Kookoo Restaurant and Lounge

​An Absolute Gem: Kookoo Restaurant Sets the Standard for Persian Cuisine in DC! ​If you're searching for the best Persian food in the DC area, look no further than Kookoo—it is truly magnificent. Every single item we ordered was an absolute delight, showcasing authentic flavors and incredible culinary execution. ​From the moment you step in, the experience is wonderful. The beautiful decor creates a warm, inviting atmosphere, and the service is so friendly and attentive, making you feel right at home. ​Now for the food! The appetizers are a must-try. The pomegranate sauce chicken wings were a sensational start—a perfect balance of sweet and tangy that left us wanting more. We also thoroughly enjoyed the classic tahdig (crispy rice) and kashk-e bademjan (smoked eggplant dip), which were both prepared to perfection. ​For the main courses, the excellence continued. The Koobideh (ground meat kebab) and Ghormeh Sabzi (herb stew) were both magnificent. The meat was tender, the spices were layered beautifully, and the flavors were rich and deep. ​Kookoo is a highly recommended dining experience. Whether you're a long-time fan of Persian cuisine or looking to try it for the first time, this restaurant delivers on every front: incredible food, lovely ambiance, and outstanding service. We can't wait to go back! ​Highly recommended!

had an insatiable craving for ghormeh sabzi, an herby beef stew. Google brought me here. Service was quick and attentive, the restaurant itself is cozy and non-pretentious. Staff is personable and welcoming. The ghormeh sabzi itself was divine, very citrusy from the dried limes just how I like it. Pro tip: ask for tahdig crispy rice on the side, every bite was an explosion of texture and flavor! Highly recommend and will be back again and again ❤️

This is a DC hidden gem. The food is SO GOOD. We had the lamb and eggplant. It has the family-owned restaurant charm that is becoming more and more rare in this city. Will definitely be coming back. The owner and staff are also so kind!

KooKoo Restaurant & Lounge was an amazing experience from start to finish. The craft cocktails were exceptional—we couldn’t get enough of the Azizam and Sekanjabin Dream. If you’re looking for something spicy yet refreshing, the KooKooRita is a must-try. What truly elevated the night was Yahya’s top-notch customer service—he completely spoiled us and made the experience even more memorable. Great drinks, great vibes, and outstanding hospitality. We’ll definitely be back!

This is a cozy well designed restaurant with a great atmosphere for both a friends gathering or families. The artwork is thoughtfully selected and goes with the theme of the restaurant. The food was great both in taste and quality as well as design. The drinks are a MUST try!! The owner was super friendly and helpful to us, he took the time to tell us about the history and background of founding this restaurant. I definitely recommend this and will go there any chance I find. FYI the price I selected here, includes alcoholic drinks and desert!

Atmosphere was great. Wings with pomegranate was delicious. However, Kobideh dis not have a good quality. It was hard to chew. Rice was not fresh. Finally service could be better.

Step inside KooKoo restaurant and prepare to be absolutely amazed! I only had one night in DC and decided to go here and I left simply blown away! This is easily one of, if not, the BEST Persian restaurant in the entire country! And I say this as someone who has been to all of the major ones in DC (DMV), and across the country, and can say that this is by far the most authentic one that I’ve been too. This is because the chef and owners are present, and make every single dish with 100% focus and love. Every item was extremely flavorful, starting from the appetizers (mirzaghasemi, sambousa, kookoo) and then the stars were the entrees. The lamb shank and fesenjoon are honestly exceptional! The lamb is fall of the bone, very aromatic, and has a few subtle but flavorful additions like cinnamon which take it to the next level. And let me tell you, the fesenjoon is the best that I’ve ever had. It hit the perfect balance between tart and sweet which is extremely difficult to achieve. I got a chance to speak to the owner throughout the meal and quickly learned that all of this is a result of careful thought, passion, and pure heart. The food is made exactly the way a traditional Persian household would (mamanpaz). The restaurant is also spotless inside, has traditional Persian music playing in a calm, but fun ambience. Every dish had a unique addition that made it memorable (the chili sauce on the side added a kick, the tamarind pomegranate dip for sambusas really complimented the filling). Nothing was overwhelming, it was balanced between aroma, seasonings, salt,and the chef really lets the high quality ingredients do the heavy lifting. The prices are also beyond fair for the quality and portions (literally half the price that I’ve paid at some of the other Persian restaurants in DC). I have gone to the “best” Persian places in DC, and can tell you that this is far more authentic and justified at its price. There is nothing bad I can say about this place, it was easily the best meal I’ve had in the region and I can’t wait to go back. I came straight from the airport here as it’s conveniently located right by the train station and it was the best decision. Don’t question it, take my word and come and try it yourself. Get the lamb shank, fesenjoon, and a few appetizers to share and thank me later! I would say you should go out of your way to come here, it’s that special.

The food was deeply disappointing, especially given the price. I ordered ghormeh sabzi and joojeh koobideh, dishes I know well. Both lacked depth: the rice was mushy and completely flavorless, and the overall seasoning was bland. I’m genuinely upset that I overpaid for food that did not meet even a basic standard for Persian cuisine. Who ever was the cook suggests a lack of familiarity with these dishes.

The service alone at this restaurant was 10/10. The owner, Yahya, is so sweet, attentive, and passionate about his food. He kept coming over to check on how we were doing, gave recommendations, explained Persian ingredients to us, and even gave us a few free dishes bc he saw that we were enjoying the food. It's a beautiful space and I really enjoyed interacting with the staff. I don't eat Persian food often so all of these dishes were a unique experience for me. My favorite dishes: - khoresh fesenjoon (pomegranate and walnut stew) - sweet, tangy, and savory all at the same time - gigot of lamb - the lamb is sooo tender and easily slipped off the bone - kashk bademjan - like baba ghanoush with a lot more flavor - mysterious spicy green dip we were gifted - malawi - very floraly, creamy, and not too sweet

Visited Kookoo on our trip to DC! The restaurant is pretty close to the metro station. The service is outstanding. Owner/workers are friendly and cater to their customers. They have good amount of seating and a bar area. Unfortunately the food itself was bit too sweet and we are spoiled by lot persian foods locally where kookoo's didnt match with some of the items. Overall a decent place.

I walk by Kookoo several times per week and have wanted to try since it opened. I can't believe I waited so long! The food and service were incredible, and I'm so glad Kookoo was my first experience with Persian cuisine. We didn't make a reservation because we haven't seen it too crowded just yet. We were greeted and seated upon entry and served water with bread and olive oil almost immediately. I panicked and scoured yelp for suggestions, but the server wasted no time in explaining the tastes while suggesting her favorites, some of which were the same as those on some past yelp reviews. We started with the Mirza Ghasemi and Borani Esfenaj - both exciting dishes with unique flavors. I love eggplant and anything smokey, so the Mirza Ghasemi was my favorite. It's a savory dip served warm, which was a nice surprise on a very cold evening. The Borani Esfenaj, served chilled, was also incredibly delicious with the "chips" served alongside the bread. My fiancé order the Khoresh Fesenjoon and I ordered the filet of salmon becuase I was craving fish (despite my normal inclination to select beef or lamb). The consistency of the Khoresh Fesenjoon reminded us of mole. While we're not fans of mole, we fell in love with this dish. The chicken in the Khoresh Fesenjoon was cooked perfectly and the stew was delicious with the meat and bread. The citrus saffron stood out alongside the perfectly cooked salmon. I wish I had the skills to cook salmon like they do at Kookoo. I wish I had taken photos because the presentation was great! I can't wait to return to try some of the beef and lamb dishes!

We ordered the lamb entree which came with a special type of rice. This was my first time trying Iranian food, and I was pleasantly surprised! First of all, the ambience of this restaurant is so so nice. We were just walking past the restaurant and decided to stop in because it looked really nice from the outside. It's beautifully decorated and there's Iranian music playing. The lamb is so well cooked and the meat is tender and easy to chew. I appreciated the free appetizer before the meal and unlimited bread. I thought the food was all delicious, and it also came quickly. All in all, definitely stop by this place and try their food! I'd highly recommend from the one dish I tried - if you like lamb and deliciously tender meat, get their lamb dish!!

KooKoo's is a needed addition to Columbia Height's 14th street corridor. Classy interior, comfort food that is not conventional, and a good mix of wine and cocktails. Persian food reminds me a little of Indian but more nutty/flowery. As someone who doesn't eat much meat, I appreciated the mezze options: Mirza Ghasemi - like an eggplant puree thickened with egg and garlic Botani Esfenaj - a savory yogurt dish with spinach and garlic (helpful pairing with the joojeh chicken dish that came with a spicy pepper) KooKoo Sabzi - like a herby egg quiche with subtle walnut and berry flavoring instead of cheese But my favorite dish is probably the Kashk Bademjan - it's a creamy eggplant dip with sweetness and garlicky tinge - this is a must order (though the pomegranate wings are all up there). Not to downplay the main dishes - the pulled chicken with a spiced/sweet flavor (like a stew) - Koresh Fesenjoon, the lamb my parents got ('heavenly'), and a sweet dessert roulade with flowery rose petal garnish. Personally, I like the cranberry polo rice over the baghali one. Everything I had seemed a good value for the portion. I look forward to coming back!

This hidden gem definitely exceeded my expectations. This is my first time trying Persian cuisine and I'm absolutely delighted. The artichoke dip was exceptional and palatable. Now let's get to the grand finale the "Gigot Lamb". The lamb was so tender and succulent. The savory sauce and vegetables that smothered this lamb like a blanket. OMG! I was completely satisfied with every dish we ordered and will definitely be returning to try some other items. Definitely a place to add to the bucket list in the district! Food was so good I forgot to mention that service was great and the ambiance was very inviting.

We had such a nice experience dining here while visiting the DC area! The owner is so warm and welcoming- we felt as if we were guests in his home. We ordered the ground beef kebab, chicken kebab, eggplant dip, yogurt mint drink and ice cream. It was all delicious! He gave a complimentary bread and veggie cheese small platter which was also so good! I highly recommend coming here and enjoying the wonderful food and hospitality! Support your local restaurant owners :).

Really enjoyed my experience at KooKoo! The service and the food were both on point. The ambience is fine, but I really hope to see them put more effort into the restaurant itself. We started with the Borani Esfenaj (spinach yogurt dip) which was light and delicious. The Mirza Ghasemi (Smokey eggplant dip) was surprisingly tasty (as someone who doesn't like Smokey things or eggplant haha). Our server recommended the khoresh ghormeh sabzi, a traditional herbed stew, which was super tasty and comforting. My friend tried the gigot of lamb and the lamb was falling off the bone. Completely delish! Finally the joojeh (marinated chicken skewers) were also delicious. Definitely will be back!

Ordered via Uber eats. Food was tasty overall. However the prices are too high. I paid $60 for my meal. I thought the portion would be larger for the price but it was an average size for 1 person. I would have tried again but I can pay less for the same meal some where else.

We've been walking past this place until it has opened waiting for delicious persian food in Columbia Heights and this place did not disappoint! The owner was so nice and welcoming, and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. We ordered the Pomegranate glazed wings to start, and then the chicken and beef stew for our main entrees to share. Oh, and the saffron rice was cooked perfectly. Everything was amazing and we will be back as our new local spot !!!

I'm not sure what to say about all those 5-star reviews. This is a new restaurant in the center of Columbia Heights. I made a dinner reservation for 4 people on a Sunday. When we arrived, we were quite literally the only ones there. For the entirety of our meal, there were more staff onsite than patrons. I worry that this restaurant won't be long-lived. In terms of service, it was... fine. I wouldn't say they were very attentive, despite us being the only ones in the venue for most of our meal. My mother ordered a cocktail and the bartender forgot one of the main ingredients. The building fire alarm went off 3-4 times, but no one moved and we were told that nothing was wrong. Between the four of us, we got two orders of the chicken fesenjoon, one order of the signature beef dish, and the lamb. The chicken was okay, although we have had better elsewhere. My husband said that the beef lacked flavor and needed salt. My father enjoyed the lamb. I think the only dish that I really enjoyed was the spinach yogurt appetizer, which I ate with my side of rice. I do want to say that the owner (or manager?) was very friendly and tried very hard to be welcoming and make us feel comfortable. I REALLY want this restaurant to survive, but I think it has some work to do.

Fantastic food and drinks, amazing staff and great hospitality. Nice ambiance. The lamb dish is delicious and well made

KooKoo is a new Persian restaurant in Columbia Heights that serves food cooked from family recipes. Everyone gets an appetizer plate with some bread, feta, arugula, radishes, walnuts, and scallions. For a main course I had the khoresh fesenjoon, which is a stew of chicken in a sauce made with pomegranate molasses and walnuts. It has a sweet and sour flavor. There are also some cocktails you can enjoy (I had one that was dedicated to the women's freedom movement, made of vodka, lavender, lemon juice, and sparkling wine, as I can remember). The dessert on offer is homemade ice cream flavored with saffron and rose water. The restaurant has an up-to-date, sleek ambiance and is very inviting. Business was slow on a Saturday lunchtime (the restaurant has been open only two months), so I enjoyed a leisurely meal where I could read a book in peace, but it should be busier. I think the proprietor was handling the service, so he could explain the menu well. Persian food may not be so familiar to many Americans, but it is an ancient cuisine. Give it a try here!

The food is fantastic! Came for brunch and absolutely loved everything, but will absolutely come back for more of the Kashik Bademjan, the Mirza Ghasemi, and the Gigot of Lamb. The service was fantastic. Honestly, just chatting with the owner was worth the trip.

From the moment we stepped into Kookoo Restaurant, it was clear we were in for a treat. The atmosphere, while quiet at first was coupled with the warm welcome from the staff, set the stage for a memorable dining experience. Our table was adorned with a variety of dishes, each presenting a feast for the senses. The standout dish, the signature Chenjeh, was a delightful journey through the chef's best offerings, perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection. We also got the Salad Olivier and Zeytoon Parvadeh, which was excellent. The service was impeccable - attentive yet unintrusive, making us feel truly valued. The decor, with its unique blend of modern and traditional elements, added an extra layer of enjoyment to our visit. It's rare to find a place that hits all the right notes like Kookoo Restaurant does. Whether you're a local or just passing through, do yourself a favor and indulge in this culinary haven. You won't regret it! Support this local business!!

Kookoo is easily my new favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. Such a wonderful addition to Columbia Heights, and all aspects of my time here were wonderful. The food, ambience, and service were top notch. The salad olivieh was delicious, and the fessenjoon was absolutely divine. We closed out the meal with the saffron and rose ice cream. All in all, a perfect and satisfying meal. Will be coming back!

Excellent food! Good services! I will come back! Nice atmosphere! It's hard to run a good restaurant so i give this two thumbs up!

We went with some friends and had a fantastic experience. The food was delicious and the service was above and beyond. It was a special occasion, so we went all out and had appetizers, entrees, dessert, drinks, and tea. No complaints about anything. I'd highly recommend it!

Great food and service. I ordered the eggplant appetizer and salmon main dish, which were both delicious. Would definitely come back again.

I just finished a lunch of the gigot of lamb, and it was delicious. The service was quick and friendly, and the owner is particularly attentive and affable. I highly recommend, and I'm glad to have a Persian restaurant in the neighborhood, so I don't have to go downtown.

I was so excited to try this new place in the neighborhood! They've really made the former Coffy Café look so nice. There was unfortunately no one in the restaurant when I went, but that means the service was excellent! I loved the lentil soup, with yummy veggies and served in a little cocotte. It came out at the same time as my Khoresh Fesenjoon, which meant I ate the soup very quickly so that the KF wouldn't get cold. The Fesenjoon was just OK -- there wasn't a ton of chicken and I found it to be a little too sweet and not balanced enough. Of course, I may have poured too much of it on the rice, and I can't judge it on authenticity, just taste! I am looking forward to going back, trying a drink, a new dish, and dessert!

If you enjoy flavorful food with delicious spices, this is your place. The ambience inside is very nice, too. We sat at the spacious bar and ordered the espresso cocktail and a couple glasses of wine. They placed numbers by the dishes so it made for easier ordering instead of attempting to pronounce (or rather mispronounce, lol) the dishes. You can either do small plates or entrees or both. We had the sabzi frittata (#1), Gidot of Lamb, and Joobeh. It was all amazing! Will definitely come back soon and try more! Columbia Heights culinary options are really one of the best in the city!

Very nice host, great tea and appetizers, portions are decent but taste is real and not overly salty to cover taste. Modern vibe and mood.

Delicious, very fresh food and great service. Highly recommend! It's a gem in Columbia Heights!

Very exciting that Columbia Heights now has a Persian restaurant. Their drink and food menu looks very good with some great looking Persian cocktails. I got their kashke bademjoon to go after I heard they opened and it was delicious. The owner was super nice and gave me kookoo sabzi for free, which was excellent as well. They also have a lounge area with TVs and speakers that makes this place an ideal hangout spot. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes from their menu.

This is a wonderful and authentic Iranian restaurant! All of the dishes we tried were excellent and the owner was so kind. I had the Fesenjan with the vegetarian substitution (mushrooms), and it tasted just like homemade versions I've had. Definitely check this place out!

Loved it, the food was great (lamb, smokey eggplant dip stood out). Owner was incredibly nice, also gave us a preview of a dish coming to the menu that had a yellow lentil stew that was incredible. Go here!

Love the KooKoo restaurant, it has been our third visit already. Highly recommend it.

We had a lovely meal at last night at KooKoo. We ordered the Khoresh Fesenjoon, the Khoresh Baghali and the Salad Shirazi. So very delicious. Can't recommend it enough. Great atmosphere and the owner is a delight.

Kookoo is a wonderful addition to the Columbia Heights dining scene. We enjoyed our 3rd meal since they opened and we are pleased that KooKoo is hitting its stride! Our table of 7 included 2 from Iran, one a long time DC resident and the other a recent addiiton to the Howard Univeristy Staff and DC. Both were thrilled to enjoy a delicious, authentic meal. "As a lifelong connoisseur of Iranian food, I can't remember a restaurant that did it better. We are lucky to have that restaurant nearby." We oohed and ahhed over every dish (you can skip the french fries if you have to but we did eat every one!) Both namesake dishes, kookoo sabzi & kookoo sibzamini were delicious and it was tough to choose the best of the two. We also had khoresh bafhali (beef and fava bean stew) and the fesenjoon which earned high marks from the table. By far the favorite of the evening was the gigot of lamb- fall off the bone, tender lamb, rich flavors and tasty baghali polo (dill rice with fava beans). We were lucky to be the recipients of the "lamb juice," pan drippings that we sopped up with bread for a decadent finish to our meal! Over our 3 visits, we have watched Yahya (owner and charmer-of-the-house) work the floor, welcome guests and offer menu guidance. As he says, this is a dream of his come true and we're lucky to be part of it! All at our table plan to return early and often.

Excellent food and cocktails! We had such a great time out for dinner here that we got it for takeout a month later!

Koo Koo definitely exceeded all expectations with its exquisite array of flavors and impeccable selection of drinks. The food was a culinary masterpiece, with each dish thoughtfully prepared to perfection. My husband and I had Fesenjoon and a dish with green beans (Baghali stew) and both dishes were amazing. The drinks menu was equally impressive, offering a delightful range of options from Sangria to Sekanjebin with Bourbon. The restaurant's commitment to authenticity and quality made for an unforgettable dining experience that transported us to the heart of Iran! Don't forget to try their chicken wings with pomegranate sauce! We loved this place.

Great food and cocktails; a lovely addition to a neighborhood w/ a lot food diversity. I'd try a traditional Persian-style entré like Chenjeh kabob, or one of several tasty Persian stews. And don't sleep on the pomegranate chicken wings either!

Kookoo is a great restaurant in DC. the food is excellent, the ambience is bright and frendly. the view into 14th street is very vibrant (the location is great and you can easily park very close by under the shopping center). The service was good all around. We tried the roast beef and 2 types of kebabs. For appetizers, the fries and the chicken wings. They were all delicious. My Bordeaux wine was great and the bar area was very nice as well. I cannot wait to go back.

Like many in the neighborhood we were huge fans of Coffy Cafe and sad to see it go. But our first dinner at KooKoo almost made us forget all about it. We had a smoked eggplant appetizer which was very good, but the mains were definitely the highlight. I had the lamb, which was cooked to perfection, meat fell off the bone and melted in my mouth. It came with a tomato sauce which gave it a nice flavor. My wife had the vegetarian version of the walnut and pomegranate dish and she was very impressed. Really, I can't emphasize enough how rarely my wife is impressed by food she doesn't make herself. I highly recommend KooKoo. The complementary chips/bread come with feta and herbs which was interesting, not sure if I ate it correctly.

Great Food, friendly staff. Kookoo Sabzi and Fesenjoon was great! We tried khoresht Baghali for the first tome! Highly recommended!

Really great place! Stopped in for lunch and had the Persian chicken salad; I loved it. My fiancée had the lamb which was also amazing. I preferred the saffron rice to his baghali polo (personal preference, nothing wrong with baghali polo.) Our waiter was amazing and answered questions, brought extra bread (multiple times!) and gave us a delicious yogurt sauce to go with it. Would love to return for dinner!

Great addition to the neighborhood - recommended! We had the fesenjan, an eggplant appetizer, stewed beef in herbs, and cocktail specials...all delicious. Lovely atmosphere and kind people.

Incredibly authentic and delicious Persian food! Our food was perfectly prepared with an exquisite blend of spices and flavors and the staff is super nice and aims to please. There are so many wonderful appetizer dishes - each more mouth-watering than the other! We tried the yogurt and cucumber dip (mast o'khiar) which was garnished with small dried rose bulbs, the paneer va sabzi (cheese and herbs), the kashkeh bademjoun (eggplant dip) was divine and the the potato koo koo is a must have dish! Also, the Persian french fries which are made with sumac are super tasty! For entrees, we had the most delicious Ghormeh sabzi (whereby the stew came in the cutest pot), the chicken kabob and rice and the salmon with saffron rice -- the fish was super fresh and delicious. We highly recommend this Persian gem of a restaurant and can't wait to come back!!