Taste of Tehran

At the helm of this small, casual Persian lunch spot is Saghar Fanisalek, the chef and brains behind this South Westwood eatery. Fanisalek, who used to work as a manager at Shaherzad up the street on Westwood, is flexing her culinary muscles with tastes-like-home Persian food. The menu here is simplified—choose from plates, salads, kabobs and even wraps, perfect for on-the-go lunching. If available, try the cornish hen kabob lunch special, which comes with rice and a small salad as well as a grilled tomato (a traditional accompaniment for Persian entrees). Primarily serving as a lunch spot, beware that the portion sizes are not as grand as other Persian restaurants. And while you may not be getting a heap of food, their ghormeh sabzi stew (sautéed green herbs and kidney beans) tastes as though your very own Persian grandma made it for you.