Super Vanak

Excellent local Persian groceries place. Their honey, eggplant dip, and pita bread are top notch.

Nestled in a quiet corner near Cambridge, Super Vanak stands out as a true gem of the Persian culinary scene. As a native of Southern California, where Persian cuisine abounds, I can attest that Super Vanak is as authentic as it gets. From the moment one enters, the rich aroma of spices and the warm hospitality of the staff envelops one in a comforting embrace.The menu at Super Vanak offers a tantalizing array of Persian delicacies that showcase the richness and depth of this ancient cuisine. The kebabs are cooked to perfection, with succulent meat that melts in the mouth, while the stews are imbued with a complexity of flavors that speak to the heart of Persian cuisine. And let us not forget the traditional Sadaf tea, a heady brew that transports one to the bustling bazaars of Tehran, or the rose ice cream, a sweet and delicate treat that is the perfect end to any meal.But Super Vanak is not just a restaurant. The attached supermarket offers a treasure trove of Persian goods, from dried fruits and nuts to exotic spices and teas. It is a place where one can stock up on the essentials of Persian cuisine, or simply explore the wonders of this rich and diverse culture.In short, Super Vanak is a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic taste of Persian cuisine, and a journey into the heart of a culture that has been shaped by centuries of history and tradition. A true culinary gem that should not be missed.

Named as one of the best restaurants in world by Condé Nast Traveler, my wife brought me on my birthday to this Persian venue in Belmont with plentiful street parking and although it doesn't exude Michelin flair, it does execute in the tastefulness of their dishes.With an adjacent market (which we need to visit next time), Café Vanak welcomes both dine-in and take-out customers. Walking in for lunch on the day before Thanksgiving, it was already fairly packed with a simple but neat layout. Looking around, the quantity of their dishes was fairly sizable and when people left, most of their plates were void of food.We chose our own table and ordered at the counter. The saffron tea seemed very appealing and when it arrived, it was complemented with a rock candy pop, which we dipped and spun in the cup until it detached from the wooden stick. For anyone familiar with saffron, it's typically in paella and if used too much, can be overwhelmingly medicinal. I tried it without the rock candy pop and it was soothing; with the pop, it was more balanced. Definitely recommend it for anyone who hasn't experienced a saffron tea.First came the stuffed grape leaves and my taste buds were assaulted with a kaleidoscope of cascading flavors and textures - it was herbaceous, savory, al dente, soft. You just need to put down your utensils to process what you just put in your mouth. The grilled vegetables came next and while it could have benefited with less salt on some pieces, everything was cooked to a perfect tender crunchiness.When the saffron chicken with barberry rice arrived, only a chicken bone poked out from the smothering of rice. But when scooping spoonfuls onto our plates, the drumsticks emerged and it was fall-off-the-bone tender with great flavor - must've taken the kitchen at least a couple hours to cook these down. The rice with the barberry and almond slices was unbelievably fluffy, herbal, savory and although I don't eat much rice, we just consumed it all. With the chicken and rice together in one bite, it was a combination that you'd be grateful you have enough chicken and rice to experience again and again!One of the dishes we were looking forward to was the eggplant mix (mirza ghasemi), which included tomato and bits of cheese (not too certain which kind). Right off the bat, it was delightfully smoky, with prominent eggplant and tomato flavors and other herbs I would like to know the names of.Overall friendly and professional service with a neat and clean atmosphere. Prices are very affordable with anyone wanting to check out quality Persian cuisine that's not fine dining but still makes it as one of the best restaurants in world.

This place is awesome! Great food & service! What else do you need? It's pretty authentic & food you don't normally find in Boston.They have various veg*n options which is super important. Even though the place is small & set up different then a regular restaurant, they do a good job. So expand your horizons & eat food from another part of the world. You can't help but want more. My friend couldn't even finish his since we did share an appetizer. Delicious. I only wish is was closer to the city. The place is busy no matter when you're there. So go check it out.

Yummy! Authentic Persian food, friendly atmosphere, better come early before the seats were taken.

We did take out from here after all the press on it. Even though it wasn't piping hot by the time we sat down to eat, the food was very flavorful and enjoyable. I wasn't the one who picked up but my friend who did said she had to wait a bit to be attended to as the staff was deep in conversation with someone and wasn't paying attention to her.

We got the chicken soltani plate, vegan kebab skewer, and Shirazi salad to go. All were delicious, but I gotta dock a star for the inclusion of disposable plastic cutlery that we didn't ask for. *Please do not include disposable stuff that the customer didn't ask for*. You're throwing your own money away to provide trash to the customer that they do not need, and that doesn't make the customer feel good about shopping at your business, even if they enjoyed it otherwise.

Both the grocery store and the Cafè are AMAZING. The friendliest staff, the best food, and the best options. I drive once a week from Dorchester to get their Sangak and it's so worth it. Highly recommend.

Beautiful mom and pop place. Everyone there is super nice.The restaurant food is incredible, one of the highlights of our trip. The store next door has lots of great stuff that you can't find hardly anywhere.Will be back for sure next time we go to Boston.

This is by far the most authentic and delicious persian food I've had in boston! I'm surprised that they don't have many reviews on yelp. There is persian restaurant and a super market right next to it that is PACKED with cooking essentials, spices, sweets and snacks. At the restaurant, We ordered the vaziri kabob and in my opinion the koobideh(ground beef) exceeeeeeeded our expectations. I personally liked the koobideh more than the chicken but both were delicious. Just the right amount of rice, and evenly cooked kabobs.