Iran compared to most of the European countries is relatively vast and almost each region has its own specialty of food.
Persian cuisine is based on rice and meat. If you do not have a clue of trying to find different menus at different restaurants, So be prepared to almost always face with two main Iranian dishes called Kebab Koobideh and Chicken Kebab coming along with a pile of rice which can be good for one or some days, but for an everyday choice, it can be not enjoyable!
At this post we will have more focus on the food variety and related restaurants in Qazvin, Alamut, north and northwest Iran trying to give the tourists some information of the addresses as well.
Let`s start with "what to eat?"
Qazvin from the old times offers two main dishes as its specialties. It seems the locals have planned to meet the nutritional needs of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian travelers to this region.
Not to forget to announce the fact that green meals and being a vegetarian is quite a new trend in Iran but as we mentioned in our other post (Vegetarian Travelers to Iran), Iran already (maybe without prior knowledge) have been having some green meals on the daily diet of the people.
The vegetarian meal specialty of Qazvin is called Diymach /dɪjmɑːdʒ/.
We have been through it at our other post but brief description can be " a mixed of cracked and small pieces of dry bread with some vegetables and even maybe some walnut and fried potatoes."
If the cook does not add cheese, it can be a vegan dish as well.
To eat this meal with your hands is quite normal. So enjoy!
The most famous and non-green specialty of Qazvin is called: "Qeymeh Nesar" /keɪme - nesɑːr/
The look is quite colorful and that is because of different pieces of pistachios, almonds, barberries and even orange peels!
The middle layer of slices of lamb (or maybe beef) coming in between of two small layers of rice.
Caution! If you are in a restaurant and you order one portion, you can expect a big portion of Qeymeh Nesar, normally enough for two people!
The other two common dishes that you can find everywhere in Iran are called" Kabab Koobideh" and "Joojeh Kabab" (chicken kabab).
Kabab /kæbɑːb/ is a main family of food type in Iran. It refers to a procedure of sort of barbecuing meat on a stick on an indirect fire.
Koobideh /kuːbiːde/ means mashed or beaten. It refers to a type of food in which the beef meat and onion are mashed together.
Normally there is a barbecued tomato next to this food.
So here the food "Kabab Koobideh" comes to an existence!
Joojeh /juːje/ means small hen i.e. chicken. In fact that is the same adult chicken you can buy in the market not necessarily the small-aged chicken.
Kabab as mentioned earlier, is a barbecued form of making foods.
Joojeh Kabab is always having a tomato next to it.
Mahi /mɑːhɪ/ is fish. Trout is "Ghezel - Ala" /kezel - ɑːlɑː/.
The trout in Qazvin and Alamut valley are almost always from the fish farms. But the are quite nice with their taste.
The type of cooking fish in Iran is usually frying, unless you find a restaurant or you order the special steam-baked or barbecued ones. But in Qazvin up to now all of the fish menus are fried ones.
Dizi (Abgoosht):
To have full knowledge about Dizi, we can rely on the information from the Wikipedia. Dizi or Abgoosht is mostly the specialty of Northwest Iran and you will find really good ones here in Qazvin. But since we receive a lot of questions about "how to eat that?" here I can briefly go through it. You should know that no matter how, you can eat the meal the way you like! But the procedure the locals normally have to go: First you pour the water / sauce from the main dish into the bowl you receive with. Then try to make the bread into small pieces and put them into the bowl. Caution! Do not put too much bread. It should look like a soup after all! After eating this soup thing, the next phase is to separate bones (if there is any!) from the meat and also to peel out the potato. Use the metal or wooden masher to mash the whole ingredients. And finally you will eat the mashed dish with bread and the vegetables or raw onion(!) coming with the package!
Koofteh - Meatball:
Koofteh /kuːfte/ or Koofteh Tabrizi is the meatball food.
It is the main specialty of the city Tabriz and one of the common meals in Northwest Iran. Qazvin also offers some good meals of Koofteh.
This meal in northwest is the size of a big apple or orange and comes in the form of a soup and (good news!) the is no rice next to this meal!
Mirza-Ghasemi /miːrzɑː - gɑːsemiː / is among the rare foods in Iran that is named after its founder! This vegetarian meal was first invented and promoted by the ruler of Rasht city in times of Qajar era.
So, since Qazvin is also close to Caspian sea, you can find a lot of similarities in food, language and culture between these two regions.
Kashke-Bademjan /kæʃk -e- bɒdemdʒɑːn / is another green meal which can be found from central to northern Iran. It can be served both with rice or with bread.
Aash /ɑːʃ/ is another vegetarian dish which is very popular in Qazvin, north and specially northwest Iran.
You can find tens of different types of Aash in the whole country but the most famous one is very similar to common soup with some thick noodles, beans and peas inside. You will not regret of trying at least once this very tasty dish in Qazvin!
Now " Where to Eat?"
Qazvin is getting more and more busy and that is not only because of tourism. Actually the main reason is Industry,YES! This city is very industrial. Over some five hundred factory plants are located in more than four industrial towns at this zone.
So, in terms of restaurants and catering this town can not be compared to cities like Tehran or Isfahan, but it is promoting like crazy!
Here we will name some restaurants and provide the addresses mostly on the Google Maps. Hopefully the start or finishing point of your trip to Iran can be quite enjoyable in Qazvin and Alamut Valley.
Saad-al-Saltaneh Restaurant:
Starting from the very center of the town, the restaurant inside of the Vazir Bazaar or Saad-al-Saltaneh Caravansaray can offer you the eating time in a very relaxed and traditional atmosphere.
The restaurant the same name as the Caravansary.
Here is the Address: Imam Khomeini St, next to Azadi sq (Sabzeh Meydan). Google Maps:
Eghbali Restaurant
Eghbali /ekbɑːliː/ is a fancy restaurant which Lonley Planet enlisted, as well. If you walk from Azadi Sq towards Alborz hotel (to the east) right in between on the right you will find this restaurant on the second floor. Address: Taleghani St. Google Maps:
Yas Restaurant:
Yas /jɑːs/ is one of the oldest restaurants in Qazvin still running in a good condition.
As the Lonely Planet recommends, this is one of the places where you can find good Qeymeh Nesar.
With a very central position, you can easily walk some 200 meters from Eghbali more towards east and you will find Yas inside a dead-end small alley in front of Alborz Hotel.
Address: Taleghani St. Google Maps:
Nemooneh Restaurant:
Nemooneh /nemuːne/ is another fancy restaurant within about 10 minutes walking from the central square of the town.
You will find good Kabab and fish here.
Address: Bu-Ali junction, Ferdowsi St. Google Maps:
Papa Fast Food:
Papa /pɑːpɑː/ is a fast food Italian restaurant. So if you miss the real Italian pizza, do not hesitate to have time at this place.
Adress: East of Padegan junction, Felestin St. Googel Maps:
Taler - Shahr (City Hall) Restaurant:
Talar - Shahr /tɑːlɑːr - ʃæhr/ may be out of the central zone of the town but if you take a taxi or Snapp to reach there, it will definitely worth it!
In both modern and traditional restaurants of this Tourist Complex, you will find all of the above-mentioned dishes with a good quality and normal prices (almost as much as Nemooneh and Eghbali).
Address: Opposite of Azad university, Talar Shahr Complex. Googel Maps:
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