived closer! -
Review from cyrus s.
Los Angeles, CA
10/28/2008
This is family owned and operated. They are the one of the hardest working peeps in the biz. I won't go into the history much, but let's just say they used to cook for Javan or Sharzad in Santa Monica or West La, wherever it is. I don't know them personally, but Pop told me the story. Like many persian families we blacklisted Shamshiri many moon's ago, and this has been our place for deliveries for 4 years now.
Look, man (or women)...This is persian food, which is, the best food on the planet, at it's finest. I'm not just saying that because I helped design the place, or because I'm well traveled or even because im persian. The Kabob is a hit or miss, but dude, this is true anywhere you go (I love Mexicans, Mexican food, and of course Mexico, but they're the reason for the inconsistency in the prep for kabob sometimes). The chicken is amazing. I'm not exaggerating. I hate chicken koobideh (because of the endless family parties and left overs), but for some reason theirs is unbelievable. I'm not a fan of the bargh, never have and never will be.
Ali's mom make's the ghemeh's & polo's (stus usually eaten with rice as well for the layman)....OMG I love her and greet her with utmost respect, because she bring's the grandma cooking into a restaurant setting...HOLY S--T, the next day it tastes even better (again for the layman). The price is your usual price for damn good hearty food. Oh, and if you're throwing a party they deliver this stuff too!!
OK, let's recap...Do not go there for kabob. Go there for the polo's or ghameh's...(bademjoon or egglant is simply superb) It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Try Kashkeh Bademjan (eggplant paste) or Mast-O-Khiar (plain yogurt with cucumbers) for apetizer. LOOK AT THE DECOR AND SAY AAHH WE'RE NOT IN WESTWOOD, BUT IT SURE DOES FEEL LIKE IT FOR 30 SECONDS. Say hello to Ali! -
Review from Anita W.
6/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
Nom Nom Nom goodness! I have a new found love of Persian food and was happy to be taken to this little hole in a wall (don't judge this book by it's cover - the little strip mall it's in is rundown but the interior is quite nice and the food is delish!).
We ordered the khask eggplant appetizer - I LOVE the fried onions that came on top of this tasty baba ganoush like dish. My eating buddy got the lamb and I got the chicken koobideh. My oh my. When my huge plate of food (tomato, rice, salad, and 2 chicken koobidehs) and the big bowl of lamb and rice came out I was so giddy!
The food was delicious, inexpensive and service was great. Plus I had leftovers to last me a few days...I can't wait to go back and try more things! -
Review from Jonathan G.
Playa Vista, CA
4/18/2008
I'm starting to think there's an inverse relationship in the Valley between the quality of an eatery's food, and its distance from Ventura Blvd. In any event, I walked into Ali Baba hoping to find good Persian food less than 100 yards from my work (score!). But Ali Baba is no Shaherzad. Heck, it's no Javan, either.
I ordered the filet mignon shish kabob, and splurged on the $2 upgrade for the zereshk polo. The meat was flavorless, the grilled vegetables would have been more adequately described as "burnt vegetables," and the rice was merely adequate. And at the risk of sounding like the old Woody Allen joke, the portions of shish kabob were very small.
To top things off, they wrap their carry out lunches in plastic bags tied in some knot straight out of advanced seamanship 101. It took me five minutes to get to the actual food, and only after I resorted to my trusty Swiss Army knife. -
Review from Linz Y.
Seattle, WA
2/20/2008
It has a hokey little name...sitting in a hokey little strip mall...located on a hokey little street. But it has some damn good food.
Ali Baba has your standard Persian food - excellent taste, quality, and portions. The price is decent (about $12 a pop for dinner), and the atmosphere's not half bad. But if you're ever in the valley, and you have a craving for really yummy Persian food, Ali Baba is the place to go. And the staff is superb. Love 'em.
It's located on the corner of Encino and Chatsworth (east of Zelzah and north of Devonshire for you CSUN-ers). -
Review from S S.
San Jose, CA
8/18/2008
I love persian/middle eastern food and I love to try different places. So, on this trip to CA...I decided to give this a try.
Nice friendly wait staff. Infact, a homeless drunk guy walked in when we were thr and the wait staff was quite polite to him as well, answering all his questions which included "do u serve american food...like burgers?" answer: no...we only serve persian food. :)
Anyways, comin bak to the food. The food was strictly OK. Not the greatest...but def. not bad. I also had the house doogh (yoghurt drink)
Wud I go thr again? Probably not...considering i visit tht area once every 2 months. But if you are living in this area and dont wanna drive far to eat persian food...then this is def. worth a second glance. -
Review from Pat B.
Carlsbad, CA
9/8/2011
Ali baba is the .best ,no joke! There best dish is the loobia polo sweet ( esee shat lav kabob unee aree estegh) :)
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Review from Amjad A.
Tarzana, CA
12/8/2010
The food is good, the new decor is nice and the owner still hospitable as he always is. I take my daughter when I have the chance to dine at Ali Baba. The food is tasty home cooking style with really large portions. My favorite is the "Sultani Chicken" which is two skewers of Chicken one menced and one fillet with Basmati Rice.
I would go anytime I have a chance while in town.
I think the service could use some improvement and the server can loosen up a little and not be so uptight and nervous. A smile can go a long way...
I gave them 4 stars for food, 3 stars for ambiance and 3 stars for service -
Review from Erin S.
12/26/2009 1 Check-in Here
Was pleasantly surprised that the inside of this restaurant is really nice. It's located in a strip mall and the outside is pretty "meh".
Great lunch specials. I recommend the beef koobedeh. It's absolutely delicious - kind of like middle eastern meatloaf that has been grilled. Portion size (even though it's smaller for lunch) is very generous and the price is right at $7. Service is great, our waitress offered up several suggestions for us.
Def worth visiting. -
Review from Kamyar J.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 10/11/2009
After going back, I was tempted to turn this place back down to a four-star....This time, the stews were a let down, much like I would expect at any other persian place than this one.
However, when the kabob came, I knew the five stars had to be given. The portions more than fit the bill, and the meat was clearly of high quality.
They are in the middle of remodeling, so any atmosphere problems will be resolved soon, and even if they aren't, the kabob is just too damn good.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/16/2009
Walking in this place, the expectations seem low. On a friday night, it was totally empty, tucked… Read more »
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Review from Farrah V.
Northridge, CA
2/28/2011
I thought there would not be another Persian restaurant in the valley that had great food. I heard about this place from my cousin and he said I have to try it. We went for dinner and I must say this place looks like a hole in the wall spot from the outside based on its location. Once you walk in its a romantic cute little restaurant with dim lighting and candles on your table. We were greeted right away and the waitress was friendly and attentive all night. I ordered the koobideh and my bf got the soltani. OMG!!! The beef was so tasty and well seasoned and the portions are good for 2 people per plate. We also had the yogurt on the side that also topped off each dish. I highly recommend trying this place, I believe you wont be disappointed.
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Review from Sarah W.
Porter Ranch, CA
5/18/2010
This place is AH MAZE ING!!!!!
When i first saw the place I didn't think it was going to be all that. It looks like a little hole in the wall in a random liquor store shopping center, but oh was i wrong. Just take a walk inside and youre in a pretty eating heaven! I got the chiken and rice kabob lunch portion, and it was soo good. The chicken was moist and the seasonings were great. My boyfriend Michael got the steak kabob and rice dinner portion and love it. He always wants to go back! And lets not forget the hummus! SOOOO good!
Make sure you save room for desert, because we got rose ice cream, and it was delicious! Just yelping about it makes me want to go back. Give this place a try for sure! -
Review from Ninfa F.
Granada Hills, CA
6/19/2011
Great food but could not give 5 stars as the service was slowwwww, but I hope it is Father's day and it was packed. But the food is so good, I am happy I found a new place close to my house.
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Review from Donald Y.
Granada Hills, CA
1/26/2011
Great food, good portions, & friendly staff.
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Review from G G.
Minneapolis, MN
Updated - 10/25/2011
This place is fantastic! Food, service, and atmosphere are all A++. Their menu also has a lot of items and everything seems to come out perfectly. I only wish I could find a place like this in the Midwest (where I live), but for now I will just have to live with visiting LA to not only see my best friend but to eat at Ali Baba!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/19/2011
Food and atmosphere are amazing. Service was slow, but we went during Ramadan, so I think that might… Read more »
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Review from Robert S.
Torrance, CA
4/16/2011
I have been to a number of Persian restaurants and this one is by far the best. It's very small in a strip mall, but once you enter it's elegant and comfortable. But just wait for the food.
I had the lamb shank and the special rice. Best I've ever had. The lamb shank was very tender, fall off the bone and the rice had dates and wild cherries. You can't go wrong with this place.
