Shamshiry

Bahar Majd

As soon as you sit down, they bring out some appetizers, but I would have preferred a variety of Persian appetizers instead of Mexican-style ones—especially in a Persian restaurant. That said, their fresh, warm bread is a nice touch. The food quality is good, and the kebabs are well-cooked and flavorful, with the barg kebab being particularly delicious. The saffron ice cream is tasty and comes in an extremely large portion, which is a bit impractical. It would be great if they offered a smaller, more affordable option, as ice cream isn’t something you can take home, and most people end up leaving some behind. The main issue is the music choice—the restaurant plays loud rap and random beats that don’t match the ambiance of a Persian kebab house at all. I even suggested changing it, but they told me that none of the staff are Iranian and that management isn’t on-site, so playing Persian music wasn’t even a consideration. I wasn’t insisting on Persian music specifically, but when you come to enjoy a traditional Persian meal, the last thing you want is loud English rap music in the background.

Marie Laporte

This restaurant was recommended to us and we went there for a Friday dinner. It was rather very crowded with what seamed to be regulars and families. We were seated on the outdoor patio but could have waited 30min for a seat inside. We could not wait longer because of the invigorating smell of food and fresh made bread so we chose to be seated on the heated patio, which was rather noisy but the ceiling warmers made up for the coziness. Food was great and served quickly, servers were caring and courteous, and despite the line up, emphasis was given on dining experience rather than table turnaround. Food and dessert were loaded with Saffron and spices. Loved it ! Thank you for the amazing experience. Will definitely come back on a weekday for more chance to get inside without having to line up. Thank you for the amazing evening !

sam si

I had heard a lot about Shamshiry’s Washington branch from old-school kebab lovers. I finally managed to squeeze in a visit during a work trip to try their koobideh in person—and it absolutely delivered. Hands down the best koobideh I’ve had in the U.S., and easily among the top Iranian restaurants I’ve tried in Mashhad and Tehran. Everything was excellent—from the meat blend to the cooking method and portion size. Honestly, one serving is enough for two people. The fresh oven-baked bread with butter was also fantastic. For dessert, be sure to try the Persian baklava—it’s a whole different experience compared to Arabic or Turkish versions. It’s where the flavors of pistachio, rosewater, and saffron come together beautifully.

Ms. Traveller

Great Persian food that has blend of aroma, color, and elegance. Fragrant saffron rice, tender kebabs, rich stews like ghormeh sabzi! every dish tells a story—layered, refined, and deeply comforting. A true feast for both the senses and the soul. My only comment for this place is the service, especially the girls. We were a group of girls also but we had a lot of side eyes and attitudes from the female waitress, which made our visit uncomfortable! I personally even called one of the girls twice, she looked me in the eyes and ignored me! ( this was not my first time here.)