KUKU Cafe
Persian restaurant · Inglewood ·
Persian specialties like lamb shank, tahchin, and falafel
Persian specialties like lamb shank, tahchin, and falafel
"Hailing from the central Iranian city of Isfahan, Kuku Cafe operates as a small delivery and takeout restaurant in Inglewood from a Persian family. Founder Reza, who came to the U.S. working as a software coder, longed for the dishes his grandmother, whom he called Maman Joon, cooked in his youth. Recreating recipes through what he calls “trial, error, and phone calls,” Reza opened this colorful restaurant serving rarely seen Iranian/Persian dishes like fragrant kūkū, a sort of herb frittata studded with tangy barberries and topped with toasted nuts. Golden, crispy tāhchīn, resembling the more well-known tadhig but filled with braised chicken and barberries, presents like an elegant gift of saffron-tinted rice. Braised lamb shank comes over dill and fava bean rice, fancy enough for royalty but served lovingly as a package of patterned parchment. Kebabs like koobideh and chicken are available too, though those are a little easier to order around town. Stick to the Persian specialties, like herb beef ghormeh sabzi or pomegranate walnut stew fesenjoon, for takeout and delivery-friendly stews to enjoy a feast at home or the office. Order takeout or delivery through DoorDash.— Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest" - Rebecca Roland
"Less than two miles away from SoFi Stadium sits Inglewood’s modern Persian restaurant Kuku Cafe. Look for the bold green sign before entering the charming patio where diners can feast on lentil soup, an eight-hour braised lamb shank with dill-flavored rice and fava beans, crispy saffron rice cakes, or saffron rice shawarma. Try the build-your-own bowl, wrap, or salad option with a choice of traditional Persian proteins topped with feta, beets, or pickled Persian cucumbers, and topped with lemon tahini and onion crisps." - Mona Holmes
"A casual, counter-only Persian café offering wraps and rice plates: beef shawarma in a wrap or over rice, crispy saffron rice topped with chicken and barberries, and kuku (a Persian herb-and-nut frittata with walnuts and barberries), aimed at a more casual service model than typical area Persian restaurants." - Cathy Chaplin
"If fast-casual Persian food becomes a new trend in LA, we can thank Kuku Cafe for helping get it started. The menu at order-at-the-window cafe in Inglewood has various rice and salad bowls on it, but what fun is that? Go for the specialties instead. That includes tanchin, a crispy saffron rice cake filled with chicken, braised lamb shank, and ghormeh sabzi, a sour beef stew made with dried black limes. This place is a lunch hour no-brainer, but keep it in mind for the next time you’re coming in for a concert or football game—parking is easy, there’s a serene astroturf patio, and the adorable, beret-wearing owner will come out from the kitchen and chat you up until showtime." - brant cox, nikko duren
"Less than two miles away from SoFi Stadium sits Inglewood’s modern Persian restaurant Kuku Cafe. Look for the bold green sign before entering the charming patio where diners can feast on lentil soup, an eight-hour braised lamb shank with dill-flavored rice and fava beans, crispy saffron rice cakes, or saffron rice shawarmas. Try the build-your-own bowl, wrap, or salad option with a choice of traditional Persian proteins topped with feta, beets, or pickled Persian cucumbers, and topped with lemon tahini and onion crisps." - Eater Staff
