Description
long after the lights go out on the bulk of businesses at Encino’s Capri Plaza, people are just settling into the back of a long and lean brick courtyard that’s just beyond the reach of Google Street View.
BB Saara and Koochini are a patio-centric restaurant that’s popular with Persian-Americans who come to smoke hookah and eat comfort food until 4 a.m.
The daytime is low-key, with just a few diners. The moon ushers in a totally different vibe, with people filing into red and black-clothed tables to smoke flavoured tobacco, listen to Arabic music, and of course, to eat.
On nights B B Saara hosts parties, the action spills into a private room with twin pianos, guitars, and flat-screen TVs for multimedia theatrics. Persian Food Los Angeles At night, the patio fills with Persian-Americans and hookahs.
BB Saara doesn’t have the kitchen space to accommodate a bread oven, but owner Moe Nourkhah developed a recipe for sandwich bread that he bakes at an off-site facility using a blend of Persian and American grains.
His soft hoagie-like roll is toasted and pairs beautifully with beef tongue ($11.95). Lamb brains and beef tongue go together like offal PB&J Thick slices are boiled and roasted until fork-tender and stacked with crisp iceberg lettuce, tomato, mayo, and punchy Persian pickled cucumbers. Mortadella and Kuku sabzi (herbed frittata) are other possible fillings.
I know what you’re thinking. Yes, you can combine creamymaghz (lamb brains) with beef tongue, which goes together like offal PB&J. Moe Nourkhah grew up in Tehran and opened B B Saara in summer 2016 with a name that translates from Farsi as “Grandma’s Place”.
He maintains a strong connection to his homeland, sourcing herbs, spices, pickles, and grains to deliver authentic flavours. Persian Food Los Angeles Beef tongue sandwich is one of L.A.’s best. BB Saara serves a bunch of dips to start, including mast-o khiar (cucumber yoghurt), mast-o moosir (shallot yoghurt), and kashk e bademjan (roasted eggplant dip), but I’d suggest ash e anar ($8.95) above all else.
This tangy vegetable soup features a slick of pomegranate molasses, vegetables, hearty black-eyed peas, pink beans lentils, and an enlightening mix of parsley, cilantro, tarragon, and two mystery herbs.
You should also inquire about the soup of the day, which was chicken noodle during my visit. Persian Food Los Angeles Ash e Anar is a soup featuring pomegranate tang. Persian Food Los Angeles Lule kabob on sangak flatbread Kabobs may not be legally required at Persian meals, but they’re certainly strongly encouraged…
CAME TO THIS CENTER FOR SUSHI, ENDED UP HAVING SUSHI AND HOOKAH OUTSIDE FOR DINNER. SERVICE WAS ON TOP OF THEIR GAME HERE. EVERY 10-15 MINUTES THEY WOULD CHECK UP ON US AND ASK HOW THE SMOKE WAS IF WE NEEDED NEW COALS OR IF THE HOOKAH WAS TOO HARSH. VERY REASONABLY PRICED, I BELIEVE IT WAS $19 PER HOOKAH! A MUCH MORE MELLOW LOCATION FOR HOOKAH IF YOU’RE NOT LOOKING FOR A QUIET NIGHT WITH SOME FRIENDS AS OPPOSED TO A PLACE LIKE THE SPOT WHICH IS A HOOKAH FACTORY!
