I often get asked about the inspiration behind Persian Food Tours and I almost always explain about a 12-day trip I took with a bunch of Spaniard around Iran. During that trip, I realized how tourists were leaving Iran without any sense of Iranian gastronomy and how weak we are in representing Persian food to the world. All of this and a few other things triggered the idea Persian Food Tours in my head and we have been going strong ever since.
The eating out culture in Iran is still in its early stages. Most people still prefer to eat at home. For one thing, the quality is way better and most importantly it ends up a lot cheaper. Restaurant menus in Iran are very limited and the quality is poor in many cases. What you will always find, however, is a variety of kebabs! Always!
Since most Iranians prefer their mum's recipe of the perfect Ghormeh Sabzi, they would generally only dare to order kebab when eating out. Kebabs are also harder to make at home so it’s win-win situation for everyone. These days things are involving little by little. Decent restaurants offering food that’s not kebab are found here and there. Attention to detail and food presentation is finally making it to the table. But still, if you want to leave Iran with an idea of Persian food and flavourful experiences, you have got to know what to eat and where to eat it.
That’s where I come to help. 😉
My tips for eating Persian food in Iran:
#1 Have a list of Persian food you want to try with their names in Persian. This way you won’t get confused with all the weird names on the menu.
#2 I know you want to try Kebabs anyway but make sure you always keep an eye on anything strange on the menu and order that one instead. Kebabs will be there wherever you go but I’m tellin’ you, that certain dish might not be found ever again!
#3 Don’t order too much! Persian food usually comes in big portions. Sometimes one portion is big enough to feed two people, especially if it involves rice.
#4 Do your research! Don’t just walk into any restaurant. The luxurious looking restaurants don’t necessarily serve the most delectable food. Sometimes it’s in the tiny backstreet eateries where you’ll find the most flavourful Persian platter.
Now let’s start creating that list of yours:
Persian Food you must try in Iran!
To create this list I discussed the case with many friends coming from different parts of Iran. The result was a huge list of Persian food which even I hadn’t tried. I thought there was no point in introducing a list that you were never going to find. So I narrowed it down to things I was certain about. In most cases, I also tried to suggest restaurants where the dish is served with a good quality. As the list contain many foods from different cities, I decided to categorize foods based on cities in different posts.
And first of all, let's begin with Esfahān nesf-e- jahān (p.s. Esfahan half of the world)
Esfahan
- Khoresht Mast (yogurt stew)
Unlike other Iranian stews, this traditional dish from Esfahan is not served with rice or served as a main dish. It’s actually eaten either as a dessert or a side dish! But it can get you full very quickly.
MAIN INGREDIENTS: Yogurt, lamb or chicken, Saffron, Sugar & Orange zest
WHERE TO EAT: Shahrzad Restaurant
- Beryani
Probably the most Esfahani dish you’ll get to try. Served with a round piece of Taftoon bread and washed down with Doogh. It’s a love or hates thing for most people since it’s full of fat. I use to detest it, but now I don’t mind.
MAIN INGREDIENTS: Minced mutton or lamb grilled over fire
WHERE TO EAT: Shahrzad Restaurant, Azam Beryani
- Gooshfil & Doogh
This honey dripping sweet which is strangely eaten with a salty glass of Doogh is a perfect snack after an afternoon stroll in Esfahan.
WHERE TO EAT: Azadegan Tea House – Read my full review of this restaurant here.
