Azizam

With a name that fittingly translates to “my dear” in Farsi, this casual Persian eatery in Silver Lake takes a page from the Pine & Crane playbook (where co-owner Cody Ma once worked) with counter service and the sort of high-quality cooking you’ll cherish time and time again. Ma and his partner Misha Sesar serve an array of delightful homestyle dishes, including a standout turmeric-braised jidori chicken (dampokhtak) and matzo-like kofte tabrizi, a giant beef meatball that hides a mix of walnuts and dried fruits at the center. Smaller mazeh plates like the classic mast-o-musir (shallot, garlic and mint oil yogurt) with housemade flatbread and Sesar’s excellent dessert program bookend a delicious meal that showcases a cozier, lighter side of Persian cuisine that’s hard to find outside of home kitchens. Just be aware the small space gets packed, especially on weekends—you’re not the only one chasing this culinary high.