Ahmad's Persian Cuisine

I have been meaning to go to Ahmad's and now I regret not coming sooner! It was such a good experience! The food was phenomenal, very flavorful! I had the Tehran Chicken my mom had the Shrimp Kebob. Both were seasoned very well we didn't leave anything behind. The hot tea was delicious. Ahmad was very cordial and his attentiveness was above par. I highly recommend trying something new and checking out Ahmad's.

Review from a Persian: This is Persian food with imposter syndrome. It’s tough because there’s not much to compare it to in Nebraska, but if you find yourself in the DC area, LA, or any other urban/suburban center, do yourself a favor and try Persian food there so it can be redeemed in your lives. If we were in many other states, they wouldn’t be able to get away with this style of cooking and all the substitutes that no one here knows any better to have a true comparison. Would highly recommend Mediterranean bistro or daffodils (in Lincoln) to get somewhat of a comparison here in Nebraska. None of what is served here is authentic Persian food. I’m not here to bash the restaurant, the service is great, the atmosphere is wonderful, it gave me high hopes, but the food is an absolute let down. If you like, good for you, if you know real Persian food, you’re bound to be severely disappointed. First off, the Pita bread is a massive imposter. It is tortillas charred on the grill pretending to be Pitas. I saw it mentioned in a previous review, but was doubting if it was true, it’s absolutely true. This is not representative of the delicious bread served at many Persian establishments across the country. Now to the appetizers. The Dolmeh was actually decent, not your traditional grape leaves dolmeh, but it was cabbage wrapped and it was pretty decent. The hummus was a bit harsh, too much tahini and not a Persian style of hummus, would not recommend it. The falafel was pretty good though, something you don’t really see at Persian restaurants. For the entrees. The potato and pea rice was more of an Indian style dish, if that’s your thing, go for it. The Tehran chicken was overcooked, the chicken strips were dried out, and whatever spice they put on it with the sumac had it way too spicy. Chicken kabob in Persian culture is not spicy, it is buttery and saffron covered, with sumac, with a wonderful rich flavor and aroma. My children couldn’t even bare to have a bite and they can do spice. Their kubideh was pretty decent, kubideh is tough to cook in general, but there’s was a little too chewy and undercooked in my opinion, but it was still good. Now for the rice. Authentic Persian food includes long grain Basmati rice cooked with saffron and butter, that gives a wonderful aroma and flavor to the rice. For some, they just come for the rice. The rice here was not basmati, there was no saffron or butter, and it appeared to be water logged a bit. I wouldn’t recommend it and it was disappointing, after longing for Persian food after relocating here, to have so many items missed or misrepresented. Now for the Salad, that’s not how Persian salads are made. No Persian style lemon/oil homemade dressing. Last, the banana gimmick. What in the hell is this banana gimmick. Do not, and I repeat, do not go to a Persians house or any other restaurant and ask for a banana to top the rice. There is no need to bite the kabob, rice, and tomato, and then cleanse your palate with a bite of a banana. Persian food is meant to be savored, not cleansed. We typically provide sabzi or fresh greens for this, with onions, fresh greens, and radishes, not bananas. Last, I would not recommend this place for Persian food. If you like this style, whatever it may be, fantastic, good for you. Restaurant is run by good people and I’m all for supporting small businesses. But if you want great authentic Persian food, find a Persian friend and go to their house. Drive down to Daffodils in Lincoln, try places when you visit other densely populated cities that have a large Persian community, or give Mediterranean bistro a shot. For what we had, the value and the quality, overpriced for the lack of quality, and for us, we won’t be back. Best of luck to the restaurant though.

Great tasting Persian food in Omaha. Great ambience and beautiful setup. The paintings in the restaurant added to the overall setup. The owner is an amazing guy. Definitely a spot to bring your date to.

My boyfriend recommended this place and took me here and the food was delicious and one thing I love about trying other cultural foods is that it makes me feel healthy while eating it lol. The owner and his daughter were the sweetest and welcoming. Would definitely come back and recommend.

I had the pleasure of visiting Ahmad's Restaurant during my trip to Omaha, and it was a delightful experience. Finally getting the chance to dine here after seeing the pictures and reading the reviews was truly worth it. Meeting Ahmad in person was a highlight - his warm hospitality made the visit even more enjoyable. One thing that drew me to this restaurant was Ahmad's unique idea of serving bananas alongside Persian food. Despite some reviews dismissing this concept, I found it to be a distinguishing feature that added to the charm of the dishes. The combination of flavors was exceptional and truly made the dining experience memorable. We tried the Tehran chicken and Kabob Kubideh, both of which were exquisite. The Tehran chicken had a distinct and spicy flavor profile that I hadn't encountered before, adding an exciting twist to traditional Persian cuisine. Ahmad's innovative approach to cooking, evident in every dish, sets his restaurant apart from other typical Persian restaurants. I appreciate Ahmad's willingness to introduce new ideas while still honoring the essence of Persian cuisine. The inclusion of bananas may seem unconventional to some, but it's these unique choices that make Ahmad's Restaurant stand out. To further illustrate, I was reminded of the Brazilian tradition of serving cooked bananas between different meals to balance flavors. Just as in Brazilian cuisine, where grilled bananas enhance the dining experience, Ahmad's clever addition of bananas complemented the spicy chicken and kubideh kabob perfectly. We also tasted the restaurant's baklava, a delightful dessert. It was the perfect way to end a fantastic dining experience. Moreover, the environment was very beautiful and friendly, with captivating paintings adding to the ambiance. Overall, I highly recommend Ahmad's Restaurant to anyone looking for a unique and delicious culinary adventure. Don't let the naysayers deter you - embrace the creativity and passion that Ahmad brings to each dish. I can't wait to return and explore more of his innovative menu offerings.

This small restaurant has a cozy ambience with big picture windows. The inside is lovely as its walls adorn some beautiful paintings. Our server was very helpful and courteous. The food was delicious. We will be back to try other entrees.

Scammers. We ordered three appetizers for $8 each and a beer for $8. Bill came out to $42.00 exactly and not itemized. When we asked about the price, the waitress said that tax is 9% (which should be $34.88) and asked if we had a problem with that. Do not go here.

A family member brought me and my Fiance here, and it was a very delicious meal! When we went they had the main menu and a specialty item, which was lamb at the time. It was fall off the bone tender. The chicken was also very flavorful, and the tea was perfectly steeped.

Delicious, authentic Persian cuisine served by the owner and chef himself. I love that it's a family owned and run business.

This was a first time visit, but I am so impressed with the service. We went in close to closing to join our friends who had already been seated and served. Our friends ordered for us and when we arrived, our kabobs, rice and veggies were placed in front of us. It was tasty. The owner came out to greet us and our server was attentive and friendly. We would visit again. Parking right outside the building.

Ahmad is so personable and welcoming! It has been years since we've been here and the customer service he gives is still top notch!! The shrimp kabobs were absolutely delicious! We will definitely be back...and soon!!!

Ambiance is nice. Service was definitely appropriate. There is free parking out front, and is adequate. . The pricing: The paper menu at the restaurant listed cost. differs from website listed cost and differs from what I was charged on the bill. For example, The paper menu said $8 for baba goo nooj (aka babaganoush), online menu said $9, and my bill said $10. My bill was $50, and Omaha tax is 9.75% so I should have been charged $54.75. When the bill came it said $55, $0.25 more. There was no up charge for CC fee. . I got the lamb shank which is not on the menu, and the front-of-house said it is $40. The lamb shank was braised perfectly, falling off the bone. It lacked spices expect salt and pepper. The dish came with a very small lettuce with what tasted like Italian dressing. There was a lot of salad dressing which mixed with the rice and the lamb and overpowered everything. The dish also came with sliced banana. . The baba goo nooj was a very thin layer of eggplant on a salad plate. It was served with a flour tortilla, not pita bread. The baba goo nooj was ok and it was black pepper forward. I have had bette.

We visited Ahmad's at their new location near 48th and Dodge, but I so wish I would have gone sooner when they were at their Downtown location (it looked so pretty). Don't get me wrong, the current Ahmad's is also beautiful, with a friendly and inviting ambiance of bright blue walls and gorgeous, large paintings. Well, we can't live in the past - on to the Ahmad's we know today! We visited Ahmad's with a group of 11 (our monthly "supper club" group). Because we had such a large party, one of our friends called in advance and spoke to Ahmad, who said he would definitely have a table ready for us (and even remembered my friend's name when we arrived). Ahmad himself is so warm and jovial. He made sure we were well taken care of the entire time, and cracked jokes as well to keep us laughing. He was also a one-man show while we were there and was handling it beautifully, getting to all the other tables and keeping each one happy, even though they were busy. Now, on to the food we tried: Appetizers! We began with a few starters, that were both amazing: -Hummus - I thought hummus was pretty much the same across the board, but boy was I wrong! Ahmad's hummus was so flavorful and definitely made with love. It came with some delicious lavosh bread for dipping, which got gobbled up quite quickly by our large group. -Falafel - I still dream about this. It's not the type of falafel you normally see (in round ball form); they are more of a handmade little patty of falafel, which I thought made it easier to eat, actually. They were topped with a sauce that was soooo tasty. I wasn't even sure what all was in the sauce, but I wanted more. Entrees! After those scrumptious starters, it was time to order our main courses: -Many in our group got the Khoreshts (with different proteins): They are little simmering pots of meat, with a plate of seasoned rice to pour it over. Each Khoresht also came with a small side salad and seasoned bananas A few tried the Jujeh Khoresht (chicken) and a few had the Khoresht Keimeh (beef). Everyone was impressed with theirs and joined the CPC (clean plate club ) -Mixed Vegetable Poloe: I was worried there wouldn't be many options for our one vegetarian friend, but she loved this! It came in the same little simmering pot with the delicious rice that our Khoreshts did, but the "meat" was swapped for veggies like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and more, cooked in a garlic lemon sauce. -Tehran Chicken: This was SO good It was little chicken skewers/strips, with a saffron marinade, lime, and a seasoned mix of Persian spices. I ate this so fast, I had to share a little of my husband's Khoresht because I was done before everyone else Overall, I definitely recommend hitting up Ahmad's at their new location, because the owner, ambiance and food are all five stars!

Do not sleep on this restaurant!! Ahmad is a delight as a business owner, and after 20/30 years of cooking he has it down perfectly. We were just passing through town and didn't want a super heavy dinner, so stopped by. While it was a quiet night, the food was impeccable. The restaurant itself is lovely - unsuspecting in a strip mall area - and the music just adds to the ambiance. Pro tip: ask for recommendations but really, just get the Tehran chicken. It has a little bit of heat and is so, so good especially with the roasted tomato!

Get the hummus and kubideh! You won't be disappointed. I come here every year when I am in town. Ahmad takes very good care of his customers!

Big shout out to Ahmad's for a fantastic dinner! I hadn't been since they left the Old Market and it was everything I remembered and more. Also huge props to the waitress who literally handled the entire restaurant herself. She was a familiar face to one of the best Persian cuisine, that has a been a staple for years. I'm still dreaming about the Baba Goo Nooj

If you want to get amazing food and support local, this is your place to go! The food was very good and the service was over the top. The owner (Ahmad) was so grateful for the support and it was super nice to heard about his stories

He was very kind and caring. Food was nice. The place was very sweet. As a Persian, I guarantee an authentic experience of Persian cuisine... I have just never seen banana on top of rice before : )))...

I dropped my Son off at the airport and want to grab some lunch and the web search said it was open I went there and it was closed.

Absolutely flavorful food, everything is homemade and all prepared by Ahmad for the past 35 years. Your waiter will tell you what to eat and give you an experience.

Ahmad's is absolutely wonderful! I have been twice and have loved it both times. The service is very personable and the food is excellent! I would recommend to anyone looking for a family owned business with a wonderful dining experience

Had a nice family dinner at Ahmad's, which I hadn't been to since the days way back in the downtown days. Everything was great and service was oh so friendly. Really nice to have in the neighborhood!

We were stay in town for a volleyball event and stopped in for a dinner that did not include pizza for once. The place was nicely appointed and I was surprised that no one was there. The food was flavorful and the owner/chef was very hospitable and prepared us a fabulous meal to go.

Fabulous service with a smile, delicious food and a gorgeous dining room. This was our second visit to Ahmad's and we wondered aloud why we haven't been back sooner. We started with the buttery smooth, yet bright, hummus and flatbread and had to restrain ourselves from finishing it before the falafel appetizer was served because we wanted to eat it together. We didn't realize the falafel came with a generous dollop of hummus but were pleased to get even more. I've had falafel in many different restaurants, and have even cooked it at home, but never have I had such a delightful morsel. It wasn't crumbly or dry but neither was it oily or mushy. It was the perfect balance of crunch and light. I could have stopped there and been sated but I'm so glad I didn't! My partner ordered the Tehran Chicken that we had had during our previous visit because he couldn't get the dish out of his head. I ventured out and got the Chicken Jejeh, neither of us were disappointed. How Ahmad gets his chicken so tender is beyond us! It is juicy and flavorful without being overly salty/seasoned. The rice is super long grain and cooked to perfection - none of the pieces stick together and create the perfect counterpart to the chicken and grilled tomato. The Chicken Jejeh had an amazing, almost floral, aroma we couldn't place so we asked. Ahmad said it was fresh ginger! Once he said it, it was obvious but it was so unlike my experience with fresh ginger in Asian cooking! Ahmad explained the Jejeh was practically medicine with the fresh ginger and lemon. If this is medicine, I'd gladly take it...no spoonful of sugar required! Just go and enjoy the richness of history and love infused into everything that comes from his kitchen!

Great spot here. Sit outside or in and order everything. From hummus to lamb, chicken to falafel it's all wonderful. Oh and bread, lots of bread!!! But FIRST, find and introduce yourself to Ahmad. Very important part of your night. He's it! A great passionate, funny, loves to cook and talk man! We has 6 of us and was a true experience. No rush and the food came out over time as it should. All better than the next. The plate of meats was sensational. The rice with sliced bananas was unusual and just right. Sauces again on point. It's one of those places you'll remember for many reasons. The caring owner, the time spent with friends, the laughter and almost as importantly the incredible food. Loved every second of it!!!

Delicious. We had a kabob and chicken, hummus and flatbread appetizer. I especially liked the flatbread and the chicken, but everything was delicious.

Ahmad's new restaurant in the Dundee neighborhood is the Old Market's loss and Dundee's gain. Ahmad is an exceptional chef. His enthusiasm and love for Persian dishes is exemplified in his beautiful, creative and tasteful presentations. Growing up in the great Northwest, I did not believe I would ever find fresh salmon so masterfully prepared.... but I have at Ahmad's. It, along with his many other dishes, are not to be missed. Dundee has a new and tasty Neighborhood Gem!

Great. Great. Great. Dolmen as an appetizer $9.00 is delicious, order 2 they are so good. Beef & lamb not wrapped in grape leaves but wrapped in cabbage, like a mini cabbage roll in a light tomato and Persian spices, I could drink the mixture. Served with pita bread. Fantastic. Jujeh Khoresht is tender bites of chicken cooked in a lovely sauce, delicious, served with sumac rice. $18. Tehran Chicken is grilled chicken tenderloins, with sumac rice, and salad. It is noticeably bigger and only $20. We were in a hurry and they took our order right away and brought our food right away. We'll get dessert next time, it looked equally fantastic. Gourmet cooking for about $50, not including a 20% tip for great service. If you like Mediterranean food or Greek food or Persian food or just like food, get here for lunch or dinner soon. Pro tip: call ahead, they are only open for lunch 3 days a week and not open every night for dinner at 530 except Mondays, and sometimes other nights. This is a rare dinner experience at 40th & Dodge. Try the grilled shrimp. Salty & spicy with rice. Don't miss hummus/Babaganoush plate as an appetizer!

Came in to Ahmad's restaurant 20 minutes before they were closing and had the best meal. They were kind enough to stay open for us and put together two delicious plates that he recommended and brought us Persian tea as well. Owners were incredibly kind and the food was flavorful and filling. The meat was so tender and seasoned. So glad we stopped here.

Food and service is really good. But overpriced for the portion size.

This more of a 2.5 star review. The place is steps away from where I live and decided to give it a try. I won't put much on presentation as it is only takeout given the COVID pandemic. I got the kabob kubideh. The meat was good and all, and also, the lady giving me the take out was courteous to let me know how to eat the meat in combination with the tomato. The reason I'm giving it 2.5 starts, though, is that the portion was way too small. It was basically one stripe of meat, a small tomato, a couple of lettuce leaves and then a quarter pound of rice. I feel the flavors were right, but paying 20 dollars for this is hardly worth it. Nothing too special. I will wait until they open for dine-in to give it a second try. Until then, I felt it was too overpriced for what they delivered.

Just steps into the Old Market from the Embassy Suites where we were staying in Omaha we found Ahmad's Persian Cuisine. Inside this small Persian cafe were only about 5 or 6 tables but there was seating for 2-groups if 4 outside on the street. We took a seat outside and with one waitstaff handling all orders, service & payments, it was going to be a busy night for her... and required some patience on our part. The bar next door had a table full of cigar smokers, and it seems that's a pretty constant thing so if you're sensitive to a little drift, you'll probably want to find a seat inside. We travel extensively & participate in what we call "Dining at a Certain Age"... meaning that those of us who are in our 60's look for 3-criteria: 1. Good atmosphere with a minimum of loud music & background noise where you can have a great conversation over your meal. 2. Great service where the staff is professional & knowledgable of their food or drink offerings and provide prompt service deserving of a good tip! 3. Good to GREAT food at a reasonable price... Sitting outside usually means better opportunity for noise control but the street in the old market can get crowded & noisy, but their inside seating was very quiet. We had good service & the food was excellent! We ordered the chicken & beef/lamb kabob. At just $16 each they were very reasonably priced. With tax & a tip the total came to $43.

Very good food. Highly recommend of you are in the area. Food is all home made and well prepared.

Owner is personable and attentive- gave us helpful recommendations and complimentary tea. Food is delicious and portion sizes are filling. Interior is creatively decorated and seating area is clean. We will definitely be back!

We went for dinner on Friday with a 5 year old kid. It's a small place. They took 20 mins for baba ganoush appetizer and 45 mins for chicken tehran and khoresht. Only one server. No apologies no caring for people's time. Never going back again. One of the worst dinner experience. Food is not like out of this world. So what's there to spend one and a half hour in a restaurant!

Very good Persian food (probably closer to four stars) that I'll round up due to the complete experience -- the chef/owner made a recommendation based on my dietary restrictions and came out to check on the meal, along with greeting everyone who came in and checking on how the food was--I get the sense there are a lot of regulars. The chicken dish was tasty and something I would definitely get again. Thumbs up.

My wife and I stopped in here on a Saturday evening for dinner and we were extremely pleased with the food. Our server was very friendly and helpful as well. My wife has to eat gluten free and the server was very knowledgeable and helpful in navigating that. We started with some falafel and dolmeh. The falafel was crispy and delicious, we really enjoyed the little hit of hummus on top. The Dolmeh was great, very creamy and rich. That bread though, I could not get enough, I'm glad my wife couldn't eat it so I could have it all but I felt very sad for her that she really missed out. The entrees were fantastic. The seasoning is amazing, the tangy goodness, rice cooked perfectly, grilled tomato and juicy meat. I am not a big fan of bananas and thought banana seemed odd here on the plate but per the server's suggestion get a little bit of everything in your bite and wow! I can't wait to come back.

So happy I found this place. It's small, but the food is wonderful and the flavors are big. I had a chicken dish with a pomegranate and walnut sauce. It was amazing. The service was very good, and Ahmad came out of the kitchen to see how we liked the food. I will go again next time I'm in Omaha

Wow! The food quality was amazing. We had a chicken dish, a lamb dish, and the hummus. Both entrees were ultra delicious. The chicken was amazingly juicy and the hummus had a delicious citrus twist to the flavor. We would go back again in a heartbeat. Ahmad was very friendly and it was a great place to dine

Great food. Kind servers. Will be back again. We had two separate dishes and both were better than expected.

What a wonderful experience. The food is so fresh and delectable. Ahmad was very personable to us and is so passionate about his meals that he prepares. Not to mention the decor is beautiful. We enjoyed every last bit of it. We cannot wait to come back to try all of the other items on the menu. I highly recommend!!!!

Seriously love this place every time I go. I usually order dolmeh, jujeh kabob, and Turkish tea. Ahmad is so friendly and an amazing cook! I feel like I'm really in his home when I'm here. Go to Ahmad's!!! Adding to this because many reviewers are saying his pita bread is just tortillas-- this is not true! It is REAL pita bread, not like the dense kind you buy in the store.

Amads restaurant has amazing food with amazing service, must try food is very unique and tasty! He puts his heart in every dish.

Came here for lunch with a friend last week. Was phenomenal. Got the yogurt/cucumber appetizer, and the kabob. Oh man, was it all beyond great. I even was able to get a raw egg to mix into my rice with sumac, the Persian way, courtesy of Ahmad asking a neighbor for the egg for me ha ha ha...I was even able to surprise Ahmad by asking for tadig which he regrettably did not have this time...Be prepared to wait a bit as the prep/cook time can be a bit, however, i never felt like it took too long and the end result was very much worth it. I'll most definitely be back...

While the food is good, I'm not sure I'd be back for dinner as an entree (split for two), an app, a couple beers and a glass of wine ran me about $60 before tip. The food: We shared a mixed vegetable platter ($18) and a side of falafel ($8). The vegetable platter was comprised of veggies (broccoli, peas, etc.) in sauce that was eaten over a bed of rice, plus a small amount of salad greens, a couple corners of flat bread and maybe half a banana. While the spices and the flavors were on point, I found the portion size versus the price to be a little disappointing. The same with the falafel app -- tasted good, but a tough sell for $8 for basically a few bites. The bill: How we ended up with a $60 tab is a little beyond me, but the wine must've been $10+ and the beers upwards of $10 apiece (nothing was itemized on our receipt). Not a big deal, but that's $70+ after tip! Ouch. Other thoughts: We were sat at the small table by the window. The floor was tilted and so was our table. I was afraid something was going to roll right off it. Service was good. Atmosphere also good. If weather and space permits, definitely grab a spot on the patio. Conclusion: The food is good. Your best bet would be to come for lunch and definitely skip ordering alcohol.

Unreal kabobs, rice and baklava . What a great little find in Old Market . The owners were extremely friendly and kept me company

Ahmad's makes me happy. I enjoy sitting down to eat there in the summer and the food is wonderful! My favorite entrees are the Kabob Kubideh and Tehran Chicken. While you will not find alcohol here, I recommend the Persian tea! Not pictured (because I ate them too fast) are Dolmeh!

An Omaha classic. First visit to new location the other night and food was amazing. Tehran chicken especially tasty and tender!!

Can't say enough! It's incredible. And Ahmad is passionate about his cooking. He's a great guy. It's a must-try.

Lovely little place with a friendly staff. I was eating alone so the owner sat at the table next to me and we chatted while I ate his fabulous cooking. Tasty chicken, perfect rice and a very tasty dressing on the salad.

No where in Omaha does Persian (or even Middle Eastern) like Ahmad's. Not only is the food to-die-for, but Ahmad himself is an incredible chef, host, and friend. It's my go-to stop when I'm back in town to visit family, and will always be!!

Shareable portions and the most delightful owner. The food was tasty and fresh but the best part was definitely Ahmad himself, he is so kind and welcoming he made what was supposed to be a quick take out trip into a real treat. I felt like I'd been invited over for dinner at a distant relative's home.

Excellent food every single time! We always have the best time at Ahmad's. An Omaha gem for sure!

The only thing better than a restaurant with great food at a great value and with excellent service is a restaurant whose owner is a charmer and beloved by his community. Tonight I had an appetizer I think it was called dohlmed. It's basically a cabbage roll and it was fantastic. Served with homemade flat bread. Set in the old market district, I dined al fresco and listened to jazz that leaked out of the bar next door with occasional wafts of cigar smoke from the shop on the other side. Ahmed joined me for a glass of wine and we talked about traveling and cultures. He was thrilled to have me enjoy his food. It was an incredible experience. What a lovely place.

Decided to try something different. My wife and I are here on business and just wanted to order delivery. Not pleased at all! Cost about $100.00 and this is what we received! I shall not recommend this establishment...EVER! Oh, the lettuce you see, well that is the "comes with salad" portion of our meal.

We have known Ahmad for over 25yrs and he is still one of the top restaurants/chefs in Omaha. It takes a lil more time to cook this well and it's so worth the wait.... thank you again for another great meal and your friendship for over 25 yrs. There's no one that does it like you.

The owner is amazing !! The food is amazing ! And they are so friendly they make you feel right at home I will definitely be going back ! I recommend no substitutions and ask them what's good because they are more then happy to help ! Plus every advice they threw my way was amazing because the spices are so original and the meat so fresh everything is so fresh ! I can't stop raving about it !!!