Azizam, 2943 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (Silver Lake), CA 90026
Newly opened, Azizam started as a pop-up a few years ago. The owners are Persian and the casual restaurant features homestyle food, including housemade bread, desserts, and Persian staples (mazeh/small cold dishes), hot dishes (khoresht, kofteh), and sandwiches (beef tongue, kuku). They offer a few housemade shrubs, natural wine, and beer. You can also buy a whole loaf of barbari bread ($12).
The desserts looked amazing. Persian cream puff with rosewater and pistachio. Napoleon cake with Persian flavors.
Braised beef tongue sandwich ($12): thick slabs of tender warm beef tongue, house pickles (crunchy and sour), fresh herbs, fresh onion, fresh tomato slice, tucked in a housemade barbari bread sprinkled with sesame seeds. On the smaller side but the best in town, thanks to the housemade bread (like a flatbread), generous amount of tongue, and the fresh veggies. Everything’s warm and comforting, but the crunchy pickles add bright flavor and crunch.
Cherry limeade: Made in house, very nice, sweet and tart, with fresh mint
Mazeh plate ($18): your choice of two mazeh (I picked wild shallot yogurt and shirazi), house pickles, feta, fresh herbs, & two small pieces of house barbari bread. It’s meant for sharing but very small. Everything was excellent though. The yogurt was thick and creamy, the shirazi had bigger pieces of tomato and cucumber with onion and mint, and the pickles were crunchy. Wish they doubled the amount of bread.
Ash-e-jo ($8 cup): a hearty soup of barley, bean, and mixed grain with fermented why, mint oil, and fried onions. Thick enough to be considered a stew. Lots of veggies, beans, and grains. Very good.
The space is very cute (green and white theme with colorful stools and plants) with a good-sized covered outdoor patio and some indoor seating. It has a very casual sidewalk café feel. Service was very friendly.