Shamshiri Grill

"If you only have time for one meal in Westwood’s Persian Square, head to Shamshiri. Open since 1981, this Tehrangeles landmark is one of the oldest Persian restaurants in the area and a place you can walk into any night of the week to find first dates, family meals, and friend get-togethers all happening at once. Their tahchin—a baked basmati rice cake layered with yogurt, saffron, and barberries— is an essential dish of the neighborhood, and their earthy, spicy curry stew isn’t far behind. You can get the curry as its own entree, but we prefer to order it as part of the tahdig appetizer, which comes with crusty rice and another stew of your choice." - brant cox, arden shore, garrett snyder, sylvio martins

"One of the oldest restaurants in Tehrangeles, Shamshiri Grill has been serving time-honored Persian cuisine for over 40 years. The key to Shamshiri Grill’s longevity is evolving and expanding with diners’ needs in mind. The extensive menu includes 18 kinds of khoresht (six of which are vegan) and a variety of chicken, lamb, fish, and beef kebabs. The tahdig crispy rice topped with a choice of khoresht and the bamieh, a tomato-based stew with saffron, okra, and mushrooms, are notably popular." - Melody Barooni

"Westwood is home to the cultural heart of Southern California's massive Iranian population. If you only have time for one meal here, make it Shamshiri. Open since 1981, this Westwood landmark is one of the oldest restaurants in the neighborhood and a place you can walk into any night of the week to find first dates, family meals, and friend get-togethers all happening at the same time. We’d rank their tahchin, a baked basmati rice cake layered with yogurt, saffron, and barberries, as an essential dish of the neighborhood, and their curry stew isn’t far behind. You can get it as its an entree, but we prefer to order it as part of the tahdig appetizer, which comes with crusty rice and another stew of your choice." - nikko duren, brant cox

"Open since 1981, this Westwood landmark is one of the oldest restaurants in Persian Square, and home to a sprawling, lively dining room that can accommodate any size birthday dinner imaginable. We consider their tahchin—a baked basmati rice cake layered with yogurt, saffron, and barberries—to be an essential dish of the neighborhood, and their earthy, spicy curry stew isn’t far behind. Plus, both are perfect for passing around the table. From there, load up with tahdig appetizers, kabob platters, and steaming plates of sabzi polo. Tell everyone to expect leftovers." - brant cox

"Westwood’s Persian favorite has been operating since 1981 in a casual and friendly dining room. Chef Hamid Shamshiri prepares traditional and modern dishes, including kebabs, lamb curry, and a hearty tahchin layered with chicken and rice." - Mona Holmes