Attari Sandwich Shop

Although few can deny the pleasure of a budget-busting four-star meal prepared by a celebrity chef, fewer still can argue with a filling, wallet friendly meal at a restaurant that feels like it’s “your little secret”– one’s go-to hole-in-the-wall meal. Attari Sandwich Shop in Westwood is one of those restaurants.

Almost hidden from view by shrubbery and palm trees, the tiny Attari specializes in Persian sandwiches. The interior, with its handful of tables that occupy as much space as the display case and refrigerator, feels cozy, and the prevalence of menus and signs displayed in Farsi gives one the sense that Attari prides itself on an authentic, home-cooked style–so authentic, in fact, that I had to whip out an iPhone to Google the dishes during my first visit.

One of Attari’s specialties is osh ($4.95), a hearty lentil soup topped with caramelized onions and yogurt sauce. The soup’s thick consistency is almost stew-like, and each spoonful delivers a complex mix of flavors and textures with a tangy kick that wakes up your tastebuds. Although categorized as an “appetizer/side,” the dish is sizeable and filling enough to serve as an entree or to be shared.

The chicken kotlet sandwich ($6.75) features a patty made of shredded chicken, grated potatoes and breadcrumbs which is flavored with spices, including tumeric. The mild flavors and soft textures of the chicken and potato are bolstered by the zing and the crunch of sliced pickles. This simple but comforting sandwich always delivers.

Although olivieh may have its roots in Russian cooking, the cold salad made with chicken (or vegetables), finely chopped eggs, peas, dill and mayonnaise is popular in Persian dining. The olivieh sandwich ($6.75) reminds one of a chicken salad sandwich with a twist– a more satisfying bite in terms of both flavors and textures.

On my most recent visit, my friend ordered the tongue sandwich ($7.99). Although my one bite was admittedly a timid one, I was surprised by how incredibly tender the meat was–akin to pulled pork.

Attari also serves several Persian desserts, but I usually find myself full after just half of my sandwich, which, if you do the math, comes out to just over $3.00 per half. For its cozy vibe and delicious, filling food that doesn’t break the bank, Attari is at the top of my list of favorite, no frills restaurants.

Attari Sandwich Shop
1388 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 441-5488

Shaherzad

When I first moved to LA, my palate was far from adventurous. As a picky eater, I was terrified to branch out of my comfort zone and try any of the vast array of unfamiliar cuisines presented to me by the city.

My first trip to Shaherzad, however, marked a turning point in my attitude towards and appreciation for food and was one of the first places I uttered the brave words, “I’ll try it.” As such, the Persian restaurant in Westwood remains one of my favorite go-to dinner spots.

Perhaps one of the strongest indicators of an ethnic restaurant’s authenticity is whether or not people of the same ethnicity bother to eat there. Shaherzad passes this test with flying colors. During every visit, without fail, the mid-sized restaurant is packed with customers, many of whom are Persian, enjoying their stews, kabobs and meat plates.

Dinner begins with hot, fresh-baked flatbread. The basket presents a delicious mix of pieces of bread that are fluffy and chewy and ones that are crunchy. With the refills continuously placed within snacking radius, it is almost impossible to not overload on this carb-y goodness.

Because this was my friend’s first experience with Persian food, we ordered the combination of appetizers (#11, $11.95), which includes olivieh salad (chicken and potato salad with pickles and sweet peas), kashk bademjan (seasoned eggplant with yogurt sauce, sauteed onion and mint), dolmeh (grape leaves stuffed with ground beef and rice) and cotelette (ground chicken and potato cutlet).

Although J and I usually pass on this enormous appetizer combination when we dine by ourselves, any Persian food or Shaherzad newbie should give it a try. Every individual dish is delicious and, hey, that’s what to-go boxes are for, right?

Although I frequently visit Shaherzad with a firm resolve to try a new entree, the bademjan (baked eggplant cooked in tomato sauce, #32, $13.95) is too delicious to pass up. The dish is available with veal, chicken or vegetables, but I recommend the lamb, which is tender and, with its mild flavor, plays nicely off the tang of the tomato sauce. Served with a large plate of rice (see photo below), this savory and hearty dish is the meal that keeps on giving; I usually get dinner, another meal and a snack out of this.

On this night, J was feeling more adventurous than I and did branch out, trying the fesenjan (chicken stew with sauteed, ground walnuts in pomegranate sauce, #35, $13.95). Although he enjoyed the first few bites of this stew, the sweet, tangy pomegranate flavor soon became overwhelming, and he began to eat more rice than stew with each bite (and steal bites of mine).

For its delicious dishes served in behemoth portions and for inspiring my present-day love of and appreciation for food, Shaherzad is always at the top of my dinner list.

Shaherzad

1422 Westwood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90024

(310) 470-3242