A modern Persian dining establishment located in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles, known for its authentic kababs, mazeh, and traditional breads.
The acclaimed chef behind Berenjak Downtown LA, also known for his Michelin-starred Gymkhana restaurant in London.
Insights
PersianMiddle EasternLevantineBakeryUpscaleDinnerCasualCocktail Bar
Last updated: 5/20/2026, 4:25:39 PM
Key Information
Berenjak Downtown LA offers a modern take on Persian dining, recreating the ambiance of traditional Iranian kabob houses. Located in the Arts District, it features a rustic yet chic interior with warm lighting and Persian tiles, complemented by an inviting patio.
Customer Perception
Customers highly praise Berenjak for its authentic and outstanding Persian cuisine, particularly the lamb kabobs, mirza ghasemi, and kashk e bademjan. The creative cocktails and beautiful, cozy atmosphere with Persian music also receive strong positive feedback. Securing a reservation, especially on weekends, is noted as challenging due to its popularity. Some minor feedback includes comments on pricing or the strong flavor of truffle oil in certain dishes.
Additional Details
The kababs are cooked over coals, contributing to their distinct flavor. The cocktail menu is thoughtfully crafted with inspirations drawn from Iranian flavors.
The restaurant is highly popular for dinner, especially on Tuesday through Saturday evenings. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend visits, as tables are coveted. Berenjak is closed on Mondays and Sundays.
My friend and I enjoyed our time at Berenjak. We ordered the full experience and modified two of the appetizers. We also added salad Shirazi.
If you are from Iran and are expecting to have food comparable to other Persian restaurants, this is not what you are going to get. So please don’t go to Berenjak with that expectation. It really isn’t fair to the restaurant. This place has a twist to everything.
Now for the review. The first thing we were told was that they had an issue with our seating. We also heard on a separate note one couple was turned away for lack of room, but when we were seated we noticed there were plenty of seating and they were available all evening. We were confused about that, but the service all-together was very good.
The food:
Appetizers: The sangag and taftoon were delicious. The salad olivia was good. It had truffle in it, which was the twist. The mast o musir was the best appetizer. The twist: it had goat curds. Kaskhke bademjan was OK. It definitely needed something and was very small. Even for places with small portions, it felt too small. This was the appetizer that could have been modified. The hummus has black chickpeas, which was the twist. It was OK, definitely the least favorite of the four appetizers.
The doogh drink was delicious.
We got joojeh and lamb skewer for our main. Both were delicious. The salad shirazi had really delicious sweet tomatoes but it needed more lemon. Good thing is we asked for extra lemons on the side and used them on it. The rice was phenomenal.
The cookie dessert was so yummy. I wanted more lol
They had good coffee but was shocked that they didn’t make lattes or the sort, especially with the nice machine they had indoors.
Price tag was high, so expect to pay about 3x more than you would at a Persian restaurant. The presentation of the food was very chic. The place is a beautiful ambience but the neighborhood isn’t the best. Make sure you don’t turn into the wrong alley. Just valet your car or park directly across the street.
See you next time!
We tried the kabab and baba ghanoush, and both were fantastic — full of flavor and really well made. The only downside was that the portions were a bit small, so we definitely could’ve eaten more.
The saffron mezcal was amazing and honestly a standout — unique, aromatic, and really memorable. For dessert, we had the tea ice cream with cookies, and it was absolutely out of this world. The cookies were still warm on the inside, which paired perfectly with the cold, creamy ice cream — such a simple but perfect combination.
The vibe and music were perfect, making it feel cozy and intimate — honestly a great spot for a date night. Overall, even with the smaller portions, it’s a place that feels special and worth visiting, especially for the drinks, dessert, and atmosphere.
3
I recently dined at Berenjak and had mixed feelings about the experience. The ambiance is beautiful—warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed. It’s definitely a great place to enjoy the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the setting. While the flavors were decent, many of the dishes were excessively greasy. One of the appetizers arrived literally swimming in oil, which made it difficult to enjoy. The portions were also surprisingly small for the price, and the overall value just wasn’t there.
I had high expectations based on the restaurant’s reputation, but I left feeling that the quality and portion sizes didn’t justify the cost. I hope they can improve the balance between presentation, quality, and value, because the atmosphere certainly has a lot of potential.
5
Berenjak was an absolute 10/10 experience from start to finish. The food was outstanding, the atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, and the service truly elevated the entire evening.
A special thank you to Andrew for providing exceptional service. He was attentive, knowledgeable, and made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal.
We ordered the Koobideh and Tikkeh Masti Kabobs, and both were cooked to perfection—tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The drinks were equally impressive and paired perfectly with the meal.
The combination of incredible food, excellent hospitality, and a fantastic atmosphere makes Berenjak a place I'll gladly return to. If you're looking for authentic Persian flavors and a memorable dining experience, this is the spot.
Highly recommended.
5
What a hidden gem! The service was exceptional from start to finish, and the interior décor was absolutely stunning—every detail made the space feel elegant and inviting. Our server was attentive, friendly, and made the entire dining experience even better.
The food was incredibly flavorful, and the portions were surprisingly generous. While it’s a bit pricier than some Persian restaurants, the quality, presentation, and taste made it well worth the cost. I visited with a Persian friend, and even she was impressed by both the authenticity and quality of the food, as well as the beautiful ambiance.
If you’re looking for delicious Persian cuisine in a stylish and welcoming setting, this is definitely a place worth visiting. A true hidden gem that we’ll be coming back to!
