If I’m not mistaken, Komaaj may be the only Persian restaurant in the Mission since … ever? And I just found out about it, although it’s been around for four years. I believe Komaaj does a lot of catering and pop-ups, but they also have a nice dinner menu. Chef Hanif features dishes from Northern Iran — Gilaki cuisine — vibrant food that is replete with herbs, warm spices, yogurts, rice, and jeweled-tone fruits such as pomegranate and barberries.
The BF ordered the turmeric chicken with herb rice (heavy on the dill, rather like baghali polo, but without the lima beans), and I got the pomegranate walnut chicken (fesenjan) with turmeric rice. We also ordered a very herbaceous kuku sabzi to share, a frittata made with dill, fenugreek, leeks, cilantro — you name it.
It came with flatbread and labneh (a thick, yogurt cheese sauce) and was wonderfully green and flavorful, if a bit dense. Both our chicken dishes were good, hearty, and homey. The lush aromas alone were mouthwatering. We also got some pickled beets — a whole jar of them, a surprise. They came very thinly sliced, and must have been made from yellow beets — again, I was surprised, as I was expecting them to be the bright fuchsia of red beets.
Komaaj’s online menu has more variety (duck and beef dishes) than the one offered by DoorDash, but I think it’s a pandemic menu. There are plenty of vegetarian options. They also offer some of their jarred dressings and condiments, like herbed feta and cream cheese dip, and a lovely looking red beet and sumac labneh. I’m not even sure if they have indoor seating in normal times; the place is tiny. But I hope they stick around so we can try their full menu someday. In the meantime, let’s show Komaaj we’re grateful to have this warmly inviting cuisine in the neighborhood.
Komaaj (website)
3359 26th St,
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 598-8286
I was a little disappointed the first time I biked by it because I thought it was still the Laundry Cafe (which I’d liked), and now that it’s Komaaj they told me they didn’t have coffee!
The second time I found myself riding by Komaaj, though, I decided to stop and give it a try, ordering the bean and dill stew (with bread). It was very good! I love that they clearly label their vegan options. I’ll definitely be back to try more.
thank you, great review, but I wish you didn’t mention DoorDash… they along with Uber Eats, instacart and other delivery behemoths are hyper exploiters of gig workers and the restaurants themselves. I will order and pick it up myself!
I agree with you 100% – but I felt I had to be honest. I usually try to pick up our food myself, but I’ve got an injury that makes walking even short distances difficult right now. Hence, the delivery. I appreciate your comment.
This please is amazing. Love the yogurt dishes
I love your restaurant reviews and wish I lived 1600 miles closer – I make a point of experiencing the foods you describe!
Echoing Bob, oh to not be half the continent away! As always love your turn of phrase & always look forward to your reviews.
thank you!
I walked down to my bank @ Mission & 25th on Christmas Eve and was disgusted and disappointed seeing so many people without masks and very little social distancing. It’s no wonder the Mission and the Latinos have the highest infection rates in the City.