Heidar Baba — Restaurant in Pasadena

Let me begin by saying this negative review is not directed at their food. To be honest, we’ve been going to this place for years because their food is delicious and it breaks my heart to leave a such a nasty review for their underhanded practices.

In short, I ordered 30 kabobs (combination of chicken and beef), and 7 sides in advance for a party. They quoted me $332 over the phone. When I arrived the next day for pickup and added 4 Fantas to the order, they charge me $672! Literally double of what I was quoted over the phone. The lady behind the counter (I’m assuming she was the manager / owner) insisted that the price was correct; feeling like I was held hostage, I had no choice but to pay the amount since I had guests at home that were waiting to be fed. I figured maybe it was just an oversight, and that we could resolve it later in the day. So, I paid and left.

Later that evening I tried calling the restaurant to resolve the billing issue. To my surprise, they never called back. Seeing how I had no other option, I filed a formal dispute with my bank. After the investigation, they insisted that the billing was correct and therefore I’m on the hook to pay premium steakhouse prices for ground chicken and beef.

I understand small restaurants are hurting because of COVID and you may need to charge a little more to stay afloat. But charging a regular customer DOUBLE and holding them hostage is not the way to go about recouping your reduced revenue. You guys knew exactly what you were doing and are a bunch of crooks.

You guys lost a customer for life and we’ll never be...

The kabab didn’t have any salt, rice was so oily that after I finished eating you could see the oil on the plate. With the prices they charge you would think you are getting a good meat but it was chewy and it was wrestling with my teeth as I was trying to force it down. Beside the food there was one other thing that disappointed me very much. They had a table with bunch of toys and some signs saying you will not be forgotten. At first I thought a staff member has passed away but after I asked they told me it was for Palestine. The owner is Persian BUT I don’t remember him putting out a table when 1500 people of his own country got killed in 3 days! The 45 minutes that we were at the restaurant the owner spent over 30 minutes rearranging the toys or adding more toys and did NOT spent 5 seconds coming to any of the tables to welcome the guests or ask how the food was! I know Gaza is a sensitive matter these days and I feel bad for their people but I also matter and I would like to be treated nicely if I’m paying over $100 for lunch of 3 people! I will not spend another penny of my hard earned money and be treated this way specially with the quality of the...

One of the best persian restaurants in LA, and maybe the best in Pasadena, mostly I think serving Pasadena City College students, since it's right in front of the college and have nice choice of healthy and affordable lunch menu. The decoration, paintings, table/chair, and the food feel like old Tehran (some refer to as good days) restaurants. Kabobs are not spicy, always fresh, and properly cooked (persian style). Ghormesabzi with Tahdig, mast o musir is must. I usually get stuck right there and can't eat anything more (right now by writing it I want to go and geab a full plate of it 😆). Most of the waiters and the chef are persian. The kabab chef (the tall tiny elder man) reminds you the grandpa in the tv series "khaneye sabz" in Iran. One important thing for some to know is they don't have alcohol serving license, meaning no alcohol, even bringing yours, no argument, and please respect that or don't go. The place is halal/kosher and has it's loyal religious customers who trust the restaurant to be halal. They have plenty of space for small parties, but haven't seen...