The Atlas · Nº 24 ·Iran

Most Popular Iranian Food

Iranian food is saffron rice and slow stews: skewers of kebab over fluffy chelow, deep-green ghormeh sabzi simmered for hours, the prized crackling tahdig at the bottom of the pot. It is a cuisine of herbs, dried limes, walnuts, and pomegranate, finished with rosewater sweets and saffron ice cream.

102 dishes ranked·26 in the global top 1,000 ·4,137 diner ratings·Best rank Nº 44

Plate I — The Origins

Fig. 1 Where 102 ranked iranian dishes were born. Dish origin

Drag to pan · Double-click or +/− to zoom · Select a marker for its entry

The Signature Dishes

The twelve highest-ranked Iranian dishes, by global position.

Kebab with Rice (Chelow kebab), meat dish from Iran
Plate IIMeat Dish · Iran

1 Nº 44 worldwide

Kebab with Rice (Chelow kebab)

Meat Dish · Chelo kebab · Chelo kabab · چلوکباب

Iran's national plate, and the standard by which its cooking is judged: fluffy saffron-scented rice, chelow, served with grilled kebab and a charred tomato, a raw egg yolk and butter often stirred through the rice. Simple, exact, and the centerpiece of the Iranian table.

★ 4.5|92% positive |98 ratings

Ghormeh sabzi, stew from Iran
Plate IIIStew · Iran

2 Nº 53 worldwide

Ghormeh sabzi

Stew · Persian Herb Stew · Iranian Herb Stew

Iran's great herb stew, often called the national dish: a deep-green braise of parsley, cilantro, and fenugreek cooked down with lamb, red kidney beans, and dried limes until dark and tangy. Slow-simmered for hours and eaten over rice, it tastes of the whole herb garden.

★ 4.5|90% positive |131 ratings

Jujeh kabab, chicken dish from Iran

3Jujeh kababNº 76

Chicken Dish · Also جوجه‌کباب‎‎

Grilled chicken kebab, the pieces marinated in saffron, lemon, and onion, threaded on skewers, and cooked over coals until juicy and golden. A summer and picnic favorite, served with the same saffron rice and grilled tomato as its meatier cousins.

★ 4.4|129 ratings

Nan-e barbari, flatbread from Iran

4Nan-e barbariNº 112

Flatbread · Also Barbari

A thick, leavened Iranian flatbread shaped into a long oval, its top glazed and ridged with parallel grooves before baking and scattered with sesame or nigella seeds. Pulled hot from the bakery in the morning, it is torn and eaten with feta, herbs, and tea for breakfast.

★ 4.4|64 ratings

Kabab barg, lamb dish from Iran

5Kabab bargNº 133

Lamb Dish · Also Kabāb-e barg

A refined lamb kebab, thin fillets of tenderloin marinated in saffron, onion, and lemon, then grilled quickly so they stay tender. Barg means leaf, for the way the meat is cut wide and thin, and it is the elegant end of the Iranian kebab spectrum.

★ 4.4|78 ratings

Zeytoon parvardeh, appetizer from Iran

6Zeytoon parvardehNº 136

Appetizer

A northern Iranian olive relish from Gilan, pitted olives dressed with pomegranate molasses, crushed walnuts, garlic, and mint into something tart, sweet, and savory at once. Served as an appetizer with bread, it is the sour-fruity signature of the Caspian coast.

★ 4.4|91 ratings

Kabab koobideh, ground meat dish from Iran

7Kabab koobidehNº 141

Ground Meat Dish

The everyday minced kebab, ground lamb or beef mixed with grated onion, pressed by hand onto wide flat skewers, and grilled over coals until charred. The workhorse of the kebab house, it comes with saffron rice or wrapped in flatbread with grilled tomato and raw onion.

★ 4.4|106 ratings

Kateh, technique from Iran

8KatehNº 229

Technique · Also Chata

The simplest way Iranians cook rice, boiled with water and butter until the liquid is absorbed and a golden crust forms at the bottom of the pot. Softer and stickier than the more formal steamed polo, kateh is Caspian home cooking, eaten plain or with fish.

★ 4.3|42 ratings

Kabab torsh, beef dish from Iran

9Kabab torshNº 250

Beef Dish · Also Kebab-e torsh

A sour kebab from the Caspian provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran, lean beef or lamb marinated in a paste of ground walnuts, pomegranate molasses, and herbs before grilling. The tang sets it apart from every other Iranian kebab, tart and deeply savory at once.

★ 4.3|61 ratings

Tahchin, rice dish from Iran

10TahchinNº 296

Rice Dish · Also Tah Chin

A saffron rice cake, precooked rice bound with yogurt, egg, and saffron, layered with chicken or lamb, and baked until it turns into a golden, crisp-crusted casserole. Turned out and cut into wedges like a cake, it shows off Iran's genius for the crunchy layer, tahdig.

★ 4.3|63 ratings

Bastani sonnati, ice cream from Iran

11Bastani sonnatiNº 325

Ice Cream

Iran's traditional ice cream, perfumed with saffron and rosewater, studded with pistachios and shards of frozen clotted cream that stay chewy in the cold. Invented in early-1900s Tehran, it is often pressed between two thin wafers and eaten like a sandwich.

★ 4.2|131 ratings

Khoresh gheimeh, stew from Iran

12Khoresh gheimehNº 366

Stew

A tangy Iranian stew of lamb and yellow split peas in a tomato base sharpened with dried lime, traditionally crowned with a handful of thin fried potatoes. Ladled over saffron rice, it is one of the everyday khoresh stews at the heart of home cooking.

★ 4.2|88 ratings

The Departments

Every Iranian dish in our ranking, grouped the way you'd order them.

The Complete Ledger

All 102 Iranian dishes in the world ranking. Every entry, leaf by leaf.

102 entries
  1. 44 Kebab with Rice (Chelow kebab) Meat Dish Iran ★ 4.5
  2. 53 Ghormeh sabzi Stew Iran ★ 4.5
  3. 76 Jujeh kabab Chicken Dish Iran ★ 4.4
  4. 112 Nan-e barbari Flatbread Tehran ★ 4.4
  5. 133 Kabab barg Lamb Dish Iran ★ 4.4
  6. 136 Zeytoon parvardeh Appetizer Gilan Province ★ 4.4
  7. 141 Kabab koobideh Ground Meat Dish Iran ★ 4.4
  8. 229 Kateh Technique Gilan Province ★ 4.3
  9. 250 Kabab torsh Beef Dish Gilan Province ★ 4.3
  10. 296 Tahchin Rice Dish Iran ★ 4.3
  11. 325 Bastani sonnati Ice Cream Iran ★ 4.2
  12. 366 Khoresh gheimeh Stew Iran ★ 4.2
  13. 371 Nan-e-kabab Ground Meat Dish Iran ★ 4.2
  14. 478 Fesenjān Stew Iran ★ 4.2
  15. 496 Kashke bademjan Vegetable Dish Iran ★ 4.2
  16. 572 Khoresh Stew Iran ★ 4.1
  17. 626 Mast o khiar Dip Iran ★ 4.1
  18. 629 Morgh e shekam por Chicken Dish Iran ★ 4.1
  19. 634 D Dande kabab Lamb Dish Kermanshah Province ★ 4.1
  20. 676 Sabzi khordan Vegetable Dish Iran ★ 4.1
  21. 693 Kabab bakhtiari Meat Dish Iran ★ 4.1
  22. 734 Nan-e sangak Flatbread Iran ★ 4.1
  23. 893 Faloodeh Frozen Dessert Shiraz ★ 4.0
  24. 931 Havij bastani Ice Cream Iran ★ 4.0
  25. 949 V Vavishka Stew Gilan Province ★ 4.0
  26. 994 Sholeh zard Pudding Iran ★ 4.0
  27. 1,042 Anar bij Stew Gilan Province ★ 4.0
  28. 1,081 Ash-e doogh Soup Iran ★ 4.0
  29. 1,177 Naz khatun Vegetable Dish Behshahr ★ 4.0
  30. 1,231 Tahdig Rice Dish Iran ★ 4.0
  31. 1,239 Abgoosht Stew Iran ★ 4.0
  32. 1,345 Ash Noodle Soup Iran ★ 3.9
  33. 1,389 Nan-e shirmal Flatbread Iran ★ 3.9
  34. 1,394 Kabab chenjeh Lamb Dish Iran ★ 3.9
  35. 1,404 Zereshk polow Rice Dish Iran ★ 3.9
  36. 1,455 Kabab Hosseini Meat Dish Iran ★ 3.9
  37. 1,468 Gosh-e fil Sweet Pastry Iran ★ 3.9
  38. 1,600 Gheymeh nesar Rice Dish Qazvin ★ 3.9
  39. 1,733 Kabab loghmeh Lamb Dish Iran ★ 3.9
  40. 1,771 Omelet Egg Dish Iran ★ 3.9
  41. 2,039 Ash reshteh Soup Iran ★ 3.9
  42. 2,140 Qottab Sweet Pastry Yazd ★ 3.8
  43. 2,209 K Khoresht-e-chaghartameh Stew Gilan Province ★ 3.8
  44. 2,233 K Kuku gerdu Egg Dish Iran ★ 3.8
  45. 2,315 M Mahyawa Sauce Iran ★ 3.8
  46. 2,334 Tar halva Dessert Iran ★ 3.8
  47. 2,441 Biryani Rice Dish Iran ★ 3.8
  48. 2,518 Qurabiya Cookie Tabriz ★ 3.8
  49. 3,526 Ranginak Dessert Shiraz ★ 3.8
  50. 3,527 Kufteh tabrizi Meatballs Tabriz ★ 3.8
  51. 3,582 Kuku sabzi Egg Dish Iran ★ 3.7
  52. 4,129 Iranian Pickles (Hafte bijar torshi) Pickling Gilan Province ★ 3.7
  53. 4,303 Cake Yazdi Dessert Yazd Province ★ 3.7
  54. 4,517 Mirza Ghassemi Vegetable Dish Gilan Province ★ 3.7
  55. 4,571 R Reshteh Polo Rice Dish Iran ★ 3.7
  56. 4,600 Gaz Dessert Isfahan ★ 3.7
  57. 5,021 Beryani Mutton Dish Isfahan Province ★ 3.7
  58. 5,026 K Kabab digi Ground Meat Dish Iran ★ 3.7
  59. 5,153 Kuku sib zamini Potato Dish Gilan Province ★ 3.6
  60. 5,175 Pashmak Dessert Yazd ★ 3.6
  61. 5,177 Morasa polo Rice Dish Tehran ★ 3.6
  62. 5,336 Shir birinj Dessert Iran ★ 3.6
  63. 5,641 Khoresh qārch Stew Iran ★ 3.6
  64. 5,687 Persian Onion Soup (Eshkeneh) Soup Iran ★ 3.6
  65. 5,716 D Dal adas Vegetable Dish Bushehr ★ 3.6
  66. 5,944 Koloocheh Cookie Iran ★ 3.6
  67. 6,509 Baghali ghatogh Stew Iran ★ 3.5
  68. 6,524 Sohan asali Dessert Isfahan Province ★ 3.5
  69. 6,590 Khoresh aloo Stew Iran ★ 3.5
  70. 6,591 Khoresh havij Stew Iran ★ 3.5
  71. 6,655 Estanboli polo Stew Iran ★ 3.5
  72. 6,853 Shirazi Salad Salad Shiraz ★ 3.5
  73. 6,881 Kuku bademjan Vegetable Dish Iran ★ 3.5
  74. 6,896 Nan-e taftoon Flatbread Iran ★ 3.5
  75. 6,963 Meygoo polo Rice Dish Iran ★ 3.5
  76. 7,037 Naan berenji Cookie Kermanshah Province ★ 3.5
  77. 7,222 Khoresht mast Dessert Isfahan ★ 3.4
  78. 7,255 Nogha Dessert Iranian Azerbaijan ★ 3.4
  79. 7,264 N Nafeleh Meatballs Khuzestan Province
  80. 7,398 Kuku Egg Dish Iran ★ 3.4
  81. 7,686 Pilaf Rice Dish Iran ★ 3.3
  82. 7,725 K Kaleh joosh Soup Isfahan Province ★ 3.3
  83. 7,734 Khoresh karafs Beef Dish Iran ★ 3.3
  84. 7,740 Halva ardeh Dessert Iran ★ 3.3
  85. 7,865 K Khoresh bādemjān Stew Iran ★ 3.3
  86. 7,876 C Carrot Kebab (Zardak kebab) Ground Meat Dish Isfahan Province
  87. 7,973 K Kabab-e donbalan Offal Dish Iran ★ 3.2
  88. 7,983 T Tah andaz Saltwater Fish Dish Bushehr Province
  89. 8,031 Masghati Dessert Shiraz ★ 3.2
  90. 8,254 K Khoresh lubia sabz Stew Iran ★ 3.1
  91. 8,282 S Shark Pudding (Puddini koose) Saltwater Fish Dish Hormozgan Province
  92. 8,298 Ash-e jo Vegetable Soup Iran ★ 3.1
  93. 8,322 H Halva ye havij Dessert Iran
  94. 8,525 K Khoresh kangar Stew Iran ★ 2.9
  95. 8,552 Noghl Dessert Iran ★ 2.9
  96. 8,559 Khoresh kadu Stew Iran ★ 2.9
  97. 8,596 Zulbia Deep-fried Dessert Iran ★ 2.8
  98. 8,623 K Khoresh rivas Stew Iran
  99. 8,727 Khoresh alou esfenaj Stew Iran ★ 2.6
  100. 8,779 Khoresh bāmieh Stew Iran ★ 2.3
  101. 9,162 A Ab doogh khiar Cold Soup Iran
  102. 10,094 S Sheer khurma Dessert Iran
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Gazetteer

A Regional Tour of Iranian Food

Where Iran's ranked dishes were born, and what to order there.

Questions, Answered

Iranian food, frequently asked. Answered from the data.

What is the most popular Iranian food?
Chelow kebab, grilled kebab with saffron rice, is the best-ranked Iranian dish at #44 worldwide and the country's de facto national plate. The herb stew Ghormeh sabzi is close behind and just as loved, and the whole family of kebabs, from Kabab koobideh to Jujeh kabab, fills every table. All 19 Iranian meat dishes →
What food is Iran known for?
Kebabs, saffron rice, and long-simmered stews. The kebab in its forms, minced Kabab koobideh, chicken Jujeh kabab, thin Kabab barg, defines the grill, always with fragrant rice and grilled tomato. Alongside them are the khoresh stews like Ghormeh sabzi and the sweet-sour walnut Fesenjān. All 27 Iranian stews & soups →
What is Iran's national dish?
Ghormeh sabzi, the deep-green herb stew of parsley, fenugreek, kidney beans, and dried lime, is widely called Iran's national dish. Its great rival for the title is Chelow kebab, saffron rice with grilled meat, which tops our Iranian ranking. Both are eaten across the country.
What is Iranian kebab?
More than one thing. Kabab koobideh is minced lamb or beef pressed onto flat skewers and grilled; Jujeh kabab is saffron chicken; Kabab barg is thin fillet; and the Caspian Kabab torsh is marinated sour with walnut and pomegranate. All come with saffron rice as Chelow kebab.
What should I eat in Gilan?
Iran's lush Caspian north cooks with sour and green flavors. Gilan is home to Kabab torsh, a sour walnut-and-pomegranate kebab, and Zeytoon parvardeh, olives dressed in pomegranate molasses and walnut. Its rice, cooked simply as Kateh, is some of the country's best.
What Iranian dishes do locals love that tourists miss?
The stews beyond the kebab house. Fesenjān braises chicken or duck in a dark, tangy sauce of ground walnuts and pomegranate. Kashke bademjan mashes fried eggplant with whey, mint, and caramelized onion into a rich dip, and Tahchin bakes saffron rice and chicken into a crisp golden cake.