I grew up in Los Angeles and had been on a quest for years to find Persian food in the Boston area that could bring back the memories of Tehrangeles...and I could not have been more thrilled to find Cafe Vanak! The chicken AND vegan koobideh are amazing. So are the rice dishes, including the cherry rice and - my favorite - the orange zest and pistachio (shirin polo). Then, end your meal with the saffron and rose ice cream - dreamy! Cafe Vanak was incredibly kind to let us host a birthday dinner with 20 friends. The team at Cafe Vanak was so responsive over the phone for planning ahead of time. The service was very attentive, and the food of course came out phenomenally. Thank you so much!!

Incredible Persian food!!! My new favorite Iranian restaurant. Everything I had was excellent

I ordered online this time and I actually called a uber from far away to pick up and get back just because I can't stop loving Persian food! Even though I didn't stay there eating, you can tell the service is awesome! The owner greets me once I stepped in the door and the ladies are so nice and friendly! I bought lamb shank, Ghormesabzi. And pomegranate flavored ice cream. (It's a pity they are out of jasmine and rose flavor) So many things I wanna try later! Now I am on the Uber writing this and the food smells sooooo good

Ordered takeout from here. The beef koobideh was amazing. Shirazi salad and yogurt shallot dip were good. Unfortunately I really did not like the beef stew with eggplant. It had a strong off-putting flavor which my husband thinks is charcoal from how it was cooked. We ended up throwing that dish out but finished the rest.

reminds me of my childhood friends mothers persian cooking (minus the tahdig). Flavorful, good portions, the shallot and cucumber yoghurt are great. The lamb is a must try as well. Will definitely be back but also hope one day they sell some tahdig- best part of the rice :)

Came here for a friend's birthday around 4pm. We called in advance just to let them know we have about a group of 9. The table was ready when we got there which was perfect. Ordered the beef koobideh. Cooked to perfection. Every bite was juicy and tender. Sprinkled some saffron onto the rice for tinge of bitterness and sweetness. Vegetables were charred and easily to cut into. Service: fast and quick. Everything came out fresh. Definitely recommend this spot to everyone!

A wonderful taste of where I grew up An authentic, cozy, exquisite & full of love corner restaurant, Vanak Food delivers the very essence of Iran to Boston. A wonderfully put together menu offering all my favorites and more. You simply can't go wrong with Persian food. Especially when it's made with such love. You can tell that every dish is comprised of the best ingredients, all the exquisite spices & herbs that deliver the heavenly aroma it's known for. And of course made with all the love. To all Iranians in Boston, go to Cafe Vanak for a taste of home. And to all non Iranians, don't miss out. Thank you to the warm staff at Cafe Vanak for the lovely hospitality. We will be back very soon.

We came in with a large group late on a week day evening after an event and the Cafe Vanak staff were gracious enough to welcome our party. We ordered a large spread of food and drink with a few of the favorites below: * Tabouli Salad * Kashk Bademjan * Saffron Chicken with Barberry Rice * Grilled Salmon * Vanak Combo (we loved the grilled veggies on the side too!) We ended up getting most of our dessert to go from their dessert counter, and we particularly enjoyed the baklava (sold per piece) and the honey cake (sold by weight). They also had a selection of Persian ice creams in fun flavors like saffron pistachio, jasmine, Nutella, and more!

Had a great and authentic Persian food experience here at Cafe Vanak last Sunday evening. We showed up at 7 PM and were promptly seated. The eggplant mix was a flavorful combination of eggs, eggplant, and tomato sauce. The basmati rice was lovely and the chicken kebab was tasty and juicy. I also had the shirazi salad which was light and refreshing. The interior of the restaurant has a cool Persian vibe! Definitely recommend.

My teammate highly recommended me to try the Persian food here at cafe Vanak and it did not disappoint us. My hubby and I had lunch here last weekend and loved our meal. Hole in the wall kinda restaurant, super duper packed with lots of people. The service is quick and very approachable. We ordered the eggplant dip which was out of the world served with freshly baked lavash bread. We got the chicken koobedeh for main course served with flavoured yellow rice and grilled veggies. The meat was so tender it was melting in our mouth. No effort of chewing required. Must visit if you are in the Belmont area.