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Name: Shamshiry
Address: 8607 Westwood Center Dr, Vienna, VA, 22182
Telephone: (703) 448-8883
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.87

Shamshiry

8607 Westwood Center Dr, Vienna, VA, 22182

(703) 448-8883
Store is closed

Shamshiry Menu

Appetizers

Panir Sabzi

Mast-o Khiar

Mast-o Musir

Salad Shirazi

Torshi Bademjan

Persian Salad Bowl
Rice Dishes - Vegetarian Dishes

Albalou Polo

Shirin Polo

Baghali Polo

Zereshk Polo
Meat

Chelo Kabob Kubideh

Chelo Kabob Barg

Chelo Kabob Shamshiry

Chicken Soltani
Poultry & Fish

Jujeh Kabob

Chicken Kabob

Chicken Tandoori

Mahi Kabob
Desserts

Baklava

Zolbia-bamieh

Rollet

Paludeh Shirazi

Persian Ice Cream

Mixed Persian Ice Cream And Paludeh

Cinnamon Ice Cream
Beverages

Pot Of Persian Tea

Iced Tea

Coffee

Soft Drinks - Coke

Soft Drinks - Diet Coke

Soft Drinks - Sprite

Soft Drinks - Lemonade

Doogh

Healthy Meal suggestions for Shamshiry

Appetizers

Panir Sabzi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mast-o Khiar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mast-o Musir [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salad Shirazi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Torshi Bademjan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Persian Salad Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Rice Dishes - Vegetarian Dishes

Albalou Polo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shirin Polo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baghali Polo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zereshk Polo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Meat

Chelo Kabob Kubideh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chelo Kabob Barg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chelo Kabob Shamshiry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Soltani [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Poultry & Fish

Jujeh Kabob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Kabob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Tandoori [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mahi Kabob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Baklava [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zolbia-bamieh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rollet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Paludeh Shirazi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Persian Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mixed Persian Ice Cream And Paludeh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cinnamon Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages

Pot Of Persian Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soft Drinks - Coke [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soft Drinks - Diet Coke [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soft Drinks - Sprite [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soft Drinks - Lemonade [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Doogh [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Vienna for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 8051 Leesburg Pike )

Visit below restaurant in Vienna for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 8051 Leesburg Pike )

Write An Anonymous Review

Chris S.

Best Kabob I have ever had. Go-to place when I want top notch Persian type kabob. Portions are huge. Gets alot of respect from my Persian friends. Plenty of tah-deegh is complimented with every kabob. This place is golden. Makes me wanna make the trip to McLean right now. MMMMMmmmmm
(5)
Jane Z.

I so wanted to love this place, but just couldn't. I'd heard a lot about it from Persian friends. I did enjoy being in a room full of Persian families enjoying their rice and kebabs, but I agree with other reviewers that the food was over-priced, and I've had far better rice and kebabs at other restaurants. The service was efficient, but seemed annoyed to tolerate the customers. I really wish that D.C. had more established Persian restaurants, which offered more of this world-class cuisine than just crunchy rice and kebabs.
(2)
T Y.

And it's Whoohoo! This place is a hidden treasure of NVA. It's a very nice and delicious change from the standard choices out there in the Tysons malls. While the interior of the place reminds me of a drugstore soda fountain from the 70's (not look, but gives me that feel), the food more than makes up for it. Find it tucked down the streen from the Aston Martin dealer and just be ready to eat good food.
(5)
J L.

amazing persian food for the price. great service! if you like good persian food and large portions, you'll enjoy shamshiry!
(5)
BJ G.

Probably the best Persian food in this area. The rice is so buttery and soft. Ask for a raw egg and put it in your rice pile. The bread sucks compared to places like Moby Dicks' but you don't go here for the bread. Sometimes the service here can be a little unattentive but it's a small price to pay.
(5)
Monica V.

Don't get it. It is basically all rice. I ordered chicken/lamb combo. The meat was not even comparable to that of Rose Kebab. I'm really surprised of all the good reviews. Maybe I missed something?
(2)
Amir K.

definitely a must-go place for having a great Persian food and sides. the only cons of this place is its yogurt is not in its Persian style and amount ,on the other hand tooooo much rice and not a good hot bread as it may expected as an essential. If the service does nor get into playing with their phones you might not notice them being fast or not. If you do not like to get involve to deal with the service and not so nice environment just call them and pick up the food. it will worth it. I like their Barg Kabob althogh it is not Halal!
(4)
Gora t.

Too long a wait for food and slllloooww service. Does not live up to persian kabob's reputation. I would not go back and wait for this!
(1)
Haseeb F.

Large Portions? Check... Bread in a plastic zip lock? Check... Dry and Flavorless meat? Check... These are 3 things are what you will.encounter at Shamshiry. I had their Chelo Kabob Shamshiry, which although was the most expensive thing on the menu, did not have any flavor at all. The only plus was that the portions were big and could feed 2 people at the least. Reservations are probably the best way to go because there is nothing worse than waiting for a table for 30 min +.
(3)
Kris P.

The best Persian restaurant that I have had!! I love how authentic and delicious this place is! This is definitely the best!
(5)
Negin A.

The BEST persian food in md/dc/va. I love this baghali and zeresk polo. Their kabobs are delicious!
(4)
Frank W.

Get some Mahi (Salmon) kabob or any of the other kabobs if you are in to meat. It's all great food.
(4)
David K.

The food here has improved drastically. I think they changed their chef or something, but I'm really liking what i'm eating at Shamshiry. As other yelpers have recommended, ask them to bring tadig with either Ghormey sabzi or Gheymey stew on top of it for appetizer. Trust me, you won't be disappointed, it is excellent. I've tried almost all of their dishes here, and I can't complain about one of them. My usual is the Chicken Sultani. It is one strip of Chicken and one strip of Kubideh with rice, lots of it. The only thing keeping this place from receiving a 5 star is the location (hidden), ambiance/decor and sometimes customer service. I would recommend anyone to try Shamshiry at least once. Moby and Shamshiry are my two favorite Iranian restaurants.
(4)
jenn h.

If you're going on a date, and you know he/she enjoys Moby Dick, then treat them to all the delights Shamshiry has to offer. That's how my man won my heart - we locked eyes over kubideh! And when he burped onion on me hours later, I knew it was love. Just kidding, not really. But we do enjoy eating here. Shamshiri has the BEST Persian food I've EVER had! Now I know I'm not Persian, so my words may not mean much; but all the Persians I know agree that this is THE place to be. That's probably why there's such a long wait on weekends. The atmosphere is nice enough that I wouldn't want to take my food to go. Their entrees, beyond the kabobs, are definitely worth trying here. If you go with a big group, I'd suggest having each person get their own entree and having the table split an order or two of kabobs. *Tip 1: Beyond the regular yogurt sauce, they also offer Mast-o-Moosir, which is a shallot-yogurt dip. It's considered to be a special treat, but it's certainly not a breath mint! *Tip 2: TADEE (not sure if I'm spelling that right) is not on the menu, but they might give it to you if you ask for it. It's basically the crispy layer of basmati rice on the outer edge of the cooker. (The Korean version is called noo-rung-ji.) It's a bit of an acquired taste, but it can be quite the yummy snack.
(4)
Sogol G.

They have a great great Persian food. People are friendly. Atmosphere is good for family. Nothing romantic about it. I just go there for food.
(4)
Aye T.

Yes, they do make one of the best kabobs and their crusty/burnt rice that you can get is awesome. I've stopped going there though because of bad service one time where they kept bringing food to a bunch of persian people at a different table first (who ordered after us..and same food). I complained about it but they acted as if they couldn't care less and didn't even blink an eye when we walked out. So good food but bad service in my eye.
(3)
cenan p.

Prefer Rose Kebab hands down. Food is O.K but they can over cook at times. Waiting to be seated is a mess. Service is poor. The ambiance, and what ambiance!!!!!!!!!!!
(3)
Viet D.

My favorite kabob place is the Food Corner, but Shamshiry comes in close at second. The portions here are rrrrriiiidddiculous! When I saw my plate I almost threw up in my mouth and swallowed it again, but the food is definately good. I had the lamb and ground beef (i don't remember what it is called because its called different things at different places, keema kabob?) combo and it was yummy. I don't get the raw onions on the plate but the rice that came with the meal that is enough to feed a small vietnamese army made up for the pointless raw onions. Sure enough I had leftovers so although it ran me $20 for lunch which is kind of expensive, it was actually my lunch and dinner, so it was ok. Definately try it if you haven't yet and you won't be disappointed. One thing, service isn't great.
(4)
Thi N.

This place has the best koobideh ever! The only way I could come close is if I had that big fire pit grill they have when you first walk in. The waitstaff can be kind of unattentive, but the food is so good for the price I don't mind being ignored once in a while.
(5)
jenny h.

Solid kabobs. Jujieh kabob is better at Rose. Rice is better at Shamshiry. Get your rice with raw egg yolk.
(4)
Judy C.

I came here for a quick lunch with a coworker. We were told by a Persian friend that this place was good... he was right! When we got to the restaurant a little after 12pm, this place was already packed. We didn't have to wait long and was seated right away. I ordered the chicken kabob and our food came out pretty quick. Right away I noticed that the portions were huge! Probably twice the amount they give at Moby Dick's. With mouth wide open, I got out my utensils and began to dig in! Yummmm it tasted as good as it looked! Meat was seasoned perfectly and cooked just right. I like my rice slightly buttered so I took the butter they gave us for the flatbreads and put it into my rice. Mixed everything on the plate together and I was one happy girl =) Now I usually don't like stuffing myself during lunch because I'd find myself falling asleep at work later, so telling myself to stop and pack the rest home was very hard to do. I was disappointed in the flatbread.... it didn't taste warm and freshly made. Also, they didn't give out yogurt, we had to request it and pay extra $$. There's nothing to say about the decor here, but the delicious food will make up for it!
(4)
Brenton c.

Best Persian food I've had in the area. Prices range from $8 to $15. I love kubideh and I've tried many in the area, this place has the best. Parking can be a bit of a pain, and watch the towing rules.
(4)
Jeff C.

Oooo man the food is yummy here. It is a really odd location and can be hard to find, and parking is a real PITA for weekday lunch. They cook rice like nobodies business. And if you are lucky you get some ta-dig. Kebabs are well-spiced and perfectly cooked. They will even you give you a raw egg on the "half-shell" to mix into your steaming mound of rice. And the portions? Epic, monumental, we are talking Cecil B. DeMille epic.
(4)
Rachel W.

I prefer Moby's in McLean for kabobs, but if you want excellent Persian Barg, Shamshiry is the place to go. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and they give you plenty of tasty rice.
(4)
Sydney S.

Love the food here. The staff is always pleasant and fast, if anything, it seems as though there is an abundance of staff. My favorite is the Chelo Kabob Kubideh. All the entrees have enough rice to feed a village. I highly recommend getting an raw egg to mash into your steaming hot rice when your order comes out. The only negative for me is that I can only come every so often for fear of gaining a million pounds. It is definitely one of my favorite Tyson's area restaurants..
(4)
Ellen A.

My favorite place for Persian food. It's not elegant or anything but If I want a good kabob or other Persian food I drive from DC to out here to have it. The waiters are also very nice and professional and portions are huge.
(4)
Carley D.

Tasty kabobs! I've been here several times, and although I always get the same thing (chicken kabob--I don't really do beef), I always leave happy. Although I agree with other reviewers that they do serve a veritable mountain of rice, I disagree with the idea that this is somehow a bad thing. Most of the time, if I have an appetizer, I only eat about half the meal and bring the rest home for lunch the next day. That is some delicious rice they have there. I do agree, though, that the bread at Shamshiry is pretty sub-par, and the only place where Moby Dick beats them hands down. It's rather disappointing. Also agree that the parking is wacky; be careful where you leave your car. Having not been to a great variety of other kabob places, I can't agree or disagree about the "fanciness" of Shamshiry compared to other similar eateries, but I don't find the prices to be unreasonable. In addition to the chicken kabob, I also recommend the Salad Shirazi (tomatoes, onions and cucumbers) and the yogurt sauce in the way of appetizers; the cinnamon ice cream is really good for dessert.
(4)
michael L.

Love this persian food....chicken kabob was amazing and not dried outand reheated over again- fresh and juicy chicken and veggies were cooked perfect!! Gotta check this out!!
(4)
Mitch R.

One of my favorite persian restaurants in this country.
(5)
Lily B.

Food was 5 star, our waiter was disinterested so I knocked a star off. I came mid week and early so I expect that wait staff to come by and check on my table. The food was to die for. The chelo kabab kubideh was fabulous, rice was superb and HUGE portion (put the egg and sumac). Fragrant tea, yum! The dining area is agreeable, I liked the music--it would have been 5 star with an attentive waiter.
(4)
Aashti Z.

Shamshiry is totally tucked away in the middle of this huge office complex. It took us ages to find, but once we did we knew it would be fabulous. You can see the kitchen as you walk in, and watch the cooks making the kabobs on the grill. It is, hands-down, the best Persian food I've had in this area. They are generous with their helpings, the bread is fresh, and the burnt rice brings back memories of childhood. Perhaps an acquired taste though. We started with a daily special appetizer -- lentils and meat over burnt rice. Then we had Shamshiry Kabob platter to share (MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR TWO): one kubideh and one regular lamb kabobs. We ate everything covered with the yogurt sauce and with the extra spicy cilantro/garlic sauce. YUMS and no space for desert. Only space for delicious black tea.
(5)
Danny K.

Being the half-Iranian that I am, I love going out for a night of kabob with the family and friends. The service could be a weeee bit better but the food more than makes up for it. I'm a big fan of kubideh because the meet is so juicy and it compliments the rice and somak so well. Go ahead and order yourself a Doogh as well (yogurt based ice cold drink) if you want to get the true Persian experience. The prices are reasonable but its a bit difficult sometimes to find parking and you have to be careful regarding the towing rules they are a bit strict.
(4)
Rok L.

Went there today for lunch. Great food, large portions, but too much rice. Talk about carb overload! The service is slow, it took forever for us to get our check. The hot tea is good and all of the kabobs are wonderful. The meat is fresh and the quality of the ingredients is good. Don't expect fast service though. Overall a good dining experience.
(4)
noel e.

Food was excellent, but the place is noisy, brightly-lit, and busy. A 3-year old child ran around for 10 minutes making noise and no one did anything. The tables are close together. They do a big take-out business and you can see why. The table service was good, and the waiters polite and nice. BYOB was wrong. No alcohol is served and you can't bring your own. Based on an earlier review I brought a bottle of wine, and it was put away by the waiter and given back when I left.
(3)
Sean R.

Although lacking in ambiance, this restaurant is not lacking in flavor and authenticity. It's always a good sign to see that 80% of the clientele are ethnically Persian. This place is a diamond in the rough--especially considering the plenitude of chain restaurants, shopping malls, and industrial parks that surround this area. The service was pretty good considering how busy the restaurant was. The food was simple and delicious. We started with a traditional yogurt with cucumber (mast?) appetizer and a simple green salad with feta and olive. I had a kabob plate with a heaping mound (way too much for me to eat, but it's the showcase of the meal actually) of rice that was cooked to perfection and topped with saffron. There was a bitter reddish spice in a shaker that you are apparently supposed to mix with the rice and oil. This gave it a little extra kick. The beef kabob was cooked exceptionally well--a very tender piece of meat with a smokey charcoal finish. The plate was also accompanied with raw onion and a grilled tomato. For desert we had saffron ice cream...very subtle but creamy and delicious. If I lived here I would definitely come back here. For now I'm just happy I didn't have to settle for one more predictable restaurant...
(4)
Travis H.

This place is absolutely wonderful. Their food selection is great and the taste of their basmati rice is to behold. I prefer their Chello Kabob Barg (thinly sliced fillet minion) and their salad shirazi is a great start.
(4)
sarah y.

I had a very hard time finding this place, and I almost gave up, but lo and behold it was was destiny to have some charcoal meats. I went with a pretty big group of people and we ordered just about half the menu, so of course I had to steal bites of everyones food. I liked the mast-o khiyar better than the mast-o musir, alas mast-o musir just does not taste the same here in the States. Of course we got the panir sabzi (basically just cheese and some greens).. the mint is used to disguise the onion breath which accompanies many Persian meals. I was excited to see shirin polo on the menu (rice, sugar, nut mixture with some orange peel). I have not had this dish in a long time and it was SO good. The meat was very tender and flavoured nicely, I suggest the barg, it is a safe bet. My favourite of the desserts was the ice cream and paludeh; for the area decent, though not spectacular. If I go here again, I would order the chicken kabob, barg, and lots of tah digue (the burnt stuff at the bottom of the rice). You will not be disappointed.
(3)
k s.

hands down the best irani food on the east coast. the price is right & kubideh rocks!!! try the doogh but don't have too much it will make you sleepy. the flat bread they give you with butter & chutney is awesome. the service is 8/10. i wish they had a joint like this in NY!!! one thing i do miss about NOVA.
(5)
K K.

i don't care for the political biases or pretentiousness of the owners, but i digress. the food is good, and despite the seemingly smaller portions lately it makes for a good time. the seating is a little cramped, and constantly reminds you that it's not all that different from a hollowed-out office building lobby... but again, whatevs. as far as i know it's the nicest sit-down place for kabob in nova (amoo's kabob is great, but lacks any real seating capacity).
(3)
Leila T.

Grilled salmon and dill/lima bean rice was pretty fantastic. To start, ordered the eggplant dip and yogurt. Complimentary bread at the table- I'd prefer it to be a little thicker, it appeared to be more like Lavash bread, served with chopped jalepenos. Other guests at the table also enjoyed their food (Chicken and Kubideh kabob), served with an abundance of rice. Service was great- very attentive staff and the place was packed. The decor could use a little upgrading, but overall, would return!
(4)
Adrian D.

No frills, authentic and tasty Iranian food. Their kubideh (ground beef kabob) is really something special. The gormeh sabzi is fantastic as well. Hard to find something that isnt great on the menu.
(5)
B B.

Excellent and perfectly cooked kababs, heaping mounds of hot fluffy rice, delicious dough, juicy grilled tomatoes, crisp fresh onions and good service. With a fork in one hand and a huge spoon in the other, I attacked my steaming plate with vigor and enjoyed every second of it. This is how you do Iranian kabab! Bravo Shamshiry!
(5)
Sherry R.

A 20+ year customer. Know the owners.This place is well known in the Persian community. My favorite entree is the barg. Their portions are large so I sometimes share with another person depending on how I am feeling. However, I always have leftovers when I order my own entree.
(5)
Soheil K.

Yummy Yummy Yummy! Best Kebab I have had in USA. The place was neat, and the people were polite and professional. I tried a mix of chicken and barg kebabs, and found them very well made. The meat was tender and very tasty. I believe if a person wants to have a taste of Iranian kebabs, this would be the right place for him/her!
(5)
Majid I.

Forget pricey steak houses, these guys know how to grill meat! They serve it with the most amazing rice, ever!
(5)
Daniel A.

The DC area is blessed with some very good middle eastern food. This restaurant is a shining star in amongst all of them. The lamb melted in your mouth along with the filet and chicken. The kafta kabobs couldn't be more amazing. Thank you for the wonderful service and food.
(5)
Linda T.

This place is awesome. The portions are huge but so delicious. The lamb was amazing actually everything we ordered was yummy. Our server was really helpful with what to order. Here's a tip order some burnt rice and the green sauce is really spicy but i love spicy so it was perfect for me. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Amber F.

I love this place! The wait may be a little long on the weekends, but it's well worth the effort. The parking could get a little tricky. Their warm complimentary bread was so delicious that I almost want to take some home. Their kababs are delicious and the portion is huge. Their yogurt sauce is addicting. My mouth is watering as I'm writing the review. You get the idea.
(5)
Remash G.

Service: simply terrible. There is very little respect for the customer. There is almost no attention to detail. Salad had no dressing and there were no offers of dressing from the waiter. They do not clear used dishes from the table whilst trying to load the table with new dishes (we had some appetizer and they chose to leave the plates on the table while trying to the main course plates in the same place!). Minimum rating for service. DÃ©cor: I could care less about dÃ©cor. I'm there to eat. Food: mediocre at best. The rice, albeit a ton of it per plate, was decent but nothing special to call home about. The kubideh was A-Okay. I feel that some people love it because it is very mild in flavor. I like a lot of spices so it did not meet my expectations. The lamb shank was very disappointing. I am not a fan of boiled meat and that is what it tasted like. The chicken was pretty good. The bread was run of the mill blah. Overall: I will certainly not return. I can only fathom the ratings being so widely different in the matter of taste. One of our friends that we met there loved the kubideh and most of the food. Based on his background, I would say it depends on the food you grew up with.
(2)
Yelp U.

Great place! Super friendly people, even offered me tea while I was waiting there, You get huge portions with tasty meat and rice. Can't beat it! I'll recommend this place to anyone!
(5)
Honey S.

Truly authentic Iranian/Persian food. It's not fancy nor trendy but its as close to a home cooked Persian meal you will get in this area. When my relatives visit from out of the country, we make it a tradition to have dinner before their last night at a Persian restaurant and its typically Shamshiry. Its famous in the Iranian community because there aren't too many around like it. Take into consideration, most Persians dine there for Persian food...that means you should try it. I learned this while living abroad. If you never see the locals eating there, run! if the natives eat there, its good stuff :)
(5)
Hilary M.

I have been to Shamshiry several times since moving to the area (about 3 years ago) and have had a great experience every time! From the staff to the food, it's always good! I usually order the chicken kabob. The chicken is perfectly cooked and includes a mound of the famous Shamshiry rice. YUM! What I would give to get my hands on that recipe! It's THAT good. I've also tried the lamb kabob and the ground beef kabob which were also very delicious. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone. The portions are pretty large so make sure you are prepared to eat! If you can't finish though, all of the dishes will make excellent leftovers the next day - I would know! Overall a great restaurant with amazing food!
(5)
Desiree D.

Definitely some of the best Persian kabobs you will find. Incredibly delicious yogurt sauce, too. The Salmon with dill is very popular. Rice is perfect every time. If you are local to Vienna or passing through Tysons Corner, make the stop.
(5)
Ross M.

If you love Chinese, Thai, sushi and Indian food, and this is your first time trying Persian or middle eastern food, you will sh*t bricks (mentally). Rice rice rice and lots of rice. Do you like rice? If so, be prepared to receive about 10 handfuls of rice. Want some bread/naan? They'll bring it out to you in a plastic zip lock bag. Charming. The meat itself was pretty tastey. One tasted like sausage, one tasted like steak with an interesting seasoning and my mahi (which is actually salmon) tasted like farm raised salmon. Believe it or not, the cooked tomato was actually one of the highlights of the meal. Raw onions with cilantro, I could do without. I did not receive a raw egg, should I have asked for one? This place was packed with a line out the door. Maybe this is great food, but I didn't really cafe for it. I would have no problem going the rest of my life without ever eating Persian/middle eastern food ever again. Ever. Dim sum, Thai, Chinese, Sushi and Indian food suit fulfill all of my foodie needs.
(2)
Sepehr T.

I like their kaboob kobide it was delicious and perfect you have to try iranian kaboob , specially at shamshiri restaurant !!!
(5)
N J.

I'm a fan for their perfectly grilled meats. Although Shamshiry doesn't offer the sides (chickpeas, salad, etc.) that other kabob places offer, what they do offer, they do very well. I always get the chicken kabob and it's always very juicy and tender. You get a generous helping of rice, a grilled tomato, sliced onions, lemon, and, if available, crunchy rice piece. I always eat half and have the rest for dinner or lunch the next day. I love their spicy green chili sauce and always ask for more to take home to have with my leftovers. I will say though that I'm not a fan of their bread that comes out in a zip loc baggie. It would be nicer if they made fresh bread, but not a deal breaker.
(4)
Samir P.

Best Persian food on the East Coast. This is the original Persian restaurant in the DC area. The food is amazing, service is fantastic, portion sizes huge, and management is always super friendly. This is the crown jewel of Persian food in DC. Dont miss out!
(5)
Nolan C.

Pretty good value for the money. I had the filet mignon kabob with an egg over the rice. The rice was very very yummy, and very filling--I usually eat a lot but didn't finish my portion. My 3 friends each got chicken kabobs and really liked it. I was super stuffed by the end. The meat did not have as much flavor as I was expecting but it was still quite tender. Overall I took a star off because I thought it could have been more flavorful but it was still good nonetheless. And quite affordable at that.
(4)
Benz E.

The atmosphere is not necessarily great at Shamshiry. The food itself wasn't terrible (had the kabob soltani) but nothing special. The bread came in a plastic baggie and was lukewarm, which was disappointing. The doogh tasted watered down and had very little flavor. What makes this place a one-star, however, is the audacity of the staff. We noticed that our bill was higher than what we ordered, and since we weren't given an itemized bill we had to ask what was up. The waitress insisted that we had purchased an item we had not, and refused to show us the itemized receipt. After finally taking it up to the manager and company, who also were rude, they gave in, produced the itemized receipt, and brought down the price. Read your receipts very closely here, as there was someone right behind us with the same problem. Definitely a sketch place, and there are far better Persian restaurants nearby.
(1)
Honey B.

I never got to eat here and I don't plan on ever going. I called to ask when their hours were and I was met with the rudest attitude ever! I cannot believe they would treat someone like that on the phone. I asked when they open for lunch on Sunday, and he answered (as I was still talking) that they open for LUNCH at "1 a.m." So, I asked, 1 A.M.???? and he rudely said "I have someone else on the line, 1 a.m., yes, 1 a.m." I don't know about everyone else, but I do not eat lunch at 1 a.m. Go to Kabob Bazaar instead, it's amazing food and MUCH BETTER service apparently.
(1)
Truly I.

YUM. I used to have a Persian neighbor who was the most wonderful cook. So when I searched for kebabs and came upon the great review of Shamshiry, I was intrigued. It's hard to find (kind of hidden on the side of an office building near all the Tysons car dealers). Clue #1 that it's an awesome restaurant - it was packed full of Persians. We were the only gringos. The menu is a little hard to decipher, in that you've got the name of the dish and then a poetic historical blurb about why Persians eat it. Not much mention of ingredients (the appetizer of paneer sabzi turned out to be a teeny-tiny square of feta topped with two huge bunches of basil). It's definitely a different sort of place - the bread is served in plastic baggies. BUT THE KEBABS ARE AMAZING (we had kubideh and chicken - luscious luscious luscious melt-in-your-mouth yum yum yum). The rice is nice, and they give you enough on one plate to feed a small village. The tadiq (the crispy rice that is a delicacy) was a bit soggy, but the rest of the flavors made up for it. In fact, as I'm writing this I'm jonesing to go back. I think next time I might order carry-out - there was quite a wait for the food, and they don't serve adult beverages. But the flavor - oh man...
(4)
Reuben K.

Delicious. All the kabobs have been very good-chicken, very tender, kubideh even better. Tea is good, the goat cheese and herbs platter excellent, waitstaff very nice. Would definitely come back. Many, many times.
(5)
Dallas T.

Decent not wow.
(3)
Theresa S.

Tea and baklava and grilled meat and grilled fish! Shared between 4: chelo kabob shamshiry, mahi kabob (rice has lots of dill!), baklava and several pots of tea. Good meal.
(4)
Courtney R.

This was my first Persian food experience, other than kabobby stuff. It's the only one, too. Luckily I went with my Persian friend (a.k.a. "tan disgrace") who speaks Farsi and has been coming here since he was a little one with his parents. We had all sorts of good food, many with names I can't remember or pronounce. I do remember the shirazi, because it was mind-blowingly yumtastic and we order it every time. To date, I've been here three times and each visit resulted in delicious. I recommend you try anything on their menu.
(4)
Brad M.

Shamshiry IS as good as it gets in the DC area, and we certainly have a fine selection of Persian dining available to us. The salmon kebob is to die for, but what truly makes the cuisine remarkably authentic is that the ownership team spares no expense in importing over necessary spices, meats, and other Persian culinary additions that makes this farer so incredibly delectable, and at times, down right ambrosial. I highly recommend to anyone that wants to escape the 'Persian Fast Food' of Moby Dicks or whatever other Faux-Persian/Middle Eastern monstrosity has infiltrated suburban shopping centers. Put it this way.....there has to be a reason why this place has lines out the door 6 days a week.
(5)
George S.

This place is pretty fantastic.. Definitely best Persian food in the area. The kabobs are great, and makes the local chain (Moby Dick) look like McDonald's.
(5)
Trish N.

BIG PORTIONS! BIG PORTIONS! They give you a lot food, especially rice. I am definitely coming back to the three kabob platter (combination). I tried the salmon and it was delicious! I can eat a lot but with this I have to bring some home and it still tasted good after being microwave muahahah excccceeelllenttt.... Also, this other dish that my friend order but I don't now what it was called...It was crispy kind of burnt bottom part of the rice pot and on top was sauce and meat, I will update when I found the name. That is a great appetizer! The only reason I gave it a four star is because it can be a little dry.
(4)
Jessica A.

Unbelievable kabob. Juicy and tender chicken, perfectly seasoned and the most fluffy delicious rice. There is a spicy fresh green sauce they bring out at the start of the meal that is delicious! I could pass on the bread in the little Ziploc baggie, but overall the food is excellent.
(5)
Melissa L.

I love Shamshiry. As another reviewer mentioned, you don't go for the ambiance. This is about the food, and it is delicious. The meat is flavorful, the rice is fluffy and mouth-watering. Just bring some gum because you will leave smelling like garlic, and nobody wants that.
(5)
Todd K.

Super restaurant. The biggest con is that, for a person living in Alexandria, this is a long drive for a meal. Parking is great (private lot and a garage nearby), however the place is a bit difficult to find. I was going with someone who had been there previously, so I had good directions, but its location is terrible in the sense that you would never see it without specifically looking for it. Also the name is not easy...when the person accompanying me said we were going there, I was typing in so many different names into Google to get directions. S-H-A-M-S-H-I-R-Y...lol. The food is excellent, as is the service. They give you sooooo much food. For the true authentic experience, make sure to ask for the pre-cracked egg to pour on, and mix with your rice. I was told by my friend that several places don't give you the option of the egg...so utilize it! I was looking at another review on here and saw he wrote about the tea. I forgot about that...the tea is excellent. Price can be a bit high, unfortunately. I think my dinner came out to $40+, although we did get a desert. We went at 5pm...no problems getting seat. I can't speak about post 7PM seating, sorry. They do accept reservations, so you might want to consider taking advantage of that.
(5)
Mimi N.

I don't come here that often as there are other places in the area with better kabobs and bread (the kabobs tend to be a bit salty and the bread is sub par and isn't made in the restaurant) but there is one amazing thing they have that other kabob places do not have - tadig! It's not on the menu but they'll give it to you when it's available if you ask. For those of you that don't know, this is the crispy rice from the bottom of the rice pot. Not many restaurants serve it, but here they have it with koresh on top and it's absolutely delicious! I'd come just for that (though they don't always have it).
(3)
U Q.

Shamshiry sets the golden standard for perfectly cooked basmati rice, each grain separate and perfect. It comes in a humongous serving with plenty of saffron. The kubideh is by far the best kebab, tender and juicy ground beef skewers. It is perfectly eaten with two packets of butter mixed in the rice along with an egg yolk and topped of with sumac. the egg yolk is a perfect compliment to the beef and takes things up a notch. To finish the meal be sure to get the Persian saffron ice cream, which has a delicious saffron and rosewater flavor. Shamshiry is a one of a kind. There's a reason everywhere you look around you the establishment is filled with Persians. They do Persian kebabs perfectly! The food is amazing. Atmosphere or service are nothing to talk about, and not why you go. You go for the best Persian kebabs and rice you'll find in America.
(5)
Negin Y.

My boyfriend and I are regulars here and absolutely love this place. The service is great. Everyone there from servers to the ones that bus the tables are super nice and attentive. Shamshiry has to be to the BEST kabob I've had, EVER!!!! And I've had a lot of it in a lot of different places. They're kubideh can not be beat. There really is nothing like it. Not in DC and not even in LA! The barg kabob is tender, the bone-in chicken kabob is so flavorful. I've tried everything on they're menu and would truly recommend anything. It gets pretty busy there during lunch and dinner so the earlier to get there the better. But however long you have to wait it's always worth it. Also, it's a little off the beaten path as it is tuck back behind some office buildings.
(5)
Alireza G.

Average food. Impolite supervisor/manager/owner. For the first time in US, I have been notified about the amount of the tip, that by his perception, I HAVE to pay, although I had put some amount already!! Not recommended! You have more choices around the same area. Check Alborz out!
(1)
SiR N.

Good food and generous proportions for a reasonable price. But, service isn't that great, and you don't get a warm & fuzzy feeling here. I find a lot of the wait staff to be either disinterested or a little rude. For instance, I ordered a dish that was supposed to have chicken in it. When I brought this to the waiter's attention, he immediately became combative and started blaming me for not being clear with the original order and not understanding the wording in their menu. I was surprised that the waiter was insisting the situation was my fault, and it took forever to get the correct plate returned to me. This occurred during my second visit to the restaurant. For my third visit, I arrived at 11:20 - which apparently was 10 minutes before they opened. There were no signs as to their hours on the front door area and because I was in a hurry that day I wanted to make sure they opened at 11:30 and not noon. I rapped on the window and waved, and they clearly ignored me until several minutes later. I thought this was really rude and not a good way to treat customers despite being closed. The restaurant is also very humid inside and ventilation is a problem. They have ceiling fans but it's not enough to combat the humidity. If my dad didn't like the food so much and if it wasn't close to his home, I probably would not come back. I definitely would not recommend the restaurant to any of my friends because of the service.
(2)
Eduard D.

Not a perfect place but they have a way to make their kabobs tender, juicy, and tasty. This is why I go back to this place again and again, despite its many imperfections.
(4)
Charles R.

Shamshiry is a no frills Persian restaurant. The kabob meals come with a huge mound of rice that you will be proud of yourself for finishing. The barg-kubideh combo meal is really good. I can vouch because I have Persian friends that have come here with me and they agree about the food. In the three times I have been there I still haven't figured out where the exact Shamshiry parking spots are in the parking garage, but my car hasn't been towed so far. Khodafez
(3)
Max M.

The kabobs here are consistently good. The kubideh is very good. The chicken kabob is somewhat bland, but still pretty good. Same with the salmon kabob. Although the salmon kabob is a little bland, it comes with baghali polo, which is very good and is a plus. The portions are very large and reasonably priced for the most part. A boneless chicken kabob with rice or a kubideh kabob with rice is around $10. They are always happy to throw in tahdig for free too, which is usually good. Although the kabobs are why I keep coming back, something that really bothers me is that when you eat in the restaurant or get carryout, the bread that comes with the kabob is served in a ziplock bag. The bread seems store bought and never particularly fresh. It's just disappointing that the rice and meat are always good, but they can't find the heart to provide decent bread. The idea of being served a bag of bread when dining in is also irritating. Even if the bread isn't good, it wouldn't take a lot of effort to take it out of a plastic bag and make it not look overtly cheap. The kabobs are served with the sumac and a spicy green sauce. It costs extra for the must o khiar (cucumber yogurt), which is often included with a kabob order at other kabob places. That and the fact that they don't bake their own bread like many other kabob places, many of which have kabobs that aren't as good, are my only real issues with Shamshiry.
(4)
Aboozar M.

It is my story of being in this restaurant: We were four Persian people (2 men two girls) who were really excited to eat Persian food in the US. After finishing foods I paid all food receipt plus $6 as the tip for just two of us and my friend went to get cash from his car to pay the tip for the two other by himself. Meanwhile the manager loudly said just $6 as tip, it is around just 10% of the food and... For sure I did not let my friend to put any cash on the table. Also food was not fantastic as I had read in reviews, it was cold and especially sides were really bad.
(1)
Nishad J.

The beef kubideh is really good there but inconsistent. When its good, its really juicy and well spiced. So flavorful, this place would get 5 stars for the beef kubideh when made right but it isn't always. The quality varies form visit to visit, sometimes it can come out a bit dry. This place gives you about 2 large links of kubideh and a mountain of rice. The amount of rice is a bit ridiculous. My major beef with this place is service and consistency, which is why it gets 4 stars.
(4)
Steve D.

My family had a great dinner at Shamshiry. We're working through some of the best value restaurants in the area and we understand why this one is ranked high. Portions were large, food was very good (we had kabobs). The thing that surprised me most was the quality of the service after reading some of the other reviews. The restaurant was not quite full but busy and we had great, personal service. They clearly wanted to help us appreciate a Persian dining experience and we could not have been more pleased with their suggestions, helpfulness. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Catherine L.

My family has been going here for years, and not once have they let us down. You can tell how legit they are by the fact that we are always awkwardly the only Asians in the whole restaurant, every. single. time. We usually order 2 or 3 servings of the kubideh and ask them to put it on one platter. The kubideh is moist and not too salty, and the rice is fluffy. The leftover rice is enough to feed us for a few days! The Persian ice cream is the best ice cream I've ever had - perfectly chewy and fragrant. Please go out of your way to try it, especially if you are a fan of rose flavors. The best kabobs I've ever had, hands down.
(5)
El G.

We tried to beat the sun to avoid the Ramadan crowd, but traffic got us. That's fine. While there was a line, it moved quickly. This is my first Persian experience and I really liked it. I liked the staff, but more importantly the crowd. Everyone is in a good mood, laughing and enjoying the food. Oh, the food, very good. I was a big fan since I'm on the Atkins diet and the meat is a plenty. The wife had a yogurt type drink, which is interesting and it quenches the spices. Great place to go and VERY cheap.
(4)
Jill H.

I like to call it "Sham shitty". (It's not THAT bad, but works out so well to say it like that.) I can't give Shamshiry above 3 stars. I've had AMAZING homecooked Iranian food, some of which I've made myself, and I can't say Shamshiry is worth it. I ordered the Alablou Polo. Since I like Zeresk Polo, I thought I'd try something similar, in the hopes that I'd like it. The sour cherries they used were not good quality. The meat was nondiscript.
(3)
Antonio M.

Shamshiry, the name means...Shamshiry. Actually I have no idea what the name means, but I wouldn't be surprised if it translates to "Place that serves deliciously tasty kabobs in a busy crowded restaurant".Hmmm ...probably no chance that would be the actual translation, then again I'm not Iranian...errr...Persian. :-) The first thing that hits you as you walk into Shamshiry is not just the line and always crowded restaurant (call ahead if you can), but the delicious smell of the meats being grilled in the kitchen. Whatever Shamshiry means or whomever the place was named after, it's a bustling gem in the heart of the Tysons Corner industrial district. The food is always delicious, the service may leave a little bit to be desired but you'll always leave with a full stomach and happy images of oversized plates of with welcoming mountains of rice and large pieces of chicken, beef or ground beef kabobs. The food never disappoints and you'll find yourself breaking all promises of being carb healthy by devouring the mammoth mound of rice set before you. For me, Shamshiry is not only an international experience because of the Iranian cuisine, but because of the simple fact that every time I've come to dine at this remarkable establishment it's been with a variable United Nations of friends: Filipinos, Americans, Iranians (a.k.a. Persians as they'll remind you), Chinese, Moroccan or Lebanese. All of us sharing the common bond of being friends, but mainly all being people who love delicious food. I was won over during my first visit as I ordered the Jujeh Kabob; chunks of Cornish hen grilled over the charcoal fires of the Shamshiry kitchen. The flavors of the grilled Cornish hen wowed me and I was truly won over by the Shamshiry chefs after I tried cuts of my friend's Kubideh (ground beef kabob) and delicate cuts of the Chelo (fillet Mignon) kabob. The Persian chefs are obvious masters of marinating, spicing and most importantly grilling all cuts of meat to perfection. Quick note to all beer and wine connoisseurs; enjoy your tasty beverages at home as Shamshiry does not serve Alcohol. The only drinks available are yogurt drinks, hot/cold tea and soft drinks. My advice is to enjoy the hot tea with your meal and grab a drink with friends/loved ones after your visit to Shamshiry. Plus, with all the rice you'll be eating, it's probably a good thing Shamshiry doesn't serve alcohol; you won't overload on carbs....Dr. Atkins would be proud! To me, Shamshiry would easily be a 5-star establishment if it didn't suffer from shabby service. Reservations or call ahead seatings do not always guarantee you a table, and there may be nights when they have been known to all together abandon the whole notion of reservations. Depending on your waiter, you may be treated like a king of Kings with every need being met. Other nights just grabbing the waiter's attention can be a feat in itself. The only thing that makes up for such inconsistent service is the food. You'll never go hungry and you'll never leave disappointed. If you have the patience to wait for a table and the conviction to find Shamshiry camouflaged among unremarkable office buildings, you will definitely enjoy your visit and will already be mentally planning your next return before being halfway done with your mountain of rice. *** Check out my Yelp profile and visit my blog to read the FULL review ***
(4)
neal d.

A great friend of mine that passed away told me since I love Kabobs - I would have to try Shamshiry with him. We went on a quiet night. Service was perfect - Food was truly authentic Persian cuisine! All the meats, rice, breads were fresh. I Love this place and I will never forget my friend that introduced me to it!
(5)
Mel D.

If you want real kabob you gotta go to to Shamshiry!
(5)
Michael N.

When we arrived, it was early but there was already a wait. It was worth it- delicious salad shiraz and chicken soltani. Enormous serving of rice- we were so full, we skipped dessert. Next time I will share an entre so I can try their dessert.
(4)
sara r.

I am from Iran and I can tell you as good as my mom cooks, Kabob is rather difficult to make at home (particularly for as simple as it looks). So when our family wants Kabob, we practically always order out. And this is the place we get it from. We have been ordering food from here for as long as I can remember. I have tried many places over the years and no place comes close to their food. I will say Moby Dick is a close second, but I really think Shamshiry is the best. I pretty much always get the Kubideh, which is ground beef. Its the most flavorful and juicy Kabob you'll eat. The rice is good as well, not too oily or too dry. I have had the chicken and lamb as well, but I personally like the ground beef in general. For apps, try the cucumber/tomato salad (Salad-e Shirazi) and their yogurt/shallot (Mast-o Musir). I know they have other traditional Persian dishes too, but I haven't tried any of it. Honesty, thats where my moms cooking will probably have them beat. We usually just pick up the food, but you can dine there too. Its a relatively small, very casual restaurant. So if you are looking for a flashy place for dinner, this isn't the place. But if you are just looking for really good food, look no further. You also get a lot of food...I usually split my dinner.
(5)
Richard Z.

The food is great and the portions are huge. Don't forget to try the Doogh
(5)
Missy Y.

Someone tell me what makes this place good. Im dying to know. The only thing that ever tastes ok here is the rice. They dip the chicken in some green sauce and call it Chicken tandoori, the regular chicken has no damn flavor. The bread is flat, cold and store bought. The kubideh is nothing special and neither is this restaurant.
(2)
Brian K.

The good: -Authentic Persian flavors -Huge portions of food -Helpful and friendly servers The bad: -I don't work across the street from them anymore Seriously though, it would almost be an insult to call this place the best kabob joint in the area. Because it's so much more than that. But they really do have the best kabobs you'll find. Along with HUGE portions of the best tasting rice I've ever had. Add some of their hot Persian tea on the side and I am in heaven.
(5)
Jamal F.

Hands down the best Persian restaurant in the area. I would give it a perfect 5 stars if the costumer service was better.
(4)
Brendan J.

I love rice. Short grain rice, medium grain rice, long grain rice, white rice, brown rice, red rice, black rice, sushi rice, GABA rice...Best post-Thanksgiving snack - bowl of rice topped with turkey gravy. Only have two bites of leftover Chinese food? No problem - I'll eat it with a big bowl of rice. Picnic lunch? Japanese style rice balls with various filling. Sometimes I'll just eat some rice by itself to enjoy the flavor of good quality rice. Rice rice rice. So what does this have to do with Shamshiry? If you take a look at any of the photos, you'll notice that the plate is covered in a huge mound of rice. It is phenomenal! I need to learn the art of making fluffy, perfectly steamed long grain rice that isn't mushy and comes out steaming but it isn't clumpy all. It is ridiculously fluffy and pretty tasty - even better with a few shakes of sumac. And they give you an absurd amount of it - maybe 3 or 4 normal helpings worth. The jujeh kabob was juicy and delicious. The salmon kabob chunks were big and quite good, although cooked more than I normally like. The accompanying dill rice was also very nice. The bread was aight - nothing offensive and nothing that special. I suppose the amount of meat may be a bit skimpy, but I only ate three pieces since I was too busy eating the rice and the bread. In general, the items here don't seem to be strongly seasoned as what you'd get from other kabob places. Whether that is a Persian thing or just Shamshiry, I think they do a good job with the flavorings they do use. So if your love of rice is greater than or equal to your love of kabobs, this place is great. Otherwise it might be more like a 3.5 or 3.75.
(4)
K C.

Had a good dinner here with friends. Portions are VERY generous and food is generally tasty We had the Chelo Kabob Kubideh (ground meat grilled on skewers) - this was the tastiest part and you must get this! Also had the Chelo Kabob Barg (filet mignon). Although very tender, it wasn't nearly as flavorful as the Kubideh and had an odd (read not good) odor. So I personally wouldn't recommend it. You get a mound of very light and tasty rice. Pita bread comes in ziplock bags which is interesting. Be prepared to take stuff to go for left overs!
(3)
Adam S.

Got to increase my rating to 5 starts for this amazing family-owned Persian gem! Had the Chicken Tandoori last night (the one with the fiery green herb paste). Freaking incredible! Honestly, who knew that chicken could taste this good. Also, the lavash/pita is really not the focus for this restaurant, although if they started to bake their own bread, this might become my daily diner. Truly remarkable chicken dish.
(5)
Rob M.

Hope you love rice, because you're getting plenty of it here. Which is good, since the rice is fluffy and delicious. The kubideh and chicken tandoori kabobs were a tasty delight as well. Now for the not so great. The side of raw onions I can do without. Its just taking up plate real estate where more rice or meat could be. And the close proximity of your table to your neighbors' feels almost like a communal dining experience. But with good food and affordable prices (especially for Tysons) Shamshiry is a must try.
(4)
T. C.

Overall: Best Kabob in DC Area Kabob is not sopposed to be a sophisticated meal, and it is refreshing to see that shamshiri is not a 5 star restaurant with a 5 star price.. Kabob is a street food in Iran, and a relaxed atmosphere is how it is served best. With that said, the restaurant provides great service, offers meals at a good price, is nicely decorated, has the most authentic flavored kabob in the DC area, and is by no means a hole in a wall. Shamshiri is a busy restaurant, but I have never had to wait to be seated, despite the restaurant always beeing busy, and the food is always served on a timely manner. The best idea shamshiri has for service, that most restaurants don't, is leaving a water pitcher at each table--so you never have to wait for a waiter to fill your cup up. That concept adds a laid back-pleasant asmosphere to the restaurant. The foods are presented beautifully, with the rice having a safron colored top (it's not safron--at least not enough to taste). The koobideh has two large kabobs, and there are slices of white onion next to the meat, all served on a modern designed plate. The food is cheap, with a kabob koobideh costing $10.00, and the tadhig (cripsy rice) served complimentary on the house--something few persian restaurants offer free. What isn't appreciated is the cost of fresh herbs to go with the meal--this is something that should be included with the meal at no extra price, and is a service that some persian restaurants do offer--unfortunately none in the DC area have cought on. Any persian knows that a kabob without herbs is like serving butter and toast without honey or jam--sure you don't need it, but without it, it's definitely missing something well appreciated. A nice freshly made bread is also one thing that's missing. Even Moby Dick's, a fast food kabob restaurant ,serves a homemade bread. It is suprising that Shamshiri does not follow suit. All in all, the food is great, with only a few things missing--complimentary herbs, and freshly made bread. If I had to visit a persian restaurant for kabob in the DC area, Shamshiri would definitely be the place I would go.
(5)
S S.

Wow, I'm surprised at the good reviews here! There's so many other better kabob places. I went for lunch on a weekday and we were one of two tables. It used to be so busy but I think people realize that this place is SO overpriced and hopefully have taken their business elsewhere. It's not hard to make a tender chicken kabob so I'm not going to give them credit for that but there's no flavor! The ground beef and lamb are okay but a bit dry. There's so much rice you could feed a whole country....sorry cheapos, you skimp on the meat! Now I have to say the yogurt is good but the little pita they service in a plastic bag...c'mon, you couldn't put it nicely in a basket? The bread tastes like dry paper. I didn't give them one star because they do serve filet mignon and cornish hen which is intriguing but again, very bland. Service is slow. They're pretty cheap and charge for every additional item when everything is overpriced to begin with. Moby Dick's has them beat anyday!!
(2)
Samira G.

Probably the best Persian food on the East Coast. a little pricey, but well worth it. People of all nationalities love the food here. always busy. always great.
(5)
Kamal K.

Shamshiry is the closet kababi to where I live and probably the best that I've been to in Northern VA. I'm pretty sure that MD has some comparable kababis but I've never had the complete urge to sit in two hours of traffic on the beltway/270 just to get chelo kabab. Shamshiry is located in an office park in Tysons Corner and thankfully it's only off of the first light on 7 from the dulles toll road. Parking there is kind of a pain, you might have to utilize the parking garage nearby. Walk inside and you'll see a glass window exposing the grill area. It's a bit chaotic as the entry hallway is very narrow and there's usually families seated on the seats lining this hallway waiting to be seated, making it really crowded. The decor is basic, mirrors and the bare necessities. This type of a decor is quite common in Iranian kababis where more emphasis is put on the food. The place is not ambient by any means, it's usually quite noisy/rowdy. Service: as other yelpers have said, it sucks. Each server seems to be overworked and the attentiveness could use some work. Food: Kababs: As I said, best chelo kabab in the area. The koobideh is big, filling and greasy. The skewer of barg is superb, but tastes sub-par if you choose to eat it as next-day leftovers. They have joojeh and chicken, the former having a bone, the latter boneless. Both are surprisingly tasty. Each kabab dish comes with a mountain load of rice, soomagh, spicy green stuff and lavash. You can even get a raw egg on your rice, if you're old fashioned like that. Ask for tah-dig (caked rice for the pan), Shamshiry's tah-dig is cooked just right. Rice dishes, etc: This is one the only places that serves Albaloo Polo, and it's fantastic. The Baghali Polo is above average. Both taste great with Chicken Kabab, the latter tastes amazing with Daisy yogurt (if you do takeout). Haven't gotten around to any other dishes. I give this a four because the kababs are great and I usually do take out. Shamshiry is on my speed dial and my order is always ready when I arrive. While the ambiance and service may be sub par, I love this place for its proximity, speed and food quality and will continue to be a regular customer.
(4)
Kim G.

On a friday night at 6PM, they were able to seat 7 of us and a baby seat without wait. Upon entering, I thought this place would be great for take out but not for a date night. Pitchers of ice water and iced tea bumped this place up a notch. So do the descriptions on the menu! The raw onion goes so well with the tender ground beef kabob, perfectly grilled salmon, chicken skewers, and steak. However, it doesn't go so well for morning breath, and this you MUST keep in mind. The rice was great but the salad I could do without. The cucumber appetizer was really refreshing. If you order the ice cream, they'll give you about four scoops. The Persian one tastes great but is very sweet and my sister thought it tasted like perfume because of the rose water, which is why I ordered it. The baklava didn't hit the spot for me, too much of an almond paste consistency and lacking in the department of flakiness or nuts. I would definitely return with an Iranian friend to get the dilly on the dishes that aren't on the menu.
(3)
Sheila D.

For nova, this place is not too bad. Coming from LA, aka "mini tehrangeles" this comes pretty close to the most authentic persian spots in LA. It's located at Tysons corner at the first level of a business office, it's tucked behind the mercedes benz dealership. They have my favorite persian dish (which is sometimes hard to find). Everytime I've gone here it's always been pretty packed. The kubedeh, grilled salmon, and soltani are also very good.
(4)
Brian J.

Weak. I dont understand why people rave about this place. The kabobs, rice, yogurt, and grilled vegetables taste EXACTLY like Sorrento Grill in Herndon. Two totally different restaurants, owned by different people should not taste exactly the same. The quality? Below average. Also - atmosphere and operations are odd. The place is trying to be fancy with white tablecloths and "wait to be seated" and waiters and shit. Doesn't work. Reminds me of a tacky Indian restaurant. Kabob joints work better when they are holes in the wall or just simple walk in, order, sit down, wait 10 minutes, get your number called type of places. Back to the food. In general, I lump Persian / Iranian / Egyptian kabobs into a larger generic Middle Eastern category, and Shamshiry falls square into that grouping. The food is simply inferior to Afghan or Pakistani kabobs. The kabobs just don't pack that spicy, rich, tender, juicy goodness that they should.
(1)
Fred S.

Rude and arrogant service, Cafeteria atmosphere, and overpriced.
(1)
Fauzia I.

I went here over Thanksgiving. Used to go when we lived in VA 8+ years ago and was glad it was still there. Not surprised, but glad. It did look smaller than I remembered but the food was the same. However, in the meantime I had discovered Caspian Persian Grill in Plantation where I used to live, and have to say Shamshiry would lose in comparison. That specific review will follow. It's always crowded, even at lunch on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Even though it's in an office complex. However, I was not impressed by Shamshiry's service - it was ok, but somewhat abrupt - not particularly friendly. Plus the restaurant was cramped, as were the tables - too small for everything. You have to do a lot of constant juggling. Also, being seated directly in front of the mirrored wall was a bit unsettling but that's also a personal preference. I liked watching the kitchen while waiting to be seated. Even given that you can get kababs on every street corner in Northern VA, this place always stands out for me. Well cooked and tasty meat. Oh, and good, really spicy fresh green chutney. However, b/c of the service, and waitimes, I'm not sure I would go back regularly even if I lived there.
(3)
Pervaiz B.

Excellent Persian Kubideh. Try the rice with the raw egg and Zereshk (you mix the raw egg into the rice as soon as it comes out - and it cooks into the hot rice... interesting concept). Also try their Dessert - they make a mean Faluda.
(4)
EvA A.

This suppose to be persian restaurant offering exclusive cuisine, though I really don't see a big difference from other kabob like places. I would even say that average kabob fast food is not only cheaper but also better than Shamshiry restaurant. I don't even remember what I ate, but I know rice is always there. Tinny appetizers! Spacious restaurant, big grill, fresh dishes, not that bright service, tablecloth, clean tacky toilets with artificial flowers. I wouldn't drive just to eat there, but if you are around, you can grab a meal that at least won't give you a stomach ache.
(2)
Ayon J. R.

First thing you'll notice after you get your food is that the portion size is very generous. The food is decent..not the best Kabob..not the worst either. But, i would have enjoyed my food a lot more if the service staff smiled a bit more often.
(3)
Shawn S.

First.. you have to find it... (which wasn't easy the first time). It is interesting some people love it some hate it. This is a nice break from both the "fast food" Ke-Bob's and TOTALLY fancy persian restaurants. When you walk in you get to see the skewers cooking.. your greeted and taken to a table. It's a great place to get some friends together (the bigger the group the better) and enjoy some doughe... They give you some bread and butter, and this green "salsa" stuff... (not persian, but good). Tons of great rice, meat is tasty. The rice is amazing, a fact that most negative reviewers forget is the RICE! so good. the meat is good, but could be as good as some of the "faster" food places. net-net nice place, good food.
(4)
Hanyan W.

I don't know how authentic Shamshiry is, but this is a pretty good place for kabobs. The chicken and cornish hen kabobs are ok, but my favorites are the kubideh and barg. My only gripe about this place is that they do not make naan or something similar. All you get is a basket of very thin presliced flat bread served with something like a jalapeno salsa, which I'm pretty sure is not Persian. Also, make sure to get the mast-o-musir, which is a yogurt dip with shallots. It goes well with the kabobs and "bread". If you don't like the taste of raw shallots, you can get the mast-o-khiar which has dill and cucumbers instead of shallots. And if you're feeling adventurous, get a glass of doogh (carbonated yogurt drink with mint). It's an acquired taste, but I definitely like it.
(4)
John B.

The food merits a better rating at Shamshiry, but I tend to agree with Shieva R. I don't begrudge a restaurant efforts at fanciness. But these should be accompanied by an attendant refinement of the food. The kabobs here are not extraordinary relative to peer restaurants. There are many restaurants in the area that will run about 60% to 75% the cost of Shamshiry. I will say, however, that the rice is expertly prepared. If I could make rice this good at home, I'd go through several pounds a month.
(3)
nat t.

Shamshiry kicks butt over all the other kabob places in this area - and it's about the same price (if not, less). Portions are huge, so it's easy to share with someone else. We ordered an appetizer (forget the name, sorry). I was expecting it to be like a yogurt/hummus type of thing, but it was actually a huge bunch of fresh basil (the same amount you would buy in a supermarket), a chunk of feta cheese, a radish, and some spring onions. You took all of these ingredients and put them in a piece of the pita bread. Yum! So fresh and good! And with the leftover basil, I decided to take it home and cook with it (there was a lot left! and i had paid for it, so i figured I could take it!). Now that I've experienced Shamshiry, I don't think I'll be going to Moby Dicks again.
(5)
Nabeel A.

This Persian restaurant is right by the big Sheraton building, hidden in a business center. I arrived with a party of 5 around 9 PM on a Friday night and the place was packed. We had to wait to get a seat (which is usually a good sign). The interior of the restaurant is not impressive on any level. It is a fairly small dining room and they have used wall mirrors to give the illusion of being bigger than what it really is. There were 4 or 5 waiters hanging out at main door and observing the dining room. After we sat down it took another 10 minutes before the waiter showed up to take our order. We ordered the drinks and it took another 10 minutes before the drinks arrived. They forgot to bring 2 drinks. For dinner we ordered Gormeh Sabzi, Baghali Polo, Zereshk Polo, Chelo Kabob Kubideh, Mast-o Khiar, Salad Shirazi, and Fasanjan. The food was fresh and very good. I give it 4 out of 5. Fasajan was a bit sweeter than usual. I tried the Baghali Polo for the first time and really enjoyed it. Its a rice dish that looked a bit gray and had giant lima beans. Gormeh Sabzi was a winner and everyone liked it. I didnt try the Zereshk Polo but heard that it was very good. They forgot the Kubideh and we had to remind them to get it for us and by the time it arrived most of us were done with our dinner. When it did arrive it was very hot and fresh and I liked it a lot. For desert we ordered Faloodeh. It was ok at best. The service was poor and I think they can benefit from providing better service to their future patrons. It took long time for everything we asked for. They forgot items on the order and at one time brought someone else's order to our table. I enjoyed the food but didnt enjoy the ambiance and the service.
(3)
zibra a.

we have had dinner here many times with friends and family, if you like Kabobs, this is the place to go. their soltani is the best in the area, the salmon kabob is very good too, we laso loved the bastani and fallodeh which are deserts. very good food, but don't expect a great service.
(5)
ryan b.

Shamshiry Tysons Corner VA. Samshiry is a small place tucked in an office park in Tysons Corner. It was pretty tightly paced and the wait staff was neither friendly nor attentive, but that can be forgiven if the food makes it all worth it. The food breakdown Panir Sabzi, the appetizer Described very vaguely in the menu as "goat cheese is and extremely delicious cheese, which the Persians habitually eat." This was a confusion, half way through my meal a waiter wordlessly brought a plate that seemed to only be a pile of basil. I didn't know what to make of it, I figured it was there as a condiment or garnish. After I had finished my entrÃ©e I started picking at the basil and discovered underneath it all a raw radish. I ate the radish and then noticed buried under all the basil there was a 3cm * 3cm * 1cm piece of cheese that had been there under the pile of basil all along. The cheese was delicious, but the portion for $3.25 was tiny. Baghali Polo, the entrÃ©e This was a pile of bland rice and fava beans. I could see the dill, but I could not taste the dill. Disappointing, though the portion was huge...so I had a heaping big plate of bland rice and beans... Something positive The coffee was absolutely delicious. I would almost go back just for the coffee, seriously. Unfortunately while the menu describes the coffee as bottomless our despondent waiter never offered me a refill or responded to eye contact. It was frustrating to say the least. All in all I would say if you are a vegetarian foodie, you'd be better served elsewhere. I hear the meat dishes here are delicious from my omnivorous friends. I found the food bland and tasteless and the service horrible. Overall grade D+
(2)
Anson P.

Seeing as how we were disappointed to find Oriental Regency closed, we decided we'd rather try this place then battle the traffic of Rt 7. My friend went with the chicken soltani which was pretty good, cooked just right. I went with the chelo kabab shamshiry. The meat was pretty tasty but I didn't feel like there was enough of it, especially for the price. The same goes for the chicken. The rice was a heaping pile. I think I got about two days worth of grains in that serving. It was ok, but I just kept dumping stuff in it to spice it up because it tasted plain. I like how each entree came with a huge serving of sliced onions. This could be good or bad depending on who your date is. The mast-o khiar reminded me of raita, just slightly more tangy. The salad shirazi was a nice chopped salad with cucumbers and tomatoes. Pretty refreshing. The service was pretty good. Huge plus for giving each table a pitcher of ice water. Being the carnivore that I am, I have to judge the place on the meat. I didn't feel that there was enough and the amount that there was did not match up to some of the other kabob places out there. Would I head back here? Maybe, but it wouldn't be one of my first choices.
(3)
Alexander F.

Very tasty and tender kabobs. Also offer some nice Khoresht (Gravy to put over rice). I would say this place and Rose are the best Persian style Kabob places I have been in the area. Not as good as you will find in a Persian home but still very passable. Another thing that is nice about this place is that they have a room next door you can rent for functions. Also try the green sauce (Even though it is not traditional) its spicy and good.
(4)
nemo h.

I am Persian (coextensive with Iranian) and this place is the only Persian restaurant worth frequenting (i.e. that supplements the food my parents make). Fantastic barg (filet mignon) kabab that consistently delivers. The green spicy sauce is an interesting innovation that has grown on me. I only wish they served wine and beer.
(5)
Mamali I.

Nice place and great kabobs! I've tried their Koubideh, Barg and Chicken kabobs which all were awesome!
(5)
Chris M.

My expectations were high, but I felt a bit let down by Shamshiry. Here's a summary of my visit: My order - Jujeh Kabob. Described on the menu as: "Cornish hen marinated in an original recipe, crisp edged and juicy is served in big chunks, on the bone, with rice." I suppose the term 'big chunks' is subjective. The flavor of the hen was nice and it seemed perfectly cooked, there just wasn't much of it - I was disappointed in the poultry portion. Rice, on the other hand, was voluminous and properly cooked - I just didn't like the way it tasted - at all. I kind of shoved it in to fill my stomach a bit. For dessert I tried the Mixed Persian Ice Cream With Paludeh. Again, I was underwhelmed. The ice cream's flavor was actually completely unidentifiable to me and my dinner companion - its barely detectable sweetness was overpowered by the Paludeh's rose water onslaught. I should have gone for the Cinnamon Ice Cream, but I wanted to try something new. The server looked like he was half asleep, and his service was uninspiring. There were other servers who assisted our table who seemed upbeat and efficient though. Who knows, maybe the guy was pulling a double shift and felt exhausted. The atmosphere is forgettable (but no problem). The prices are very reasonable though. 2.5 stars - I was disappointed. Note: This was my FIRST experience with Middle Eastern cuisine. There are many reliable and experienced Yelpers who seem to stand by this place. While I will not return here, I would encourage others to make up their own mind. I will, however, enjoy future forays into Middle Eastern cuisine - so stay tuned. :) Happy dining!
(3)
Dave P.

What I know about Iranian/Persian food fits on the nose of a Persian cat. I've now been there twice, and both times got the chicken kebabs. I'm not a fan of Lamb, which I have been told is one of their specialties. The kebabs themselves were tasty, but the amount of rice that is served with them is overwhelming. Seriously, save me a couple of bucks and cut the rice portion in half. The nan-style bread that is served is stacked up and slicked with what must be a machete, and delivered to the table in a little plastic sandwich bag. Am I the only one who finds that a bit odd? I'm willing to man up and admit I don't know a whole lot about middle eastern food culture, but bread in a plastic bag on a table seems ... somehow disrespectful to the rest of the food. The last time I was there, I had a slightly different type of rice than the standard that comes with the kebabs: Albalou style rice. It was sweet, and quite changed the overall taste of the meal. I haven't tried any of the deserts, but the Zolbia-Bamieh looks freakin' spectacular coming out of the kitchen. Maybe next time I'll skip the rice bits entirely and save room to try some desert. According to aaagw.org , this place is a Halal (except Barg Kabab) place. I think that's sort of like being a kosher place, but that's not gospel. Get your grain of salt handy. Parking sucks, even for Tysons. Read the signs, don't get towed.
(3)
Nancy T.

The rice here is addictive. You add some butter and sumac and you just can't stop eating it. It's the best rice I've ever had. Very tender and flavorful meats, fresh salads and a low key atmosphere. I plan on going back here again. Next time I will try to stop eating the rice and order some of the Persian ice cream.
(4)
Chad H.

Just ate here. I feel fat, as I always do after I eat here. Great kabob (kubideh is my favorite), GREAT DOOGH (best housemade doogh ever, much better than Moby Dick's), great basmati rice topped with the perfect saffron (and you HAVE to try the tai-digh, aka the crunchy rice), and friendly NON-INTRUSIVE service. The waiters aren't annoying pricks that come by every 3 minutes to see if you need a refill on your water. They quietly observe from a distance, and when necessary, they come by. This is my favorite Persian-style waiting/dine-in restaurant. I appreciate that the proprietor spends a lot of time here. He seems like a hands-on businessman. That explains the quality and success of this place, and consistency of quality of food and service for over 10 years. Highly recommended for a date in Tysons as opposed to some generic garbage like """"Olive Garden""". My one gripe about this place is that the bread is packaged pita, not fresh tandoori. I personally think pita bread and kabob should never go together. But the food here is so great, and there are so many side options, such as the amazing Mast-o-Khiar and the Persian Ice Cream that they still get a 5. If they had tandoori bread instead of pita, I would find a way to give them 6 out of 5 stars. The owner should really consider getting a tandoor in there. But I doubt that'll ever happen. Anyway, GREAT FOOD!!
(5)
Christina L.

Today was my first visit to Shamshiry and I will definitely go many more times in the future. I was introduced to Persian food while living in LA and loved it. After moving back to DC for a job, I could not find any true Persian restaurantsin the MD/Dc area. Many were more Middle Eastern/Mediterranean influenced, but this place is truly Persian. I had the zeresk polo and my friend (first time having Persian food for her) had the ghormeh sabzi special, both with tah dig. The portions were huge and both were absolutely delicious. I even ordered a ghormeh sabzi to-go for myself. We finished the meal off with some traditional saffron/rosewater ice cream which was amazing. It felt like I was back in LA again. The prices were super reasonable and the staff is friendly. Well, I cannot say enough good things about here, so definitely go try it. Merci, Shamshiry for an amazing meal!
(5)
Jeff W.

Great Persian spot out in the ambiguous west of Tysons car dealership area. The most notable aspect of my meal was how perfectly everything was cooked. Rice was warm and fluffy, chicken was gorgeous with beautiful char and some stylish score in it, and the kubideh was similar. Even the salad shirazi was great with a light dressing coating tons of fresh vegetables. My complaint, however, is that there just wasn't that much flavor to anything. My 8 pound pile of rice tasted like...rice, but that's it. No seasoning, no nothing. Just seemed like a waste to me, but that could just be indicative of the style of food. Chicken was juicy but with a barely detectable flavor. Same with the kubideh. The food looked great and was cooked to perfection, but I need some more taste in there. I do appreciate how light you feel when eating, however. Not all weighed down and greasy, and the freshness of all ingredients was evident. Overall, I really like this place and will probably return when I'm in the mood for good persian food and don't want to drive out to Arlington. I'd say this place is on par with Kabob Bazaar, but with a notch to KB for flavor but a slight notch to Shamshiry for presentation.
(4)
Pat M.

I love this place, my mom brought me here for the first time in 2003 and ever since then it has been my little hidden jewel spot in Tyson's Corner to take anyone who is in the mood for awesome Middle Eastern Cusine. Service is as good as it gets for the price, and food is of the most excellent quality.
(5)
Ellen K.

My sister and her hub brought me here for kabobs and I was so amazed at how delicious it was! The food portions are huge, I can never finish so I always take leftovers home. The meat is so juicy and so tender. The restaurant is always packed with families. We always make reservations before we go. I went back for my birthday and plan on going back whenever I'm in the Tyson's Corner area. The staff is nice and the feeling of the restaurant is very home-y.
(5)
Mina E.

They have the best kabob and rice anywhere around. i love this place.
(5)
Sandra K.

The best Persian food around. I think it's the butter that they add at the end to the rice.
(4)
Candace H.

Amazing, delectable, melt-in-your-mouth Persian food. The meat is falling off the bone with its goodness and char-grilled to perfection. Not too expensive. The atmosphere is great - I felt like I was back in the Middle East... Farsi, Turkish, and Arabic fluttered past my ears and bounced from every corner of the room. I love it!
(5)
Ammara M.

Very nice Persian place. Kubideh is great. Amoos remains number one, however this is number 2.
(5)
Kirk S.

Brace yourself to be assaulted with huge amounts of delicious food. Shamshiry is an excellent Persian joint that is about as legitimate as you can imagine. As many have noted, if you aren't Persian, you will stick out like a sore thumb - and that's a damn good thing. The ambiance and quality are pretty basic, but not in a bad way, as the food here is really the appeal. You should expect some loudness, though - lots of families with kids. Service is pretty blunt and simple, but not unexpectedly so given the tenor of the place. Prices are dirt-cheap for the volume of food (discussed below). The food here is overwhelmingly voluminous and tasty. I had the Chelo Kabob Kubideh, which I genuinely enjoyed - the meat was impossibly tender, the rice and salad were excellent, and even the pita was tasty. Note, however, that the food here is VOLUMINOUS - the meat portions are reasonable, but the amount of rice and salad (you can order salad as a replacement for half the rice) was INSANE. I'm the kind of guy who can eat huge amounts of food, and even I felt overwhelmed. It's a damn good thing to have this problem - you definitely get your money's worth - but, to be blunt, there's no way you're going to clean your plate here.
(4)
Shifu R.

Average at best. I have eaten better Persian cuisine.
(3)
Dom K.

Place is amazing... I am often there 2-3 times per month easily. The portions are huge. When I get chicken kabob, I pay around $10 and it lasts me two meals and I am not a small guy! When you get into the place, you will see a lot of middle eastern clientele, which is a good sign. You know that you are getting real deal kabob and none of those chains like Moby Dick, etc. Try saffron ice cream. Simple delicious.
(5)
Rabia J.

Let's start on a negative note: if you like good service and want the server to come in a timely manner to get your order, or refill your drinks, or make sure you and your family are ok etc. This restaurant is not for you. They lack in service and do not care how your meal is going. My uncle and his family decided to take me out while I was visiting VA. And they decided this restaurant, and I have been there before and was about to tell my uncle let's go somewhere else because I remembered the bad service from a previous visit. However, out of politeness I decided not to say anything. I wish I had. The service was just as bad this time. We were a party of 10, and everything took forever. Our "server" never got us more drinks, appetizers didn't come together, etc. Rating the food solely, I would rate this restaurant 3.5 stars. The portions are huge and I would recommend you to share. I ordered the platter with skewers of chicken and beef. The chicken was dry and semi tasteless. The beef kabob was good and juicy. The bread they brought was on the dry side. I really liked their green sauce. Also my mom tried their yogurt drink which I shared with her. That was refreshing and it had mint infused within it. Next family reunion dinner I will be avoiding this place.~
(2)
Ana P.

Hands down the BEST kabob place in the DMV. Shamshiry, where have you been all my life?! I loved everything here: How fast the order came, the bread served at the table (ours was not served in zip lock bags or were they stale), the spicy green chili paste, the flavorful olive oil, tenderness of the rice, how succulent each piece of meat was... I could literally go on forever. I also loved the large portion sizes (even for to-go meals) and the Persian iced tea.
(5)
Jenna W.

My friend and I went here after her Persian teammate recommended it to her, so I suspected from the get-go this place was going to be legit. And indeed, it was! We were the only non-Persians in the entire place, which was a good sign in my opinion! The food is absolutely AMAZING with generous portions for great prices! Complimentary pita bread with a tasty spicy green spread (parsley?, olive oil, and hot peppers) is served to you immediately upon being seated. We got the salad shirazi (diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions dressed with olive oil, lemon juice) as an appetizer. It was so crisp, light and refreshing! I got the chicken kabob and she got the chelo kabob barg (beef). Both were served HUGE portions of Basmati rice, grilled tomatoes, and onions. We both commented that the meat was perfectly cooked, tender, and seasoned. Both dishes are simply delicious and filling. What more could you ask for? This place's only weakness was it's desserts (and I think it's mainly because it is not the type of desserts we are accustomed to). We tried the Persian ice cream (saffron and rose water flavored ice cream). It was described as chewy and creamy in the menu, which we did not understand what that meant until we tried it. It truly is chewy and creamy. We both agreed that we weren't the biggest fans of this dessert. We decided to try the baklava as well. It was not the typical Greek one we were expecting with layer on layer of phyllo dough stuffed with honey and nuts but it wasn't too shabby either. The place was packed but the servers were quick, attentive, and friendly. They were truly working their tails off. The decor is nondescript and very casual. Everything is served on multi-colored plastic dishes, which was an interesting choices for a sit-down restaurant. Given the number of families with young children that were eating there, this is probably a wise move. Side note: The description on the menu of the various foods is literally a narrative paragraph that reads like a book. I've never seen a menu that essentially tells a tale. Unexpected but interesting. Would I go back here or recommend it someone else? In a heartbeat!
(5)
MoJoe S.

Went there with friends after a mutual co-worker that is Persian recommended it. I wasn't disappointed as the food was great: I ordered the Chicken Tandoori. The rice, which many places seems to get wrong, was perfectly cook, while the chicken was nice and moist. The service itself was good and fast, but it felt pretty standard. The only issues I have with the place are that (A) The seating feels cheap, there are a few ($) places I know that have better seating (B) The menu feels small; I know many restaurants keep their menus small to master their dishes, but it feels like you could get bored of eating here after a while. Nonetheless, it's a great place to eat.
(4)
Elina Y.

Tonight, they asked how I wanted my filet mignon slices cooked. That was a first. Not that my experiences were horrible here but the service from the servers could have definitely been better. And it now is. Our server tonight was very courteous and we were pleasantly surprised. Keep up the great work! :)
(4)
Sheila M.

Best Persian food in Northern Virginia! Always a great experience! Their food quality is top notch. Their customer service could be a little better but they're not too bad. Mmm I wish I had some right now Recently they have started bringing out their bread warm in a nice bread holder vs in a zip lock bag. I wish they would make their own bread in house!
(4)
Omid A.

They don't put their bread in ziplock bags anymore ! the bread was actually pretty good this time. Something about the ambiance reminds me of the food joints at the rest stops in Iran. The koobideh and Barg are pretty good... 4 stars for the food. Ambiance = 0
(4)
Kimberly K.

Heard a lot of great things about this restraurant. There is plenty of free parking. It wasn't all that crowded the day we went. We were seated immediately. Our server was not attentive nor was she all that friendly. The overall vibe at this restaurant is a bit difficult to describe. It just isn't all that warm and inviting. Your meal starts off with complimentary bread (comes in a zip lock bag), butter, and a spicy green sauce (yum!). The kebabs are incredibly juicy and the consistency is perfect. However, the flavor is a bit underwhelming. I've tasted more flavorful kebabs elsewhere. I appreciate the generous serving size. One dish was plenty for 3-4 meals. You will have rice for days! The Salad Shirazi and Mast-o Khiar were very fresh. The yogurt was of high quality and went well with our meal. I'm glad we tried this place out once but I think it's a bit overrated.
(3)
Meggie C.

so good. will make this a regular place to stop whenever I'm around tysons. I ordered the chicken kabob with orange peel rice. So damn good. My bf ordered the steak over salad which was not bad. their green sauce is go die for. I put that on everything lol. Service is good. White table cloth decor. Price is decent too!
(5)
Yelper O.

Excellent service and clean. Extra charge for yogurt sauce - thumbs down. At the end of the meal, it's just kabob... A pricey one. Worth it? Not really unless you want service with your kabob, I am usually good with a take out or no-fancy kabob joints with self service.
(4)
Sadiq A.

A Persian restaurant with Persian waitstaff and mostly Persian customers inside. If you have any doubt that this is good Persian food, re-read the previous sentence and reconsider. Generous portions and deliciously cooked meat guarantee that I will be coming to this place again and again.
(5)
Sean A.

The best Kabab value in the states! The Barg and Koobideh are out of this world and the Akbar mashti ice cream is killer. Skip the kashke bademjan.
(5)
Ruth C.

Three and a half stars for one of the three most tender, flavorful kubideh I've had in the area, buried in a buttery mound of rice in my takeout box (which I split out into two additional meals). Bread was thin and supple-- unmemorable without liberal application of mast-o khiar. I'm a heathen who prefers my onion not raw, but I had no shame about repurposing those for later meals either. I'm curious enough to return and try jujeh kabob, chelo kabob barg, lamb shanks baghali polo, mixed persian ice cream and paludeh, cinnamon ice cream, Persian tea, doogh... bonus points if I can score off-menu tahdig.
(3)
Ted W.

We have always loved the food here. The atmosphere has not changed much over the years. Be sure to try the persian ice cream it is the best.
(5)
Alon X.

Great koobideh. Good value. Service wasn't good. Minus one star for bad host and server. Food again was great.
(3)
Saeid S.

Awesome food! Making Persian food proud! Great food, beautiful environment, wonderful staff, absolutely fair prices! Went there twice in our 4-day trip. The Highlight of the trip!
(5)
Pete H.

This restaurant has all the bases covered. The food was excellent, the portions generous and the service was wonderful. Our waiter had excellent suggestions and was adept at describing the dishes to those of us unfamiliar with Persian cuisine. The service was attentive without being encroaching. A wonderful place and a new favorite.
(5)
Christine L.

Came here on Saturday for lunch. It was packed but we were able to get a table very quick. They serve Iranian bread with a green sauce and butter as complimentary table bread. The sauce is spicy and delicious. I ordered the combo of chicken and ground beef kabob. Portion is huge and deff can feed two people. The chicken is tender and flavorful. The ground beef is so juicy and tasty. Would come here again.
(5)
John J.

Shamshiry is one of the best Persian restaurants that I have ever had. The only reason for the minus one star is that their bread is not at the same level as the rest of their menu items. First of all, once your food arrives, you will be amazed at how much rice they will give you. As someone who loves to eat a lot, this is a huge, huge plus. They grill all of their kabob in open fire grill, which I think adds additional flavors. The service is adequate, but could be a little better. Shamshiry is the first place I think of when I think of Persian food. This is a must visit restaurant.
(4)
Ajit A.

My friends and I enjoyed a fantastic meal here today. We ordered family style with beef, lamb, chicken and 3 different style rice dishes; some sweet, some savory. They accommodated us well. I really loved the delicious food and relaxed atmosphere. I would recommend Shamshiry to anyone who is craving good kabob. We had the saffron ice cream at the end which is an acquired taste; but, I loved it because I grew up on some of those eastern spices.
(5)
tom h.

Came here and the host just looked at me and proceeded to talk on the phone without even acknowledging that I been waiting for 10 mins. Decided to leave and go to Moby Dicks next door.
(1)
G S.

If your new to Persian cuisone here is what to order at Shamshiris... Kubideh delicious ground beef with Baghali Polo (green rice) is a must. Add some mustaghir (cucumber yogurt) and you will be enjoying a tasty persian meal and at Shamshiris with their large portion your taste buds will be thanking you for days since you will have enough for a few to go meals. Enjoy it!
(5)
Nic S.

Great place for a business luncheon. The kid friendly. Delicious entrÃ©es. They give you plenty of rice.
(4)
C L.

We were visiting some friends in the northern Virginia/ DC area. We were looking for a place that opens past 11, it seems that most places in Virginia closes at 9 or 10. Luckily for us, this awesome place was open and we placed an order of the chicken kebabs and Jujeh plate. we were pretty hungry. We had ordered take out. Owner/ manager was very friendly and accommodating. And gave us more rice along with the crispy rice. Got back in the car and we couldn't wait to dig in since the food smelled so good. Got back to the hotel room and started going to town on the plates. Chicken was perfectly marinated and cooked. It was not dry at all. Rice was cooked perfectly and lightly seasoned with butter and salt. Included was their spices and this special green sauce. The green special sauce is to die for. Just really great flavor with the right amount of kick from the garlic and jalapeÃ±o or some kind of pepper. The meat is underneath all the rice they give you. This place is great! We wish we could have the recipe for the green spicy sauce as well as bringing the restaurant back to LA, lol. If we're in town again, this place is definitely a must stop for us. If any of you are in the area, please give this place a try, food is LEGIT! Well done Shamshiry!
(5)
Pegah Y.

Awful, awful, awful. I've been to many a good Persian restaurant and have grown up eating Persian food, being, well, Persian. I'm also from Los Angeles, where there is a plethora of great Persian restaurants. I can firmly and unreservedly say that Shamshiry is just terrible. I actually remember dining at Shamshiry for lunch about 7 years ago after getting picked up from Dulles Airport. I didn't like it then either. I thought that it would have improved over 7 years, but it really hasn't. I visited recently again with my bf and we both thought it was awful. Here's why: -The service is awful. Most of the servers aren't even Persian and don't even make an effort to be polite to you. They take forever to serve you and also neglect you and then you feel like you're being falsely imprisoned when you wonder why it's taken them 30 minutes to even bring out your check after you're done with your meal. And then anther 15 minutes before they come back. -The restaurant has terrible decor and the tables are spaced so closely together. A kid's foot almost went into my food when her parents were carrying her over our table, because there is really that little space between the tables! The restaurant doesn't even try with its decor. Instead of being a chic, urban eatery or an authentic, magical place, the decor is cheap, shoddy, and not thoughtful at all. -Beyond the awful decor and service, the food was terrible. My salad shirazi (onions, tomatoes, cucumber, and lime juice) was the only thing that was worthy of eating. Both of us ordered a kabob koobideh dish each and the kabob serving was very small. Instead, they overloaded our plates with rice..... mountains and mountains of dry rice! Very disappointing. They also just throw raw onions on your plate and don't even make an effort to grill the onions along with the tomato. So lazy. You can just tell that they're ripping you off. And the plates aren't even cheap for what you're getting. I also asked them for a side of tadeeg (the hard rice dish that I love so much) and their tadeeg was disappointing - instead of being crispy and delicious, it was burnt and rubbery-tasting. I couldn't even finish more than 2 bites of it before being very disappointed. Oh, and the bread they bring out at the beginning LITERALLY TASTES LIKE 2 WEEK OLD FROZEN BREAD!!! THEY DON'T EVEN MAKE THEIR OWN BREAD! IT TASTED SO GROSS! I am never eating at this restaurant again. So disappointing. My quest to find good Persian food in the DC area, alas, continues...
(1)
Hannah H.

My husband and I came to Shamshiry for dinner after watching a movie in the area. We were both pretty excited, as we were told that Shamshiry serves up some great traditional Persian kabobs in the VA area. I was afraid that there would be a long wait, considering it was a Friday, but I think we went there just after the dinner rush, so we were seated right away (they open late until 1AM on the weekends, including Fridays :D The menu offers a selection in appetizers (salads, goat's cheese, the mast yogurt, eggplant dip, hummus, dip, etc.), rice dishes, meat/chicken/fish dishes, and desserts. They also give you a basket of some bread cut bread pieces in a plastic sandwich bag, so that any leftovers can be taken with convenience (which I liked!); this was served with a cup of green sauce and foiled butter (the breads were delicious with some spread butter!). We started off with a Kashke Bademjan, which was like a Persian version of baba ghanouj - this was very thick, but I wasn't much of a fan of the flavors, as it did not seem to complement the bread well. For our entrees, we had a Chelo Kabob Shamshiry (this came with a Chelo Kabob Kubideh (ground lamb meat) and a Chelo Kabob Barg (filet) and a Jujeh Kabob (marinated little Cornish hen meat chunks). Both entrees came with an extremely generous portion of rice, more than enough for 4 people to consume - the rice was just okay, and you could also add a pat of butter to it if you like. Out of the two entrees, I really enjoyed the Jujeh Kabob, as the little Cornish hen meat chunks were bone-in; it had a nice crispy exterior while the interior was very moist and juicy. I would have loved it if there was some good hummus to eat the meats with. Our server, Bill, was very attentive, efficient, and awesome! The restaurant was packed to the brim with locals and regulars, and we both enjoyed our experience. I also found out that you can request 1/2 rice and 1/2 salad combo, so that you can have some veggies with your dish (which I will so do next time!). +Jujeh Kabob entree +Chelo Kabob Shamshiry +can request 1/2 rice and 1/2 salad combo +bread with butter +free parking in the plaza lot
(4)
Tom S.

The most delightful traditional Persian food I've had on the East coast. The service was gracious and timely, the price was fair, and the portions were generous. I don't care for glass covering the table cloth but otherwise the setting was lovely for a casual business lunch. I'll be back.
(4)
Adam F.

Great restaurant! The food was delicious, and the portions were large enough to share for two. There were four of us, so we split two appetizers, two dishes and two desserts. Our server even brought us an additional side dish (for free) that he said the chef was trying out. Seriously, who does that?! My only complaint is that restaurant is located in busy Tysons Corner, but that's really not a complaint about the restaurant itself. Other than that, everything was wonderful -- pleasant service, reasonable prices, nice looking restaurant, plenty of parking, delicious food. I'm happy I gave it a try, and I'll certainly return again someday.
(4)
Sourajit G.

Delicious food!! You should definitely try their Lamb Sultani with Zeresk Polo rice and end it with their rollet dessert....food of God's I say! Beautiful restaurant and people are very caring! One of the best Persian restaurants I have been to in my life!
(5)
Mary Kate M.

I was the only American person in the whole joint.Persians were everywhere, with the occasional Arab. Not many of them though. The restaurant was packed! I came here with my Persian husband and my in-laws for Thanksgiving dinner. No turkey for me on Turkey Day. I had a lot of lamb, beef, and rice. My husband, his father, and I both ordered the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry for $17.99 a piece. It is a huge plate of white and saffron rice accompanied by both beef and lamb meat. My mother-in-law got the Mahi Kabob. A salmon kabob with dill rice for $15.99. She enjoyed it, though she couldn't finish all of it. We took the rest home for leftovers as I did for my own meal. It's a lot of food, but oh sooooo good. One thing my family liked that I did not care to partake in was the doogh drink - which is a Persian yogurt drink. This isn't sweet. It is yogurt liquefied, in its purest form with some diced up herbs added to it served with ice. Service was spotty. When she was around, she didn't seem to quite get a lot of our requests. I fathom our server didn't know Farsi because any time my in-laws asked her a question, she looked to me for translation.... awkward. My husband communicated their needs. Food overall was great. If this is considered traditional Persian, then I must say that it was spot on. I would come back for sure.
(4)
Christopher C.

Here tonight for a quick solo dinner. I am not in the habit of writing negative reviews so let me just focus on what was excellent; the food was tasty, filling, and prepared as I recall from much time spent abroad in the Middle East. And that is all I will say about this place. I may give them another chance the next time I am in town, as the lack of service was not really the fault of the owner.
(3)
Cam N.

Ordered takeout for iftar and this place never seems to fail. The food was absolutely delicious, I recommend it to all my coworkers and friends. We ordered for a large group so we got a little of everything but the beef kubideh is by far my favorite. The rice was nice and fluffy and the employees were nice enough, the customer service could stand a little improvement. All in all a great meal though.
(5)
Sydney L.

If we're in Tysons, we're stopping at Shamshiry! This place is hidden around a bunch of office buildings, but is just across the street from the mall. The food is great and portions are huge. I like that the kababs are mostly chunks of meat, not ground sausage like pieces. Everything is very flavorful and the staff is nice. We tend to each get a different entree and then split it so we can have a taste of multiple things. My only complaint is that they serve flat bread to you in a baggie! I understand they pre-portion the bread, but they bring it to your table in a basket, so it would be nice if they also removed it from the plastic baggie! Do yourself a favor and skip the mall food court next time and go to Shamshiry!
(4)
Eric B.

Great dining experience all around. The kabob platters - salmon, and chicken/beef combo - were delicious. Just delicious. The host and servers were very gracious and accommodating to our family of five with small children. I was impressed with how carefully they handled us. The cherry on top of the meal for me, was my wife's tea. She's a big tea drinker, and at most restaurants, tea is an afterthought, and should be avoided. Yet she orders it anyway. So when she did, I thought great, another stale, or weak, or bitter tea coming right up... but their tea was brewed fresh, perfectly, and amazingly clear, clean, flavorful. A simple, perfectly executed - iced too! - tea. Thank you. The rose flavor in the ice cream was a bit potent for me, and I found their version of baklava almost unpalatable, but hey, we'll forget the dessert next time. Great experience.
(5)
Stephanie J.

Obsessed! I love middle eastern food... Or Iranian? Not sure what kabob and rice is considered but whatever it is it's really good. Every time I have came, I've been pleased with my overall experience. Customer service, environment, and the food itself. I love the location because it's near the infamous Tysons mall, but sometimes I wish they had another location as well because of my random cravings, lol! I haven't been to much Iranian restaurants except Moby and this defiantly beats it! 5 stars for me.
(5)
Sampad D.

The kabobs are the best ..very juicy and spicy.. They serve huge portion of rice and salads with kabobs . I tried the chicken kabaos and tandoori chicken. They were just awesome. The complimentary bread served with green "chutney" is also nice. Its not a huge place but the ambiance is nice. There was a bit of wait (around 5 mins) but it was worth it. The service is also good.
(4)
Tisha B.

I've worked in the area for quite some time and this restaurant has been a staple on my lunch rotation. My co-worker noticed a funny smell coming through the vents that smelled like urine or sour pickles lol. I usually do take-out and can't say that I have ever noticed it. Their yogurt and cucumber sauce is always thick and tasty. I love their chopped veggie salad mixed in with my rice! Very flavorful and healthy. The chicken is always in huge pieces as well as the lamb....admittedly some of the most flavorful lamb I have had. My new favorite is the salmon that I finally woman upped and tried a few months ago lol. The pieces are huge and so worth it. Each time you go, expect to be served enough for at least two meals...possibly three Great eats.....great prices
(4)
Andy A.

Tonight was my second time eating here and I enjoyed it as much as the first. Each time I get the jujeh kabob (Cornish hen) and it was very well prepared. The bread is fresh and warm and I love the spicy sauce they serve with it. I recommend this place without hesitation.
(5)
Russel D.

Unimpressed. My girlfriend and I came here on a Saturday night so we expected it to be busy. It was. The service time was still tolerable and the server was nice. We don't expect fancy silverware at a kabob place, but when they brought out the pita quarters in a plastic bag, it was a major turn off. The bread was cold and stale. Plus, the plates made us feel like we were eating at a child's playroom. They're a very light, oddly colored plastic. But we can get past the environment if the food is excellent. It was not. We ordered kubideh and steak kabob. Both were overly salted and extremely dry. You can say the portions are large, but that is just because there is a mountain of rice. While it tasted okay, who can eat that much rice? When I have Chinese food I don't consider the portion large if they include a lot of rice, do you? Why should I do that here? The prices were a bit expensive (upper teens) considering rice is so cheap. I would consider it a bad value. Parking is difficult. I drove around a bit and ended up in the garage. Drive straight past the restaurant and its a block or two forward. Be careful of the reserved parking though.
(2)
beata n.

Horrible. I highly doubt Persians eat here. We ordered take out. One of our dishes was missing a kebob (should be two per order) and both had mounds of rice! I've never seen so much rice! I think they were trying to hide the very little bit of meat that was in there. We've had Persian food all over the country and have never been that disappointed.
(1)
Jehan E.

Legit Persian restaurant! I'll def return!
(5)
Chris L.

Excellent menu and friendly helpful service. The shop is very family friendly. The mahi kabob and special rice was delicious, plus they give you enough rice for two meals. Recommended!
(4)
Jennifer S.

One of the best kabobs in town. I had my shares of kabobs in the area and this is definitely on top of my list. I came in not knowing what they were known for. The gentlemen in the front greeted me and explained everything as his recommendations. I automatically fell in love with the place. I got his recommended choice and he added in a tub of their special yogurt since it was my first time. I would definitely recommend this place to my friends and family and will come back regularly. They have generous portions of rice and the quality of food is worth the drive.
(5)
Susan T.

We ordered take out so I can't really speak upon any "dining experience" but I can inform you upon the pick up order that I placed over the phone! Let's just say shamshiry is the number one persian restaraunt. Ahhh but I don't know they're all so good. I guess what sets shamshiry apart from other kabob shops is that they serve you extremely large portions for a good price. Not only are their portions large but everything on your plate is high quality everything! You get so much rice. I mean rice for daysss. You could split one plate but where is the fun in that? They got my order right, ready on time and served me my food with friendliness. No problems, no concerns. Kabob kubideh is my favorite (also happens to be the cheapest) but you should really try everything on the menu. Especially doogh (yogurt drink)!
(5)
Leo B.

In my opinion this is the best Persian food in the entire country. Everything is excellent, but a few things deserve special mention. The Barg is always juicy and tender in a way that's hard to find anywhere else. The chicken has more saffron flavor than most places, and is always juicy. The roast tomatoes are a great addition to all the dishes. But what sets them apart is the rice. Oh, the rice. Not only is it always cooked perfectly and piping hot, but it comes with a small section of "crispy rice" which has been caramelized to the pan. I have never seen it anywhere else, and it's great! They give you enough rice for 4 servings, and you'll find yourself wanting to force down every last bit it's so good. The only down side is very minor, the restaurant is modest sized and is easily filled at peak times so their can be a short wait. They really hustle to turn the tables though.
(5)
Farah O.

They give burnt rice. Not just in one entree but both, so it looks like it was on purpose. Which country serves burnt rice as their authentic cuisine ? Chicken and beef kabob were in itself good but rice has no flavor, there is no dipping sauce that comes with the kabobs, so it's all very dry. Bread that they serve at the start is also stale and in zip lock packets, doesn't look like a great start of the meal. I'll rather find my middle eastern food fix somewhere else.
(1)
Tanya L.

Kubideh!! We came in and were surprised that our party of 10 did not have to wait terribly long. It was a bit past 1pm on a Sunday. All of us ordered the kubideh with the exception of one who ordered the chicken and myself who ordered the combo of kubideh and filet mignon. The adults all wanted the raw egg yolk, so we put in that order after a bit of miscommunication with our server. The bread came in the ziploc bags as previous Yelpers have stated. We were starving, so it did its job. However, it was nothing amazing. We used to really enjoy the flatbread that we got at Moby Dick...always fresh and piping hot. There was a spicy green sauce super similar, if not exactly like, the Latino aji served in Peruvian and Columbian foods. After our communication snafu, we found out that they were out of eggs...BUT they offered to run across the street to buy some for us. Super nice but we declined. The kubideh and chicken came out with a uber-generous amount of perfectly cooked rice. The kabobs were all cooked to perfection. My filet mignon was great but I'll stick to just the kubideh in the future. On a parenting fail note, I ate my kids' leftovers...and nearly brought my son to tears...I lie, I did bring him to tears. Eek. So the next time on our way up to DC, we ordered a few orders to go. I called and they asked if i could pick up in 20 mins. I did even better since we were 10 mins away. My orders were sitting there already waiting for me. Ali, who was in the Navy previously, gave me a little "Navy treat" after finding out we're a military family. This place blows Moby Dick out of the water...in portions, prices, quality, and customer service. This is our new favorite...which makes us sad since we're over 3hrs away. However, frequent trips back home to DC means frequent to-go orders on the way home (& back).
(5)
Johnny A.

The meat is good and they give you enough rice to feed a village, but the salads are not all that and the bread is stale. Speaking of bread, come on Shamshiry, you can serve fresh bread instead of this ziplock packed poor excuse for bread. Having said that, wait staff are not very attentive, but the host is great and the cashier is very pleasant.
(3)
Rebecca M.

Persian flavors and tender grill renditions served on a white table cloth in an authentic style (think slower, more European service) make me a fan! Succulent chicken, beef, kubedah (the Iranian take on Arabic Kibda) and lamb. I love the way Persians serve it up with yogurt sauce, fresh mint, spring onion and white onion. The Shirazi salad with tomato, cucumber, and onion dripped with olive oil and vinegar is amazing as well! I love the specially flavored rice, such as Zareshk Palau with barbar berries, or Shireen Palau that they ocassionally have. Yummy! One of my favorite Kabob places and second only to Rose Kabob in the succulence of their chicken! Mmmmmmm.....
(4)
Sam N.

As much as I do love the food there I hate the service they don't have any sense of urgency. They never come back to check on you..
(3)
Grace M.

I'm not sure about their other food but I got takeout chicken kabob and it was just average, not much flavor. Note: don't get an extra thing of rice because the take out had a TON. Also the portions of chicken for the kabob were very large too which I can't complain about. I prefer the chicken kabob from moby dick. My coworker said he liked the steak kabob from here rather than moby dick though.
(3)
Angela K.

Definitely recommend this little hidden gem. It's hidden off the main road for sure but the good quality is excellent. Have been here for lunch and many yikes for carry out. I can say the care your portions are massive... Mainly with a tonnnn Of basmati rice but nonetheless it's good eats here. Just go here and try it out.
(5)
Cee L.

Love this place! Delicious kabobs... chicken, beef, fish and the best lamb ever! This is the only place I'll eat lamb. We drive 20 minutes just to get carry out here. FYI, if you get take out, toast the bread and it tastes even better. Also be ready for some leftovers because they pile in so much food that we can't finish it. I typically hate leftovers but the food is still good the next day. Oh and don't forget to order some salad shirazi on the side. Great flavor and gives a refreshing after taste.
(5)
Mark W.

I went to this kabob restaurant in Tyson's Corner the other night. The food and service were superb, the food was amazing and the stuff just top notch. Bijan the owner of the restaurant was going around each table greeting all the customers, he is just so amicable. I will highly recommend this restaurant, just a great place to dine.
(5)
Zuleikha S.

I really don't understand the hype about this place? I always hear people talk about it and how amazing the food is. I went to a birthday gathering and we all ordered different styles of kabob. The plates came out pretty quickly (or maybe we were all just talking so much that time passed by?) The waiter was nice, an older Iranian man. The rice, I could feed 4 others with me, that's how much rice was served in one plate!! They didn't really fill the drinks, or maybe refills are charged? When everyone was done eating as much as they could, one of the young Spanish servers began collecting the plates. I'm not sure if he did not speak English but a few of us told him we wanted to box the food. Instead, he stacked all the plates and walked away to the kitchen. Only mine got boxed because I actually spoke to the Iranian guy and used hand movements. The kabobs were okay but I've had better in other restaurants. And the rice was sticky, dry, and not too soft. Maybe the butter would've helped. And the bread...oh bread...why must you be served in a zip-loc bag? One of my friends thought the birthday girl had brought the bread from home! The green chili dipping sauce that came with the bread was 90% garlic. I wish they served a salad instead of a quarter of the plate being filled with onions. And also, since many of us shared plates, they should've brought us extra plates so we didn't have to sit so very close just to share. It was an okay experience, but I'm not coming back unless I have to. Or maybe just for the Persian Ice Cream...
(3)
Sina E.

This place was buzzing when I went for a birthday dinner. It looks bigger from the outside because of the mirror reflection lol but either way it's decent size inside. Lots of persians eating here but others as well. The rice portion of dishes is HUGE here...maybe too large compared to your chicken kubideh/beef kubideh that you get. I got half chicken kubideh half beef kubideh. The chicken was great, not overcooked like some other places. The beef kubideh was decent in my opinion. Overall, it's one of the better persian places in the area. They also had some persian stews but didn't try them. I'll be interested to see how those turn out. I would return.
(4)
Amanda M.

As soon as I walked in a server said we're closed even though they were clearly open. He thought it was funny. I did not think it was. Then they leave pitchers of water on the table. And they bring a baggie with bread. This looks so unappetizing! What are they thinking?!?! So there was definitely a bad start because the first server was so rude! And it took awhile for a waiter to come by to take our order. This was our first time here so we decided to split an entree to try it out first. The clientele was almost entirely Persian which is always a good sign and it was fairly crowded at 5pm. We got the Chelo Kabob Barg and the plate was very large and had a lot of rice, some raw onion with some oil, 2 grilled tomatoes and a long thin piece of meat. The meat was very flavorful and the whole dish as a whole was delicious! We will definitely be back, but maybe takeout is a better option.
(4)
mike g.

Always consistently high quality kabob. Other places come and go this place is great.
(4)
Fabi C.

Overall: Delicious Persian food! Their lamb shank just sort of melts in your mouth!! Their kebabs are good quality and ever so tasty... Persian ice cream is sweet and creamy. Generous portions. Not thrilled about the bread as I prefer it freshly baked. Their yogurt drink is also homemade and pretty good. Delicious and scented fresh tea. We bring many friends from out-of-town to try something different and special to this low-key ambience restaurant because their food is simply GREAT! The waiters are friendly and readily available to take your order.
(5)
Michele D.

Don't hate the player; hate the game! I'm torn between 2.5 and 3 stars, but because I want to have some faith, I'll go with 3. I was shocked that the restaurant didn't offer lamb kabobs. Lamb is usually my measure of goodness; some places over cook it, some under cook it. Either way, it's usually the only type of kabob I will order. Since Shamshiry didn't offer it, I decided to order the beef kubideh. The flatbread came with the traditional butter and something green and very hot, but no onions. I'm used to seeing the butter and onions brought out at the same time. My order arrived and the first thing I thought when I saw the plates coming towards us was, "Holy shit, there's no way I can finish all that food". Well lemme tell ya...all "that food" really equates to "all that rice". I haven't seen that much rice on a plate since I went to a buffet and saw it in a chafing dish. As for the meat, it was hidden under the rice. It was my first time ordering kubideh, and it wasn't too bad. It had a nice taste to it, but I missed ordering lamb. The dessert I ordered was good, but I couldn't quite put my finger on whether or not I liked it for a few bites or more. The rosewater with thin noodles and ice was only ok, but more importantly, I couldn't make out the flavor of my dining companion's ice cream. I know it was colored with saffron, but it didn't have a flavor that reminded me of anything. I'd have to say that I'd simply stick to Kabob Palace or the Afghan Restaurant in the future. Even though they are both so much further away from my house, I'd rather spend the little extra it costs for the gas getting down there and have a good meal, than go somewhere close and have a bad meal. Hope I can give it another shot sometime.
(3)
Tony P.

This has been a consistently excellent kabob spot in the DC area for many years. I've been going to this spot since the early 1990's. The best entree by far is the jujeh (cornish hens) kabob. The hens are nicely cooked, and flavorful. The mound of rice is plentiful and cooked just right. The best and often unlooked for part of any persian rice dish is the tah digue (crunchy bottom crust of the rice). They have it available for the asking here! Don't forget to ask for it! Also don't forget to get some Mast-o Musir and Torshi Bademjan.
(4)
Brittany H.

This place has awesome chicken kabobs, they don't skimp out on the meat or rice portion for that matter either. The meat is juicy & tender, the rice is moist and not dry at all. It helps that there is butter just oozing all over the rice. Their dipping sauces, (spicy jalepeno and/or yogurt) is the perfect complement to their flatbread, as an appetizer or to eat with your meal. Talk about carbs. overload, but simply delicious! Despite the fact that my boss will probably tell you otherwise....he's seen somebody have a heart attack here, being carried out on an ambulance and he himself has claimed to get "sick" from eating at this place and therefore, officially banned from eating at this place...... yeah, well, I still love the food here. I also manage to eat at least a third, if not half of my meal. Leaving the other half for a later dinner. :) Oh yeah, please come with a strong stomach, and loosen the belt already. It's not for the weak.
(4)
Farzan K.

SAT Analogy Time: Other Kabobs : Shamshiry Kabobs :: (A) full of additives/chemicals : all natural (B) thin and dry : plump and juicy (C) Kate Moss : Oprah (D) All of the above. Answer: D Farzan K : loves the Salad Olvioy :: (A) Britney Spears : loves her baby boy (B) Baby boy: loves a brand new toy (C) Kevin Federline : loves his Laz E Boy (D) All of the above. Answer: D Orgasmic experience for Shamshiry patron : three skewer kabob platter (Jujeh, Kubideh, Barg) :: (A) Orgasmic experience for Tiger Woods : three mistresses (B) Orgasmic experience for Colin Farrell : three stewardesses (C) Orgasmic experience for Farzan K : three-sided mirror (D) All of the above. Answer: D
(4)
Michael M.

OK, this place smells great on the outside, I was salivating going in here! The interior is very bland, but we were seated quickly and service was efficient....which is a surprise for Persian restaurants. You get some boring lavash (Persian bread) to start with, nothing exciting....but I was dunking it in the green hot sauce, which was great! Koobideh (ground beef) kabob is excellent - some of the best I've ever had. Barg kabob is great as well....chicken kabob was a little dry and plain...could be better. I had the sour cherry rice, which is a great compliment to the kabobs. I even tried the doogh (yogurt & mint drink), it's an acquired taste, but I didn't gag like I did the last time I tried it! Topped off the meal with Persian ice cream - yum. Solid 4 stars from me....I was full, happy and gassy afterwards.
(4)
sara h.

been going here for almost a decade. consistently yummy food. good service, cheap food, yummy kababs n rice. n get extra crispy rice on the side. oh and dont forget the mast-o-khair!
(5)
Mr H.

With so many kabob places in the area to choose from it becomes a little difficult at times to pick. The food here is good but it is not as good as some others in the area. It has all the standards, steak, chicken, and the kubideh. The space is rather uninspired (think office deli) and the prices are a little on the high side.
(3)
Heather M.

If Moby Dick were to burn into the ground, this is where I would go to get kabob. I don't even know how we found it, because it's kind of tucked away and not visible from the street, but I've eaten here a few times and it's got some good food. Thus far, it's the only other kabob place that I'd go to, and that's saying a lot. One thing to keep in mind is to plan ahead if you're in a time crunch. We ended up running late a few times because they took forever to get us our check. Better to call ahead and get takeout.
(4)
ana l.

one of my bf's best friend who is persian introduced him to this very special place. i can't rant enough about their kabobs, simply the best kabobs i've eaten so far. love everything about it... panir sabzi (3.25) - simple and fresh appetizer including panir(goat cheese) and a array of fresh veggies like radishes, basil, scallions, tarragon, fresh mint chelo kabob shamshiry (16.99) - a combination of their two meat kabobs, this one is so full of flavor with a tender bite into it. the other great thing about this dish is the, rice. omg~ i love their rice. doogh (4.25 sm pitcher) - a yogurt based drink. i'm sorry but this is the only thing i didn't like about shamshiry. i was expecting a sweet, light yogurt drink but instead i got salty, thick based drink. i guess this one just doesn't fit my palate and i think it's more of an acquired thing. but i'm sure all persian people love it. overall it was great. good eating!
(5)
Genevieve J.

Very tasty food here! I love the Persian tea too. I dated a Persian guy for a while and this was our most frequented place when we just couldn't decide where to go for dinner (sometimes lunch.) Other Persians seem to enjoy this place so I take that as a good sign! We also brought a couple friends who have never had Persian food before and they loved it! One friend is a vegetarian and she thoroughly enjoyed the dish she picked from the menu. I don't recall the name of the dish I liked most, but it was basically beef kabob. Customer service is great and friendly as well although a couple times the waiters were overwhelmed and slow. The only real complaint I have is the set-up of tables. I think they made it that way so they could easily move tables around for large groups, but honestly, when you feel like you are sitting in some stranger's lap it's not enjoyable! Investing in a larger restaurant would probably benefit this business. They also need to up-date the decor. But neither of these flaws will keep people from coming for the incomparable kabob! (And yes I've been to other Persian kabob places but I like this kabob the best.)
(4)
E. O.

Great Persian food. There is a bit of a wait for the food to come out - but it is well worth it. I love the zereshk polo with chicken kabob. The portions are huge and the price is right. The tea (both iced and hot) is fantastic. The restaurant is tucked away behind the building but you'll find it.
(5)
Gloria T.

Best chicken kabobs I've had in a long time. I always order carry out and the staff has been very nice each time.
(5)
Sharif N.

This is a fantastic place for kabobs! So juicy and plenty of flavor. The bread is decent, and the rice is pretty good. As most kabob places they give you plenty of rice. The appetizers are just average at best, but the kabob is what you come here for...Parking is plentyful, but the seating inside is a little bit cramped.
(3)
Don M.

Great place to eat! Highly recommend. Chicken kabob is excellent!
(5)
Angie R.

Food is okay. I wish Iranians would serve something different besides rice and kabobs constantly. Afghan food is much better (I'm sure that crushed an Iranian's heart, but it's the truth). Try Bamyan Afghan restaurant in Falls Church for better kabobs and food that isn't so dry.
(3)
Kevin S.

Order ahead! It gets pretty busy during lunch services, so just scoop it up and take it back to go. You won't finish all of it anyways, it's way too much for one sitting, personally.
(4)
Darius K.

This is very good Persian food. In particular, the kabob is great. You should probably try the Shamshiry combo plate, and get it with a side of mast-o-musir (savory yogurt with shallots). Their non-kabob dishes are very good, but not amazing, hence the four stars. Be forewarned that they give you a lot of food here, so even though it's kind of expensive, you're probably going to take home another meal.
(4)
Angela G.

this is a vegetarian's review of Shamshiry, so I can't speak personally about the meat dishes (though everyone I know seems to think it's great!) -- but from a veggie standpoint it's incredibly limited, and overpriced for the few non-meat options they DO have. I just don't understand restaurants that HAVE all the ingredients to make vegetarian-friendly dishes, as well as plenty of vegetarian dishes in said culture's cuisine, that DON'T just put those veggie dishes on their menus... don't know if cos we didn't speak Farsi, but we got the most minimal service possible... at least in comparison to the native-Farsi-speaking table next to us... they were lucky enough to be served (what appeared to be a complimentary plate of) tadig... a LARGE serving, actually, while we received none... I'll try to look at the half-full glass and assume that table actually requested/ordered the tadig and not be resentful, tho...
(2)
Remy M.

Amazing kabob, yet I rarely go simply because of the service. Their kabob is fantastic. I highly recommend the kubideh. I would also recommend ordering some tea after the meal...it seems to help me exit my food coma and return to being able to walk unassisted. Nearly every time I go, I'm unhappy with my service. This prevents me from going back frequently. I'd say I go once a year now, since after 12 months I seem to forget about the service I had...that is, until I return and begin another cycle. But, honestly, great kabob. The bread's not that great, but the kabob speaks for itself regardless. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Ka-Loon T.

Hands down the best kabobs I've ever had. Shamshiry has not only huge portions, but quality food. The service has always been good (though not the best), and the fact that they kept carafes of water at each table so that a water guzzler like me was well satisfied. When anyone suggests getting kabobs, I definitely think Shamshiry.
(5)
Stan F.

This place is pretty good. I like the chicken on the bone kabab, the rice with lima beans and dill weed. Their green pepper sauce is addictive. They make really good tadik (sp?) The long grain basmatti rice is like a drug...yum!
(5)
Philly D.

Had lunch at Shamshiry (kabob). Great place. I ordered the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry, it was excellent! A combination of Chelo Kabob Kubideh and Chelo Kabob Barg. The rice here is great. I'm a big fan of rice and this is probably one of the best rice dishes I've ever had, seriously! Also, ask your server for "Tadig" as a starter...trust me you'll like it.
(4)
Hyunoo P.

Time: 8 pm Agenda: meat and rice plz Overall: Butterface Shamshiry looks like your typical middle-eastern restaurant. Wall-length mirrors and random ethnic knickknacks all over the place. What did stand out was when you first walk in there is a window showcasing their grill. A palatable bait, I must say. Unlike other family-feeling restaurants of this variety, the service here was cold and slow. I don't think my waiter smiled once and certainly didn't entertain my questions about "what's good?". Also, when they served my water they just left the pitcher on the table. Which I suppose was convenient to me, but how lazy are you? Now, about the food, i'm going to benchmark this place against the only other Persian place I've been,Rose Kabob. Raw onions and roasted tomatoes aside, the plates had the same basic elements: meat, rice, and flatbread. At Rose Kabob I had lamb, which was great. At Shamshiry I had Chicken Tandoori, which was alright. The presentation was mouthwatering. The chicken had developed an great char and looked succulent. When I had my first piece, it was juicy and tender, but there was a strange lack of flavor. After a few pieces, all I could taste was the hot paste that covered the chicken. Mostly because that was all there was. Otherwise, the texture and doneness on my chicken was great. The rice at Shamshiry comes in great amounts. Now, for most people, this is a welcomed sight. More rice is better than less rice, right? The mass of rice, I would guess close to being at 1 1/2 cups, was so large that the steam it was generating seemed to become trapped within its own layers. As I pierced the heart of this mound, I discovered a new, albeit very subtle, aftertaste... probably impurities from the water itself. I mixed in some of the butter but gave up on the rice 1/3rd of the way through. The flatbread at Shamshiry is a disgrace. It is served in a plastic ziplock bag within a woven basket. They could at least fool me and take the bread out of the bag so I just thought it was cold. But no, it was moist and cold. (Served with no yoghurt either, just hot paste and butter) I feel bad for comparing Rose Kabob's bread with Shamshiry's. Like Japanese Giant Hornets on European honeybees. The prices for red meat entrees was $15+ and chicken/other were $12+. They had rice sides for $6 and some desserts etc. I had decent expectations when I saw the flames and the swords around this place... but they don't take their flatbread seriously.
(2)
Shieva R.

Ehhh for me there is so much just wrong about Shamshiry. As an Iranian American who has frequented too many kababi's in the area, this is the only "fancy" one annnnd for some bizarre reason that just puts me off. I can enjoy a nice restaurant don't get me wrong but kabob and fancy just don't belong in the same sentence together. I also don't like the food, the potions are on the smaller side and the idea of paying more than at other kabob restaurants around and getting a meal that's not better (or at least bigger) is just shameful. The kabob isn't bad, don't get me wrong, it's just not great and when I go out to a nice restaurant and pay a fair amount I'm expecting better than average, not average.
(3)
Sonia S.

This is my favorite kabob place in NOVA. I love the chicken with salad.
(5)
J E.

I've been there several times for work lunches, in fact I think this has become the office hello/goodbye restaurant for my team. I've had the chicken kabob, chicken tandoori, and kubideh. All are excellent.
(4)
PC W.

There are few places that can hold a candle to Kabob Palace but Shamshiry is now at the top of my list. I had a stellar lunch here today in the company of Kevin L. and Xi W. I love that the flatbread is pre-sliced into perfect rectangles, stacked until the size of a small brick, inserted into a ziplock bag and brought to the table. The food took some time to come out so we noshed on the bread. Xi ordered yogurt which she was nice enough to share. It was sweet, refreshing and thick. I've never tasted yogurt this good and it went well with everything I put it on. For my entree, I went for the Jujeh Kabob, or cornish hen. It came with a mountain of saffron rice. It was fluffy and flavorful - I didn't know rice could taste this good. They also layer a piece of "toasted rice" over it but it wasn't as crispy as it looked. As a child, I loved scraping the bottom of the rice cooker for toasted or burnt rice so this was totally reminiscent for me. The chunks of cornish hen are served on the bone, have crispy skin, juicy meat and marinated in spices. I couldn't find fault in any part of my meal and I'll be sure to come back often.
(5)
Lili G.

Shamshiry, Vienna, VA: Hands down, a great place to have authentic Persian cuisine! Upon arrival any evening, you will find yourself shuttled in with open arms to a sea of Persians dining!! I've been eating at Shamshiry for years and years. The food is fantastic! One thing in particular is the flavor. The meat variety here is great, The kabobs are juicy and full of flavor. The saffron rice is wonderful. The kabobs are juicy and full of flavor. The saffron rice is wonderful, The Gormeh Sabzi at this place is delicious!! , so are the, Ghameh, and Fesenjoon! Yum! BEST PERSIAN FOOD IN TOWN ! Can you tell I'm a bit of a Koobideh fanatic? Go hungry, they serve HUGE portions. When I order I generally eat about half and have half for lunch the next day. In the end, the price is right because it's almost always two meals. Excellent! Delicious and exotic food, wonderful service--what a treat! Portions are huge, and reasonably priced!!
(5)
Richardhead B.

This is the best persian cuisine I've had locally, they are very consistent. Their kubideh is flavorful and the green sauce is amazing with the meal. Don't waste time on the free bread which is forgettable, save room for the rice. The owner brought our table hot tea himself which was a nice bonus.
(5)
FRANCHESKA A.

Very good n tasty, i usually call for pick up, the price is very very reasonable for the guality off t food i think is worth even more ofcourse IM GLAAD PAYING LESS.. The give u alot.. Every thing i have order from there is very good even t litle green hot sause. The only bad thing i will say is make sure to wash u hands w lots off soap cus u can still smell t kabob on u hands...
(4)
Jimena M.

I was on my way back from DC after taking the train from Jersey. I was gonna hold out and eat at home, but then I got lazy and wanted some good, hot food now! By the time I realized how hungry I was, I was in Tysons and it was about 11:30 on a Saturday night. For some reason the only thing that came to my mind was Shamshiry. I've been here dozens of times, never am I disappointed. They are consistent with quality and definitely quantity. I ordered the Kubideh on rice with a side of the shirazi salad (cucumbers, tomatoes and onions in a lemon vinaigrette). I LOVE the huge mound of buttery rice they give you. In my book, you can never have too much rice, especially if it's buttered :) The kubideh was also huge. The salad was crisp, fresh and citrusy. My meal hit the spot. I am definitely a fan of Shamshiry.
(4)
Barry S.

Rose Kabob for the win! Not sure what all the fuss is here. Not even the best in McLean/Vienna!
(3)
Virginia M.

I personally felt this place wasn't as great as the reviews say, so I'm wondering what I missed out on but here was my experience. To start, the place is not as low key as some have said -at least as far as attire is concerned, it's somewhere you may go on a semi-classy Friday night. And perhaps this is due to yelp fame. Secondly, the place is small, and the tables are pretty cramped together which essentially puts the sounds of screaming kids running around, right in your face. I guess this is the low key part. Also garage parking can feel a tad bit far as well. Third, I ordered kubideh and it was really good. The plate came with beef, rice, and raw onion. The rice was bland but fluffy and well done as was said. But it was really too much rice. The onion touch brought about balance I guess, if you like raw onion. Sorry to disappoint, but hey the meat was worth 3 stars.
(3)
Fenny L.

I am seriously 15 reviews behind, but I just had such a yummy lunch at Shamshiry that I had to write this review as my breath is still marvelously oniony-yogurty-kebulahy. Heh. At 10:30 I receive a text message to meet up with fellow Yelpers for lunch. By a confluence of psychic yelping powers, we all came to the agreement to meet up at Shamshiry - independently. When something like that happens, you know it's destiny. I arrived early and I have to say - this place wasn't the easiest to find. Along the Westwood Center strip, Shamshiry is actually on the side of the building - around the corner from "Black Jack's". However, with the help of a nice security guard, a GPS, three boy scouts and 10 minutes of wandering, I eventually find it. I probably should have just gone where my nose was leading me anyways. The inside of Shamshiry isn't anything spectacular. A mirrored wall along the back makes the place look bigger then it is. Miraculously, I was here before everyone else, so I grab a table, and the waiter quickly brings a pitcher of water, pita, jalapeno cilantro chutney, and butter. It was rather odd, as the pita was served in ziplock bags in baskets. I'm quite sure that the ziplock bags were intended to keep the pita from drying out...however, it does lessen the ambiance a little to have bread served in a plastic bag. Perhaps the waiters could remove the pita from the bags before serving? The jalapeno cilantro chutney was the same way, in little plastic sauce containers. Odd. Jeff W, Xi W, arrive with Kevin L in tow. I order the Kebulah, and we decided to all share an order of the yogurt sauce. Although it took a while, the Kebulah was well worth the wait. The skewers of meat were incredibly tender, moist and flavorful, quite tasty even without the added deliciousness of the yogurt sauce. However, for my money, the real star of the meal was the basmati rice. Wonderfully fluffy, light, steamy with the natural sweetness that is good rice, we all agreed that the rice was marvelous. Xi W ordered the salmon kabob, and with her meal, she received dill rice. Now, I am a purist, and as a normal thing, I don't like my rice flavored with anything but the natural yummy juices from my meal. That said, the dill rice was insanity! So flavorful, delicious with absurdly tasty dill flavor - I am making a mental note to ask for dill rice next time I come. The service was quick if silent. It was as if we had a Persian ninja as a server. While ordering, Kevin L noticed that he didn't have a water glass and asked for one. Without a word, or a pause, the waiter disappeared to fetch a water glass. In the middle of ordering. Then, when we needed change for our meal, our waiter flies by, takes the $10, and swiftly returns with change without a single word. Silent. Deadly. A ninja. What a wonderful Friday lunch! Great food with amazing people! Of course, they were highly inappropriate making comments causing this innocent little Asian to blush! Those guys...so naughty! HAHA! I can't wait to come back - I'm so excited that there is a new work lunch place in my repertoire!
(4)
Raj R.

One of my favorite Persian restaurants in the NoVA area. Although the prices have steadily been going up and the menu is still the same old and needs some revamping. Their kobedah kabob and jujeh chicken is still one to die for though. I would hope that they would start making some fresh persian bread rather than the bakery bread they have been using for the longest time. And please get rid of your cracked glasses and plates, they are a turn off.
(4)
Erin E.

There are several decent Persian kabob places in the Tysons area, but this one is my favorite. In addition to the food being delicious, there is SO MUCH OF IT. Like literally, mountains and mountains of fluffy white rice. Also, the owner/man who is always at the register really seems to care about customers and is a really nice guy. As others have said, the bread does come in a zip lock bag. If you are mortally offended by zip lock bags (which I am not) then you should probably go elsewhere.
(5)
P T.

love this place
(5)
Stanley I.

Great food. When I went, the food was a little dry. Plenty of food! Inexpensive and great for hanging out with friends. Quick service. Waiters took their time to explain the items on the menu.
(4)
Kelly H.

Meat city. Vegetarians, Vegans, and non red meat eaters..stay away from Shamshiry. This wonderful joint is for people who appreciate grilled meat. Juicy, succulent, and aromatic meat at a very reasonable price. I don't know what took me so long to visit here. I live 3 minutes way from this restaurant, passed by many times, but never checked it out until now. Wasn't I missing out!! The menu is quite simple. Pick out the meat that you like.. lamb, beef, chicken??? your choice. Then the plates come with MOUNTAIN of rice. Let me repeat that. Mountain of Rice. I took the left over and ate the rice for the next two days. Dishes come with small side salad with tangy dressing. It goes well with the meat. Amazing value meal that taste very good. If you like the crispy rice, you have to ask for it. I forgot to ask for it, and I saw someone else getting it... I guess I was being a novice. :) This place is smaller than you think, but plenty of chairs and tables. I went there for early dinner/late lunch, kind of weird time, but there were still many people there. So keep that in mind. I think it could get really busy during the peak times. Seriously, if you are a meat lover and haven't been to Shamshiry. You are missing out! I can't wait to go back! Happy chewing!!
(4)
Nina R.

Very delicious kabobs, get the kubideh! Very generous amount of rice. The mast o moosir is amazing and the bread tastes good too. The green sauce is spicy (I love spicy).
(4)
Eric O.

Step 1: Get tired of "the usual" and find something new to try. Step 2: Order mast-o khiar and chicken soltani. Step 3: Enjoy and wish you had found this earlier.
(4)
Jeremy C.

My girlfriend and I went on a Friday night, after finding the place in a weird location under an office building. It was quite busy, and the service showed it. We were seated promptly, but after that, there were no waiters to be found. My girlfriend ordered the Chelo Kabob Kubideh, and I had the Chelo Kabob Barg. After waiting nearly 35 minutes for our food, we were each welcomed with a huge dish of rice, onions, a grilled tomato and our choices of meat. Pros: Huge portion sizes - go hungry. Cons: Slow service, strange location, smokey dining room, not extremely flavorful. Overall, nothing to hoot and holler about, but definitely something new to try.
(3)
Jannelle H.

This was my first time at a Persian restaurant. My boyfriend took me here as it is one his favorites. I really liked it. The kabobs were excellent. We ordered special toppings on the rice which gave everything an amazing flavor. Portions are huge. What couldn't eat I brought home. I made me an additional two meals. The service was excellent. They didn't keep us waiting. Our glasses remained full. I look forward to coming back.
(4)
Tom L.

I love Shamshiry and try to stop by anytime I am in McLean. The portions here are huge and the price is right. I normally order the chicken soltany which is a combination of kubideh and chicken kabob. I've learned to add the butter in the rice and to also eat with the onion. I am really glad one of my coworkers brought me to this place for lunch one day and have been a loyal customer.
(5)
Mimi P.

Meh. Pros: +The cornish hen Jujeh Kabob was tasty. +They give you lots and lots of rice. Really. I thought that I was at an asian family style restaurant with the amount of rice I got on my plate! I usually eat all of my rice, but I literally had to take home more than half of what was served to me. To me, it was quite excessive. Note: if you're a runner, it's a great place to carb load before a marathon. Cons: -Skimpy servings of meat. I was digging around the rice to see if I had anymore underneath the rice. -Below par tasting filet mignon while their menu describes it as " elegant taste of filet Mignon. Fine food at its best." That description on their menu prompted us to choose the Chelo Kabob Barg. Don't make the same mistake I did. -Yogurt is NOT complimentary. They charge $3.50 for a generous cup. Even though it's refreshing because they have dill and cucumbers in the mix, I don't think they should charge for a sauce that is crucial to the kabob experience. If they must, $1-2 seems more reasonable. -Bread is not freshly made. It was repackaged and served in a zip lock bag. -Pricey- Dinner for two was close to $40 after all was said and done. I've never paid that much for kabob before! Bla.
(2)
Sahar R.

The persian to american ratio in this place is 500:1, so you know it's good. If you manage to find this hidden away restaurant in Tyson's Corner, then you're well on your way to many persian delights.. There's always a wait but so worth it. You will sit down and get your plate of sabzi (parsley, greens, cheese, onions). If you're confused we do eat raw onions, so this is maybe not a hot date kinda place. The rice is fantastic with everything but the bread is lacking though. The portions are ginormous. They do make a mean kubideh kabob and Zeresk Polo. The service is efficient but they aren't amazingly friendly.
(4)
Leanna A.

I really love this place, they give you too much rice I think. I feel bad becaus I always end up wasting the rice! The meat is just right and cooked to perfection! This place is a gem
(4)
Elijah C.

FOUND GLASS IN FOOD!!!!! Food is pretty good here. BUT I found glass in my kubideh (ground beef) kabob! Enjoyed the food at the restaurant, took leftovers home. Reheated food for lunch, ate the ground beef kabob, and felt a CRUNCH in my mouth, so I spit the food out, and found 2 pieces of glass shards. As bad as that is, I'm not giving 1 star for just that. I'm not looking for a free handout or anything and wanted to let the manager know they need to be careful of something like this. First person who picks up the phone, I explain to him. He then gets me the supervising manager, and when I explained the situation, he tells me "we don't recommend to our customers to reheat ground beef or ground chicken kabobs..." I said, "did you hear what I just said? I understand kabobs may not be as good reheated, but I found GLASS in the kabob!" Then he repeated, "Yes, but we don't recommend you reheat your kabob..." So I said, "listen, I'm trying to help you out here. I'm not looking for a hand out, I just want to let you know you need to make sure your kitchen staff takes better caution about BROKEN GLASS in the food! I had GLASS in my kubideh kabob! I'm helping you so you don't end up with a lawsuit!" He just said, "Yes, thank you." There was no "sorry", no nothing, but he did say thank you. This is gross negligence. The management doesn't seem to care, and NO APOLOGIES! Broken glass can be understood, but absolute carelessness by management even after it was brought to their attention says a lot about their Quality Control. We were at the restaurant 10/19/2013, and the call took place 10/21/2013. As of right now, I have a scratchy throat and my tongue feels irritated, but I'm praying I'll be fine. Never eating here again.
(1)
Bekah E.

Since I am Persian, this place and pistachio nuts are like crack to me. I have been eating her since I was a kid (it was probably the only Persian restaurant around back then). There were times when it was in decline, but those times are long gone. My carnivorous friends devour their food like lions (before I went vegetarian, my favs were lamb and kubideh - my meat-eating husband likes those as well). Portions are HUGE. I love the Baghali polo, which is rice with dill and fava beans. I love that they have more traditional persian items in addition to kabob - which is NOT what Iranians eat everyday! The only two things I don't like is the "bread in a bag" they give you and the weird plates that everything is served on. They even painted the high chairs to match!? It's trippy. If you are vegetarian, there are some options for you, but they are mostly rice dishes. I grew up eating this food so I am biased, but these are tasty options, filling (you will have leftovers), and quite cheap. You meal can be supplemented with appetizers if you want more variety. Some of the persian specials of the day may also be vegetarian, ask the server because they never seem to tell you what they are...
(5)
Donald P.

After Sunday evening service, we stopped by to pick up some dinner here. I've heard great things about this place, and was rather pleased by the look of this place. We ordered our ground beef kebob and waited about 15 minutes or so. The rice was fragrantly auromatic and buttery soft, and the kebob was also delicious as well. $10.03 for a heaping mound of rice and 2 skewers of beef seems like a bit much though. The cashier was nice enough to forfeit the 3 pennies though and give me bills back instead of a handful of change. That's always a nice guester to customers. I may come back...although the more I eat kebobs the less they appeal to me.
(3)
Ladan N.

I was coming here with the intention of giving it a five star rating. Shamshiri has by far the best kabob I've had in a restaurant (granted, I haven't been to Tehrangeles...), you can go there and count on having excellent rice dishes and satisfying kabob, hands down. And the portions are huge for the price you pay. You can easily get two meals out of one $10 dish. My hesitation now is in reading the bad reviews, I do agree on the critiques of the atmosphere and service. They make good food and need to up their dining experience to reflect that. I want to be able to take my Persian relatives here without them thinking I took them to a dump. Get rid of the plastic plates and cups. Make your own fresh bread. Take the bread out of the gross plastic bags that clearly show you reuse them between customers. Provide more room on the tables. Do not give us our food before the appetizers are done. And for God's sake, listen when we give our order! The problem is a lot of the wait staff do not speak English (or Farsi) well, so if you have specific requests you have to repeat them or act like you are talking to a four-year-old. Then it's impossible to get the waiter's attention after they've taken your order. They seem confused and like they don't give a shit, no friendliness or professionalism. The appetizers at Kabob Bazaar are better than Shamshiri, but don't count on getting better kabob there. Their kabob is dry and bland compared to the amazingless of Shamshiri's koubideh and barg. And the Persian ice cream!
(3)
H G.

Always just the most fantastic kabobs and rice. Hands down the best middle eastern food place in town.
(5)
Ryan W.

Only had a short time to grab some lunch today, so we made a quick trip to Shamshiry and I have to say that I am glad we did. The food is fantastic and we got a good laugh out of the paragraph description of the dishes. After reading about adding an egg yolk to the rice we had to try it out. It was delicious! The meat was season and cooked to perfection. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Jon N.

This place was just downstairs to where I had my training held, and with 100+ reviews why not? This one of those times when Yelp just steers you in the wrong direction. It's kinda like asking for directions but the person you're asking isn't around these parts but points you towards the wrong general direction so that he/she doesn't look like an idiot. You would think that with so many people reviewing a place a good average could be established. 4 stars for this place? No way. Either this area is in dire need of some good competing restaurants or I came on an off day. yelp.com/biz_photos/pQpzâ€¦ Portions are big but that does not make up for the lack of quality. I thought the meat was a little rough and the rice was a little undercooked. Thankfully the meal was paid on the corporate card so I didn't have to pay for it. Imagine my ire if I had to pay it out of my own pocket We wanted to pay but it also took a very long time for them to ring us up, all the while 2-3 workers are just staring into space most of the time. They should just eliminate "shiry" from their name and just call it "Sham". Shamshiry's Score - 72 Points
(3)
Mariam R.

Had dinner here last night and I was pleasantly surprised. There's nothing fancy about the restaurant itself, but if you're here for good chelo kabob, you'll be pleased. Like others have mentioned, I wish they didn't serve the bread in a Ziploc bag. I also wish that instead of serving it with butter, they served it with complimentary sabzi & panir. We ordered the sabzi/panir (mint or basil, one spring onion, one radish and a small piece of feta), salad shirazi (tomato, cucumber, onion and lemon juice), must o khiar (yogurt and cucumber) and torshi (pickled veggies) to complement our two orders of chelo kabob shamshiry, which is one kubideh (ground beef kabob) and one barg (filet kabob) with rice, one grilled tomato (would've loved a few more) and some raw white onion. I do wish they had kashk-e bademjan as an appetizer, also. The meat was delicious and juicy. The boy added an egg to his rice and we both took advantage of the previously supplied butter for our rice. I like to mix the butter and smoosh the grilled tomato into my rice. One thing's for sure, you will have leftovers. I don't think we saw anyone leave without a take-home bag. We saved room for dessert - he had the ice cream with paludeh and I had the rollette. Yum. I was never a big fan of the middle eastern desserts with all the syrupy honey, so the rollette was it for me. If the ice cream was made the way I had it growing up - with chunks of frozen whipped cream mixed in - I would have been in heaven. There's no alcohol served here, yet our bill was just shy of $70. I'm glad we went, but I think I can get great kabob at several casual joints in the area for a bit less cash.
(3)
Michael C.

I have been going to Shamshiry for years. I have never been disappointed. The service is quick and they leave a pitcher of water on the table for you and your guests. The quality of the food is great. The portion you get for the price is on par.
(5)
Ali S.

Shamshiry is a very nice place for quality kabob. In fact, I'd say the barg here is the best of all the DC restaurants. You must get barg kabob. The jojeh and koubideh are just comparable. They give you a spectacular portion of rice per dish, so it's actually probably better to just split a larger soltani to get the proper kabob to rice ratio. I don't know why they give you so much rice, but it's not a horrible thing. The only things I don't like about this place is the location and seating was always awkward. And the decor is showing its age. It might need a few renovations to keep up to speed, but as long as they have the best barg I will come back.
(4)
Akmal Q.

I heard all the buzz about Shamshiry and have not been there on more than one occassion. Shamshiry has all the potential but it isn't running on all cylinders. I really believe, atleast from experience they have the BEST rice I've ever had and Beef Koobideh is completely on point (I have tried many Middle Eastern, persian type restaurants) and those two dishes don't compare anywhere else. Unfortunately, the rest of the food is just average and can get better helpings at other places. The thing that turned me off the most was the carryout type settings within the dining atmosphere, for example...serving bread in a ziploc bag and sauces in small carryout cups with lids on it is very tacky and really takes away from the service and ambiance. Next time, I will just carry out and order just the dishes I told you about. Hope they can put some more emphasis in customer appreciation in the service dept.
(3)
Kevin O.

This place is great. -the food is fantastic and entrees are between $9 and $13. -The menu is unintentionally hysterical ("persians eat cheese habitually") -The wait staff is friendly but frankly don't give two shits about their jobs, which is kind of refreshingly funny. That said they have are cool with custom orders and have never messed up my food. -Cool mix of customers (big money Tyson's finance people, Women in hijab, guys getting ready to go party, families, old folks, me) -there is a secret menu of sorts -best rice ever (add as much butter "as you dare") +raw yolk! -everything is consistent except the flat bread, which keeps changing -No Booze in the main restaurant :-(
(5)
Michael Q.

This is the best Persian restaurant in the DC metro area. Their rice is outstanding and the best persian rice i have had in the USA. It is fluffy and plentiful, like eating a cloud. All of the kabobs are excellent and the quality of the chicken and barg has gone up in recent years. before could be on dry side but now very juicy and flavorful. persian tea is good. service is friendly, can be somewhat slow occaisionally. prices are incredibly reasonable given the quantity and quality of the food. One of my all time favorite restaurants in DC metro area. The rice is what sets shamshiry apart from all other persian places in DC metro area
(5)
David Y.

I was introduced to Shamshiry by a really good friend of mine. He loves food, so I don't go wrong when I eat with him. I've been to Shamshiry a few times and have enjoyed each trip very much. On my most recent trip, my wife and I met up with our friends for dinner on a Friday night. It must have been about 6 months since the last time I ate here. The food was still good! I ordered the Kubideh. I loved it. It was so tender and flavorful. If you're new to Shamshiry, you may mistake the yellow rice to be cheese by its appearance. The bread is mighty tasty too. I just love putting the green spicy sauce that goes with the bread. I like it so much, I even put it in my rice. One thing to note is that the bread seems to be different than what I remember it to be. It seemed thicker, but the taste did not change; it was still very good. I love this restaurant and cannot wait to come again.
(5)
Danielle K.

Really, really good traditional Persian food. The service and food are consistently good, and the prices are fair, as well. Shamshiry is a great introduction to Persian food. Supposedly Bill Clinton loved Shamshiry, too! I always get the chicken kabob with the sabzi polo (rice with dill and lima beans). you WILL get complimentary tadig if you ASK for it - it's not just given out b/c most Americans wouldn't know what it is (well, aside from the obvious that it's the crunchy, crisp rice at the bottom of the pan). the service i receive is always outstanding - my water glass is never less than 1/2 full and i never want for anything else. Shamshiry will long be a staple for me.
(5)
K M.

I've been eating at Shamshiry for years and years. The food is fantastic! My mother moved out of state, and what does she miss? The food here at Shamshiry. It is wonderful Iranian/Persian food. The kabobs are juicy and full of flavor. The saffron rice is wonderful. Recently, we came here with some Persian friends, and we ordered everything family style. We ordered a sampling of each of the kabobs, and they were all delicious. To top it off, the management gave us ice cream, on the house. Service is very fast, and the food is fantastic. You can't go wrong with this place!
(5)
Patrick R.

Some of the best kebabs I've ever had! Tender chicken served on a huge bead of white and yellow rice served with onions, tomatoes and naan. It's definitely enough for two meals. We went on a Friday night and had to be wait about 30-45 mins to be seated so be prepared. When they called our name to be seated someone else took our spot. We ended up waiting longer than normal because of this. The owner apologized and gave us a free appetizer. Our waitress acted like she really really didn't want to be working and could care less but she kept the drinks full and the food was wonderful. 4 stars because of the food.
(4)
Keon D.

4.5 stars Huge portions, great prices, pretty authentic. I came here on a sunday night at 7pm and there was quite a wait for seating. I've always thought you can get a judge of a place's authenticity if you notice that the people of that cuisine are there eating. I actually was one of the few non persian people eating here and I could see persian families getting huge orders of carryout for sunday dinner. Since it was my first time here I was curious to try many different things. For my main entree I went with the "Chelo Kabob Shamshiry". (it's gotta be good if it has the places name in it right??) This consisted of kabob kubideh and kabob barg. The steak was extremely tasty and soft and the kubideh was equally juicy. I thoroughly enjoyed the generous portion of fluffy rice provided with the meal as well. This was easily two meals worth of food. Since I was on a roll of trying things I ordered 'doogh' to drink. It's a yogurt like drink but I unfortunately found out I actually really didnt like it. Basically, if you like tzatziki sauce you will LOVE doogh, if you dont really care for it that much like me.. you'll be sorry you ordered such a tall glass of it haha. As much as I hate to throw away things, I couldnt bring myself to down it all. I did see a lot of other patrons seemingly enjoy it greatly though. For dessert we shared a bowl of saffron ice cream. It was really delicious and it was also a generous portion. It is made with egg and had a nice chewiness to it and a wonderful taste. I definitely recommend getting it if you visit. One thing that was great about the restaurant is the menu is extremely descriptive so even if you are completely unfamiliar with the stuff you can get a good idea about what you are ordering :-)
(4)
Biso S.

High quality Persian food! although the parking is little bit difficult if you visit at night. The environment is good and the service is great.
(4)
Ismail C.

Pros: Kabobs and rice were tasty but nothing special. Portions were well sized. Yogurt sauce was tasty as well. Cons: Bread was not fresh and came in a zip lock bag! Are you kidding me? I thought it was standard for Kabob places to make the bread fresh in house and bring it to you piping hot? Charged extra for yogurt sauce. Again, this is something that should be included with the meal as it's essential to the Kabob experience. Service: Horrible service, the waitress we had did not speak English very well and could not explain the dishes to us. She also forget our salad order and was not quick with drink refills. Overall the experience was not worth the trip to Tysons. I was disappointed, since an Iranian coworker of mine really talked up this place.
(2)
Max M.

I stopped by this place on July 8th while on vacation with family. Food and service was fine. Watching the workers, for some reason, I decided to tip the waitress in cash. Upon paying my bill via credit card and leaving cash tip on the small tray, I noticed the waitress didn't take the tip and she left the tray at front desk in front of the 2 bosses. I asked the Mexican waitress why she did not take the tip. She told us that they would not see the money. As I was leaving the place, I asked one of these 2 bosses to give the cash tip to the waitress in front of me. He failed to do so even though I asked him twice. It really ruined my day and affected me and my family for several days. I do travel to DC area often and I will never go back to this place ever again. Tip was for the workers and not for the boss.
(1)
N F.

I love kabob. I used to not be a fan of Shamshiry. I'm Iranian, and the kabobs here don't compare to its namesake in Tehran. Needless to say, my expectations were unreasonably high. Then I moved to Boston (...no comment on the kabobis here). Now, every time I'm back in DC, all I want is a kabob barg from Shamshiry. The kabobs are solid (not the best I've had but I'm also literally comparing them to THE best kabobs in the world). The prices are reasonable, and the service is decent. The only thing I don't like about Shamshiry is its decor. The huge mirrors are a nice touch that still deceive me into thinking the restaurant is double its actual size, but, other than that, it needs some work--from the oversized yellow plates to just the general lack of character. Shamshiry is the best kabob in the DC area, hands down. I wish the interior of the restaurant matched the quality of its food.
(4)
Francis P.

I read the yelp reviews and had to try the Kubideh. It is melt in your mouth good. The rice is moist and flavorful. Chicken was also good. Tea is top notch The bread is so-so. They bring you a water and a pitcher of water. You order tea? They bring you tea and a pitcher. Then when your meal arrives, it's on an airport runway sized plate. There's enough rice to store in a barn. The decor isn't the reason to go here--the food is incredible.
(5)
Mick K.

I made an order to go. When I entered, the place had 30+ minute wait to be seated. Good business but bad to to eat out. I suggest getting a to-go order. T The food was not bad. I ordered a kabob and it was not bad for $10.
(5)
Sarah S.

3-stars if the portions for the $10 chicken kabob dishes are as big as the shamshiry. You get a lot of rice, and a little kabob. Plus side? You get so much rice that you can split your dish. Our friends told us to do that, and we were glad we did. I don't want to pay $8 for rice ($16 for shamsiry / 2 = $8), but if I could pay $5 for rice ($10 for chicken kabob / 2 = $5), I'd be happy with that. Maybe even give the place 4 stars. You're paying for rice, with a little meat. The rice is better than average, for sure, but it's still just rice. Decide how much that's worth to you.
(2)
Ken H.

Shamshiry is possibly the best Persian restaurant in the Washington, DC metro area. Anytime that my colleagues or wife and I get a chance we visit the place for lunch or dinner. It is always packed with people and filled with rich aromas. Since being new to Yelp and having an opportunity to have lunch at Shamshiry, I thought I would post a review of the experience. First it is important to acknowledge that this is a Persian family restaurant. It is focused on making you feel as member of the family. Today we started with Panir Sabzi (Goat cheese with raw vegetables and herbs (radishes, basil, scallions)), Borani Bademjan (Persian Yogurt with Eggplant Dip), served with nan-e barbari (Persian flat bread) and green sauce (tad spicy). The appetizers were delightful. For lunch we had Chicken Tandoori , skewered breast meat, moist, tender and flavored with a fiery green herb paste, served with basmati (saffron rice), grilled tomatoes and onions. The portion is huge seldom does anyone finish the entire meal, but that allows you to take it home for later. Since this is a family restaurant they leave a pitcher of water for you on the table. We also asked for a pot of Persian tea. The color, smell and taste of this tea (with 1-3 cubes of sugar) is best described as a rich beautiful indulgence. I like tea hot or cold and Persian tea is my favorite. You simply can't pass on the desserts. We shared a plate of Persian Baklava (which is topped with rose water), absolutely delightful and a bowl of Persian saffron ice cream. This rich ice cream is fragrant with rose water and is simply outstanding. If you love Middle Eastern food, Shamshiry will share a taste of heaven with you. You'll families, business people, young couples, and diplomats that know this is a genuine Persian jewel in the heart of Metro DC.
(5)
Meh G.

One of the oldest Iranian restaurants in the area and I have been there tens of times. The food is always consistent and I think they have one of the best Kabob's I have ever had. I am especially a big fan of their "Barg Kabob." The only problems I have with Shamshiry are: parking is always a problem, I don't know why a popular restaurant like this can't pay some money to buy some more parking spots. I also am not a big fan of their new plates. I don't think they are appropriate for an Iranian dish, they are too big and they take too much space on the table. They put too much rice with their food and it just goes to a waste. Other than this, I think it's one of the most solid restaurants in the area.
(4)
Ariel G.

AWESOME. Spotty service though. And huge portions. Highly recommended.
(5)
Ahmad A.

Based on the web site they usually open until 1 am Sat. I came at 12:05 and they said we only have take away !
(3)
Mariam S.

I'm going to tack onto the other negative reviews here... The other ones got it just right. They bring you a few small cold pieces of bread in a ziploc bag. That's just weird. The bread tastes likes its leftover too. They'd leave a better impression if they brought no bread at all. The chicken kabob tasted fine, but the rice is terrible. Your plate will have a mountain of rice that you will never be able to finish. It would be enough for your entire table to share. It's just plain white dry rice with no flavor. The service was also bad -- It's hard to get hold of your waiter. I wanted to ask for some sort of sauce or something to balance the dry food and it took five minutes to track down my waiter, even though the restaurant wasn't very busy. It was cheap, but you get what you pay for. I wouldn't come back. There are much better kabob places in the area.
(2)
Lindsey J.

The entire staff was extremely friendly and very attentive. In my week visiting the area, my meal at Shamshiry was hands down the best thing I ate anywhere in DC or Virginia. Big portions for very reasonable prices. The Saffron ice cream is a must try!
(5)
Reza Z.

This is a Persian/Iranian kabob restaurant not to be mistaken with Afghan, Lebanese, Pakistani or Greek kabobs or meat on a stick. Anyways, the main difference is that Persian food and kabobs use very little spices if any at all. The food meats and stews are mainly seasoned with herbs such as basil, parsleys, mint, saffron and different types of fresh greens. The kubdeh kabob has no spice in it, what you taste is minced onions mixed into the ground beef. The barg (filet strip) has no seasoning what so ever, just the taste of the meat. This is the main difference between Iranian kabob and Afghan or Pakistani kabobs, there are no spices added. That being said, it goes with the all American steak motto... A good quality steak needs no sauce or seasoning. All the different types of red meats kabobs here are tasty. The chicken kabobs are good as well. If you want to try something else traditional to Iranian food, I recommend Gorma Sabzi, it's a stew with beef and simmered greens. It's good for you and tasty served on top of rice.
(4)
Paul W.

It's an utter shame that I've been eating middle eastern food for this long without having tried Shamshiry. Never again will I eat a kabob anywhere else. If you're going to get one thing here, get the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry. The kubideh and barg are hands down the best I've ever had. Same with their chicken kabob.
(5)
Jim P.

Excellent authentic Iranian Kabobs. Highly reccomended.
(4)
Lu D.

Shamshiry continues to blow us away. We are continuously impressed by the management's ability to keep the quality of food at such a high level day after day. Although there's a new kabob restaurant popping up on every block, there can only be one: Shamshiry.
(5)
Yule K.

Shamshiry is a sit down Persian restaurant located in what appears to be a nondescript office park in the middle of Tyson's Corner. I ordered the salmon kebabs with scented rice. The salmon was well-seasoned, if a little well done and dry for my taste. The scented rice, on the other hand, was intriguing. It was perfumed with dill, which you could smell as you took a forkful of rice and put it in your mouth. It was actually fascinating because the aroma of the rice enhanced the flavor of the salmon as a whole (an interesting example of the olfactory sense affecting one's taste, much like a fine wine's flavor being enhanced when you inhale deeply from your glass while sipping the wine). Slivers of fava beans were also mixed into the rice, giving the dish some welcome heft and heartiness. In sum, I am not sure this is worth a detour to go to, but the food was generally well done. The rice was the best part of the meal and I would be interested in coming back one day and trying out some of their other rice dishes.
(3)
Al C.

Totally worth going. I hadn't been in awhile, and now I'm regretting having not been in so long. We had the following kabobs: ground beef , filet mignon and chicken. We had the fesenjoon stew too ,a couple of appetiziers and desert. The kabobs were perfect and the appetizers were solid. I loved the Iced Persian Tea. The stew I think had been sitting around for a little bit, it was good nonetheless. The only real blech was the faludeh. I'd go again.
(4)
Abdulrahman A.

Big plates!
(4)
Kelly K.

Delicious Persian food. Best I have found. Lively atmosphere tucked away in a corporate area a couple of blocks below Route 7. I never even saw the place driving by...really have to be looking for it to find it. Parking is a bit of a drag. Have to go into parking garage behind and it isn't really clear where you are supposed to park. Says to go to top level. I wonder if that is necessary in the evenings? The place can get really busy...but hey that means they are doing something right. It is very casual.
(4)
Yan W.

This place is run like a machine. When my party and I arrived, the place was packed and they told us it would be... 10 minutes? That was extremely hard to believe. In the meantime, we hung out in front and looked at the literal window to the kitchen. You could see exactly how your kebabs are made... Magically, 10 minutes later, the waiter came back out and said "follow me".... So my party and about 20 other folks were herded into another dining area that looked like it was usually open for private parties. This place was actually pretty well decorated. THere, I ordered the kubideh and yogurt drink (it basically tastes like yogurt, dill, and... carbonated soda...). The meat was extremely juicy, but i found the entire dish a little bland. Although the sprinkling of saffron rice on the regular rice was good, it made the "regular" rice taste really regular... actually it made it taste really gamey even though I think it would have tasted fine if served alone... poor "regular" rice... It's like mixing kobe beef with regular "normal" beef, you can clearly tell the difference between the two. I wasn't a big fan of the bread either. It was okay, but it didn't add any extra spark to the meal. The prices are good, the portions big, the staff like robotic food dispensing machines. Pretty fun for anyone who hasn't had Persian food before.
(3)
Parisa E.

As a Persian, I find the food to be pretty good...although definitely not the most authentic or best offered in the DC Metro Area. They go a bit overboard with rice...even for me, and I am used to lots of rice being Persian and growing up in a Persian household. I don't really mind the bread being served in plastic baggies, or the pitchers of water being brought to the table...only because it allows for me to have less interaction with the employees here...which is fine by me since they are not generally attentive or responsive. The servers here are, overall, rude and not very pleasant. My last experience here, I had a family of 8 coming and I arrived a bit early. I asked the staff here for a table that would seat 8 and they looked a bit irritated, even though there was maybe...less than 10 people in the restaurant at the time. They put two very small tables together and shoved in as many chairs as they could. I asked for one more table to be added so that the seats could be spread out a bit, explaining that two older people (in their 70's) would be sitting here, one of whom could barely walk and used a walker, and that the tightness in space would be uncomfortable for them. When I made the request, they explicitly told me no. I asked again, a little louder this time, and one of the managers overheard me and instructed the staff to add one more table. The staff member looked very displeased with me and shoved another table at the end of the tables and walked off furiously. Other than that. I only come here occasionally for the food. Don't expect to come here and have a pleasant experience with the staff....because most likely you won't. But then again, tip is optional on our part and their loss, right?
(2)
Donya I.

This place is a hit among the middle eastern crowd. Those fall in love with the kabob and the specialty rices. I personally am not as big of a fan. The bread is awful, it is a shame for a Persian restaurant. The "waiters" are just busboys that are very rude. The service is just awful. Decoration is very cheap as well. Management has a great recipe but really could make this place a nice restaurant if they hired actual waiters, got some nice decor, because currently it makes the restaurant rather cheap and unappealing. The Persian ice cream was okay, typical and very likely store bought and dumped in a bowl. The jujeh kabob had many many burnt small pieces of chicken and some larger pieces that were cooked the right amount. They should more evenly cook their food. The rice portion is ridiculous and the herb platter could have more cheese (but with the horrible bread they serve it might not even matter).
(2)
George N.

Dinner at 7pm without a reservation at this popular place in Tysons.... the Chicken Soltani was delectable. the kubideh was to die for, tender, sumptuous, succulent and cooked to perfection...we even split it between two of us and it was enough with a small Persian salad.... the wait service was friendly and attentive and courteous I will definitely be back and come withmore friends and try other dishes the Baklava is moist and has some spices I remember from my childhood, reminiscent of cardamom and cloves excellent choice, the decor and size of the restaurant is simple and small with mirros, but the lines of people and carry-out
(5)
Eugenius F.

Their food tastes good but you have to put up with a lot just to dine there. It seems like smiling and courtesy are against the rules and in an odd way this place is reminiscent of the Soup Nazi's approach to serving food. Servers are curt and rude and act like they are doing you a favor by letting you dine there. Management is no different and allows it to happen. Of course they have their favorites and certain customers have a consistently good dining experience but that is for a select few. In general, they rush you to take your order and barely check on you. They take half-full plates without asking and try to clear your table quickly without regard for how far along you are into dinner. The customer service has always been sub par but I kept giving them chance after chance until I finally had it. The last straw was when a friend and I were refused drink refills because they wanted to clear our table. The waiter came up to us while we were signing the tab and told us point blank to just put something down and hurry up. I will never dine there again.
(1)
Felix H.

This is the only Persian place in NOVA I know of that has ta-deeg (crispy rice crust that is at the bottom of the rice cooker). This is the place with the largest variety on their menu. As good as it gets for Persian cuisine in NOVA. All my old Persian clients and CPA (he's Persian) would come here and enjoy the food. Personally, my CPA and I prefer Rose's Kabob in Vienna. BUT...I would never turn down a meal at Shamshiry. It does get busy so...be patient. All the good places usually have a wait. I've never waited over 10 minutes.
(5)
Melissa H.

Food: Its' amazing! We got their top priced meat dish. Its a "filet mignon" meat with rice. You can order an egg yolk on the side to pour into your rice. Just add butter to the rice mixture and its deliciously creamy! The service is good but don't go during your hour lunch break or if you are in a rush. The food takes awhile to come out.
(4)
Ken R.

Soooooo, I finally went based on a strong recommendation of a co-worker. I had the Chelo Kabob Barg. While the food was fine, I was not wowed by it. I suspect part of it was that I'm partial to the sticky moist rice of the far east vs. the dryer rice of the Persian variety. Based on reviews I was expecting the beef to be melt in your mouth good. Again, it was okay, but it was no flavor explosion nor was it particularly tender. It wasn't tough or chewy either... how else can I say it? It was okay. I was surprised I didn't get the egg yolk with my meal. Being that it was my first time, I'm assuming I need to specifically ask for it since I didn't get it. Incidentally, I did really enjoy the Persian Salad Bowl. It kind of looked "meh" but the ingredients and especially the homemade dressing were surprisingly good. I'll have to go back again and try another dish. Based on all the overwhelmingly positive reviews, I'm hoping I can tap into the goodness everyone else is enjoying.
(3)
Jessica S.

It is seriously ridiculous how much I love this place! Being that I live in Manassas I do not get to go as often as I would like. Every time I am able to make the hour+ drive to this tucked away treasure I can honestly say I am never disappointed. This place was first brought to my attention by an older (Persian) friend of mine in 2007. She introduced it as the best place to get authentic Persian cuisine in all of Northern Virginia. Having enjoyed Moby Dicks for many years I was excited to give it a try. One word, AMAZING!! I swear the ghameh (beef and lentil) tahdig is what keeps me coming back. I get this dish as my appetizer even though the main course always leaves me with 2 meals worth of leftovers. I have yet to find another Persian restaurant that serves this dish. It seems that the more popular choice and easier to locate tahdig is served with ghormeh sabzi (spinach and red bean). Neither of these items is listed on the menu, you have to request it. The kabobs (all of them) are good but I always order the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry (combination of barg and kubideh) this is my favorite and as the menu states is unforgettable. Good luck finishing it though, the dish is huge. All around the portions are good for the money, service is excellent and the food is amazing. The only thing I would suggest would be that they spruce the interior up a bit. For a restaurant that is in Tyson's Corner, I would have expected the place to look a little more put together. But overall I highly recommend!
(5)
Marie P.

I learned of Shamshiry from The Washingtonian "Cheap Eats" list. I read a review saying that the dining room was sparsely decorated, but the food was good and affordable. So, that was my expectation coming in. The review was spot on. The dining room offers little in the way of ambiance, but...the food was good! The bread arrives in a plastic baggie with some cilantro, garlic spread that has a bit of a kick. I loved the spread and the baggie and container for the spread made it easier to take home. My husband and I split the Chicken Tandoori. It was such a huge portion, we were both full and still had leftovers--not bad for $12! I haven't had much Persian food so I have little to base my review on, but I thought the food was delicious. The rice was soft, the chicken was flavorful and I enjoyed the onion, grilled tomato and lemon as well.
(4)
Sam S.

One of the best restaurants in Washington D.C. metro area and by far the best Persian food in this country. I been to every Persian restaurant in the area and nothing compares. The food is amazing, huge portions and the service is very fast. My favorite part is the meal is always hot and it's got the lowest prices for any Persian restraunt that I've ever been too!!
(5)
Mazdak O.

This is one of my favorite Kabob restaurants in DC area. The food is above average for an Iranian dish. Their Tahdig with stew on it is very good and I always have that as appetizer or sometimes as the main dish. The staff are friendly and nice. Also, the ice cream is very good.
(4)
John K.

Used to have great food . The portion has been cut in half . I don't care that much for the rice . Because the used to give you a lot of rice . But when the cut down on kabobs . The chicken is burned and dry small . If the wanted to make more money they should of raise the price I was ready to pay a dollar or two extra for great kabob .
(3)
Faisal A.

First of all, there service is absolutely outstanding. Second, the food is high good. the only and best order you c
(4)
Victoria Z.

This really could have been a 5 star rating, because the food was SO GOOD. However, the waitress we had was not a happy person at all. We had a big crowd, but we made sure we were patient and easy to deal with and she had a attitude from the beginning. Due to that, I almost bumped my rating down to three stars. But, since the food was AMAZING (cheap prices and there was LOTS of it!) I was kind and gave them a four. When I go back, I'll be happy to bump it up to five stars with a cheery server.
(4)
Phi N.

It's a bit far for me to be going here, but if I lived closer, I'd prob go pretty often. My friend and I split the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry and Chicken Soltani. We also added an egg to the rice. The plates were huuuge-- too much rice. Try not to fill yourself on bread, butter and that spicy green sauce. Although that green sauce is so great... i thoguht the chicken was the best. The barg was also very scrumptious. I wasn't very impressed with the kubideh.
(4)
Sal A.

Delicious! Chicken kabob, kubeida, and Sabzi ghorma. Yum! Big portions and great quick service. Try any of the kabobs with zereshk polo for a party in your mouth! This is my only spot for Persian food. Dinner time Gets packed but it's worth it!
(5)
Tasha K.

This place is very good, their koobideh is perfect and rice is excellent. I like their tea as well. This has been my family's favorite for over 4 years now. The food, the service and the prices never disappoint.
(5)
Reza I.

The food note taste as promise the rice was with a lot of chip butter very unhealthy the meat was horrible the place was crowded, no good service I never are going to go back.
(1)
Kathy N.

Went there for first time on busy Father's Day afternoon. Quick, pleasant, helpful service. We enjoyed our waiter who gave us a quick history lesson on difference between Persian and Indian food (another restaurant up the sidewalk). Our food was fantastic. We ordered tea, doog (yogurt and mint drink), hummus. Chicken ,salmon, and beef kabobs were delicious. Plenty of salmon pieces-contrary to another reviewer's experience.. None of the meat was dry-our usual experience with most kabob places. Finished with the ice cream. That's worth our trip from Bethesda. Will return often.
(4)
Jessica M.

I went to this place with my Persian friend who said they serve the best Persian dish in the area. I loved their Kabobs and the service was great! However, I was much disappointed with flat breads in a zip bag and also the cucumber sauce that I ordered as a side was too heavy for me. I probably wouldn't recommend this place to someone who is used to Americanized Persian food like Moby Dick.
(4)
Foodrunner F.

This place has pretty good food. You should get your dish with rice because you can ask them to put cranberries or oranges in the rice. Or you can get your rice extra crunchy. The kabobs are pretty good too. Service is ok. The servers can come of kind of rude but they may not mean it. The atmosphere is causal. The restaurant is open and it is good for a group of loud young people or a family. There are a lot Middle Easterners and Persians who eat here. I think most of the items are halal, but you should ask.
(4)
J W.

The rice is very good and the food, overall, is very good. VERY BUSY PLACE. Expect to wait for a table, especially on weekends. But I have to say Moby Dick's is just as good.
(4)
Steve T.

The food here was pretty good, and wasn't too expensive. There were a few items that were extremely marked up, such as the Baklava. That should have been priced at $0.50 because it was small, and wasn't too tasty. The portions are huge though! You can definitely feed 2-3 people with a single entree. The only reason why this place isn't marked 3 stars is because of the service. The waitress was rude to my guest and I when we asked for more detail about certain dishes. It was my first time there, so when I asked for a recommendation, she tried to upsell me the filet mignon. Also, when I asked for water, she put a pitcher on the table.... B**** please, if I'm going to be doing your job, you should tip me at the end of the night. I also ordered a dish after reading the description. It was supposed to come with raw egg yolk that you're supposed to pour onto your rice. It didn't, so when I asked her about it, she told me it doesn't come like that. There's a good chance I misread the description, but she didn't have to roll her eyes at me. I recommend doing carryout if you want to eat here.
(2)
Al B.

disappointed by service and food. going down the drain. writing it from inside the restaurant im so disappointed. such a shame.
(2)
Irene A.

this place is absolutely delicious I cannot get over how soft and juicy their kabobs are. I have eaten persian food my whole life, every sunday and this is by far the best persian food I have EVER had in my life. If you are looking for high quality persian food this is the place to go. The staff is friendly, it has a warm atmosphere and good for any age group. You are welcomed when you enter and you automatically can see them grilling the kabob infront of you. The delicious smell really fills the room. You get a good amount of food for a good price and can take the rest home.
(5)
Elias C.

Wow best chicken soltani hands down. I eat there all the time, and have never been disappointed. Amazing ....
(5)
Mrs. Arati S.

It was a mistake going here. A total waste of money. We went with a group of few friends to this place for dinner on a Saturday night. Our waiter was HORRIBLE. My friend had to get up and walk to the kitchen at least 3 times throughout the course of our dinner and actually had to grab a few things herself for our table. Once to get extra bread (which comes in those God-awful Ziplock plastic bags), once to remind him of our drink refills and once to remind him again about getting our yogurt sauce (which he should've brought to us at the beginning of our meal). AND they charge extra for yogurt sauce. Pathetic. I had gotten the lamb kabob meal which was too chewy to swallow. The dish came with a ginormous amount of rice which didn't taste like anything. Our dish was supposed to come with an egg cracked on top of it which is supposed to cook through by the steam of the rice; our waiter forgot our eggs and when we asked him about it, he finally brought out a tray of raw eggs for us towards the end of the meal (after asking him about 3 times). What in the world were we supposed to do with raw eggs at the end of our dinner? Our food wasn't even close to warm when he brought out the eggs. Oh, and to top things off, our waiter got our entire tables checks mixed up. It took him about 20 minutes to figure out what he did wrong with our bills. We had asked him in the beginning of our meal to keep our checks separate so as to avoid confusion. And after reassuring us that there would be no confusion with the checks, he still messed them up. Should I even answer the question as to whether or not we'll be going back there again?
(1)
Joshua D.

I've visited here twice now, and both were very good experiences. There's never a wait, and the service is always pretty good. The food here is delicious. These kabobs are in the Iranian style I believe for the most part, as opposed to the Iraqi (Tigris Grill in Vienna) or one of the several Mediterranean-style places in the area. Because I love kabobs, I also love getting this unique take on them, which doesn't stray to much from the tried-and-true formula but changes things up just enough to be interesting and add a new flavor of deliciousness. The meat variety here is great, and I really recommend you go with the kubideh (a ground beef/lamb mixture that looks like a sausage and tastes sort of like gyro meat) if you've never tried it before. The chicken is also good, and you can get a dish that mixes the two, so that's a win-win. I really like the sumac spice on the table -- put it on everything! You can even get some truly authentic quirks to your dish here if you want -- like a raw egg cracked over your rice to watch it cook in. One thing I must say -- GENEROUS PORTIONS! Yeah, OK, you're paying $10-16, and rice is cheap, but still... I think you're getting your money's worth. The large, square plates I'm pretty sure are a square foot. Huge. And you get enough meat to go from end-to-end of the plate, atop the largest portion of rice I have ever been given at a restaurant! You also get a roasted whole tomato, onions, etc. Before your entree comes, you get a whole pack of flatbread for the table. This place is just amazing, both in taste and value. The only reason I give Shamshiry four instead of five stars is because of how inconsistent the experience is. One time, I got this really tasty rice crisp atop my dish, another time I didn't. One time, everyone in a party of 10 had their orders come out just right. Another time, in a party of two, a dish was brought out wrong. So, despite a few tweaks they could make here, I wouldn't say anything other than this is a must-try! I now consider myself a regular and will go back soon.
(4)
Greg O.

After being ignored at I-Thai, we saw that Shamshiry was around the corner and decided to give it a try. As some of the other reviews have mentioned, its not much inside. Its certainly large, but the decor and atmosphere is sparse and lacking to say the least. The service is good, but not great. We were seated quickly and the only complaint I would have is that it was tough to get water and drink refills. The food was very good though- the kabob had a good amount of spice and flavor to it, and it was served on a mound of rice, or rather a mountain. We took the leftovers home and had enough rice for another two meals. Very good meal, and worth trying to find in the office park.
(3)
zubin l.

We went in a big group and most of us ordered their Kubideh which is probably their most popular item on the menu. The kabob feels meaty, succulent, juicy and filling but the spice were bland. If not of the hot sauce, this place would have been a dud. You get 3 skewers and a big serving of rice and a side of grilled full tomato. If you are really not that hungry, you can easily split this between 2 people. Overall good and worth going. The other dishes were priced on the higher side.
(3)
Christian V.

Bring your appetite! Portions are huge, food is fresh, tasty and the service very snappy. Favorites include the Shamshiry, Kubideh, Tandoori and Mahi. The Persian Salad Bowl makes a good start.
(4)
Alexander K.

I was able to have lunch here with my co-workers; I must say my expectations were sky high upon reading these yelp reviews. I mean, the kabobs were good, but not as godly as many of these reviews illustrate. I ordered the kabob shamshiry which had both the steak and kubideh. The latter half of the kabobs became a bit dry when I got to them. There is a piping hot mountain of rice served with the kabobs, simply an immense portion; I don't know how one person can consume all that rice in one sitting! The slices of raw onion were a nice touch when paired with the pieces of kabob. The tomato slice with the dish was completely charred as well, which I wasn't fond of.
(3)
Stephanie G.

I love this place! The staff is friendly and the food is amazing! The portions are huge and I can always take some home to enjoy the next day. The chicken kabob is my go to meal...it is amazing every time. I would never go anywhere else! The cinnamon icecream is delicious as well! I have nothing bad to say about this place!
(5)
Norma S.

Rice is perfect! Never knew there was such a difference but there is! The place is family oriented. Nice but not fancy. Staff is friendly. I enjoyed the menu because it not only provides a list of what is offered but a two sentence paragraph with a story of when the dish would be served or who/how it is created. Plenty of food so you will definitely have left-overs.
(4)
Imran G.

I'm not a huge fan of 'Persian food' or whatever Iranian people call themselves these days. However, this place truly stood out from all of the other places I've tried, so I will let them call themselves whatever they want. Aside from that, I had some preconceptions about this place due to my dads rave reviews for it. The few restaurants that he's taken me to are truly outstanding, and this place isn't an exception. Shamshiry was packed on a Saturday at 3 pm. I think it just speaks to the high caliber and quality of food. Usually I don't go by other people's opinions, but this place was literally packed when we got there, and packed after we left. They start you off with a ziplock bag of what appears to be homecooked pita bread. I know it seems sort of ghetto, but it was really tasty along with their spread, sauce, and other concoctions. My dad and I ordered only $25 worth of food, but we could hard finish it. Their kabobs were delectable and quite possibly the best I've ever tasted. It was a harmonic balance accompanied by the presence of the perfect rice containing nuts and berries. Despite our empty stomachs, we had to pack some of it and take it home. Winning. I can't recommend Shamshiry enough, I really really enjoyed it and will come back if I'm in the area.
(5)
Ali G.

Been enjoying Shamshiry for 15yrs. I've enjoyed kabobs around the world and the kubideh here still reigns supreme with my taste buds (request "burnt rice" with it). I l love their tea so much - found out the brand/flavor - have a can at home. For dessert, the saffron ice cream tops off every dinner nicely. For those trying for the first time - beware, portions are huuuuge and it's not the typical service where people come ask every 5min "how are things". Your food is brought out quickly and you're left alone to enjoy - need something - make eye contact with your server or raise your hand.
(5)
Nari M.

Best kabob place in the DMV area! You can't go wrong
(4)
Jin C.

I have been coming here for 15 years. Food is great and consistent.
(5)
Saif A.

10/10. Best persian kabob possibly anywhere in the US. Ive tried MANY. The Kubideh is as perfect as you can get as is the rice. Consistency is also a hallmark. Its always great.
(5)
James H.

Thank you AR. Always the best. The best kabobs we ever have are at Shamshiry. It is a must visit whenever we come to town. This past visit was with four kids under five and they loved it.
(5)
Susan L.

First time visitor here. I'm not sure if i'd go back again. I left feeling just OK/Meh. Maybe I'll go back and try something else. They seem to be very good at the meat part. When you enter, you can see directly into the kitchen section that's doing all the grilling. That was pretty cool. What we ordered: Chicken kabobs and dill rice. Ground beef kabobs with dill rice. Persian tea. Yogurt sauce to go with our pita bread. Taste: The chicken and beef kabobs were tender, not over cooked, and tasted fresh and exactly the animal they came from. It's hard to cook chicken without over-drying it so I give them props for that. You really only get one kabob stick though so if you're a meat person, you might want to rethink that. They gave a TON of rice. The rice was very pretty. It was covered in dill. That's pretty much where it stops there. There was wayyyy to much dill that it overpowered the dish. All I could smell, see and taste was dill. Not very flavorful. I overheard from another table that the white basmati rice the kabobs usually come with is much better so I regret paying the extra $3.50 each to get the special dill one. I got so nauseous and I ate maybe 1/8 of the mound of rice they give you. Carb over load and not enough meat. the yogurt sauce and their special spicy green sauce was delicious, light and fresh. I think I would have been happier with just pita bread and a bowl of their yogurt sauce! Persian tea tasted like a better version of lipton without the bad lipton after-taste. Price: It came to $48 bucks for 2 people (incl. tip). That's a tad on the expensive side for just OK food. Service: Friendly, and helpful. The food came out pretty quickly after we ordered. They were very good about giving us anything we needed. In all, I'd come back if someone else really wanted to go and I had $ to blow on a meal that left me feeling in limbo. However, in this area there are so many food options that I wouldn't go on my own.
(3)
William B.

Before I went, I thought this was just a kabob place, and if that's all it was, it would be disappointing and not worth it. But, no, it turns out that Persian food, which I had never really understood before, is a surprising mix of South Asian and Middle Eastern flavors. The kabobs are fine, but the rice dishes-- supplemented with salt and butter as you need-- are the reason to come. In the post-Atkins world, the idea of a rice-based meal may seem weird, but if you go you'll see why it's worth doing. The Baghali Polo is the best.
(3)
Tauseef R.

I really don't get what the hype is about. Yes it comes with A LOT of rice, but no human being can eat that much. Its just a waste. The steak/beef/kabobs are bland. When I asked for Garlic Sauce she just gave me yogurt. The bread came out cold, even though its supposed to be warm. The ambience is pretty awkward, and if your on a 2 person table, its very cramped. The tables are Tiny. There are much better Persian restaurants around.
(3)
Roger L.

Yeah, I'm a big fan. I've been going here for 10 yrs now, ever since my Persian friend turned me n to it. Beautiful rice, well cooked Jojah (chicken) and I love the Hot Persian Tea. Sides are a little expensive and large for one person, $3-$5 ea. Otherwise, I like what I get always and I say to all "try it, you'll like it".
(5)
Linh T.

The best kabobs I have ever tasted around here! I always order the Beef Kabob Kubideh and leave happy. The portions are huge. Don't forget to ask for an egg yolk over the hot steaming rice. It will give the rice a rich flavor that will go well with the charcoal beef kabobs. Awesome Persian food! P.S. Don't mind the ziplock bread bag and the rice overload. Meh!
(4)
SD H.

I almost gave this place two stars because their kubideh is actually very tasty and the barg is also pretty good. However, the negative things I have to say about this place stack so high I can't bring myself to give them more than one star. Born and raised Iranian, I am appalled that so many Persians think this is even a remotely decent dining experience!! Here's what makes this place horrible: - The bread is stale. Comes to the table in a plastic BAGGIE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! Kabob Bazaar in Clarendon (my go-to Persian place) at least makes their own bread! What authentic Persian doesn't make their own bread????? - Dirty dishes. My glass on my table had something like dried snot running down the side of it. When I asked the waiter for a new glass he begrudgingly got me a new one without even eye contact or a "OH SORRY THERE IS DRIED SNOT ON YOUR GLASS!!" - Rainbow colored plastic plates, plastic pitches of water they put on your tiny table (how hard is it to pay your staff to walk around and fill water glasses), plastic cups, and cafeteria-style seating. - Service. Or complete and utter lack thereof. I asked the man behind the register when I walked in if I could be seated - his response was to point into the dining room and say "oh I don't do that, he does." While he continued to stand there. I couldn't get the waiter to actually make eye contact with me, or speak loud enough so I could understand what he was even saying. When I asked if we could order tahdeeg he said "I don't know if we have that" and proceeded to just stare at me.... I asked if he could find out. He never came back. This place is an absolute and total disgrace. If you're looking for delicious kabob and traditional Iranian dishes, impeccable service and a clean and inviting atmosphere I'd encourage you to try Kabob Bazaar in Clarendon. Makes this place look like a total joke. You don't have to put up with crappy service, dirty atmosphere to get good Iranian food. I'm totally confused why so many people do.
(1)
Yumi W.

Perfectly cooked regular rice. Sour cherry rice is hard to find at restaurant this is only place in DC area. Kabob is cooked to perfection. I prefer taftoon bread over chewy bread. Tea was very nice... Lettuce in our salad could use improvement but over all very good .little disappointed with decor and paper napkin/plastic bowl and plates. I will go back for food.
(4)
Sohrab S.

Absolutely not. Avoid avoid avoid avoid... The fact that this restaurant was crowded when we arrived today only makes me think that people settle for the terrible experience here because everywhere else is worse. It makes me want to open my own kabob place to make this place go out of business for good. DISCLAIMER: the reason why I will be so critical in this review is because of how expensive the bill came out for an experience that just didn't make up for it. Where to start... ATMOSPHERE This place hasn't received a refresh in a good decade; I know, since I used to go here as a kid with the family (wanna see something amusing? Check out the computer from the 80s they use at the front desk). Ceiling is of the white, tiled, office-esque type; one wall is an enormous mirror (I believe to make the restaurant appear larger; it looks fairly tacky but passable), and tables are set accordingly throughout the restaurant in a well-spaced manner. The music played is a mixture of Persian, Arab, and 80s pop hits. Ugh... 1/5. FOOD First off, the waiter comes to our table with plastic cups and terrible looking rainbow-colored plastic plates, along with a large plastic pitcher of water that they leave at the table (because asking your staff to go around and refill cups is too complicated). the bread is handed to you in a plastic bag (!!!) in a basket. Seriously, Shamshiry? You couldn't have bothered to take the bread out of the bag before serving it? If I wanted sliced bits of not-fresh-but-not-stale bread in a bag then I would've just stayed home. Next, we ordered appetizers: salad shirazi, must o musseer, and sabzi (which was literally a heap of basil leaves with a block of feta cheese we didn't even notice until the end). The Shirazi and must o musseer were at par (wow, they didn't fuck up two basic dishes!). The green hot sauce they use is very overpowered with garlic and made it unenjoyable. I ordered the joojeh kabob in my group, and the waiter came with the group's dishes without clearing out our appetizer plates (so what ended up happening was the waiter awkwardly standing, realizing what just happened). I had to ask the waiter explicitly to clear our appetizer plates first. And then the food was plated... Oh dear lord, the food. It was basically a heap of rice (enough to feed two-three) with 10-12 pieces of chicken (enough to feed two), as well as pieces of onion and a grilled tomato. I'm 6'3" and this was simply too much. It's too much for anyone. (Does anyone finish a plate here?) The only good thing on my plate was the chicken, which was cooked wonderfully. I was expecting the chicken to be too tough but it came out just fine. The rice near flavorless (but there's saffron coloring... is it fake?) and although raw onion is customary with kabob, it just didn't complement the dish. I didn't even touch the grilled tomato because there wasn't enough room in my stomach to fit it. To conclude, my table's three dishes, three appetizers, and an extra house salad (by the way, the house salad clearly was premade and stuck in a fridge, and red kidney beans were sprinkled on top of it... Are you freakin kidding me? Check out the pictures I uploaded to the Shamshiry photo album here) for one, came out to $70. The person I came with claims that this restaurant is "off the hook" and tipped our waiter $15, so it came out to $85... $30 a person. No, no no no no no no no no no no. I wouldn't have the passion to complain this much about this restaurant if the bill totaled to, maybe... $50? 1.5/5. SERVICE Why service was not impressive: - staff doesn't refill your water for you, a large pitcher is left at your table and takes up space/doesn't leave enough space for the HUGE plates of food - waiter stalled when we asked what the sabzi was made up of - waiter didn't clear our appetizer plates before coming with our entrÃ©es, creating an awkward moment the one pro: - food was brought out in a prompt manner 2/5 Do yourself a favor and do NOT eat here. This place must have been better before, hence the current four-star rating... but the shape it is in currently, it does NOT deserve your attention and you are much better off eating Persian cuisine somewhere else. Hell, Moby Dick is better than this place.... At least at Moby Dick, I can get fresh bread! How embarrassing for Shamshiry. Whoever is managing this place needs to stop being satisfied with mediocrity.
(1)
Khan J.

Best fresh & tasty Food ever had in this area or other persian food places so far, best prices and large serving sizes. Only part is cold bread at the start, it needs to be fresh and hot...anyway we go there for kabobs and rice, that is perfect! Perfect!
(5)
K C.

Whats up with this rice? I heard great things about the rice and ordered it only to realize that I cannot even see anyone behined the rice mount ;) . Lots and lots of rice with good kabobs though. I find it a bit hard to have rice without proper lubrication and that is perhaps my problem and not the restaurant's. Yeah, good place, may not be for me, or I should order something that enhances the lubrication.
(3)
Mahmood B.

Amazing place with amazing food. You don't wanna miss it!
(5)
Sarvenaz S.

I don't know why some people have less than 5 stars on here, I have been going to this restaurant since the first DAY I moved to the DC area...since 2001..this place is great, Perfect service, perfect food.
(5)
Jason C.

The finely seasoned kabob meat, the buttery rice, the bust-through-the-palate-wall "OH YEAH!!" hot sauce, and even the raw onions make me a fan of this place. Then the raw egg. Oh you deceivingly simple yet fetching minx of a raw egg. It's like rocket fuel. Once mixed into the rice, the dish lifts off to a place that transcends all Moby Dicks or even Walden Pond. They need better bread.
(5)
Sam M.

Shamshiry, Vienna, VA: Hands down, a great place to have authentic Persian cuisine! [Neither my husband nor I are Persian (Caucasian/Asian), but were pleasantly surprised to find the sought-after 'Tadigh' (browned rice crust) that accompanied the generous mound of saffron-infused steamed rice. We even took a peek around, but didn't find the 'Tadigh' on the meals of other Persian-looking clientele. Most other Persian restaurants don't even include 'Tadigh' on the menu, and a few even charge 'extra' for Tadigh.] Yippee, we scored! Speaking of the clientele, King Cyrus of Persia, would have been proud! The place was crowded - - primarily by foodies who appeared to be Cyrus' descendants in-the-know of this gem. So much so, that the tables and chairs have barely enough elbow room to get into/out of your seat. Not only after running by a list of honorable mentions of Persian restaurants in the Northern Virginia area, did a fellow Persian friend also acknowledge that Shamshiry -- and Rose Restaurant, also in Vienna, VA, as well as Moby Dick and Amoo's House of Kabob in McLean -- are indeed the places to go for delicious Persian fare in the WDC area. Rumor is that Shamshiry may be affiliated with Alborz (just down the road on Old Courthouse Road, also in Vienna -- coincidentally, Alborz Restaurant also serves its bread in plastic bags and the rice mounds are as generous as those at Shamshiry). The entrance is very narrow but gives you a bird's eye view of the flame-broiled kabobs rotating on their skewers. The ambience is rather eclectic with avant garde figurines shapened from probably recycled wires. The food is served on Italian-looking square glazed plates. Ancient Persia claimed to have invented 'ice cream', so we tried 'Paludeh' [shaved ice with frozen angel hair pasta(?)] that was accompanied by a choice of flavorful lemon and cherry syrups - - probably a precursor to Hawaii's [Japanese/Indonesian/Filipino (Halo Halo) variant] of the world-famous North Shore shaved ice so adored by President Obama and his family. While Shamshiry most probably makes their bread on their premises, what struck us as strange was having been served the bread in plastic bags - - not very appetizing-looking, considering how fresh their meals are here. Perhaps the plastic bags help with portion-sizing and in keeping them from drying out, but the least they could do is to remove the plastic bags just prior to serving them and maybe toasting them a bit in the oven or hot iron. Green Jalapeno sauce accompanies the bread. They also place a pitcher of water on your table. Also on the table is a container of sugar cubes, which, if done the Persian way, is placed between your teeth as you sip hot tea. Located in the heart of Tyson's Corner (& just off the metro construction mess), it is a little difficult to find, as the front of the restaurant (marked by an awning) is along an alley that does not face the main road, so it's a little easy to miss. As part of a scavenger hunt, the treasures you're about to sample would be well worth the effort. Shamshiry will not disappoint!
(5)
Stephanie T.

Ate here today for the first time and all I can say is....WOW!!! I had the chicken kabob and the portions were 'beyond' generous. The chicken was so thick and tender it basically melts in your mouth, and it is all served on a big fluffy bed of some of the most delicious rice I have ever tasted in my life. 5++ stars! I can't wait to return with some of my co-workers!
(5)
Hina A.

LOVE LOVE LOVE THE FOOD HERE!!!!! you pay about $12-15 per entree but the portions are huge, you can easily feed 2-3 people from each entree so $15 divided by 3 equals $5 per person. You cannot go anywhere and pay that amount and be filled with some good tasting kabobs. Actually i take that back you can but that would mean you have to travel to a third world country. SO to re-write that..... no where in america will you be able to go have some kabobs, rice, and bread for $5. Shamshiry continues to blow us away. We are continuously impressed by the management's ability to keep the quality of food at such a high level day after day. Although there's a new kabob restaurant popping up on every block, there can only be one: Shamshiry.
(5)
Tony G.

Awesome Persian food. Not so good parking. Service could be less factory-like. Families seem to love the place. Avoid the hummus. Attack the meat! Good kabobs. All the Persian basics are there. Not fancy. The Persian menu though was bigger than the English language one. ;-)
(4)
Michelle R.

Very popular restaurant! Huge, delicious portions for the right price. I tried the Chicken Soltani, which was enough for two meals. The only thing missing is fresh bread.
(4)
Monica H.

This place is always busy! Parking's a pain in the butt, but it's worth it. No-frills ambiance, huge portions, delicious rice and chicken kebabs. Not so good for a vegetarian so don't even bother. The pita bread is good, though I don't understand why it comes in a plastic bag, and the green chutney it's served with spices things up a bit. I always have leftovers so it's a great buy for the money!
(5)
R K.

It pains me to give Shamshiry a one star review, since their food has consistently been one of the better restaurant selections for Persian food in the area. The food ain't close to being like home but it's sure better than most places. But the atmosphere? Yuck. And I mean LITERAL atmosphere - on top of the shit they pass off as decor and the walls that need paint so desperately they cry out from the pain of the questionable stains littered across them, the air quality is bad. I have bad allergies. I can't eat at this restaurant. It's hazy. Something has been wrong with the ventilation for well over a year and I very seriously can't stay in the restaurant for more than five minutes. My family thought I was crazy and kept making me go... and I kept having to leave them and walk outside. But then more people we knew started complaining independently of the same problem and I was vindicated. If you have allergies: Run. Run as fast as you can. Don't look back. Try Alborz. Food's nearly identical and the air quality is as Shamshiry should be. If you don't have allergies, try Shamshiry. Your experience might be better than my last few visits before giving up for good.
(1)
Nova B.

One of the best ! The best rice, kubbaidah kabob .. Dont forget to finish your meal with persian tea
(5)
Jister Y.

My parents love the salmon. My brother swears by the lamb kabob to be one of the best. In my humble opinion, the salmon is deliciously grilled; however, there is always one piece that is grilled too much ends up being dry. I heart the pickle yogurt dip and the light and refreshing salad dressing. Recommend: Get half salad and half saffron rice -- we typically take most of the rice home, which is amazing with the yogurt dip. Besides the bread, I am extremely impressed.
(4)
Salma M.

Food is good service can be better and it could be cleaner than it is! But over all I would go for some chelo kabob!
(3)
Tu-van L.

Brendan J is right - they do load your plate with a boat ton of rice. But at least the rice is well-cooked, light and fluffy to soak up the flavors of the tender and flavorful kabobs. I thought it was interesting that some of the rice was fried up with egg - better than mixing the raw egg into the rice myself like they advertised on the menu. The kubideh was very moist and tender well-balanced in flavor (not going to think about how fatty the ground meat is). My husband's steak kabob was well-cooked and tender and not so chewy; my chicken kabob was tender and well balanced of flavor. Service was attentive; the sit-down restaurant was not too pretentious. Overall this is a great place for Persia kabobs. Authentic flavors, large portions with the ambiance to go with it.
(5)
Meredith H.

Best Kabob place in NOVA! All around good Persian food! Wished I lived closer to it!
(5)
Keivan M.

Many friends recommended here, it was okay but definitely not the best Persian restaurant around. I liked most of the others better than this place.
(4)
C K.

Pretty good. The meat was very good, and the amount of rice was just ridicious. Haahah. We had 3 people, and the amount of rice on one plate was enough for all 3 of us. The friends I was with were happy that they served the rice with a small amount of charred rice which was fun to eat.
(3)
Mo A.

This joint has always had the best Iranian food in the DC metro area. Its a pain in the ass to get to unless you have a car, which is not ideal for us city dwellers, but the kebabs and rice are awesome. The place is kinda small, so you may have to wait for a while on the weekends because it is also quite popular. They don't have much for vegetarians, but there is some. They have excellent dough (a sour and minty yoghurt drink that i like a salty lassi) if you are into that sort of thing. Alas, I wish more of DC's great eastern foods was in the city instead of being nestled in random stripmalls all over the depressing landscape that is suburbia.
(4)
Suzanne L.

This is the best Persian food you can find as far as taste quality and price. I highly recommend it to anyone who really knows what great food tastes like.
(5)
Nick H.

One of my favorite types of food is Kabobs. As far as restaurants go, there are typically two types of kabob restaurants. Afghan ones which generally feature kabobs with rice, naan (bread), and side dishes such as chick peas and spinach. Then there are Iranian style kabob restaurants like Shamshiry and Moby Dick in which the kabobs come with a more buttery rice, naan (bread) and no chick peas or other side dishes. I like both styles of kabobs...but as far as Iranian style kabobs go, I don't think there's any restaurant better than Shamshiry. Hidden away in Vienna (down the street from Tyson's Corner on Route 7), this restaurant has everything. Delicious food, ample seating, affordable prices, etc. The menu features all sorts of kabob meats and combinations to please every type of kabob eater. I prefer the chicken and ground beef kabob combo. I also like adding a raw egg (an option I've only seen at Shamshiry), which I drop over my hot rice and it sort of cooks as it flavors the rice. Considering my job is located in the Tyson's Corner area, my coworkers and I frequent this wonderful restaurant ALL THE TIME. I cannot urge you enough to go try this restaurant if you enjoy kabobs. It may alter how you feel about many other kabob restaurants once you've discovered how wonderful it is.
(5)
Nadia B.

I can never get here without a map. Just follow the aroma of buttery rice. The chicken and beef kabob are enough for two, even though you may want to tackle the entire plate. Kubideh is amazing, and be sure to sprinkle the sumac (the large salt shaker on your table full of auburn spice) over EVERYTHING.
(3)
John H.

Really good kabob here. My father craves this place and goes any chance he gets. The restaurant is ugly though. No ambience. I'm middle eastern but something about the atmosphere just makes me feel very uneasy (you can read between the lines here). I usually get it to go. Food is good...the place itself? Not so much
(3)
Samar A.

Hi expectations after seeing the ratings. Food was ok. Yes on quantity. Had better kabobs fr Moby Dicks. Waiter was a character..... us: We'll have the tea. Waiter: Why don't you try the Yogurt drink. us: Does it taste salty? Waiter: I don't know, I've never tried it. Why recommend something you haven't tried??? ....and every other order was a negotiation....why don't you try this....or that?
(2)
Mel L.

We went in for a late dinner. Staff was friendly and attentive. We ordered: *Mahi (salmon) kabob with green rice *Kubideh with white rice *Yogurt appetizer Good: + green rice was delicious. + complementary green sauce for the bread was spicy. We both loved it! + great portion (especially rice). Not so good: - bread did not taste fresh.
(4)
Guy B.

Excellent service. Great people. Wonderful food. Plus points for being open late. My favorite is the kubideh with extra butter on the rice.
(5)
Ali B.

Hands down best Persian kabob in town, served with a mountain of rice (melt some butter on top, if you're feeling adventurous). Friendly staff. Cozy atmosphere. This place is a must if you are even 1% Arab/Persian. Go for the: - kobideh (skewer kabob) - tandoori chicken - dookh - tahdig (not on menu, but usually available), with ghameh (lentil/beef) or sabzi (spinach/beef) - saffron ice cream (a must) Ps. They may rarely serve meat that is undercooked or cold, but definitely send it back and they will bring you a stellar replacement in no time.
(5)
Yani M.

Bread is not fresh nor served warmed up Servers not attentive they don't check up on their tables once the food is served. Kubideh was tasty and juicy but the chicken kabob was just dry! The bread is a deal breaker....even fast food chains serve fresh made bread. Shamshirry opts to serve plain bread in a plastic bag!? I rather have them not serve as much rice as they do and serve warm fresh bread instead.
(2)
Kendra B.

This is a great go to for lunch. I order take out often as my office is close by. The food is ALWAYS fresh and very tasty. Missing a star because the restaurant is small and it has a funny smell. The Chicken Tandoori is my fav but you cannot go wrong with the beef, lamb or salmon. I'd definitely recommend! The service is great and everyone is very friendly.
(4)
Khaled K.

Even though the waiter was not the best.. The food itself was perfect . I loved it very much. I would absolutely come here again.
(4)
Kevin Z.

First time trying out Persian good. Its banging good! They serve a Gigantic portion and I had to save my meal to go after. The customer service was attend give and quick. I got the kobeeta platter and man I'm still thinking about the food!
(4)
Junaid T.

The food was tasteless and very expensive. And they covered the rice with a big flat burnt piece of rice on top of the rice which was ridiculous. I felt that was an insult. Not worth the money.
(1)
Mojdeh S.

How I heard of this place: My sister first introduced me to Shamshiry, and it quickly took first place for best Persian kabob served at a restaurant! Type of cuisine: Traditional Persian fare: plenty of rice, either white with saffron-infused grains atop or with a combination of fresh herbs, served with a side of grilled ground beef, filet mignon, or boneless chicken. Other dishes include stews with beans, meat and fresh herbs, pomegranite sauce with walnuts, as well as beans and tomato sauce, among other options. The fresh herb rice is also served with grilled salmon and coo-coo sabzi (a quiche-like patty of fresh herbs and egg). Ambiance: The restaurant is in a corporate building, on the ground floor of the executive park. The small space is enhanced in size by the floor to ceiling mirror at the far end of the establishment, opposite the floor-to-ceiling windows at the entryway. Chairs and tables, covered in white linen are crammed together in the small space, as diners and wait-staff squeeze their way through to find seats and serve patrons. Wire sculptures from the Dominican Republic line the shelf along the wall, and thick, plastic tie-dyed bowls and plates are set at each table for the bread and butter. Warm pita bread, cut in triangles and placed in a small Ziploc bag are set in a black, plastic basket, and small packets of butter in a tie-dye-colored bowl are at each setting. A large pitcher of water, a carafe of warm, Persian black tea ($1.99) and a small jar of sugar cubes are also available. Square, plastic, Mexican-themed plates, that hardly fit three per table without bleeding off of the table edge are used to serve the moutain of food in each order. A busy, bustling space, with eclectic, mismatched paintings and artwork lining walls and shelves around the space, make this a truly special in-house dining experience. What I ordered: We started with Persian tea ($1.99 per person), followed by a large pitcher of doogh ($7.99), a "...delightfully refreshing yogurt drink". For dinner, Chelo Kabob Kubideh ($9.99), Mahi Kabob ($14.99), "fresh salmon bursting with juices" and Chelo Kabob Shamshiry ($16.99). We also ordered a Mast-o Khiar ($3.50), yogurt with mint and cucumber as a supplement to the meal. What I loved: I always LOVE the food at Shamshiry. Of the two kabob's, I most enjoyed the flavor of the kubideh (ground beef), moist and buttery. The roasted tomato and the fresh, sliced onions served on the side of the each dish, area also a favorite of mine. The Persian tea, while I normally stray from the caffeinated beverage in the late evening hours, added the most perfect combination of sweetness and lightness to start and end the meal. Why I loved it: The food is consistently good, the portions huge and the flavors authentic. The bustle of the environment and the loud chatter, clinking and clanking of dishes add to the enjoyable experience. Cost: Low to average ($9.99 - $16.99 per dinner entree)
(4)
Danny R.

4 stars tasty! But 2 stars for a little pricey, a little too much rice, and not enough meat. So, we'll meet in the middle with 3 stars. We got takeout so I can't review the interior of the restaurant, but the takeout was nicely packaged. The spices and sauce is packaged in nice little lidded cups. The pita is ziplocked into nice little bags. The beef was excellent. Very moist, very tender, very tasty. The rice was also delicious. There was just a full metric ton of it. Overall, I like it, don't love it.
(3)
B G.

So....is this place really Persian? Been here twice and I'm always so confused. Everything tastes off-brand to me. It's okay food, but it's not as rich in flavor as it could or should be. I'm half-Persian so maybe I only half-know about these things, but the food ain't right. Also, the service is downright terrible. The waitstaff was rude both times and super slow to even take our order. This place is definitely better than a place like Moby Dick...but I don't think i'll be back.
(2)
Tariq S.

Best Irani kabob in the area, bar none. Chicken and beef kabob are zabiha (halaal). Loads of rice. My only complaint is you have to pay for the yogurt :( Booo.
(5)
Mamoon W.

Excellent kabob place in the Northern Virginia. I have been coming here now and then for the past 20 years, and the food has been consistently great. The food portions are generous and service is fast and courteous. The Kabobs here are tender, juicy and flavorful. The tea is also great after dinner/lunch. This place is always busy every day of the week. But they have a good system in place, wait time is not bad at all.
(5)
Mike C.

Came here for a work lunch for the first time and it was crazy tasty! Our meals came with ridiculously large portions of rice and incredibly tender/flavorful meat. I had the Chelo Kabob Kubideh for $11 - would definitely recommend! I asked for leftovers to be boxed up and they were inadvertently thrown away. I mentioned this to the manager and he gifted me an entirely new entree for free to go!!
(5)
Parry B.

Doogh, Chelo Kabob Kubideh, Chicken Kabob, Jujeh Kabob and Persian Ice cream! DECOR: The restaurant is quite spacious with a very simple and basic decor. The mirror at one side to the restaurant make it look very huge and double the size. FOOD: We ordered the Doogh, Chelo Kabob Kubideh, Chicken Kabob, Jujeh Kabob and Persian Ice cream and needless to say that every dish was very very very yummy. I love eating kabobs and this place just makes them perfectly. Very well seasoned and well cooked with the kabobs just melting in your mouth. We did want to order Paludeh Shirazi but it was not available. So the waiter recommended Persian Ice cream and we have no regret. The portions served was huge for every item ordered and one serving of the Persian Ice cream had 4 large scoops. We were very happy with the food. SERVICE: We had to wait for 15 minutes before being seated. The waiter who served us was very cute and humble. The food came within 20 minutes from the time ordered. PRICE: Out total was $42 without tips which makes it approx $10 per person since we were a family of 4 adults. One thing I noticed here, though a lot of people mentioned the dress code as 'CASUAL', I saw a lot of people who were DRESSY, especially the women. Another thing being, this restaurant has a lot of Persian visitors dining in here which proves it authenticity in serving Persian cuisine.
(4)
Megan C.

I finally had the chance to try Shamshiry with one of my main gal pals, and it was an experience that epitomizes something that I've grown to love about the DMW area, and it's the abundance of "authentic" non-"American" dining and cultural experiences in an environment that allows me to enjoy the cuisine and not feel like an outsider, but at the same time, allows me to kind of be the fly on the wall and get a real flavor - so cool! Speaking of flavor, you'll find the food kind in a good abundance here, but you have to decipher the parking situation first. It's not immediately clear where you're allowed to park in the pseudo office building complex where Shamshiry is located, but once you find a spot, you'll be swept away into an atmosphere replete with white tablecloths and mirrored walls, and tables full of Persian families enjoying a good time. Even though our waiter was brand new, the owner/manager did come by a few times to check on us, which we appreciated. Overall, we were very happy with the service, and it allowed my pal and me to catch-up without feeling hurried or hungry. For starters, we did a Persian tea, which was nice and warm, but was missing some of the deep herbal flavors I've come to expect from some other similar restaurants. For also did the Sabzi salad and the cucumber tomato salad, and aside from the whole pita-in-a-ZipLoc-thing, the salads were really fresh and amply-sized to share among two hungry women. As for entrees, I opted for the tandoori chicken with extra green spicy sauce, and chose 1/2 salad, 1/2 rice, as the normal serving of rice is enough to feed a family of 4 - I am NOT kidding. I enjoyed the juiciness of the chicken and the rich, spicy flavors of the green sauce, and the rice was of course perfect. My friend chose the salmon filet with full rice, and while she polished that salmon right off, she only ate a few bites of the rice - it seriously was an overwhelming amount, but that's better than not enough! I will definitely return to Shamshiry - don't let its office-like location deceive you, this is Tyson's Corner, after all, and some of the best restaurants are hidden in office-like complexes!
(4)
Christina L.

The food was pretty good. But I wish the presentation of the dishes and the ambience could improve. Aging interior - definitely needs a renovation soon. I also find the bread served in plastic bags so tacky...I wonder why they have kept this up over the years.. But overall, you can't really go wrong here. And who knows, I have only been here twice so maybe third time's the charm!
(3)
Andrew M.

Hands-down the best Iranian/Persian cuisine in the DMV (that I've had anyway). Tahdig was buttery, crunchy, and delicious; gormeh sabzi was tasty and pure; the polos/rice dishes were all very well made with great flavors; the kofta/kubideh, bone-in chicken (cornish hen), and tandoori chicken were exceptionally juicy and well-flavored. The bastani was very delicate with flavors of rosewater and saffron, and among the best I've had. This is a great place to try a lot of different things and dine family-style. The only thing I would knock is the noon/bread. Kind of flat and boring to be honest. Foodwife is half-Persian and is nodding in agreement as I write this review.
(5)
Sam Q.

Very great restaurant. I have been there 3 times and I have enjoyed going there all the time. Delicious food and fair prices.
(5)
Paul B.

CATERING DISASTER - DO NOT USE THEM FOR CATERING We hired this restaurant to cater a very important event - a funeral luncheon. The manager assured us on multiple occasions that the food would arrive at the designated time. The food arrived 1 hour late. When the driver arrived the first words out of his mouth were "Don't blame me. It was [manager]. He sent me on two deliveries back-to-back." When we later spoke to the manager he claimed that traffic was to blame, although his delivery man had already told us the real reason. When we told him what the driver said he just stopped making up any more excuses. We had hired the delivery person to serve the food. We arranged to pay him $300 for this service. He just stood around and did nothing while my family and friends did all the work. The manager agreed that we did not have to pay for this person. When I asked the manager to reduce the fee for the food order ($500), he initially refused to do so. Since the food arrived 1 hour late, several attendees had already left. After several minutes of discussion, the manager agreed to reduce the food bill by $50. He would not agree to our request for one-third off. I find this insulting. This whole experience was insulting to my family and guests. The restaurant should take responsibility for their failure. Instead the manager would only protect his bottom line. This is not a good way to run a business. Shame on you.
(1)
Kruthika R.

Best kabob place in the area. Well cooked meat. Right amount of flavors and super big quantity. It is open late and this makes it an easy choice for me. Will visit again.
(5)
Chris L.

You want rice, or meat and rice? Oh sure it's exquisite basmati rice plus tender beef & lamb, but it's still dry rice with plain grilled meat, I wish the Persians had figured out a few sauces. Bottom line, order a side of the yogurt (mast), that definitely reduces the dry factor. So yeah, overwhelming piles of rice, altho the crunchy bottom-of-the-pot rice served on top was a nice touch. Baghali (dill) polo and Shirin (orange) polo are absolutely worth the few bucks extra, the orange and other aromatics in the Shirin are just great. Really yummy spicy green sauce (cilantro, chills, garlic) served with the flatbread. Kabobs were carefully cooked, done exactly medium. Ask for the lamb because it wasn't on the menu when I visited but they served me very nice lamb anyhow. Big open room of hard surfaces yet still quiet, totally reasonable to have a conversation. At least three quarters of the other diners looked Persian (not that I'm an expert) and many brought little kids, I'd say they're definitely drawing the home-town crowd here. Service was friendly but definitely not hovering. Surprisingly cheap here, an enormous kabob platter is $15 and I have no idea how any single person could finish one. Split it, you'll be glad you left room to try other things. No alcohol here, maybe that makes it more authentic. Doesn't help the dry factor tho :)
(3)
Pearl S.

ZERO stars.... more like it.... Went there to today, the manager ignored me, spoke to Persian customer even though I was there first and waiting my turn patiently.... Shamshiry In Virginia discriminates against non Persians....the manager was rude and never offered to seat or help us.....
(1)
LoveGoodFood A.

We love their kabobs and Shirin Polo! They are so delicious, they make the drive from Maryland worth it!
(5)
Saud A.

Being from the middle east and particularly on the Arabian Gulf we have many Iranian Restaurants in kuwait. I was told that this place is suppose to be the best, and when I tried it. It's shy of mediocre. The meats are not seasoned enough, the rice is not bad. The condiments such as zarashk have sugar in them.. The zarashk is a dried berry, why would they ass water and sugar and make it an Ice cream add on instead of a savory one. The bread is not Iranian it's produced by a machine that flattens dough and cooks it. The leban (yogurt based drink) is carbonated.. Originally it shouldn't be, so I'm guessing it's from a packet.
(3)
Annabel S.

My book club's first visit here and we could not have been happier. First, let me say that the service was terrific. Bill, our server, answered all our questions, made a great suggestion to have family style platter and he was cognizant of my food allergies and made a point to warn me if something had nuts in it. We tried the chicken, the chicken tandoori, the lamb, the barg, and the kubideh. Folks were skeptical of the ground beef, but the kubideh ended up being a favorite hands down due to the flavors. The portion was generous (we had more than enough to share for a table of 5) and the meat was moist and flavorful. The Persian tea was a recommendation that was a hit with the entire group as well. Having to get my veggies in, the Salad Shirazy fit the bill. Tomatoes are not a huge favorite of mine, but mixed with the diced cucumbers and onions and the simple dressing made this an outstanding side dish. As noted, they are definitely generous with the rice. Because we had family style, they brought the Albalou (sour cherries), Shirin (orange peel with almonds and pistachios), and Zereshk (dried currents) toppings separately so everyone could try all three as they wished. While all three were good, the Albalou and the Shirin were favorites with the group. So the only curious thing is that the bread, funnily enough and noted in other reviews, was just so so. I ended up bringing take out home for my two teens -- the Shamshiry Kabob (combo barg and kubideh) was a hit. This just became my #1 kabob place in the area over Darya Kabob in Sterling.
(4)
Hasti Z.

The food is AMAZING but the only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because the workers there are a bunch of perverts and they make me feel very uncomfortable.
(3)
Faiza Q.

On a Monday night it was packed. Took about 15 mins to get seated. Ordered the Chicken, Mahi and the Shamshery platter. The Shamshery was very good. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Not a big fan of the Shamshery though. Service was ok. Had to ask for water and service multiple times. Will visit again though.
(4)
Farheen A.

My family and I went yesterday and grabbed food to go. The place was packed so we thought the food would be great. Let me tell you so disappointed. The meat was dry and blah in taste. The only thing good was the yogurt sauce which I had to put over everything to get it down. If ur in the mood for good kabobs stick to Moby dicks..way better and cheaper
(2)
Aziz A.

Clearly the best Iranian food I have had in VA so far. Moby Dick comes close.
(5)
Anna Y.

Huge portion. Make sure you order half rice and half salad. It's no extra charge since the regular rice portion is enormous. Parking garage in back. Not the walmart garage. I made that mistake when another reviewer said to park in the garage. Whatever you order you'll eat well and have enough to take home for another meal. :-)
(4)
Sal D.

I've been going here for years and every time I go I have a great experience. Small place but the service and food is worth it. Our server Bill made a great recommendation to me and my girlfriend. We wanted to order a side salad and both get our normal entrees. However, Bill mentioned that it would be better for us, for an extra $1 per entree, to split the rice in half and have 50% rice and 50% salad. I want so glad to hear that and it made my day because he was looking to give me the best deal for my date night. Greatly appreciated and would recommend Bill to anyone!
(5)
Kenneth M.

Eaten here for years and the quality is outstanding. I always have kabobs and they are never dry. The chicken and beef quality seems to be very good and service is always acceptable.
(5)
S. O.

The portions here are huge! I had the kubideh platter and I want to say the kubideh is in point. It very tender and not dry like other Kabob places. I definitely recommend that you come here hungry. We had this for lunch and I didn't need to eat dinner that day.
(4)
Wai M.

We were ushered into the cold private room. The place was really cold as the staff started bringing out the portable heaters. These heaters begin to make the place quite comfortable as we were finishing our dinner. The entree we received was kinda cold, probably because they have been sitting around while we were having our appetizers. Did not really enjoy the experience. On the plus side the bread was no longer served in ziploc bags. We will not be back.
(2)
A T.

Delicious food! Very traditional, yummy, generous portions. Very small space. My only complaint is that the cutlery and glasses sometimes have a funky smell. They could use better quality plates!
(5)
SÃ©amus C.

Popular Persian eatery near the heart of the Tysons area, almost-packed before 6pm on a winter Saturday. The entree servings are enormous, and the prices quite reasonable. Don't forget to ask for the (raw) egg yoke to stir in your huge mound of steaming rice, followed by some butter and reddish-brown sumac spice (in the table dispenser). The meats were well-seasoned and cooked to savory, juicy perfection. Most of the content diners were conversing in Farsi, which speaks to the authenticity of the food. Be mindful of the tight parking area, and the nearby spaces 'reserved' for some of the neighboring businesses.
(4)
John H.

Got here at 9pm on a Sunday night. The place was packed and had to wait for a table, that's how popular this place is. You can see the meat cooking thru a window right as you walk in. They looked delicious, and did not disappoint. Yes, you get a mountain of rice, but it's not to try and compensate for the lack of meat. The meat portion is also huge. I had the ground beef kababs and they're a great value around $10. Would return again.
(4)
Sondra K.

Five stars again. As always. This place delivers above and beyond. The owners are so friendly, the food is beyond amazing. The chicken is so tender, you can't get better kubideh in 100 miles (I've tried) atmosphere, fantastic, tea is fantastic, rose water ice cream fantastic. Just all around the best place in the DMV to eat, regardless of what you are craving. EAT HERE.
(5)
Tizi V.

Note how many of the positive reviews here are from non-Persians. Not trying to disparage anyone, but it says something. Shamshiry used to be good, but now it's just greasy. the rice is not good, it tastes over-boiled; does not taste like Persian-style rice, which is notoriously difficult to make (and it shows here). Portions are gargantuan, which I suppose is a plus for some. But it really just tastes like a bunch bland, overcooked rice and tomatoes thrown together with cheap saffron accompanied by greasy meat. I just feel sick after I eat here; nothing like authentic Persian food. I don't know many Persians who dine here anymore, FWIW.
(1)
Stacy K.

Friends have been telling me about this place for some time now. The family and I finally made the trip out to eat there. The place is small but very busy. The food was great. The portions were huge. The service was very good as well. We were sat at a table quickly and the food came rather fast as well. For the most part we really enjoyed the place.
(4)
Han D.

This is the worst kabob I have ever had in my entire life. Don't go here. Go to Kabob Palance, tastes 1000 times better. Actually.
(1)
Boris C.

My rating is based more on the organizational seating structure of the restaurant and less on the food, even though the food was nothing spectacular. The seating is absolutely terrible. It's akin to a cafeteria seating where you are literally sitting mere inches away from other diners. The food was bland at best and although the chicken kabob was good, it was not memorable. We ordered some dessert and we were given such an ungenerous portion in that we felt insulted by the extra small portion. This place is most likely better for lunch and not dinner.
(2)
Jeanette H.

This is a neighborhood gem for Tysons Corner. I'd rather come here than so many over-rated places in this area. Chicken kabob came perfectly-cooked and seasoned, and just juicy-yummy ! Eggplant stew was delicious, but perhaps with too much beef... I'd order them next time with (way) less beef and more eggplants! Salads were delish. Pita bread -- I wish they could warm them up. I'd come back here regularly for sure!
(3)
Dominique R.

This was my first time having persian food and I thoroughly enjoyed. It was quick and delicious!
(4)
Faheem R.

Summary: A little pricey for lunch, but still get your money's worth in terms of value. I'd go back for dinner if I were in the area. Food: The meal starts with the waiter bringing out a zipper bag of bread accompanied by butter and a green sauce. I think the bagged bread is a little weird and makes me question the freshness of the bread. The green sauce was pretty spicy. Ordered the Chicken Soltani - which was a combination of one skewer of Chicken Kabob and one skewer of Chelo Kabob Kubideh - and an egg to mix into the rice. While I ended up spending over $20 for lunch after tax and tip, the portion was huge. The kabobs were excellent and accompanied by a mountain of white rice. Mixing the raw egg and adding sumac to the rice was necessary to give the rice some moisture and flavor. My main feedback would be that they should consider a lunch size portion of a single skewer with 1/3 of the rice and charge half the price. However, the place was packed, so they aren't exactly hurting for business given their current pricing model and it would make sense to just ignore my suggestion. Service: Looks like they were a bit understaffed when I went, so the waiter was covering a lot of ground and was a bit slow. Ambiance: It's the ground floor of an office building, so don't have high expectations. Wait time: Was about 20 minute wait during lunch on a weekday. The only real issue is that there isn't a waiting area, so you're in the way as people try to come in and out of the place. Miscellaneous observations: Parking can be a little confusing given that the restaurant is buried in an office complex. Just park in the garage and then you won't have to worry about getting towed.
(3)
Alice W.

I heard about Shamshiry through a recommendation from someone I met in a budget class. Now, I don't remember much about what I learned in that class, but I remembered that recommendation. Recently, I decided to go and try Shamshiry. I decided to get the Chelo Kabob Kubideh. Strips of meat served next to a huge mound of rice and topped with a large helping of saffron. I stirred in some butter in the rice and gobbled up the meat and rice like they were M&Ms. Portion size was quite large and I even had some left over for the next day. I think my dish was a good bang-for-the-buck deal - priced at $9.99 and got so much food. I'm glad I finally seized the chance to go here. Food is great, service was nice, and prices are reasonable (at least for the Chelo Kabob Kubideh. I'm not sure if the other more expensive dishes are worth the price since I didn't try them). Our waiter was especially cordial and professional. Thanks to Jennifer who recommended Shamshiry to me! Great recommendation!
(4)
Rita S.

We came here for my mother in laws birthday and the wait was not bad even though the place was packed with customers. They give you more than enough food to eat there and take back. Everything was delicious! I ordered the Lamb Shank and it came with a yakhnee, mmmm I added some lemon and black pepper on it and it was delicious!
(5)
C H.

Absolutely delicious. Fresh, well prepared food. The place was filled with Persian people, families and people of all ages. I take that as a very good sign. It was super crowded and noisy on a Saturday night, so you're not going for the quiet ambiance or elegance. My single kabob entree with rice was so generous, I took half of it home and enjoyed another meal the next day. Make sure to get the bowls of fresh cucumber and tomato, they made everything that much better.
(5)
Mark H.

A great DC kabab restaurant with Persian style kababs. Love coming here all the time for amazing meat and will continue to come. The only thing I don't like is the bread.
(5)
Aysha C.

Delicious kubideh and a large heap of delicious rice with butter! The persian tea is the perfect end to a delicious meal! Waiters are kind of rude and eh, but that's ok. The food makes up for it. Very busy!
(4)
Craig S.

The waitstaff, managers, and owner, I guess, do not believe in serving customers here. They act like they are doing you favors - it's really appalling. This place is no fun, because you can't hear the person sitting next to you, and also, you are responsible to go get your own plates, napkins, forks, cups, glasses, and condiments. I mean, literally, you can ask a waiter 4 or 5 times and they are so overworked and busy that they will just not bring you anything. When my family of 11 came to eat here, I had to become a waiter to make sure we were given bread, plates, silverware, etc - I'm not even kidding. This place is a JOKE of a restaurant, if you can call it that.
(1)
Sultan M.

There was long line of people waiting when we arrived but we were still seated very quickly. The waitstaff was efficient if not overly friendly. The food was amazing and came in huge portions.
(5)
A A.

LOVE LOVE LOVE their food. I can't seem to find another Persian restaurant as good as Shamshiry in all of VA. I've been there alone, with friends and also family and no one has EVER complained. My favorite is the beef kibosh which literally melts in your mouth and to finish off, I never forget to order the safari ice cream. Such good food, such great staff and beautiful ambience. What more does one need?!
(5)
Sungmin S.

Shamshiry was great! It's a little difficult to find this place. Go past the Perfect Pita place and soon you'll find this join on your left. I went in on Monday at 2:30pm thinking there is no way I will have to wait......... and alas I did. We were quickly seated in about 15 minutes. My friend ordered the chelo kubideh and I ordered the chicken soltani (with tip, it totaled around $20). The portions were huge -- I ate about half and got the rest to go for dinner. They were very generous with rice (I added raw egg) and onions and the meat were delicious. I did enjoy the ground beef part of the dish but next time I might just order chelo kubideh (which only gives you chicken) since I liked chicken kabob a lot more. The only downside was that the space was rather crowded and my friend and I were seated at a small awkward table between two other parties -- we felt like we couldn't have any conversation without letting other parties hear us. But I surely don't visit hole-in-the-wall places like this expecting top-notch service and quality seating, so I wasn't disappointed.
(4)
maryam p.

ive had plenty of persian and middle eastern food in my day, all over the place, including L.A. aka tehrangeles. and ive got to say, this place is consistently delicious. ive taken multiple friends and family here and they have had nothing but praises. i cant help but get the same thing almost every time: gormah sabzi on the tay degh, the house made dough, kubideh and the spicy chicken, with the zereskh on the rice. i feel like the mark of a good "ethnic' restaurant is by how many people of that ethnicity eat there, and this place is brown town (its ok, im a beige person myself i can say these things hehe) may also be because the meat is halal and also it is def inexpensive for the amount of food you get. seriously one of my favorite places in the dmv; i will even venture out of the city for this place! :p
(5)
Sam S.

I will literally travel the farthest distance possible to if it comes to down to a good Kebab place and Shamshiry is the winner! Best Persian kebab I've had in a long time. Truly deserves 5 starts.
(5)
Laura S.

Sham (as I so lovingly call it) has great take out. Their service and timing is very consistent and the employees are friendly. My go-to is the chicken kabob with rice. Sometimes I'll sub salad for the rice (for no extra charge-yay). The chicken is always succulent, flavorful and juicy. The rice is good but there's no saffron. All dishes come with exactly one heaping Mt Everest-sized serving of rice (*high five*). Kubideh (meat kabob) is my next favorite dish. You get a side of onion, noon barbari flat bread and some sumac sprinkles.
(4)
Flo S.

Much better service this time around and with the same waitress. Thank you for reading my earlier review and making adjustments so that we have a much more pleasant experience:)
(4)
Osama E.

Food was awesome the lamb kabob was cooked perfect with the right amount of char. The cucumber yogurt was thick and tasted amazing. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars was they didn't serve hot fresh bread. I got a ziplock bread that was painful to see served. Cold not good not sure if it was prepped in the am or just repackaged crap but it was not good. Even fast food kabob places like moby dicks served fresh hit bread.
(4)
B W.

Our friend who lives in VA invited us to dinner here. This place was the best meal we had during our stay in DC. We got a huge combination of different meats like the chicken, salmon, lamb. The rice is light and aromatic. We also enjoyed Persian rose water ice cream. My son loved it so much that he was licking the bowl. Our friend thought it was cute, but I was a little embarrassed by his lack of manners. LOL But he only does that when he thinks something is really delicious.
(5)
Good E.

this place came highly recommended by a persian friend so i was excited to try it we all got different things to try out the bread comes in ziplock bags which many yelpers have noted. ok it is not the best presentation and the bread itself is pretty bland but the spicy green sauce that it comes with is amazingly good. we got the eggplant and yoghurt with cucumber appetizers. both were great others at the table got the chelo kabob kubideh and chelo kabob shamshiry. they were happy with their dishes but the general consensus was the food was pretty bland. i didnt sample their dishes i got the lamb sultana which was good but bland. it came with way too rice. i gave my left overs to my guy, he also thought it was pretty bland Service: nice, no issues ambience: nice, we sat in the adjacent room which was less noisy. they need to work on cranking on the heat, it was freezing! parking was ample and more importantly FREE overall, i really wanted to love this place but i think it was just ok. just not as good as the grill kabob at tyson corner!
(3)
Garrett A.

King of Kabobs! I had tried Kabobs several times before, and they had always been a food that I reluctantly ate. Shamshiry made a kabob lover out of me. The meat is so tender and well-flavored. And this flavor is cooked all the way through, it is not just spices on the surface. Try the beef or the filet mignon; it is all delicious. The rice is very good as well, and it comes topped with some crispy rice for variety, but the helping is very large. I recommend doing half rice, half salad, for a more balanced meal. The salad is simple but tasty. This place seems a little tucked away to be in bustling Tysons, but it's worth it if you are looking to really enjoy your meal. I do not give out 5 star reviews easily, but this little Kabob place earned it. You won't regret your visit to Shamshiry. If you are anything like me, it will have you coming back again and again.
(5)
David S.

Awesome beef kabobs and the portions are good enough for two separate meals. Also I rarely comment on service but this service was top notch. The price was fair, it cost me about $11 for dinner which isn't too bad. I really enjoyed the authenticity and the flavors were extremely present in the food which, to me, is what I am looking for. I would certainly recommend this to anyone looking for some delicious food
(5)
C G.

I would like to give 5 stars to the chef and no stars for the service and cleanliness. Food was excellent once we got it. Two orders were wrong with servers bringing the wrong food. It would help if server spoke/understood either Farsi or English. Head person saw our signal for him to come talk to us. He nodded but then never came over to help nor took any action. It felt rude. We were brought a carafe of water with food stuck on the lip and a little bowl of wrapped butter and stale bread. The top butter packet on full display was so swished it looked like a child had pinched one of them in the middle for fun. It would be hard for the server to miss that. The main meal tasted authentic, but we've had better. The food isn't special enough to put up with all the negatives.
(1)
Sneha S.

Great place. And reasonably priced. We were especially happy with the dessert which was the indian jalebi.
(5)
Kimmy L.

This review is for their carry-out - strictly reviewing food. I can't speak to the service here but the food is amazing. High-end quality persian cuisine at the same price as the local persian 'fast food' chain. While nothing can beat homemade persian food from the BF's parents, this is our go to place when they aren't around. Kubideh - I have had this dish at all of the persian places in the area and it is THE BEST here. Tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned with a huge portion of meat AND rice. They seriously pile on the rice here!! And each order comes with a piece of tahdig (crunch rice stuff) Cucumber yogurt sauce - Not watery or slimy at all and you actually see chunks of cucumber in it. Shallot yogurt sauce - my FAVE!!!!! Each order comes with a zip lock bag of bread and I could just dip my bread in this sauce and call it a meal. So good! (tip: if your bread gets hard, just close the ziplock bag and stick it in the microwave for 15 seconds) Green rice with dill and fava beans - this is my fave persian dish and they do a decent job here!! I love dill!!!! Cornish hen & Joojeh Chicken - I love both of these!!! Not too lemony, yet still enough flavor to melt in your mouth, I usually order these when I am trying to be healthier, otherwise it is kubideh all the way for me! Shirazi salad is decent yet it lacks fresh parsley but this will do in a pinch if you are too lazy to make it yourself at home (me)
(5)
Carey M.

Today I was in Shamshiry with my wife. I ordered ghormeh sabzi and my wife ordered kabobs, we liked a lot it was perfect. The bread was good too. The service team was great. I want go back soon.
(4)
Kaveh R.

Best quality persian kabob in the area. I have been a customer for years and quality is still very good. Kabob Barg(beef) is highly recomended.
(4)
Jojo W.

Excellent! I had the lamb kabob over salad. Best kabob meat I've ever had. Service was great. I'll be back.
(5)
Rehana R.

This place is amazing and if we are ever in the area you know were coming here for lunch or dinner! Their kubideh and lamb tips are beyond delicious and always perfect. The chicken is ok...not something I would order if you are a meat eater, but the kubideh and lamb - the best! I've asked every Persian in the area what their fav restaurant is and it's always Shamshiry. I can't think of a better review than that.
(5)
Jean S.

Shamshiry is definitely one of my favorite Persian kabob restaurants. You don't go for the bread... you go for the fluffy and fragrant rice, the juicy chicken, the tender lamb and the flavorful kubideh. Their portions are extremely generous, and their service is efficient and cordial. The only complaint I have is the parking around there, but it's worth the inconvenience for the food.
(4)
Morad B.

Best koobideh soltani I had in a very long time. The chicken was moist and deliciously marinated. koobideh was perfectly spiced. Rice was excellent. I most definitely recommend this place. Only weird thing is they give you the bread in a ziplog bag.
(5)
Amanda I.

Sham shiry is the best kabob I have ever had. The kubideh is the most tender juicy meat. Not a huge fan of the chicken, it's dry and not as flavorful.
(4)
Will C.

Oh my god this place has really good rice and they give you tons of it compared to other kabob places. I visited this place with two other people on a Saturday night and boy was it crowded. We waited approximately 45 minutes. While waiting there aren't too many seats so be prepared to be standing up. This restaurant is not too big so it gets crowded so your really close to the tables around you. I ordered kubideh base off the recommendation of my friend. It was alright not as juicy as I would like it but it's very flavorful. The best juicy kubideh that I have had is from rose kabob. The rice though... that is awesome! This place was also the first time I tried the chai tea. My friend taught me the proper way to drink it. Put a sugar cube in your mouth and then drink a sip of chai. Although the hygienic side of me was sort of freaking out. When you grab a sugar cube you touch more then the one your going to get so yeah.. Imagine other people grabbing the sugar cube your about to put in your mouth. Oh well, regardless I had an excellent meal here. One thing NoVa is blessed with are a bunch of good kabob places. I will be back but in the meantime there are also plenty of good alternatives. I still have to make the tough decision of which one will claim the number one spot for me.
(3)
Nerrissa S.

My boyfriend brought me here on our recent visit to his hometown. He's been coming here since he was a kid and I can see why!! The best Persian food I've ever had!! We ate here twice while we were in DC for the weekend. The meat is so tender and the most flavorful kobideh kabobs. We were seated right away and the food came our hot and fresh! Will come back when we are in town!
(5)
Cathy C.

I was craving for some good kabobs while I was in Virginia/DC and Shamshiry was conveniently located across the street from my hotel. It was packed so my friend and I waited for a few minutes at lunch time. We were watching the kitchen staff grill the meats and tomatoes through a glass window to pass the time - which made me salivate and even hungrier than I already was! Patrons and restaurant staff were all speaking Farsi which gave me a hint that the food is good and authentic. We were given a Ziploc bag of bread which was pretty tacky but once I dipped that bread on the green sauce it came with...mmmm...garlicky and some heat. Don't plan on kissing anybody after eating this. I ordered the chelo kabob barg (filet mignon) and black tea and my friend ordered a salad Shirazi, chicken tandoori and iced tea. The iced tea came in a pitcher and my tea in a pot - we helped ourselves which saved us the hassle of waiting for refills. I truly enjoyed my kabob. It was flavorful and tender then I added sumac to my rice...OMG! Delish! My friend and I weren't talking, we just kept on eating. I was so full I wanted to go back to the hotel and take a nap. The price wasn't bad at all.
(4)
Al T.

Frankly this is not really a restaurant, it is Chelo Kababi. The difference between two is, in the Restuarant you go for food and enjoy your time with family and friends. In latter case, you go to eat and to go home and sleep. In the Restuarant, the food is prepared and it is nicely served, in latter one, the food is drop at your table. Well, if you are looking for food and hungry this is place. If you are trying to enjoy your dinner. This is wrong place. The price is relative to other Restuarant is high, service is average.
(2)
Ahmed K.

Shamshiry serves a very excellent kabob and in general, the food is good. It is an excellent choice for big parties of Middle Eastern people who love the idea of eating out but are absolutely mortified at the idea of eating anything outside their ethnic comfort level. In other words, if you have a gigantic crew of Iraqis, going to this Iranian restaurant is considered to be rather "exotic endeavor" even though it's pretty much the exact same grub they eat at home each and every day. It is especially good because the portions of rice are enormous - and if I didn't know my people well enough, I wouldn't say that the biggest bang for their buck is judged not on how well the food is cooked or how flavorful it is, but rather on the copious amounts of rice that comes with a dish. The good news for Shamshiry, however, is that the food unequivocally has all of those qualities. The interiors are laughable to downright ghastly and what you would typically identify with a Middle Eastern/Persian dÃ©cor - you know bordering on the gaudy to even just dreadful. One of these days our people will get it. I also have to say that the owners are nice people and the young lad can always be seen greeting people at each table. Call me old fashioned, but I like that!
(4)
Esther Y.

Shamshiry is located in Tysons Corner West off of Westwood Road. It's near the Walmart and 24 hour fitness. Parking is kind of obscure, you don't know which spaces are for which retailers, so read the signs or park in the garage! Everytime I come here, it is just awesome. There's a bit of a wait during dinner rush hour, but it's well worth it. Just go up to the host and tell him you're here to dine, give him your name, and ask about wait time. Do not just stand around waiting your turn to get to the host. Most of the time, people are standing around near the host because there really isn't a waiting area for people. Dinner rush was about a 20-30 minute wait. Sometimes, you get seated fairly quickly, at least within 10 minutes. It just depends on what night you go on. I always get a combo meal (I don't know the exact names of the entrees that are on the menu). I get a rice dish with Kubideh (lamb) & beef or ground beef. I ask for an egg on the side, and Persian tea. My plate is literally so huge, I actually shared it with a friend. It came on a huge plate with plenty of rice, meat on the sides, or on top, and some onion and tomatoes on the corner of the plate. It literally puts Moby Dick's to shame. They also bring out some bread, naan, in a ziploc bag and some green sauces in a small container. I usually just pour the sauces out on a small plate, add the red spice thing to it, mix it up, and then dip my naan into it. SO GOOD, but as a warning, it's a little spicy. Shamshiry is great for groups and people often stay there for a little longer than they should for dinner. I always see some celebration going on. The place is small, but i think it's well worth the wait. Hope you enjoy!
(4)
Ahmed J.

This restaurant has great food, BUT who cares... They have the worst service on the surface of the earth. The rudest and meanest servers you have and will ever seen. From the moment you step into the restaurant until you are able to escape. They will never smile, frown at you for any request, take your food before you finish, and include their tip on your bill whether you like it or not. I have gone with take out too, and they suck too. If only the food wasn't so good, I would never go back. But I just might. God Bless the Chef, and damn the staff.
(1)
Patty P.

We drove pretty far to come here for their kabobs and we were not disappointed. There was a wait to get a table but it didn't take long at all. The server was attentive and made recommendations. As for the food experience, it was different than the Afghan kabob places I've been to but that's not a bad thing. First the bread comes out and no, it's NOT in a ziplock bag like others have posted. It was warm, fresh and delicious. Our main meals came out very quickly and they were just as warm and fresh. The flavors are different than the Afghan places I've been to but they are just as tasty if not better. The rice (and there was lots of it!) was fluffy and the meats were juicy and well seasoned. I also think the prices were very competitive for kabobs. The only weird thing is that the rice is piled on top of the meat. I would have liked it the other way around so I didn't have to dig for the meat. Overall we were very satisfied and will definitely make the drive to come back here.
(4)
Mehdi M.

Kabab koobideh was delicious and juicy. Chicken was overcooked and dry. Barg kabob was alright. Overall I liked the authentic persian/iranian food here.
(5)
Christine H.

Always so yummy, shared the lamb and filet soltani, and eggplant dip as our appetizer. Such friendly service, although it was after 10pm on a Friday night....will definitely be back!
(4)
Kat M.

This place has really good Persian food. We ordered the chicken kabob and the Shamshiri. The chicken was a bit dry, but the Samshiri was amazing. The rice can use some more flavoring. Overall, a very enjoyable meal. Service was decent although they were a bit understaffed. When we went, the restaurant was packed, but there was only one or two servers. We had to bring our bill up ourselves because we couldn't flag a waitress down.
(4)
Matthew G.

I just don't see what all the hype is about. The pile of rice was... well...just stupid big. It was served with ground beef and steak... seasoned with...nothing. The menu talks about pouring an egg into it and mixing it into the rice. Only it wasn't served with an egg. Thank God I got the cucumber and tomato salad that I was able to combine with the jalapeno pesto that came with the dry bread and add some flavor to this flavorless dish so I could get through it. This was a very unbalanced plate. I think I need to go find some vegetables somewhere now.
(1)
Frank F.

Best Persian in DC/MD/Nova and I've been to ALL of them!! The restaurant could use a makeover but regardless the food is delicious!! The kubideh is my favorite and its the best!!!!!
(5)
Ali D.

Great food and service. They need to have more than just plain white rice to serve with kabobs. It might take longer than other restaurants and there is a good and a bad thing about this. Good thing is the food comes fresh out of the grill, yum. Bad thing, they give you something to snack while waiting but it isn't your favorite snack. Anyway, great food (4.5/5), and good staff (4/5).
(4)
J K.

We had a great meal - very fresh food, good service, moderate prices, easy parking.
(4)
Alida H.

This is my new favorite place for kabobs and persian food. It is so much better than another popular chain fast food kabob place which will remain unnamed. The food you get here is twice the portions of what you would get at the unnamed popular kabob place for just a dollar or two more, and the basmati rice is a lot more flavorful and moist. I ordered the Chelo Kabob Kubideh, and it was awesome. The kubideh was very tender, tasty, and juicy. On a side note, I was the only non middle-eastern person in the room, so that gives you an idea of how delicious and legitimate this place is!
(4)
Sharcoal E.

I work at the building across the street and I order for delivery or pick up. The proportion of food is not distributed well...Its like digging gold in the river. The meat is just shoved under a pile of rice...and literally alot of rice and they just give a few pieces of the chicken and beef...the taste was okay. I had better but its decent enough to fill a hungry tummy.
(3)
Soly Z.

We ate at Amoo's one night and Shamshiry the next night to compare the restaurants. Based on Yelp reviews, I was expecting a lot from Shamshiry and they totally fell short. The barg was tough and very hard to chew and the rice, while abundant, was not thoroughly cooked. This combo left us with stomach aches for the rest of the night. The doogh was good, however. We won't be back here again.
(2)
Lala R.

Excellent and authentic Persian food. (I am Iranian, I would know). The decor could use some sprucing up and I wish they served wine or beer, but all in all a really good kabob restaurant. I've been coming here for years.
(4)
Mohammed K.

Shamshiry's service on a normal week day is really good. good speed too. The interior is ok, nothing fancy. A typical middle eastern simple restaurant. The main dish that most of the customers order is Kobedeh. which is what I usually order at shamshiry. Very tasty, huge portions of rice and giant kebabs. The bread comes ready cut and in zip lock bags, which kind of ruins the experience of breaking a crisp hot piece of bread. Nothing more to say here folks
(3)
Ron R.

Excellent food and service. The place is very clean and always busy. The staff is very accommodating. Good location but finding parking is challenging. My daughters love this restaurant as well. When we have family gathering this is the go to place.
(5)
Nahyan H.

I remember I came to this place a very long time ago and I ordered the boneless chicken kabob. I was not satisfied with it at all. So when a friend of mine wanted to go one night I automatically declined and said lets go somewhere else. He told me i didn't order the right thing. Boy was he right. So I gave this place another chance. This time I ordered the khobedeh (ground beef). This has become one of my all time favorite places to eat. Their portions are huge. I actually ask for half the rice they normally give me, and when i want to go lighter at times even had them substitute just salad in place of the rice. The price is fair and the atmosphere is casual.
(5)
Vandad C.

Really good persian kabob. Definitely top five in northern VA and probably the best if you only consider lamb kabob. Lamb kabob isn't on the menu but you can ask for it. Generous servings will ensure you fall into a food coma shortly after so make sure you're not planning to go back to work after lunch. The restaurant itself is fairly small and cramped, not much of an atmosphere to talk about but you only go there for the kabob. And maybe the doogh but not the tahdig. Their tahdig is disappointing unfortunately.
(4)
Moose S.

If you're into carb overload this is the place for you. Not only do you get to indulge in complimentary bread but they serve you a mountain a rice with your entree. The barg and kubideh was good but their chicken kabob was horrible. The chicken had no flavor to it what's so ever and it was very disappointing. The yogurt with cucumber was forgettable and the service from our waitress was atrocious. She was in attentive and pushy.
(3)
Sam K.

Be careful if your one of the first customers of the day, their ground beef was obviously from the night before. They used to be our favorite kabob place, but never again after eating their kobo idea, ground beef.
(1)
Linda B.

I love when Yelp reviews are spot on! This place was fantastic, minus the wait time (but silly me did not make a reservation!). Upon sitting down, we were immediately served bread (in a ziplock bag to keep it soft) and some sort of chili sauce & butter. I ordered the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry (16.99) and might I say, the portions are huge!! This dish served two types of meat. My friend ordered the Chicken Kebob and for appetizers we ordered the Mast-o Khiar (a yogurt sauce with cucumbers, fresh dill & herbs). Definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Tony T.

The best Iranian kabobs place in the Northern Virginia area. We have to eat here whenever we're in town.
(5)
Gwumpykid D.

The bread is packed and taste just old. First Iranian place that do service bread in this form!! Service is bad! Server never checked on our food! We had to always call him when we needed something. Big portions&cheap but Kubideh was under cooked. Food tasted bland so we had to add salt, pepper and sumac. Our table was not clean enough when seated. My jacket got dirty from some butter left over not cleaned on the table. Dont think there will be a second time. I had better tasty kabob. I just do not get what is the hype over this place. Is it the portion of food?? Cheap?? I would pay more and eat smaller portions but with a better taste and service and ambience.
(2)
Marley D.

The very first time I came here it was about the BEST kabobs I've ever had. We made reservations in advance because we heard they get packed pretty fast. We arrived to be seated immediately amongst a crazy busy restaraunt. They lose credibility for serving stale pita out of pre-packaged zip-loc bags, not cool. The yogurt sauce for dipping was pretty nice, refreshing, tasty and palette cleansing. The mysterious green sauce did it for me, delicious heat. I ordered the chicken kabobs, my mom the steak kabobs, and other folks in my party got the chicken and Cornish hen kabobs. The chicken was deliciously grilled, perfect char marks (my favorite), juicy and tender bites that were perfectly seasoned. Each order comes with TWICE as much rice compared to protein. And the server never told us we could get salad instead of rice (no biggie.) I tried my mom's steak and it was peppery, charred and yummy; just a little dry for my taste. Our super friendly server bought us free shirazi salads which were AMAZINGGGG and their cinnamon ice cream was beautiful. HOWEVER.... A few weeks later, I had fallen ill and sent my family (all the way from Frederick, MD) to Shamshiry to satisfy my kabob craving that I've so intensely fantasized since my first visit. Sad to say... It did not live up to my dreams and may have even converted me to Moby Dicks (which I detested as "fake me out kabobs.") my family came home Easter Sunday claiming they received such horrible service... And I got to taste the now proclaimed "horrible" food... They were right, the chicken this time was so dry, tasteless and deff not as much as the first time. The salad was all brown and yucky... Not edible. I will never return. (Maybe it was because it was Easter Sunday... Idk, no excuses here.)
(2)
Mark M.

My friend told me this place had good kabob...she was wrong.. It's GREAT! It's extremely flavorful and juicy. We ordered the kibudeh, ground beef, and it was phenomenal! She told me she liked eating it with a piece of pita, some yogurt, they had two to choices, rice, this red paprika looking condiment, and a piece of onion: the onion really brought out the flavor even more! It was freshly cut onion. It was crisp which was well combined with the juiciness of the ground beef. The service was good, especially considering how busy it was. It was actually quite packed for a Monday. I'll say that the parking situation had me a little bit on my toes considering area has some of the best tow truck drivers. Location was a bit hidden, but it definitely qualifies as a "hole in the wall" type of restaurant. Overall, I had a great experience, I would highly recommend this to anyone, especially those of large parties, very accommodating from what I saw for that Monday evening.
(5)
Alan M.

Shamshiry has become a constant disappointment with small portions and higher prices. The food at the express location is much better. Really wish the owner would correct the issues as I hear other customers complaining as well.
(2)
Mark A.

I agree with more of the recent reviewers that while this place is good, it is not 4 or 5 stars many have previously given. Compared to other restaurants of this background, this is the first time I've gotten the bread in a zip lock bag. Is that the way to go now? It is surely interesting. And yes, they give you enough rice for 3 servings and while good, I just can't carb up like that. And to the chicken kabob which I ordered, the flavor was OK, but others places in the area have better flavor. Again, this is an OK spot to go to, but if you have the option to try another spot in the area, would recommend doing that first.
(2)
Ash C.

Seriously?! All of you who gave it the same ratings as Rose Kabob need to visit Rose Kabob and then compare!!! Yeah they give BIGG HELPINGS of food but quality over quantity right? 1st turn off: bread was not fresh! 2nd turn off: chicken was ehhhhh whatever 3rd turn off: too friggin crowded with weird seating and chairs are awfully uncomfortable! VISIT ROSE KABOB PLZ AND THEN COMPARE!
(2)
Karthik E.

I think this place is overrated. The kabobs I had here was dry, service was also poor and pricing was excessive. I went for lunch with my colleagues and am not sure if it's the busy hour issue. Rice was undercooked, didn't have any flavor to it. I had to contend with adding sumac spice powder to flavor the rice. I wouldn't go here again.
(2)
Arthur F.

This is the spot most Iranian folks will say is the best/cheap/authentic Persian food after they tell you Moby Dicks Kabob sucks lol. Ordered: Dish 1 Chelo Kabob (rice*) Shamshiry (includes Kabob Kubideh (the traditional ground meat kabob) and Kabob Barg (filet mignon) Dish 2 Chicken Kabob Pros: -Relatively cheap, not much more expensive then Moby dick's kabob, especially for a sit down -Ginormous portions of meat and RICE... lots and lots of RICE (albeit good) -no butter in the rice (pro for me b/c you can regulate the butter content). they have a small dish full of wrapped single serving butter. -Best Kubideh (ground meat) I've had at a kabob joint. The meat wasn't densely packed like a lot of other places. Similar to how a good hand made burger can get ruined by over packing/pounding it too tight, much better when left crumbly. -Lots of middle eastern customers (all when I was there actually). Always a good sign when eating at an ethnic joint to have the customer base share the cuisines ethnicity =) Cons: -Prepackaged traditional Persian bread. They put them in zip locks at every table. Not fresh = not good. -Very bland seasoning. I'm told by a couple of Persian friends that this is how most like to eat their food. They did have paprika and tobasco sauce at the table. But the chicken and filet mignon tasted like it had virtually no seasoning on it at all. All the more noticeable b/c the Kubideh was season very well and quite tasty. Overall good but I guess overrated is a good word. Plenty of other Kabob places I'd consider better. Maybe not Iranian Kabob but similar. *I requested a raw egg yolk to add to one of the dishes rice. An old school traditional method of eating I'm told. So much rice, so little egg yolk, I couldn't hardly taste the difference.
(3)
Chau P.

7:00 PM Saturday- 3 people 1. Ambiance: It's a nice and casual restaurant with a tiny foyer that has access to viewing the preparation of the meats. If the window that shows the huge fire cooking kabobs isn't a promulgation that you are in a kabob paradise then I don't know what is. 2. Food: Unfortunately, the food is not very promising. I ordered the Chicken Soltani with eggs on top of my rice. My goodness, there was a lot of rice. I had enough to feed the needy. The meats were dry and limited. Again, I could not take my eyes off the huge pile of rice. It was moist, but could I get a nice proportion of meat to go with it? I was lost for words. 3. Service: It was very busy and our waiter was not much of an assistance in deciphering the menu for us. The avid waiter was ready to quickly record our orders to tend to many other starving patrons. I felt rushed dining in, I must say. 4. Costs: Absolutely overpriced for a limited amount of kabob and an overbearing amount of rice. The rations were unjustifiable. 5. Overall Experience: I would not return to this restaurant again until they provide more mouth watering meat and less rice. Side Notes: n/a
(1)
Leslie J.

I knew I should've gone with my gut when I placed my order; hence, the hype did not live up to my expectations. The kubideh was just OK (tasted boring and bland like it hadn't been marinated long enough or flavored with many spices), and now I know, it's not the favored meat choice. Next time I will go for either the Chicken Soltani or the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry. Pros: Overly generous portions. Cons: It gets crazy packed during lunch hour on the weekdays. There is a good chance your waiter might bring out wrong orders and the wrong check. Womp, here's to a better lunch outcome next time.
(3)
Dominique F.

Pretty delicious! Crowded place. Fast service. Huge portions. Flavorful food. Definitely worth stopping by.
(4)
Suzan H.

My family regularly places huge orders for special occasions from them. Quality of food is good but I am handing over this rating for extreme lack of common sense in customer service because of the following situation: Sister was hosting dinner and placed a large order for about 15 for pick up. An order of salmon was missing once food was unpacked for dinner. She called the restaurant and asked them to remove the charge from the receipt as driving back wasn't an option. I listened to the phone conversation and the person who is also Iranian and is suppose to have the best manners told her she can come back or forget it. No apology no sorry we messed up NO customer service skills. Persian restaurants are abundant in DC area and If this is an example of how they treat loyal customers they don't deserve our business.
(1)
JJ W.

After hearing raving reviews about this restaurant I was expecting more. The kabobs where good (not the best) and they give you a lot of rice. Also the service was very fast. My biggest complaint is the bread. For me, the bread is as important to a Persian meal as the rice and the bread was extremely mediocre if not plain bad. It came in a little ziplock Baggie, cold and hard and just not very appetizing. Overall just an ok meal
(3)
Pumpkin S.

I didn't get any joy out of eating at this place. The food was just not fresh. They even served the bread in zip-loc bags.
(2)
Homin S.

This used to be the best kabob house in the DMV area , my family and I loved this place until tonight. The food was terrible! The rice was bland and with no salt, the chicken was not marinated with no spices. Maybe they have a new cook, maybe new owners. I'm only giving them 2 stars because the service was good. They also add 18% gratuity to the check for tables of 6 or more; I hate this in any restaurant because they are basically telling me that I have to pay their servers salary even if the service is poor. Hope they wake up and go back to their old ways.
(2)
Sherif A.

Best Persian food in the DMV
(5)
Kristophe C.

Food is great! Service is excellent! We drive all the way from Maryland for the quality of food.
(4)
Hossein A.

What a lunch! We went there for Soltani kebab and Baqali Polo. I enjoyed the meal. Although we got there around 6pm for lunch, we had to wait in line....that wasn't really good but the food compensated for everything. And their price is fair. For the parking you have to go to the top floor in the parking deck which was no problem.
(5)
Serene J.

Soooo delicious! Chicken kabob, Salmon, the specials, all delicious and always consistent. Im not crazy about the bread, but they have a lot of Persian specials that the average kabob place doesnt have. Ghorme Sabzi- soooo good, Baghali polo which is a green, dill rice with salmon is amazing!! Zeresh polo is so good too. (So sorry to everyone I offended for my poor spelling of Persian food). The staff is so friendly. You may have to wait if you want a seat but it is so worth it. The food is consistently wonderful. Its not cheap, but not expensive. You get what you pay for, and you are getting delicious, fresh food. The only bad thing is that it is far from my house.
(5)
Frank K.

Good Persian kabobs close to Tyson's corner. On weekends the place is crowded, wait was like 10 mins max. Parking is good in a close by garage. Service was prompt and attentive in a crowded place. Portions are very big for me. We ordered two entrees for two adults and two children and it was more than enough for us. Green tea at the end of the meal makes the good food digest faster and the Persian ice cream is to die for and priced very reasonably.
(5)
Nikan H.

Truly the best Persian food I've had in America. Rice: fluffy and delicious. Kabobs: soft, tender, and flavorful. I didn't care much about the bread in the bag because when I got my meal, my mind was blown.
(5)
Samuel Y.

I used to love Shamshiry it was so delicious. Something recently changed. Food not the same, staff are unfriendly, and they add the tip to themselves in the total check! I mean seriously what-the!!! I would not recommend it now especially that I've seen the change compared to how they were before.
(3)
Mahwash M.

Their Chicken Kabideh are very soft and juicy which comes with buttered white rice. Also tried their yogurt drink - awesome! Will definitely recommend my friends ...
(5)
Mina E.

They have the best kabob and rice anywhere around. i love this place.
(5)
Hilary M.

I have been to Shamshiry several times since moving to the area (about 3 years ago) and have had a great experience every time! From the staff to the food, it's always good! I usually order the chicken kabob. The chicken is perfectly cooked and includes a mound of the famous Shamshiry rice. YUM! What I would give to get my hands on that recipe! It's THAT good. I've also tried the lamb kabob and the ground beef kabob which were also very delicious. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone. The portions are pretty large so make sure you are prepared to eat! If you can't finish though, all of the dishes will make excellent leftovers the next day - I would know! Overall a great restaurant with amazing food!
(5)
Desiree D.

Definitely some of the best Persian kabobs you will find. Incredibly delicious yogurt sauce, too. The Salmon with dill is very popular. Rice is perfect every time. If you are local to Vienna or passing through Tysons Corner, make the stop.
(5)
Elijah C.

FOUND GLASS IN FOOD!!!!! Food is pretty good here. BUT I found glass in my kubideh (ground beef) kabob! Enjoyed the food at the restaurant, took leftovers home. Reheated food for lunch, ate the ground beef kabob, and felt a CRUNCH in my mouth, so I spit the food out, and found 2 pieces of glass shards. As bad as that is, I'm not giving 1 star for just that. I'm not looking for a free handout or anything and wanted to let the manager know they need to be careful of something like this. First person who picks up the phone, I explain to him. He then gets me the supervising manager, and when I explained the situation, he tells me "we don't recommend to our customers to reheat ground beef or ground chicken kabobs..." I said, "did you hear what I just said? I understand kabobs may not be as good reheated, but I found GLASS in the kabob!" Then he repeated, "Yes, but we don't recommend you reheat your kabob..." So I said, "listen, I'm trying to help you out here. I'm not looking for a hand out, I just want to let you know you need to make sure your kitchen staff takes better caution about BROKEN GLASS in the food! I had GLASS in my kubideh kabob! I'm helping you so you don't end up with a lawsuit!" He just said, "Yes, thank you." There was no "sorry", no nothing, but he did say thank you. This is gross negligence. The management doesn't seem to care, and NO APOLOGIES! Broken glass can be understood, but absolute carelessness by management even after it was brought to their attention says a lot about their Quality Control. We were at the restaurant 10/19/2013, and the call took place 10/21/2013. As of right now, I have a scratchy throat and my tongue feels irritated, but I'm praying I'll be fine. Never eating here again.
(1)
Bekah E.

Since I am Persian, this place and pistachio nuts are like crack to me. I have been eating her since I was a kid (it was probably the only Persian restaurant around back then). There were times when it was in decline, but those times are long gone. My carnivorous friends devour their food like lions (before I went vegetarian, my favs were lamb and kubideh - my meat-eating husband likes those as well). Portions are HUGE. I love the Baghali polo, which is rice with dill and fava beans. I love that they have more traditional persian items in addition to kabob - which is NOT what Iranians eat everyday! The only two things I don't like is the "bread in a bag" they give you and the weird plates that everything is served on. They even painted the high chairs to match!? It's trippy. If you are vegetarian, there are some options for you, but they are mostly rice dishes. I grew up eating this food so I am biased, but these are tasty options, filling (you will have leftovers), and quite cheap. You meal can be supplemented with appetizers if you want more variety. Some of the persian specials of the day may also be vegetarian, ask the server because they never seem to tell you what they are...
(5)
Donald P.

After Sunday evening service, we stopped by to pick up some dinner here. I've heard great things about this place, and was rather pleased by the look of this place. We ordered our ground beef kebob and waited about 15 minutes or so. The rice was fragrantly auromatic and buttery soft, and the kebob was also delicious as well. $10.03 for a heaping mound of rice and 2 skewers of beef seems like a bit much though. The cashier was nice enough to forfeit the 3 pennies though and give me bills back instead of a handful of change. That's always a nice guester to customers. I may come back...although the more I eat kebobs the less they appeal to me.
(3)
Ladan N.

I was coming here with the intention of giving it a five star rating. Shamshiri has by far the best kabob I've had in a restaurant (granted, I haven't been to Tehrangeles...), you can go there and count on having excellent rice dishes and satisfying kabob, hands down. And the portions are huge for the price you pay. You can easily get two meals out of one $10 dish. My hesitation now is in reading the bad reviews, I do agree on the critiques of the atmosphere and service. They make good food and need to up their dining experience to reflect that. I want to be able to take my Persian relatives here without them thinking I took them to a dump. Get rid of the plastic plates and cups. Make your own fresh bread. Take the bread out of the gross plastic bags that clearly show you reuse them between customers. Provide more room on the tables. Do not give us our food before the appetizers are done. And for God's sake, listen when we give our order! The problem is a lot of the wait staff do not speak English (or Farsi) well, so if you have specific requests you have to repeat them or act like you are talking to a four-year-old. Then it's impossible to get the waiter's attention after they've taken your order. They seem confused and like they don't give a shit, no friendliness or professionalism. The appetizers at Kabob Bazaar are better than Shamshiri, but don't count on getting better kabob there. Their kabob is dry and bland compared to the amazingless of Shamshiri's koubideh and barg. And the Persian ice cream!
(3)
H G.

Always just the most fantastic kabobs and rice. Hands down the best middle eastern food place in town.
(5)
Ryan W.

Only had a short time to grab some lunch today, so we made a quick trip to Shamshiry and I have to say that I am glad we did. The food is fantastic and we got a good laugh out of the paragraph description of the dishes. After reading about adding an egg yolk to the rice we had to try it out. It was delicious! The meat was season and cooked to perfection. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Jon N.

This place was just downstairs to where I had my training held, and with 100+ reviews why not? This one of those times when Yelp just steers you in the wrong direction. It's kinda like asking for directions but the person you're asking isn't around these parts but points you towards the wrong general direction so that he/she doesn't look like an idiot. You would think that with so many people reviewing a place a good average could be established. 4 stars for this place? No way. Either this area is in dire need of some good competing restaurants or I came on an off day. yelp.com/biz_photos/pQpzâ€¦ Portions are big but that does not make up for the lack of quality. I thought the meat was a little rough and the rice was a little undercooked. Thankfully the meal was paid on the corporate card so I didn't have to pay for it. Imagine my ire if I had to pay it out of my own pocket We wanted to pay but it also took a very long time for them to ring us up, all the while 2-3 workers are just staring into space most of the time. They should just eliminate "shiry" from their name and just call it "Sham". Shamshiry's Score - 72 Points
(3)
Leanna A.

I really love this place, they give you too much rice I think. I feel bad becaus I always end up wasting the rice! The meat is just right and cooked to perfection! This place is a gem
(4)
Mariam R.

Had dinner here last night and I was pleasantly surprised. There's nothing fancy about the restaurant itself, but if you're here for good chelo kabob, you'll be pleased. Like others have mentioned, I wish they didn't serve the bread in a Ziploc bag. I also wish that instead of serving it with butter, they served it with complimentary sabzi & panir. We ordered the sabzi/panir (mint or basil, one spring onion, one radish and a small piece of feta), salad shirazi (tomato, cucumber, onion and lemon juice), must o khiar (yogurt and cucumber) and torshi (pickled veggies) to complement our two orders of chelo kabob shamshiry, which is one kubideh (ground beef kabob) and one barg (filet kabob) with rice, one grilled tomato (would've loved a few more) and some raw white onion. I do wish they had kashk-e bademjan as an appetizer, also. The meat was delicious and juicy. The boy added an egg to his rice and we both took advantage of the previously supplied butter for our rice. I like to mix the butter and smoosh the grilled tomato into my rice. One thing's for sure, you will have leftovers. I don't think we saw anyone leave without a take-home bag. We saved room for dessert - he had the ice cream with paludeh and I had the rollette. Yum. I was never a big fan of the middle eastern desserts with all the syrupy honey, so the rollette was it for me. If the ice cream was made the way I had it growing up - with chunks of frozen whipped cream mixed in - I would have been in heaven. There's no alcohol served here, yet our bill was just shy of $70. I'm glad we went, but I think I can get great kabob at several casual joints in the area for a bit less cash.
(3)
Michael C.

I have been going to Shamshiry for years. I have never been disappointed. The service is quick and they leave a pitcher of water on the table for you and your guests. The quality of the food is great. The portion you get for the price is on par.
(5)
Ali S.

Shamshiry is a very nice place for quality kabob. In fact, I'd say the barg here is the best of all the DC restaurants. You must get barg kabob. The jojeh and koubideh are just comparable. They give you a spectacular portion of rice per dish, so it's actually probably better to just split a larger soltani to get the proper kabob to rice ratio. I don't know why they give you so much rice, but it's not a horrible thing. The only things I don't like about this place is the location and seating was always awkward. And the decor is showing its age. It might need a few renovations to keep up to speed, but as long as they have the best barg I will come back.
(4)
Danielle K.

Really, really good traditional Persian food. The service and food are consistently good, and the prices are fair, as well. Shamshiry is a great introduction to Persian food. Supposedly Bill Clinton loved Shamshiry, too! I always get the chicken kabob with the sabzi polo (rice with dill and lima beans). you WILL get complimentary tadig if you ASK for it - it's not just given out b/c most Americans wouldn't know what it is (well, aside from the obvious that it's the crunchy, crisp rice at the bottom of the pan). the service i receive is always outstanding - my water glass is never less than 1/2 full and i never want for anything else. Shamshiry will long be a staple for me.
(5)
Akmal Q.

I heard all the buzz about Shamshiry and have not been there on more than one occassion. Shamshiry has all the potential but it isn't running on all cylinders. I really believe, atleast from experience they have the BEST rice I've ever had and Beef Koobideh is completely on point (I have tried many Middle Eastern, persian type restaurants) and those two dishes don't compare anywhere else. Unfortunately, the rest of the food is just average and can get better helpings at other places. The thing that turned me off the most was the carryout type settings within the dining atmosphere, for example...serving bread in a ziploc bag and sauces in small carryout cups with lids on it is very tacky and really takes away from the service and ambiance. Next time, I will just carry out and order just the dishes I told you about. Hope they can put some more emphasis in customer appreciation in the service dept.
(3)
Kevin O.

This place is great. -the food is fantastic and entrees are between $9 and $13. -The menu is unintentionally hysterical ("persians eat cheese habitually") -The wait staff is friendly but frankly don't give two shits about their jobs, which is kind of refreshingly funny. That said they have are cool with custom orders and have never messed up my food. -Cool mix of customers (big money Tyson's finance people, Women in hijab, guys getting ready to go party, families, old folks, me) -there is a secret menu of sorts -best rice ever (add as much butter "as you dare") +raw yolk! -everything is consistent except the flat bread, which keeps changing -No Booze in the main restaurant :-(
(5)
Michael Q.

This is the best Persian restaurant in the DC metro area. Their rice is outstanding and the best persian rice i have had in the USA. It is fluffy and plentiful, like eating a cloud. All of the kabobs are excellent and the quality of the chicken and barg has gone up in recent years. before could be on dry side but now very juicy and flavorful. persian tea is good. service is friendly, can be somewhat slow occaisionally. prices are incredibly reasonable given the quantity and quality of the food. One of my all time favorite restaurants in DC metro area. The rice is what sets shamshiry apart from all other persian places in DC metro area
(5)
David Y.

I was introduced to Shamshiry by a really good friend of mine. He loves food, so I don't go wrong when I eat with him. I've been to Shamshiry a few times and have enjoyed each trip very much. On my most recent trip, my wife and I met up with our friends for dinner on a Friday night. It must have been about 6 months since the last time I ate here. The food was still good! I ordered the Kubideh. I loved it. It was so tender and flavorful. If you're new to Shamshiry, you may mistake the yellow rice to be cheese by its appearance. The bread is mighty tasty too. I just love putting the green spicy sauce that goes with the bread. I like it so much, I even put it in my rice. One thing to note is that the bread seems to be different than what I remember it to be. It seemed thicker, but the taste did not change; it was still very good. I love this restaurant and cannot wait to come again.
(5)
K M.

I've been eating at Shamshiry for years and years. The food is fantastic! My mother moved out of state, and what does she miss? The food here at Shamshiry. It is wonderful Iranian/Persian food. The kabobs are juicy and full of flavor. The saffron rice is wonderful. Recently, we came here with some Persian friends, and we ordered everything family style. We ordered a sampling of each of the kabobs, and they were all delicious. To top it off, the management gave us ice cream, on the house. Service is very fast, and the food is fantastic. You can't go wrong with this place!
(5)
Patrick R.

Some of the best kebabs I've ever had! Tender chicken served on a huge bead of white and yellow rice served with onions, tomatoes and naan. It's definitely enough for two meals. We went on a Friday night and had to be wait about 30-45 mins to be seated so be prepared. When they called our name to be seated someone else took our spot. We ended up waiting longer than normal because of this. The owner apologized and gave us a free appetizer. Our waitress acted like she really really didn't want to be working and could care less but she kept the drinks full and the food was wonderful. 4 stars because of the food.
(4)
Keon D.

4.5 stars Huge portions, great prices, pretty authentic. I came here on a sunday night at 7pm and there was quite a wait for seating. I've always thought you can get a judge of a place's authenticity if you notice that the people of that cuisine are there eating. I actually was one of the few non persian people eating here and I could see persian families getting huge orders of carryout for sunday dinner. Since it was my first time here I was curious to try many different things. For my main entree I went with the "Chelo Kabob Shamshiry". (it's gotta be good if it has the places name in it right??) This consisted of kabob kubideh and kabob barg. The steak was extremely tasty and soft and the kubideh was equally juicy. I thoroughly enjoyed the generous portion of fluffy rice provided with the meal as well. This was easily two meals worth of food. Since I was on a roll of trying things I ordered 'doogh' to drink. It's a yogurt like drink but I unfortunately found out I actually really didnt like it. Basically, if you like tzatziki sauce you will LOVE doogh, if you dont really care for it that much like me.. you'll be sorry you ordered such a tall glass of it haha. As much as I hate to throw away things, I couldnt bring myself to down it all. I did see a lot of other patrons seemingly enjoy it greatly though. For dessert we shared a bowl of saffron ice cream. It was really delicious and it was also a generous portion. It is made with egg and had a nice chewiness to it and a wonderful taste. I definitely recommend getting it if you visit. One thing that was great about the restaurant is the menu is extremely descriptive so even if you are completely unfamiliar with the stuff you can get a good idea about what you are ordering :-)
(4)
Biso S.

High quality Persian food! although the parking is little bit difficult if you visit at night. The environment is good and the service is great.
(4)
Sam M.

Shamshiry, Vienna, VA: Hands down, a great place to have authentic Persian cuisine! [Neither my husband nor I are Persian (Caucasian/Asian), but were pleasantly surprised to find the sought-after 'Tadigh' (browned rice crust) that accompanied the generous mound of saffron-infused steamed rice. We even took a peek around, but didn't find the 'Tadigh' on the meals of other Persian-looking clientele. Most other Persian restaurants don't even include 'Tadigh' on the menu, and a few even charge 'extra' for Tadigh.] Yippee, we scored! Speaking of the clientele, King Cyrus of Persia, would have been proud! The place was crowded - - primarily by foodies who appeared to be Cyrus' descendants in-the-know of this gem. So much so, that the tables and chairs have barely enough elbow room to get into/out of your seat. Not only after running by a list of honorable mentions of Persian restaurants in the Northern Virginia area, did a fellow Persian friend also acknowledge that Shamshiry -- and Rose Restaurant, also in Vienna, VA, as well as Moby Dick and Amoo's House of Kabob in McLean -- are indeed the places to go for delicious Persian fare in the WDC area. Rumor is that Shamshiry may be affiliated with Alborz (just down the road on Old Courthouse Road, also in Vienna -- coincidentally, Alborz Restaurant also serves its bread in plastic bags and the rice mounds are as generous as those at Shamshiry). The entrance is very narrow but gives you a bird's eye view of the flame-broiled kabobs rotating on their skewers. The ambience is rather eclectic with avant garde figurines shapened from probably recycled wires. The food is served on Italian-looking square glazed plates. Ancient Persia claimed to have invented 'ice cream', so we tried 'Paludeh' [shaved ice with frozen angel hair pasta(?)] that was accompanied by a choice of flavorful lemon and cherry syrups - - probably a precursor to Hawaii's [Japanese/Indonesian/Filipino (Halo Halo) variant] of the world-famous North Shore shaved ice so adored by President Obama and his family. While Shamshiry most probably makes their bread on their premises, what struck us as strange was having been served the bread in plastic bags - - not very appetizing-looking, considering how fresh their meals are here. Perhaps the plastic bags help with portion-sizing and in keeping them from drying out, but the least they could do is to remove the plastic bags just prior to serving them and maybe toasting them a bit in the oven or hot iron. Green Jalapeno sauce accompanies the bread. They also place a pitcher of water on your table. Also on the table is a container of sugar cubes, which, if done the Persian way, is placed between your teeth as you sip hot tea. Located in the heart of Tyson's Corner (& just off the metro construction mess), it is a little difficult to find, as the front of the restaurant (marked by an awning) is along an alley that does not face the main road, so it's a little easy to miss. As part of a scavenger hunt, the treasures you're about to sample would be well worth the effort. Shamshiry will not disappoint!
(5)
Stephanie T.

Ate here today for the first time and all I can say is....WOW!!! I had the chicken kabob and the portions were 'beyond' generous. The chicken was so thick and tender it basically melts in your mouth, and it is all served on a big fluffy bed of some of the most delicious rice I have ever tasted in my life. 5++ stars! I can't wait to return with some of my co-workers!
(5)
Hina A.

LOVE LOVE LOVE THE FOOD HERE!!!!! you pay about $12-15 per entree but the portions are huge, you can easily feed 2-3 people from each entree so $15 divided by 3 equals $5 per person. You cannot go anywhere and pay that amount and be filled with some good tasting kabobs. Actually i take that back you can but that would mean you have to travel to a third world country. SO to re-write that..... no where in america will you be able to go have some kabobs, rice, and bread for $5. Shamshiry continues to blow us away. We are continuously impressed by the management's ability to keep the quality of food at such a high level day after day. Although there's a new kabob restaurant popping up on every block, there can only be one: Shamshiry.
(5)
Tony G.

Awesome Persian food. Not so good parking. Service could be less factory-like. Families seem to love the place. Avoid the hummus. Attack the meat! Good kabobs. All the Persian basics are there. Not fancy. The Persian menu though was bigger than the English language one. ;-)
(4)
Michelle R.

Very popular restaurant! Huge, delicious portions for the right price. I tried the Chicken Soltani, which was enough for two meals. The only thing missing is fresh bread.
(4)
Monica H.

This place is always busy! Parking's a pain in the butt, but it's worth it. No-frills ambiance, huge portions, delicious rice and chicken kebabs. Not so good for a vegetarian so don't even bother. The pita bread is good, though I don't understand why it comes in a plastic bag, and the green chutney it's served with spices things up a bit. I always have leftovers so it's a great buy for the money!
(5)
Nick H.

One of my favorite types of food is Kabobs. As far as restaurants go, there are typically two types of kabob restaurants. Afghan ones which generally feature kabobs with rice, naan (bread), and side dishes such as chick peas and spinach. Then there are Iranian style kabob restaurants like Shamshiry and Moby Dick in which the kabobs come with a more buttery rice, naan (bread) and no chick peas or other side dishes. I like both styles of kabobs...but as far as Iranian style kabobs go, I don't think there's any restaurant better than Shamshiry. Hidden away in Vienna (down the street from Tyson's Corner on Route 7), this restaurant has everything. Delicious food, ample seating, affordable prices, etc. The menu features all sorts of kabob meats and combinations to please every type of kabob eater. I prefer the chicken and ground beef kabob combo. I also like adding a raw egg (an option I've only seen at Shamshiry), which I drop over my hot rice and it sort of cooks as it flavors the rice. Considering my job is located in the Tyson's Corner area, my coworkers and I frequent this wonderful restaurant ALL THE TIME. I cannot urge you enough to go try this restaurant if you enjoy kabobs. It may alter how you feel about many other kabob restaurants once you've discovered how wonderful it is.
(5)
Nadia B.

I can never get here without a map. Just follow the aroma of buttery rice. The chicken and beef kabob are enough for two, even though you may want to tackle the entire plate. Kubideh is amazing, and be sure to sprinkle the sumac (the large salt shaker on your table full of auburn spice) over EVERYTHING.
(3)
John H.

Really good kabob here. My father craves this place and goes any chance he gets. The restaurant is ugly though. No ambience. I'm middle eastern but something about the atmosphere just makes me feel very uneasy (you can read between the lines here). I usually get it to go. Food is good...the place itself? Not so much
(3)
Samar A.

Hi expectations after seeing the ratings. Food was ok. Yes on quantity. Had better kabobs fr Moby Dicks. Waiter was a character..... us: We'll have the tea. Waiter: Why don't you try the Yogurt drink. us: Does it taste salty? Waiter: I don't know, I've never tried it. Why recommend something you haven't tried??? ....and every other order was a negotiation....why don't you try this....or that?
(2)
Ismail C.

Pros: Kabobs and rice were tasty but nothing special. Portions were well sized. Yogurt sauce was tasty as well. Cons: Bread was not fresh and came in a zip lock bag! Are you kidding me? I thought it was standard for Kabob places to make the bread fresh in house and bring it to you piping hot? Charged extra for yogurt sauce. Again, this is something that should be included with the meal as it's essential to the Kabob experience. Service: Horrible service, the waitress we had did not speak English very well and could not explain the dishes to us. She also forget our salad order and was not quick with drink refills. Overall the experience was not worth the trip to Tysons. I was disappointed, since an Iranian coworker of mine really talked up this place.
(2)
Max M.

I stopped by this place on July 8th while on vacation with family. Food and service was fine. Watching the workers, for some reason, I decided to tip the waitress in cash. Upon paying my bill via credit card and leaving cash tip on the small tray, I noticed the waitress didn't take the tip and she left the tray at front desk in front of the 2 bosses. I asked the Mexican waitress why she did not take the tip. She told us that they would not see the money. As I was leaving the place, I asked one of these 2 bosses to give the cash tip to the waitress in front of me. He failed to do so even though I asked him twice. It really ruined my day and affected me and my family for several days. I do travel to DC area often and I will never go back to this place ever again. Tip was for the workers and not for the boss.
(1)
N F.

I love kabob. I used to not be a fan of Shamshiry. I'm Iranian, and the kabobs here don't compare to its namesake in Tehran. Needless to say, my expectations were unreasonably high. Then I moved to Boston (...no comment on the kabobis here). Now, every time I'm back in DC, all I want is a kabob barg from Shamshiry. The kabobs are solid (not the best I've had but I'm also literally comparing them to THE best kabobs in the world). The prices are reasonable, and the service is decent. The only thing I don't like about Shamshiry is its decor. The huge mirrors are a nice touch that still deceive me into thinking the restaurant is double its actual size, but, other than that, it needs some work--from the oversized yellow plates to just the general lack of character. Shamshiry is the best kabob in the DC area, hands down. I wish the interior of the restaurant matched the quality of its food.
(4)
Francis P.

I read the yelp reviews and had to try the Kubideh. It is melt in your mouth good. The rice is moist and flavorful. Chicken was also good. Tea is top notch The bread is so-so. They bring you a water and a pitcher of water. You order tea? They bring you tea and a pitcher. Then when your meal arrives, it's on an airport runway sized plate. There's enough rice to store in a barn. The decor isn't the reason to go here--the food is incredible.
(5)
Mick K.

I made an order to go. When I entered, the place had 30+ minute wait to be seated. Good business but bad to to eat out. I suggest getting a to-go order. T The food was not bad. I ordered a kabob and it was not bad for $10.
(5)
Ken H.

Shamshiry is possibly the best Persian restaurant in the Washington, DC metro area. Anytime that my colleagues or wife and I get a chance we visit the place for lunch or dinner. It is always packed with people and filled with rich aromas. Since being new to Yelp and having an opportunity to have lunch at Shamshiry, I thought I would post a review of the experience. First it is important to acknowledge that this is a Persian family restaurant. It is focused on making you feel as member of the family. Today we started with Panir Sabzi (Goat cheese with raw vegetables and herbs (radishes, basil, scallions)), Borani Bademjan (Persian Yogurt with Eggplant Dip), served with nan-e barbari (Persian flat bread) and green sauce (tad spicy). The appetizers were delightful. For lunch we had Chicken Tandoori , skewered breast meat, moist, tender and flavored with a fiery green herb paste, served with basmati (saffron rice), grilled tomatoes and onions. The portion is huge seldom does anyone finish the entire meal, but that allows you to take it home for later. Since this is a family restaurant they leave a pitcher of water for you on the table. We also asked for a pot of Persian tea. The color, smell and taste of this tea (with 1-3 cubes of sugar) is best described as a rich beautiful indulgence. I like tea hot or cold and Persian tea is my favorite. You simply can't pass on the desserts. We shared a plate of Persian Baklava (which is topped with rose water), absolutely delightful and a bowl of Persian saffron ice cream. This rich ice cream is fragrant with rose water and is simply outstanding. If you love Middle Eastern food, Shamshiry will share a taste of heaven with you. You'll families, business people, young couples, and diplomats that know this is a genuine Persian jewel in the heart of Metro DC.
(5)
Meh G.

One of the oldest Iranian restaurants in the area and I have been there tens of times. The food is always consistent and I think they have one of the best Kabob's I have ever had. I am especially a big fan of their "Barg Kabob." The only problems I have with Shamshiry are: parking is always a problem, I don't know why a popular restaurant like this can't pay some money to buy some more parking spots. I also am not a big fan of their new plates. I don't think they are appropriate for an Iranian dish, they are too big and they take too much space on the table. They put too much rice with their food and it just goes to a waste. Other than this, I think it's one of the most solid restaurants in the area.
(4)
Ariel G.

AWESOME. Spotty service though. And huge portions. Highly recommended.
(5)
Ahmad A.

Based on the web site they usually open until 1 am Sat. I came at 12:05 and they said we only have take away !
(3)
Mariam S.

I'm going to tack onto the other negative reviews here... The other ones got it just right. They bring you a few small cold pieces of bread in a ziploc bag. That's just weird. The bread tastes likes its leftover too. They'd leave a better impression if they brought no bread at all. The chicken kabob tasted fine, but the rice is terrible. Your plate will have a mountain of rice that you will never be able to finish. It would be enough for your entire table to share. It's just plain white dry rice with no flavor. The service was also bad -- It's hard to get hold of your waiter. I wanted to ask for some sort of sauce or something to balance the dry food and it took five minutes to track down my waiter, even though the restaurant wasn't very busy. It was cheap, but you get what you pay for. I wouldn't come back. There are much better kabob places in the area.
(2)
Lindsey J.

The entire staff was extremely friendly and very attentive. In my week visiting the area, my meal at Shamshiry was hands down the best thing I ate anywhere in DC or Virginia. Big portions for very reasonable prices. The Saffron ice cream is a must try!
(5)
Reza Z.

This is a Persian/Iranian kabob restaurant not to be mistaken with Afghan, Lebanese, Pakistani or Greek kabobs or meat on a stick. Anyways, the main difference is that Persian food and kabobs use very little spices if any at all. The food meats and stews are mainly seasoned with herbs such as basil, parsleys, mint, saffron and different types of fresh greens. The kubdeh kabob has no spice in it, what you taste is minced onions mixed into the ground beef. The barg (filet strip) has no seasoning what so ever, just the taste of the meat. This is the main difference between Iranian kabob and Afghan or Pakistani kabobs, there are no spices added. That being said, it goes with the all American steak motto... A good quality steak needs no sauce or seasoning. All the different types of red meats kabobs here are tasty. The chicken kabobs are good as well. If you want to try something else traditional to Iranian food, I recommend Gorma Sabzi, it's a stew with beef and simmered greens. It's good for you and tasty served on top of rice.
(4)
Paul W.

It's an utter shame that I've been eating middle eastern food for this long without having tried Shamshiry. Never again will I eat a kabob anywhere else. If you're going to get one thing here, get the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry. The kubideh and barg are hands down the best I've ever had. Same with their chicken kabob.
(5)
Jim P.

Excellent authentic Iranian Kabobs. Highly reccomended.
(4)
Lu D.

Shamshiry continues to blow us away. We are continuously impressed by the management's ability to keep the quality of food at such a high level day after day. Although there's a new kabob restaurant popping up on every block, there can only be one: Shamshiry.
(5)
Sarah S.

3-stars if the portions for the $10 chicken kabob dishes are as big as the shamshiry. You get a lot of rice, and a little kabob. Plus side? You get so much rice that you can split your dish. Our friends told us to do that, and we were glad we did. I don't want to pay $8 for rice ($16 for shamsiry / 2 = $8), but if I could pay $5 for rice ($10 for chicken kabob / 2 = $5), I'd be happy with that. Maybe even give the place 4 stars. You're paying for rice, with a little meat. The rice is better than average, for sure, but it's still just rice. Decide how much that's worth to you.
(2)
Yule K.

Shamshiry is a sit down Persian restaurant located in what appears to be a nondescript office park in the middle of Tyson's Corner. I ordered the salmon kebabs with scented rice. The salmon was well-seasoned, if a little well done and dry for my taste. The scented rice, on the other hand, was intriguing. It was perfumed with dill, which you could smell as you took a forkful of rice and put it in your mouth. It was actually fascinating because the aroma of the rice enhanced the flavor of the salmon as a whole (an interesting example of the olfactory sense affecting one's taste, much like a fine wine's flavor being enhanced when you inhale deeply from your glass while sipping the wine). Slivers of fava beans were also mixed into the rice, giving the dish some welcome heft and heartiness. In sum, I am not sure this is worth a detour to go to, but the food was generally well done. The rice was the best part of the meal and I would be interested in coming back one day and trying out some of their other rice dishes.
(3)
Al C.

Totally worth going. I hadn't been in awhile, and now I'm regretting having not been in so long. We had the following kabobs: ground beef , filet mignon and chicken. We had the fesenjoon stew too ,a couple of appetiziers and desert. The kabobs were perfect and the appetizers were solid. I loved the Iced Persian Tea. The stew I think had been sitting around for a little bit, it was good nonetheless. The only real blech was the faludeh. I'd go again.
(4)
Abdulrahman A.

Big plates!
(4)
Kelly K.

Delicious Persian food. Best I have found. Lively atmosphere tucked away in a corporate area a couple of blocks below Route 7. I never even saw the place driving by...really have to be looking for it to find it. Parking is a bit of a drag. Have to go into parking garage behind and it isn't really clear where you are supposed to park. Says to go to top level. I wonder if that is necessary in the evenings? The place can get really busy...but hey that means they are doing something right. It is very casual.
(4)
Melissa H.

Food: Its' amazing! We got their top priced meat dish. Its a "filet mignon" meat with rice. You can order an egg yolk on the side to pour into your rice. Just add butter to the rice mixture and its deliciously creamy! The service is good but don't go during your hour lunch break or if you are in a rush. The food takes awhile to come out.
(4)
Yan W.

This place is run like a machine. When my party and I arrived, the place was packed and they told us it would be... 10 minutes? That was extremely hard to believe. In the meantime, we hung out in front and looked at the literal window to the kitchen. You could see exactly how your kebabs are made... Magically, 10 minutes later, the waiter came back out and said "follow me".... So my party and about 20 other folks were herded into another dining area that looked like it was usually open for private parties. This place was actually pretty well decorated. THere, I ordered the kubideh and yogurt drink (it basically tastes like yogurt, dill, and... carbonated soda...). The meat was extremely juicy, but i found the entire dish a little bland. Although the sprinkling of saffron rice on the regular rice was good, it made the "regular" rice taste really regular... actually it made it taste really gamey even though I think it would have tasted fine if served alone... poor "regular" rice... It's like mixing kobe beef with regular "normal" beef, you can clearly tell the difference between the two. I wasn't a big fan of the bread either. It was okay, but it didn't add any extra spark to the meal. The prices are good, the portions big, the staff like robotic food dispensing machines. Pretty fun for anyone who hasn't had Persian food before.
(3)
Parisa E.

As a Persian, I find the food to be pretty good...although definitely not the most authentic or best offered in the DC Metro Area. They go a bit overboard with rice...even for me, and I am used to lots of rice being Persian and growing up in a Persian household. I don't really mind the bread being served in plastic baggies, or the pitchers of water being brought to the table...only because it allows for me to have less interaction with the employees here...which is fine by me since they are not generally attentive or responsive. The servers here are, overall, rude and not very pleasant. My last experience here, I had a family of 8 coming and I arrived a bit early. I asked the staff here for a table that would seat 8 and they looked a bit irritated, even though there was maybe...less than 10 people in the restaurant at the time. They put two very small tables together and shoved in as many chairs as they could. I asked for one more table to be added so that the seats could be spread out a bit, explaining that two older people (in their 70's) would be sitting here, one of whom could barely walk and used a walker, and that the tightness in space would be uncomfortable for them. When I made the request, they explicitly told me no. I asked again, a little louder this time, and one of the managers overheard me and instructed the staff to add one more table. The staff member looked very displeased with me and shoved another table at the end of the tables and walked off furiously. Other than that. I only come here occasionally for the food. Don't expect to come here and have a pleasant experience with the staff....because most likely you won't. But then again, tip is optional on our part and their loss, right?
(2)
Donya I.

This place is a hit among the middle eastern crowd. Those fall in love with the kabob and the specialty rices. I personally am not as big of a fan. The bread is awful, it is a shame for a Persian restaurant. The "waiters" are just busboys that are very rude. The service is just awful. Decoration is very cheap as well. Management has a great recipe but really could make this place a nice restaurant if they hired actual waiters, got some nice decor, because currently it makes the restaurant rather cheap and unappealing. The Persian ice cream was okay, typical and very likely store bought and dumped in a bowl. The jujeh kabob had many many burnt small pieces of chicken and some larger pieces that were cooked the right amount. They should more evenly cook their food. The rice portion is ridiculous and the herb platter could have more cheese (but with the horrible bread they serve it might not even matter).
(2)
George N.

Dinner at 7pm without a reservation at this popular place in Tysons.... the Chicken Soltani was delectable. the kubideh was to die for, tender, sumptuous, succulent and cooked to perfection...we even split it between two of us and it was enough with a small Persian salad.... the wait service was friendly and attentive and courteous I will definitely be back and come withmore friends and try other dishes the Baklava is moist and has some spices I remember from my childhood, reminiscent of cardamom and cloves excellent choice, the decor and size of the restaurant is simple and small with mirros, but the lines of people and carry-out
(5)
Eugenius F.

Their food tastes good but you have to put up with a lot just to dine there. It seems like smiling and courtesy are against the rules and in an odd way this place is reminiscent of the Soup Nazi's approach to serving food. Servers are curt and rude and act like they are doing you a favor by letting you dine there. Management is no different and allows it to happen. Of course they have their favorites and certain customers have a consistently good dining experience but that is for a select few. In general, they rush you to take your order and barely check on you. They take half-full plates without asking and try to clear your table quickly without regard for how far along you are into dinner. The customer service has always been sub par but I kept giving them chance after chance until I finally had it. The last straw was when a friend and I were refused drink refills because they wanted to clear our table. The waiter came up to us while we were signing the tab and told us point blank to just put something down and hurry up. I will never dine there again.
(1)
Felix H.

This is the only Persian place in NOVA I know of that has ta-deeg (crispy rice crust that is at the bottom of the rice cooker). This is the place with the largest variety on their menu. As good as it gets for Persian cuisine in NOVA. All my old Persian clients and CPA (he's Persian) would come here and enjoy the food. Personally, my CPA and I prefer Rose's Kabob in Vienna. BUT...I would never turn down a meal at Shamshiry. It does get busy so...be patient. All the good places usually have a wait. I've never waited over 10 minutes.
(5)
Ken R.

Soooooo, I finally went based on a strong recommendation of a co-worker. I had the Chelo Kabob Barg. While the food was fine, I was not wowed by it. I suspect part of it was that I'm partial to the sticky moist rice of the far east vs. the dryer rice of the Persian variety. Based on reviews I was expecting the beef to be melt in your mouth good. Again, it was okay, but it was no flavor explosion nor was it particularly tender. It wasn't tough or chewy either... how else can I say it? It was okay. I was surprised I didn't get the egg yolk with my meal. Being that it was my first time, I'm assuming I need to specifically ask for it since I didn't get it. Incidentally, I did really enjoy the Persian Salad Bowl. It kind of looked "meh" but the ingredients and especially the homemade dressing were surprisingly good. I'll have to go back again and try another dish. Based on all the overwhelmingly positive reviews, I'm hoping I can tap into the goodness everyone else is enjoying.
(3)
Jessica S.

It is seriously ridiculous how much I love this place! Being that I live in Manassas I do not get to go as often as I would like. Every time I am able to make the hour+ drive to this tucked away treasure I can honestly say I am never disappointed. This place was first brought to my attention by an older (Persian) friend of mine in 2007. She introduced it as the best place to get authentic Persian cuisine in all of Northern Virginia. Having enjoyed Moby Dicks for many years I was excited to give it a try. One word, AMAZING!! I swear the ghameh (beef and lentil) tahdig is what keeps me coming back. I get this dish as my appetizer even though the main course always leaves me with 2 meals worth of leftovers. I have yet to find another Persian restaurant that serves this dish. It seems that the more popular choice and easier to locate tahdig is served with ghormeh sabzi (spinach and red bean). Neither of these items is listed on the menu, you have to request it. The kabobs (all of them) are good but I always order the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry (combination of barg and kubideh) this is my favorite and as the menu states is unforgettable. Good luck finishing it though, the dish is huge. All around the portions are good for the money, service is excellent and the food is amazing. The only thing I would suggest would be that they spruce the interior up a bit. For a restaurant that is in Tyson's Corner, I would have expected the place to look a little more put together. But overall I highly recommend!
(5)
Marie P.

I learned of Shamshiry from The Washingtonian "Cheap Eats" list. I read a review saying that the dining room was sparsely decorated, but the food was good and affordable. So, that was my expectation coming in. The review was spot on. The dining room offers little in the way of ambiance, but...the food was good! The bread arrives in a plastic baggie with some cilantro, garlic spread that has a bit of a kick. I loved the spread and the baggie and container for the spread made it easier to take home. My husband and I split the Chicken Tandoori. It was such a huge portion, we were both full and still had leftovers--not bad for $12! I haven't had much Persian food so I have little to base my review on, but I thought the food was delicious. The rice was soft, the chicken was flavorful and I enjoyed the onion, grilled tomato and lemon as well.
(4)
Sam S.

One of the best restaurants in Washington D.C. metro area and by far the best Persian food in this country. I been to every Persian restaurant in the area and nothing compares. The food is amazing, huge portions and the service is very fast. My favorite part is the meal is always hot and it's got the lowest prices for any Persian restraunt that I've ever been too!!
(5)
Susan L.

First time visitor here. I'm not sure if i'd go back again. I left feeling just OK/Meh. Maybe I'll go back and try something else. They seem to be very good at the meat part. When you enter, you can see directly into the kitchen section that's doing all the grilling. That was pretty cool. What we ordered: Chicken kabobs and dill rice. Ground beef kabobs with dill rice. Persian tea. Yogurt sauce to go with our pita bread. Taste: The chicken and beef kabobs were tender, not over cooked, and tasted fresh and exactly the animal they came from. It's hard to cook chicken without over-drying it so I give them props for that. You really only get one kabob stick though so if you're a meat person, you might want to rethink that. They gave a TON of rice. The rice was very pretty. It was covered in dill. That's pretty much where it stops there. There was wayyyy to much dill that it overpowered the dish. All I could smell, see and taste was dill. Not very flavorful. I overheard from another table that the white basmati rice the kabobs usually come with is much better so I regret paying the extra $3.50 each to get the special dill one. I got so nauseous and I ate maybe 1/8 of the mound of rice they give you. Carb over load and not enough meat. the yogurt sauce and their special spicy green sauce was delicious, light and fresh. I think I would have been happier with just pita bread and a bowl of their yogurt sauce! Persian tea tasted like a better version of lipton without the bad lipton after-taste. Price: It came to $48 bucks for 2 people (incl. tip). That's a tad on the expensive side for just OK food. Service: Friendly, and helpful. The food came out pretty quickly after we ordered. They were very good about giving us anything we needed. In all, I'd come back if someone else really wanted to go and I had $ to blow on a meal that left me feeling in limbo. However, in this area there are so many food options that I wouldn't go on my own.
(3)
William B.

Before I went, I thought this was just a kabob place, and if that's all it was, it would be disappointing and not worth it. But, no, it turns out that Persian food, which I had never really understood before, is a surprising mix of South Asian and Middle Eastern flavors. The kabobs are fine, but the rice dishes-- supplemented with salt and butter as you need-- are the reason to come. In the post-Atkins world, the idea of a rice-based meal may seem weird, but if you go you'll see why it's worth doing. The Baghali Polo is the best.
(3)
K C.

Whats up with this rice? I heard great things about the rice and ordered it only to realize that I cannot even see anyone behined the rice mount ;) . Lots and lots of rice with good kabobs though. I find it a bit hard to have rice without proper lubrication and that is perhaps my problem and not the restaurant's. Yeah, good place, may not be for me, or I should order something that enhances the lubrication.
(3)
Mahmood B.

Amazing place with amazing food. You don't wanna miss it!
(5)
Tony P.

This has been a consistently excellent kabob spot in the DC area for many years. I've been going to this spot since the early 1990's. The best entree by far is the jujeh (cornish hens) kabob. The hens are nicely cooked, and flavorful. The mound of rice is plentiful and cooked just right. The best and often unlooked for part of any persian rice dish is the tah digue (crunchy bottom crust of the rice). They have it available for the asking here! Don't forget to ask for it! Also don't forget to get some Mast-o Musir and Torshi Bademjan.
(4)
Sarvenaz S.

I don't know why some people have less than 5 stars on here, I have been going to this restaurant since the first DAY I moved to the DC area...since 2001..this place is great, Perfect service, perfect food.
(5)
Jason C.

The finely seasoned kabob meat, the buttery rice, the bust-through-the-palate-wall "OH YEAH!!" hot sauce, and even the raw onions make me a fan of this place. Then the raw egg. Oh you deceivingly simple yet fetching minx of a raw egg. It's like rocket fuel. Once mixed into the rice, the dish lifts off to a place that transcends all Moby Dicks or even Walden Pond. They need better bread.
(5)
Brittany H.

This place has awesome chicken kabobs, they don't skimp out on the meat or rice portion for that matter either. The meat is juicy & tender, the rice is moist and not dry at all. It helps that there is butter just oozing all over the rice. Their dipping sauces, (spicy jalepeno and/or yogurt) is the perfect complement to their flatbread, as an appetizer or to eat with your meal. Talk about carbs. overload, but simply delicious! Despite the fact that my boss will probably tell you otherwise....he's seen somebody have a heart attack here, being carried out on an ambulance and he himself has claimed to get "sick" from eating at this place and therefore, officially banned from eating at this place...... yeah, well, I still love the food here. I also manage to eat at least a third, if not half of my meal. Leaving the other half for a later dinner. :) Oh yeah, please come with a strong stomach, and loosen the belt already. It's not for the weak.
(4)
Farzan K.

SAT Analogy Time: Other Kabobs : Shamshiry Kabobs :: (A) full of additives/chemicals : all natural (B) thin and dry : plump and juicy (C) Kate Moss : Oprah (D) All of the above. Answer: D Farzan K : loves the Salad Olvioy :: (A) Britney Spears : loves her baby boy (B) Baby boy: loves a brand new toy (C) Kevin Federline : loves his Laz E Boy (D) All of the above. Answer: D Orgasmic experience for Shamshiry patron : three skewer kabob platter (Jujeh, Kubideh, Barg) :: (A) Orgasmic experience for Tiger Woods : three mistresses (B) Orgasmic experience for Colin Farrell : three stewardesses (C) Orgasmic experience for Farzan K : three-sided mirror (D) All of the above. Answer: D
(4)
Honey S.

Truly authentic Iranian/Persian food. It's not fancy nor trendy but its as close to a home cooked Persian meal you will get in this area. When my relatives visit from out of the country, we make it a tradition to have dinner before their last night at a Persian restaurant and its typically Shamshiry. Its famous in the Iranian community because there aren't too many around like it. Take into consideration, most Persians dine there for Persian food...that means you should try it. I learned this while living abroad. If you never see the locals eating there, run! if the natives eat there, its good stuff :)
(5)
Nolan C.

Pretty good value for the money. I had the filet mignon kabob with an egg over the rice. The rice was very very yummy, and very filling--I usually eat a lot but didn't finish my portion. My 3 friends each got chicken kabobs and really liked it. I was super stuffed by the end. The meat did not have as much flavor as I was expecting but it was still quite tender. Overall I took a star off because I thought it could have been more flavorful but it was still good nonetheless. And quite affordable at that.
(4)
C K.

Pretty good. The meat was very good, and the amount of rice was just ridicious. Haahah. We had 3 people, and the amount of rice on one plate was enough for all 3 of us. The friends I was with were happy that they served the rice with a small amount of charred rice which was fun to eat.
(3)
R K.

It pains me to give Shamshiry a one star review, since their food has consistently been one of the better restaurant selections for Persian food in the area. The food ain't close to being like home but it's sure better than most places. But the atmosphere? Yuck. And I mean LITERAL atmosphere - on top of the shit they pass off as decor and the walls that need paint so desperately they cry out from the pain of the questionable stains littered across them, the air quality is bad. I have bad allergies. I can't eat at this restaurant. It's hazy. Something has been wrong with the ventilation for well over a year and I very seriously can't stay in the restaurant for more than five minutes. My family thought I was crazy and kept making me go... and I kept having to leave them and walk outside. But then more people we knew started complaining independently of the same problem and I was vindicated. If you have allergies: Run. Run as fast as you can. Don't look back. Try Alborz. Food's nearly identical and the air quality is as Shamshiry should be. If you don't have allergies, try Shamshiry. Your experience might be better than my last few visits before giving up for good.
(1)
Nova B.

One of the best ! The best rice, kubbaidah kabob .. Dont forget to finish your meal with persian tea
(5)
Jister Y.

My parents love the salmon. My brother swears by the lamb kabob to be one of the best. In my humble opinion, the salmon is deliciously grilled; however, there is always one piece that is grilled too much ends up being dry. I heart the pickle yogurt dip and the light and refreshing salad dressing. Recommend: Get half salad and half saffron rice -- we typically take most of the rice home, which is amazing with the yogurt dip. Besides the bread, I am extremely impressed.
(4)
Salma M.

Food is good service can be better and it could be cleaner than it is! But over all I would go for some chelo kabob!
(3)
Tu-van L.

Brendan J is right - they do load your plate with a boat ton of rice. But at least the rice is well-cooked, light and fluffy to soak up the flavors of the tender and flavorful kabobs. I thought it was interesting that some of the rice was fried up with egg - better than mixing the raw egg into the rice myself like they advertised on the menu. The kubideh was very moist and tender well-balanced in flavor (not going to think about how fatty the ground meat is). My husband's steak kabob was well-cooked and tender and not so chewy; my chicken kabob was tender and well balanced of flavor. Service was attentive; the sit-down restaurant was not too pretentious. Overall this is a great place for Persia kabobs. Authentic flavors, large portions with the ambiance to go with it.
(5)
Meredith H.

Best Kabob place in NOVA! All around good Persian food! Wished I lived closer to it!
(5)
Keivan M.

Many friends recommended here, it was okay but definitely not the best Persian restaurant around. I liked most of the others better than this place.
(4)
Mo A.

This joint has always had the best Iranian food in the DC metro area. Its a pain in the ass to get to unless you have a car, which is not ideal for us city dwellers, but the kebabs and rice are awesome. The place is kinda small, so you may have to wait for a while on the weekends because it is also quite popular. They don't have much for vegetarians, but there is some. They have excellent dough (a sour and minty yoghurt drink that i like a salty lassi) if you are into that sort of thing. Alas, I wish more of DC's great eastern foods was in the city instead of being nestled in random stripmalls all over the depressing landscape that is suburbia.
(4)
Suzanne L.

This is the best Persian food you can find as far as taste quality and price. I highly recommend it to anyone who really knows what great food tastes like.
(5)
Todd K.

Super restaurant. The biggest con is that, for a person living in Alexandria, this is a long drive for a meal. Parking is great (private lot and a garage nearby), however the place is a bit difficult to find. I was going with someone who had been there previously, so I had good directions, but its location is terrible in the sense that you would never see it without specifically looking for it. Also the name is not easy...when the person accompanying me said we were going there, I was typing in so many different names into Google to get directions. S-H-A-M-S-H-I-R-Y...lol. The food is excellent, as is the service. They give you sooooo much food. For the true authentic experience, make sure to ask for the pre-cracked egg to pour on, and mix with your rice. I was told by my friend that several places don't give you the option of the egg...so utilize it! I was looking at another review on here and saw he wrote about the tea. I forgot about that...the tea is excellent. Price can be a bit high, unfortunately. I think my dinner came out to $40+, although we did get a desert. We went at 5pm...no problems getting seat. I can't speak about post 7PM seating, sorry. They do accept reservations, so you might want to consider taking advantage of that.
(5)
Mimi N.

I don't come here that often as there are other places in the area with better kabobs and bread (the kabobs tend to be a bit salty and the bread is sub par and isn't made in the restaurant) but there is one amazing thing they have that other kabob places do not have - tadig! It's not on the menu but they'll give it to you when it's available if you ask. For those of you that don't know, this is the crispy rice from the bottom of the rice pot. Not many restaurants serve it, but here they have it with koresh on top and it's absolutely delicious! I'd come just for that (though they don't always have it).
(3)
Nishad J.

The beef kubideh is really good there but inconsistent. When its good, its really juicy and well spiced. So flavorful, this place would get 5 stars for the beef kubideh when made right but it isn't always. The quality varies form visit to visit, sometimes it can come out a bit dry. This place gives you about 2 large links of kubideh and a mountain of rice. The amount of rice is a bit ridiculous. My major beef with this place is service and consistency, which is why it gets 4 stars.
(4)
U Q.

Shamshiry sets the golden standard for perfectly cooked basmati rice, each grain separate and perfect. It comes in a humongous serving with plenty of saffron. The kubideh is by far the best kebab, tender and juicy ground beef skewers. It is perfectly eaten with two packets of butter mixed in the rice along with an egg yolk and topped of with sumac. the egg yolk is a perfect compliment to the beef and takes things up a notch. To finish the meal be sure to get the Persian saffron ice cream, which has a delicious saffron and rosewater flavor. Shamshiry is a one of a kind. There's a reason everywhere you look around you the establishment is filled with Persians. They do Persian kebabs perfectly! The food is amazing. Atmosphere or service are nothing to talk about, and not why you go. You go for the best Persian kebabs and rice you'll find in America.
(5)
Negin Y.

My boyfriend and I are regulars here and absolutely love this place. The service is great. Everyone there from servers to the ones that bus the tables are super nice and attentive. Shamshiry has to be to the BEST kabob I've had, EVER!!!! And I've had a lot of it in a lot of different places. They're kubideh can not be beat. There really is nothing like it. Not in DC and not even in LA! The barg kabob is tender, the bone-in chicken kabob is so flavorful. I've tried everything on they're menu and would truly recommend anything. It gets pretty busy there during lunch and dinner so the earlier to get there the better. But however long you have to wait it's always worth it. Also, it's a little off the beaten path as it is tuck back behind some office buildings.
(5)
Dallas T.

Decent not wow.
(3)
Theresa S.

Tea and baklava and grilled meat and grilled fish! Shared between 4: chelo kabob shamshiry, mahi kabob (rice has lots of dill!), baklava and several pots of tea. Good meal.
(4)
Alireza G.

Average food. Impolite supervisor/manager/owner. For the first time in US, I have been notified about the amount of the tip, that by his perception, I HAVE to pay, although I had put some amount already!! Not recommended! You have more choices around the same area. Check Alborz out!
(1)
Steve D.

My family had a great dinner at Shamshiry. We're working through some of the best value restaurants in the area and we understand why this one is ranked high. Portions were large, food was very good (we had kabobs). The thing that surprised me most was the quality of the service after reading some of the other reviews. The restaurant was not quite full but busy and we had great, personal service. They clearly wanted to help us appreciate a Persian dining experience and we could not have been more pleased with their suggestions, helpfulness. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)
SiR N.

Good food and generous proportions for a reasonable price. But, service isn't that great, and you don't get a warm & fuzzy feeling here. I find a lot of the wait staff to be either disinterested or a little rude. For instance, I ordered a dish that was supposed to have chicken in it. When I brought this to the waiter's attention, he immediately became combative and started blaming me for not being clear with the original order and not understanding the wording in their menu. I was surprised that the waiter was insisting the situation was my fault, and it took forever to get the correct plate returned to me. This occurred during my second visit to the restaurant. For my third visit, I arrived at 11:20 - which apparently was 10 minutes before they opened. There were no signs as to their hours on the front door area and because I was in a hurry that day I wanted to make sure they opened at 11:30 and not noon. I rapped on the window and waved, and they clearly ignored me until several minutes later. I thought this was really rude and not a good way to treat customers despite being closed. The restaurant is also very humid inside and ventilation is a problem. They have ceiling fans but it's not enough to combat the humidity. If my dad didn't like the food so much and if it wasn't close to his home, I probably would not come back. I definitely would not recommend the restaurant to any of my friends because of the service.
(2)
Max M.

The kabobs here are consistently good. The kubideh is very good. The chicken kabob is somewhat bland, but still pretty good. Same with the salmon kabob. Although the salmon kabob is a little bland, it comes with baghali polo, which is very good and is a plus. The portions are very large and reasonably priced for the most part. A boneless chicken kabob with rice or a kubideh kabob with rice is around $10. They are always happy to throw in tahdig for free too, which is usually good. Although the kabobs are why I keep coming back, something that really bothers me is that when you eat in the restaurant or get carryout, the bread that comes with the kabob is served in a ziplock bag. The bread seems store bought and never particularly fresh. It's just disappointing that the rice and meat are always good, but they can't find the heart to provide decent bread. The idea of being served a bag of bread when dining in is also irritating. Even if the bread isn't good, it wouldn't take a lot of effort to take it out of a plastic bag and make it not look overtly cheap. The kabobs are served with the sumac and a spicy green sauce. It costs extra for the must o khiar (cucumber yogurt), which is often included with a kabob order at other kabob places. That and the fact that they don't bake their own bread like many other kabob places, many of which have kabobs that aren't as good, are my only real issues with Shamshiry.
(4)
Aboozar M.

It is my story of being in this restaurant: We were four Persian people (2 men two girls) who were really excited to eat Persian food in the US. After finishing foods I paid all food receipt plus $6 as the tip for just two of us and my friend went to get cash from his car to pay the tip for the two other by himself. Meanwhile the manager loudly said just $6 as tip, it is around just 10% of the food and... For sure I did not let my friend to put any cash on the table. Also food was not fantastic as I had read in reviews, it was cold and especially sides were really bad.
(1)
Catherine L.

My family has been going here for years, and not once have they let us down. You can tell how legit they are by the fact that we are always awkwardly the only Asians in the whole restaurant, every. single. time. We usually order 2 or 3 servings of the kubideh and ask them to put it on one platter. The kubideh is moist and not too salty, and the rice is fluffy. The leftover rice is enough to feed us for a few days! The Persian ice cream is the best ice cream I've ever had - perfectly chewy and fragrant. Please go out of your way to try it, especially if you are a fan of rose flavors. The best kabobs I've ever had, hands down.
(5)
El G.

We tried to beat the sun to avoid the Ramadan crowd, but traffic got us. That's fine. While there was a line, it moved quickly. This is my first Persian experience and I really liked it. I liked the staff, but more importantly the crowd. Everyone is in a good mood, laughing and enjoying the food. Oh, the food, very good. I was a big fan since I'm on the Atkins diet and the meat is a plenty. The wife had a yogurt type drink, which is interesting and it quenches the spices. Great place to go and VERY cheap.
(4)
Jill H.

I like to call it "Sham shitty". (It's not THAT bad, but works out so well to say it like that.) I can't give Shamshiry above 3 stars. I've had AMAZING homecooked Iranian food, some of which I've made myself, and I can't say Shamshiry is worth it. I ordered the Alablou Polo. Since I like Zeresk Polo, I thought I'd try something similar, in the hopes that I'd like it. The sour cherries they used were not good quality. The meat was nondiscript.
(3)
Antonio M.

Shamshiry, the name means...Shamshiry. Actually I have no idea what the name means, but I wouldn't be surprised if it translates to "Place that serves deliciously tasty kabobs in a busy crowded restaurant".Hmmm ...probably no chance that would be the actual translation, then again I'm not Iranian...errr...Persian. :-) The first thing that hits you as you walk into Shamshiry is not just the line and always crowded restaurant (call ahead if you can), but the delicious smell of the meats being grilled in the kitchen. Whatever Shamshiry means or whomever the place was named after, it's a bustling gem in the heart of the Tysons Corner industrial district. The food is always delicious, the service may leave a little bit to be desired but you'll always leave with a full stomach and happy images of oversized plates of with welcoming mountains of rice and large pieces of chicken, beef or ground beef kabobs. The food never disappoints and you'll find yourself breaking all promises of being carb healthy by devouring the mammoth mound of rice set before you. For me, Shamshiry is not only an international experience because of the Iranian cuisine, but because of the simple fact that every time I've come to dine at this remarkable establishment it's been with a variable United Nations of friends: Filipinos, Americans, Iranians (a.k.a. Persians as they'll remind you), Chinese, Moroccan or Lebanese. All of us sharing the common bond of being friends, but mainly all being people who love delicious food. I was won over during my first visit as I ordered the Jujeh Kabob; chunks of Cornish hen grilled over the charcoal fires of the Shamshiry kitchen. The flavors of the grilled Cornish hen wowed me and I was truly won over by the Shamshiry chefs after I tried cuts of my friend's Kubideh (ground beef kabob) and delicate cuts of the Chelo (fillet Mignon) kabob. The Persian chefs are obvious masters of marinating, spicing and most importantly grilling all cuts of meat to perfection. Quick note to all beer and wine connoisseurs; enjoy your tasty beverages at home as Shamshiry does not serve Alcohol. The only drinks available are yogurt drinks, hot/cold tea and soft drinks. My advice is to enjoy the hot tea with your meal and grab a drink with friends/loved ones after your visit to Shamshiry. Plus, with all the rice you'll be eating, it's probably a good thing Shamshiry doesn't serve alcohol; you won't overload on carbs....Dr. Atkins would be proud! To me, Shamshiry would easily be a 5-star establishment if it didn't suffer from shabby service. Reservations or call ahead seatings do not always guarantee you a table, and there may be nights when they have been known to all together abandon the whole notion of reservations. Depending on your waiter, you may be treated like a king of Kings with every need being met. Other nights just grabbing the waiter's attention can be a feat in itself. The only thing that makes up for such inconsistent service is the food. You'll never go hungry and you'll never leave disappointed. If you have the patience to wait for a table and the conviction to find Shamshiry camouflaged among unremarkable office buildings, you will definitely enjoy your visit and will already be mentally planning your next return before being halfway done with your mountain of rice. *** Check out my Yelp profile and visit my blog to read the FULL review ***
(4)
neal d.

A great friend of mine that passed away told me since I love Kabobs - I would have to try Shamshiry with him. We went on a quiet night. Service was perfect - Food was truly authentic Persian cuisine! All the meats, rice, breads were fresh. I Love this place and I will never forget my friend that introduced me to it!
(5)
Mel D.

If you want real kabob you gotta go to to Shamshiry!
(5)
Michael N.

When we arrived, it was early but there was already a wait. It was worth it- delicious salad shiraz and chicken soltani. Enormous serving of rice- we were so full, we skipped dessert. Next time I will share an entre so I can try their dessert.
(4)
sara r.

I am from Iran and I can tell you as good as my mom cooks, Kabob is rather difficult to make at home (particularly for as simple as it looks). So when our family wants Kabob, we practically always order out. And this is the place we get it from. We have been ordering food from here for as long as I can remember. I have tried many places over the years and no place comes close to their food. I will say Moby Dick is a close second, but I really think Shamshiry is the best. I pretty much always get the Kubideh, which is ground beef. Its the most flavorful and juicy Kabob you'll eat. The rice is good as well, not too oily or too dry. I have had the chicken and lamb as well, but I personally like the ground beef in general. For apps, try the cucumber/tomato salad (Salad-e Shirazi) and their yogurt/shallot (Mast-o Musir). I know they have other traditional Persian dishes too, but I haven't tried any of it. Honesty, thats where my moms cooking will probably have them beat. We usually just pick up the food, but you can dine there too. Its a relatively small, very casual restaurant. So if you are looking for a flashy place for dinner, this isn't the place. But if you are just looking for really good food, look no further. You also get a lot of food...I usually split my dinner.
(5)
Richard Z.

The food is great and the portions are huge. Don't forget to try the Doogh
(5)
Brendan J.

I love rice. Short grain rice, medium grain rice, long grain rice, white rice, brown rice, red rice, black rice, sushi rice, GABA rice...Best post-Thanksgiving snack - bowl of rice topped with turkey gravy. Only have two bites of leftover Chinese food? No problem - I'll eat it with a big bowl of rice. Picnic lunch? Japanese style rice balls with various filling. Sometimes I'll just eat some rice by itself to enjoy the flavor of good quality rice. Rice rice rice. So what does this have to do with Shamshiry? If you take a look at any of the photos, you'll notice that the plate is covered in a huge mound of rice. It is phenomenal! I need to learn the art of making fluffy, perfectly steamed long grain rice that isn't mushy and comes out steaming but it isn't clumpy all. It is ridiculously fluffy and pretty tasty - even better with a few shakes of sumac. And they give you an absurd amount of it - maybe 3 or 4 normal helpings worth. The jujeh kabob was juicy and delicious. The salmon kabob chunks were big and quite good, although cooked more than I normally like. The accompanying dill rice was also very nice. The bread was aight - nothing offensive and nothing that special. I suppose the amount of meat may be a bit skimpy, but I only ate three pieces since I was too busy eating the rice and the bread. In general, the items here don't seem to be strongly seasoned as what you'd get from other kabob places. Whether that is a Persian thing or just Shamshiry, I think they do a good job with the flavorings they do use. So if your love of rice is greater than or equal to your love of kabobs, this place is great. Otherwise it might be more like a 3.5 or 3.75.
(4)
K C.

Had a good dinner here with friends. Portions are VERY generous and food is generally tasty We had the Chelo Kabob Kubideh (ground meat grilled on skewers) - this was the tastiest part and you must get this! Also had the Chelo Kabob Barg (filet mignon). Although very tender, it wasn't nearly as flavorful as the Kubideh and had an odd (read not good) odor. So I personally wouldn't recommend it. You get a mound of very light and tasty rice. Pita bread comes in ziplock bags which is interesting. Be prepared to take stuff to go for left overs!
(3)
Adam S.

Got to increase my rating to 5 starts for this amazing family-owned Persian gem! Had the Chicken Tandoori last night (the one with the fiery green herb paste). Freaking incredible! Honestly, who knew that chicken could taste this good. Also, the lavash/pita is really not the focus for this restaurant, although if they started to bake their own bread, this might become my daily diner. Truly remarkable chicken dish.
(5)
Rob M.

Hope you love rice, because you're getting plenty of it here. Which is good, since the rice is fluffy and delicious. The kubideh and chicken tandoori kabobs were a tasty delight as well. Now for the not so great. The side of raw onions I can do without. Its just taking up plate real estate where more rice or meat could be. And the close proximity of your table to your neighbors' feels almost like a communal dining experience. But with good food and affordable prices (especially for Tysons) Shamshiry is a must try.
(4)
Missy Y.

Someone tell me what makes this place good. Im dying to know. The only thing that ever tastes ok here is the rice. They dip the chicken in some green sauce and call it Chicken tandoori, the regular chicken has no damn flavor. The bread is flat, cold and store bought. The kubideh is nothing special and neither is this restaurant.
(2)
Brian K.

The good: -Authentic Persian flavors -Huge portions of food -Helpful and friendly servers The bad: -I don't work across the street from them anymore Seriously though, it would almost be an insult to call this place the best kabob joint in the area. Because it's so much more than that. But they really do have the best kabobs you'll find. Along with HUGE portions of the best tasting rice I've ever had. Add some of their hot Persian tea on the side and I am in heaven.
(5)
Jamal F.

Hands down the best Persian restaurant in the area. I would give it a perfect 5 stars if the costumer service was better.
(4)
Courtney R.

This was my first Persian food experience, other than kabobby stuff. It's the only one, too. Luckily I went with my Persian friend (a.k.a. "tan disgrace") who speaks Farsi and has been coming here since he was a little one with his parents. We had all sorts of good food, many with names I can't remember or pronounce. I do remember the shirazi, because it was mind-blowingly yumtastic and we order it every time. To date, I've been here three times and each visit resulted in delicious. I recommend you try anything on their menu.
(4)
T. C.

Overall: Best Kabob in DC Area Kabob is not sopposed to be a sophisticated meal, and it is refreshing to see that shamshiri is not a 5 star restaurant with a 5 star price.. Kabob is a street food in Iran, and a relaxed atmosphere is how it is served best. With that said, the restaurant provides great service, offers meals at a good price, is nicely decorated, has the most authentic flavored kabob in the DC area, and is by no means a hole in a wall. Shamshiri is a busy restaurant, but I have never had to wait to be seated, despite the restaurant always beeing busy, and the food is always served on a timely manner. The best idea shamshiri has for service, that most restaurants don't, is leaving a water pitcher at each table--so you never have to wait for a waiter to fill your cup up. That concept adds a laid back-pleasant asmosphere to the restaurant. The foods are presented beautifully, with the rice having a safron colored top (it's not safron--at least not enough to taste). The koobideh has two large kabobs, and there are slices of white onion next to the meat, all served on a modern designed plate. The food is cheap, with a kabob koobideh costing $10.00, and the tadhig (cripsy rice) served complimentary on the house--something few persian restaurants offer free. What isn't appreciated is the cost of fresh herbs to go with the meal--this is something that should be included with the meal at no extra price, and is a service that some persian restaurants do offer--unfortunately none in the DC area have cought on. Any persian knows that a kabob without herbs is like serving butter and toast without honey or jam--sure you don't need it, but without it, it's definitely missing something well appreciated. A nice freshly made bread is also one thing that's missing. Even Moby Dick's, a fast food kabob restaurant ,serves a homemade bread. It is suprising that Shamshiri does not follow suit. All in all, the food is great, with only a few things missing--complimentary herbs, and freshly made bread. If I had to visit a persian restaurant for kabob in the DC area, Shamshiri would definitely be the place I would go.
(5)
S S.

Wow, I'm surprised at the good reviews here! There's so many other better kabob places. I went for lunch on a weekday and we were one of two tables. It used to be so busy but I think people realize that this place is SO overpriced and hopefully have taken their business elsewhere. It's not hard to make a tender chicken kabob so I'm not going to give them credit for that but there's no flavor! The ground beef and lamb are okay but a bit dry. There's so much rice you could feed a whole country....sorry cheapos, you skimp on the meat! Now I have to say the yogurt is good but the little pita they service in a plastic bag...c'mon, you couldn't put it nicely in a basket? The bread tastes like dry paper. I didn't give them one star because they do serve filet mignon and cornish hen which is intriguing but again, very bland. Service is slow. They're pretty cheap and charge for every additional item when everything is overpriced to begin with. Moby Dick's has them beat anyday!!
(2)
Samira G.

Probably the best Persian food on the East Coast. a little pricey, but well worth it. People of all nationalities love the food here. always busy. always great.
(5)
Kamal K.

Shamshiry is the closet kababi to where I live and probably the best that I've been to in Northern VA. I'm pretty sure that MD has some comparable kababis but I've never had the complete urge to sit in two hours of traffic on the beltway/270 just to get chelo kabab. Shamshiry is located in an office park in Tysons Corner and thankfully it's only off of the first light on 7 from the dulles toll road. Parking there is kind of a pain, you might have to utilize the parking garage nearby. Walk inside and you'll see a glass window exposing the grill area. It's a bit chaotic as the entry hallway is very narrow and there's usually families seated on the seats lining this hallway waiting to be seated, making it really crowded. The decor is basic, mirrors and the bare necessities. This type of a decor is quite common in Iranian kababis where more emphasis is put on the food. The place is not ambient by any means, it's usually quite noisy/rowdy. Service: as other yelpers have said, it sucks. Each server seems to be overworked and the attentiveness could use some work. Food: Kababs: As I said, best chelo kabab in the area. The koobideh is big, filling and greasy. The skewer of barg is superb, but tastes sub-par if you choose to eat it as next-day leftovers. They have joojeh and chicken, the former having a bone, the latter boneless. Both are surprisingly tasty. Each kabab dish comes with a mountain load of rice, soomagh, spicy green stuff and lavash. You can even get a raw egg on your rice, if you're old fashioned like that. Ask for tah-dig (caked rice for the pan), Shamshiry's tah-dig is cooked just right. Rice dishes, etc: This is one the only places that serves Albaloo Polo, and it's fantastic. The Baghali Polo is above average. Both taste great with Chicken Kabab, the latter tastes amazing with Daisy yogurt (if you do takeout). Haven't gotten around to any other dishes. I give this a four because the kababs are great and I usually do take out. Shamshiry is on my speed dial and my order is always ready when I arrive. While the ambiance and service may be sub par, I love this place for its proximity, speed and food quality and will continue to be a regular customer.
(4)
Kim G.

On a friday night at 6PM, they were able to seat 7 of us and a baby seat without wait. Upon entering, I thought this place would be great for take out but not for a date night. Pitchers of ice water and iced tea bumped this place up a notch. So do the descriptions on the menu! The raw onion goes so well with the tender ground beef kabob, perfectly grilled salmon, chicken skewers, and steak. However, it doesn't go so well for morning breath, and this you MUST keep in mind. The rice was great but the salad I could do without. The cucumber appetizer was really refreshing. If you order the ice cream, they'll give you about four scoops. The Persian one tastes great but is very sweet and my sister thought it tasted like perfume because of the rose water, which is why I ordered it. The baklava didn't hit the spot for me, too much of an almond paste consistency and lacking in the department of flakiness or nuts. I would definitely return with an Iranian friend to get the dilly on the dishes that aren't on the menu.
(3)
Sheila D.

For nova, this place is not too bad. Coming from LA, aka "mini tehrangeles" this comes pretty close to the most authentic persian spots in LA. It's located at Tysons corner at the first level of a business office, it's tucked behind the mercedes benz dealership. They have my favorite persian dish (which is sometimes hard to find). Everytime I've gone here it's always been pretty packed. The kubedeh, grilled salmon, and soltani are also very good.
(4)
Brian J.

Weak. I dont understand why people rave about this place. The kabobs, rice, yogurt, and grilled vegetables taste EXACTLY like Sorrento Grill in Herndon. Two totally different restaurants, owned by different people should not taste exactly the same. The quality? Below average. Also - atmosphere and operations are odd. The place is trying to be fancy with white tablecloths and "wait to be seated" and waiters and shit. Doesn't work. Reminds me of a tacky Indian restaurant. Kabob joints work better when they are holes in the wall or just simple walk in, order, sit down, wait 10 minutes, get your number called type of places. Back to the food. In general, I lump Persian / Iranian / Egyptian kabobs into a larger generic Middle Eastern category, and Shamshiry falls square into that grouping. The food is simply inferior to Afghan or Pakistani kabobs. The kabobs just don't pack that spicy, rich, tender, juicy goodness that they should.
(1)
Fred S.

Rude and arrogant service, Cafeteria atmosphere, and overpriced.
(1)
Fauzia I.

I went here over Thanksgiving. Used to go when we lived in VA 8+ years ago and was glad it was still there. Not surprised, but glad. It did look smaller than I remembered but the food was the same. However, in the meantime I had discovered Caspian Persian Grill in Plantation where I used to live, and have to say Shamshiry would lose in comparison. That specific review will follow. It's always crowded, even at lunch on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Even though it's in an office complex. However, I was not impressed by Shamshiry's service - it was ok, but somewhat abrupt - not particularly friendly. Plus the restaurant was cramped, as were the tables - too small for everything. You have to do a lot of constant juggling. Also, being seated directly in front of the mirrored wall was a bit unsettling but that's also a personal preference. I liked watching the kitchen while waiting to be seated. Even given that you can get kababs on every street corner in Northern VA, this place always stands out for me. Well cooked and tasty meat. Oh, and good, really spicy fresh green chutney. However, b/c of the service, and waitimes, I'm not sure I would go back regularly even if I lived there.
(3)
Pervaiz B.

Excellent Persian Kubideh. Try the rice with the raw egg and Zereshk (you mix the raw egg into the rice as soon as it comes out - and it cooks into the hot rice... interesting concept). Also try their Dessert - they make a mean Faluda.
(4)
EvA A.

This suppose to be persian restaurant offering exclusive cuisine, though I really don't see a big difference from other kabob like places. I would even say that average kabob fast food is not only cheaper but also better than Shamshiry restaurant. I don't even remember what I ate, but I know rice is always there. Tinny appetizers! Spacious restaurant, big grill, fresh dishes, not that bright service, tablecloth, clean tacky toilets with artificial flowers. I wouldn't drive just to eat there, but if you are around, you can grab a meal that at least won't give you a stomach ache.
(2)
Ayon J. R.

First thing you'll notice after you get your food is that the portion size is very generous. The food is decent..not the best Kabob..not the worst either. But, i would have enjoyed my food a lot more if the service staff smiled a bit more often.
(3)
Shawn S.

First.. you have to find it... (which wasn't easy the first time). It is interesting some people love it some hate it. This is a nice break from both the "fast food" Ke-Bob's and TOTALLY fancy persian restaurants. When you walk in you get to see the skewers cooking.. your greeted and taken to a table. It's a great place to get some friends together (the bigger the group the better) and enjoy some doughe... They give you some bread and butter, and this green "salsa" stuff... (not persian, but good). Tons of great rice, meat is tasty. The rice is amazing, a fact that most negative reviewers forget is the RICE! so good. the meat is good, but could be as good as some of the "faster" food places. net-net nice place, good food.
(4)
Hanyan W.

I don't know how authentic Shamshiry is, but this is a pretty good place for kabobs. The chicken and cornish hen kabobs are ok, but my favorites are the kubideh and barg. My only gripe about this place is that they do not make naan or something similar. All you get is a basket of very thin presliced flat bread served with something like a jalapeno salsa, which I'm pretty sure is not Persian. Also, make sure to get the mast-o-musir, which is a yogurt dip with shallots. It goes well with the kabobs and "bread". If you don't like the taste of raw shallots, you can get the mast-o-khiar which has dill and cucumbers instead of shallots. And if you're feeling adventurous, get a glass of doogh (carbonated yogurt drink with mint). It's an acquired taste, but I definitely like it.
(4)
Lili G.

Shamshiry, Vienna, VA: Hands down, a great place to have authentic Persian cuisine! Upon arrival any evening, you will find yourself shuttled in with open arms to a sea of Persians dining!! I've been eating at Shamshiry for years and years. The food is fantastic! One thing in particular is the flavor. The meat variety here is great, The kabobs are juicy and full of flavor. The saffron rice is wonderful. The kabobs are juicy and full of flavor. The saffron rice is wonderful, The Gormeh Sabzi at this place is delicious!! , so are the, Ghameh, and Fesenjoon! Yum! BEST PERSIAN FOOD IN TOWN ! Can you tell I'm a bit of a Koobideh fanatic? Go hungry, they serve HUGE portions. When I order I generally eat about half and have half for lunch the next day. In the end, the price is right because it's almost always two meals. Excellent! Delicious and exotic food, wonderful service--what a treat! Portions are huge, and reasonably priced!!
(5)
Richardhead B.

This is the best persian cuisine I've had locally, they are very consistent. Their kubideh is flavorful and the green sauce is amazing with the meal. Don't waste time on the free bread which is forgettable, save room for the rice. The owner brought our table hot tea himself which was a nice bonus.
(5)
FRANCHESKA A.

Very good n tasty, i usually call for pick up, the price is very very reasonable for the guality off t food i think is worth even more ofcourse IM GLAAD PAYING LESS.. The give u alot.. Every thing i have order from there is very good even t litle green hot sause. The only bad thing i will say is make sure to wash u hands w lots off soap cus u can still smell t kabob on u hands...
(4)
Jimena M.

I was on my way back from DC after taking the train from Jersey. I was gonna hold out and eat at home, but then I got lazy and wanted some good, hot food now! By the time I realized how hungry I was, I was in Tysons and it was about 11:30 on a Saturday night. For some reason the only thing that came to my mind was Shamshiry. I've been here dozens of times, never am I disappointed. They are consistent with quality and definitely quantity. I ordered the Kubideh on rice with a side of the shirazi salad (cucumbers, tomatoes and onions in a lemon vinaigrette). I LOVE the huge mound of buttery rice they give you. In my book, you can never have too much rice, especially if it's buttered :) The kubideh was also huge. The salad was crisp, fresh and citrusy. My meal hit the spot. I am definitely a fan of Shamshiry.
(4)
Barry S.

Rose Kabob for the win! Not sure what all the fuss is here. Not even the best in McLean/Vienna!
(3)
Virginia M.

I personally felt this place wasn't as great as the reviews say, so I'm wondering what I missed out on but here was my experience. To start, the place is not as low key as some have said -at least as far as attire is concerned, it's somewhere you may go on a semi-classy Friday night. And perhaps this is due to yelp fame. Secondly, the place is small, and the tables are pretty cramped together which essentially puts the sounds of screaming kids running around, right in your face. I guess this is the low key part. Also garage parking can feel a tad bit far as well. Third, I ordered kubideh and it was really good. The plate came with beef, rice, and raw onion. The rice was bland but fluffy and well done as was said. But it was really too much rice. The onion touch brought about balance I guess, if you like raw onion. Sorry to disappoint, but hey the meat was worth 3 stars.
(3)
Hyunoo P.

Time: 8 pm Agenda: meat and rice plz Overall: Butterface Shamshiry looks like your typical middle-eastern restaurant. Wall-length mirrors and random ethnic knickknacks all over the place. What did stand out was when you first walk in there is a window showcasing their grill. A palatable bait, I must say. Unlike other family-feeling restaurants of this variety, the service here was cold and slow. I don't think my waiter smiled once and certainly didn't entertain my questions about "what's good?". Also, when they served my water they just left the pitcher on the table. Which I suppose was convenient to me, but how lazy are you? Now, about the food, i'm going to benchmark this place against the only other Persian place I've been,Rose Kabob. Raw onions and roasted tomatoes aside, the plates had the same basic elements: meat, rice, and flatbread. At Rose Kabob I had lamb, which was great. At Shamshiry I had Chicken Tandoori, which was alright. The presentation was mouthwatering. The chicken had developed an great char and looked succulent. When I had my first piece, it was juicy and tender, but there was a strange lack of flavor. After a few pieces, all I could taste was the hot paste that covered the chicken. Mostly because that was all there was. Otherwise, the texture and doneness on my chicken was great. The rice at Shamshiry comes in great amounts. Now, for most people, this is a welcomed sight. More rice is better than less rice, right? The mass of rice, I would guess close to being at 1 1/2 cups, was so large that the steam it was generating seemed to become trapped within its own layers. As I pierced the heart of this mound, I discovered a new, albeit very subtle, aftertaste... probably impurities from the water itself. I mixed in some of the butter but gave up on the rice 1/3rd of the way through. The flatbread at Shamshiry is a disgrace. It is served in a plastic ziplock bag within a woven basket. They could at least fool me and take the bread out of the bag so I just thought it was cold. But no, it was moist and cold. (Served with no yoghurt either, just hot paste and butter) I feel bad for comparing Rose Kabob's bread with Shamshiry's. Like Japanese Giant Hornets on European honeybees. The prices for red meat entrees was $15+ and chicken/other were $12+. They had rice sides for $6 and some desserts etc. I had decent expectations when I saw the flames and the swords around this place... but they don't take their flatbread seriously.
(2)
Shieva R.

Ehhh for me there is so much just wrong about Shamshiry. As an Iranian American who has frequented too many kababi's in the area, this is the only "fancy" one annnnd for some bizarre reason that just puts me off. I can enjoy a nice restaurant don't get me wrong but kabob and fancy just don't belong in the same sentence together. I also don't like the food, the potions are on the smaller side and the idea of paying more than at other kabob restaurants around and getting a meal that's not better (or at least bigger) is just shameful. The kabob isn't bad, don't get me wrong, it's just not great and when I go out to a nice restaurant and pay a fair amount I'm expecting better than average, not average.
(3)
Benz E.

The atmosphere is not necessarily great at Shamshiry. The food itself wasn't terrible (had the kabob soltani) but nothing special. The bread came in a plastic baggie and was lukewarm, which was disappointing. The doogh tasted watered down and had very little flavor. What makes this place a one-star, however, is the audacity of the staff. We noticed that our bill was higher than what we ordered, and since we weren't given an itemized bill we had to ask what was up. The waitress insisted that we had purchased an item we had not, and refused to show us the itemized receipt. After finally taking it up to the manager and company, who also were rude, they gave in, produced the itemized receipt, and brought down the price. Read your receipts very closely here, as there was someone right behind us with the same problem. Definitely a sketch place, and there are far better Persian restaurants nearby.
(1)
Honey B.

I never got to eat here and I don't plan on ever going. I called to ask when their hours were and I was met with the rudest attitude ever! I cannot believe they would treat someone like that on the phone. I asked when they open for lunch on Sunday, and he answered (as I was still talking) that they open for LUNCH at "1 a.m." So, I asked, 1 A.M.???? and he rudely said "I have someone else on the line, 1 a.m., yes, 1 a.m." I don't know about everyone else, but I do not eat lunch at 1 a.m. Go to Kabob Bazaar instead, it's amazing food and MUCH BETTER service apparently.
(1)
Truly I.

YUM. I used to have a Persian neighbor who was the most wonderful cook. So when I searched for kebabs and came upon the great review of Shamshiry, I was intrigued. It's hard to find (kind of hidden on the side of an office building near all the Tysons car dealers). Clue #1 that it's an awesome restaurant - it was packed full of Persians. We were the only gringos. The menu is a little hard to decipher, in that you've got the name of the dish and then a poetic historical blurb about why Persians eat it. Not much mention of ingredients (the appetizer of paneer sabzi turned out to be a teeny-tiny square of feta topped with two huge bunches of basil). It's definitely a different sort of place - the bread is served in plastic baggies. BUT THE KEBABS ARE AMAZING (we had kubideh and chicken - luscious luscious luscious melt-in-your-mouth yum yum yum). The rice is nice, and they give you enough on one plate to feed a small village. The tadiq (the crispy rice that is a delicacy) was a bit soggy, but the rest of the flavors made up for it. In fact, as I'm writing this I'm jonesing to go back. I think next time I might order carry-out - there was quite a wait for the food, and they don't serve adult beverages. But the flavor - oh man...
(4)
Reuben K.

Delicious. All the kabobs have been very good-chicken, very tender, kubideh even better. Tea is good, the goat cheese and herbs platter excellent, waitstaff very nice. Would definitely come back. Many, many times.
(5)
Brad M.

Shamshiry IS as good as it gets in the DC area, and we certainly have a fine selection of Persian dining available to us. The salmon kebob is to die for, but what truly makes the cuisine remarkably authentic is that the ownership team spares no expense in importing over necessary spices, meats, and other Persian culinary additions that makes this farer so incredibly delectable, and at times, down right ambrosial. I highly recommend to anyone that wants to escape the 'Persian Fast Food' of Moby Dicks or whatever other Faux-Persian/Middle Eastern monstrosity has infiltrated suburban shopping centers. Put it this way.....there has to be a reason why this place has lines out the door 6 days a week.
(5)
George S.

This place is pretty fantastic.. Definitely best Persian food in the area. The kabobs are great, and makes the local chain (Moby Dick) look like McDonald's.
(5)
Trish N.

BIG PORTIONS! BIG PORTIONS! They give you a lot food, especially rice. I am definitely coming back to the three kabob platter (combination). I tried the salmon and it was delicious! I can eat a lot but with this I have to bring some home and it still tasted good after being microwave muahahah excccceeelllenttt.... Also, this other dish that my friend order but I don't now what it was called...It was crispy kind of burnt bottom part of the rice pot and on top was sauce and meat, I will update when I found the name. That is a great appetizer! The only reason I gave it a four star is because it can be a little dry.
(4)
Jessica A.

Unbelievable kabob. Juicy and tender chicken, perfectly seasoned and the most fluffy delicious rice. There is a spicy fresh green sauce they bring out at the start of the meal that is delicious! I could pass on the bread in the little Ziploc baggie, but overall the food is excellent.
(5)
Melissa L.

I love Shamshiry. As another reviewer mentioned, you don't go for the ambiance. This is about the food, and it is delicious. The meat is flavorful, the rice is fluffy and mouth-watering. Just bring some gum because you will leave smelling like garlic, and nobody wants that.
(5)
Eduard D.

Not a perfect place but they have a way to make their kabobs tender, juicy, and tasty. This is why I go back to this place again and again, despite its many imperfections.
(4)
Charles R.

Shamshiry is a no frills Persian restaurant. The kabob meals come with a huge mound of rice that you will be proud of yourself for finishing. The barg-kubideh combo meal is really good. I can vouch because I have Persian friends that have come here with me and they agree about the food. In the three times I have been there I still haven't figured out where the exact Shamshiry parking spots are in the parking garage, but my car hasn't been towed so far. Khodafez
(3)
John B.

The food merits a better rating at Shamshiry, but I tend to agree with Shieva R. I don't begrudge a restaurant efforts at fanciness. But these should be accompanied by an attendant refinement of the food. The kabobs here are not extraordinary relative to peer restaurants. There are many restaurants in the area that will run about 60% to 75% the cost of Shamshiry. I will say, however, that the rice is expertly prepared. If I could make rice this good at home, I'd go through several pounds a month.
(3)
nat t.

Shamshiry kicks butt over all the other kabob places in this area - and it's about the same price (if not, less). Portions are huge, so it's easy to share with someone else. We ordered an appetizer (forget the name, sorry). I was expecting it to be like a yogurt/hummus type of thing, but it was actually a huge bunch of fresh basil (the same amount you would buy in a supermarket), a chunk of feta cheese, a radish, and some spring onions. You took all of these ingredients and put them in a piece of the pita bread. Yum! So fresh and good! And with the leftover basil, I decided to take it home and cook with it (there was a lot left! and i had paid for it, so i figured I could take it!). Now that I've experienced Shamshiry, I don't think I'll be going to Moby Dicks again.
(5)
Sandra K.

The best Persian food around. I think it's the butter that they add at the end to the rice.
(4)
Candace H.

Amazing, delectable, melt-in-your-mouth Persian food. The meat is falling off the bone with its goodness and char-grilled to perfection. Not too expensive. The atmosphere is great - I felt like I was back in the Middle East... Farsi, Turkish, and Arabic fluttered past my ears and bounced from every corner of the room. I love it!
(5)
Nabeel A.

This Persian restaurant is right by the big Sheraton building, hidden in a business center. I arrived with a party of 5 around 9 PM on a Friday night and the place was packed. We had to wait to get a seat (which is usually a good sign). The interior of the restaurant is not impressive on any level. It is a fairly small dining room and they have used wall mirrors to give the illusion of being bigger than what it really is. There were 4 or 5 waiters hanging out at main door and observing the dining room. After we sat down it took another 10 minutes before the waiter showed up to take our order. We ordered the drinks and it took another 10 minutes before the drinks arrived. They forgot to bring 2 drinks. For dinner we ordered Gormeh Sabzi, Baghali Polo, Zereshk Polo, Chelo Kabob Kubideh, Mast-o Khiar, Salad Shirazi, and Fasanjan. The food was fresh and very good. I give it 4 out of 5. Fasajan was a bit sweeter than usual. I tried the Baghali Polo for the first time and really enjoyed it. Its a rice dish that looked a bit gray and had giant lima beans. Gormeh Sabzi was a winner and everyone liked it. I didnt try the Zereshk Polo but heard that it was very good. They forgot the Kubideh and we had to remind them to get it for us and by the time it arrived most of us were done with our dinner. When it did arrive it was very hot and fresh and I liked it a lot. For desert we ordered Faloodeh. It was ok at best. The service was poor and I think they can benefit from providing better service to their future patrons. It took long time for everything we asked for. They forgot items on the order and at one time brought someone else's order to our table. I enjoyed the food but didnt enjoy the ambiance and the service.
(3)
zibra a.

we have had dinner here many times with friends and family, if you like Kabobs, this is the place to go. their soltani is the best in the area, the salmon kabob is very good too, we laso loved the bastani and fallodeh which are deserts. very good food, but don't expect a great service.
(5)
nemo h.

I am Persian (coextensive with Iranian) and this place is the only Persian restaurant worth frequenting (i.e. that supplements the food my parents make). Fantastic barg (filet mignon) kabab that consistently delivers. The green spicy sauce is an interesting innovation that has grown on me. I only wish they served wine and beer.
(5)
Mamali I.

Nice place and great kabobs! I've tried their Koubideh, Barg and Chicken kabobs which all were awesome!
(5)
Pat M.

I love this place, my mom brought me here for the first time in 2003 and ever since then it has been my little hidden jewel spot in Tyson's Corner to take anyone who is in the mood for awesome Middle Eastern Cusine. Service is as good as it gets for the price, and food is of the most excellent quality.
(5)
Ellen K.

My sister and her hub brought me here for kabobs and I was so amazed at how delicious it was! The food portions are huge, I can never finish so I always take leftovers home. The meat is so juicy and so tender. The restaurant is always packed with families. We always make reservations before we go. I went back for my birthday and plan on going back whenever I'm in the Tyson's Corner area. The staff is nice and the feeling of the restaurant is very home-y.
(5)
ryan b.

Shamshiry Tysons Corner VA. Samshiry is a small place tucked in an office park in Tysons Corner. It was pretty tightly paced and the wait staff was neither friendly nor attentive, but that can be forgiven if the food makes it all worth it. The food breakdown Panir Sabzi, the appetizer Described very vaguely in the menu as "goat cheese is and extremely delicious cheese, which the Persians habitually eat." This was a confusion, half way through my meal a waiter wordlessly brought a plate that seemed to only be a pile of basil. I didn't know what to make of it, I figured it was there as a condiment or garnish. After I had finished my entrÃ©e I started picking at the basil and discovered underneath it all a raw radish. I ate the radish and then noticed buried under all the basil there was a 3cm * 3cm * 1cm piece of cheese that had been there under the pile of basil all along. The cheese was delicious, but the portion for $3.25 was tiny. Baghali Polo, the entrÃ©e This was a pile of bland rice and fava beans. I could see the dill, but I could not taste the dill. Disappointing, though the portion was huge...so I had a heaping big plate of bland rice and beans... Something positive The coffee was absolutely delicious. I would almost go back just for the coffee, seriously. Unfortunately while the menu describes the coffee as bottomless our despondent waiter never offered me a refill or responded to eye contact. It was frustrating to say the least. All in all I would say if you are a vegetarian foodie, you'd be better served elsewhere. I hear the meat dishes here are delicious from my omnivorous friends. I found the food bland and tasteless and the service horrible. Overall grade D+
(2)
Anson P.

Seeing as how we were disappointed to find Oriental Regency closed, we decided we'd rather try this place then battle the traffic of Rt 7. My friend went with the chicken soltani which was pretty good, cooked just right. I went with the chelo kabab shamshiry. The meat was pretty tasty but I didn't feel like there was enough of it, especially for the price. The same goes for the chicken. The rice was a heaping pile. I think I got about two days worth of grains in that serving. It was ok, but I just kept dumping stuff in it to spice it up because it tasted plain. I like how each entree came with a huge serving of sliced onions. This could be good or bad depending on who your date is. The mast-o khiar reminded me of raita, just slightly more tangy. The salad shirazi was a nice chopped salad with cucumbers and tomatoes. Pretty refreshing. The service was pretty good. Huge plus for giving each table a pitcher of ice water. Being the carnivore that I am, I have to judge the place on the meat. I didn't feel that there was enough and the amount that there was did not match up to some of the other kabob places out there. Would I head back here? Maybe, but it wouldn't be one of my first choices.
(3)
Alexander F.

Very tasty and tender kabobs. Also offer some nice Khoresht (Gravy to put over rice). I would say this place and Rose are the best Persian style Kabob places I have been in the area. Not as good as you will find in a Persian home but still very passable. Another thing that is nice about this place is that they have a room next door you can rent for functions. Also try the green sauce (Even though it is not traditional) its spicy and good.
(4)
Chris M.

My expectations were high, but I felt a bit let down by Shamshiry. Here's a summary of my visit: My order - Jujeh Kabob. Described on the menu as: "Cornish hen marinated in an original recipe, crisp edged and juicy is served in big chunks, on the bone, with rice." I suppose the term 'big chunks' is subjective. The flavor of the hen was nice and it seemed perfectly cooked, there just wasn't much of it - I was disappointed in the poultry portion. Rice, on the other hand, was voluminous and properly cooked - I just didn't like the way it tasted - at all. I kind of shoved it in to fill my stomach a bit. For dessert I tried the Mixed Persian Ice Cream With Paludeh. Again, I was underwhelmed. The ice cream's flavor was actually completely unidentifiable to me and my dinner companion - its barely detectable sweetness was overpowered by the Paludeh's rose water onslaught. I should have gone for the Cinnamon Ice Cream, but I wanted to try something new. The server looked like he was half asleep, and his service was uninspiring. There were other servers who assisted our table who seemed upbeat and efficient though. Who knows, maybe the guy was pulling a double shift and felt exhausted. The atmosphere is forgettable (but no problem). The prices are very reasonable though. 2.5 stars - I was disappointed. Note: This was my FIRST experience with Middle Eastern cuisine. There are many reliable and experienced Yelpers who seem to stand by this place. While I will not return here, I would encourage others to make up their own mind. I will, however, enjoy future forays into Middle Eastern cuisine - so stay tuned. :) Happy dining!
(3)
Dave P.

What I know about Iranian/Persian food fits on the nose of a Persian cat. I've now been there twice, and both times got the chicken kebabs. I'm not a fan of Lamb, which I have been told is one of their specialties. The kebabs themselves were tasty, but the amount of rice that is served with them is overwhelming. Seriously, save me a couple of bucks and cut the rice portion in half. The nan-style bread that is served is stacked up and slicked with what must be a machete, and delivered to the table in a little plastic sandwich bag. Am I the only one who finds that a bit odd? I'm willing to man up and admit I don't know a whole lot about middle eastern food culture, but bread in a plastic bag on a table seems ... somehow disrespectful to the rest of the food. The last time I was there, I had a slightly different type of rice than the standard that comes with the kebabs: Albalou style rice. It was sweet, and quite changed the overall taste of the meal. I haven't tried any of the deserts, but the Zolbia-Bamieh looks freakin' spectacular coming out of the kitchen. Maybe next time I'll skip the rice bits entirely and save room to try some desert. According to aaagw.org , this place is a Halal (except Barg Kabab) place. I think that's sort of like being a kosher place, but that's not gospel. Get your grain of salt handy. Parking sucks, even for Tysons. Read the signs, don't get towed.
(3)
Nancy T.

The rice here is addictive. You add some butter and sumac and you just can't stop eating it. It's the best rice I've ever had. Very tender and flavorful meats, fresh salads and a low key atmosphere. I plan on going back here again. Next time I will try to stop eating the rice and order some of the Persian ice cream.
(4)
Chad H.

Just ate here. I feel fat, as I always do after I eat here. Great kabob (kubideh is my favorite), GREAT DOOGH (best housemade doogh ever, much better than Moby Dick's), great basmati rice topped with the perfect saffron (and you HAVE to try the tai-digh, aka the crunchy rice), and friendly NON-INTRUSIVE service. The waiters aren't annoying pricks that come by every 3 minutes to see if you need a refill on your water. They quietly observe from a distance, and when necessary, they come by. This is my favorite Persian-style waiting/dine-in restaurant. I appreciate that the proprietor spends a lot of time here. He seems like a hands-on businessman. That explains the quality and success of this place, and consistency of quality of food and service for over 10 years. Highly recommended for a date in Tysons as opposed to some generic garbage like """"Olive Garden""". My one gripe about this place is that the bread is packaged pita, not fresh tandoori. I personally think pita bread and kabob should never go together. But the food here is so great, and there are so many side options, such as the amazing Mast-o-Khiar and the Persian Ice Cream that they still get a 5. If they had tandoori bread instead of pita, I would find a way to give them 6 out of 5 stars. The owner should really consider getting a tandoor in there. But I doubt that'll ever happen. Anyway, GREAT FOOD!!
(5)
Christina L.

Today was my first visit to Shamshiry and I will definitely go many more times in the future. I was introduced to Persian food while living in LA and loved it. After moving back to DC for a job, I could not find any true Persian restaurantsin the MD/Dc area. Many were more Middle Eastern/Mediterranean influenced, but this place is truly Persian. I had the zeresk polo and my friend (first time having Persian food for her) had the ghormeh sabzi special, both with tah dig. The portions were huge and both were absolutely delicious. I even ordered a ghormeh sabzi to-go for myself. We finished the meal off with some traditional saffron/rosewater ice cream which was amazing. It felt like I was back in LA again. The prices were super reasonable and the staff is friendly. Well, I cannot say enough good things about here, so definitely go try it. Merci, Shamshiry for an amazing meal!
(5)
Jeff W.

Great Persian spot out in the ambiguous west of Tysons car dealership area. The most notable aspect of my meal was how perfectly everything was cooked. Rice was warm and fluffy, chicken was gorgeous with beautiful char and some stylish score in it, and the kubideh was similar. Even the salad shirazi was great with a light dressing coating tons of fresh vegetables. My complaint, however, is that there just wasn't that much flavor to anything. My 8 pound pile of rice tasted like...rice, but that's it. No seasoning, no nothing. Just seemed like a waste to me, but that could just be indicative of the style of food. Chicken was juicy but with a barely detectable flavor. Same with the kubideh. The food looked great and was cooked to perfection, but I need some more taste in there. I do appreciate how light you feel when eating, however. Not all weighed down and greasy, and the freshness of all ingredients was evident. Overall, I really like this place and will probably return when I'm in the mood for good persian food and don't want to drive out to Arlington. I'd say this place is on par with Kabob Bazaar, but with a notch to KB for flavor but a slight notch to Shamshiry for presentation.
(4)
Michael M.

OK, this place smells great on the outside, I was salivating going in here! The interior is very bland, but we were seated quickly and service was efficient....which is a surprise for Persian restaurants. You get some boring lavash (Persian bread) to start with, nothing exciting....but I was dunking it in the green hot sauce, which was great! Koobideh (ground beef) kabob is excellent - some of the best I've ever had. Barg kabob is great as well....chicken kabob was a little dry and plain...could be better. I had the sour cherry rice, which is a great compliment to the kabobs. I even tried the doogh (yogurt & mint drink), it's an acquired taste, but I didn't gag like I did the last time I tried it! Topped off the meal with Persian ice cream - yum. Solid 4 stars from me....I was full, happy and gassy afterwards.
(4)
sara h.

been going here for almost a decade. consistently yummy food. good service, cheap food, yummy kababs n rice. n get extra crispy rice on the side. oh and dont forget the mast-o-khair!
(5)
Mr H.

With so many kabob places in the area to choose from it becomes a little difficult at times to pick. The food here is good but it is not as good as some others in the area. It has all the standards, steak, chicken, and the kubideh. The space is rather uninspired (think office deli) and the prices are a little on the high side.
(3)
Heather M.

If Moby Dick were to burn into the ground, this is where I would go to get kabob. I don't even know how we found it, because it's kind of tucked away and not visible from the street, but I've eaten here a few times and it's got some good food. Thus far, it's the only other kabob place that I'd go to, and that's saying a lot. One thing to keep in mind is to plan ahead if you're in a time crunch. We ended up running late a few times because they took forever to get us our check. Better to call ahead and get takeout.
(4)
ana l.

one of my bf's best friend who is persian introduced him to this very special place. i can't rant enough about their kabobs, simply the best kabobs i've eaten so far. love everything about it... panir sabzi (3.25) - simple and fresh appetizer including panir(goat cheese) and a array of fresh veggies like radishes, basil, scallions, tarragon, fresh mint chelo kabob shamshiry (16.99) - a combination of their two meat kabobs, this one is so full of flavor with a tender bite into it. the other great thing about this dish is the, rice. omg~ i love their rice. doogh (4.25 sm pitcher) - a yogurt based drink. i'm sorry but this is the only thing i didn't like about shamshiry. i was expecting a sweet, light yogurt drink but instead i got salty, thick based drink. i guess this one just doesn't fit my palate and i think it's more of an acquired thing. but i'm sure all persian people love it. overall it was great. good eating!
(5)
Genevieve J.

Very tasty food here! I love the Persian tea too. I dated a Persian guy for a while and this was our most frequented place when we just couldn't decide where to go for dinner (sometimes lunch.) Other Persians seem to enjoy this place so I take that as a good sign! We also brought a couple friends who have never had Persian food before and they loved it! One friend is a vegetarian and she thoroughly enjoyed the dish she picked from the menu. I don't recall the name of the dish I liked most, but it was basically beef kabob. Customer service is great and friendly as well although a couple times the waiters were overwhelmed and slow. The only real complaint I have is the set-up of tables. I think they made it that way so they could easily move tables around for large groups, but honestly, when you feel like you are sitting in some stranger's lap it's not enjoyable! Investing in a larger restaurant would probably benefit this business. They also need to up-date the decor. But neither of these flaws will keep people from coming for the incomparable kabob! (And yes I've been to other Persian kabob places but I like this kabob the best.)
(4)
E. O.

Great Persian food. There is a bit of a wait for the food to come out - but it is well worth it. I love the zereshk polo with chicken kabob. The portions are huge and the price is right. The tea (both iced and hot) is fantastic. The restaurant is tucked away behind the building but you'll find it.
(5)
Gloria T.

Best chicken kabobs I've had in a long time. I always order carry out and the staff has been very nice each time.
(5)
Sharif N.

This is a fantastic place for kabobs! So juicy and plenty of flavor. The bread is decent, and the rice is pretty good. As most kabob places they give you plenty of rice. The appetizers are just average at best, but the kabob is what you come here for...Parking is plentyful, but the seating inside is a little bit cramped.
(3)
Don M.

Great place to eat! Highly recommend. Chicken kabob is excellent!
(5)
Angie R.

Food is okay. I wish Iranians would serve something different besides rice and kabobs constantly. Afghan food is much better (I'm sure that crushed an Iranian's heart, but it's the truth). Try Bamyan Afghan restaurant in Falls Church for better kabobs and food that isn't so dry.
(3)
Kevin S.

Order ahead! It gets pretty busy during lunch services, so just scoop it up and take it back to go. You won't finish all of it anyways, it's way too much for one sitting, personally.
(4)
Darius K.

This is very good Persian food. In particular, the kabob is great. You should probably try the Shamshiry combo plate, and get it with a side of mast-o-musir (savory yogurt with shallots). Their non-kabob dishes are very good, but not amazing, hence the four stars. Be forewarned that they give you a lot of food here, so even though it's kind of expensive, you're probably going to take home another meal.
(4)
Angela G.

this is a vegetarian's review of Shamshiry, so I can't speak personally about the meat dishes (though everyone I know seems to think it's great!) -- but from a veggie standpoint it's incredibly limited, and overpriced for the few non-meat options they DO have. I just don't understand restaurants that HAVE all the ingredients to make vegetarian-friendly dishes, as well as plenty of vegetarian dishes in said culture's cuisine, that DON'T just put those veggie dishes on their menus... don't know if cos we didn't speak Farsi, but we got the most minimal service possible... at least in comparison to the native-Farsi-speaking table next to us... they were lucky enough to be served (what appeared to be a complimentary plate of) tadig... a LARGE serving, actually, while we received none... I'll try to look at the half-full glass and assume that table actually requested/ordered the tadig and not be resentful, tho...
(2)
Remy M.

Amazing kabob, yet I rarely go simply because of the service. Their kabob is fantastic. I highly recommend the kubideh. I would also recommend ordering some tea after the meal...it seems to help me exit my food coma and return to being able to walk unassisted. Nearly every time I go, I'm unhappy with my service. This prevents me from going back frequently. I'd say I go once a year now, since after 12 months I seem to forget about the service I had...that is, until I return and begin another cycle. But, honestly, great kabob. The bread's not that great, but the kabob speaks for itself regardless. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Ka-Loon T.

Hands down the best kabobs I've ever had. Shamshiry has not only huge portions, but quality food. The service has always been good (though not the best), and the fact that they kept carafes of water at each table so that a water guzzler like me was well satisfied. When anyone suggests getting kabobs, I definitely think Shamshiry.
(5)
Stan F.

This place is pretty good. I like the chicken on the bone kabab, the rice with lima beans and dill weed. Their green pepper sauce is addictive. They make really good tadik (sp?) The long grain basmatti rice is like a drug...yum!
(5)
Philly D.

Had lunch at Shamshiry (kabob). Great place. I ordered the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry, it was excellent! A combination of Chelo Kabob Kubideh and Chelo Kabob Barg. The rice here is great. I'm a big fan of rice and this is probably one of the best rice dishes I've ever had, seriously! Also, ask your server for "Tadig" as a starter...trust me you'll like it.
(4)
Ross M.

If you love Chinese, Thai, sushi and Indian food, and this is your first time trying Persian or middle eastern food, you will sh*t bricks (mentally). Rice rice rice and lots of rice. Do you like rice? If so, be prepared to receive about 10 handfuls of rice. Want some bread/naan? They'll bring it out to you in a plastic zip lock bag. Charming. The meat itself was pretty tastey. One tasted like sausage, one tasted like steak with an interesting seasoning and my mahi (which is actually salmon) tasted like farm raised salmon. Believe it or not, the cooked tomato was actually one of the highlights of the meal. Raw onions with cilantro, I could do without. I did not receive a raw egg, should I have asked for one? This place was packed with a line out the door. Maybe this is great food, but I didn't really cafe for it. I would have no problem going the rest of my life without ever eating Persian/middle eastern food ever again. Ever. Dim sum, Thai, Chinese, Sushi and Indian food suit fulfill all of my foodie needs.
(2)
Fabi C.

Overall: Delicious Persian food! Their lamb shank just sort of melts in your mouth!! Their kebabs are good quality and ever so tasty... Persian ice cream is sweet and creamy. Generous portions. Not thrilled about the bread as I prefer it freshly baked. Their yogurt drink is also homemade and pretty good. Delicious and scented fresh tea. We bring many friends from out-of-town to try something different and special to this low-key ambience restaurant because their food is simply GREAT! The waiters are friendly and readily available to take your order.
(5)
Sonia S.

This is my favorite kabob place in NOVA. I love the chicken with salad.
(5)
J E.

I've been there several times for work lunches, in fact I think this has become the office hello/goodbye restaurant for my team. I've had the chicken kabob, chicken tandoori, and kubideh. All are excellent.
(4)
PC W.

There are few places that can hold a candle to Kabob Palace but Shamshiry is now at the top of my list. I had a stellar lunch here today in the company of Kevin L. and Xi W. I love that the flatbread is pre-sliced into perfect rectangles, stacked until the size of a small brick, inserted into a ziplock bag and brought to the table. The food took some time to come out so we noshed on the bread. Xi ordered yogurt which she was nice enough to share. It was sweet, refreshing and thick. I've never tasted yogurt this good and it went well with everything I put it on. For my entree, I went for the Jujeh Kabob, or cornish hen. It came with a mountain of saffron rice. It was fluffy and flavorful - I didn't know rice could taste this good. They also layer a piece of "toasted rice" over it but it wasn't as crispy as it looked. As a child, I loved scraping the bottom of the rice cooker for toasted or burnt rice so this was totally reminiscent for me. The chunks of cornish hen are served on the bone, have crispy skin, juicy meat and marinated in spices. I couldn't find fault in any part of my meal and I'll be sure to come back often.
(5)
mike g.

Always consistently high quality kabob. Other places come and go this place is great.
(4)
Michele D.

Don't hate the player; hate the game! I'm torn between 2.5 and 3 stars, but because I want to have some faith, I'll go with 3. I was shocked that the restaurant didn't offer lamb kabobs. Lamb is usually my measure of goodness; some places over cook it, some under cook it. Either way, it's usually the only type of kabob I will order. Since Shamshiry didn't offer it, I decided to order the beef kubideh. The flatbread came with the traditional butter and something green and very hot, but no onions. I'm used to seeing the butter and onions brought out at the same time. My order arrived and the first thing I thought when I saw the plates coming towards us was, "Holy shit, there's no way I can finish all that food". Well lemme tell ya...all "that food" really equates to "all that rice". I haven't seen that much rice on a plate since I went to a buffet and saw it in a chafing dish. As for the meat, it was hidden under the rice. It was my first time ordering kubideh, and it wasn't too bad. It had a nice taste to it, but I missed ordering lamb. The dessert I ordered was good, but I couldn't quite put my finger on whether or not I liked it for a few bites or more. The rosewater with thin noodles and ice was only ok, but more importantly, I couldn't make out the flavor of my dining companion's ice cream. I know it was colored with saffron, but it didn't have a flavor that reminded me of anything. I'd have to say that I'd simply stick to Kabob Palace or the Afghan Restaurant in the future. Even though they are both so much further away from my house, I'd rather spend the little extra it costs for the gas getting down there and have a good meal, than go somewhere close and have a bad meal. Hope I can give it another shot sometime.
(3)
Chris S.

Best Kabob I have ever had. Go-to place when I want top notch Persian type kabob. Portions are huge. Gets alot of respect from my Persian friends. Plenty of tah-deegh is complimented with every kabob. This place is golden. Makes me wanna make the trip to McLean right now. MMMMMmmmmm
(5)
Jane Z.

I so wanted to love this place, but just couldn't. I'd heard a lot about it from Persian friends. I did enjoy being in a room full of Persian families enjoying their rice and kebabs, but I agree with other reviewers that the food was over-priced, and I've had far better rice and kebabs at other restaurants. The service was efficient, but seemed annoyed to tolerate the customers. I really wish that D.C. had more established Persian restaurants, which offered more of this world-class cuisine than just crunchy rice and kebabs.
(2)
T Y.

And it's Whoohoo! This place is a hidden treasure of NVA. It's a very nice and delicious change from the standard choices out there in the Tysons malls. While the interior of the place reminds me of a drugstore soda fountain from the 70's (not look, but gives me that feel), the food more than makes up for it. Find it tucked down the streen from the Aston Martin dealer and just be ready to eat good food.
(5)
J L.

amazing persian food for the price. great service! if you like good persian food and large portions, you'll enjoy shamshiry!
(5)
BJ G.

Probably the best Persian food in this area. The rice is so buttery and soft. Ask for a raw egg and put it in your rice pile. The bread sucks compared to places like Moby Dicks' but you don't go here for the bread. Sometimes the service here can be a little unattentive but it's a small price to pay.
(5)
Monica V.

Don't get it. It is basically all rice. I ordered chicken/lamb combo. The meat was not even comparable to that of Rose Kebab. I'm really surprised of all the good reviews. Maybe I missed something?
(2)
Amir K.

definitely a must-go place for having a great Persian food and sides. the only cons of this place is its yogurt is not in its Persian style and amount ,on the other hand tooooo much rice and not a good hot bread as it may expected as an essential. If the service does nor get into playing with their phones you might not notice them being fast or not. If you do not like to get involve to deal with the service and not so nice environment just call them and pick up the food. it will worth it. I like their Barg Kabob althogh it is not Halal!
(4)
Gora t.

Too long a wait for food and slllloooww service. Does not live up to persian kabob's reputation. I would not go back and wait for this!
(1)
Haseeb F.

Large Portions? Check... Bread in a plastic zip lock? Check... Dry and Flavorless meat? Check... These are 3 things are what you will.encounter at Shamshiry. I had their Chelo Kabob Shamshiry, which although was the most expensive thing on the menu, did not have any flavor at all. The only plus was that the portions were big and could feed 2 people at the least. Reservations are probably the best way to go because there is nothing worse than waiting for a table for 30 min +.
(3)
Kris P.

The best Persian restaurant that I have had!! I love how authentic and delicious this place is! This is definitely the best!
(5)
Negin A.

The BEST persian food in md/dc/va. I love this baghali and zeresk polo. Their kabobs are delicious!
(4)
Frank W.

Get some Mahi (Salmon) kabob or any of the other kabobs if you are in to meat. It's all great food.
(4)
David K.

The food here has improved drastically. I think they changed their chef or something, but I'm really liking what i'm eating at Shamshiry. As other yelpers have recommended, ask them to bring tadig with either Ghormey sabzi or Gheymey stew on top of it for appetizer. Trust me, you won't be disappointed, it is excellent. I've tried almost all of their dishes here, and I can't complain about one of them. My usual is the Chicken Sultani. It is one strip of Chicken and one strip of Kubideh with rice, lots of it. The only thing keeping this place from receiving a 5 star is the location (hidden), ambiance/decor and sometimes customer service. I would recommend anyone to try Shamshiry at least once. Moby and Shamshiry are my two favorite Iranian restaurants.
(4)
jenn h.

If you're going on a date, and you know he/she enjoys Moby Dick, then treat them to all the delights Shamshiry has to offer. That's how my man won my heart - we locked eyes over kubideh! And when he burped onion on me hours later, I knew it was love. Just kidding, not really. But we do enjoy eating here. Shamshiri has the BEST Persian food I've EVER had! Now I know I'm not Persian, so my words may not mean much; but all the Persians I know agree that this is THE place to be. That's probably why there's such a long wait on weekends. The atmosphere is nice enough that I wouldn't want to take my food to go. Their entrees, beyond the kabobs, are definitely worth trying here. If you go with a big group, I'd suggest having each person get their own entree and having the table split an order or two of kabobs. *Tip 1: Beyond the regular yogurt sauce, they also offer Mast-o-Moosir, which is a shallot-yogurt dip. It's considered to be a special treat, but it's certainly not a breath mint! *Tip 2: TADEE (not sure if I'm spelling that right) is not on the menu, but they might give it to you if you ask for it. It's basically the crispy layer of basmati rice on the outer edge of the cooker. (The Korean version is called noo-rung-ji.) It's a bit of an acquired taste, but it can be quite the yummy snack.
(4)
Sogol G.

They have a great great Persian food. People are friendly. Atmosphere is good for family. Nothing romantic about it. I just go there for food.
(4)
Aye T.

Yes, they do make one of the best kabobs and their crusty/burnt rice that you can get is awesome. I've stopped going there though because of bad service one time where they kept bringing food to a bunch of persian people at a different table first (who ordered after us..and same food). I complained about it but they acted as if they couldn't care less and didn't even blink an eye when we walked out. So good food but bad service in my eye.
(3)
cenan p.

Prefer Rose Kebab hands down. Food is O.K but they can over cook at times. Waiting to be seated is a mess. Service is poor. The ambiance, and what ambiance!!!!!!!!!!!
(3)
Viet D.

My favorite kabob place is the Food Corner, but Shamshiry comes in close at second. The portions here are rrrrriiiidddiculous! When I saw my plate I almost threw up in my mouth and swallowed it again, but the food is definately good. I had the lamb and ground beef (i don't remember what it is called because its called different things at different places, keema kabob?) combo and it was yummy. I don't get the raw onions on the plate but the rice that came with the meal that is enough to feed a small vietnamese army made up for the pointless raw onions. Sure enough I had leftovers so although it ran me $20 for lunch which is kind of expensive, it was actually my lunch and dinner, so it was ok. Definately try it if you haven't yet and you won't be disappointed. One thing, service isn't great.
(4)
Thi N.

This place has the best koobideh ever! The only way I could come close is if I had that big fire pit grill they have when you first walk in. The waitstaff can be kind of unattentive, but the food is so good for the price I don't mind being ignored once in a while.
(5)
jenny h.

Solid kabobs. Jujieh kabob is better at Rose. Rice is better at Shamshiry. Get your rice with raw egg yolk.
(4)
Judy C.

I came here for a quick lunch with a coworker. We were told by a Persian friend that this place was good... he was right! When we got to the restaurant a little after 12pm, this place was already packed. We didn't have to wait long and was seated right away. I ordered the chicken kabob and our food came out pretty quick. Right away I noticed that the portions were huge! Probably twice the amount they give at Moby Dick's. With mouth wide open, I got out my utensils and began to dig in! Yummmm it tasted as good as it looked! Meat was seasoned perfectly and cooked just right. I like my rice slightly buttered so I took the butter they gave us for the flatbreads and put it into my rice. Mixed everything on the plate together and I was one happy girl =) Now I usually don't like stuffing myself during lunch because I'd find myself falling asleep at work later, so telling myself to stop and pack the rest home was very hard to do. I was disappointed in the flatbread.... it didn't taste warm and freshly made. Also, they didn't give out yogurt, we had to request it and pay extra $$. There's nothing to say about the decor here, but the delicious food will make up for it!
(4)
Brenton c.

Best Persian food I've had in the area. Prices range from $8 to $15. I love kubideh and I've tried many in the area, this place has the best. Parking can be a bit of a pain, and watch the towing rules.
(4)
Jeff C.

Oooo man the food is yummy here. It is a really odd location and can be hard to find, and parking is a real PITA for weekday lunch. They cook rice like nobodies business. And if you are lucky you get some ta-dig. Kebabs are well-spiced and perfectly cooked. They will even you give you a raw egg on the "half-shell" to mix into your steaming mound of rice. And the portions? Epic, monumental, we are talking Cecil B. DeMille epic.
(4)
Rachel W.

I prefer Moby's in McLean for kabobs, but if you want excellent Persian Barg, Shamshiry is the place to go. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and they give you plenty of tasty rice.
(4)
Sydney S.

Love the food here. The staff is always pleasant and fast, if anything, it seems as though there is an abundance of staff. My favorite is the Chelo Kabob Kubideh. All the entrees have enough rice to feed a village. I highly recommend getting an raw egg to mash into your steaming hot rice when your order comes out. The only negative for me is that I can only come every so often for fear of gaining a million pounds. It is definitely one of my favorite Tyson's area restaurants..
(4)
Ellen A.

My favorite place for Persian food. It's not elegant or anything but If I want a good kabob or other Persian food I drive from DC to out here to have it. The waiters are also very nice and professional and portions are huge.
(4)
Carley D.

Tasty kabobs! I've been here several times, and although I always get the same thing (chicken kabob--I don't really do beef), I always leave happy. Although I agree with other reviewers that they do serve a veritable mountain of rice, I disagree with the idea that this is somehow a bad thing. Most of the time, if I have an appetizer, I only eat about half the meal and bring the rest home for lunch the next day. That is some delicious rice they have there. I do agree, though, that the bread at Shamshiry is pretty sub-par, and the only place where Moby Dick beats them hands down. It's rather disappointing. Also agree that the parking is wacky; be careful where you leave your car. Having not been to a great variety of other kabob places, I can't agree or disagree about the "fanciness" of Shamshiry compared to other similar eateries, but I don't find the prices to be unreasonable. In addition to the chicken kabob, I also recommend the Salad Shirazi (tomatoes, onions and cucumbers) and the yogurt sauce in the way of appetizers; the cinnamon ice cream is really good for dessert.
(4)
michael L.

Love this persian food....chicken kabob was amazing and not dried outand reheated over again- fresh and juicy chicken and veggies were cooked perfect!! Gotta check this out!!
(4)
Mitch R.

One of my favorite persian restaurants in this country.
(5)
Lily B.

Food was 5 star, our waiter was disinterested so I knocked a star off. I came mid week and early so I expect that wait staff to come by and check on my table. The food was to die for. The chelo kabab kubideh was fabulous, rice was superb and HUGE portion (put the egg and sumac). Fragrant tea, yum! The dining area is agreeable, I liked the music--it would have been 5 star with an attentive waiter.
(4)
Travis H.

This place is absolutely wonderful. Their food selection is great and the taste of their basmati rice is to behold. I prefer their Chello Kabob Barg (thinly sliced fillet minion) and their salad shirazi is a great start.
(4)
Aashti Z.

Shamshiry is totally tucked away in the middle of this huge office complex. It took us ages to find, but once we did we knew it would be fabulous. You can see the kitchen as you walk in, and watch the cooks making the kabobs on the grill. It is, hands-down, the best Persian food I've had in this area. They are generous with their helpings, the bread is fresh, and the burnt rice brings back memories of childhood. Perhaps an acquired taste though. We started with a daily special appetizer -- lentils and meat over burnt rice. Then we had Shamshiry Kabob platter to share (MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR TWO): one kubideh and one regular lamb kabobs. We ate everything covered with the yogurt sauce and with the extra spicy cilantro/garlic sauce. YUMS and no space for desert. Only space for delicious black tea.
(5)
Danny K.

Being the half-Iranian that I am, I love going out for a night of kabob with the family and friends. The service could be a weeee bit better but the food more than makes up for it. I'm a big fan of kubideh because the meet is so juicy and it compliments the rice and somak so well. Go ahead and order yourself a Doogh as well (yogurt based ice cold drink) if you want to get the true Persian experience. The prices are reasonable but its a bit difficult sometimes to find parking and you have to be careful regarding the towing rules they are a bit strict.
(4)
Rok L.

Went there today for lunch. Great food, large portions, but too much rice. Talk about carb overload! The service is slow, it took forever for us to get our check. The hot tea is good and all of the kabobs are wonderful. The meat is fresh and the quality of the ingredients is good. Don't expect fast service though. Overall a good dining experience.
(4)
noel e.

Food was excellent, but the place is noisy, brightly-lit, and busy. A 3-year old child ran around for 10 minutes making noise and no one did anything. The tables are close together. They do a big take-out business and you can see why. The table service was good, and the waiters polite and nice. BYOB was wrong. No alcohol is served and you can't bring your own. Based on an earlier review I brought a bottle of wine, and it was put away by the waiter and given back when I left.
(3)
Sean R.

Although lacking in ambiance, this restaurant is not lacking in flavor and authenticity. It's always a good sign to see that 80% of the clientele are ethnically Persian. This place is a diamond in the rough--especially considering the plenitude of chain restaurants, shopping malls, and industrial parks that surround this area. The service was pretty good considering how busy the restaurant was. The food was simple and delicious. We started with a traditional yogurt with cucumber (mast?) appetizer and a simple green salad with feta and olive. I had a kabob plate with a heaping mound (way too much for me to eat, but it's the showcase of the meal actually) of rice that was cooked to perfection and topped with saffron. There was a bitter reddish spice in a shaker that you are apparently supposed to mix with the rice and oil. This gave it a little extra kick. The beef kabob was cooked exceptionally well--a very tender piece of meat with a smokey charcoal finish. The plate was also accompanied with raw onion and a grilled tomato. For desert we had saffron ice cream...very subtle but creamy and delicious. If I lived here I would definitely come back here. For now I'm just happy I didn't have to settle for one more predictable restaurant...
(4)
sarah y.

I had a very hard time finding this place, and I almost gave up, but lo and behold it was was destiny to have some charcoal meats. I went with a pretty big group of people and we ordered just about half the menu, so of course I had to steal bites of everyones food. I liked the mast-o khiyar better than the mast-o musir, alas mast-o musir just does not taste the same here in the States. Of course we got the panir sabzi (basically just cheese and some greens).. the mint is used to disguise the onion breath which accompanies many Persian meals. I was excited to see shirin polo on the menu (rice, sugar, nut mixture with some orange peel). I have not had this dish in a long time and it was SO good. The meat was very tender and flavoured nicely, I suggest the barg, it is a safe bet. My favourite of the desserts was the ice cream and paludeh; for the area decent, though not spectacular. If I go here again, I would order the chicken kabob, barg, and lots of tah digue (the burnt stuff at the bottom of the rice). You will not be disappointed.
(3)
k s.

hands down the best irani food on the east coast. the price is right & kubideh rocks!!! try the doogh but don't have too much it will make you sleepy. the flat bread they give you with butter & chutney is awesome. the service is 8/10. i wish they had a joint like this in NY!!! one thing i do miss about NOVA.
(5)
K K.

i don't care for the political biases or pretentiousness of the owners, but i digress. the food is good, and despite the seemingly smaller portions lately it makes for a good time. the seating is a little cramped, and constantly reminds you that it's not all that different from a hollowed-out office building lobby... but again, whatevs. as far as i know it's the nicest sit-down place for kabob in nova (amoo's kabob is great, but lacks any real seating capacity).
(3)
Dom K.

Place is amazing... I am often there 2-3 times per month easily. The portions are huge. When I get chicken kabob, I pay around $10 and it lasts me two meals and I am not a small guy! When you get into the place, you will see a lot of middle eastern clientele, which is a good sign. You know that you are getting real deal kabob and none of those chains like Moby Dick, etc. Try saffron ice cream. Simple delicious.
(5)
Elina Y.

Tonight, they asked how I wanted my filet mignon slices cooked. That was a first. Not that my experiences were horrible here but the service from the servers could have definitely been better. And it now is. Our server tonight was very courteous and we were pleasantly surprised. Keep up the great work! :)
(4)
Sheila M.

Best Persian food in Northern Virginia! Always a great experience! Their food quality is top notch. Their customer service could be a little better but they're not too bad. Mmm I wish I had some right now Recently they have started bringing out their bread warm in a nice bread holder vs in a zip lock bag. I wish they would make their own bread in house!
(4)
Jenna W.

My friend and I went here after her Persian teammate recommended it to her, so I suspected from the get-go this place was going to be legit. And indeed, it was! We were the only non-Persians in the entire place, which was a good sign in my opinion! The food is absolutely AMAZING with generous portions for great prices! Complimentary pita bread with a tasty spicy green spread (parsley?, olive oil, and hot peppers) is served to you immediately upon being seated. We got the salad shirazi (diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions dressed with olive oil, lemon juice) as an appetizer. It was so crisp, light and refreshing! I got the chicken kabob and she got the chelo kabob barg (beef). Both were served HUGE portions of Basmati rice, grilled tomatoes, and onions. We both commented that the meat was perfectly cooked, tender, and seasoned. Both dishes are simply delicious and filling. What more could you ask for? This place's only weakness was it's desserts (and I think it's mainly because it is not the type of desserts we are accustomed to). We tried the Persian ice cream (saffron and rose water flavored ice cream). It was described as chewy and creamy in the menu, which we did not understand what that meant until we tried it. It truly is chewy and creamy. We both agreed that we weren't the biggest fans of this dessert. We decided to try the baklava as well. It was not the typical Greek one we were expecting with layer on layer of phyllo dough stuffed with honey and nuts but it wasn't too shabby either. The place was packed but the servers were quick, attentive, and friendly. They were truly working their tails off. The decor is nondescript and very casual. Everything is served on multi-colored plastic dishes, which was an interesting choices for a sit-down restaurant. Given the number of families with young children that were eating there, this is probably a wise move. Side note: The description on the menu of the various foods is literally a narrative paragraph that reads like a book. I've never seen a menu that essentially tells a tale. Unexpected but interesting. Would I go back here or recommend it someone else? In a heartbeat!
(5)
MoJoe S.

Went there with friends after a mutual co-worker that is Persian recommended it. I wasn't disappointed as the food was great: I ordered the Chicken Tandoori. The rice, which many places seems to get wrong, was perfectly cook, while the chicken was nice and moist. The service itself was good and fast, but it felt pretty standard. The only issues I have with the place are that (A) The seating feels cheap, there are a few ($) places I know that have better seating (B) The menu feels small; I know many restaurants keep their menus small to master their dishes, but it feels like you could get bored of eating here after a while. Nonetheless, it's a great place to eat.
(4)
Omid A.

They don't put their bread in ziplock bags anymore ! the bread was actually pretty good this time. Something about the ambiance reminds me of the food joints at the rest stops in Iran. The koobideh and Barg are pretty good... 4 stars for the food. Ambiance = 0
(4)
Rabia J.

Let's start on a negative note: if you like good service and want the server to come in a timely manner to get your order, or refill your drinks, or make sure you and your family are ok etc. This restaurant is not for you. They lack in service and do not care how your meal is going. My uncle and his family decided to take me out while I was visiting VA. And they decided this restaurant, and I have been there before and was about to tell my uncle let's go somewhere else because I remembered the bad service from a previous visit. However, out of politeness I decided not to say anything. I wish I had. The service was just as bad this time. We were a party of 10, and everything took forever. Our "server" never got us more drinks, appetizers didn't come together, etc. Rating the food solely, I would rate this restaurant 3.5 stars. The portions are huge and I would recommend you to share. I ordered the platter with skewers of chicken and beef. The chicken was dry and semi tasteless. The beef kabob was good and juicy. The bread they brought was on the dry side. I really liked their green sauce. Also my mom tried their yogurt drink which I shared with her. That was refreshing and it had mint infused within it. Next family reunion dinner I will be avoiding this place.~
(2)
Ana P.

Hands down the BEST kabob place in the DMV. Shamshiry, where have you been all my life?! I loved everything here: How fast the order came, the bread served at the table (ours was not served in zip lock bags or were they stale), the spicy green chili paste, the flavorful olive oil, tenderness of the rice, how succulent each piece of meat was... I could literally go on forever. I also loved the large portion sizes (even for to-go meals) and the Persian iced tea.
(5)
Ammara M.

Very nice Persian place. Kubideh is great. Amoos remains number one, however this is number 2.
(5)
Kirk S.

Brace yourself to be assaulted with huge amounts of delicious food. Shamshiry is an excellent Persian joint that is about as legitimate as you can imagine. As many have noted, if you aren't Persian, you will stick out like a sore thumb - and that's a damn good thing. The ambiance and quality are pretty basic, but not in a bad way, as the food here is really the appeal. You should expect some loudness, though - lots of families with kids. Service is pretty blunt and simple, but not unexpectedly so given the tenor of the place. Prices are dirt-cheap for the volume of food (discussed below). The food here is overwhelmingly voluminous and tasty. I had the Chelo Kabob Kubideh, which I genuinely enjoyed - the meat was impossibly tender, the rice and salad were excellent, and even the pita was tasty. Note, however, that the food here is VOLUMINOUS - the meat portions are reasonable, but the amount of rice and salad (you can order salad as a replacement for half the rice) was INSANE. I'm the kind of guy who can eat huge amounts of food, and even I felt overwhelmed. It's a damn good thing to have this problem - you definitely get your money's worth - but, to be blunt, there's no way you're going to clean your plate here.
(4)
Shifu R.

Average at best. I have eaten better Persian cuisine.
(3)
Kimberly K.

Heard a lot of great things about this restraurant. There is plenty of free parking. It wasn't all that crowded the day we went. We were seated immediately. Our server was not attentive nor was she all that friendly. The overall vibe at this restaurant is a bit difficult to describe. It just isn't all that warm and inviting. Your meal starts off with complimentary bread (comes in a zip lock bag), butter, and a spicy green sauce (yum!). The kebabs are incredibly juicy and the consistency is perfect. However, the flavor is a bit underwhelming. I've tasted more flavorful kebabs elsewhere. I appreciate the generous serving size. One dish was plenty for 3-4 meals. You will have rice for days! The Salad Shirazi and Mast-o Khiar were very fresh. The yogurt was of high quality and went well with our meal. I'm glad we tried this place out once but I think it's a bit overrated.
(3)
Meggie C.

so good. will make this a regular place to stop whenever I'm around tysons. I ordered the chicken kabob with orange peel rice. So damn good. My bf ordered the steak over salad which was not bad. their green sauce is go die for. I put that on everything lol. Service is good. White table cloth decor. Price is decent too!
(5)
Yelper O.

Excellent service and clean. Extra charge for yogurt sauce - thumbs down. At the end of the meal, it's just kabob... A pricey one. Worth it? Not really unless you want service with your kabob, I am usually good with a take out or no-fancy kabob joints with self service.
(4)
Sadiq A.

A Persian restaurant with Persian waitstaff and mostly Persian customers inside. If you have any doubt that this is good Persian food, re-read the previous sentence and reconsider. Generous portions and deliciously cooked meat guarantee that I will be coming to this place again and again.
(5)
Sean A.

The best Kabab value in the states! The Barg and Koobideh are out of this world and the Akbar mashti ice cream is killer. Skip the kashke bademjan.
(5)
Ruth C.

Three and a half stars for one of the three most tender, flavorful kubideh I've had in the area, buried in a buttery mound of rice in my takeout box (which I split out into two additional meals). Bread was thin and supple-- unmemorable without liberal application of mast-o khiar. I'm a heathen who prefers my onion not raw, but I had no shame about repurposing those for later meals either. I'm curious enough to return and try jujeh kabob, chelo kabob barg, lamb shanks baghali polo, mixed persian ice cream and paludeh, cinnamon ice cream, Persian tea, doogh... bonus points if I can score off-menu tahdig.
(3)
Ted W.

We have always loved the food here. The atmosphere has not changed much over the years. Be sure to try the persian ice cream it is the best.
(5)
Alon X.

Great koobideh. Good value. Service wasn't good. Minus one star for bad host and server. Food again was great.
(3)
Saeid S.

Awesome food! Making Persian food proud! Great food, beautiful environment, wonderful staff, absolutely fair prices! Went there twice in our 4-day trip. The Highlight of the trip!
(5)
Pete H.

This restaurant has all the bases covered. The food was excellent, the portions generous and the service was wonderful. Our waiter had excellent suggestions and was adept at describing the dishes to those of us unfamiliar with Persian cuisine. The service was attentive without being encroaching. A wonderful place and a new favorite.
(5)
Christine L.

Came here on Saturday for lunch. It was packed but we were able to get a table very quick. They serve Iranian bread with a green sauce and butter as complimentary table bread. The sauce is spicy and delicious. I ordered the combo of chicken and ground beef kabob. Portion is huge and deff can feed two people. The chicken is tender and flavorful. The ground beef is so juicy and tasty. Would come here again.
(5)
John J.

Shamshiry is one of the best Persian restaurants that I have ever had. The only reason for the minus one star is that their bread is not at the same level as the rest of their menu items. First of all, once your food arrives, you will be amazed at how much rice they will give you. As someone who loves to eat a lot, this is a huge, huge plus. They grill all of their kabob in open fire grill, which I think adds additional flavors. The service is adequate, but could be a little better. Shamshiry is the first place I think of when I think of Persian food. This is a must visit restaurant.
(4)
Ajit A.

My friends and I enjoyed a fantastic meal here today. We ordered family style with beef, lamb, chicken and 3 different style rice dishes; some sweet, some savory. They accommodated us well. I really loved the delicious food and relaxed atmosphere. I would recommend Shamshiry to anyone who is craving good kabob. We had the saffron ice cream at the end which is an acquired taste; but, I loved it because I grew up on some of those eastern spices.
(5)
C L.

We were visiting some friends in the northern Virginia/ DC area. We were looking for a place that opens past 11, it seems that most places in Virginia closes at 9 or 10. Luckily for us, this awesome place was open and we placed an order of the chicken kebabs and Jujeh plate. we were pretty hungry. We had ordered take out. Owner/ manager was very friendly and accommodating. And gave us more rice along with the crispy rice. Got back in the car and we couldn't wait to dig in since the food smelled so good. Got back to the hotel room and started going to town on the plates. Chicken was perfectly marinated and cooked. It was not dry at all. Rice was cooked perfectly and lightly seasoned with butter and salt. Included was their spices and this special green sauce. The green special sauce is to die for. Just really great flavor with the right amount of kick from the garlic and jalapeÃ±o or some kind of pepper. The meat is underneath all the rice they give you. This place is great! We wish we could have the recipe for the green spicy sauce as well as bringing the restaurant back to LA, lol. If we're in town again, this place is definitely a must stop for us. If any of you are in the area, please give this place a try, food is LEGIT! Well done Shamshiry!
(5)
Pegah Y.

Awful, awful, awful. I've been to many a good Persian restaurant and have grown up eating Persian food, being, well, Persian. I'm also from Los Angeles, where there is a plethora of great Persian restaurants. I can firmly and unreservedly say that Shamshiry is just terrible. I actually remember dining at Shamshiry for lunch about 7 years ago after getting picked up from Dulles Airport. I didn't like it then either. I thought that it would have improved over 7 years, but it really hasn't. I visited recently again with my bf and we both thought it was awful. Here's why: -The service is awful. Most of the servers aren't even Persian and don't even make an effort to be polite to you. They take forever to serve you and also neglect you and then you feel like you're being falsely imprisoned when you wonder why it's taken them 30 minutes to even bring out your check after you're done with your meal. And then anther 15 minutes before they come back. -The restaurant has terrible decor and the tables are spaced so closely together. A kid's foot almost went into my food when her parents were carrying her over our table, because there is really that little space between the tables! The restaurant doesn't even try with its decor. Instead of being a chic, urban eatery or an authentic, magical place, the decor is cheap, shoddy, and not thoughtful at all. -Beyond the awful decor and service, the food was terrible. My salad shirazi (onions, tomatoes, cucumber, and lime juice) was the only thing that was worthy of eating. Both of us ordered a kabob koobideh dish each and the kabob serving was very small. Instead, they overloaded our plates with rice..... mountains and mountains of dry rice! Very disappointing. They also just throw raw onions on your plate and don't even make an effort to grill the onions along with the tomato. So lazy. You can just tell that they're ripping you off. And the plates aren't even cheap for what you're getting. I also asked them for a side of tadeeg (the hard rice dish that I love so much) and their tadeeg was disappointing - instead of being crispy and delicious, it was burnt and rubbery-tasting. I couldn't even finish more than 2 bites of it before being very disappointed. Oh, and the bread they bring out at the beginning LITERALLY TASTES LIKE 2 WEEK OLD FROZEN BREAD!!! THEY DON'T EVEN MAKE THEIR OWN BREAD! IT TASTED SO GROSS! I am never eating at this restaurant again. So disappointing. My quest to find good Persian food in the DC area, alas, continues...
(1)
tom h.

Came here and the host just looked at me and proceeded to talk on the phone without even acknowledging that I been waiting for 10 mins. Decided to leave and go to Moby Dicks next door.
(1)
Jennifer S.

One of the best kabobs in town. I had my shares of kabobs in the area and this is definitely on top of my list. I came in not knowing what they were known for. The gentlemen in the front greeted me and explained everything as his recommendations. I automatically fell in love with the place. I got his recommended choice and he added in a tub of their special yogurt since it was my first time. I would definitely recommend this place to my friends and family and will come back regularly. They have generous portions of rice and the quality of food is worth the drive.
(5)
Hannah H.

My husband and I came to Shamshiry for dinner after watching a movie in the area. We were both pretty excited, as we were told that Shamshiry serves up some great traditional Persian kabobs in the VA area. I was afraid that there would be a long wait, considering it was a Friday, but I think we went there just after the dinner rush, so we were seated right away (they open late until 1AM on the weekends, including Fridays :D The menu offers a selection in appetizers (salads, goat's cheese, the mast yogurt, eggplant dip, hummus, dip, etc.), rice dishes, meat/chicken/fish dishes, and desserts. They also give you a basket of some bread cut bread pieces in a plastic sandwich bag, so that any leftovers can be taken with convenience (which I liked!); this was served with a cup of green sauce and foiled butter (the breads were delicious with some spread butter!). We started off with a Kashke Bademjan, which was like a Persian version of baba ghanouj - this was very thick, but I wasn't much of a fan of the flavors, as it did not seem to complement the bread well. For our entrees, we had a Chelo Kabob Shamshiry (this came with a Chelo Kabob Kubideh (ground lamb meat) and a Chelo Kabob Barg (filet) and a Jujeh Kabob (marinated little Cornish hen meat chunks). Both entrees came with an extremely generous portion of rice, more than enough for 4 people to consume - the rice was just okay, and you could also add a pat of butter to it if you like. Out of the two entrees, I really enjoyed the Jujeh Kabob, as the little Cornish hen meat chunks were bone-in; it had a nice crispy exterior while the interior was very moist and juicy. I would have loved it if there was some good hummus to eat the meats with. Our server, Bill, was very attentive, efficient, and awesome! The restaurant was packed to the brim with locals and regulars, and we both enjoyed our experience. I also found out that you can request 1/2 rice and 1/2 salad combo, so that you can have some veggies with your dish (which I will so do next time!). +Jujeh Kabob entree +Chelo Kabob Shamshiry +can request 1/2 rice and 1/2 salad combo +bread with butter +free parking in the plaza lot
(4)
Tom S.

The most delightful traditional Persian food I've had on the East coast. The service was gracious and timely, the price was fair, and the portions were generous. I don't care for glass covering the table cloth but otherwise the setting was lovely for a casual business lunch. I'll be back.
(4)
Adam F.

Great restaurant! The food was delicious, and the portions were large enough to share for two. There were four of us, so we split two appetizers, two dishes and two desserts. Our server even brought us an additional side dish (for free) that he said the chef was trying out. Seriously, who does that?! My only complaint is that restaurant is located in busy Tysons Corner, but that's really not a complaint about the restaurant itself. Other than that, everything was wonderful -- pleasant service, reasonable prices, nice looking restaurant, plenty of parking, delicious food. I'm happy I gave it a try, and I'll certainly return again someday.
(4)
Sourajit G.

Delicious food!! You should definitely try their Lamb Sultani with Zeresk Polo rice and end it with their rollet dessert....food of God's I say! Beautiful restaurant and people are very caring! One of the best Persian restaurants I have been to in my life!
(5)
Mary Kate M.

I was the only American person in the whole joint.Persians were everywhere, with the occasional Arab. Not many of them though. The restaurant was packed! I came here with my Persian husband and my in-laws for Thanksgiving dinner. No turkey for me on Turkey Day. I had a lot of lamb, beef, and rice. My husband, his father, and I both ordered the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry for $17.99 a piece. It is a huge plate of white and saffron rice accompanied by both beef and lamb meat. My mother-in-law got the Mahi Kabob. A salmon kabob with dill rice for $15.99. She enjoyed it, though she couldn't finish all of it. We took the rest home for leftovers as I did for my own meal. It's a lot of food, but oh sooooo good. One thing my family liked that I did not care to partake in was the doogh drink - which is a Persian yogurt drink. This isn't sweet. It is yogurt liquefied, in its purest form with some diced up herbs added to it served with ice. Service was spotty. When she was around, she didn't seem to quite get a lot of our requests. I fathom our server didn't know Farsi because any time my in-laws asked her a question, she looked to me for translation.... awkward. My husband communicated their needs. Food overall was great. If this is considered traditional Persian, then I must say that it was spot on. I would come back for sure.
(4)
Christopher C.

Here tonight for a quick solo dinner. I am not in the habit of writing negative reviews so let me just focus on what was excellent; the food was tasty, filling, and prepared as I recall from much time spent abroad in the Middle East. And that is all I will say about this place. I may give them another chance the next time I am in town, as the lack of service was not really the fault of the owner.
(3)
Cam N.

Ordered takeout for iftar and this place never seems to fail. The food was absolutely delicious, I recommend it to all my coworkers and friends. We ordered for a large group so we got a little of everything but the beef kubideh is by far my favorite. The rice was nice and fluffy and the employees were nice enough, the customer service could stand a little improvement. All in all a great meal though.
(5)
Sydney L.

If we're in Tysons, we're stopping at Shamshiry! This place is hidden around a bunch of office buildings, but is just across the street from the mall. The food is great and portions are huge. I like that the kababs are mostly chunks of meat, not ground sausage like pieces. Everything is very flavorful and the staff is nice. We tend to each get a different entree and then split it so we can have a taste of multiple things. My only complaint is that they serve flat bread to you in a baggie! I understand they pre-portion the bread, but they bring it to your table in a basket, so it would be nice if they also removed it from the plastic baggie! Do yourself a favor and skip the mall food court next time and go to Shamshiry!
(4)
Eric B.

Great dining experience all around. The kabob platters - salmon, and chicken/beef combo - were delicious. Just delicious. The host and servers were very gracious and accommodating to our family of five with small children. I was impressed with how carefully they handled us. The cherry on top of the meal for me, was my wife's tea. She's a big tea drinker, and at most restaurants, tea is an afterthought, and should be avoided. Yet she orders it anyway. So when she did, I thought great, another stale, or weak, or bitter tea coming right up... but their tea was brewed fresh, perfectly, and amazingly clear, clean, flavorful. A simple, perfectly executed - iced too! - tea. Thank you. The rose flavor in the ice cream was a bit potent for me, and I found their version of baklava almost unpalatable, but hey, we'll forget the dessert next time. Great experience.
(5)
Stephanie J.

Obsessed! I love middle eastern food... Or Iranian? Not sure what kabob and rice is considered but whatever it is it's really good. Every time I have came, I've been pleased with my overall experience. Customer service, environment, and the food itself. I love the location because it's near the infamous Tysons mall, but sometimes I wish they had another location as well because of my random cravings, lol! I haven't been to much Iranian restaurants except Moby and this defiantly beats it! 5 stars for me.
(5)
Sampad D.

The kabobs are the best ..very juicy and spicy.. They serve huge portion of rice and salads with kabobs . I tried the chicken kabaos and tandoori chicken. They were just awesome. The complimentary bread served with green "chutney" is also nice. Its not a huge place but the ambiance is nice. There was a bit of wait (around 5 mins) but it was worth it. The service is also good.
(4)
Tisha B.

I've worked in the area for quite some time and this restaurant has been a staple on my lunch rotation. My co-worker noticed a funny smell coming through the vents that smelled like urine or sour pickles lol. I usually do take-out and can't say that I have ever noticed it. Their yogurt and cucumber sauce is always thick and tasty. I love their chopped veggie salad mixed in with my rice! Very flavorful and healthy. The chicken is always in huge pieces as well as the lamb....admittedly some of the most flavorful lamb I have had. My new favorite is the salmon that I finally woman upped and tried a few months ago lol. The pieces are huge and so worth it. Each time you go, expect to be served enough for at least two meals...possibly three Great eats.....great prices
(4)
Andy A.

Tonight was my second time eating here and I enjoyed it as much as the first. Each time I get the jujeh kabob (Cornish hen) and it was very well prepared. The bread is fresh and warm and I love the spicy sauce they serve with it. I recommend this place without hesitation.
(5)
Chris L.

Excellent menu and friendly helpful service. The shop is very family friendly. The mahi kabob and special rice was delicious, plus they give you enough rice for two meals. Recommended!
(4)
Susan T.

We ordered take out so I can't really speak upon any "dining experience" but I can inform you upon the pick up order that I placed over the phone! Let's just say shamshiry is the number one persian restaraunt. Ahhh but I don't know they're all so good. I guess what sets shamshiry apart from other kabob shops is that they serve you extremely large portions for a good price. Not only are their portions large but everything on your plate is high quality everything! You get so much rice. I mean rice for daysss. You could split one plate but where is the fun in that? They got my order right, ready on time and served me my food with friendliness. No problems, no concerns. Kabob kubideh is my favorite (also happens to be the cheapest) but you should really try everything on the menu. Especially doogh (yogurt drink)!
(5)
G S.

If your new to Persian cuisone here is what to order at Shamshiris... Kubideh delicious ground beef with Baghali Polo (green rice) is a must. Add some mustaghir (cucumber yogurt) and you will be enjoying a tasty persian meal and at Shamshiris with their large portion your taste buds will be thanking you for days since you will have enough for a few to go meals. Enjoy it!
(5)
Nic S.

Great place for a business luncheon. The kid friendly. Delicious entrÃ©es. They give you plenty of rice.
(4)
Leo B.

In my opinion this is the best Persian food in the entire country. Everything is excellent, but a few things deserve special mention. The Barg is always juicy and tender in a way that's hard to find anywhere else. The chicken has more saffron flavor than most places, and is always juicy. The roast tomatoes are a great addition to all the dishes. But what sets them apart is the rice. Oh, the rice. Not only is it always cooked perfectly and piping hot, but it comes with a small section of "crispy rice" which has been caramelized to the pan. I have never seen it anywhere else, and it's great! They give you enough rice for 4 servings, and you'll find yourself wanting to force down every last bit it's so good. The only down side is very minor, the restaurant is modest sized and is easily filled at peak times so their can be a short wait. They really hustle to turn the tables though.
(5)
Farah O.

They give burnt rice. Not just in one entree but both, so it looks like it was on purpose. Which country serves burnt rice as their authentic cuisine ? Chicken and beef kabob were in itself good but rice has no flavor, there is no dipping sauce that comes with the kabobs, so it's all very dry. Bread that they serve at the start is also stale and in zip lock packets, doesn't look like a great start of the meal. I'll rather find my middle eastern food fix somewhere else.
(1)
Soheil K.

Yummy Yummy Yummy! Best Kebab I have had in USA. The place was neat, and the people were polite and professional. I tried a mix of chicken and barg kebabs, and found them very well made. The meat was tender and very tasty. I believe if a person wants to have a taste of Iranian kebabs, this would be the right place for him/her!
(5)
Majid I.

Forget pricey steak houses, these guys know how to grill meat! They serve it with the most amazing rice, ever!
(5)
Tanya L.

Kubideh!! We came in and were surprised that our party of 10 did not have to wait terribly long. It was a bit past 1pm on a Sunday. All of us ordered the kubideh with the exception of one who ordered the chicken and myself who ordered the combo of kubideh and filet mignon. The adults all wanted the raw egg yolk, so we put in that order after a bit of miscommunication with our server. The bread came in the ziploc bags as previous Yelpers have stated. We were starving, so it did its job. However, it was nothing amazing. We used to really enjoy the flatbread that we got at Moby Dick...always fresh and piping hot. There was a spicy green sauce super similar, if not exactly like, the Latino aji served in Peruvian and Columbian foods. After our communication snafu, we found out that they were out of eggs...BUT they offered to run across the street to buy some for us. Super nice but we declined. The kubideh and chicken came out with a uber-generous amount of perfectly cooked rice. The kabobs were all cooked to perfection. My filet mignon was great but I'll stick to just the kubideh in the future. On a parenting fail note, I ate my kids' leftovers...and nearly brought my son to tears...I lie, I did bring him to tears. Eek. So the next time on our way up to DC, we ordered a few orders to go. I called and they asked if i could pick up in 20 mins. I did even better since we were 10 mins away. My orders were sitting there already waiting for me. Ali, who was in the Navy previously, gave me a little "Navy treat" after finding out we're a military family. This place blows Moby Dick out of the water...in portions, prices, quality, and customer service. This is our new favorite...which makes us sad since we're over 3hrs away. However, frequent trips back home to DC means frequent to-go orders on the way home (& back).
(5)
Leila T.

Grilled salmon and dill/lima bean rice was pretty fantastic. To start, ordered the eggplant dip and yogurt. Complimentary bread at the table- I'd prefer it to be a little thicker, it appeared to be more like Lavash bread, served with chopped jalepenos. Other guests at the table also enjoyed their food (Chicken and Kubideh kabob), served with an abundance of rice. Service was great- very attentive staff and the place was packed. The decor could use a little upgrading, but overall, would return!
(4)
Adrian D.

No frills, authentic and tasty Iranian food. Their kubideh (ground beef kabob) is really something special. The gormeh sabzi is fantastic as well. Hard to find something that isnt great on the menu.
(5)
B B.

Excellent and perfectly cooked kababs, heaping mounds of hot fluffy rice, delicious dough, juicy grilled tomatoes, crisp fresh onions and good service. With a fork in one hand and a huge spoon in the other, I attacked my steaming plate with vigor and enjoyed every second of it. This is how you do Iranian kabab! Bravo Shamshiry!
(5)
Sherry R.

A 20+ year customer. Know the owners.This place is well known in the Persian community. My favorite entree is the barg. Their portions are large so I sometimes share with another person depending on how I am feeling. However, I always have leftovers when I order my own entree.
(5)
Daniel A.

The DC area is blessed with some very good middle eastern food. This restaurant is a shining star in amongst all of them. The lamb melted in your mouth along with the filet and chicken. The kafta kabobs couldn't be more amazing. Thank you for the wonderful service and food.
(5)
Linda T.

This place is awesome. The portions are huge but so delicious. The lamb was amazing actually everything we ordered was yummy. Our server was really helpful with what to order. Here's a tip order some burnt rice and the green sauce is really spicy but i love spicy so it was perfect for me. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Amber F.

I love this place! The wait may be a little long on the weekends, but it's well worth the effort. The parking could get a little tricky. Their warm complimentary bread was so delicious that I almost want to take some home. Their kababs are delicious and the portion is huge. Their yogurt sauce is addicting. My mouth is watering as I'm writing the review. You get the idea.
(5)
Remash G.

Service: simply terrible. There is very little respect for the customer. There is almost no attention to detail. Salad had no dressing and there were no offers of dressing from the waiter. They do not clear used dishes from the table whilst trying to load the table with new dishes (we had some appetizer and they chose to leave the plates on the table while trying to the main course plates in the same place!). Minimum rating for service. DÃ©cor: I could care less about dÃ©cor. I'm there to eat. Food: mediocre at best. The rice, albeit a ton of it per plate, was decent but nothing special to call home about. The kubideh was A-Okay. I feel that some people love it because it is very mild in flavor. I like a lot of spices so it did not meet my expectations. The lamb shank was very disappointing. I am not a fan of boiled meat and that is what it tasted like. The chicken was pretty good. The bread was run of the mill blah. Overall: I will certainly not return. I can only fathom the ratings being so widely different in the matter of taste. One of our friends that we met there loved the kubideh and most of the food. Based on his background, I would say it depends on the food you grew up with.
(2)
Yelp U.

Great place! Super friendly people, even offered me tea while I was waiting there, You get huge portions with tasty meat and rice. Can't beat it! I'll recommend this place to anyone!
(5)
Sepehr T.

I like their kaboob kobide it was delicious and perfect you have to try iranian kaboob , specially at shamshiri restaurant !!!
(5)
Kendra B.

This is a great go to for lunch. I order take out often as my office is close by. The food is ALWAYS fresh and very tasty. Missing a star because the restaurant is small and it has a funny smell. The Chicken Tandoori is my fav but you cannot go wrong with the beef, lamb or salmon. I'd definitely recommend! The service is great and everyone is very friendly.
(4)
Khaled K.

Even though the waiter was not the best.. The food itself was perfect . I loved it very much. I would absolutely come here again.
(4)
Kevin Z.

First time trying out Persian good. Its banging good! They serve a Gigantic portion and I had to save my meal to go after. The customer service was attend give and quick. I got the kobeeta platter and man I'm still thinking about the food!
(4)
Junaid T.

The food was tasteless and very expensive. And they covered the rice with a big flat burnt piece of rice on top of the rice which was ridiculous. I felt that was an insult. Not worth the money.
(1)
Mel L.

We went in for a late dinner. Staff was friendly and attentive. We ordered: *Mahi (salmon) kabob with green rice *Kubideh with white rice *Yogurt appetizer Good: + green rice was delicious. + complementary green sauce for the bread was spicy. We both loved it! + great portion (especially rice). Not so good: - bread did not taste fresh.
(4)
Guy B.

Excellent service. Great people. Wonderful food. Plus points for being open late. My favorite is the kubideh with extra butter on the rice.
(5)
Ali B.

Hands down best Persian kabob in town, served with a mountain of rice (melt some butter on top, if you're feeling adventurous). Friendly staff. Cozy atmosphere. This place is a must if you are even 1% Arab/Persian. Go for the: - kobideh (skewer kabob) - tandoori chicken - dookh - tahdig (not on menu, but usually available), with ghameh (lentil/beef) or sabzi (spinach/beef) - saffron ice cream (a must) Ps. They may rarely serve meat that is undercooked or cold, but definitely send it back and they will bring you a stellar replacement in no time.
(5)
Yani M.

Bread is not fresh nor served warmed up Servers not attentive they don't check up on their tables once the food is served. Kubideh was tasty and juicy but the chicken kabob was just dry! The bread is a deal breaker....even fast food chains serve fresh made bread. Shamshirry opts to serve plain bread in a plastic bag!? I rather have them not serve as much rice as they do and serve warm fresh bread instead.
(2)
B G.

So....is this place really Persian? Been here twice and I'm always so confused. Everything tastes off-brand to me. It's okay food, but it's not as rich in flavor as it could or should be. I'm half-Persian so maybe I only half-know about these things, but the food ain't right. Also, the service is downright terrible. The waitstaff was rude both times and super slow to even take our order. This place is definitely better than a place like Moby Dick...but I don't think i'll be back.
(2)
Tariq S.

Best Irani kabob in the area, bar none. Chicken and beef kabob are zabiha (halaal). Loads of rice. My only complaint is you have to pay for the yogurt :( Booo.
(5)
Mamoon W.

Excellent kabob place in the Northern Virginia. I have been coming here now and then for the past 20 years, and the food has been consistently great. The food portions are generous and service is fast and courteous. The Kabobs here are tender, juicy and flavorful. The tea is also great after dinner/lunch. This place is always busy every day of the week. But they have a good system in place, wait time is not bad at all.
(5)
Mojdeh S.

How I heard of this place: My sister first introduced me to Shamshiry, and it quickly took first place for best Persian kabob served at a restaurant! Type of cuisine: Traditional Persian fare: plenty of rice, either white with saffron-infused grains atop or with a combination of fresh herbs, served with a side of grilled ground beef, filet mignon, or boneless chicken. Other dishes include stews with beans, meat and fresh herbs, pomegranite sauce with walnuts, as well as beans and tomato sauce, among other options. The fresh herb rice is also served with grilled salmon and coo-coo sabzi (a quiche-like patty of fresh herbs and egg). Ambiance: The restaurant is in a corporate building, on the ground floor of the executive park. The small space is enhanced in size by the floor to ceiling mirror at the far end of the establishment, opposite the floor-to-ceiling windows at the entryway. Chairs and tables, covered in white linen are crammed together in the small space, as diners and wait-staff squeeze their way through to find seats and serve patrons. Wire sculptures from the Dominican Republic line the shelf along the wall, and thick, plastic tie-dyed bowls and plates are set at each table for the bread and butter. Warm pita bread, cut in triangles and placed in a small Ziploc bag are set in a black, plastic basket, and small packets of butter in a tie-dye-colored bowl are at each setting. A large pitcher of water, a carafe of warm, Persian black tea ($1.99) and a small jar of sugar cubes are also available. Square, plastic, Mexican-themed plates, that hardly fit three per table without bleeding off of the table edge are used to serve the moutain of food in each order. A busy, bustling space, with eclectic, mismatched paintings and artwork lining walls and shelves around the space, make this a truly special in-house dining experience. What I ordered: We started with Persian tea ($1.99 per person), followed by a large pitcher of doogh ($7.99), a "...delightfully refreshing yogurt drink". For dinner, Chelo Kabob Kubideh ($9.99), Mahi Kabob ($14.99), "fresh salmon bursting with juices" and Chelo Kabob Shamshiry ($16.99). We also ordered a Mast-o Khiar ($3.50), yogurt with mint and cucumber as a supplement to the meal. What I loved: I always LOVE the food at Shamshiry. Of the two kabob's, I most enjoyed the flavor of the kubideh (ground beef), moist and buttery. The roasted tomato and the fresh, sliced onions served on the side of the each dish, area also a favorite of mine. The Persian tea, while I normally stray from the caffeinated beverage in the late evening hours, added the most perfect combination of sweetness and lightness to start and end the meal. Why I loved it: The food is consistently good, the portions huge and the flavors authentic. The bustle of the environment and the loud chatter, clinking and clanking of dishes add to the enjoyable experience. Cost: Low to average ($9.99 - $16.99 per dinner entree)
(4)
Danny R.

4 stars tasty! But 2 stars for a little pricey, a little too much rice, and not enough meat. So, we'll meet in the middle with 3 stars. We got takeout so I can't review the interior of the restaurant, but the takeout was nicely packaged. The spices and sauce is packaged in nice little lidded cups. The pita is ziplocked into nice little bags. The beef was excellent. Very moist, very tender, very tasty. The rice was also delicious. There was just a full metric ton of it. Overall, I like it, don't love it.
(3)
Mike C.

Came here for a work lunch for the first time and it was crazy tasty! Our meals came with ridiculously large portions of rice and incredibly tender/flavorful meat. I had the Chelo Kabob Kubideh for $11 - would definitely recommend! I asked for leftovers to be boxed up and they were inadvertently thrown away. I mentioned this to the manager and he gifted me an entirely new entree for free to go!!
(5)
Parry B.

Doogh, Chelo Kabob Kubideh, Chicken Kabob, Jujeh Kabob and Persian Ice cream! DECOR: The restaurant is quite spacious with a very simple and basic decor. The mirror at one side to the restaurant make it look very huge and double the size. FOOD: We ordered the Doogh, Chelo Kabob Kubideh, Chicken Kabob, Jujeh Kabob and Persian Ice cream and needless to say that every dish was very very very yummy. I love eating kabobs and this place just makes them perfectly. Very well seasoned and well cooked with the kabobs just melting in your mouth. We did want to order Paludeh Shirazi but it was not available. So the waiter recommended Persian Ice cream and we have no regret. The portions served was huge for every item ordered and one serving of the Persian Ice cream had 4 large scoops. We were very happy with the food. SERVICE: We had to wait for 15 minutes before being seated. The waiter who served us was very cute and humble. The food came within 20 minutes from the time ordered. PRICE: Out total was $42 without tips which makes it approx $10 per person since we were a family of 4 adults. One thing I noticed here, though a lot of people mentioned the dress code as 'CASUAL', I saw a lot of people who were DRESSY, especially the women. Another thing being, this restaurant has a lot of Persian visitors dining in here which proves it authenticity in serving Persian cuisine.
(4)
Saud A.

Being from the middle east and particularly on the Arabian Gulf we have many Iranian Restaurants in kuwait. I was told that this place is suppose to be the best, and when I tried it. It's shy of mediocre. The meats are not seasoned enough, the rice is not bad. The condiments such as zarashk have sugar in them.. The zarashk is a dried berry, why would they ass water and sugar and make it an Ice cream add on instead of a savory one. The bread is not Iranian it's produced by a machine that flattens dough and cooks it. The leban (yogurt based drink) is carbonated.. Originally it shouldn't be, so I'm guessing it's from a packet.
(3)
Dominique R.

This was my first time having persian food and I thoroughly enjoyed. It was quick and delicious!
(4)
Mark H.

A great DC kabab restaurant with Persian style kababs. Love coming here all the time for amazing meat and will continue to come. The only thing I don't like is the bread.
(5)
Aysha C.

Delicious kubideh and a large heap of delicious rice with butter! The persian tea is the perfect end to a delicious meal! Waiters are kind of rude and eh, but that's ok. The food makes up for it. Very busy!
(4)
Megan C.

I finally had the chance to try Shamshiry with one of my main gal pals, and it was an experience that epitomizes something that I've grown to love about the DMW area, and it's the abundance of "authentic" non-"American" dining and cultural experiences in an environment that allows me to enjoy the cuisine and not feel like an outsider, but at the same time, allows me to kind of be the fly on the wall and get a real flavor - so cool! Speaking of flavor, you'll find the food kind in a good abundance here, but you have to decipher the parking situation first. It's not immediately clear where you're allowed to park in the pseudo office building complex where Shamshiry is located, but once you find a spot, you'll be swept away into an atmosphere replete with white tablecloths and mirrored walls, and tables full of Persian families enjoying a good time. Even though our waiter was brand new, the owner/manager did come by a few times to check on us, which we appreciated. Overall, we were very happy with the service, and it allowed my pal and me to catch-up without feeling hurried or hungry. For starters, we did a Persian tea, which was nice and warm, but was missing some of the deep herbal flavors I've come to expect from some other similar restaurants. For also did the Sabzi salad and the cucumber tomato salad, and aside from the whole pita-in-a-ZipLoc-thing, the salads were really fresh and amply-sized to share among two hungry women. As for entrees, I opted for the tandoori chicken with extra green spicy sauce, and chose 1/2 salad, 1/2 rice, as the normal serving of rice is enough to feed a family of 4 - I am NOT kidding. I enjoyed the juiciness of the chicken and the rich, spicy flavors of the green sauce, and the rice was of course perfect. My friend chose the salmon filet with full rice, and while she polished that salmon right off, she only ate a few bites of the rice - it seriously was an overwhelming amount, but that's better than not enough! I will definitely return to Shamshiry - don't let its office-like location deceive you, this is Tyson's Corner, after all, and some of the best restaurants are hidden in office-like complexes!
(4)
Christina L.

The food was pretty good. But I wish the presentation of the dishes and the ambience could improve. Aging interior - definitely needs a renovation soon. I also find the bread served in plastic bags so tacky...I wonder why they have kept this up over the years.. But overall, you can't really go wrong here. And who knows, I have only been here twice so maybe third time's the charm!
(3)
Andrew M.

Hands-down the best Iranian/Persian cuisine in the DMV (that I've had anyway). Tahdig was buttery, crunchy, and delicious; gormeh sabzi was tasty and pure; the polos/rice dishes were all very well made with great flavors; the kofta/kubideh, bone-in chicken (cornish hen), and tandoori chicken were exceptionally juicy and well-flavored. The bastani was very delicate with flavors of rosewater and saffron, and among the best I've had. This is a great place to try a lot of different things and dine family-style. The only thing I would knock is the noon/bread. Kind of flat and boring to be honest. Foodwife is half-Persian and is nodding in agreement as I write this review.
(5)
Sam Q.

Very great restaurant. I have been there 3 times and I have enjoyed going there all the time. Delicious food and fair prices.
(5)
Paul B.

CATERING DISASTER - DO NOT USE THEM FOR CATERING We hired this restaurant to cater a very important event - a funeral luncheon. The manager assured us on multiple occasions that the food would arrive at the designated time. The food arrived 1 hour late. When the driver arrived the first words out of his mouth were "Don't blame me. It was [manager]. He sent me on two deliveries back-to-back." When we later spoke to the manager he claimed that traffic was to blame, although his delivery man had already told us the real reason. When we told him what the driver said he just stopped making up any more excuses. We had hired the delivery person to serve the food. We arranged to pay him $300 for this service. He just stood around and did nothing while my family and friends did all the work. The manager agreed that we did not have to pay for this person. When I asked the manager to reduce the fee for the food order ($500), he initially refused to do so. Since the food arrived 1 hour late, several attendees had already left. After several minutes of discussion, the manager agreed to reduce the food bill by $50. He would not agree to our request for one-third off. I find this insulting. This whole experience was insulting to my family and guests. The restaurant should take responsibility for their failure. Instead the manager would only protect his bottom line. This is not a good way to run a business. Shame on you.
(1)
Kruthika R.

Best kabob place in the area. Well cooked meat. Right amount of flavors and super big quantity. It is open late and this makes it an easy choice for me. Will visit again.
(5)
Chris L.

You want rice, or meat and rice? Oh sure it's exquisite basmati rice plus tender beef & lamb, but it's still dry rice with plain grilled meat, I wish the Persians had figured out a few sauces. Bottom line, order a side of the yogurt (mast), that definitely reduces the dry factor. So yeah, overwhelming piles of rice, altho the crunchy bottom-of-the-pot rice served on top was a nice touch. Baghali (dill) polo and Shirin (orange) polo are absolutely worth the few bucks extra, the orange and other aromatics in the Shirin are just great. Really yummy spicy green sauce (cilantro, chills, garlic) served with the flatbread. Kabobs were carefully cooked, done exactly medium. Ask for the lamb because it wasn't on the menu when I visited but they served me very nice lamb anyhow. Big open room of hard surfaces yet still quiet, totally reasonable to have a conversation. At least three quarters of the other diners looked Persian (not that I'm an expert) and many brought little kids, I'd say they're definitely drawing the home-town crowd here. Service was friendly but definitely not hovering. Surprisingly cheap here, an enormous kabob platter is $15 and I have no idea how any single person could finish one. Split it, you'll be glad you left room to try other things. No alcohol here, maybe that makes it more authentic. Doesn't help the dry factor tho :)
(3)
Pearl S.

ZERO stars.... more like it.... Went there to today, the manager ignored me, spoke to Persian customer even though I was there first and waiting my turn patiently.... Shamshiry In Virginia discriminates against non Persians....the manager was rude and never offered to seat or help us.....
(1)
LoveGoodFood A.

We love their kabobs and Shirin Polo! They are so delicious, they make the drive from Maryland worth it!
(5)
Annabel S.

My book club's first visit here and we could not have been happier. First, let me say that the service was terrific. Bill, our server, answered all our questions, made a great suggestion to have family style platter and he was cognizant of my food allergies and made a point to warn me if something had nuts in it. We tried the chicken, the chicken tandoori, the lamb, the barg, and the kubideh. Folks were skeptical of the ground beef, but the kubideh ended up being a favorite hands down due to the flavors. The portion was generous (we had more than enough to share for a table of 5) and the meat was moist and flavorful. The Persian tea was a recommendation that was a hit with the entire group as well. Having to get my veggies in, the Salad Shirazy fit the bill. Tomatoes are not a huge favorite of mine, but mixed with the diced cucumbers and onions and the simple dressing made this an outstanding side dish. As noted, they are definitely generous with the rice. Because we had family style, they brought the Albalou (sour cherries), Shirin (orange peel with almonds and pistachios), and Zereshk (dried currents) toppings separately so everyone could try all three as they wished. While all three were good, the Albalou and the Shirin were favorites with the group. So the only curious thing is that the bread, funnily enough and noted in other reviews, was just so so. I ended up bringing take out home for my two teens -- the Shamshiry Kabob (combo barg and kubideh) was a hit. This just became my #1 kabob place in the area over Darya Kabob in Sterling.
(4)
Hasti Z.

The food is AMAZING but the only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because the workers there are a bunch of perverts and they make me feel very uncomfortable.
(3)
Faiza Q.

On a Monday night it was packed. Took about 15 mins to get seated. Ordered the Chicken, Mahi and the Shamshery platter. The Shamshery was very good. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Not a big fan of the Shamshery though. Service was ok. Had to ask for water and service multiple times. Will visit again though.
(4)
Farheen A.

My family and I went yesterday and grabbed food to go. The place was packed so we thought the food would be great. Let me tell you so disappointed. The meat was dry and blah in taste. The only thing good was the yogurt sauce which I had to put over everything to get it down. If ur in the mood for good kabobs stick to Moby dicks..way better and cheaper
(2)
Aziz A.

Clearly the best Iranian food I have had in VA so far. Moby Dick comes close.
(5)
Craig S.

The waitstaff, managers, and owner, I guess, do not believe in serving customers here. They act like they are doing you favors - it's really appalling. This place is no fun, because you can't hear the person sitting next to you, and also, you are responsible to go get your own plates, napkins, forks, cups, glasses, and condiments. I mean, literally, you can ask a waiter 4 or 5 times and they are so overworked and busy that they will just not bring you anything. When my family of 11 came to eat here, I had to become a waiter to make sure we were given bread, plates, silverware, etc - I'm not even kidding. This place is a JOKE of a restaurant, if you can call it that.
(1)
Russel D.

Unimpressed. My girlfriend and I came here on a Saturday night so we expected it to be busy. It was. The service time was still tolerable and the server was nice. We don't expect fancy silverware at a kabob place, but when they brought out the pita quarters in a plastic bag, it was a major turn off. The bread was cold and stale. Plus, the plates made us feel like we were eating at a child's playroom. They're a very light, oddly colored plastic. But we can get past the environment if the food is excellent. It was not. We ordered kubideh and steak kabob. Both were overly salted and extremely dry. You can say the portions are large, but that is just because there is a mountain of rice. While it tasted okay, who can eat that much rice? When I have Chinese food I don't consider the portion large if they include a lot of rice, do you? Why should I do that here? The prices were a bit expensive (upper teens) considering rice is so cheap. I would consider it a bad value. Parking is difficult. I drove around a bit and ended up in the garage. Drive straight past the restaurant and its a block or two forward. Be careful of the reserved parking though.
(2)
beata n.

Horrible. I highly doubt Persians eat here. We ordered take out. One of our dishes was missing a kebob (should be two per order) and both had mounds of rice! I've never seen so much rice! I think they were trying to hide the very little bit of meat that was in there. We've had Persian food all over the country and have never been that disappointed.
(1)
Jehan E.

Legit Persian restaurant! I'll def return!
(5)
Stacy K.

Friends have been telling me about this place for some time now. The family and I finally made the trip out to eat there. The place is small but very busy. The food was great. The portions were huge. The service was very good as well. We were sat at a table quickly and the food came rather fast as well. For the most part we really enjoyed the place.
(4)
Han D.

This is the worst kabob I have ever had in my entire life. Don't go here. Go to Kabob Palance, tastes 1000 times better. Actually.
(1)
Boris C.

My rating is based more on the organizational seating structure of the restaurant and less on the food, even though the food was nothing spectacular. The seating is absolutely terrible. It's akin to a cafeteria seating where you are literally sitting mere inches away from other diners. The food was bland at best and although the chicken kabob was good, it was not memorable. We ordered some dessert and we were given such an ungenerous portion in that we felt insulted by the extra small portion. This place is most likely better for lunch and not dinner.
(2)
Jeanette H.

This is a neighborhood gem for Tysons Corner. I'd rather come here than so many over-rated places in this area. Chicken kabob came perfectly-cooked and seasoned, and just juicy-yummy ! Eggplant stew was delicious, but perhaps with too much beef... I'd order them next time with (way) less beef and more eggplants! Salads were delish. Pita bread -- I wish they could warm them up. I'd come back here regularly for sure!
(3)
Faheem R.

Summary: A little pricey for lunch, but still get your money's worth in terms of value. I'd go back for dinner if I were in the area. Food: The meal starts with the waiter bringing out a zipper bag of bread accompanied by butter and a green sauce. I think the bagged bread is a little weird and makes me question the freshness of the bread. The green sauce was pretty spicy. Ordered the Chicken Soltani - which was a combination of one skewer of Chicken Kabob and one skewer of Chelo Kabob Kubideh - and an egg to mix into the rice. While I ended up spending over $20 for lunch after tax and tip, the portion was huge. The kabobs were excellent and accompanied by a mountain of white rice. Mixing the raw egg and adding sumac to the rice was necessary to give the rice some moisture and flavor. My main feedback would be that they should consider a lunch size portion of a single skewer with 1/3 of the rice and charge half the price. However, the place was packed, so they aren't exactly hurting for business given their current pricing model and it would make sense to just ignore my suggestion. Service: Looks like they were a bit understaffed when I went, so the waiter was covering a lot of ground and was a bit slow. Ambiance: It's the ground floor of an office building, so don't have high expectations. Wait time: Was about 20 minute wait during lunch on a weekday. The only real issue is that there isn't a waiting area, so you're in the way as people try to come in and out of the place. Miscellaneous observations: Parking can be a little confusing given that the restaurant is buried in an office complex. Just park in the garage and then you won't have to worry about getting towed.
(3)
Alice W.

I heard about Shamshiry through a recommendation from someone I met in a budget class. Now, I don't remember much about what I learned in that class, but I remembered that recommendation. Recently, I decided to go and try Shamshiry. I decided to get the Chelo Kabob Kubideh. Strips of meat served next to a huge mound of rice and topped with a large helping of saffron. I stirred in some butter in the rice and gobbled up the meat and rice like they were M&Ms. Portion size was quite large and I even had some left over for the next day. I think my dish was a good bang-for-the-buck deal - priced at $9.99 and got so much food. I'm glad I finally seized the chance to go here. Food is great, service was nice, and prices are reasonable (at least for the Chelo Kabob Kubideh. I'm not sure if the other more expensive dishes are worth the price since I didn't try them). Our waiter was especially cordial and professional. Thanks to Jennifer who recommended Shamshiry to me! Great recommendation!
(4)
Rita S.

We came here for my mother in laws birthday and the wait was not bad even though the place was packed with customers. They give you more than enough food to eat there and take back. Everything was delicious! I ordered the Lamb Shank and it came with a yakhnee, mmmm I added some lemon and black pepper on it and it was delicious!
(5)
C H.

Absolutely delicious. Fresh, well prepared food. The place was filled with Persian people, families and people of all ages. I take that as a very good sign. It was super crowded and noisy on a Saturday night, so you're not going for the quiet ambiance or elegance. My single kabob entree with rice was so generous, I took half of it home and enjoyed another meal the next day. Make sure to get the bowls of fresh cucumber and tomato, they made everything that much better.
(5)
Sultan M.

There was long line of people waiting when we arrived but we were still seated very quickly. The waitstaff was efficient if not overly friendly. The food was amazing and came in huge portions.
(5)
A A.

LOVE LOVE LOVE their food. I can't seem to find another Persian restaurant as good as Shamshiry in all of VA. I've been there alone, with friends and also family and no one has EVER complained. My favorite is the beef kibosh which literally melts in your mouth and to finish off, I never forget to order the safari ice cream. Such good food, such great staff and beautiful ambience. What more does one need?!
(5)
Sungmin S.

Shamshiry was great! It's a little difficult to find this place. Go past the Perfect Pita place and soon you'll find this join on your left. I went in on Monday at 2:30pm thinking there is no way I will have to wait......... and alas I did. We were quickly seated in about 15 minutes. My friend ordered the chelo kubideh and I ordered the chicken soltani (with tip, it totaled around $20). The portions were huge -- I ate about half and got the rest to go for dinner. They were very generous with rice (I added raw egg) and onions and the meat were delicious. I did enjoy the ground beef part of the dish but next time I might just order chelo kubideh (which only gives you chicken) since I liked chicken kabob a lot more. The only downside was that the space was rather crowded and my friend and I were seated at a small awkward table between two other parties -- we felt like we couldn't have any conversation without letting other parties hear us. But I surely don't visit hole-in-the-wall places like this expecting top-notch service and quality seating, so I wasn't disappointed.
(4)
maryam p.

ive had plenty of persian and middle eastern food in my day, all over the place, including L.A. aka tehrangeles. and ive got to say, this place is consistently delicious. ive taken multiple friends and family here and they have had nothing but praises. i cant help but get the same thing almost every time: gormah sabzi on the tay degh, the house made dough, kubideh and the spicy chicken, with the zereskh on the rice. i feel like the mark of a good "ethnic' restaurant is by how many people of that ethnicity eat there, and this place is brown town (its ok, im a beige person myself i can say these things hehe) may also be because the meat is halal and also it is def inexpensive for the amount of food you get. seriously one of my favorite places in the dmv; i will even venture out of the city for this place! :p
(5)
Sam S.

I will literally travel the farthest distance possible to if it comes to down to a good Kebab place and Shamshiry is the winner! Best Persian kebab I've had in a long time. Truly deserves 5 starts.
(5)
Laura S.

Sham (as I so lovingly call it) has great take out. Their service and timing is very consistent and the employees are friendly. My go-to is the chicken kabob with rice. Sometimes I'll sub salad for the rice (for no extra charge-yay). The chicken is always succulent, flavorful and juicy. The rice is good but there's no saffron. All dishes come with exactly one heaping Mt Everest-sized serving of rice (*high five*). Kubideh (meat kabob) is my next favorite dish. You get a side of onion, noon barbari flat bread and some sumac sprinkles.
(4)
Flo S.

Much better service this time around and with the same waitress. Thank you for reading my earlier review and making adjustments so that we have a much more pleasant experience:)
(4)
Osama E.

Food was awesome the lamb kabob was cooked perfect with the right amount of char. The cucumber yogurt was thick and tasted amazing. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars was they didn't serve hot fresh bread. I got a ziplock bread that was painful to see served. Cold not good not sure if it was prepped in the am or just repackaged crap but it was not good. Even fast food kabob places like moby dicks served fresh hit bread.
(4)
B W.

Our friend who lives in VA invited us to dinner here. This place was the best meal we had during our stay in DC. We got a huge combination of different meats like the chicken, salmon, lamb. The rice is light and aromatic. We also enjoyed Persian rose water ice cream. My son loved it so much that he was licking the bowl. Our friend thought it was cute, but I was a little embarrassed by his lack of manners. LOL But he only does that when he thinks something is really delicious.
(5)
Good E.

this place came highly recommended by a persian friend so i was excited to try it we all got different things to try out the bread comes in ziplock bags which many yelpers have noted. ok it is not the best presentation and the bread itself is pretty bland but the spicy green sauce that it comes with is amazingly good. we got the eggplant and yoghurt with cucumber appetizers. both were great others at the table got the chelo kabob kubideh and chelo kabob shamshiry. they were happy with their dishes but the general consensus was the food was pretty bland. i didnt sample their dishes i got the lamb sultana which was good but bland. it came with way too rice. i gave my left overs to my guy, he also thought it was pretty bland Service: nice, no issues ambience: nice, we sat in the adjacent room which was less noisy. they need to work on cranking on the heat, it was freezing! parking was ample and more importantly FREE overall, i really wanted to love this place but i think it was just ok. just not as good as the grill kabob at tyson corner!
(3)
Garrett A.

King of Kabobs! I had tried Kabobs several times before, and they had always been a food that I reluctantly ate. Shamshiry made a kabob lover out of me. The meat is so tender and well-flavored. And this flavor is cooked all the way through, it is not just spices on the surface. Try the beef or the filet mignon; it is all delicious. The rice is very good as well, and it comes topped with some crispy rice for variety, but the helping is very large. I recommend doing half rice, half salad, for a more balanced meal. The salad is simple but tasty. This place seems a little tucked away to be in bustling Tysons, but it's worth it if you are looking to really enjoy your meal. I do not give out 5 star reviews easily, but this little Kabob place earned it. You won't regret your visit to Shamshiry. If you are anything like me, it will have you coming back again and again.
(5)
David S.

Awesome beef kabobs and the portions are good enough for two separate meals. Also I rarely comment on service but this service was top notch. The price was fair, it cost me about $11 for dinner which isn't too bad. I really enjoyed the authenticity and the flavors were extremely present in the food which, to me, is what I am looking for. I would certainly recommend this to anyone looking for some delicious food
(5)
C G.

I would like to give 5 stars to the chef and no stars for the service and cleanliness. Food was excellent once we got it. Two orders were wrong with servers bringing the wrong food. It would help if server spoke/understood either Farsi or English. Head person saw our signal for him to come talk to us. He nodded but then never came over to help nor took any action. It felt rude. We were brought a carafe of water with food stuck on the lip and a little bowl of wrapped butter and stale bread. The top butter packet on full display was so swished it looked like a child had pinched one of them in the middle for fun. It would be hard for the server to miss that. The main meal tasted authentic, but we've had better. The food isn't special enough to put up with all the negatives.
(1)
Sneha S.

Great place. And reasonably priced. We were especially happy with the dessert which was the indian jalebi.
(5)
Kimmy L.

This review is for their carry-out - strictly reviewing food. I can't speak to the service here but the food is amazing. High-end quality persian cuisine at the same price as the local persian 'fast food' chain. While nothing can beat homemade persian food from the BF's parents, this is our go to place when they aren't around. Kubideh - I have had this dish at all of the persian places in the area and it is THE BEST here. Tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned with a huge portion of meat AND rice. They seriously pile on the rice here!! And each order comes with a piece of tahdig (crunch rice stuff) Cucumber yogurt sauce - Not watery or slimy at all and you actually see chunks of cucumber in it. Shallot yogurt sauce - my FAVE!!!!! Each order comes with a zip lock bag of bread and I could just dip my bread in this sauce and call it a meal. So good! (tip: if your bread gets hard, just close the ziplock bag and stick it in the microwave for 15 seconds) Green rice with dill and fava beans - this is my fave persian dish and they do a decent job here!! I love dill!!!! Cornish hen & Joojeh Chicken - I love both of these!!! Not too lemony, yet still enough flavor to melt in your mouth, I usually order these when I am trying to be healthier, otherwise it is kubideh all the way for me! Shirazi salad is decent yet it lacks fresh parsley but this will do in a pinch if you are too lazy to make it yourself at home (me)
(5)
Carey M.

Today I was in Shamshiry with my wife. I ordered ghormeh sabzi and my wife ordered kabobs, we liked a lot it was perfect. The bread was good too. The service team was great. I want go back soon.
(4)
Kaveh R.

Best quality persian kabob in the area. I have been a customer for years and quality is still very good. Kabob Barg(beef) is highly recomended.
(4)
Jojo W.

Excellent! I had the lamb kabob over salad. Best kabob meat I've ever had. Service was great. I'll be back.
(5)
Rehana R.

This place is amazing and if we are ever in the area you know were coming here for lunch or dinner! Their kubideh and lamb tips are beyond delicious and always perfect. The chicken is ok...not something I would order if you are a meat eater, but the kubideh and lamb - the best! I've asked every Persian in the area what their fav restaurant is and it's always Shamshiry. I can't think of a better review than that.
(5)
Will C.

Oh my god this place has really good rice and they give you tons of it compared to other kabob places. I visited this place with two other people on a Saturday night and boy was it crowded. We waited approximately 45 minutes. While waiting there aren't too many seats so be prepared to be standing up. This restaurant is not too big so it gets crowded so your really close to the tables around you. I ordered kubideh base off the recommendation of my friend. It was alright not as juicy as I would like it but it's very flavorful. The best juicy kubideh that I have had is from rose kabob. The rice though... that is awesome! This place was also the first time I tried the chai tea. My friend taught me the proper way to drink it. Put a sugar cube in your mouth and then drink a sip of chai. Although the hygienic side of me was sort of freaking out. When you grab a sugar cube you touch more then the one your going to get so yeah.. Imagine other people grabbing the sugar cube your about to put in your mouth. Oh well, regardless I had an excellent meal here. One thing NoVa is blessed with are a bunch of good kabob places. I will be back but in the meantime there are also plenty of good alternatives. I still have to make the tough decision of which one will claim the number one spot for me.
(3)
Nerrissa S.

My boyfriend brought me here on our recent visit to his hometown. He's been coming here since he was a kid and I can see why!! The best Persian food I've ever had!! We ate here twice while we were in DC for the weekend. The meat is so tender and the most flavorful kobideh kabobs. We were seated right away and the food came our hot and fresh! Will come back when we are in town!
(5)
Cathy C.

I was craving for some good kabobs while I was in Virginia/DC and Shamshiry was conveniently located across the street from my hotel. It was packed so my friend and I waited for a few minutes at lunch time. We were watching the kitchen staff grill the meats and tomatoes through a glass window to pass the time - which made me salivate and even hungrier than I already was! Patrons and restaurant staff were all speaking Farsi which gave me a hint that the food is good and authentic. We were given a Ziploc bag of bread which was pretty tacky but once I dipped that bread on the green sauce it came with...mmmm...garlicky and some heat. Don't plan on kissing anybody after eating this. I ordered the chelo kabob barg (filet mignon) and black tea and my friend ordered a salad Shirazi, chicken tandoori and iced tea. The iced tea came in a pitcher and my tea in a pot - we helped ourselves which saved us the hassle of waiting for refills. I truly enjoyed my kabob. It was flavorful and tender then I added sumac to my rice...OMG! Delish! My friend and I weren't talking, we just kept on eating. I was so full I wanted to go back to the hotel and take a nap. The price wasn't bad at all.
(4)
Al T.

Frankly this is not really a restaurant, it is Chelo Kababi. The difference between two is, in the Restuarant you go for food and enjoy your time with family and friends. In latter case, you go to eat and to go home and sleep. In the Restuarant, the food is prepared and it is nicely served, in latter one, the food is drop at your table. Well, if you are looking for food and hungry this is place. If you are trying to enjoy your dinner. This is wrong place. The price is relative to other Restuarant is high, service is average.
(2)
Ahmed K.

Shamshiry serves a very excellent kabob and in general, the food is good. It is an excellent choice for big parties of Middle Eastern people who love the idea of eating out but are absolutely mortified at the idea of eating anything outside their ethnic comfort level. In other words, if you have a gigantic crew of Iraqis, going to this Iranian restaurant is considered to be rather "exotic endeavor" even though it's pretty much the exact same grub they eat at home each and every day. It is especially good because the portions of rice are enormous - and if I didn't know my people well enough, I wouldn't say that the biggest bang for their buck is judged not on how well the food is cooked or how flavorful it is, but rather on the copious amounts of rice that comes with a dish. The good news for Shamshiry, however, is that the food unequivocally has all of those qualities. The interiors are laughable to downright ghastly and what you would typically identify with a Middle Eastern/Persian dÃ©cor - you know bordering on the gaudy to even just dreadful. One of these days our people will get it. I also have to say that the owners are nice people and the young lad can always be seen greeting people at each table. Call me old fashioned, but I like that!
(4)
Esther Y.

Shamshiry is located in Tysons Corner West off of Westwood Road. It's near the Walmart and 24 hour fitness. Parking is kind of obscure, you don't know which spaces are for which retailers, so read the signs or park in the garage! Everytime I come here, it is just awesome. There's a bit of a wait during dinner rush hour, but it's well worth it. Just go up to the host and tell him you're here to dine, give him your name, and ask about wait time. Do not just stand around waiting your turn to get to the host. Most of the time, people are standing around near the host because there really isn't a waiting area for people. Dinner rush was about a 20-30 minute wait. Sometimes, you get seated fairly quickly, at least within 10 minutes. It just depends on what night you go on. I always get a combo meal (I don't know the exact names of the entrees that are on the menu). I get a rice dish with Kubideh (lamb) & beef or ground beef. I ask for an egg on the side, and Persian tea. My plate is literally so huge, I actually shared it with a friend. It came on a huge plate with plenty of rice, meat on the sides, or on top, and some onion and tomatoes on the corner of the plate. It literally puts Moby Dick's to shame. They also bring out some bread, naan, in a ziploc bag and some green sauces in a small container. I usually just pour the sauces out on a small plate, add the red spice thing to it, mix it up, and then dip my naan into it. SO GOOD, but as a warning, it's a little spicy. Shamshiry is great for groups and people often stay there for a little longer than they should for dinner. I always see some celebration going on. The place is small, but i think it's well worth the wait. Hope you enjoy!
(4)
Ahmed J.

This restaurant has great food, BUT who cares... They have the worst service on the surface of the earth. The rudest and meanest servers you have and will ever seen. From the moment you step into the restaurant until you are able to escape. They will never smile, frown at you for any request, take your food before you finish, and include their tip on your bill whether you like it or not. I have gone with take out too, and they suck too. If only the food wasn't so good, I would never go back. But I just might. God Bless the Chef, and damn the staff.
(1)
Jean S.

Shamshiry is definitely one of my favorite Persian kabob restaurants. You don't go for the bread... you go for the fluffy and fragrant rice, the juicy chicken, the tender lamb and the flavorful kubideh. Their portions are extremely generous, and their service is efficient and cordial. The only complaint I have is the parking around there, but it's worth the inconvenience for the food.
(4)
Morad B.

Best koobideh soltani I had in a very long time. The chicken was moist and deliciously marinated. koobideh was perfectly spiced. Rice was excellent. I most definitely recommend this place. Only weird thing is they give you the bread in a ziplog bag.
(5)
Amanda I.

Sham shiry is the best kabob I have ever had. The kubideh is the most tender juicy meat. Not a huge fan of the chicken, it's dry and not as flavorful.
(4)
Patty P.

We drove pretty far to come here for their kabobs and we were not disappointed. There was a wait to get a table but it didn't take long at all. The server was attentive and made recommendations. As for the food experience, it was different than the Afghan kabob places I've been to but that's not a bad thing. First the bread comes out and no, it's NOT in a ziplock bag like others have posted. It was warm, fresh and delicious. Our main meals came out very quickly and they were just as warm and fresh. The flavors are different than the Afghan places I've been to but they are just as tasty if not better. The rice (and there was lots of it!) was fluffy and the meats were juicy and well seasoned. I also think the prices were very competitive for kabobs. The only weird thing is that the rice is piled on top of the meat. I would have liked it the other way around so I didn't have to dig for the meat. Overall we were very satisfied and will definitely make the drive to come back here.
(4)
Mehdi M.

Kabab koobideh was delicious and juicy. Chicken was overcooked and dry. Barg kabob was alright. Overall I liked the authentic persian/iranian food here.
(5)
Christine H.

Always so yummy, shared the lamb and filet soltani, and eggplant dip as our appetizer. Such friendly service, although it was after 10pm on a Friday night....will definitely be back!
(4)
Kat M.

This place has really good Persian food. We ordered the chicken kabob and the Shamshiri. The chicken was a bit dry, but the Samshiri was amazing. The rice can use some more flavoring. Overall, a very enjoyable meal. Service was decent although they were a bit understaffed. When we went, the restaurant was packed, but there was only one or two servers. We had to bring our bill up ourselves because we couldn't flag a waitress down.
(4)
Matthew G.

I just don't see what all the hype is about. The pile of rice was... well...just stupid big. It was served with ground beef and steak... seasoned with...nothing. The menu talks about pouring an egg into it and mixing it into the rice. Only it wasn't served with an egg. Thank God I got the cucumber and tomato salad that I was able to combine with the jalapeno pesto that came with the dry bread and add some flavor to this flavorless dish so I could get through it. This was a very unbalanced plate. I think I need to go find some vegetables somewhere now.
(1)
Frank F.

Best Persian in DC/MD/Nova and I've been to ALL of them!! The restaurant could use a makeover but regardless the food is delicious!! The kubideh is my favorite and its the best!!!!!
(5)
Ali D.

Great food and service. They need to have more than just plain white rice to serve with kabobs. It might take longer than other restaurants and there is a good and a bad thing about this. Good thing is the food comes fresh out of the grill, yum. Bad thing, they give you something to snack while waiting but it isn't your favorite snack. Anyway, great food (4.5/5), and good staff (4/5).
(4)
J K.

We had a great meal - very fresh food, good service, moderate prices, easy parking.
(4)
Alida H.

This is my new favorite place for kabobs and persian food. It is so much better than another popular chain fast food kabob place which will remain unnamed. The food you get here is twice the portions of what you would get at the unnamed popular kabob place for just a dollar or two more, and the basmati rice is a lot more flavorful and moist. I ordered the Chelo Kabob Kubideh, and it was awesome. The kubideh was very tender, tasty, and juicy. On a side note, I was the only non middle-eastern person in the room, so that gives you an idea of how delicious and legitimate this place is!
(4)
Sharcoal E.

I work at the building across the street and I order for delivery or pick up. The proportion of food is not distributed well...Its like digging gold in the river. The meat is just shoved under a pile of rice...and literally alot of rice and they just give a few pieces of the chicken and beef...the taste was okay. I had better but its decent enough to fill a hungry tummy.
(3)
Soly Z.

We ate at Amoo's one night and Shamshiry the next night to compare the restaurants. Based on Yelp reviews, I was expecting a lot from Shamshiry and they totally fell short. The barg was tough and very hard to chew and the rice, while abundant, was not thoroughly cooked. This combo left us with stomach aches for the rest of the night. The doogh was good, however. We won't be back here again.
(2)
Lala R.

Excellent and authentic Persian food. (I am Iranian, I would know). The decor could use some sprucing up and I wish they served wine or beer, but all in all a really good kabob restaurant. I've been coming here for years.
(4)
Mohammed K.

Shamshiry's service on a normal week day is really good. good speed too. The interior is ok, nothing fancy. A typical middle eastern simple restaurant. The main dish that most of the customers order is Kobedeh. which is what I usually order at shamshiry. Very tasty, huge portions of rice and giant kebabs. The bread comes ready cut and in zip lock bags, which kind of ruins the experience of breaking a crisp hot piece of bread. Nothing more to say here folks
(3)
Ron R.

Excellent food and service. The place is very clean and always busy. The staff is very accommodating. Good location but finding parking is challenging. My daughters love this restaurant as well. When we have family gathering this is the go to place.
(5)
Nahyan H.

I remember I came to this place a very long time ago and I ordered the boneless chicken kabob. I was not satisfied with it at all. So when a friend of mine wanted to go one night I automatically declined and said lets go somewhere else. He told me i didn't order the right thing. Boy was he right. So I gave this place another chance. This time I ordered the khobedeh (ground beef). This has become one of my all time favorite places to eat. Their portions are huge. I actually ask for half the rice they normally give me, and when i want to go lighter at times even had them substitute just salad in place of the rice. The price is fair and the atmosphere is casual.
(5)
Vandad C.

Really good persian kabob. Definitely top five in northern VA and probably the best if you only consider lamb kabob. Lamb kabob isn't on the menu but you can ask for it. Generous servings will ensure you fall into a food coma shortly after so make sure you're not planning to go back to work after lunch. The restaurant itself is fairly small and cramped, not much of an atmosphere to talk about but you only go there for the kabob. And maybe the doogh but not the tahdig. Their tahdig is disappointing unfortunately.
(4)
Anna Y.

Huge portion. Make sure you order half rice and half salad. It's no extra charge since the regular rice portion is enormous. Parking garage in back. Not the walmart garage. I made that mistake when another reviewer said to park in the garage. Whatever you order you'll eat well and have enough to take home for another meal. :-)
(4)
Sal D.

I've been going here for years and every time I go I have a great experience. Small place but the service and food is worth it. Our server Bill made a great recommendation to me and my girlfriend. We wanted to order a side salad and both get our normal entrees. However, Bill mentioned that it would be better for us, for an extra $1 per entree, to split the rice in half and have 50% rice and 50% salad. I want so glad to hear that and it made my day because he was looking to give me the best deal for my date night. Greatly appreciated and would recommend Bill to anyone!
(5)
Kenneth M.

Eaten here for years and the quality is outstanding. I always have kabobs and they are never dry. The chicken and beef quality seems to be very good and service is always acceptable.
(5)
S. O.

The portions here are huge! I had the kubideh platter and I want to say the kubideh is in point. It very tender and not dry like other Kabob places. I definitely recommend that you come here hungry. We had this for lunch and I didn't need to eat dinner that day.
(4)
Wai M.

We were ushered into the cold private room. The place was really cold as the staff started bringing out the portable heaters. These heaters begin to make the place quite comfortable as we were finishing our dinner. The entree we received was kinda cold, probably because they have been sitting around while we were having our appetizers. Did not really enjoy the experience. On the plus side the bread was no longer served in ziploc bags. We will not be back.
(2)
A T.

Delicious food! Very traditional, yummy, generous portions. Very small space. My only complaint is that the cutlery and glasses sometimes have a funky smell. They could use better quality plates!
(5)
SÃ©amus C.

Popular Persian eatery near the heart of the Tysons area, almost-packed before 6pm on a winter Saturday. The entree servings are enormous, and the prices quite reasonable. Don't forget to ask for the (raw) egg yoke to stir in your huge mound of steaming rice, followed by some butter and reddish-brown sumac spice (in the table dispenser). The meats were well-seasoned and cooked to savory, juicy perfection. Most of the content diners were conversing in Farsi, which speaks to the authenticity of the food. Be mindful of the tight parking area, and the nearby spaces 'reserved' for some of the neighboring businesses.
(4)
John H.

Got here at 9pm on a Sunday night. The place was packed and had to wait for a table, that's how popular this place is. You can see the meat cooking thru a window right as you walk in. They looked delicious, and did not disappoint. Yes, you get a mountain of rice, but it's not to try and compensate for the lack of meat. The meat portion is also huge. I had the ground beef kababs and they're a great value around $10. Would return again.
(4)
Sondra K.

Five stars again. As always. This place delivers above and beyond. The owners are so friendly, the food is beyond amazing. The chicken is so tender, you can't get better kubideh in 100 miles (I've tried) atmosphere, fantastic, tea is fantastic, rose water ice cream fantastic. Just all around the best place in the DMV to eat, regardless of what you are craving. EAT HERE.
(5)
Tizi V.

Note how many of the positive reviews here are from non-Persians. Not trying to disparage anyone, but it says something. Shamshiry used to be good, but now it's just greasy. the rice is not good, it tastes over-boiled; does not taste like Persian-style rice, which is notoriously difficult to make (and it shows here). Portions are gargantuan, which I suppose is a plus for some. But it really just tastes like a bunch bland, overcooked rice and tomatoes thrown together with cheap saffron accompanied by greasy meat. I just feel sick after I eat here; nothing like authentic Persian food. I don't know many Persians who dine here anymore, FWIW.
(1)
Tony T.

The best Iranian kabobs place in the Northern Virginia area. We have to eat here whenever we're in town.
(5)
Gwumpykid D.

The bread is packed and taste just old. First Iranian place that do service bread in this form!! Service is bad! Server never checked on our food! We had to always call him when we needed something. Big portions&cheap but Kubideh was under cooked. Food tasted bland so we had to add salt, pepper and sumac. Our table was not clean enough when seated. My jacket got dirty from some butter left over not cleaned on the table. Dont think there will be a second time. I had better tasty kabob. I just do not get what is the hype over this place. Is it the portion of food?? Cheap?? I would pay more and eat smaller portions but with a better taste and service and ambience.
(2)
Marley D.

The very first time I came here it was about the BEST kabobs I've ever had. We made reservations in advance because we heard they get packed pretty fast. We arrived to be seated immediately amongst a crazy busy restaraunt. They lose credibility for serving stale pita out of pre-packaged zip-loc bags, not cool. The yogurt sauce for dipping was pretty nice, refreshing, tasty and palette cleansing. The mysterious green sauce did it for me, delicious heat. I ordered the chicken kabobs, my mom the steak kabobs, and other folks in my party got the chicken and Cornish hen kabobs. The chicken was deliciously grilled, perfect char marks (my favorite), juicy and tender bites that were perfectly seasoned. Each order comes with TWICE as much rice compared to protein. And the server never told us we could get salad instead of rice (no biggie.) I tried my mom's steak and it was peppery, charred and yummy; just a little dry for my taste. Our super friendly server bought us free shirazi salads which were AMAZINGGGG and their cinnamon ice cream was beautiful. HOWEVER.... A few weeks later, I had fallen ill and sent my family (all the way from Frederick, MD) to Shamshiry to satisfy my kabob craving that I've so intensely fantasized since my first visit. Sad to say... It did not live up to my dreams and may have even converted me to Moby Dicks (which I detested as "fake me out kabobs.") my family came home Easter Sunday claiming they received such horrible service... And I got to taste the now proclaimed "horrible" food... They were right, the chicken this time was so dry, tasteless and deff not as much as the first time. The salad was all brown and yucky... Not edible. I will never return. (Maybe it was because it was Easter Sunday... Idk, no excuses here.)
(2)
Mark M.

My friend told me this place had good kabob...she was wrong.. It's GREAT! It's extremely flavorful and juicy. We ordered the kibudeh, ground beef, and it was phenomenal! She told me she liked eating it with a piece of pita, some yogurt, they had two to choices, rice, this red paprika looking condiment, and a piece of onion: the onion really brought out the flavor even more! It was freshly cut onion. It was crisp which was well combined with the juiciness of the ground beef. The service was good, especially considering how busy it was. It was actually quite packed for a Monday. I'll say that the parking situation had me a little bit on my toes considering area has some of the best tow truck drivers. Location was a bit hidden, but it definitely qualifies as a "hole in the wall" type of restaurant. Overall, I had a great experience, I would highly recommend this to anyone, especially those of large parties, very accommodating from what I saw for that Monday evening.
(5)
Alan M.

Shamshiry has become a constant disappointment with small portions and higher prices. The food at the express location is much better. Really wish the owner would correct the issues as I hear other customers complaining as well.
(2)
Mark A.

I agree with more of the recent reviewers that while this place is good, it is not 4 or 5 stars many have previously given. Compared to other restaurants of this background, this is the first time I've gotten the bread in a zip lock bag. Is that the way to go now? It is surely interesting. And yes, they give you enough rice for 3 servings and while good, I just can't carb up like that. And to the chicken kabob which I ordered, the flavor was OK, but others places in the area have better flavor. Again, this is an OK spot to go to, but if you have the option to try another spot in the area, would recommend doing that first.
(2)
Ash C.

Seriously?! All of you who gave it the same ratings as Rose Kabob need to visit Rose Kabob and then compare!!! Yeah they give BIGG HELPINGS of food but quality over quantity right? 1st turn off: bread was not fresh! 2nd turn off: chicken was ehhhhh whatever 3rd turn off: too friggin crowded with weird seating and chairs are awfully uncomfortable! VISIT ROSE KABOB PLZ AND THEN COMPARE!
(2)
Karthik E.

I think this place is overrated. The kabobs I had here was dry, service was also poor and pricing was excessive. I went for lunch with my colleagues and am not sure if it's the busy hour issue. Rice was undercooked, didn't have any flavor to it. I had to contend with adding sumac spice powder to flavor the rice. I wouldn't go here again.
(2)
Dominique F.

Pretty delicious! Crowded place. Fast service. Huge portions. Flavorful food. Definitely worth stopping by.
(4)
Arthur F.

This is the spot most Iranian folks will say is the best/cheap/authentic Persian food after they tell you Moby Dicks Kabob sucks lol. Ordered: Dish 1 Chelo Kabob (rice*) Shamshiry (includes Kabob Kubideh (the traditional ground meat kabob) and Kabob Barg (filet mignon) Dish 2 Chicken Kabob Pros: -Relatively cheap, not much more expensive then Moby dick's kabob, especially for a sit down -Ginormous portions of meat and RICE... lots and lots of RICE (albeit good) -no butter in the rice (pro for me b/c you can regulate the butter content). they have a small dish full of wrapped single serving butter. -Best Kubideh (ground meat) I've had at a kabob joint. The meat wasn't densely packed like a lot of other places. Similar to how a good hand made burger can get ruined by over packing/pounding it too tight, much better when left crumbly. -Lots of middle eastern customers (all when I was there actually). Always a good sign when eating at an ethnic joint to have the customer base share the cuisines ethnicity =) Cons: -Prepackaged traditional Persian bread. They put them in zip locks at every table. Not fresh = not good. -Very bland seasoning. I'm told by a couple of Persian friends that this is how most like to eat their food. They did have paprika and tobasco sauce at the table. But the chicken and filet mignon tasted like it had virtually no seasoning on it at all. All the more noticeable b/c the Kubideh was season very well and quite tasty. Overall good but I guess overrated is a good word. Plenty of other Kabob places I'd consider better. Maybe not Iranian Kabob but similar. *I requested a raw egg yolk to add to one of the dishes rice. An old school traditional method of eating I'm told. So much rice, so little egg yolk, I couldn't hardly taste the difference.
(3)
Chau P.

7:00 PM Saturday- 3 people 1. Ambiance: It's a nice and casual restaurant with a tiny foyer that has access to viewing the preparation of the meats. If the window that shows the huge fire cooking kabobs isn't a promulgation that you are in a kabob paradise then I don't know what is. 2. Food: Unfortunately, the food is not very promising. I ordered the Chicken Soltani with eggs on top of my rice. My goodness, there was a lot of rice. I had enough to feed the needy. The meats were dry and limited. Again, I could not take my eyes off the huge pile of rice. It was moist, but could I get a nice proportion of meat to go with it? I was lost for words. 3. Service: It was very busy and our waiter was not much of an assistance in deciphering the menu for us. The avid waiter was ready to quickly record our orders to tend to many other starving patrons. I felt rushed dining in, I must say. 4. Costs: Absolutely overpriced for a limited amount of kabob and an overbearing amount of rice. The rations were unjustifiable. 5. Overall Experience: I would not return to this restaurant again until they provide more mouth watering meat and less rice. Side Notes: n/a
(1)
Leslie J.

I knew I should've gone with my gut when I placed my order; hence, the hype did not live up to my expectations. The kubideh was just OK (tasted boring and bland like it hadn't been marinated long enough or flavored with many spices), and now I know, it's not the favored meat choice. Next time I will go for either the Chicken Soltani or the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry. Pros: Overly generous portions. Cons: It gets crazy packed during lunch hour on the weekdays. There is a good chance your waiter might bring out wrong orders and the wrong check. Womp, here's to a better lunch outcome next time.
(3)
Suzan H.

My family regularly places huge orders for special occasions from them. Quality of food is good but I am handing over this rating for extreme lack of common sense in customer service because of the following situation: Sister was hosting dinner and placed a large order for about 15 for pick up. An order of salmon was missing once food was unpacked for dinner. She called the restaurant and asked them to remove the charge from the receipt as driving back wasn't an option. I listened to the phone conversation and the person who is also Iranian and is suppose to have the best manners told her she can come back or forget it. No apology no sorry we messed up NO customer service skills. Persian restaurants are abundant in DC area and If this is an example of how they treat loyal customers they don't deserve our business.
(1)
JJ W.

After hearing raving reviews about this restaurant I was expecting more. The kabobs where good (not the best) and they give you a lot of rice. Also the service was very fast. My biggest complaint is the bread. For me, the bread is as important to a Persian meal as the rice and the bread was extremely mediocre if not plain bad. It came in a little ziplock Baggie, cold and hard and just not very appetizing. Overall just an ok meal
(3)
Pumpkin S.

I didn't get any joy out of eating at this place. The food was just not fresh. They even served the bread in zip-loc bags.
(2)
Homin S.

This used to be the best kabob house in the DMV area , my family and I loved this place until tonight. The food was terrible! The rice was bland and with no salt, the chicken was not marinated with no spices. Maybe they have a new cook, maybe new owners. I'm only giving them 2 stars because the service was good. They also add 18% gratuity to the check for tables of 6 or more; I hate this in any restaurant because they are basically telling me that I have to pay their servers salary even if the service is poor. Hope they wake up and go back to their old ways.
(2)
Sherif A.

Best Persian food in the DMV
(5)
Kristophe C.

Food is great! Service is excellent! We drive all the way from Maryland for the quality of food.
(4)
Hossein A.

What a lunch! We went there for Soltani kebab and Baqali Polo. I enjoyed the meal. Although we got there around 6pm for lunch, we had to wait in line....that wasn't really good but the food compensated for everything. And their price is fair. For the parking you have to go to the top floor in the parking deck which was no problem.
(5)
Serene J.

Soooo delicious! Chicken kabob, Salmon, the specials, all delicious and always consistent. Im not crazy about the bread, but they have a lot of Persian specials that the average kabob place doesnt have. Ghorme Sabzi- soooo good, Baghali polo which is a green, dill rice with salmon is amazing!! Zeresh polo is so good too. (So sorry to everyone I offended for my poor spelling of Persian food). The staff is so friendly. You may have to wait if you want a seat but it is so worth it. The food is consistently wonderful. Its not cheap, but not expensive. You get what you pay for, and you are getting delicious, fresh food. The only bad thing is that it is far from my house.
(5)
Frank K.

Good Persian kabobs close to Tyson's corner. On weekends the place is crowded, wait was like 10 mins max. Parking is good in a close by garage. Service was prompt and attentive in a crowded place. Portions are very big for me. We ordered two entrees for two adults and two children and it was more than enough for us. Green tea at the end of the meal makes the good food digest faster and the Persian ice cream is to die for and priced very reasonably.
(5)
Nikan H.

Truly the best Persian food I've had in America. Rice: fluffy and delicious. Kabobs: soft, tender, and flavorful. I didn't care much about the bread in the bag because when I got my meal, my mind was blown.
(5)
Samuel Y.

I used to love Shamshiry it was so delicious. Something recently changed. Food not the same, staff are unfriendly, and they add the tip to themselves in the total check! I mean seriously what-the!!! I would not recommend it now especially that I've seen the change compared to how they were before.
(3)
Mahwash M.

Their Chicken Kabideh are very soft and juicy which comes with buttered white rice. Also tried their yogurt drink - awesome! Will definitely recommend my friends ...
(5)
Mazdak O.

This is one of my favorite Kabob restaurants in DC area. The food is above average for an Iranian dish. Their Tahdig with stew on it is very good and I always have that as appetizer or sometimes as the main dish. The staff are friendly and nice. Also, the ice cream is very good.
(4)
John K.

Used to have great food . The portion has been cut in half . I don't care that much for the rice . Because the used to give you a lot of rice . But when the cut down on kabobs . The chicken is burned and dry small . If the wanted to make more money they should of raise the price I was ready to pay a dollar or two extra for great kabob .
(3)
Faisal A.

First of all, there service is absolutely outstanding. Second, the food is high good. the only and best order you c
(4)
Victoria Z.

This really could have been a 5 star rating, because the food was SO GOOD. However, the waitress we had was not a happy person at all. We had a big crowd, but we made sure we were patient and easy to deal with and she had a attitude from the beginning. Due to that, I almost bumped my rating down to three stars. But, since the food was AMAZING (cheap prices and there was LOTS of it!) I was kind and gave them a four. When I go back, I'll be happy to bump it up to five stars with a cheery server.
(4)
Phi N.

It's a bit far for me to be going here, but if I lived closer, I'd prob go pretty often. My friend and I split the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry and Chicken Soltani. We also added an egg to the rice. The plates were huuuge-- too much rice. Try not to fill yourself on bread, butter and that spicy green sauce. Although that green sauce is so great... i thoguht the chicken was the best. The barg was also very scrumptious. I wasn't very impressed with the kubideh.
(4)
Sal A.

Delicious! Chicken kabob, kubeida, and Sabzi ghorma. Yum! Big portions and great quick service. Try any of the kabobs with zereshk polo for a party in your mouth! This is my only spot for Persian food. Dinner time Gets packed but it's worth it!
(5)
Tasha K.

This place is very good, their koobideh is perfect and rice is excellent. I like their tea as well. This has been my family's favorite for over 4 years now. The food, the service and the prices never disappoint.
(5)
Reza I.

The food note taste as promise the rice was with a lot of chip butter very unhealthy the meat was horrible the place was crowded, no good service I never are going to go back.
(1)
Kathy N.

Went there for first time on busy Father's Day afternoon. Quick, pleasant, helpful service. We enjoyed our waiter who gave us a quick history lesson on difference between Persian and Indian food (another restaurant up the sidewalk). Our food was fantastic. We ordered tea, doog (yogurt and mint drink), hummus. Chicken ,salmon, and beef kabobs were delicious. Plenty of salmon pieces-contrary to another reviewer's experience.. None of the meat was dry-our usual experience with most kabob places. Finished with the ice cream. That's worth our trip from Bethesda. Will return often.
(4)
Jessica M.

I went to this place with my Persian friend who said they serve the best Persian dish in the area. I loved their Kabobs and the service was great! However, I was much disappointed with flat breads in a zip bag and also the cucumber sauce that I ordered as a side was too heavy for me. I probably wouldn't recommend this place to someone who is used to Americanized Persian food like Moby Dick.
(4)
Foodrunner F.

This place has pretty good food. You should get your dish with rice because you can ask them to put cranberries or oranges in the rice. Or you can get your rice extra crunchy. The kabobs are pretty good too. Service is ok. The servers can come of kind of rude but they may not mean it. The atmosphere is causal. The restaurant is open and it is good for a group of loud young people or a family. There are a lot Middle Easterners and Persians who eat here. I think most of the items are halal, but you should ask.
(4)
J W.

The rice is very good and the food, overall, is very good. VERY BUSY PLACE. Expect to wait for a table, especially on weekends. But I have to say Moby Dick's is just as good.
(4)
Greg O.

After being ignored at I-Thai, we saw that Shamshiry was around the corner and decided to give it a try. As some of the other reviews have mentioned, its not much inside. Its certainly large, but the decor and atmosphere is sparse and lacking to say the least. The service is good, but not great. We were seated quickly and the only complaint I would have is that it was tough to get water and drink refills. The food was very good though- the kabob had a good amount of spice and flavor to it, and it was served on a mound of rice, or rather a mountain. We took the leftovers home and had enough rice for another two meals. Very good meal, and worth trying to find in the office park.
(3)
Steve T.

The food here was pretty good, and wasn't too expensive. There were a few items that were extremely marked up, such as the Baklava. That should have been priced at $0.50 because it was small, and wasn't too tasty. The portions are huge though! You can definitely feed 2-3 people with a single entree. The only reason why this place isn't marked 3 stars is because of the service. The waitress was rude to my guest and I when we asked for more detail about certain dishes. It was my first time there, so when I asked for a recommendation, she tried to upsell me the filet mignon. Also, when I asked for water, she put a pitcher on the table.... B**** please, if I'm going to be doing your job, you should tip me at the end of the night. I also ordered a dish after reading the description. It was supposed to come with raw egg yolk that you're supposed to pour onto your rice. It didn't, so when I asked her about it, she told me it doesn't come like that. There's a good chance I misread the description, but she didn't have to roll her eyes at me. I recommend doing carryout if you want to eat here.
(2)
Al B.

disappointed by service and food. going down the drain. writing it from inside the restaurant im so disappointed. such a shame.
(2)
Irene A.

this place is absolutely delicious I cannot get over how soft and juicy their kabobs are. I have eaten persian food my whole life, every sunday and this is by far the best persian food I have EVER had in my life. If you are looking for high quality persian food this is the place to go. The staff is friendly, it has a warm atmosphere and good for any age group. You are welcomed when you enter and you automatically can see them grilling the kabob infront of you. The delicious smell really fills the room. You get a good amount of food for a good price and can take the rest home.
(5)
Elias C.

Wow best chicken soltani hands down. I eat there all the time, and have never been disappointed. Amazing ....
(5)
zubin l.

We went in a big group and most of us ordered their Kubideh which is probably their most popular item on the menu. The kabob feels meaty, succulent, juicy and filling but the spice were bland. If not of the hot sauce, this place would have been a dud. You get 3 skewers and a big serving of rice and a side of grilled full tomato. If you are really not that hungry, you can easily split this between 2 people. Overall good and worth going. The other dishes were priced on the higher side.
(3)
Christian V.

Bring your appetite! Portions are huge, food is fresh, tasty and the service very snappy. Favorites include the Shamshiry, Kubideh, Tandoori and Mahi. The Persian Salad Bowl makes a good start.
(4)
Mrs. Arati S.

It was a mistake going here. A total waste of money. We went with a group of few friends to this place for dinner on a Saturday night. Our waiter was HORRIBLE. My friend had to get up and walk to the kitchen at least 3 times throughout the course of our dinner and actually had to grab a few things herself for our table. Once to get extra bread (which comes in those God-awful Ziplock plastic bags), once to remind him of our drink refills and once to remind him again about getting our yogurt sauce (which he should've brought to us at the beginning of our meal). AND they charge extra for yogurt sauce. Pathetic. I had gotten the lamb kabob meal which was too chewy to swallow. The dish came with a ginormous amount of rice which didn't taste like anything. Our dish was supposed to come with an egg cracked on top of it which is supposed to cook through by the steam of the rice; our waiter forgot our eggs and when we asked him about it, he finally brought out a tray of raw eggs for us towards the end of the meal (after asking him about 3 times). What in the world were we supposed to do with raw eggs at the end of our dinner? Our food wasn't even close to warm when he brought out the eggs. Oh, and to top things off, our waiter got our entire tables checks mixed up. It took him about 20 minutes to figure out what he did wrong with our bills. We had asked him in the beginning of our meal to keep our checks separate so as to avoid confusion. And after reassuring us that there would be no confusion with the checks, he still messed them up. Should I even answer the question as to whether or not we'll be going back there again?
(1)
Joshua D.

I've visited here twice now, and both were very good experiences. There's never a wait, and the service is always pretty good. The food here is delicious. These kabobs are in the Iranian style I believe for the most part, as opposed to the Iraqi (Tigris Grill in Vienna) or one of the several Mediterranean-style places in the area. Because I love kabobs, I also love getting this unique take on them, which doesn't stray to much from the tried-and-true formula but changes things up just enough to be interesting and add a new flavor of deliciousness. The meat variety here is great, and I really recommend you go with the kubideh (a ground beef/lamb mixture that looks like a sausage and tastes sort of like gyro meat) if you've never tried it before. The chicken is also good, and you can get a dish that mixes the two, so that's a win-win. I really like the sumac spice on the table -- put it on everything! You can even get some truly authentic quirks to your dish here if you want -- like a raw egg cracked over your rice to watch it cook in. One thing I must say -- GENEROUS PORTIONS! Yeah, OK, you're paying $10-16, and rice is cheap, but still... I think you're getting your money's worth. The large, square plates I'm pretty sure are a square foot. Huge. And you get enough meat to go from end-to-end of the plate, atop the largest portion of rice I have ever been given at a restaurant! You also get a roasted whole tomato, onions, etc. Before your entree comes, you get a whole pack of flatbread for the table. This place is just amazing, both in taste and value. The only reason I give Shamshiry four instead of five stars is because of how inconsistent the experience is. One time, I got this really tasty rice crisp atop my dish, another time I didn't. One time, everyone in a party of 10 had their orders come out just right. Another time, in a party of two, a dish was brought out wrong. So, despite a few tweaks they could make here, I wouldn't say anything other than this is a must-try! I now consider myself a regular and will go back soon.
(4)
Alexander K.

I was able to have lunch here with my co-workers; I must say my expectations were sky high upon reading these yelp reviews. I mean, the kabobs were good, but not as godly as many of these reviews illustrate. I ordered the kabob shamshiry which had both the steak and kubideh. The latter half of the kabobs became a bit dry when I got to them. There is a piping hot mountain of rice served with the kabobs, simply an immense portion; I don't know how one person can consume all that rice in one sitting! The slices of raw onion were a nice touch when paired with the pieces of kabob. The tomato slice with the dish was completely charred as well, which I wasn't fond of.
(3)
Stephanie G.

I love this place! The staff is friendly and the food is amazing! The portions are huge and I can always take some home to enjoy the next day. The chicken kabob is my go to meal...it is amazing every time. I would never go anywhere else! The cinnamon icecream is delicious as well! I have nothing bad to say about this place!
(5)
Norma S.

Rice is perfect! Never knew there was such a difference but there is! The place is family oriented. Nice but not fancy. Staff is friendly. I enjoyed the menu because it not only provides a list of what is offered but a two sentence paragraph with a story of when the dish would be served or who/how it is created. Plenty of food so you will definitely have left-overs.
(4)
Imran G.

I'm not a huge fan of 'Persian food' or whatever Iranian people call themselves these days. However, this place truly stood out from all of the other places I've tried, so I will let them call themselves whatever they want. Aside from that, I had some preconceptions about this place due to my dads rave reviews for it. The few restaurants that he's taken me to are truly outstanding, and this place isn't an exception. Shamshiry was packed on a Saturday at 3 pm. I think it just speaks to the high caliber and quality of food. Usually I don't go by other people's opinions, but this place was literally packed when we got there, and packed after we left. They start you off with a ziplock bag of what appears to be homecooked pita bread. I know it seems sort of ghetto, but it was really tasty along with their spread, sauce, and other concoctions. My dad and I ordered only $25 worth of food, but we could hard finish it. Their kabobs were delectable and quite possibly the best I've ever tasted. It was a harmonic balance accompanied by the presence of the perfect rice containing nuts and berries. Despite our empty stomachs, we had to pack some of it and take it home. Winning. I can't recommend Shamshiry enough, I really really enjoyed it and will come back if I'm in the area.
(5)
Ali G.

Been enjoying Shamshiry for 15yrs. I've enjoyed kabobs around the world and the kubideh here still reigns supreme with my taste buds (request "burnt rice" with it). I l love their tea so much - found out the brand/flavor - have a can at home. For dessert, the saffron ice cream tops off every dinner nicely. For those trying for the first time - beware, portions are huuuuge and it's not the typical service where people come ask every 5min "how are things". Your food is brought out quickly and you're left alone to enjoy - need something - make eye contact with your server or raise your hand.
(5)
Moose S.

If you're into carb overload this is the place for you. Not only do you get to indulge in complimentary bread but they serve you a mountain a rice with your entree. The barg and kubideh was good but their chicken kabob was horrible. The chicken had no flavor to it what's so ever and it was very disappointing. The yogurt with cucumber was forgettable and the service from our waitress was atrocious. She was in attentive and pushy.
(3)
Sam K.

Be careful if your one of the first customers of the day, their ground beef was obviously from the night before. They used to be our favorite kabob place, but never again after eating their kobo idea, ground beef.
(1)
Linda B.

I love when Yelp reviews are spot on! This place was fantastic, minus the wait time (but silly me did not make a reservation!). Upon sitting down, we were immediately served bread (in a ziplock bag to keep it soft) and some sort of chili sauce & butter. I ordered the Chelo Kabob Shamshiry (16.99) and might I say, the portions are huge!! This dish served two types of meat. My friend ordered the Chicken Kebob and for appetizers we ordered the Mast-o Khiar (a yogurt sauce with cucumbers, fresh dill & herbs). Definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Khan J.

Best fresh & tasty Food ever had in this area or other persian food places so far, best prices and large serving sizes. Only part is cold bread at the start, it needs to be fresh and hot...anyway we go there for kabobs and rice, that is perfect! Perfect!
(5)
Johnny A.

The meat is good and they give you enough rice to feed a village, but the salads are not all that and the bread is stale. Speaking of bread, come on Shamshiry, you can serve fresh bread instead of this ziplock packed poor excuse for bread. Having said that, wait staff are not very attentive, but the host is great and the cashier is very pleasant.
(3)
Rebecca M.

Persian flavors and tender grill renditions served on a white table cloth in an authentic style (think slower, more European service) make me a fan! Succulent chicken, beef, kubedah (the Iranian take on Arabic Kibda) and lamb. I love the way Persians serve it up with yogurt sauce, fresh mint, spring onion and white onion. The Shirazi salad with tomato, cucumber, and onion dripped with olive oil and vinegar is amazing as well! I love the specially flavored rice, such as Zareshk Palau with barbar berries, or Shireen Palau that they ocassionally have. Yummy! One of my favorite Kabob places and second only to Rose Kabob in the succulence of their chicken! Mmmmmmm.....
(4)
Sam N.

As much as I do love the food there I hate the service they don't have any sense of urgency. They never come back to check on you..
(3)
Grace M.

I'm not sure about their other food but I got takeout chicken kabob and it was just average, not much flavor. Note: don't get an extra thing of rice because the take out had a TON. Also the portions of chicken for the kabob were very large too which I can't complain about. I prefer the chicken kabob from moby dick. My coworker said he liked the steak kabob from here rather than moby dick though.
(3)
Angela K.

Definitely recommend this little hidden gem. It's hidden off the main road for sure but the good quality is excellent. Have been here for lunch and many yikes for carry out. I can say the care your portions are massive... Mainly with a tonnnn Of basmati rice but nonetheless it's good eats here. Just go here and try it out.
(5)
Zuleikha S.

I really don't understand the hype about this place? I always hear people talk about it and how amazing the food is. I went to a birthday gathering and we all ordered different styles of kabob. The plates came out pretty quickly (or maybe we were all just talking so much that time passed by?) The waiter was nice, an older Iranian man. The rice, I could feed 4 others with me, that's how much rice was served in one plate!! They didn't really fill the drinks, or maybe refills are charged? When everyone was done eating as much as they could, one of the young Spanish servers began collecting the plates. I'm not sure if he did not speak English but a few of us told him we wanted to box the food. Instead, he stacked all the plates and walked away to the kitchen. Only mine got boxed because I actually spoke to the Iranian guy and used hand movements. The kabobs were okay but I've had better in other restaurants. And the rice was sticky, dry, and not too soft. Maybe the butter would've helped. And the bread...oh bread...why must you be served in a zip-loc bag? One of my friends thought the birthday girl had brought the bread from home! The green chili dipping sauce that came with the bread was 90% garlic. I wish they served a salad instead of a quarter of the plate being filled with onions. And also, since many of us shared plates, they should've brought us extra plates so we didn't have to sit so very close just to share. It was an okay experience, but I'm not coming back unless I have to. Or maybe just for the Persian Ice Cream...
(3)
Cee L.

Love this place! Delicious kabobs... chicken, beef, fish and the best lamb ever! This is the only place I'll eat lamb. We drive 20 minutes just to get carry out here. FYI, if you get take out, toast the bread and it tastes even better. Also be ready for some leftovers because they pile in so much food that we can't finish it. I typically hate leftovers but the food is still good the next day. Oh and don't forget to order some salad shirazi on the side. Great flavor and gives a refreshing after taste.
(5)
Mark W.

I went to this kabob restaurant in Tyson's Corner the other night. The food and service were superb, the food was amazing and the stuff just top notch. Bijan the owner of the restaurant was going around each table greeting all the customers, he is just so amicable. I will highly recommend this restaurant, just a great place to dine.
(5)
Sina E.

This place was buzzing when I went for a birthday dinner. It looks bigger from the outside because of the mirror reflection lol but either way it's decent size inside. Lots of persians eating here but others as well. The rice portion of dishes is HUGE here...maybe too large compared to your chicken kubideh/beef kubideh that you get. I got half chicken kubideh half beef kubideh. The chicken was great, not overcooked like some other places. The beef kubideh was decent in my opinion. Overall, it's one of the better persian places in the area. They also had some persian stews but didn't try them. I'll be interested to see how those turn out. I would return.
(4)
Fenny L.

I am seriously 15 reviews behind, but I just had such a yummy lunch at Shamshiry that I had to write this review as my breath is still marvelously oniony-yogurty-kebulahy. Heh. At 10:30 I receive a text message to meet up with fellow Yelpers for lunch. By a confluence of psychic yelping powers, we all came to the agreement to meet up at Shamshiry - independently. When something like that happens, you know it's destiny. I arrived early and I have to say - this place wasn't the easiest to find. Along the Westwood Center strip, Shamshiry is actually on the side of the building - around the corner from "Black Jack's". However, with the help of a nice security guard, a GPS, three boy scouts and 10 minutes of wandering, I eventually find it. I probably should have just gone where my nose was leading me anyways. The inside of Shamshiry isn't anything spectacular. A mirrored wall along the back makes the place look bigger then it is. Miraculously, I was here before everyone else, so I grab a table, and the waiter quickly brings a pitcher of water, pita, jalapeno cilantro chutney, and butter. It was rather odd, as the pita was served in ziplock bags in baskets. I'm quite sure that the ziplock bags were intended to keep the pita from drying out...however, it does lessen the ambiance a little to have bread served in a plastic bag. Perhaps the waiters could remove the pita from the bags before serving? The jalapeno cilantro chutney was the same way, in little plastic sauce containers. Odd. Jeff W, Xi W, arrive with Kevin L in tow. I order the Kebulah, and we decided to all share an order of the yogurt sauce. Although it took a while, the Kebulah was well worth the wait. The skewers of meat were incredibly tender, moist and flavorful, quite tasty even without the added deliciousness of the yogurt sauce. However, for my money, the real star of the meal was the basmati rice. Wonderfully fluffy, light, steamy with the natural sweetness that is good rice, we all agreed that the rice was marvelous. Xi W ordered the salmon kabob, and with her meal, she received dill rice. Now, I am a purist, and as a normal thing, I don't like my rice flavored with anything but the natural yummy juices from my meal. That said, the dill rice was insanity! So flavorful, delicious with absurdly tasty dill flavor - I am making a mental note to ask for dill rice next time I come. The service was quick if silent. It was as if we had a Persian ninja as a server. While ordering, Kevin L noticed that he didn't have a water glass and asked for one. Without a word, or a pause, the waiter disappeared to fetch a water glass. In the middle of ordering. Then, when we needed change for our meal, our waiter flies by, takes the $10, and swiftly returns with change without a single word. Silent. Deadly. A ninja. What a wonderful Friday lunch! Great food with amazing people! Of course, they were highly inappropriate making comments causing this innocent little Asian to blush! Those guys...so naughty! HAHA! I can't wait to come back - I'm so excited that there is a new work lunch place in my repertoire!
(4)
Raj R.

One of my favorite Persian restaurants in the NoVA area. Although the prices have steadily been going up and the menu is still the same old and needs some revamping. Their kobedah kabob and jujeh chicken is still one to die for though. I would hope that they would start making some fresh persian bread rather than the bakery bread they have been using for the longest time. And please get rid of your cracked glasses and plates, they are a turn off.
(4)
Amanda M.

As soon as I walked in a server said we're closed even though they were clearly open. He thought it was funny. I did not think it was. Then they leave pitchers of water on the table. And they bring a baggie with bread. This looks so unappetizing! What are they thinking?!?! So there was definitely a bad start because the first server was so rude! And it took awhile for a waiter to come by to take our order. This was our first time here so we decided to split an entree to try it out first. The clientele was almost entirely Persian which is always a good sign and it was fairly crowded at 5pm. We got the Chelo Kabob Barg and the plate was very large and had a lot of rice, some raw onion with some oil, 2 grilled tomatoes and a long thin piece of meat. The meat was very flavorful and the whole dish as a whole was delicious! We will definitely be back, but maybe takeout is a better option.
(4)
Erin E.

There are several decent Persian kabob places in the Tysons area, but this one is my favorite. In addition to the food being delicious, there is SO MUCH OF IT. Like literally, mountains and mountains of fluffy white rice. Also, the owner/man who is always at the register really seems to care about customers and is a really nice guy. As others have said, the bread does come in a zip lock bag. If you are mortally offended by zip lock bags (which I am not) then you should probably go elsewhere.
(5)
P T.

love this place
(5)
Stanley I.

Great food. When I went, the food was a little dry. Plenty of food! Inexpensive and great for hanging out with friends. Quick service. Waiters took their time to explain the items on the menu.
(4)
Kelly H.

Meat city. Vegetarians, Vegans, and non red meat eaters..stay away from Shamshiry. This wonderful joint is for people who appreciate grilled meat. Juicy, succulent, and aromatic meat at a very reasonable price. I don't know what took me so long to visit here. I live 3 minutes way from this restaurant, passed by many times, but never checked it out until now. Wasn't I missing out!! The menu is quite simple. Pick out the meat that you like.. lamb, beef, chicken??? your choice. Then the plates come with MOUNTAIN of rice. Let me repeat that. Mountain of Rice. I took the left over and ate the rice for the next two days. Dishes come with small side salad with tangy dressing. It goes well with the meat. Amazing value meal that taste very good. If you like the crispy rice, you have to ask for it. I forgot to ask for it, and I saw someone else getting it... I guess I was being a novice. :) This place is smaller than you think, but plenty of chairs and tables. I went there for early dinner/late lunch, kind of weird time, but there were still many people there. So keep that in mind. I think it could get really busy during the peak times. Seriously, if you are a meat lover and haven't been to Shamshiry. You are missing out! I can't wait to go back! Happy chewing!!
(4)
Nina R.

Very delicious kabobs, get the kubideh! Very generous amount of rice. The mast o moosir is amazing and the bread tastes good too. The green sauce is spicy (I love spicy).
(4)
Eric O.

Step 1: Get tired of "the usual" and find something new to try. Step 2: Order mast-o khiar and chicken soltani. Step 3: Enjoy and wish you had found this earlier.
(4)
Jeremy C.

My girlfriend and I went on a Friday night, after finding the place in a weird location under an office building. It was quite busy, and the service showed it. We were seated promptly, but after that, there were no waiters to be found. My girlfriend ordered the Chelo Kabob Kubideh, and I had the Chelo Kabob Barg. After waiting nearly 35 minutes for our food, we were each welcomed with a huge dish of rice, onions, a grilled tomato and our choices of meat. Pros: Huge portion sizes - go hungry. Cons: Slow service, strange location, smokey dining room, not extremely flavorful. Overall, nothing to hoot and holler about, but definitely something new to try.
(3)
Jannelle H.

This was my first time at a Persian restaurant. My boyfriend took me here as it is one his favorites. I really liked it. The kabobs were excellent. We ordered special toppings on the rice which gave everything an amazing flavor. Portions are huge. What couldn't eat I brought home. I made me an additional two meals. The service was excellent. They didn't keep us waiting. Our glasses remained full. I look forward to coming back.
(4)
Tom L.

I love Shamshiry and try to stop by anytime I am in McLean. The portions here are huge and the price is right. I normally order the chicken soltany which is a combination of kubideh and chicken kabob. I've learned to add the butter in the rice and to also eat with the onion. I am really glad one of my coworkers brought me to this place for lunch one day and have been a loyal customer.
(5)
Mimi P.

Meh. Pros: +The cornish hen Jujeh Kabob was tasty. +They give you lots and lots of rice. Really. I thought that I was at an asian family style restaurant with the amount of rice I got on my plate! I usually eat all of my rice, but I literally had to take home more than half of what was served to me. To me, it was quite excessive. Note: if you're a runner, it's a great place to carb load before a marathon. Cons: -Skimpy servings of meat. I was digging around the rice to see if I had anymore underneath the rice. -Below par tasting filet mignon while their menu describes it as " elegant taste of filet Mignon. Fine food at its best." That description on their menu prompted us to choose the Chelo Kabob Barg. Don't make the same mistake I did. -Yogurt is NOT complimentary. They charge $3.50 for a generous cup. Even though it's refreshing because they have dill and cucumbers in the mix, I don't think they should charge for a sauce that is crucial to the kabob experience. If they must, $1-2 seems more reasonable. -Bread is not freshly made. It was repackaged and served in a zip lock bag. -Pricey- Dinner for two was close to $40 after all was said and done. I've never paid that much for kabob before! Bla.
(2)
Sahar R.

The persian to american ratio in this place is 500:1, so you know it's good. If you manage to find this hidden away restaurant in Tyson's Corner, then you're well on your way to many persian delights.. There's always a wait but so worth it. You will sit down and get your plate of sabzi (parsley, greens, cheese, onions). If you're confused we do eat raw onions, so this is maybe not a hot date kinda place. The rice is fantastic with everything but the bread is lacking though. The portions are ginormous. They do make a mean kubideh kabob and Zeresk Polo. The service is efficient but they aren't amazingly friendly.
(4)
N J.

I'm a fan for their perfectly grilled meats. Although Shamshiry doesn't offer the sides (chickpeas, salad, etc.) that other kabob places offer, what they do offer, they do very well. I always get the chicken kabob and it's always very juicy and tender. You get a generous helping of rice, a grilled tomato, sliced onions, lemon, and, if available, crunchy rice piece. I always eat half and have the rest for dinner or lunch the next day. I love their spicy green chili sauce and always ask for more to take home to have with my leftovers. I will say though that I'm not a fan of their bread that comes out in a zip loc baggie. It would be nicer if they made fresh bread, but not a deal breaker.
(4)
Samir P.

Best Persian food on the East Coast. This is the original Persian restaurant in the DC area. The food is amazing, service is fantastic, portion sizes huge, and management is always super friendly. This is the crown jewel of Persian food in DC. Dont miss out!
(5)
Nari M.

Best kabob place in the DMV area! You can't go wrong
(4)
Jin C.

I have been coming here for 15 years. Food is great and consistent.
(5)
Saif A.

10/10. Best persian kabob possibly anywhere in the US. Ive tried MANY. The Kubideh is as perfect as you can get as is the rice. Consistency is also a hallmark. Its always great.
(5)
James H.

Thank you AR. Always the best. The best kabobs we ever have are at Shamshiry. It is a must visit whenever we come to town. This past visit was with four kids under five and they loved it.
(5)
Tauseef R.

I really don't get what the hype is about. Yes it comes with A LOT of rice, but no human being can eat that much. Its just a waste. The steak/beef/kabobs are bland. When I asked for Garlic Sauce she just gave me yogurt. The bread came out cold, even though its supposed to be warm. The ambience is pretty awkward, and if your on a 2 person table, its very cramped. The tables are Tiny. There are much better Persian restaurants around.
(3)
Roger L.

Yeah, I'm a big fan. I've been going here for 10 yrs now, ever since my Persian friend turned me n to it. Beautiful rice, well cooked Jojah (chicken) and I love the Hot Persian Tea. Sides are a little expensive and large for one person, $3-$5 ea. Otherwise, I like what I get always and I say to all "try it, you'll like it".
(5)
Linh T.

The best kabobs I have ever tasted around here! I always order the Beef Kabob Kubideh and leave happy. The portions are huge. Don't forget to ask for an egg yolk over the hot steaming rice. It will give the rice a rich flavor that will go well with the charcoal beef kabobs. Awesome Persian food! P.S. Don't mind the ziplock bread bag and the rice overload. Meh!
(4)
SD H.

I almost gave this place two stars because their kubideh is actually very tasty and the barg is also pretty good. However, the negative things I have to say about this place stack so high I can't bring myself to give them more than one star. Born and raised Iranian, I am appalled that so many Persians think this is even a remotely decent dining experience!! Here's what makes this place horrible: - The bread is stale. Comes to the table in a plastic BAGGIE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! Kabob Bazaar in Clarendon (my go-to Persian place) at least makes their own bread! What authentic Persian doesn't make their own bread????? - Dirty dishes. My glass on my table had something like dried snot running down the side of it. When I asked the waiter for a new glass he begrudgingly got me a new one without even eye contact or a "OH SORRY THERE IS DRIED SNOT ON YOUR GLASS!!" - Rainbow colored plastic plates, plastic pitches of water they put on your tiny table (how hard is it to pay your staff to walk around and fill water glasses), plastic cups, and cafeteria-style seating. - Service. Or complete and utter lack thereof. I asked the man behind the register when I walked in if I could be seated - his response was to point into the dining room and say "oh I don't do that, he does." While he continued to stand there. I couldn't get the waiter to actually make eye contact with me, or speak loud enough so I could understand what he was even saying. When I asked if we could order tahdeeg he said "I don't know if we have that" and proceeded to just stare at me.... I asked if he could find out. He never came back. This place is an absolute and total disgrace. If you're looking for delicious kabob and traditional Iranian dishes, impeccable service and a clean and inviting atmosphere I'd encourage you to try Kabob Bazaar in Clarendon. Makes this place look like a total joke. You don't have to put up with crappy service, dirty atmosphere to get good Iranian food. I'm totally confused why so many people do.
(1)
Yumi W.

Perfectly cooked regular rice. Sour cherry rice is hard to find at restaurant this is only place in DC area. Kabob is cooked to perfection. I prefer taftoon bread over chewy bread. Tea was very nice... Lettuce in our salad could use improvement but over all very good .little disappointed with decor and paper napkin/plastic bowl and plates. I will go back for food.
(4)
Sohrab S.

Absolutely not. Avoid avoid avoid avoid... The fact that this restaurant was crowded when we arrived today only makes me think that people settle for the terrible experience here because everywhere else is worse. It makes me want to open my own kabob place to make this place go out of business for good. DISCLAIMER: the reason why I will be so critical in this review is because of how expensive the bill came out for an experience that just didn't make up for it. Where to start... ATMOSPHERE This place hasn't received a refresh in a good decade; I know, since I used to go here as a kid with the family (wanna see something amusing? Check out the computer from the 80s they use at the front desk). Ceiling is of the white, tiled, office-esque type; one wall is an enormous mirror (I believe to make the restaurant appear larger; it looks fairly tacky but passable), and tables are set accordingly throughout the restaurant in a well-spaced manner. The music played is a mixture of Persian, Arab, and 80s pop hits. Ugh... 1/5. FOOD First off, the waiter comes to our table with plastic cups and terrible looking rainbow-colored plastic plates, along with a large plastic pitcher of water that they leave at the table (because asking your staff to go around and refill cups is too complicated). the bread is handed to you in a plastic bag (!!!) in a basket. Seriously, Shamshiry? You couldn't have bothered to take the bread out of the bag before serving it? If I wanted sliced bits of not-fresh-but-not-stale bread in a bag then I would've just stayed home. Next, we ordered appetizers: salad shirazi, must o musseer, and sabzi (which was literally a heap of basil leaves with a block of feta cheese we didn't even notice until the end). The Shirazi and must o musseer were at par (wow, they didn't fuck up two basic dishes!). The green hot sauce they use is very overpowered with garlic and made it unenjoyable. I ordered the joojeh kabob in my group, and the waiter came with the group's dishes without clearing out our appetizer plates (so what ended up happening was the waiter awkwardly standing, realizing what just happened). I had to ask the waiter explicitly to clear our appetizer plates first. And then the food was plated... Oh dear lord, the food. It was basically a heap of rice (enough to feed two-three) with 10-12 pieces of chicken (enough to feed two), as well as pieces of onion and a grilled tomato. I'm 6'3" and this was simply too much. It's too much for anyone. (Does anyone finish a plate here?) The only good thing on my plate was the chicken, which was cooked wonderfully. I was expecting the chicken to be too tough but it came out just fine. The rice near flavorless (but there's saffron coloring... is it fake?) and although raw onion is customary with kabob, it just didn't complement the dish. I didn't even touch the grilled tomato because there wasn't enough room in my stomach to fit it. To conclude, my table's three dishes, three appetizers, and an extra house salad (by the way, the house salad clearly was premade and stuck in a fridge, and red kidney beans were sprinkled on top of it... Are you freakin kidding me? Check out the pictures I uploaded to the Shamshiry photo album here) for one, came out to $70. The person I came with claims that this restaurant is "off the hook" and tipped our waiter $15, so it came out to $85... $30 a person. No, no no no no no no no no no no. I wouldn't have the passion to complain this much about this restaurant if the bill totaled to, maybe... $50? 1.5/5. SERVICE Why service was not impressive: - staff doesn't refill your water for you, a large pitcher is left at your table and takes up space/doesn't leave enough space for the HUGE plates of food - waiter stalled when we asked what the sabzi was made up of - waiter didn't clear our appetizer plates before coming with our entrÃ©es, creating an awkward moment the one pro: - food was brought out in a prompt manner 2/5 Do yourself a favor and do NOT eat here. This place must have been better before, hence the current four-star rating... but the shape it is in currently, it does NOT deserve your attention and you are much better off eating Persian cuisine somewhere else. Hell, Moby Dick is better than this place.... At least at Moby Dick, I can get fresh bread! How embarrassing for Shamshiry. Whoever is managing this place needs to stop being satisfied with mediocrity.
(1)

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Address : 8607 Westwood Center Dr
Vienna, VA, 22182
Phone (703) 448-8883
Website https://shamshiry.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 11

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Shamshiry

8607 Westwood Center Dr, Vienna, VA, 22182

Shamshiry Menu

Appetizers

Rice Dishes - Vegetarian Dishes

Meat

Poultry & Fish

Desserts

Beverages

Healthy Meal suggestions for Shamshiry

Appetizers

Rice Dishes - Vegetarian Dishes

Meat

Poultry & Fish

Desserts

Beverages

Chris S.

Jane Z.

T Y.

J L.

BJ G.

Monica V.

Amir K.

Gora t.

Haseeb F.

Kris P.

Negin A.

Frank W.

David K.

jenn h.

Sogol G.

Aye T.

cenan p.

Viet D.

Thi N.

jenny h.

Judy C.

Brenton c.

Jeff C.

Rachel W.

Sydney S.

Ellen A.

Carley D.

michael L.

Mitch R.

Lily B.

Aashti Z.

Danny K.

Rok L.

noel e.

Sean R.

Travis H.

sarah y.

k s.

K K.

Leila T.

Adrian D.

B B.

Sherry R.

Soheil K.

Majid I.

Daniel A.

Linda T.

Amber F.

Remash G.

Yelp U.

Honey S.

Hilary M.

Desiree D.

Ross M.

Sepehr T.

N J.

Samir P.

Nolan C.

Benz E.

Honey B.

Truly I.

Reuben K.

Dallas T.