Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Westwood
7 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Saffron & Rose Persian Ice Cream
Decades-old Persian ice cream shop central to Westwood’s dessert culture.
Notable Picks
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A Westwood institution since the 1970s, Saffron & Rose scoops dense, floral Persian-style ice cream in flavors that define the neighborhood’s Persian Square. Lines of locals, students, and families turn the modest shop and sidewalk tables into a nightly scene after dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Saffron pistachio ice cream, Rosewater ice cream, Classic faloodeh
What Makes it Special: Decades-old Persian ice cream shop central to Westwood’s dessert culture.
8.4
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Comfort Food Classics
Birthday & Celebration Central
A Westwood institution since the early 1980s, Shamshiri Grill serves generous platters of Persian kebabs, stews, and fresh breads in a space that turns from casual by day to softly romantic at night. It’s a neighborhood standby for multi-generational celebrations and big-group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Koobideh and barg kebab combo, Lamb shank with baghali polo, Tahchin with chicken
What Makes it Special: Long-running Persian spot known for heaping kebab platters and fresh bread.
8.4
Open since the early 1980s, Shaherzad is one of Westwood’s original Persian restaurants, known for house-baked bread and substantial kebab platters. Diners come for reliably grilled meats, fragrant rice, and an old-school atmosphere that feels more like a neighborhood dining room than a polished modern concept.
Must-Try Dishes:
Soltani (barg and koobideh), Tahdig with khoresh, Grilled salmon kabob
What Makes it Special: Decades-old Persian spot baking bread and grilling generous kebab platters.
#4
Naab Cafe
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Group Dining Gatherings
Naab Cafe is a casual halal Persian–Mediterranean spot where kabob plates, ash reshteh, and sandwiches share space with hookah and late-night crowds. It’s the kind of flexible Westwood address where you can grab a quick lunch or linger over big platters with friends well past typical dinner hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef koobideh plate with saffron rice, Cornish hen kabob, Ash reshteh soup
What Makes it Special: Halal Persian café mixing hearty plates, sandwiches, and late-night energy.
#5
Cafe Glace
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Sweet Treats Escapes
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Late Night Legends
Café Glacé is a Persian-influenced cafe where Crazy Fries and Special Fries sit alongside sandwiches, Persian tacos, and saffron ice cream. Students and neighborhood regulars drop in for oven-baked fries piled with mortadella, hot dogs, cheese, and sauce, then linger over milkshakes and coffee drinks.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crazy Fries, Special Fries, French Fries
What Makes it Special: Persian-inspired cafe where loaded Crazy Fries share the menu with shakes, Persian tacos, and saffron ice cream.
Worthy Picks
#6
Falafel Inc
7.9
A counter-service Mediterranean spot built on Palestinian family recipes, with za'atar sourced from the founder's own farm — the kind of provenance detail that shows up in the food. Every $10 spent feeds a refugee through the World Food Programme, which gives the low price point a second purpose beyond just being one of Westwood's cheapest solid lunches. It runs like a college-town fuel stop — fast, clean, no frills — and the 84% five-star rate across 276 reviews says the falafel and shawarma wraps land consistently.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Sandwich, Chicken Shawarma Wrap, Zaatar Fries
What Makes it Special: Social enterprise where every $10 spent feeds a refugee for a day through the World Food Programme, built on the founder's Palestinian mother's recipes with za'atar imported from the family farm.
7.7
Flame Persian Cuisine offers a slightly more polished take on Tehrangeles dining, with white tablecloths, a long kebab menu, and full plates built for sit-down meals. It’s used as a neighborhood option for mixed groups looking for a comfortable room and shareable grilled meats without leaving Westwood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Rack of lamb kebab, Barg filet kebab, Tadig with khoresh
What Makes it Special: Sit-down Persian restaurant with a broad kebab menu and polished setting.