A fantastic dinner experience tucked away in a quiet street in central London. Having eating lots of persian and afghan foods, I must say this was the best restaurant I have found in London, one could even say this is one of the best in the UK!
The staff are extremely attentive to each customer’s needs even when the restaurant is busy with people, quickly attending to you and our meal was given to us efficiently too. You get some olives to snack on whilst you wait and when the food itself finally arrives, you can see it was absolutely wonderful.
The mast-o-khiar paired with the broth of the lamb shank which they give separately alongside rice too is absolutely divine. So definitely recommend the lamb shank and also the chelo kebab koobideh. Pair all these dishes with their amazing naan and you will be in food heaven ! Even simply dipping the warm stonebaked naan in the mast-o-khiar or ghouzi’s (lamb shank) broth or green chili sauce is the best present you could give your taste buds. I therefore 100% recommend trying the dishes with both rice and naan and mixing it up with the lamb dishes and their condiments!
Overall, an amazing experience and I will definitely be returning to and recommending this restaurant to everyone with a warm and cozy atmosphere, the most welcoming staff and hopefully trying some of their ghormeh sabzi and desserts. Thank you for this wonderful dinner!
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Amin Ali
Google
a year ago
4.0
A quaint family run outlet serves very nice Iranian food. This was one of the finds of London tour for us. Many of our friends suggested we must visit and we’re glad we did.
Their dips, meat platter and naan are a must try. Round off your meal with falodeh… Friendly staff, warm service and good food.
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S
Google
a year ago
5.0
Our first visit and I must say, absolutely fantastic. Fast friendly service with excellent quality food. All the meats flavoured and cooked to perfection, served with perfectly cooked basmati rice. The Lamb biryani was flavourful with tender lamb. Accompanying sauces and bread were all homemade and delicious. Very reasonably priced, Highly recommended.
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Ammara Waseem
Google
a month ago
5.0
The best persian food I had in ages. This place is my replacement of Alunuk. Superb taste, fresh food and service was speedy. Visited with my sister and her family, reasonably priced. We ordered mix grill, chicken kebabs, and rice. Amazing awesome food. Keep up the great quality!
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Bader
Google
a year ago
5.0
One of the best Iranian restaurants in London, grills, rice, hummus and okra with lamb and fresh bread, everything they have is delicious ❤️❤️. The place is always crowded and you have to wait 30 to 60 minutes.
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Anwar J
Google
2 days ago
5.0
The best authentic persian food in London .. no reservations .. my favorite dishes in the pictures attached
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AJTHEWARRIOR
Google
2 weeks ago
5.0
It was amazing!!! One of the best halal persian food in UK. So far whenever i go i enjoy it so much. They have authenticity and their fresh kebabs and saffron rice is out of the world.
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Albatool Abdullah
Google
3 months ago
5.0
Extremely delicious food, served very hot which is amazing, all dished were too fresh (chelo kebab, okra, hakaka, lentil soup) very busy and a long queue but worth it
M
Mohammed A
Google
3 months ago
5.0
Among the top Persian restaurants in London, this place is a must-visit for its exquisite Quzi dish. A great experience not to be missed!
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HJ Park (Rebecca)
Google
4 months ago
4.0
you can choose salad, rice, or half salad half rice as side when you order grilled meat or fish. both the chicken and fish were a bit burnt, but the unburnt part tasted good.
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Basy Abbsi
Google
4 months ago
4.0
The food was delicious,but the place is very narrow
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ANTALYA 2012
Google
5 months ago
5.0
Is the best foods delicious and very good quantity, quality
Price is worth it , you may waited for some time because the place it not big
Staff are friendly and welcoming
M
Manoto
Google
5 months ago
5.0
I came to this restaurant with my Arabic speaking friend. Atmosphere is simple but comfortable.
My friend was satisfied with the food, but this quality is definitely not satisfactory for an Iranian and it is necessary to improve the quality.
The way of writing the invoice is related to ancient Rome and it needs to be changed, because the customer has the right to know the contents of the invoice and the prices.
Despite the above flaws, I think the service is excellent and all the waiters have positive energy,especially an Iranian waitress who served us It was served perfectly. Overall, it is a good restaurant and I recommend it to others.
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Hagrid
Google
7 months ago
5.0
I walked passed this restaurant several times and this place always seemed busy with nice grilled food smell. Decided to try out today. Restaurant itself looked nothing special superficially, but when food arrived I realised that i was totally wrong.
Superb and fantastic food. I was never a big fan of lamb, but they were so tasty. This place became my BEST BEST BEST Persian restaurant. Ice cream/sorbet were very tasty and i think i am totally addicted to it now. Staff were highly friendly and helpful. Thank you very much.
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Food Expertq8
Google
8 months ago
5.0
One of the best persian lamb kabab i have ever tried
Flavorful juicy just right spices
And the rice was so light and fluffy
The grilled chicken was good but not as good as the lamb
The chicken was little dry
No complimentary dishes like iraqi restaurants even the tanoor bread you have to pay
خوش كباب ايراني والعيش وايد لذيذ
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Elina Evelina
Google
9 months ago
5.0
Really enjoyed chargrilled meat on skewers here! The meat is really nice and juicy, salad is also tasty! Olives were on the house! Lovely staff and service. Highly recommend and will be back again.
N
Najla Alharmi
Zomato
May 08, 2018
5.0
One of the best Iranian restaurants in London. <br/><br/>Enjoy their fresh kebabs and various kinds of gravy along with a freshly baked hot iranian bread on the spot.<br/><br/>Reasonable price, cosy restaurant & friendly staff.
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Sue_qayed
Zomato
May 01, 2018
4.0
Cosy place with such friendly staff, we ordered mast kheiar, and naaskhatoon as starter, and both were amazing. The main course was Sultani and chelo kabob, both are really yummy, for the minced kebab, if you are into real spicy food, then ask for one, and enjoy real spices.
S
Sayeed
Zomato
Mar 06, 2017
4.0
Tiny place just off Edgware road serving great food, excellent value for money and good service ! Bread comes straight off the wood fired oven.
B
Benyamaug
Zomato
Oct 18, 2016
1.0
This's the Worst service that I experienced from a restaurant. I waited for my meal for one good hour and the staff was giving me excuses like the chicken is marinated and all sort of reasons. I don't recommend it and will never pass by this restaurant let alone to dine out.
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Ricardo Ferreira
Zomato
Mar 28, 2016
3.5
Very cheap and a good quantity of food. I try the lamb and chicken skewers, they were well seasoned and served with a large quantity of rice. The service was OK, I didn't like how the bill was presented, only with the final price.
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Ahmed
Zomato
Dec 07, 2015
3.5
Long wait to get into this place, the usual Persian dishes are great while bread is excellent. Had the kabab koubideh which was also great. Service can be better though.
A
Abdullah Shaikh
Zomato
Sep 21, 2015
3.5
Its a nice and cosy Iranian food restaurant. The location is quite good and the food is pretty decent. They have some really nice minced meat kebabs to offer. Their Lamb shank is tender and made really well - worth a try. The only flipside is sometimes their service may tend to get slow on a busy day but the food can compensate for that.<br/>Whatever you order dont forget to have the spicy green chutney which is complimentary on the house!
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Widski
Zomato
Mar 05, 2015
0.0
Horrible Staff Very Rude. Salty food, small portions.
P
Parisa Kelly
Zomato
Feb 12, 2015
3.0
This is definitely one of the best Iranian restaurants in London the service is fantastic the food is traditional and great choice of Persian dishes they are traditional and there is a traditional fire burning oven for the bread
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The Food Judge
Zomato
Nov 29, 2014
4.5
Persian food. I’ve always been a little bit captivated by it, since I was first introduced to it at boarding school, where there were a number of Persian pupils, refugees from the last days of the Shah. It must have been a bit of a shock for those evacuees, the journey from Teheran to Wallingford, what with the damp weather and the grim boarding school food. It was the boys in particular who used to try to recreate the food of their memories, in the school car park, on a simple primus stove. Thus it was that I first came across that wonderful crispy rice, tahdig, in a school car park in South Oxfordshire, circa 1979.
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Robert French
Zomato
Sep 27, 2014
1.0
The standard of this Iranian restaurant has deteriorated severely that it is amazing how a nice restaurant could do so bad in such a short span. The portions are considerably small now. The food quality has also deteriorated. they also serve microwaved food and upon complaining nothing is done to redeem the customer. The staff is rude and obnoxious.
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Aaditya Dewan
Zomato
Sep 24, 2014
2.0
I had an excellent time here. The service was so quick that I was surprised to find the starters and main course arrive before us so soon. I ordered a pot of tea and some Turkish sweets. On being asked if we would like anything more, my friend said no; to which the staff left the bill before us. We had not even asked for it. Slightly discourteous.
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Owen Walters
Zomato
Sep 22, 2014
5.0
I came to this place as we were ambling around this neighbourhood while visiting this city. It is a very cute, small and quaint place which has a very welcoming and friendly quality to itself. We ordered the Baghali polo and the joujeh kabob, both of which were very tasty and well-executed. The green rice that was served with these dishes was actually magnificent. I have not tried Persian food much, so this was a really good experience. The service was also really nice and if we had the option, we would go back.
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Siddharth Dash
Zomato
Sep 20, 2014
5.0
These people offer high quality food with an amazing quantity as well. The portions are huge and thus, think before you order whether it is a starter or a main course dish. The kababs and mix starters are delicious, to say the least.
Christopher Clements
Zomato
Sep 19, 2014
1.0
I am a big fan of Iranian cuisine and hence our visit to this restaurant. Thankfully, we had only ordered starters as they were not even appetizing. The lamb was hard and non chewy , the chicken dish was also bland. The staff made no attempts to redeem its mistake. Strictly avoidable!
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Karan Deshmukh
Zomato
Sep 15, 2014
3.0
Food here is always good , it is super cheap and according to me it is the best place around here.The staff here is not that good though , they are pretty rude , they really don't like treating you with polite nature and I can not understand why. <br/>Though I will be visiting here again for the great food and portions :)
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Finlay Nash
Zomato
Sep 13, 2014
4.0
Keep coming back here when I am in town. I simply love the breads on offer at Colbeh, and make it a point to recommend it to everyone I know. I would deduct one point for no alcohol, but sometimes Persian Ice Cream can just make up for it ;)
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Riley Cole
Zomato
Sep 08, 2014
4.0
Crowded as it was, I still would recommend it to anyone who would like some delish bread and kebabs. Their breads are homemade and taste so good! The staff is pretty friendly too, so just ask for help if you need some with the menu.
Patrick Franklin
Zomato
Sep 08, 2014
5.0
The food served at this restaurant is extremely delicious and fresh, and I visit often. The naans are yummy- they are just the right combination of smoky, puffy and crunchy- and come with sesame seeds sprinkled over them. I also loved the seekh kebabs, and the saffron rice. If I had to make one small criticism, it would be that the bathroom was not very clean or accessible. Otherwise, this place is lovely and definitely worth a visit.
Austin Rahman
Zomato
Sep 03, 2014
1.0
This place has garnered many good reviews and one fine day i decided to give it a try. However, i found the food too bland and terrible for my liking. The portion size was also very meager. I asked for onion that are usually accompanied with your meal in Persian restaurant and did not knew that they would charge me for this.
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Oliver Mccarthy
Zomato
Aug 27, 2014
3.5
This place serves really good Iranian food and you will always find a long queue at their door. The menu is quite an extensive one and there are a lot of healthy options to choose from. The atmosphere was quite good and the food was also of very nice quality. I will definitely give this place another visit.
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Juvina Aurora
Zomato
Aug 26, 2014
4.0
Lovely little place to try to some Persian food. The place is generally crowded so you should book a table in advance. The food is wonderful too, the kebabs are amazing. The chef will even prepare less spicy version of the food if you want. The service is great, and makes for a memorable dining experience.
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Amelie Kelly
Zomato
Aug 26, 2014
5.0
I've been a big fan of Persian food all my life, and this place, no doubt, serves the best Persian food in London. Most of the dishes that we ordered were prepared brilliantly and the food had an authentic Persian feel to it. The service was prompt and most of the dishes arrived quickly.
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Lilly Baker
Zomato
Aug 22, 2014
4.0
This place is small and the tables are placed in a well spaced manner allowing the customers to move through effectively. The waiters are seen busy talking to each other, giving a feeling of inattentiveness to the customers. Comparing it to other Persian eateries, this place has a different oven clay in place of the asian tandoor. <br/><br/>Overall, it was an average experience.
Matilda Skinner
Zomato
Aug 21, 2014
0.5
This restaurant serves really good Iranian food.. This restaurant is perfect for a family meal and the atmosphere is quite a relaxed one. The staff is a
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Hayden Lucas
Zomato
Aug 17, 2014
1.0
I urge everyone to avoid this restaurant at any cost. the food is just edible, very average. The prices are ludicrous. The servers are arrogant aggressive people. friendly and courteous are terms alien to them. The bill is a hand written note with just the prices but no description. You do not even feel comfortable to question it. Not worth it!
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Daniel Hardy
Zomato
Aug 17, 2014
4.0
I had a very good time there and one of the best food I've had by far. The food was soo delicious and amazing. The quantity was also good and worth the money. It's a very good place for dining and I suggest you to go with some Iranian for the first time for better suggestion. I would also recommend to try kebabs and rice or rice and chicken dishes. Fresh bread and herbs are superb. Don't go for Khoresh kind of food.
J
Jenson Reid
Zomato
Aug 12, 2014
5.0
This has to be one of the best Persian restaurants in the city. Me and my friends have eaten here on multiple occasions and have loved the experience. The food is simply splendid. the service is spot on. the ambiance is warm and comfortable. The portion sizes are gigantic and it makes for an excellent value for money.
K
Krithika Chand
Zomato
Aug 12, 2014
1.0
The food is really good here but they do need to look after there service which according to me was awful. <br/>We were told to wait in heavy rain. We kept on waiting for a while and when a table got empty it was not suitable for us because we were a group of 4 and that table was for six people.
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Maisie James
Zomato
Aug 11, 2014
1.0
We had a really bad experience while the last time we visited this restaurant. The staff was completely unwelcoming and were borderline rude. When we ordered tea, they said they'd stopped serving it, which was unheard of and got the order wrong. The food which we ordered was completely tasteless and was not at all up to the standards. Would never think of going back to this place again.
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Aaron Burns
Zomato
Aug 06, 2014
3.0
We were certainly happy with our main course though the starters were a little disappointing. The food presentation also lacks luster. Some creativity is needed on part of the staff to make the place more customer appealing. Check your bill before making the payment. I shall not return anytime soon.
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Violet Gray
Zomato
Aug 05, 2014
4.0
This is one of my favorite places. The food here is fantastic. My personal favorite is is the chicken Biryani. The chicken is rather tender. My only hassle was with the poor service and the no English speaking waiters. If one won't be disappointed and upset with that, it is a must visit.
S
Shivam Dhillon
Zomato
Aug 01, 2014
4.5
This place serves some really good Persian, or in fact in more precise term i would say Iranian cuisine. I went last weekend with my family as we all wanted to try something different. The food was appealing, appetizing and delectable. Service as well was prompt and pleasing. Highly recommended!
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HungryBee Maija
Zomato
May 29, 2013
0.0
If you hang around Edgware road you will know there is a big hype about this Iranian place called Colbeh, and there is always a very long queue outside this restaurant, located just off Edgware road. As you know there are a lot of Middle Eastern food places on Edgware Road so I was keen to go to Colbeh to see why this place attracted so much attention from the locals. Colbeh is very small (which really explains why you need to queue), family run. The best thing about this place is the home cooked naan bread, that they cook in a huge oven in front of you, it is delicious and feels quite healthy (this bread gets Colbeh an extra small m). As it is an Iranian restaurant you have to bring your own alcohol, as they don’t serve it there, and my friend had a funny incident there when the waiters refused to give him ice for his champagne. Also on oth
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Shak
Zomato
Apr 26, 2013
4.0
Here's a nice little Persian/Iranian place off Edgware Road. Simple, "intimate" food, Colbeh offers something quite different to the usual Indian.<br/><br/>The restaurant itself is tucked away and so seems to attract a quieter crowd - ideal for smaller groups where you want to talk as much as eat. Unfortunately(!) I wasn't around to pay so can't really tell you how much it cost, but I would pay around a tenner for a complete meal.
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Theskinnybib
Zomato
Mar 30, 2011
0.0
Persian, or in a more politically accurate term, Iranian, cuisine dates back to the ancient time when fierce Persian warriors brandished their swords against the sculpture-bodied Greeks, when God did not exist and Jesus was yet to be borne. Thanks to centuries of gastronomic tradition, no doubt has Persian food been so influential to many others of its neighbouring civilisations. These influences stretched, interestingly enough, as far as Thailand where many ancient courtly cookbooks documented a Biryani as Persian fried rice. Fast-forwarding to London 2011, Persian cuisine is not as much of a trend but a gastronomic obscurity misrepresented by the ready availability of kebab shops where punters do not realise the thing they grab 'n go comes from centuries of tradition. I was one of those lacking that sort of awareness, honestly, until my other bib decided to have his holiday in Iran a couple of years ago. Food-wise, I would categorise Persian dishes into four kinds: the dip/paste, the
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Come Con Ella
Zomato
Aug 07, 2010
4.5
in keeping with most persian eateries colbeh is small – its tables spaced just wide enough to allow the passage of people and food. next to the entrance is an open clay oven akin to an asian tandoor in the subcontinent. a waiter was busy taking already sc
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Fezra
Zomato
Oct 16, 2009
2.0
Good Food ...Shame About the Attitude. Service was swift so our starter and main course arrived promptly and tasted delicious. I thought "What a find. I'm going to have to come back for more!". Before finishing my main course I ordered (a pot of) tea and shortly after some pastries similar to baklava. The daughter of the ? proprietor came by and asked my friend if we wanted anything else. When my friend said no she mentioned that there were people waiting and shortly afterwards the bill was placed on our table (we hadn't asked for the bill). A couple of minutes later her mother came round to tell us we had to leave and it wasn't an English restaurant (ie. we had overstayed our welcome)....outrageous considering I was still half-way through my dessert which I was going to pay for, naturally. It is a great pity: I walked out disgusted and determined never to return. The arrogance of Colbeh doesn't deserve customer loyalty. Besides, there are plenty of other polite Iranian restaurants in London serving good food without kicking out its customers.
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Shivana
Zomato
Sep 29, 2009
2.0
The food is good but the service at Colbeh is awful! We once went for dinner and we were told to wait outside - it was raining heavily outside so we tried to shelter as much as we could. Then finally a table became vacant and no one invited us in to the restaurant. So we went in and pointed the table out to them and enquirer as to whether we could sit there. They rudely replied that the table was for six people and that our group only had four people in it (despite the fact that there were no other diners outside waiting for a table!). We waited for ten more minutes and finally got a table - after waiting a further 15 mims we were not handed menus but the waiter came to take our order! When we informed him - he brought us menus and then began to lay out the cutlery for our table. He literally banged each fork, knife and spoon on the table making such a loud noise that other diners looked disturbed. We all vowed never again to go to colbeh! This place has the potential to be a nice, friendly family-run restaurant with good food at a reasonable price. The staff however are overly rude and not worth ruining your dinner. Avoid Colbeh if you would like to be treated with respect!
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Andy
Zomato
Sep 28, 2009
4.5
Fantastic. This place is awesome and deserves a lot more reviews extolling its virtues! The mixed starter selection was decent-sized and provides a great reason to stuff yourself with the amazing naan bread. The mains were huge and, for the most part, good though the chicken "stew of kings" was weirdly sweet (to be fair, the waiter warned us of this when we ordered). And it's very cheap particularly given it's byo...
