Berenjak (Arts District)

Americas - USA West Los Angeles
1

I’ve eaten my fair share of Persian restaurants in SoCal. A lot of it is fabulous and tasty, And I consider us all lucky to have a such vast selection.

So it is with pleasure that I say that Berenjak, which opened earlier this week in the Arts District (at Soho Warehouse), elevates the Persian food scene of SoCal to an even higher level. Peruse the menu carefully, as it features familiar Persian favorites, while at the same time managing to throw some interesting curveballs. My tikkeh masti kabab was prepped and cooked to absolute tender beefy perfection - very juicy and flavorful, with sangak positioned just right to soak up all that gorgeous au jus. Though advertised as a side, the Berenjak House basmati rice is itself a remarkable dish, with a medley of subtle texture interplay - a slight crunch, yet offering pillowy brightness that make this presentation stand on its own. In addition, the taftoon bread (served piping hot) and savory chicken Olivieh prove to be a beautiful match as a starter duet.

Vibe-wise, the inviting ambiance at Berenjak beguiles diners with lush open air spaces, comfortable indoor seating, not to mention the availability of bar dining.

I gotta come back with a bigger crew to explore the depths of other menu items, such as their stews and sides. This fan of Persian food had an exceptional first meal at Berenjak…

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2

im game.

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3

Nice! What were the prices like? My only exp with upscale/modern Persian is Delbar in Atlanta. Really great spot and I always thought a similar concept would translate well in LA.

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Kababs and stews range from $28-$42. Bread offerings under $10. I feel there is good QPR.

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We liked but didn’t love it. It’s modern, cosmopolitan Persian. Some dishes, like the yogurt dip with goat curd and black chickpea hummus, outshined their closest counterparts at the best Persian restaurants in town. Breads were excellent. The lentils were good, though no better than at other places. The skewers fell short for us. They were covered in spices, which seemed like a mask to obscure merely competent cooking and okay ingredients. We really disliked the prawns, due to their rubberiness and muddy, aggressive spicing. The basmati rice was fine but unimpressive. I doubt we’ll go back. I prefer Adana overall (but I think it’s still remodeling?). We prefer the mains at Sora.

5 Likes