Tehran Market — Attraction in Santa Monica

A nice little Persian Market in L.A. The store was very clean and well organized. It was full of authentic Persian food. Nice!

So, why only 3 stars? Well, it was Sunday and they were cooking Kabobs outside. It looked and smelled so yummy we just had to have some Lamb Kabob!

So, my wife ordered the kabobs but since we didn't know the routine she asked some questions and received some "rushed & rude" directions from the male cooks and attendants. The guys did realize they were a little rude and just smiled (sort of). Just a heads up, and if you didn't know Persian guys have big ego's and are quite opinionated, especially toward women.

So, the kabobs were quite delicious but weren't entirely authentic. The sides were a mexicali fusion, (spicy cilantro and turnips) and not the bread and large onion she was expecting. She asked for onion and the guy said it was in there but they were just tiny pieces and not enough.

Overall, it's pretty darned tasty and we do recommend it, just ask for exactly what you want, fight through the pushback and it should be fine. Just like a real Tehran...

Family-run, neighborhood deli and market. Weekends they grill barbeque and kebabs in the parking lot. Persian entrees cooked daily and packed in plastic clamshells, ready to take home. Try the fessonjon (chicken stewed with ground walnuts & pomegranates) & ghormeh sabzi (beef stewed with leeks, parsley, fenugreek & red beans). The tahchin is heavenly! So is the chicken salad. On Sundays they grill Persian BBQ in the parking lot. Yum!. Fresh produce including fruits and veggies I never see at other stores. At least 20 kinds of locally-baked pita & lavash. Locally-cultured yogurts & cheeses. A whole aisle of dried fruits & nuts. Easily a hundred kinds of black tea. Hard-to-find spices like Aleppo pepper, sumac, ajwain, esfand, za'atar, borage, dried limes, senjed, Omani lemon, quince seeds... An aisle of pickles from Turkey & the Balkans. Who knew there were so many brands of rose water? And aerosol...

When it comes to product quality, variety, and selection for a Persian or Middle Eastern grocery store, Tehran Market is unmatched and unbeatable. I found this hidden gem on a run one day, and I have been coming periodically ever since. You’ll be able to find all your essentials here, the quality of their produce and meats is amazing. Also, they’ll have great items that you’ll rarely find elsewhere for your specific needs, ranging from ingredients, sodas, sweets, and spices from Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and more. You’ll even find those rare and fresh seasonal goods here, like green plums, green almonds, and yellow Barhi dates on the vine. Additionally, their ready cooked meals section and kitchen is great! Do not miss out on this when you’re done grocery shopping, you’ll find older Persians buying a container of cooked food so you know it’s good! They have one of the top Ash Reshteh soups...