CHAII

Los Angeles 

This is always the first Persian food place I stop at when in LA, Attari Sandwich shop! It reminds me of Iran, so it’s very special to me since I don't often get to experience that. To start off, you have to try the mouth watering Eggplant dish (Kashke bademjan) then any of their delicious sandwiches - my two favorites are Sausage and Tongue. They have an amazing menu filled with yummy Persian food that you can enjoy in the cute outdoor area. Persian cream puffs (Noon Khamei) is a MUST for dessert.

The name says it all! When you go to Saffron and Rose Ice Cream shop in Westwood you must try the ice cream that the shop is named after, the Saffron ice cream. Mixed with pistachios, I don’t know anyone who could dislike this signature Iranian Ice Cream flavor, it’s a must try.. 

Feeling a little fancy? Then Darya restaurant is the place to go to have an amazing dinner. My favorite dish is Zereshk Polo Morgh (Persian Barberry rice with chicken) OR ANY of the dishes. If you’re new to Persian food then get a few different dishes and share. Some nights there is live music to enjoy while dining at Darya Restaurant.

Iran has such a rich culture and a long history in arts, music and traditions. Stores like Ketabsara (ketab = Book) are much needed to keep the Persian culture alive. I can never get enough of walking in a store that carries that much depth in the art and history.

This is definitely the spot to go for a casual hang out with your friends where you can enjoy Shisha food and board games. Open until 3am most nights and until 5am on weekends this is the perfect place to end up after going out for dinner to the movies etc. I think of this place as somewhere nice and chill and if I lived in LA I imagine i’d become a regular here. Shisha (Ghelyoun) is a big part of Persian culture. In Iran, my family always would have the Ghelyoun going after lunch or dinner over a cup of tea and snacks. It’s not about smoking, it's more the fact it brings everyone together.

I went to Cafe Glace with my cousin and my friends for the first time in 2019 when we were in LA to shoot music videos. Everyone is so lovely here and the food is amazing. I’ve had their gourmet Pizzas and sandwiches. Don’t forget to order some Chai (tea) after your meal. In Persian culture, we drink tea a lot. First thing in the morning, before and after meals tea is something that is always being made and poured into your glass. We also believe that tea is great for the stomach after meals to help with digestion.

If you’re looking for some quality hair products including amazing hair extensions and wigs then look no further, my uncle's store Santee beauty in Downtown LA. I love visiting my family when I'm in LA and my uncle has had so much success at his store in downtown where many celebrities go to get their hair  products from.

Explore Los Angeles' Persian Spots with CHAII

AZADI.mp3

London

If you know you know. This spot is infamous in North West for some of the best Thai food you can get for real cheap. The spicy flat noodles are amazing, the curries slap (especially the creamy red curry) and it doesn’t break the bank. What more could you ask for?

This Afghani restaurant is an absolute banger and club classic. You know when the food is so delicious you have to just point your fork repeatedly at your dish while you chew in pure disbelief? Fragrant and fluffy rice, tender and juicy kebabs, and the portion sizes are banquet sized and make my heart sing. A feast for the senses.

With an amazing selection of traditional and regional kebabs, stews and side dishes, as well as the fun individual portions of tahdig - that’s the crispy rice if you don’t already know - this place is a great time. It’s a bit more on the expensive side, but if you want great quality Irani food that feels like it’s been cooked at home by your auntie and then jazzed up to look cute and fancy, this is your place.

Not only are the couple who run this little spot absolutely lovely, but the food they serve is delicious and hits the spot every time. With a mix of Japanese and Korean dishes on the menu, so far everything I’ve tried has been and incredible as well as being very reasonably priced. Amazing value and a lovely wholesome atmosphere.

This place is one of my favourite restaurants on Edgware Road and that’s really saying something. The food always comes with a complimentary lentil soup and some salty pink pickled veg, and the food itself is outstanding, fresh and always delivers. The kebabs here chargrilled to perfection and remind me of eating those banging roadside skewers in Tehran that you don’t really get over here. 10/10.

What can I say about this restaurant without my mouth watering? This Korean BBQ delivers time and time again. The BBQ itself is delicious and great fun to cook at your own table, the side dishes compliment perfectly, the soups are hearty and flavoursome, the tteokbokki is spicy and moreish, and the Korean fried chicken is crispy and flavoursome. This is a great spot to go with a group.

North London is home to many sick Turkish restaurants and Lezziz is no exception. Amazing bread, juicy and flavourful kebabs and always buzzing with locals. A classic.

AZADI.mp3 Gives Us Her Guide To North London

Bianca Oblivion

This is a family-owned business that has been around since the 70s, one of the first (if not the first?) Indian grocery stores in Los Angeles. It began as a small storefront between a casket and hardware store, and eventually took over both to become a full restaurant and grocery. When I was in high school, one of the aunties would sell samosas at the register and I’d always buy one while I waited for the bus. Aside from having delicious vegetarian Indian food, they have every Indian spice you could think of and all kinds of imported items.

This market has gone by many names, and through many renovations. It’s our neighborhood market, just a few blocks from my house. It’s got all your Mexican/Latin groceries & meats plus some middle eastern specialty goods. It once had a joyeria where you could buy customized gold chains and rings, but that was replaced by a bakery and tortilleria. While I’m sad to see the gold go, their pan dulce and tortillas are pretty bomb.

Tucked away in a strip mall next to a laundromat is the most colorful ice cream shop you’ve seen thus far. They have a huge selection of tropical flavored sorbets, ice creams, and paletas (Mexican popsicles), as well as juices and smoothies. They even have a tamarind and “smoked milk” flavor.

Before Google, Belkin, and all the other “Silicon Beach” companies landed, along with luxury condos, there was a wide expanse of wetlands in West LA, just a few miles from LAX and Playa Del Rey beaches. While much of it has been paved with condos, there are still a few small trails alongside shallow ponds with cranes, ducks, and frogs. You can take a walk through and feel like you’ve escaped the sprawling metropolis and returned to an era of pre-developed LA.

This is a huge park that straddles Culver City and Baldwin Hills that has peaceful trails, ponds, and playground/grass areas for family gatherings. There is a Japanese Garden hidden away there and scenic overlook with a perfect view of the city. I’ve gone on many hikes and attended kid birthdays with my family here.

This is a Persian/Danish pizza and gyro spot offering a “pizza sandwich” that combines two...and it’s delicious. With its original location in Copenhagen, they somehow found their way to a small corner in Culver City to open up their second location. It also happens to be down the block from the palatial King Fahad Mosque, and you’ll often see crowds of people come in after prayer.

The swap meet of all swap meets with the iconic green paint and orange/red lettering (not West LA but not that far off). All the gold, kicks, knock offs, and airbrushed shirts you could ask for. One jewelry stand in particular sells gold nameplate rings--I’ve gotten “Bianca” and “Oblivion,” one for each hand.

Black-owned and operated health food store and Caribbean/soul restaurant in the View Park-Windsor Hills area (this neighborhood also has some of the most beautiful classic LA Spanish/Mediterranean style homes). They have delicious Jamaican patties, smoothies, fried chicken and cornbread, and on Sundays they have a live jazz band play on the patio for weekend brunch.

One of my favorite breakfast spots with the tastiest honey-infused pancakes, as its name would suggest. Alongside your standard egg, potato, and meat selections, they have a full selection of Salvadoran dishes, including pupusas, pastelitos, sopas, chorizo and more. It’s another family owned business, and I once got into a conversation about music with one of the brothers, who played us some reggaeton tracks he had rapped on.

West LA with Bianca Oblivion

Brisbane

It’s a Persian joint, the best food you’re going to get in Brisbane in my opinion. It’s in one of the suburbs that my mate used to live in and is an Arab spot that’s known by the locals.

Zarraffa’s has the best coffee in Brisbane. I thought they had them everywhere but recently found out they’re only up here. It’s like a Starbucks but better.

Blackbird is a classy joint: nice bar with a view of the Brisbane bridge and the river. It’s a good spot for people who have never been to Brisbane before. Good spot for a boujee drink.

A French restaurant that’s open 'til like 12am, there’s not many in the city open that late. There’s a big Eiffel Tower on the roof. The food is really good; if you can’t afford to go to Paris go there.

If you want to go for a nice run or walk hit Kangaroo Point, it’s along the river and you can see the whole city. It’s real nice. There’s a cliff that you can see the whole city from there too, there’s families doing picnics and shit. It’s real wholesome.

You walk in and it’s a bar, but if you like games they have all the old arcade games like Pacman, Street Fighter, Racing Games. My favourite game is the basketball one but it’s real cool if you like games. I’ve been trying to crack Stacker for 15 years so if you crack it let me know, that shit’s rigged.

If you want a space and a sauna place to relax, there’s a hidden one that not many people know about. There’s six separate spas, a cold spa, a sauna and a steam room with magnesium water.

If you want a luxury dinner or want to take someone out, you got to take them out to anything in James St. Hellenika is cool, they have a lot of shared plates and there’s a pool. It’s very moody.

So you did Soakhouse, you found a babe, took them to dinner; next step is you go to West End and you hit Anita’s. They have really, really good gelato and there’s a couple of them all around the city so you can close your date with a bang.

Day1’s Date Spots in Brisbane

Collard

Gorgeous Italian spot, candle lit and romantic as romantic can be. Forest green decor and seating for either an intimate date or group date. It’s usually pretty full in there so I’d advise you to book in advance -- but it’s worth it. Recommended dish: Lobster Linguini with a side of Quail Eggs.

Perfect day time date spot in Belsize Park North London, a breakfast menu with a Persian influence. Lovely service, get to see a few actors and actresses that live around the area which is cool but just don’t be weird, practise your nonchalant “too cool for school, yeah whatever famous person”- nod in the mirror. Close proximity to Primrose Hill park also which is a staple date location. Recommended dish: Baked Eggs.

The finest of fine dining, beautiful restaurant, decor levels on a thousand. Would recommend for relationship daters. Probably a bit over-blown for a first date experience unless the person you’re trying to court has a great pallet for French cuisine and loves a glamorous atmosphere. Recommended dish: Black-legged Chicken to share & Escargot for the side.

My girlfriend coined this spot “The Thinking spot” she took me there all the time and said it’s where she does all her best thinking. Pull up in the car and chat for hours in front of the bird decorated lake or take a stroll down the lake side. It really is a beautiful and calming spot inside such a popular Royal Park. I recommend going at night to avoid having to weave around large crowds.

This is the low key pre-drinks date spot you hit for if you’re about to go out for drinks (my Londoners know what I’m on about) -- the drinks before the drinks. Lounge-y and quiet, Polo Bar is perfect for conversation and shaking off nerves before you go out for the “after drinks” at a restaurant or club once were allowed back in them.

Why not look at some art if you’re both into it? This particular gallery is situated in central london so it’s surrounded by an array of food spots and makes the whole dating experience a lot more eventful. Doing something is cool. Always incredible exhibits on show here also, from artists like Reginald Sylvester and Coco Capitán.

For the film enthusiasts the Curzon Bloomsbury is the perfect cinema for a movie date. It’s a smaller and more boutique feel as opposed to the usual cinema experience elsewhere. There’s a boatload of great restaurants and cafes in the Bloomsbury area to eat at before or after the film if it’s all going well, and if it’s not then it’s only five minutes from the tube station.

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