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Maykadeh Persian Cuisine
Category: Restaurants Persian/Iranian Persian/Iranian [Edit]
470 Green St(between Varennes St & Grant Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
(415) 362-8286
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 12 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
265 reviews for Maykadeh Persian Cuisine
Review Highlights
"Juicy kebabs and chicken, really fragrant basmati rice."
(in 27 reviews)
"Kashko Bademjan- eggplant with mint garlic sauce."
(in 8 reviews)
"The Kashke Bademjan is the best appetizer there."
(in 15 reviews)
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265 reviews in English
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Review from Leslie K.
1/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable
There were four in our party -- two were not vegetarians. We stayed for close to three hours and never felt rushed. The food was great.
I had the barley vegetable soup -- just delicious! In fact, it filled me up but I did manage to have some of the baba ganoush I also ordered; the smoky, lemony freshness of that dish was another treat. I took the rest home and mixed it with hard boiled eggs for breakfast. Don't knock it till you've tried it...I''m on to something here.
My partner had a vegetarian eggplant dish which seemed to have a similar sauce to the lamb dish our friends had. An appetizer of feta cheese and roasted tomato was shared at the table as well as a "fancy salad." No misses with any of the dishes. ;-)
When we first arrived -- 7:15 p.m. -- it was a very family crowd and I wondered if we'd feel comfortable but thank goodness San Francisco is light on snootiness. We had a great time! -
Review from Arian R.
Pleasant Hill, CA
1/8/2012
Last Friday I went to this restaurant with my sister-in-law and my one year old baby niece. Parking is always difficult so I always get valet parking right in front of the restaurant. The food was like always very good. This is my favorite Persian restaurant in San Francisco~! We ate so much that afterward we went for a walk around North Beach. Its was a beautiful night...
When we got back to the valet parking, the host ran out side.... the baby was playing with my iTouch and we forgot it on the table. It was very kind and ethical of him to return the iTouch=)
More reasons why I would definitely come back!!! -
Review from Cheyenne C.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I had high hopes for the place before going. I had never had Persian food and was excited to try it! I think with a few adjustments this place could easily be a 4-star place. The service wasn't great - at least for us. There were many Persians there who seemed to get better service than us. Since we had never had this type of food before, we asked for recommendations from the server. He was very unhelpful. He just said "everything is good". How is that helpful?
We ordered the lamb and the pomegranate chicken. The chicken was much better!
We may try this place again but I will likely try to find another Persian restaurant to try first. -
Review from no o.
San Jose, CA
2/8/2012
as old as the pyramids. I had not been there in years and ate there a few weeks ago since no one else could seat us.
The food was at best average. -
Review from Boris M.
San Leandro, CA
2/7/2012
AS GOOD AS IT GETS !!! Really good place to have dinner with your family and friends..... Service is really good !!! Every time we in city and want a good shish kebob this is the place to go and nice full bar !!! We will see u really soon !!!
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Review from Kevin B.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012
I just ordered from these guys... they made a mistake on my order which was a bit annoying (but these things happen from time to time).
However, I just called them up and they were VERY apologetic and nice and gave me a rebate correcting the issue...
TOTALLY satisfied even though my order wasn't perfect.
Good job guys. -
Review from Lucero M.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
1/27/2012
I LOVE this place, Maykadeh is really nice, classy, relaxing and cozy; impressed by the whole ambiance, food, drinks, service...and I admit, I am not easy to impress by a restaurant. I will definitely go back next time I am in San Francisco
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Review from S M.
Piedmont, CA
1/22/2012
Wonderful atmosphere, great service and good food. I will be back. Parking is tricky !
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Review from Anelya S.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
First of all the prices there are not $$ its a fair $$$ - restaurant. All Entrees are $30 and more
For the price we paid it was meh. Too much rice, all the meats were served with the same sauce.... -- I was surprised by it... -
Review from Henry S.
Daly City, CA
1/24/2012
The food was really Excellent. and everything was really good.
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Review from Raza M.
San Jose, CA
12/2/2011
On my first trip here, I was not too impressed with this place, but upon this second visit, I am sold. Standard Persian restaurant décor and menu.
I love me some Persian food, and this is the FIRST place that is suggested when I ask local Persians, however I am usually inclined to Alborz on Van Ness.
Downsides: Parking in North Beach, and Chicken Koobideh is only available on Mondays for some reason. Also a little pricier than Alborz.
Upsides: Chicken Fessenjoon was excellent. Koobideh was solid, but not excellent. -
Review from Al T.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
I placed an order for delivery and it was nice prompt service, so I was happy with that. As far as Persian food goes, it tastes okay. It's not the best I have had. I can tell that the food is fresh, but there's something missing. I would order from them again - I'll just have to be a bit more choosy about what I order. I'll stick with the chicken kebab.
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Review from Ava G.
Hercules, CA
1/30/2012
Great food, great service. I love coming here. Definitely get the Soltani if you're hungry. All the food options are good though.
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Review from Anna B.
San Francisco, CA
This place is great for a variety of reasons it just makes you feel good when you walk in. I love Mediterranean food and I can't say I'm a good critic of it but I know what I like and this place knows what they are doing.
First of all there is the plate of hot pita served with mint and feta are fantastic. For the amount of food you are about to ingest, the mint really helps with digestion.
For starters we went with Hummus and Baba Ghanoush which were perfect, really well done. We also added a new favorite of Kashke Bademjan, with just the right amount of kick, its eggplant prepared like you've never tasted before. I highly recommend trying this.
My entry was Khoresht Bademjan which I was not too thrilled with because of the lime. This dish is not for every pallet and when they say there is lime in it, you can really taste that fact. If you are a fan of the savory and sour in a very Mediterranean way then go for it, otherwise I'd go with something else. Trust me there is plenty to choose from.
Also I was super excited for the baby eggplant since that is one of my favorite vegetables, but it had been stewed in this lime sauce that I couldn't quite get a taste for which was a bit disappointing I must admit. Still although I did not have a taste for it, the dish was cooked perfectly, everything tasted as it was supposed to and no one detail was out of place. -
Review from Lacey L.
North Beach/Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, CA
12/20/2011
Best Persian food in SF! Amazing! Chicken Kebabs, shrirazi salad and rice all out of this world! Not to mention--- they deliver. :)
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Review from Sudi S.
Los Altos, CA
1/19/2012
Yummy Yummy food!
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Review from Courtney F.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Great food, and yes, I'm Persian. I liked that the bread, cheese, and sabzi were brought to the table gratis, because, well, that's just Persian hospitality. It's not right to charge for them.
I'm a little irked by how pricey Persian food is at this point, because I know most of it is not costly to prepare, but I can't blame them for going at a price point they know they can get.
The barg was great - tender, flavorful, and plentiful. My fiance was in kebab heaven. We had PLENTY for leftovers the next day, so it was nice to get two meals out of one for the price. The kashk-e bademjan was good, too! -
Review from kajal p.
San Francisco, CA
9/13/2011
This is one the best persian restaurants in the bay area. They have been in Sf over 30 years and have kept the quality the same. Their eggplant dish is addicting! so good! must try!
I have tried almost all their dishes and appetizers (yes been going there a long time) and never been disappointed. The portions are huge so you will always have leftovers to eat the next day! -
Review from Jeremaine R.
Alameda, CA
9/12/2011
I don't normally go out of my way for Persian food, but a buddy of mine recommended this place and to my surprise the food was very good. But I really didn't go all out for the normal Persian cuisines, My friends and I decided to order the 2 different Steaks on the Menu. One is Rib-Eye, the other Filet Mignon. Both are absolutely wonderful! If you prefer the typical rib-eye, this one here is full of flavor and is broiled to perfection and is very filling. It gets the job done. The Filet Mignon is also amazing. It is of course one of the softest meats and they broil it and add an excellent stroganoff sauce to it that just makes it mouth watery!
The atmosphere is very classy looking, but you roll in casual. The seating is a bit close together, but it's not a huge place so it's understandable. The parking isn't the best cause it is in the Telegraph/North Beach area where parking is a mess, but they do valet. Depending on the time the valet may be your best bet. But all in all, this place is wonderful and would come back for the Steak alone! -
Review from Rayna A.
San Francisco, CA
7/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm open to trying them again but I was a little disappointed to find part of my breast kebab was almost raw.
The good: loved the eggplant, pita and toppings. I usually don't eat rice, but the rice here is perfect - smelled great and tasted even better. The chicken was seasoned well, and very tasty. To close the meal, I had a super fragrant Persian baklava that was sooooo yummy.
The bad: I'm not someone who won't eat meat that is slightly undercooked but one section of my kebab was inedible as was. Luckily, I was home and could pop it in the oven. Also, the driver didn't ask if I want change but assumed that I was tipping him 20+% on delivery. He literally said thanks and ran down my stairs with money in hand. -
Review from Mei C.
San Francisco, CA
Time: Late Friday Afternoon.
Originally enticed reading about the brain and tongue dishes I decided to be on the safe side and ordered Lamb.
Here are the Pro's of this Persian cuisine experience:
* The appetizers of peppermint, basil, pita bread and feta cheese were nice. Different from the usual bread sticks and butter.
* Ghorme Sabzee and Khoresht Bademjan - The lamb shanks were juicy and tender
* Breast Kabob - delicious flavorful chicken breast
* Entree portions are HUGE. enough to share among two people.
* Flowers and lighted candles are nice.
* Window seating +
* Ambiance +
* Ouzo - haven't tried this in awhile so was a treat for me
* Good artwork on the walls.
Unfortunate but the Con's included:
* Bastani was just below average pistachio ice cream. The presentation was below average as well. There was no sprinkle of pistachios on the top nor was there a cookie cracker garnish as I saw in previous photos. in addition the ice cream was not creamy
* Portions are huge.
* No saffron aroma from the rice
* not a fan of any of the sauces that came with the lamb shanks.
Overall, 3.5. I loved the variety of spirits, alcohol and mixed drinks available. There was ouzo and there was chambord, my favorite spirits.
Total bill came to $83.00 for 3 people ($73.00 + 15% tip) -
Review from Toben G.
Redwood City, CA
11/24/2011
Very slow service that wasn't so great even when it was there. Food was ok but overpriced when we finally got the bill. It's a mystery why anyone would decide to dine here.
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Review from Bill W.
Hayward, CA
11/20/2011
While i would not call it a gem in any sense, the food was quite delicious, the service more than adequate. I wanted to sit next to window, but found the people next to us to be too noisy. The host was gracious to allow us to move (as I would expect) and pick our own seating (as I did not expect). Everything worked out wonderfully. In fact, I just finished the left overs today.
We enjoyed the lamb and eggplant dished. Seasoned wonderfully, quite tasty. Give it a try.
Thanks for dinner. -
Review from Sheeva G.
10/22/2011
mehhh not my favorite. I have definitly had better persian food in my life, and i am VERY picky about my persian food. Nothing to write home about, in my opinion..
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Review from david d.
San Francisco, CA
6/5/2011
Persian cuisine in North Beach. What that means is that parking is hell. But look long enough and look far enough away and eventually a place to park opens up.
The restaurant itself has an up-scale look; a bit fancy schmancy. The service was perfunctory. Once ordered the food came at once. One plate immediately followed the other. I felt badly rushed.
But it's the food that matters most. And the food was, well, OK. Good.
Shirazi salad was a bowl of diced cucumbers, tomatoes and onions in a sea of a lime-based dressing. Once ordered, it arrived so quickly that it had to have been prepared in advance. I was thinking of the deli in the neighborhood supermarket. But it was better than than. It was OK. Good.
Koobideh, kebobs of beef and lamb, followed hard on the heels of the salad. The plate was not beautifully composed. The rice wasn't well arranged. And the skewers were OK. Good.
So if you want an OK, even a good meal of persian food in North Beach then this place is for you. -
Review from Gina K.
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mmm Meat. This small charming restaurant does it well here. I loved their steak and koobidehs (ground meat skewers) it's well flavoured and if you know Chicago. i would call it a Reza's equivalent. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
For lovers of exotic, they have Lamb tongue, lamb head and brain. Interesting but... I was about to get on a plane so I'll experiment on a safer day!
Great service. Never had a moment where we needed anything.
Note**They do tend to over cook their steaks so if you want medium, order medium rare. -
Review from Letitia L.
San Francisco, CA
7/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Juicy kebabs and chicken, really fragrant basmati rice. Lamb was a little tough.
My brother ate almost all the lamb brains because we didn't want any and I think that was probably a bad move for his cholesterol level. -
Review from Ali A.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2011
Without a doubt the best Persian restaurant I've been to in the city (or the Bay Area for that matter).
If you're new here, be sure to start out with the "Kashke Bademjoon" for your appetizer. For drinks I really like the Persian Lady. I tried making it at home but it never comes out as good as they make it here.
For the main course you absolutely MUST try the Shishlik (if you're like me you should get it medium or medium rare). It's very tender and juice. Of course there are plenty of other options too..."shisk kebab", "koobideh", and "Ghormeh Sabzi" are all very good options.
The only negative thing (and it really has little to do with the restaurant itself) is that every time I've come here, it's always been impossible to find parking around here. You gotta do valet like it or not so that's an extra $15-$20 you gotta spend. -
Review from Diana C.
So I looked this place up on Yelp and was really excited to see the great reviews. There's not a lot of good Persian food in Seattle, and I know SoCal has plenty, so I figured this would be great too... boy, I was so wrong! I cook Persian food at home and I get as much of it as I can when I'm down in the OC, so I've had my fair share of good and bad Persian food.
I ordered the Maykadeh Soltani which consists of rice, grilled tomato, koobideh kebab, and barg kebab. It looked and smelled great when it came out. I dug in immediately and even forgot to put on sumac the first few bites. The meat was kind of tough and the flavor was off... I'm not sure what it was, but it's not what I'm used to having. The koobideh was a little bit better, but it still wasn't hitting the spot. It seemed as if it was missing something, or the mixture of onions, herbs, and spices were off. The tomato was also undercooked and wasn't quite ripe. I usually finish this before I run out of meat and rice, but this time I just left it on the side after about 3 bites. Hopefully I went on an off night, but I doubt i'd go back again for the $30 price tag.
Also they only take Visa and MC, no AMEX for you business travelers...
The place itself was pretty and had an upscale feel, but overall, I am very disappointed. :-( Maybe next time I'll find something better in SF. -
Review from Amanda N.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2011
Went here on a Saturday night and parking was horrendeous. We paid $10 for valet. Walked in the restaurant and I saw the waiter taking sips of wine behind the counter. We were seated to our table and when I looked back I saw another waiter sipping wine behind the counter. They looked like lushes, that was a turn off. This is the first time I have encountered that at a restaurant and I must say that it is very unprofessional.
We ordered the chicken breast and lamb and both dishes were okay, I've had better persian food. I would probably not come back to this restaurant again because of the difficult parking and the lush waiters. -
Review from Ron C.
Marin, CA
10/26/2011
I went into San Francisco looking for something different to eat and found this gem. I tried the lambs head which was flavored with cinnamon and turmeric. The meat was soft and flavorful, it reminded me a bit of ox tail soup falling off the bone. I also had the eggplant, Baba Ghanoush, and a Shirazi Salad, which was like a greek salad without the lettuce. The bread was similar to an indian nan bread served piping hot. Quite delicious. Overall, I am looking forward to returning to try some of the other items on the menu.
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Review from fiyodor m.
Encino, CA
11/2/2011
I have to say the food was very good and I highly recommend it.
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Review from H. D.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 3/2/2011
I swear i'm not stalking you maykadeh. It just happens that i have been over twice in 2 days! A friend was leaving the day after i was over and was adamant that he wants to go here. I tried to give him other alternatives but he wont budge so i decided i will order something else this time and gave in to him.
This was monday so we got monday special (chicken koobideh), lamb chops and poussin (yes we cracked up ordering that) - every thing was delicious but my favorites are Koobideh (beef) and Poussin. Lamb chops were one of the best ive had too but im not a big fan of them anyways so i'm biased there.
Even though we were full we went for the dessert. I recommend getting persian ice cream and falooda both and eating it together. Thats the way to do it. Enjoy!Listed in: Kebab/Kabob/Kababs
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/28/2011
I had family visiting me for dinner so I decided to take them here as there are not a lot of proper… Read more »
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Review from Eli Y.
2/17/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Without a doubt this is my favorite Persian restaurant in the Bay Area. I have been here many times and tried many things on the menu.
My go to at any Persian place is the koobideh kabob. It is the standard kabob made from ground beef. Maykadeh makes the best koobideh around. It is perfectly cooked every time, moist, and extremely flavorful. I have never been disappointed with this dish. The saffron rice it comes with is always perfect too. And with a generous helping of two skewers (the standard) you will be sure to not go hungry.
The sturgeon (seasonal) is utterly amazing here. It is a fish not often seen in cuisine but it is executed exquisitely here. The spices and sauces they use create a burst of flavor in every bite. A dish you must try.
Now lets get a bit more...adventurous. The lamb tongue in saffron sauce was a great dish. The texture of the tongue is a bit odd but once you get passed that the actual flavor is amazing. In a party of 6 nearly everyone absolutely loved the tongue. (one girl apparently didn't get the memo of what it was before trying it and was less than amused when she found out later on during the meal)
Lamb brain has to be the most interesting and hard to describe foods I have ever had. When I started eating it the texture was somewhat like an omelette. Then when I tried to describe the taste I was tongue tied. I knew it tasted like something but could not decipher what it was. My friend had the same issue. After a brief discussion he said it tastes like oysters. To this day I think there is a closer flavor that can be used to describe it but I have no clue what it is. So you be the judge, try this delicious meal and tell me what you think it tastes like.
The service here is excellent. All the waiters are very nice and accommodating. We even added two to our reservation and they didn't just added a table without another word.
The bar is also chalk full of great drinks and has an extensive menu.
This place is a definite must.Listed in: It's 7...I'm hungry....now…, Persian in the Bay
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Review from Mariam H.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2011
The thing about beef is... its already good. You just need not ruin it. The people at Maykadeh definitely knows how to keep it good.
5 stars for the best halal beef kabab i've had out.
Juicy, full of flavor, perfectly cooked and not dry at all. The eggplant was also very good served with warm pita. Definitely recommend it for a nice night out.. Parking is a terror make sure you keep that in mind.Listed in: Hella Halal Bay area
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Review from Jerome F.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2011
OK. So, I came to know this place through a family reunion...
In a word: AWESOME. The food was spectacular. But, what do you expect from a restaurant that *earned* a Michellin Star.
My family was dead set: koobideh kebab with filet mignon. And, it was great. The koobideh kebab was authentic, perfectly prepared, and served with generosity. The same can be said for the filet.
I, however, was a little more adventurous. I wanted to order the off the menu Sheep's Head (whole), but nearly got beat up by my sister when I threatened to, so I moved on. I ordered the Poussin. 14-day-old baby chicken, bone in, with a 24 hour marinade. Spectacular. I tried the joojeh kebab, which is similar (adult chicken breast), and the Poussin was magnitudes better.
Finally, I stopped with the baklavah. Admittedly an addict, this particular baklavah was strong on the cinnamon side, but overall, very good. It lacked the flakiness of the baklavah I have come to expect, but was soaked in honey, so I forgot about expectations.
I would strongly recommend this restaurant for a romantic date or a family reunion, biased as that may sound. Very good. In fact, by many opinions, the *best* Persian restaurant in the City, and I would agree. -
Review from Shirin O.
San Francisco, CA
2/26/2011
Best Persian Restaurant in the city ( & Bay Area).... and that's coming from a Persian. ;)
Went there last night with 3 french friends (all their first time having persian food) and...they loved everything!
I'm pretty sure, we ordered pretty much the entire menu ( or so it seemed), we had 2 of the Eggplant Appetizers, Yogurt with shalot, the Tah Deeg with fesenjan stew over it ( this was is off the menu so you have to know to request it) the tongue & brains in saffron, for appetizers....and a variety of all the kabobs for main. Everything was absolutely delicious! I had the lamb shishkabob, it was juicey and tender. Service was fast, friendly and efficient. Overall a wonderful experience. Highly recommend it. -
Review from Kayvon P.
Palo Alto, CA
1/21/2011
Been here countless times over the years and all throughout my childhood since my parents loved coming here to end our SF visits. The food is good but I think has slightly gone downhill in recent years.
What I've Had: Chicken Kabobs (with/without bone), Lamb Kabob, Beef Kabob, Salad Shirazi, Mast o Khiar, Mast o Mosir, Fesenjoon, Gheymeh, Ghormeh Sabzi, Pretty Much Everything on Menu
I recently ordered the chicken breast kabob which tasted OK but was white in color. Anyone that knows Persian food, knows that "joojeh" kabob comes out yellow because of the marination and the saffron that the chicken is cooked with. Like I said, my chicken kabob tasted good but it had a basil/pesto type of marination which really wasn't anything Persian at all so that was slightly disappointing.
The mast o mosir is VERY good here as is the Salad Shirazi so that is good. You have to love a free plate of feta cheese, bread and herbs which is a very nice touch as well. The rice is always cooked all the way through and not "zendeh" which is always nice as well. However, the main entrees at this place leave a bit to be desired. Couple that with the fact that Lavash is now also in the city, Maykadeh has some serious re-evaluating that it needs to do to ensure that it stays on the map as one of the best Persian restaurants in the city.
The service is always very professional and friendly, there is plenty of seating and the inside of the place is very nice so the restaurant definitely has a solid fine dining feel to it which is great since many Persian restaurants can feel a bit casual. I'll definitely be back but I hope the quality of the food rebounds to what I grew up with and my parents always loved! -
Review from Niya Y.
San Francisco, CA
5/27/2011
I ordered dinner from Maykadeh Restaurant last week, and it was delicious. My boyfriend and I been ordering from them once in a while for the past year and a half, and they have never disappointed. As far as I can tell, all their stuff is good, especially the filet mignon and lamb. I get the same lamb entree (Shish-Kebab) every single time.
The restaurant itself seems to be a nice, classy place with efficient, courteous staff, but we've never eaten in it because most of the time we're lazy as fuck and would rather pick up our food and eat it at home, naked and watching TV, than take the effort of looking presentable while eating in public. Either way, I highly recommend stopping by Maykadeh if you find yourself hungry in North Beach. -
Review from Shadi N.
Los Altos, CA
11/29/2010
How have i not reviewed Maykadeh!!!???
I have been coming here for years, I definitely consider it one of the better persian restaurants in northern CA. (you just cant compare persian cuisine to socal...its way better there). But maykadeh can hold its own for sure.
The atmosphere is clean and cozy and quiet. It is located off of broadway in north beach and parking is a huge hassle, but thankfully they have valet and their valet has a lot near by so they arent parking ur car on the street and moving it around constantly.
I always get some kind of kabab, and they are all very good. Their tadig has good and bad days and their khoroshts are average. But no one really goes to persian resto's to eat khorosh, so no biggie. We've had the same server for the last 15 years and the service has been the same, boring and angry... but no one is there to mingle with the server and none of us need any explanation on what to eat so again, no biggie, but if you are non-persian, the service might be an issue.
They bring about a pound of warm bread out before your meal it goes great with their very delicious mast -o -mousir mmmm, but go easy on the bread because portions are huge!
