Persian food is a must-try at this Woodland Hills restaurant

"and you'll find much of the conversation going on in Farsi. But at the new wave of shirazi salad, tahdig rice and beef soltani houses of the West Valley, that clubbiness, though certainly present, seems lighter and lesser. The population of diners is an eclectic mix of Iranians ... and those who love kebabs and exotic rice. Like Vietnamese cooking, Persian has moved from for the community to for everyone."

"It was the sort of man-on-a-keyboard music you'd find at any number of upscale Italian or American eateries - an assortment of old-school nightclub music, interspersed with the occasional musical tip of the hat to the eggplant borani and pickled vegetable torshi. Though the music could barely be heard over all the lively chatter and chewing. People go to Shirin for food and fun - and they get both in portions as big as those on their platters."

"It traveled home very well. Both the hummus and the bread were terrific for breakfast. Along with the sundry kebabs that were left over, and the mountains of rice. Thank goodness this is a cuisine that travels. And a cooking that has mastered rice preparation to a degree that, unlike Chinese white rice, it's not dry the next day. The oil used in the cooking of the rice keeps it not just edible, but downright delicious."

Persian restaurants historically function as community hubs for Iranian patrons, especially in Westwood where Farsi dominates conversation. New West Valley Persian eateries attract a diverse clientele of Iranians and non-Iranians who enjoy kebabs and flavored rice. Woodland Hills' Shirin offers live piano-style entertainment, loud convivial atmospheres, generous portions and plentiful leftovers. House-made hummus with freshly baked pita serves large groups and travels well. Persian rice techniques preserve moisture and flavor overnight through oil, producing varieties such as lentil, herb and cherry rice. The cuisine emphasizes communal dining, abundant servings and rice mastery that keeps leftovers flavorful.

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