Persian and Pakistani Halal Fare Arrives on the Westside

Persian, Indian, and Pakistani halal cuisine now find a home at the corner of Decatur Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. Shiraz Restaurant, named for an ancient Iranian city, features tandoori dishes and vegetarian options, and bakes its own breads in house.

Restaurateur Raja Majid, chef Jainine Jaffer, and bartender Jozef Letasi head up the restaurant that serves mutton korma simmered in a sauce of yogurt, spices, and nuts with kewra (screwpine) essence; lamb karahi made with garlic, ginger, green chili, and spices in a thickened tomato curry and cooked in a karahi; shrimp masala; and Pakistani chicken karahi with a blend of chili, onion, tomato, garlic, ginger, and traditional whole spice blend. Persian specials include ghormeh sabzi, an Iranian stew of sauteed herbs with leek, parsley, green onion, and bitter greens seasoned with fenugreek leaves; gheymeh bademjan or eggplant stewed with yellow split peas; and zereshk polo, a combination of white and saffron rice with barberries.

The restaurant can also provide kosher catering through partner Ace of Steaks.

Shiraz is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. with live music.

The restaurant takes over Habib’s Persian Cuisine, which closed after more than 20 years. Owner Habib Asadsangabi decided to retire.

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