Roksana's Persian Food

Last week, my husband and I tried this restaurant for the first time, and unfortunately, it was not a good experience. Both of us had upset stomachs for several hours afterward. 1. Beef Kebab: It had a lot of fat and lacked any distinctive flavor, which was disappointing for a kebab. 2. Chicken Kebab: It was scorched and tasteless. It's not something I would want to eat again. 3. Torsh Kebab: It was genuinely terrible. The kebab was burnt and mushy with excessive fat, and the only flavor I could taste was burnt pomegranate paste. It was the worst torsh kebab I’ve ever had. Unfortunately, except for one piece I tried, I threw away the rest of the food.

Roksana Restaurant is a hidden gem for anyone who loves authentic Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. I highly recommend trying the chicken kebab—it’s juicy, perfectly grilled, and served with fragrant saffron rice that ties everything together. The portion size is generous and the taste is outstanding.

Nice owner, Good quality Persian food and reasonable price. Take out only. Highly recommended if you want order for your party or gathering…

The best Persian food in town!! I highly recommend the food from Roksana, everything made fresh and to perfection. The food tastes exactly as if you are eating it in Iran. The lamb kabob and chicken kabob are amazing with some zeytoon parvarde on the side. The staff are also very nice and helpful. We ordered food, they also gave us a free homemade cookie (Koloocheh) which was lovely 😍

The worst food I have ever eaten was after eating I felt like throwing up and they just boiled the meat and gave it to me. There was nothing else to ask for. The smell was also very upsetting I think the meat was old. I won't be buying anything from here anymore. I threw the food away too.

An authentic kebob odyssey in Watertown. I’ve been on a hunt for good kebob recently and stumbled upon this spot. Since Watertown is known to have some of the most authentic kebob experiences in the Greater Boston area, I had high hopes, and Roksana’s lived up to that. When I first tried their signature Koobideh, I was absolutely blown away. These minced beef kebobs were juicy, flavorful, and impeccably cooked. The addition of egg yolk brushed pita bread, coupled with the simple perfection of rice and tomatoes, made the experience even more satisfying. On my subsequent visits, I also had the lamb and beef soltanis. Beef kabob was slightly better, but both were good. In their refrigerated section, they also have some good yogurt spreads. So far, I’ve tried the eggplant and shallot spread, and although a tad more expensive, the eggplant spread definitely stood out more with its subtle smokiness. If you’re planning a visit, just make sure that you place the order via phone in advance as it might take around 20 minutes for the food to get ready. While the journey to get there might be a bit lengthy, the destination will be worth every mile traveled.

Roksana is a hallmark of Persian/Iranian food in the Massachusetts. I have friends who drive all the way from Amherst to buy Roksana’s food. My current house is literally next to it but previously I used to change two buses or Uber all the way from Brookline to Watertown since the food is amazing. It is a takeout place and would have been amazing if it could have the option of dine-in. I have also had other foods not in pictures such as kalleh pacheh, siraabi, and beef brain sandwich which are super amazing. Some of the must tries are: zereshk polo ba morgh, Olivier salad, kashk bademjoon, beef kotlet, adas polo ba keshmesh and morgh, and kabab koobideh. They also have very good shallot yogurt and halva. The prices are really reasonable for the portions. Definitely should try if you ever happen to be in Massachusetts. I work fulltime so I don’t get that much time to cook and this is my #1 takeout option. I usually buy for 2-3 days ahead. If I want to cook any of these foods it would end up much more expensive and would rot quickly. They also have very great Taftoon bread as in my review photos. Very delicious combination with kotlet or Olivier Salad. Recently I tried their “zeitoon parvardeh” and liked that too. The owners are very nice and friendly and I have seen many time how patiently they explain about different Persian foods to foreigners. And yes, they have many non-Iranian customers since their food is very high quality.

This place got 5 because besides the food is so good but also matches the price. I tried beef kobedah kabob, it’s made to perfection and juicy. Also tried chicken kabob (both kobedah & chunks) they were delicious too. If you are craving for a Persian kebab then you should visit this place.

Loved the chicken torsh, as usual! Tried the beef torsh this time as well, but the beef was a bit chewy (still tasted great though!)

Omg the chicken the chicken is really good here . Did I say the chicken ?! The staff is super friendly . The service is good . The vibe is welcoming. The rice was good too . This food is really good and I had my share of Persian food.

An unassuming and unpretentious small family store that serves up some of the best koobidehs I've ever tasted in my whole life. Not to mention, it is very reasonably priced (economical considering the current COGS) with generous portions. True to most mom & pop stores that I swear by, they are very friendly, accommodating, and exude a warm attitude that beckons your return. In short, I wasn't expecting to have a little spot outside the main city of Boston to easily outdo most of the Persian spots I frequented in the past - especially back in California. So after this long transition to Boston, I find it apt to begin my Yelp journey here by giving them a much deserved shout out and wish them continued good business and health.

Definitely the best Persian food in the Boston area! The food is always so good, especially the chicken. All of their dips are also really good and complement the mains well.

Awesome people and great food. The kubideh is my go to. Can't go wrong with this place. It is only take out now post Covid but the food is still great

Great Persian takeout place in Watertown. Very generous portions. The beef koobideh melts in your mouth and the chicken kabab is nice and juicy unlike most places. The lamb shank with dill rice was our favorite.

It's hard for me to give an unbiased review of Roksana's. At this point I've been coming here weekly (sometimes 2-3 times a week) for more than 4 years, including ordering takeout religiously when they were able to serve again during the pandemic. Roksana's has 3 things going for it: 1) consistency - this place is always super dependable - what I order is almost always exactly what I expected 2) no fuss - call ahead, pick up (take out only) - in and out in 5 minutes 3) the people - I love the super friendly owners, their family and everyone I've ever met behind the counter here. They know me by voice on the phone and are always warm to talk about what's new on the menu, how's life been, etc. Oh, and it's pretty much the best Iranian I've had in my life. Our go to order always includes the Salmon - sometimes oddly with zereshk polo (rice with barberries - it gives it a nice sweet and tart punch of acid to cut the fatty salmon, I find it delicious). We alternate across everything else, but you can't go wrong with: - The koobidehs - beef and chicken are both exceptional - Anything with Filet Mignon - this is usually not my favorite cut but it's so flavorful and melts in your mouth here - the lamb shank - the chicken kabobs, specifically if they offer the leg/thigh combination They also alternate some daily specials - the stews are always delicious. There's a small counter in the front with some dips and salads - pretty minimal but I always pick up a Shirazi salad, an onion-shallot dip, and a rice pudding. This place is take out only. To summarize, there's a handful of places over the years where I've truly been a "regular" - usually we over do it to death and eventually the place fizzles out of our rotation for a few months, or maybe we never return. I can say that I'll never get tired of Roksana's - we've even eaten here 3 times in a week. My order always includes leftovers for the next day and I always smile just as big every time I open a container and take a whiff of the amazing rice aroma, that buttery saffron and heavenly salmon filet. This is a neighborhood gem not to be missed.

Great store Great prices. Unbelievable food selection. They took over Super Heros and made it better. Service is Bloody Brilliant !

The food and service were excellent. We called ahead to request a carryout, and the staff was incredibly responsive and accommodating. We decided to try the Persian breakfast, Halim, and it was delicious! The entire experience was delightful.

I had a truly wonderful experience catering experience from Roksana's for a company lunch celebrating Persian New Year. I called directly to consult what I should order for a party of 50 for Noruz. The owner suggested an array of beef koobideh, chicken kebab, grilled vegetables, saffron rice, mast-o-khiar (yogurt sauce with cucumbers, mint, salt, and pepper), and shiraz salad (chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion salad). The prices were so reasonably priced and the portions generous. The food quality is high and all of my co-workers gave raving reviews of how delicious and well-seasoned each dish was. Even the pickiest co-workers enjoyed the meal! I also bought a package of baklava and chickpea cookies which topped off our company lunch. Aside from the excellent food, the service from Roksana's exuded warmth, kindness, and true hospitality. The staff was so welcoming and extra accommodating. I would have returned just because of the service. I hope Roksana's continues to succeed and hope everyone gets the chance to dine there.

Delicious food always! The service is exceptional, they are always super friendly. It is mostly a to go place. We love all their dips like kashk o bademjan, mast o khiar, khair o bademjan and shirazi salad. For mains, their grilled veggies are delicious and so are their meat dishes like beef koobideh, lamb soltani, beef soltani.

Best takeout food in Massachusetts. Amazing cooked kebabs and meat and really good service. It's take out only with really great service. Probably the best halal restaurant in Massachusetts

Great food. i would come back for more.. they seasoned the perfect meat.. you have to give them a try

The service was poor and the fish was dry and not really seasoned and overall poor quality and I don't really recommend it

Roksana's has some of the best persian food in the Boston area. We called to order some take out and didn't know that they closed earlier due to the new covid schedule. They took our order anyway, even though we couldn't get there until 30 minutes after they closed. We ordered 6 dinners and all were outstanding. The portion sizes were big enough for everyone to have 2 meals. The meat was so tender and juicy. Their most-o-musir is the BEST, and their kashke bademjan is incredible as well. I highly recommend Roksana's.

Best persian restaurant in Boston they have the best koodieh it literally melts in your mouth and the service was amazing. Love the vibe of the place they have a supermarket in it! I really wish they had seating area to enjoy the food warm even though everything we ordered was so delicious will definitely try more dishes.

1don't like to write bad review for this family run eatery but the quality of food declined significantly in the last year. Their beef koobideh kabab has too much baking soda. They keep changing their hours. They are closed 4 days of week and no option for delivery. All these negative factors for customers. Unfortunately non of these Persian restaurants in Watertown come close in taste and customer service and price to the ones in Los Angles, Dc Virginia, Toronto. Boston lacks quality Persian restaurant for long time.

Great food. Great people. If you are looking for q good Persian meal- this is it. No hassle.

I spent the Thanksgiving holiday visiting my brother in Newton. On Friday night, we had a hankering for some top-notch Persian food. Roksana's delivered exactly what we were looking for. The food was absolutely perfect. 10/10. I got the lamb shank, my brother the chicken solatni, and my wife the chicken kabab plate. We shared pita bread with Mast-o-Mosir and Mast-o-Khair. All was stewed, grilled, and spiced to perfection. No notes. Keep it coming! Food aside, I also want to call out the young man who was working the front desk that night. Aside from being genial and gregarious, I watched as he saw a young pregnant mother and her child struggling to carry their order, ran out the front door into the rain to chase them down and help them to their car. He was kindly (though unnecessarily) apologetic for his need to leave, but watching him go out of his way into the rain with no coat to ensure that these people need not struggle was heartwarming and delightful, especially around the holidays. Kudos again, young man. Fantastic work!

Got the kobideh platter and honestly the best Persian food I've ever tasted. The meat is soooo juicy and good. The rice with berries is also my absolute favorite. If you love persian food or kebab this place is a MUST. So yummy.

My wife is Persian and I have had her mothers home made dishes and this reminds me of those. I'm new to Boston but have been here a few times already. The people are extremely nice. Would recommend to any of my Persian friend and family!

Man, does this place have potential. It's crafted with care and love from quality ingredients. The food is nicely flavored and fresh. But their inflexible nature regarding inability to give the people what we want keeps them from being amazing (yet). They're more set up for catering than a restaurant. They sell a tzatzikia-like yogurt sauce but oddly my kebab plate didn't come with the stuff. They wouldn't sell me a small of it. Same goes for the salad, a bit of that with the kebab plate would round out the dish nicely. But they only have it available in large containers.

Have had the family kebab plate! Delicious Cooked to perfection with a generous portion of rice. Highly recommend!

Loved the food and the service! The owner was friendly and the our kabobs (beef and chicken) were very delicious.

The family platter is one of our go-tos here. $48 and can feed up to 4 people. The sides are amazing too, especially the shallot yogurt (mast o mosir?). Can't wait to try their fesenjan.

Food was well priced and tasty, and the owner was helpful in choosing for a small party we were hosting. We loved the beef and lamb especially.

Sort of hidden off the main street, but well worth finding. Delicious food - loved the chicken with orange peel and almond rice.

Roksana's food is just as good or even better than what I've had in Iran and Tehrangeles! Our regular takeout is usually kebab koobideh, lamb shank or neck & Zereshk polo. But everything we've had here has been delicious. Alaa, Roksana and their boys are very kind and friendly.

Decided to write my review after my second visit. Overall the food is great, and portions are large. Some minor quips but will definitely return. Food: Food is so so good! I've had the beef kebab, lamb koobideh (this was just okay) and beef koobideh. Will need to retry another lamb dish as those are usually my favorites, but can't go wrong with the beef here. Portions for meat are large. Very filling. Costs start to add up, however, when you want to purchase their pre-packaged sides because you wish you could put them on a plate. I wish they offered them as side toppings for a meal order, even if at a .50, .75 or 1 dollar premium. Ambience: Place is mainly a takeout place (even prior to the pandemic). I like that they sell groceries here for Persian food (although this has been tapered back due to the pandemic). Will definitely return soon; once I finish my sides in the fridge :D.

Roksana's is a family-owned take-out place with a small selection of Persian grocery items. Highly recommend the beef kabob on a rice plate- it was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. There was also a delicious yogurt dip with herbs that went with pita bread, but I forgot what it was called. The owner/ chef was also helpful, as they answered my questions about food allergies. There is a comfortable waiting area as people wait for their take-out order, but I think Roksana's could add a table or two if they wanted to accommodate dine-in customers. I think that would elevate their business to the next level.

This is the real deal. This place is so good. I'm persian and I have been eating koobideh my whole life, and they've got the best koobideh the Boston area. Highly recommended!

According to my Persian friend this is the best Persian food in Boston. I like their kabob but honestly, nothing really like stand out. However, they have this rice thing with string bean and ground beef with a crispy pita on top and that really i think the star. I never had it anywhere else and its delicious. Its like 8 dollar that you can feed 2 people. However, they don't have it all the time and its also not on the menu. Also the oliver appetizer is very good, its olive stuffed with nut spread and pomegranate. Sometimes it can be too sour but when they are not they are perfect appetizer. It is also not something have had before. They also sell this pickle in a jar that's very good. Less salty and sour than american pickle and more crunchy. I also had one of their special stew. I think its beef with lemon and kidney bean. It is very underwhelming. I think i make better stew at home myself. It is also only for to go and they do not do deliver which is sad.

We decided to try this place when searching Yelp for a nearby lunch spot, and the food was great! I ordered the grilled salmon, which was cooked perfectly. My husband had the lamb wrap, which he also enjoyed, and there was definitely more lamb in it than he was expecting. We also bought a container of kashke bademjan (an eggplant dip), which is so delicious. Overall, it is not a cheap lunch, but the portions are large and the quality is good...I would definitely recommend the place. Do note that it is carry out only - they do not have any tables for eating in.

Tasty and nice variety. I got the family platter to share with family & friends. There was something for everyone. Well seasoned and perfect rice. Grilled tomatoes were a welcome plus too. Persian halwa looked different and definitely tasted different than the "traditional"/familiar halawa (sweet, dry sesame paste). The Persian halwa was not sweet and found almost no place among our desire to finish it. Maybe we had an off bit, but nevertheless, the meal was satisfying, just not quite a 5/5 remarkable.

I am so confused about the reviews on this place based off of my first visit. I suspect the reviews are not legitimate. First this is a take out only place which is odd because there is plenty of room for 3-5 tables. Why not put a few tables ?!? I ordered the lamb soltani $20 and felt it was almost a complete waste of money. It was a huge portion of rice which was great, a kebab of lamb and some beef. The lamb was tender but had no taste, I think they just put the meat on the stick and cooked it. The beef was inedible, so tough and even less taste which you couldn't imagine to be possible. So paying $20 for rice is a rip-off. Oh and a good cooked tomato. The only reason I'm not giving it a 2 star is because maybe this is how Iranian food is supposed to taste??? But I highly doubt it because my palate is pretty complex.

First: This is a TAKE OUT ONLY place. Some reviewers mention it, but it really should be emphasized more. Call in advance as well so you are not waiting a while for them to make it. Second: I live in the south end so this was a bit of a trek for me. This does color my review a bit since I have to ask myself would I go come back all the way here again. FOOD: I got the beef kebab plate (i.e. they add rice) and my S.O. got the beef soltani. Beef was good and the price was reasonable for both of these plates BUT I really think it should come with sauces. They sell them as extras, but it's off to the side and they don't even mention it. Otherwise, you are just eating beef and rice. And the sauces come in large containers...great if you are getting catering from this place but otherwise too big. SERVICE: everyone was very nice and they were helpful since I'm not that familiar with Persian food. Would I come again: maybe if I was in the area? Otherwise don't have plans to return. Nice take out place, but not enough of the WOW factor to have me cross the city for it.

Foods are good and high quality, costumer service is great as well. only advice is to make Kabab less fatty,

I've gotten the family platter on two seperate occasions and have yet to be disappointed... not the largest sample size, I know...but still this place makes delicious food and they give you a very healthy portion of it. No in house seating, strictly takeout.

We were just leaving Boston and Just stopped here reading yelp reviews for some Persian food. This venue is take out only. This is a diamond in the rough! The food tastes incredible. We ordered: Torah kabob, Mahiche( shank), Salad Oliveiah(delish), mask bademjan( eggplant), Mitzi gha semi( smoked eggplant) and tafton bread right out of the oven! EVERYTHING IS AMAZING! Very friendly staff. They also have some Persian desserts and drinks as well. A MUST WHEN COMING TO MASS.

Delicious mouth-watering kabobs, best I've ever had! Beef koobideh with grilled tomato on a bed of basmati rice was amazing. So glad this place is in the neighborhood.

Unbelievably YUMMY!!!! Persian food is one of my favorite cuisines but offerings are few in the Boston area. Roksana's was an incredible find! We had three kababs all tender and delicious! The walnut and pomegranate molasses sauce was divine. The rice and appetizers were spot on. The warm and friendly staff a welcome surprise. And the Persian pastries the perfect delight after a scrumptious meal. I will be back!!! Especially with my Roksana's tote bag that kept the food perfectly warm!

Friendly staff, lots of variety of food, fresh bread, and great stuff. This is a takeout only, which is perfectly fine. The only two problems are: 1- Price. I mean, seriously, what's up with the price? Badly overpriced. 2- Food is too fatty. They need to take it easy on the fat & oil. Other than the two above, it's a great experience.

Undoubtably 5 stars! I had this the first time at my Persian coworkers place.They have the best ground lamb!! I have to say I fell in love with it instantly. I don't like lamb, because it's usually very gamy. When it's not gamy, people put tons of cumin on it. Roksana's lamb koobideh is the perfect example of juicy and week-seasoned lamb! It is the best and most juicy and not at all gamy lamb I've ever had! Better than the lamb chops that I had at those nicer restaurants. Roksana is great for take out. Enjoy at home or go sit in a park. I have been back to this place so many times and brought them to my friends.

I've been waiting for this place to open for a while now, and was excited when, yesterday at lunch, I saw it all open for business. I am very excited that this place exists so near-by to my work, because food choices in my area, within nearby walking distance, are really rather limited. Unfortunately, I had just bought some D'Angelo's. Meh. Anyway, today was a different day, so I stopped in. These guys are a mess right now, as they are hitting the ground running, opening and prepping the shop all at once. They're only mostly stocked, haven't really gotten their rhythm yet, and are still figuring things out. But... And this is a big but... The food was really quite good, and the family running the business is quite accommodating. I used to be a vegetarian, not vegan, and now I eat a bit of fish for dietary reasons. So, I was disappointed right off that they didn't have any kebab-ish vegetarian options today (but the menu promises some), but they did have a grilled fish of the day meal. Today's fish: salmon. Well, I thought, that suits me. Salmon's tasty. He pulled out a very nice-sized hunk of seasoned raw fish and skewered and barbecued it right there to order. He chopped up fresh mushrooms, sauteed them, and served them over the grilled salmon with bits of parsley for garnish. He included a side salad with Romaine lettuce and vine-ripened tomatoes, and a pickled vegetable medley all for $7, and, I had them add some of their home-made naan for $1. The salad was very fresh, and the tomatoes were tasty and didn't taste like bleached tomato paste, as most side salad tomatoes in the area tend toward. The pickled vegetable medley was rather uninspired, but quite satisfying. The sauteed fresh mushrooms were perfectly done, and the salmon was expertly grilled and delightfully flaky. The presentation was really quite pretty, too. So much so, I took a picture. I also got a sample of a lemon mint drink, which I should have ordered in retrospect. it was really refreshing and delicious. From the refrigerated shelves, I got some stuffed eggplant spread, which was awesome with some of the leftover naan. Now, the background: These guys admitted to me that this was their first restaurant. Basically, the dad made food for the family, and then that turned into extended family, and then the neighborhood, and everyone kept urging him to open a restaurant, so he did. Hours? Well, I came by at lunch, they said they get busy around rush hour in the afternoon, and they are hoping to get more people to stop by for coffee in the mornings. So, all-in-all, here's my wrap-up: I gave this place 5 stars because if this is what they can put together on Day 4 of their total restaurant experience, I can't wait to see how they evolve. The food was absolutely great overall, and I can only imagine that it will keep getting better as they work into a rhythm. And, they are genuinely nice people with great customer service skills to boot. Is it the best Middle Eastern kebab-oriented food ever? Well, I've only had a small sampling of their food so far, but, if it's any indication, they're pretty close. I wish them well!

"I would come here every day if I lived around the corner," said my companion. That pretty much sums it up. Amazing kabab, perfectly prepared with buttered rice and grilled tomatoes.

I guess it's a good thing that their hours are so limited because if they were open every day, I would probably eat their torsh soltani every day, for every meal, until I was bankrupt, my body deteriorating from eating literally nothing but beef, and I would linger outside, clawing at the windows demanding more, a sad Gollum-like shadow of the man I once was, all because Roksana's food is as good as it is

I tried their sour kebab and lamb koobideh yesterday, and it was awesome!! This is one of the best Persian restaurant in Boston area (I have tried all of them). Customer service is excellent! Very clean restaurant to take out. I will try some different food from their menu soon.

Quick tip - this place is take out only. The staff is so warm and helpful when trying to decide what to order. If you have a large party, they can accommodate... pretty quickly too! Their rice, meat, and veggies taste very fresh and authentic.

Best Persian food in all of Massachusetts. Beautiful food, kindest people. Everything is excellent here. Tastes like homemade. As a Persian living in Boston, only this place reminds me of my mother's cooking and her quality.