Persian ice cream from Mashti Malone's.

Take a day trip to Los Angeles to eat your way through Persian Square.

As a Persian-American, I loved walking through Persian Square, also called Little Persia, and having multiple Persian food options in one area. While there are Persian restaurants and markets in San Diego County, they're pretty scattered.

Whether you want to find Persian food, a Persian bookstore, Farsi language classes, or a Persian market, Persian Square has a bit of everything.

Persian bookstore

The History

Located on Westwood Boulevard in Los Angeles, Persian Square started after the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Many citizens fled Iran and congregated in Los Angeles. Now the hub in Tehrangeles allows you to find all things Persian in a concentrated space.

Quick and Casual Lunch

Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to sit and munch. Pick one of the many lunch options where you can order and get out in a jiffy.

Beef cutlet sandwich from Café Glacé.

Attari Sandwich Shop is a hot spot for sandwiches. Their specialty sandwiches include Persian familiar favorites like kuku sabzi, potato kuku, cutlet, and even olivieh, but all in sandwich form.

Café Glacé may be known for its Persian pizzas and crazy fries, but I opted for the beef cutlet sandwich made with seasoned beef, potato patty, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, parsley, and mayo. Every bite felt nostalgic, like the cutlet my mom used to make when I was growing up. Sit inside or on the patio to eat or take it to go.

Dinner and Sit-Down Restaurants

Shaherzad Restaurant offers a dine-in experience if you want to take a seat for dinner. They offer classic Persian salads, appetizers, chicken kabob, beef kabob, lamb kabob, stews, and more such as the house rice specialties.

Flame Persian Cuisine has flatbreads and kebabs. Other options include Shamshiri Grill, Farsi Cafe, or Naab Café which offers late-night eats until midnight.

Desserts

After a day of good eats, you can't leave Persian Square without getting a scoop of bastani (Persian ice cream).

Mashti Malone's Ice Cream has a fun local history. After immigrating to the U.S. during the revolution, Mashti Sirvan bought an ice cream shop called Mugsy Malone’s. He made a snappy name switch from Mugsy to Mashti to keep renovation costs down. The rest is history!

Persian ice cream flavors at Mashti Malone's.

They have flavors like Creamy Rosewater, Orange Blossom, French Lavender, and more. I sampled a few and loved everything, but ultimately picked the Saffron Rosewater since it's a classic.

The family-owned and operated Saffron & Rose Ice Cream has been around for decades. Founded by Ali Kashani-Rafye, now his grandson Freddy Papen continues the legacy of selling ice cream with iconic Persian flavors such as their best-selling Saffron Pistachio as well as other options like White Rose, Jasmine, or Date.

Persian Food at Its Finest

Persian Square is the ideal spot to get a feel of Persian culture and food without taking a flight anywhere. Simply stroll your way through Westwood Boulevard and let your tastebuds be your guide.

So, where to first?