Me and my fellow foodies of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance are putting together the 2013 City Guide of all our favorite places in Austin. For last year’s city guide I wrote about Persian Restaurants and North Austin Vegetarian. This year I’m expanding from just the Persian options to include all of the great Middle Eastern eats in town. While this list isn’t exhaustive, these are the majority, and I have tried each unless otherwise noted. I’ve also included some of the great Middle Eastern markets in town in case you’d like make your own at home. So, without further ado …

The 2013 Austin Middle Eastern Food Guide

Alborz Persian Cuisine (Anderson @ Shoal Creek)

This is a traditional spot for Iranian food. They have a great buffet that lets you sample a variety of Persian dishes from appetizers to desserts. Must try at Alborz: joojeh kabob (chicken), zereshk pollow (barberry and saffron rice), and the albaloo pollow (sour cherry rice). If you go with a group of four or more for dinner I would suggest getting the family plate so you can try a most of their grilled options. 

Dream Bakery (Anderson Mill between 183 and Pond Springs)

The only bakery in Austin that has fresh baked Persian treats is Dream Bakery. Owner Azar Owlia and team make traditional cookies, cakes, pastries, and ice cream. In additional to Persian sweets they make traditional French pastries, fantastic kolaches, perfect cookies, and cakes of all shapes, sizes, and tastes. The wedding and party cakes are simply beautiful and tasty.

Kebabalicious (2 locations - Congress @ 7th & 7th @ Trinity)

Kebabalicious is a great trailer for Turkish style kebabs.Their wraps are fresh, quick, and tasty. The spices are prominent and they will tailor the spiciness to your taste. My favorite: The beef/lamb kebab, medium spicy with extra tzatziki. I’ve also heard good things about their zucchini fries. This is fantastic late-night food for those closing out their night on dirty 6th or Red River.

Kismet Cafe (On 24th just off Guadalupe)

Sadly, I wasn’t able to try out Kismet recently, but they have been a staple of the university food scene for years. They have quick serve traditional middle eastern standards. From shawarma to gyros to falafel and kafta, Kismet has your favorite middle eastern dish, and it’s halal.  

Marakesh Cafe & Grill (Steck @ Shoal Creek)

Marakesh has reopened! What once was the downtown middle eastern food authority has now found a new home in north Austin. I haven’t been up to their new location yet, but I will be soon! When they were downtown I loved their chicken shawarma wrap. The new chef is Kurt Ramborger, the Eater National Hottest Chef in America of 2012. Good meal and eye candy? Yes, please!

Pars Mediterranean Supermarket & Deli (Burnet @ 183)

Pars Deli is the casual dining option for Persian food here in town. They do grilled meat really, really well. I recommend the koobideh kabob (ground beef and/or lamb) either with pita bread or rice. The meat is always flavorful and juicy. My mouth is watering thinking of the kabob at Pars. The make perfect fluffy basmati rice which is good on its own. The shaker of ground maroon spice you see on the table is sumac. It is a sour spice that makes the kabob even better. Try it, you’ll like it.

Phara’s Mediterranean Cuisine (North Loop @ Avenue F-just east of Lamar)

Phara’s has great food in a wonderful atmosphere. Their back dining area is worth going alone, but the food makes for an even better experience. On the weekend they have belly dancing and the audience is encouraged to participate. This is a great place for large parties. I recommend the lamb shish kebab. Tender, juicy, flavorful, yum! They also have great vegetarian options. It’s BYOB with a very reasonable corking fee, and they have a hookah lounge associated with the restaurant. It’s so nice after you have a great meal to sit under the stars with a glass of wine and aromatic hookah. Highly recommended!

Phoenicia Bakery and Deli (2 locations - Burnet just north of 45th & S. Lamar @ Barton Skyway)

Phoenicia is my go-to market for middle eastern staples. They also have a great bakery and deli. My favorite pita bread, hummus, and tabouli salad are made fresh daily at Phoenicia. At the deli counter you can buy a variety of fresh cheeses and meats. I love the French sheep’s milk feta and the halal mortadela. At the bakery counter you can get wonderful baklava and other sweets. They have hot middle eastern plates and sandwiches you can eat there or take on the go. Get there early for fresh pita bread, especially on the weekends as they sell out quick!

Sarah’s Mediterranean Grill & Market (Burnet near North Loop)

I recently tried Sarah’s and had a fantastic meal. They have delicious middle eastern food in a welcoming atmosphere. The family who owns Sarah’s felt like my own. It was as if I was having dinner at my aunt and uncle’s rather than at a cafe. I had the lamb shank and picked the bone clean it was so delicious! My sister had the chicken kebab plate, which also was great. They have the creamiest hummus I’ve ever tasted and serve it with fresh olive oil and roasted garlic. The market was well stocked and has nearly all of the middle eastern groceries I buy. I will be back very soon!

Shandeez Grill (Anderson Mill north of Pond Springs)

Shandeez Grill is as traditional of an Iranian restaurant as you’ll find. They have slow cooked khoreshts (stews) served over fluffy steamed rice, delicious grilled meats, and some yummy snacks I usually only have at home. My favorite is the tahdig topped with khoreshte (shown below). Tadig is the crispy fried bottom part of the rice. It is soooo delicious. The khoreshte fesenjoon, a beef, walnut, and pomegranate stew is really good. I recommend getting an order of mahsto khiar, yogurt and cucumber dip. Yogurt is like the ketchup of Iranian food, we eat it with everything! 

Tarbouch Lebanese Grill & Hookah (Oltorf east of S. Congress)

Tarbouch comes recommended to me by several of my food blogger friends. They have traditional Lebanese options as well as a hookah lounge. I haven’t been to taste yet, but I’ve been told to try the fattoush salad and any of their shawarma plates. Looking forward to making it down there soon!

Tom’s Tabooley (Guadalupe just north of 29th)

Tom’s Tabooley offers Americanized versions of middle eastern classics. They have a brick and mortar on the Drag, plus you can find many of their meals at Whole Foods and Central Market. If you need a quick middle eastern fix, Tom’s is the place for you.

Wholly Kabob (2 trailers - E. 6th @ Waller, and the other is on-the-go)

Wholly Kabob is the new kid on the middle eastern food block. Opened for only a few months, they are making a name for themselves by taking a modern twist on Persian classics. Owner Nanaz Ahmadi is a dietitian and nutritionist and has found a way to make awesome food that is organic and gluten-free. Her spices are spot-on delicious, and flavorful without being greasy. I had Da Persian and after the first bite I could have been in a kabobi in Tehran. Beef kabob grilled to perfection in a pita topped with yogurt-shallot sauce, chopped herbs, and sumac. I had to try some of the other offerings so I got a side of basmati rice and the salad Shirazi. The rice was perfect, and I’m a rice snob. The salad Shirazi was fresh and dressed lightly with lemon juice and olive oil. I also got a sample of of the kuku. I grew up eating kuku and love seeing other interpretations of it. She adds currents and walnuts in addition to the spinach, onion, herbs, and eggs, and I really like the texture and flavor of the kuku. The staff is friendly and had great recommendations. Next time I’m going to try one of the bowls and get the jalacado sauce on it for a little Tex-Mex twist.

Honorable Mentions:

Flying Carpet (Oltorf near S. 1st)

While not Middle Eastern, the Moroccan food at Flying Carpet is a spicy cousin. Still operating out of their food trailer, they are now adjacent to a small indoor eating area. The food is delicious! I recommend The Moroccan and Le Dajaj Maghrebi. You also have to get the dates for dessert with some hot Moroccan mint tea.

Verts (7 locations in Austin)

Verts is Berlin style kebap. That’s basically the German version of the Turkish doner kebab street food. However it came about, it’s damn good! I got the doner kebap with beef/lamb, veggies, and both the garlic and hot sauces, as recommended to me by the man who made my kebap. That combination was genius if you like things that are creamy, garlicky, and spicy all at once. If you’re on the go and see a Vert’s, stop in a try it. I’m sure you’ll like it.

As an Iranian-American I grew up eating some of the most delicious food in the world. A little biased, I know, but once you have perfectly steamed buttery basmati rice with a slow-cooked khoresht lovingly ladled on top, or hot off the grill sizzling lamb kabob in fresh baked pita bread, or a scoop of creamy saffron-pistachio-rose water ice cream you’ll understand what I mean.

To be honest, I almost always prefer to have home-cooked Persian food. There’s a comfort in making family recipes and having the memories of childhood come alive with each bite. However, most Iranian recipes are fairly time consuming and dining out is a good way to get my fix when I’m just dying for some kabob or ghormeh sabzi or albaloo pollow. Luckily, Austin has some great Persian restaurants and one fantastic bakery that specializes in traditional sweets.

Dream Bakery

The only bakery in Austin that has fresh baked Persian treats is Dream Bakery (9422 Anderson Mill Road Suite B. Austin Texas 78729). Owner Azar Owlia and team make traditional cookies, cakes, pastries, and ice cream. My father, who is a tough sell, said they took him back home with every bite. In additional to Persian sweets they make traditional French pastries, fantastic kolaches, perfect cookies, and cakes of all shapes, sizes, and tastes. The wedding and party cakes are simply beautiful and tasty; in fact I get my birthday roulette cake from them every year. Below is a selection of some of Dream Bakery’s delicious offerings. 

Traditional Persian chickpea cookies and rice cookies.

Yummy chewy Persian walnut cookies. (My favorite)

Norooz Cookie Tray (Persian New Year)

Variety of Persian and French sweets.

Shandeez Grill

Shandeez Grill (8863 Anderson Mill Rd. Ste 109, Austin, TX 78798) is as traditional of an Iranian restaurant as you’ll find. They have slow cooked khoreshts (stews) serve over fluffy steamed rice, delicious grilled meats, and some yummy snacks I usually only have at home. My favorite is the tahdig topped with khoreshte ghormeh sabzi (shown below). Tadig is the crispy fried bottom part of the rice. It is soooo delicious. They top it with delicious ghormeh sabzi, stewed greens, beef, dried lemon, and beans. My dad always called this Iranian pizza when I was a kid, and I was happy to see this on their menu. The khoreshte fesenjoon, a beef, walnut, and pomegranate stew is really good. I recommend getting an order of mahsto khiar, yogurt and cucumber dip. You can eat it with everything or dip your bread in it. Yogurt is like the ketchup of Iranian food. 

Pars Deli

Pars Deli (8820 Burnet Rd Suite 502, Austin, TX 78757 ) is the casual dining option for Persian food here in town. They do grilled meat really well. I recommend the koobideh kabob (ground beef and/or lamb) either with pita bread or rice. The meat is always flavorful and juicy. My mouth is watering thinking of the kabob at Pars. The shaker of ground maroon spice you see on the table is sumac. It is a sour spice that makes the kabob even better. Try it, you’ll like it.

Photo via

Alborz Persian Cuisine

Alborz Persian Cuisine (3300 W Anderson Lane #300, Austin, Texas 78757) is also a traditional spot here for Iranian food. They have a great lunch buffet that lets you try a variety of Persian fare from appetizers to desserts. The bread is baked fresh and they bring sabzi and feta out with the bread to your table. Sabzi is a variety of greens: parsley, mint, basil, green onion and radishes. Must try at Alborz: joojeh kabob (chicken), chelo kabob-e barg (steak), zereshk pollow (barberry and saffron rice), and the albaloo pollow (sour cherry rice). If you go with a group of four or more for dinner I would suggest getting the family plate so you can try a variety. 

Photo via

Nooshe Jan!

Me and my fellow foodies of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance are putting together the 2012 City Guide of all our favorite places in Austin. This is my first time contributing and I’m excited to share some of my favorite bites. Be on the lookout for my upcoming post on the Austin Persian food scene in the next few days.

I’m not a vegetarian. I tried to become one a few years ago and quickly realized that I do really enjoy meat from time to time. However, I am pretty conscious about from where my meat comes so I often choose a vegetarian option when dining out. I’m usually dining with those who think that every meal must include meat, so I appreciate restaurants that have a wide variety of options for all tastes. Here are a few I recommend.

The Steeping Room

My favorite is The Steeping Room (11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Ste. 112, Austin, TX 78758). This little cafe tucked in the Domain has something for everyone. From vegetarian to carnivore to vegan to gluten-free, any preferences or dietary restrictions can be accommodated deliciously. Plus they have a large selection of loose tea and some of the best desserts in Austin. Try their Deep Chocolate Caramel Cake and be prepared to share. It’s sinfully good. Beyond the wonderful food, the service at The Steeping Room always surpasses most restaurants in Austin. The waitstaff are friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. There is always a manager around making sure things run smoothly. The decor is calm and bright and the staff carry that through your experience. 

Here are a few of my favorite vegetarian dishes they have:
You must start with some tea.     

          
If they have tomato coconut soup available get it, trust me on this.


The Mediterranean platter. Great as an appetizer, snack, or meal.


Goat cheese, arugula, and olive tapenade tea sandwiches with a cashew caesar salad. This is my favorite caesar salad in Austin and guess what? It’s vegan!


My usual: Grilled seasonal veggie sandwich with goat cheese spread on ciabatta, with the cashew caesar, of course.

Photos courtesy of Sara Nezamabadi

Bombay Bistro

Bombay Bistro (10710 Research Blvd #126, Austin, TX 78759) is my favorite Indian Restaurant on the northside. It’s in the HEB shopping center on the southeast corner of Braker and 183. I usually go for the lunch buffet where you get a lot of really good food for not a whole lot ($8.95). Service has always been great. I have to say I love their raita on everything. The naan is both crispy and chewy and is fresh. The saag paneer has a wonderful creaminess and is a popular item. I really like the aloo gobhi and the Shabnam curry with lots of mushrooms and green peas. They use good basmati rice and cook it properly. As a rice snob, I’m super picky about this and appreciate restaurants who take their rice seriously. When you leave they have candied fennel seeds instead of mints; a little touch that seals the deal on a great meal.

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Tino’s Greek Cafe

Greek food is akin to traditional southern comfort food to me. It makes me happy. I recently tried Tino’s Greek Cafe (6 locations, 4 in north Austin) and was pleasantly surprised. There’s not a lot of Greek options in town, especially good ones, and Tino’s is good. They had a wide variety of traditional Greek fare and good amount of vegetarian options. I went for lunch and had the vegetarian platter with dolmathes, tzadziki, spanakopita, moussaka, and falafel. The dolmathes and falafel dipped in the tzadziki was my favorite part. I liked the moussaka, but it didn’t blow me away and the spanakopita could have used a bit more seasoning, but overall it was a great lunch, especially for $6.99. For the carnivores, the gyro meat was really good and I might have to go back and get the gyro next time.

 
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Happy eating!

Today is my 15 year anniversary with the amazing city of Austin, Texas. The past fifteen years have been quite a ride. I came here as an awkward, angry, depressed teenager, desperately trying to survive high school in a new school and town. The first few years here were tough, no lie. But throughout my transition from child to adult, Austin played an important positive role in the formation of who I am today. I am more open-minded, accepting, less pretentious, and frankly, cooler than I would have been had I lived in any other city. Not to mention my musical acumen and appreciation is much larger practically by osmosis. I have so many amazing memories here, too numerous to list.

Austin, you’ve been good to me and I thank you. I’ve been fortunate enough over the past few years to give back to the community and plan on continuing to do so. Keeping what’s great about this city alive is important to me. I’m looking forward to our next fifteen, Austin. Cheers!

What a weekend! I enjoyed my second Austin City Limits Music Festival this past weekend and am now suffering from an ACL hangover. Non-stop for three days and I’m already planning for next year! Here are my favorites of the weekend.

Favorite Bands:

• Trombone Shorty - This guy is one of the most amazing musicians I’ve ever seen! He also puts on a great show. The entire audience was crazy dancing for an hour straight. He closed the show with some New Orleans favorites while channeling Louis Armstrong.
• Muse - These guys are TRUE Rock Stars!
• Gogol Bordello - Such a fun show and great music. It was crazy!
• Gaslight Anthem - I hadn’t heard much from these guys before the show and really enjoyed them live.
• Norah Jones - I love her. I love her music. She and I should be friends.
• The Strokes - Always a favorite.
• Silversun Pickups - Powerful, beautiful.

Newly Discovered Bands:

• Bear in Heaven
• Beach House

Favorite Food Vendors:

• Snowie Snocones - Especially when spiked with contraband
• Lavaca St. Grill - Hatch Green Chili and Cheese Tater Tots
• Boomerang’s Pies - Southwest Chicken Pie
• The Salt Lick - Sausage Wrap, a tradition

Memorable Moments:

• The most amazing weather Austin could offer! It was beautiful.
• My friend C coming up to me holding our dinner and stating “I got free sausage from a lesbian!” meant in the most literal way.
• The Honda booth having power strips so you could recharge your cell phone. The strips were powered by people volunteering to ride a stationary bike to generate energy.
• All mobile networks completely crashing on Friday for a couple hours. I got a slew of text messages all at once around 4PM. Service was spotty throughout the weekend.
• Sprawling in the grass in the middle of the festival listening to the Eagles and reflecting on the past three amazing days.

I can’t wait for next year!