Didar Kitchen: Authentic Persian Flavors & Warm Hospitality in Sherman Oaks

If you are looking for one of the best Persian restaurants in the Sherman Oaks area, I highly recommend Didar Kitchen. They are located on Ventura with the closest cross street being Van Nuys. You can check my pictures for the exact location. Now, let’s start with the food. The food here is so delicious and flavorful. If you have read any of my food reviews you will know that I am big on flavor. It is the first thing I look for and they did not disappoint. I tried the Chicken Koobideh Wrap (this was the best I have had in the Valley), Cornish Hen, Warm Lentil Quinoa Salad and nothing fell short of delicious. The food here is cooked with love. I met the owner and the passion she has for her restaurant is evident in the experience and the flavors. I also love that they added some personalized art to the walls. It was great for conversation. I learned some new things. Some of the menu items like the Kase Kabob Bowl were created to give her customers a unique experience. I took this to go and enjoyed it very much. There is free parking in the plaza and metered parking on the street. This restaurant is great for solo eats or group outings or if you just wish to grab something to go. Oh last but not least. The meat me special is WOW! Definitely give them a visit. They get 5/5 from me!

EXQUISITE DINING EXPERIENCE I stopped at Didar Kitchen while walking down Ventura Blvd. I love finding these unexpected neighborhood gems in a tiny place filled with big, flavorful and unique dishes. A collection of the best of traditional Persian cooking from all over Persia plus special dishes created by their chef, Saghar. LOVE their Roasted Eggplant Dip topped with caramelized onions and fried mint leaves then drizzled with a yogurt cheese sauce!!! I have not had eggplant like this anywhere else and it is my absolute favorite!!! Was instructed you eat it like a burrito rolled into a piece of bread with fresh mint leaves on top. SO DELICIOUS I have been thinking about it for days! The chicken kabobs were juicy and tender, marinated in fresh lemon juice and spices, served with half saffron rice and salad (yes, these are half servings vs a gigantic plate of saffron rice). Today, we had the special of the day, Fessenjoon, a savory-sweet stew made with pomegranates and walnut paste sauce, served with Saffron Rice. Also, the Combo Koobideh (chicken and beef skewers) served with half Saffron Rice and salad with the Roasted Eggplant Dip as our starter. I am glad I had someone to split these dishes with today (so we could try more new things) and we both went home with enough leftovers for at least another meal+! Saffron Tea (hot or cold as iced tea) served with more fresh mint leaves. Warm, friendly atmosphere, with attentive service from Soheil. He was kind and patient to explain the uniqueness of each dish, share history and culture about the food, how best to eat these dishes and advise on which were good, compatible choices to combine when ordering multiple items to share. A little pricey but worth the splurge for a special treat or celebration (which it was)!

The best Abgoosht in town! Rich, comforting, and beautifully traditional. Every bite tastes like home, and the flavors are exactly what Abgoosht is meant to be—warm, hearty, and full of soul. A perfect spot if you want to experience real, authentic taste.

Didar kitchen makes you feel at home as warmth fills you with every bite of divine Persian soul-food. Ash reshtig; tadigh; gormeh sabzi—and this sefid is the happiest man on earth! Everything is incredible. Merci!

One of the best services I’ve seen in a restaurant. I suggest you try the lemon/cucumber drink, very refreshing. Owners were really nice to offer that as a welcome drink to me, and that hit the spot after a long hike earlier in the day… Food is good, I have to go back to try the other stews before suggesting a particular dish

I have been waiting to try Didar since it first opened as I am a big fan of the owner and her restaurants. She is a long time staple in the Persian cuisine community in Los Angeles and Didar is another accomplishment! Located on Ventura Blvd in a busy area of Sherman Oaks and next to lots of retail and bars/lounges. The restaurant itself may be tiny, but has a warmth to it despite its small size. If I had one critique of the inside, it would be the noise level. With a full restaurant, it can get loud enough in there that having a normal conversation with your dinnermate across the table can be difficult. We had a good sampling of the food and it was all super yummy! The tahdig and kashk bandemjaan were gone in sixty seconds and the entree portions were big! I had the beef koobideh and the Cornish hen. The koobideh was super tender and juicy and the chicken was cooked just right. Great spot for a casual Persian eatery

This review is far past due. My friends and I come to Aftermath bar and enjoy Didar from next door with a beer! We’ve ordered at least half a dozen times so far and every single time it’s been amazing. We had to order double eggplant dip this time so we don’t fight over it. The service and people making this food an experience for us and always go above and beyond. You’ve got to try it if you haven’t yet! Thank you so much, Didar!

I have been a Taste of Tehran fan since it opened in Westwood, but life took me to the valley and I am so excited that Didar Kitchen opened up. Taste of Tehran was featured on Top Chef and Anthony Bourdain's Tehrangeles episode. The food here is incredible. We started with pickled vegetables and eggplant dip that I am still thinking about. We had the warm quinoa salad which is a perfect blend of warm, cold, crunchy, tangy, spicy, and sweet. For our mains we had filet mignon and lamb kebob, both grilled tender and seasoned just right. These came with some terribly addictive rice that I continued to eat well after I was full. My favorite dishes were the ghormeh sabzi and gheimeh, stews served over tahdig (crispy rice). This is where Didar Kitchen truly shines, with these flavorful, warm, comforting stews that are bursting with flavor and have the perfect balance of meat and sauce and leave you licking the plate at the end. There are a number of Persian restaurants to choose from in the area. Didar is a standout; the ingredients are always fresh, the stews taste homemade, and the flavors have depth and richness that you don't find in the other restaurants in the area. Yes, it is slightly more expensive, but you are paying for clean, fresh ingredients, and it is so worth it. The service was awesome. The staff was attentive, gave us recommendations, and everyone was very kind. If you are lucky enough to meet the chef and owner, Saghar, your meal will be that much better. Her smile lights up the place and on top of that, she's an amazing chef. This is a great, cozy space (formerly the ramen place on Ventura). There are images of Iran on the walls and it is relatively quiet.