The Best Persian Restaurants in Toronto

In North York and Thornhill, this restaurant draws diners with a variety of tender kebabs, rich stews and other Persian favourites. The lengthy menu takes time to digest, but it's worth seeking out specialties like ghormeh sabzi and fesenjan. 

At this veteran Little Italy spot, dinner is a sumptuous affair comprised of a wealth of family dishes. Homey and handsome, plates of zeitoun parvardeh, boz qormeh, shirin polo and more mollify diners, tempting each to linger. 

Despite stark surroundings, savvy diners seek out this North York spot, drawn to its traditional stews, hearty soups, wraps and rices and, naturally, its slew of generously seasoned, fire-kissed kebabs.

With limited hours (weekends, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and no reservations, you'll have to plan ahead to sample regional specialities, like haleem, guisavah and dizi at this Brockton Village brunch spot. A sister restaurant to Pomegranate, its pedigree guarantees it's worth the advanced scheming.

Few cravings are ignored at this approachable North York restaurant, thanks to a menu that hops from appetizers to Persian stews, sandwiches to kebab plates. Inhale it all in the sparse space or haul a few family packages home and be crowned hero of the day.

Don't let the dance parties, live music and camaraderie at this North York restaurant distract you from the extensive menu of homey, rich, satisfying eats. Dishes here —from nutty bademjan kebabi to delicate fried fish, moreish gheymeh and aromatic loghmeh kebab — are the real draw. 

Part glam Persian restaurant, part art gallery, this St. Clair West destination has style to spare. On the plate, find an array of regional dishes, each one boosted by generous amounts of spice, live fire, seasonal ingredients and the know-how of a talented kitchen team. 

Cooks crowd this North York market to stock up on imported ingredients that make their dishes sing. Less adventurous types? They know to pop by for traditional Persian dishes (including kebabs, stews, tahchins and desserts) that they can dive into without having to lift a finger. 

Leaside is home to this swish spot, where the menu overflows with Mediterranean staples, the drinks flow and diners bask in the jovial glow of a good time. Follow the crowd, with orders of assorted mezze followed by grilled fish, spiced kebabs, tender pide and textbook baklava.