Taste of Persia

Moving reviews here. I can look at the pictures and taste the food in my mind. Published 7/20/19: This is a family run, multi-generational restaurant. Mom is from Afghanistan and Dad is from Iran. Kids were born here. They know their culture's food and are proud to make it for the public. I stopped in on my way to a Yelp Elite event and had a late lunch. I wasn't really interested in a large meal and certainly didn't want a dinner portion. Fortunately, they offered to accommodate me with a half-order of anything that could be made in that portion. I asked for the koobideh. While I was waiting, the owner's son's fiancée turned up with a small plate of hummus that she said she made herself. It was an artistic little snack while I was waiting, offered so I could try their hummus. Delicious! She had blended it smooth and packed it with a delightful sesame flavor from a heavy-handed approach to the tahini. The bread they served with it is more like what you find in Afghan restaurants as opposed to pita but it matched perfectly. The lunch plate they made for me included a single skewer and a single tomato but a plentiful portion of rice. I tasted the fire they cooked the skewer and the tomato over in every bite. The meat was tender, juicy and perfectly cooked. The flavor profile was definitively middle-eastern and the little bit of charring on the outside made it even more enjoyable. The tomato was slightly blistered but far from charred. Fork-tender and delicious, it paired nicely with the buttery rice. Great place! Can't wait to go back and experience more of their food.

I took my parents here for a delicious lunch. Everything tasted great !! The owner of this place is very friendly ! The kabobs are delicious !! Must have the Persian tea with the food. Will be back again !

Had a wonderful lunch here. Never had Persian food. I ordered the Aash stew, lamb biryani, and chai.The stew was wonderful and refreshing. The lamb shank w biryani was fall of the bone. Such magical flavors in the lamb. The chai was such a great addition. Its fresh made not instant. Service was exceptional by the owner and he was so thankful to my compliments. For those whom do not know about Persia, it is a culture in Iran. Do yourself a favor and give the small business a try.

We came to this Persian restaurant hoping to explore the culture and try something new and it completely exceeded our expectations. We walked in not knowing exactly what to expect, but what we found was absolute comfort food at its finest. Every dish was rich with flavor and clearly made with care, from the traditional stews to the perfectly grilled meats and fragrant rice. What made the experience even more special was the service. The owner and staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, taking the time to explain the menu, share the history behind the dishes, and offer amazing recommendations. You could truly feel their pride in the food and the culture. If you’re looking for an authentic and heartwarming Persian dining experience, this place is a hidden gem. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit.

I’ll for sure be coming back! The food was so good, the service was amazing, and the whole vibe just felt really cozy and homely. Our waitress was super sweet and the chef definitely did his thing with the food. Such a nice spot to chill with family over some yummy food and a cup of chai. My partner, mother-in-law, and I had a great time. Highly recommend checking it out!

My partner and I used to live in the South Grand neighborhood and were frequent diners. Now we crave Mohammad and Sofiya’s culinary delights! I cannot recommend enough the food!!! GET THE LAMB SHANK with qabelli rice, THE ZERESHK POLO with chicken & barberry rice, and don’t forget the FELAFEL too!!

The lamb was overcooked to the point that it was inedible, and I don’t say that lightly. The tikka masala sauce I ordered on the side was good, and the rice was acceptable. Amusingly, one could hear the beep of the microwave in the kitchen from the dining area; I’m actually not opposed to the use of a microwave in a kitchen, as most do it, but at least disable the beeping to give the illusion that everything is cooked fresh 😉 I ate all the rice, but left the lamb as-is after eating the first couple pieces.

Excellent food and hospitality. I got the stew and it was amazing. Excellent service and first time having this style of food. Would highly recommend!

Khoresh ghormeh is by far the best I've had at any restaurant. The herbs are aromatic, tender and the dried limes accompany the greens so well. It's tangy and addictive especially with the rice. The rice is long, had a nice bite and each grain had its own shape. The beef ghormeh is also flavorful and its cut to the perfect bite size pieces. It's so hard to not eat it all so fast! I mainly get it to go but sometimes eat inside and everyone's really nice. I think the chef/owner is always there and super friendly and looks like he loves what he makes.

Ordered zeresk pollo and got plain rice, no zeresk, no butter, no napkin no silverware. Very disappointed

I have tried most of the chicken dishes here and they are all fantastic! From the kabob, curry, or butter chicken I love them all! And don't forget the falafel! The service is always top notch and friendly! Don't miss you chance to get a great meal!

I had Zereshk Polo with Chicken. It was amazing. The rice (Zereshk) was perfectly done and the saffron chicken ranks up there with the best I've ever had. If you like Persian food, you can't go wrong here.

This place is delicious! Nobody was in there when I went had the whole place to myself! The vegetarian tikka masala was soo yummy. I also really enjoyed the falafel appetizer as well. Cool decor inside too :)

Was visiting St. Louis and ate here for lunch. Everything was wonderful. We had hummus that was super fresh to start. I had a chicken kabob and my dad had beef tenderloin kabob. The chicken was flavorful and tender. Rice was cooked perfectly. Will definitely come back when I'm in the area and highly recommend!

Do not eat here! the food was bland and unseasoned and tasted and smelled microwaved. Also it's over $40 for two people. For microwaved food is crazy

Great food and service. I had a sampling of appetizers and a skewer of chicken they were all delightful!

Great locally owned restaurant!! The kebabs and rice are spectacular. Added sauce on the side and it was great! Support local!

I don't know too much about Persia, but The Taste of Persia is hands down the best Middle eastern Restaurant in the St. Louis area. The hummus is made with real ingredients and and a genuine taste of culture. It is most certainly the best hummus to have ever graced my tastebuds.The naan has been crafted to what i consider perfection. It speaks volumes on what years, perhaps decades of experience, and put into a piece of dough. I recommend the chicken kabob over the beef kabob. The star of the meal was the ghormeh sabzi. Our server was kind and attentive and the place felt as if I'd been teleported to the middle east myself. Get over here and try it!!

I arrived at about 3:30 pm on a Wednesday. Parking is metered street parking, unless you plan on waking a bit further. The restaurant interior feels dated, but cozy. I was the only patron in the restaurant for about a 25 minute time window. The server greeted and seated me, seemed like a nice gentleman. I ordered the Soltani Kabob and Lamb and substituted my rice for Lamb Biryani. The meat was very salty and the beef itself was lacking much flavor. The biryani used frozen peas and canned chick peas. Did not have a very authentic flavoring. They also forgot the grilled tomato that is supposed to come with the dish. Overall disappointed in the food and would not recommend.

Delicious! Will be coming back and telling my family about it. We enjoyed a late lunch of pakowra (appetizer of shredded veggies which are breaded and fried), butter chicken (chicken in a creamy sauce served and rice--so so good), and ghormeh sabzi (super tender beef in a rich flavorful sauce). The staff were very friendly, service was very attentive, and food was served promptly.

We drove over two hours from Jacksonville to get to this place. Well it was worth the drive. Rice was done perfect, chicken and beef kabobs were fresh Tasty and tender. Server was friendly and professional. Husband and wife own and cook in the restaurant. It is a truly family run restaurant as their kids help run the restaurant. What a great find. Try this place you will not be disappointed. I did not get the servers name. I wish I did as I want to thank her for the prompt service we received.

the flavors were really good. I usually am not an eggplant person, but it was top tier. sadly you get so much rice and not much of the actual entree. and it seems the food was all microwaved. I could hear the sounds of the microwave door, the beeping, just before our food appeared. no shame on it, just wish we got more of it and less rice to enjoy the flavors

I ordered dinner on Postmates. I had to try the Butter Chicken. My food arrived on time. It was hot and flavorful. This was an amazing dish. I highly recommend them. One day I hope to dine in and finish a lamb dinner with some delicious Persian ice cream.

service was subpar, food was good. it was a 2 person operation, thus when lots of customers, service became very slow

Recently had lunch at Taste of Persia and it was tasty! I had the chicken Tikki masala and ordered the hummus as an appetizer and everything was good. Small family run international restaurant located on grand that serves Persian and Iranian food.

This place is great! Very personable service and delicious food. We had the falafel, beef koobideh kabob, and doogh to drink (a new experience for us!). Each of those items were great and everything was flavorful and fresh. It's a quiet, intimate setting, and a great place to stop in. (Thanks for the free sample of bread!)

The food was incredible. So flavorful and delicious. The owner is extremely friendly. 10/10 would recommend.

sensationally good, literally fall off the bone lamb shank & biryani rice. thank you for the meal!

I would have to agree with Ali F. review regarding this place. We experienced the same just recently with the worst attitude waitress ever. She seem arrogant and impolite. Sorta what you would expect from a spoiled teenager not getting her way or money to shop. She could care less about serving people or even slight interest in providing service that would help with the business. We learned from other customers that she is the daughter of the owners. If this is true, well she needs to seek another place to work. The food is ok but definitely not a true Persian cuisine or even close. Beef was plain and tasteless. I had to use lots of salt to tolerate and not waste. I think we have given this place too many chances to prove itself and now time to move on.

Excellent service and food. I had the lamb shank and biryani rice, my wife got the chicken tikka masala, and we shared the hummus appetizer. It was all fantastic. The hummus tasted so fresh and was seasoned lightly with some spices. The lamb shank just fell apart it was so tender, and the spices on the lamb and biryani were delicious. The tikka masala sauce was mild and very creamy and the chicken was super tender. Overall it was great and we will definitely go back.

Excellent Dine-in service! Family owned and very friendly; eager to make their customers happy and have a great experience. Ordered the King Platter with Lamb and it was great. Authentic taste and great complete dish. Will be back soon! The ambiance is very homey feeling and quiet.

GREAT Persian Food and Service! I was in St Louis on business and wanted a taste of home. I haven't had Persian food this good in a restaurant before, this tasted just like my grandmothers ghormeh sabzi.

This place is absolutely amazin! the owner is so sweet and you can tell her really loves what he does. Will continue to come back as often as we can!

Went there this evening, the food was the most amazing. The Hummus was so good, the Tikka was better than anything I've had before. We will definitely be back. My husband has the lamb shank and bariyani rice and he loved it. Service was excellent, food came out quick too!

I was so impressed with everything about this place! It was my first time tasting Persian cuisine and everything that touched my lips was delicious and savory! You can tell that the owner loves what he does and takes pride in the presentation of his dishes. We ordered the king platter and I almost cried it looked so beautiful He also brought us things to try that we didn't order just to give us a true taste of his culture. I will definitely be back!

Not going to lie it is much, much better than I thought it would be. Popped in and received fast & friendly service. Shared a Kings platter for two- would highly recommend this. The lamb kabob reminded me of the steak kabob at Cafe Natasha's I loved so much. Beef kabobs were very good. And honestly the best chicken kabob I've ever had. The only one I would recommend - not dry at all. So juicy and flavorful. The golden rice was so good I ate every bite. I want more rice just to take home. Very much looking forward to going back.

Excellent traditional Persian fare. Very nice owners. Food took a little longer to come out than expected but tasted great!

Taste of Persia is a good place with enjoyable food! We went on a weekday afternoon, so the place was not busy. The food was extremely fresh and hot off the grill! Our order consisted of the Falafel, Hummus, Soltani Kabobs (lamb and beef), and Lamb Biryani! For starters the appetizers were both delicious. The hummus had a smooth texture with a great salty, garlicy flavor, and the Falafel was so good with excellent texture too. They were crunchy, soft, and warm all at the same time! We especially enjoyed the green dipping sauce. Different and perfect addition. The pita bread was also warm, soft and good! The main dishes were simple. Each meat lacked boldness in flavor, but were still good! I loved the thin cut of lamb slices on the kabob, and the beef was very tasty. They provided what appeared to be a chili powder/spice type seasoning to sprinkle on top. Definitely an added touch! The basmati rice had a lot of flavor too, and the Lamb Biryani was super tender. It fell off the bone! Great to mix with the rice. The only complaint - price. It was very high for two people and for lunch. I am not sure if that is a result of the past year with the pandemic, but I would say be ready to spend some money! I, however, would still go back for some different dishes!

The food was great! I really enjoyed my entire meal! The service was good. I parked on the street (no problem finding a spot on a Saturday night). I can't wait to go back.

Overpriced for what it is. Lots of rice but small portion of the dish. Got the ghormeh sabzi beef dish for $17 and it had 5 small pieces of beef. Flavor was developed and great though. Rice was good but plain, not amazing and flavorful.

So glad to finally have eaten here! After a morning hike, a group of us were starving and two people were craving middle eastern/Mediterranean food and all 4 of us wanted to try somewhere we had never been! We ended up choosing Taste of Persia and this did not disappoint. We started off with the sampler for 4 of us, then ordered the king platter main meal along with extra rice, naan bread and chicken tikka masala sauce. We also ordered a dish of butter chicken. Ample food for 4 people and all of us left extremely pleased. Can't wait to return!

The tahdig was weird; it had like a cream or cheese in it but overall the food was good. It was some of the best ghormeh sabzi soup I've had in a while (like my moms). I have no regrets because it was so affordable. Sumac was not the freshest but do you expect for the Midwest? I'm glad I found Persian here in general

This place is by far the most delicious yet humble Persian restaurant that I've ever visited in my life. The photos of cuisine speak for themselves. I highly recommend anyone to try and enjoy this fantastic experience.

Highly recommend Taste of Persia. Everything that we ordered was delicious! The Appetizer Platter included Falafel, hummus. Pakowna, keshke bodemjan, shirazi solad, and chutney. Served with naan. You can only order the platter for 4 or 6. We only had two in our party but it really wasn't an excessive amount for two people; I just saved some of my entree to take home. It was absolutely worth it! We also ordered chicken tikka masala & the lamb shank; both meats were tender and flavorful.

My only complain was the tenderloin kabob was a little dry but everything else here is great. The service was pretty decent and the ambiance is good. The beef kabob has a unique taste I've not had before but love

Oh my holy goodness gracious! Soooooo ... all I know is, I need to go back. We got the chicken koobideh, beef koobideh, chicken kabob, and steak platter... afterwards I barely got into my car and couldn't really breath of all the glorious food I ate.

Food amazing!! Sad there was no Fesanjoon...very high quality flavor and taste. Highly recommend!!!

Food and service were average. Ambiance was nice. I got the combo kabob. Went on a weekday afternoon so I was the only guest. Kashke Bademjan did not taste authentic. Would not recommend to my friends.

Idk what that is but I spent $27 on this combo dish and there was the tip of a glove in my rice like wtf Disgusting asf put new fucking gloves on for every order and y'all not that busy to be in a rush so this is very unacceptable . Also the baklava is wrinkly and old doesn't taste very good

Enjoyed a delicious dinner with friends at Taste of Persia. The appetizer sampler gave us a taste of many specialties including one of the best falafels we've eaten and a perfectly spicy chutney. The lamb shank was tender and the jus served to put over the rice was very flavorful. The chef/owner came out and talked to us about the menu and even offered us a tea service at the end of the meal. Service was excellent- we can't wait to come back.

Always delicious. Never disappointed. Love getting the king platter and the chef salad for dinner. Plenty of delicious food for two. If you haven't tried this place yet, give it a shot, and you won't be disappointed!

This place is a hidden gem!! Walked in to a delightful scent of curry and other spices. Waiter was super friendly and helpful when we were trying to decide what to eat. Food was delicious and hot when it came out. The rice was soft and fluffy with great flavor. I will definitely be back next time I am up there.

Food & service are both amazing. It's a family owned business with authentic Iranian cuisine. I really enjoyed the lamb shank with chutney sauce as well the appetizer combo. the lamb was cook perfectly, it practically melted off the bone. So much flavor in such a simple dish.

My family and I went for my birthday and we were treated so amazing. They gave us great recommendations on what to order and were so kind. The food was so delicious. Some of the best middle eastern I have had. The meat was not dry at all and the food was not covered in oil like I've had from other middle eastern restaurants. We the. Went back a couple days later and the owner had us try a different kind of rice they had for a limited time. Definitely worth the price if you're looking for a high quality middle eastern restaurant!!

I am Persian and tried Persian food a lot before coming to this awful restaurant. Just to heads up here is not a true Persian restaurant. "Kashko bademjan" was not at all a authentic kashko bademjan... it had tomato paste which real kashko bademjan never has! And as its name shows, it should have kashk! Which it didn't have! They poured a little yogurt on top to pretend it is kasha! The aash was not aashhh! It was a soup with remains of everything with a little of again yogurt on top! The bread was frozen inside! The waitress was impolite and not welcoming at all! How you can dare to name your place a Persian restaurant! This was indeed a disgrace to the Persian cuisines and Persian community! A total waste of money!

You know when you're not super hungry but you find some food that makes you want to keep eating? That was the problem me and my fiance ran into tonight. The place was pretty slow when we got there but picked up as we got into our meal. The service was prompt and the man whom I assume was the owner was attentive and respectful. When we looked at the menu there were a few thing that were familiar but we opted for the unknown and were not disappointed. I wish I could tell you what we had but everything on both plates was excellent and filling. I found myself complaining that I wasn't more hungry because I wanted to savor every bite. This has been on our list for a while and will probably become a regular spot for future meals.

My wife and I really, really loved this place. It's delicious, and the staff are incredibly nice. Recommend the skewers! Definitely quieter, but that was part of the appeal for us.