Amoo's Restaurant

Came here for dinner after a meeting in Tyson's Corner. My wife had enjoyed lunch here a couple of times before. The food was delicious. Persian food is a favorite despite not cooking it much at home. You can't go wrong with the starters, especially eggplant or hummus based. The lamb kabobs are so well prepared. Incredibly tender meat with creative spices. The rice is flavorful. For dessert we had saffron ice cream with rose water. While we enjoyed it, you have to like rose water because it is pronounced. There isn't coffee but the Persian style tea is a wonderful end to the meal. And the bottle of wine on the table is actually quite tasty and pairs well with the savory dishes. Very satisfying meal, we will return. We were there at 7:15 on a Thursday night and the empty seats in the photos quickly filled up. You will need reservations for a weekend.

Our second visit to this restaurant after a number of years and unfortunately we feel like the flavors are not what they used to be. We ordered a good variety of dishes and even though everything was ok, nothing met our expectations considering how popular and well established this place is. We had the gheymeh, most- o-hiar, koobideh kabob, lamb shank, and fesenjoon. I guess every dish resembles homemade cooking but when you go to a restaurant you expect that extra touch that makes it special. The Persian ice cream was delicious though, very creamy with lots of crushed pistachios. Also, the service and the portions deserve a separate mention as they are excellent.

Our visit to Amoo’s Restaurant was disappointing, with service that felt rushed, making us uncomfortable from the start. Instead of the fresh, homemade bread typically found in Persian restaurants, they served frozen, store-bought bread you can find in bulk anywhere, paired with basic butter and a cilantro sauce. They decided to serve all our orders as a family-style meal without asking, which wasn’t our preference. The food itself was initially warm but quickly turned cold, with the Ghormeh Sabzi was runny and lacking flavor and the rice tasting bland and rushed. The Kobideh was decent, but the high prices and unremarkable atmosphere don't justify the experience. There are better Persian dining options nearby.

This is a hole in a wall place, with authentic old And Golden Era pictures of monarchs of Iran. The decor is filled with authentic picture of the King and Queen and Crown Prince of Iran. The food was amazing. We ordered Tah Deeg with Ghormeh Sabzi , kabob Torsh and Koobideh. It all was heavenly. The wine is was so delicious and bought some to take home to Texas with me! If you are looking for an authentic iranian experience you have to try Amoo.

Absolutely LOVE this place! The hummus was so tasty and the egg plant. We had the Mohicheh (lamb shank), Chicken Cornish Saltoni and Lamb Loin Fillet! The atmosphere was very nice and the staff is amazing! Would highly recommend this Persian restaurant!

Food Quality is good. Taste and Great. Expensive. We Three people went for Lunch on Saturday. It is close to Tyson's corner. But the facility seems old. Why 3 stars ?. I feel it is not fair 20% Tips forcefully collected on food price for 3 people dining. Food prices are already high compared to others in this area. We didn't see it mentioned anywhere on the Menu. It might have been hidden or not

The food was amazing , everything was delicious and tasty , Anna was so nice , friendly and so helpful I enjoyed everything there highly recommended ,very satisfied

4/8/24 On our way from the Great Falls VA to DC, google maps suggested this along the way, and we decided to stop in for something different. Saffron Iced Tea and Saffron Hot Tea Both were delicious, so refreshing. Kashk Bademjan Dip - Yogurt Eggplant Dip This was so good, spreading it on the bread. Mahicheh with Tahdig - Lamb Shank with bottom of the pot rice aka Concon aka Pegao Of course hubby had to get the rice, his Dominican blood would not stand for him to pass this up LOL. And he loved it. Cornish Hen with Baghali Polo They cut the Cornish Hen up for easy eating. I love that! It's so small and hard to eat when whole. Lima Bean rice was delicious. I'm so sad they are so far away. I would love to try everything on the menu!

4/8/24 On our way from the Great Falls VA to DC, google Maps suggested this along the way, and we decided to stop in for something different. Ana and Estelle were friendly and helpful. We haven't been to many Persian restaurants, so it took time to understand the menu Saffron Iced Tea and Saffron Hot Tea Both were delicious, so refreshing. Kashk Bademjan Dip - Yogurt Eggplant Dip This was so good, spreading it on the bread. Mahicheh with Tahdig - Lamb Shank with bottom of the pot rice aka Concon aka Pegao Of course, hubby had to get the rice. His Dominican blood would not stand for him to pass this up, LOL. And he loved it. Cornish Hen with Baghali Polo They cut the Cornish Hen up for easy eating. I love that! It's so small and hard to eat when whole. Lima Bean rice was delicious. I'm so sad they are so far away. I would love to try everything on the menu!

Small, family owned business serving classic Iranian/Persian dishes. The owners were very kind and welcoming- my friend and I came when it was empty so the service was fast. Overall a homey feeling on the inside. I got the Barg Soltani which includes a Barg Kabob and Koobideh Kabob. I was disappointed by the Barg- I hadn't had Barg in a while and recall it being flavorful, juicy, and tender. But, this was hard to cut, chewy, and not flavorful or juicy. However, their koobideh was nicely seasoned, easy to cut, and juicy. Although not a normal part of Persian cuisine, I enjoyed the green sauce/chutney provided as it actually had some heat to add to the bland rice and Barg kabob. The rice was salty and I wish butter came with it like at other Persian restaurants. My friend ordered the vegan tofu fesenjoon. I only tried the sauce and it was sweet, but good. They seemed to enjoy it. Overall, not bad food. But, I had higher expectations for the Barg which was a big disappointment for me. I expected more flavor from this place. Their koobideh is good, but I've had better kabobs overall at other places. I'm not sure if I'd come back again, but it's decent.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Amoo's offered vegan kubideh! The service and food were both excellent. While the baklava was a bit sweeter than I prefer, I really enjoyed the ice cream!

Certainly one of the best Persian restaurants in the DMV region. Check out the Tahdig but recommend getting the stew on the side so as to keep the crispiness of the rice. The lamb loin filet with saffron cream is next level. Service is excellent. Prices are very reasonable. Beware parking is somewhat limited.

Great food, clean cozy restaurant with great service. We had Koobideh and beef stew. Try Gorma Sabzi- chefs kiss!

A wonderfully tasty restaurant, the food was good, the service was very friendly, and the restaurant was clean with lots of interesting art on the walls. The only complaint was that the appetizer dish we got was slightly cold in the center of the meat and potato balls but it was still very good nonetheless. All the other food was great. Though it's not necessarily inexpensive, the dishes are quite large and you'll definitely be going home with leftovers. I will be back again!

This restaurant exceeded my expectations. It's rare that you find vegan kabobs at a Persian restaurants, and it was soooo good (speaking as someone who has had meat kabobs as well). We arrived without a reservation and were seated within 5 minutes, regularly checked up on, and even introduced to the owner of the restaurant. Everyone was very kind and double checked with us to make sure they got our order correct. The vegan Koobideh was definitely the star plate, so delicious with the roasted tomatoes. The Fesenjan Stew was not particularly my favorite - I was not expecting the the pomegranate flavors to be so prominent - but I can understand why others might like it. Still, it was a very unique dish and symbolic of Irani culture. If I went back again, I would opt to try a different stew. The Tahdig was also cooked perfectly, just like my mom makes it :) Overall, I would recommend the drive out to try this authentic and unique Irani joint. Try to make reservations if you have the chance to avoid a wait as it can get busy!

Love their food! Great hummus, flat bread, thadig and kebabs. Nice staff and good service.

We visited Amoo's for the first time today and really enjoyed it. We went for lunch and left with enough food for dinner. The staff and owner were so kind and helpful and the food was delicious. The bread was hot, the eggplant dip with caramelized onions was a perfect complement, and the kebobs were stand out. I had the pesto chicken and my friend had the beef, but both were tender, juicy, and well seasoned. We will definitely return soon!

Amoo is a Persian restaurant with great food. The service is good but sometimes the servers are not familiar with the persian food , cannot pronounce them or give any info about the food. The restaurant is due for a make over.

Amoo Persian Restaurant in McLean, VA, exceeded all expectations! The Chelo kabob sultani and ghorme sabzi were simply divine, bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. Not only was the food exceptional, but the service was also outstanding, adding to the overall delightful dining experience. I highly recommend Amoo to anyone craving authentic Persian cuisine and top-notch service. Finally, I missed seeing the Master Chef Masoud, who is true gentleman and host in my last visit.

Food quality was bad. Kabab was salty, rice smelled moldy. I will not go there again.

Fantastic food! But somewhat expensive. Great ambiance. Great service. I definitely recommend this restaurant.

Small owned business. I ordered the lamb, that was amazing. Lamb can be a hit or miss. I can't say much about the rest. Hummus was pretty mediocre. Pita & butter was great. Rice was not buttery, like most places. My friend ordered the stew, it was meat & beans. Pleasantly surprised!

My rating = 87 (food 65/75, ambiance 9/10, service 13/15). Lisa's rating = 80. Tasty Persian stews and skewers with the lion-and-sun flag as a backdrop, in a tiny McLean shopping center. Worth the trip. We had: 1. Hummus* 2. Shirazi salad (cucumbers, tomatoes, onions in vinaigrette) 3. Barg (flattened beef tenderloin) with albaloo polo* (basmati rice with sour cherries) 4. Bademjan* (lamb shank with eggplant in cinnamon citrus tomato stew served over rice) 5. Saffron chicken (kabob) 6. Saffron ice cream* 7. Baklava * = my favorites

Went there on a Sunday night with my 3 teens and we were welcomed by the owner Amoo nice beautiful place We ordered different dishes and we tried from each others plates The food was excellent as well as the service and desert was great

Been here twice and have not been disappointed. The place is small and crowded but the food is good. It is similar to Shamshiry and just as good. I got the chicken chimichurri soltan and my wife got the bison, yes bison! The meat was perfect and the rice was great! Well spiced and flavored meat grilled to perfection, we were very happy. The price for the food is a good deal ~$20 for most entrees. The amount of food is good for an entree especially if you get a sultan dish. The service is quick and good. I would recommend making reservations especially on the weekends. It seems like they do have a time limit to help accommodate reservations and getting people in. We will be back here again!!

Food was good, definitely try the Lamb chimmichurri. Came here on a Sunday evening around 6pm. Seated as we walked in for a party of 5.

This is probably the worst kabobs I've ever had in my life. The service is slow, and they penny pinch for every single thing there. The bread is not fresh- it is not made there. It tasted like one of those commercial breads you can buy in Costco or restaurant depot. I had Koobideh with Shirin polo which is an upgrade. Also the worst rice I have ever had. My entire family was disappointed. Not coming here ever again.

Amoo is always there to give the biggest greetings as you dine. It's a simple place in the middle of an odd strip mall beside a tobacco store and Chinese take-out. Friendly staff will greet you. They have a full selection of Persian favorites. I had the saffron chicken and koobideh plate and he had barg and koobideh. There was nothing left by the time he finished it. My food was so incredibly moist and tender. They both melted in my mouth. There was something magical about the saffron chicken. It sang to me. I can't leave without my favorite bastani. It was a bit sweet to my preference but still delicious and recommended. Amoo came by and spoke to my date in Farsi and told him stories about his life in Iran and origins. He's quite charming and so sweet. He makes you feel like family. I used to come here off and on over the years and I can say that the food has improved greatly. Shamshiry has always been my spot but Amoo's food and service last night was actually better. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals and even talked about coming by again today before we take off onto new adventures.

Loved this place! Being Persian, this food was the most authentic Persian food in the area. While visiting, we came here on two separate occasions despite trying other persian places in between. The Fesenjan was one of my favorites here and I've been trying to like this dish since I was a kid. I still think about how good it was. Great service and waitresses. Ambiance is warm and welcoming. Great find and a definite regular for us when we are in town.

Solid choice of a restaurant! I went to a chain in Atlanta (Rumi's) that had similar food but am happier to support a local one such as this. I chose it bc they have shirin rice, which includes orange peel, cranberries and pistachios to create a salty, sweet, savory side. The ground lamb and chicken kabobs were meaty and there was enough food in one entree for 3 meals for me. The service was accommodating and timely, too, and the restaurant was almost empty when we arrived. My only feedback is that, what was comparatively offered as a complementary appetizer at Rumi's (nuts, olives, feta and fresh herbs with pita) was a la carte here.

Awful food - so embarrassed to take our guests from out of town there for dinner. Totally uncooked rice, extremely salty kabobs. Never again!

The food was delicious! I think it's the best kabobs I've had in the area! The owner is super sweet and welcomed every guest warmly and staff were very kind and attentive. This is a very popular spot so make reservations as the wait can get long.

It is a great spot to have lunch or dinner. I first tried this place with my coworkers and then I brought my family for dinner. 1. Food: good and hearty It is not some Michelin star experience, it is a hearty, easy-going home food like feel. They do have a generous portion of rice and kebob or other meat and always dresses it up with a flower, which is sort of their signature. 2. Drinks: you can stick with beer or rather i'd recommend tea here. 3. Service: a bit slow, and no-nonsense, simple I'd certainly recommend this place for simple good food out. Their food will work great as a take-out too as there's nothing that's get mushy or lose shape in travel.

The service is outstanding and personable. As a table of 4, we asked for the various meats to all be put on 1 platter; rice & tomato on a separate platter. That was a wonderful arrangement, so our guests could try a variety. Servers accommodated our request without any fuss or hesitation. We ordered flattened beef tenderloin, lamb, and saffron chicken. All meats were very tender and delicately spiced. Portions were ample. We preceded the main meal with an eggplant appetizer and pickled veggies-- delish, and came with pita. The restaurant contains about 10-12 tables. Ambiance is fine: good light from windows, decent space between tables, appropriate lighting. The restaurant serves wine & beer, along with sodas, and other beverages.

Great service delicious food never disappoints Cannot go wrong with this place A must to try better reserve when it is a weekend

What a welcome. Mr. Amoo was overly friendly giving us handshakes and hugs. I was like, did you forget about Covid? None of the staff were wearing masks either. Was a little take back by that. (-1) The food tho wasn't bad. The bread and the eggplant dip was a good start. We had 3 other dishes and it was a lot of food. I thought the stew and the kabob was okay. Meat was kinda dry. (-1) I thought the best thing here was the lamb rack. Had the most flavor. Anyways, This was a good meal after hiking. The inside was clean and comfortable.

Was there for the first time since the pandemic, to treat a friend for lunch a few weeks ago. I seem to remember it was an affordable mom and pop restaurant with great service that served great, tasty food at reasonable prices. This time the food was ok, and definitely not as great as I remembered in the pre-COVID days. And the prices have also gone up substantially--as they have everywhere since COVID, as everyone is presumably trying to recoup their losses. But a rise in prices combined with a decrease in quality is not a winning formula. The saving grace was the service, which was as wonderful as it was before. Not sure if it was change in ownership/management, but it's not worth a return visit.

Chicken kebab is often underrated... because it tends to be dry and just taste cheap in many places. But not here!! Now I understand why so many people are highly rating this place. The chicken was tender and juicy, just perfectly cooked on skewers. Every ingredient was fresh and cooked with care, which includes the yogurt sauce, spicy chimichurri, and flatbread. The saffron rice is buttery and so addictive. Happy with the food here!

Can't recommend this place enough! Amazing food, big portions for a good price, and excellent and friendly service. Our server enthusiastically recommended tahdig with the lamb stew, which was delicious. Pesto chicken and salmon were great and of course we had to wrap up with the saffron ice cream. It was all a delight!

We had a great experience at Amoo's. The food and service are excellent. The stews and the bread are very good.

We searched for a Persian restaurants that served more than just Kebobs and Rice. There are many pretty good ones that do just that in the DMV area which we are very happy with. However there is much more to Persian cuisine which we wanted to explore, and we found just the place with Amoo's. It is well reviewed, so we just want to agree and add our impressions of the experience. It is in an unassuming location in McLean, but inside it is warm and inviting. The owner/manager is there to greet each patron as they enter. He is friendly, always present and welcoming - we've noticed that during several visits to his establishment. This place manages to rise above so many in our area with similar cuisine offerings - definitely worth a detour if you are anywhere near Mclean or Tysons Corner in Northern VA

BLUF: the food was very good, but the service seemed very unorganized and spotty I went with a pretty large group on a weekday evening. The restaurant was about half full. We ordered a range of food including appetizers. Easy way to put it is that most of the appetizers were very good but frankly pretty small. I was pretty disappointed in my appetizer which was a beet salad. It was underdressed, but more importantly it was supposed to have cheese crumbles and I'd be surprised if there was even a full teaspoon of crumble on there. It really just tasted like someone had cut up some beats and hadn't made any effort at all to add any flavor or seasoning or uniqueness to them. The bread that they serve to everyone as a precursor to the meal is actually very tasty. The entrees were routinely good. The only aspect that bothered me here is that three of us ordered the same entree and each of them looked different. There were differences in quantity and variety of food in the plate. For example one might have less meat pieces and more beans and so on. Throughout the night the staff was very friendly but seemed rushed and the service was not uniformly good. One person waited quite a while just to get a water glass, and water refills didn't happen as frequently as I should have. This is a family restaurant and I do think even the staff wished things had gone more smoothly. Reading between the lines I think maybe they were short staffed that night. The food was good enough that I'd be willing to go back to see if maybe it was just a fluke night as I suspect.

Awesome Kebab place in McLean . You should try this restaurant special kebab if you are a food lover and visiting Virginia. Amoo is one of my favorite eating place for Kebabs. Generous amount of meat and the white sauce dressing was really good! The restaurant was also very nice and accommodated my request to put lots of tadig instead of rice. The kebab roll was packed with the filling and meat. Good value for money and tastes really good as well. The owner keeps checking on us make sure everything is right.

Outstanding! I've ordered from Amoos and it is SO GOOD. I've tried the saffron chicken, which is perfectly tender and seasoned and honestly some of the best chicken I've ever had from a restaurant, eggplant dip which is also amazing, hummus, pita bread, green rice, and regular rice. Everything tastes so authentic and flavorful without being too greasy and salty. I've never dined in but can't wait to do so! Highly recommend!

I LOVE AMOO'S!! Such a hidden gem of McLean, and I definitely tell everyone about them. First off, the owner is the sweetest person you'll meet. When he greets you and talks to you, it's as if you're family to him. Secondly, the food is sooooo good! I've brought so many family members and friends here because I know the food is always on point. I'm a big fan of Persian kabob, more than other cultures, and Amoo's always hits the spot. The meat is juicy, tender, flavorful. The rice, you have to upgrade your rice to the shirin polo. Trust me, you'll never want to eat plain rice again. I'm salivating just thinking about their lamb kabob. Don't pass this place! Go check it out, you won't be disappointed.

It was our first time here. We were looking for Turkish or Persian food in the Northern Virginia area. Called and made a reservation for 6 PM. When we arrived, maybe 1/3 of the restaurant was full so we were a little worried that it wasn't a popular place. our server was very pleasant, answering all of our questions, and being very patient with us. we ordered two appetizers, the eggplant dip, and the olive and pomegranate dip. WOW! Incredibly fresh, made from scratch - really enjoyed both of those. The appetizers were delicious and absolutely from scratch. Alcoholic beverage selections are decent. I was hoping for an authentic Iranian or Persian beer, but only domestic on the menu. Great wine selection, and several mixed drinks. We ordered mostly skewers, including the lamb, which was so tender and flavorful, the chicken, which my wife said was the one of the best chicken kebabs she had ever had and I am GREEK (the spices were so unique and flavor was off the charts), A combo, one with skewer of beef fillet, and the ground beef skewer (tenderloin, of course, crazy tender cooked to perfection, the ground beef (I'm not sure I liked that flavor. There was something in there that was off to me flavor wise a spice maybe? not sure). For sides three of us had salad, which was fresh, crisp and delicious with the dressing and I had the rice, which I found very nice and flavorful. we finished off with the saffron, pistachio ice cream (we had a birthday girl with us) HOLY smokes that was quite a treat to the senses! It was the first time any of us had that, rich and creamy full of finely chopped pistachios and simply delicious. In the end a?great experience! Oh and the restaurant was packed when we left so my worries about it not being popular were obviously dead wrong 100% recommend this delicious restaurant! Yes, parking is a little tight because it's an older property (much narrower and small parking lot) but we did just fine.

Great kabobs and wonderful service. Wish I had took pictures. Can't wait to go back!!

I've been hitting up Amoos for years and the magic hasn't faded one bit. This place is like that old song that still hits the right chords every time. They've got their game on point, delivering those rich Persian flavors consistently, with each visit being a repeat tale of delicious satisfaction. Good quality good and great service, love the ambiance.

Food was the best. They need kale pache. Great service. One of the best Persian restaurants in NE.

Sorry to say that I was very disappointed with my takeout today!! Either the cook is not experienced or he/she is too busy to pay good attention to prepare the food the right way. The rice was not cooked properly ( as was boiled ONLY rather than steamed !) .....The Fessenjoon was watery with too much cinnamon rather than having a sweet /sour taste with a creamy consistency !! And last but not the least, my husband found hair in his food (Ghourmeh Sabzi with rice) which was a total turn off for every one at the table!!! I hope that the people who are in charge of this well known restaurant take some notes and make changes for the better in order to bring back the reputation of AMOO'S !!!!!!!!

The epitome of Persian hospitality and cuisine. I've been searching for an authentic Iranian restaurant after moving here from California. After many disappointing restaurants, we found Ammos! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by his smile, warmth and genuine hospitality. The restaurant is beautifully decorated by traditional Persian art work and photos of our last Monarchy which my mom truly loved. On to the food. Outstanding! My stepfather has a Turkish restaurant and makes his own hummus and theirs was even better. The salad Olivieh and all the kabob dishes were in great portion and full of Flavor. If they were close, I'd go there weekly!

A few days ago my husband and I went there because of the good reviews they had, and we learned they do live up to that reputation. The food was delicious it reminded my of back home so authentic. And service was great, thanks to Sara she maid our experience extra special with her smile and attention. The ambiance is nice, the location was nice and the inside reminds me of the great culture of Persia. By the way the owner told us the royal family have been there twice!!! I highly recommend it to the point that I submitted a recommendation to Michelin

Delicious food and excellent service. I will continue to come back to this restaurant time and again!

Oh my gosh, AMAZING!!! My new favorite restaurant. The food is so tasty and the service was wonderful. It's Saturday and a line out the door. Reservations are needed on a weekend. Try the speciality rices! The one with candied carrots and orange zest is so unexpected and addicting. I've eaten far more than my tummy can hold because the flavors are just THAT GOOD! This is a must try, so reasonably priced restaurant.

After years of hearing about it I finally tried it. Parking can be an obstacle here. Had that vibe that you're eating at a families home which was comforting. Saffron Tea-good Bread-delicious Green sauce-delicious Koobideh-top notch Joojeh-top notch Albaloo polo- was a let down. Rice was over cooked & mushy. Tasted like regular rice with some sour cherries added to it. Not worth it imo. Tahdig w Fesenjan- didn't really enjoy. There was barely any tahdig. The Fesenjan was good. The chicken however was extremely dry, tough to chew and swallow. Not worth it. Took 5 mins to take our drink order and almost 5 mins to take our tab. Other tables were waited on a lot fast than us. For the price & distance I live I don't think I would come back. If you like Persian food definitely give them a try for yourself.

The parking situation is horrible first off. But the food and the service was quite good. I am not a huge fan of the Kubideh personally but their saffron chicken was amazing as was their bread. I would've tried the ice cream but we were really full from the huge portions we were given.

Best Koobideh, Ghormeh Sabzi & Gheymeh Bademjan, of all the local Persian restaurants in the entire Washington D.C. Metro Area!!! And yes! I've tried Shamshiry, Alborz Restaurant & Moby Dick House of Kabob, just to name a few of our most loved local spots. And I still eat at them and many others in the DMV regularly. As I am Persian and must meet my family and friends when we go out to eat, and 9 times out of ten we meet at a Persian restaurant. Because we live and love Persian food! And NO OTHER PLACE COMPARES to Amoo's Restaurant. MAKE RESERVATIONS! Because it is a small but very clean & comfortable dining room, and they get very busy with the local community. Call ahead if you don't have reservations, to see if you can be seated. Especially in March or the month of Ramadan. This is the full experience. Try it, you won't be disappointed!

Place looks dated and so was most of our food , hummus did not have a smooth consistency but did appear fresh and the bread was served warm but that's where it ended. Jerk Chicken bland and flavorless, Vegetation Gheymeh old and a warmed over bland inedible mess. Quality just isn't there either. When owner (I assumed) stopped by his pleasant demeanor soon changed to sour when I gave the dish back to him. He did ask if I wanted an exchange and when I declined he did not remove it from the bill, I chalked it up to experience and paid, but you can bet I won't return or recommend this establishment.