Halal Persian restaurant · Devonport, Auckland
Real Persian home cooking, hidden in the Devonport Arcade. Alireza grills the charcoal kebabs and his wife bakes the baklava fresh every morning.
Our story
We're a small family business — a working husband and wife who came from Iran to cook the food we love. We're proud to introduce real Persian cooking to New Zealand.
Alireza is on the charcoal grill, turning skewers of koobideh, joojeh and shishlik, and slow-cooking the Tehran-style stews — ghormeh sabzi, gheymeh, fesenjan. Every plate comes on saffron rice, almost always with the golden, pan-crisped tahdig that guests come back for.
There's no clever concept here. It's two people cooking the food they grew up eating, the way it's meant to be made — and gladly sharing it with you.
More about our family
Signature dishes
Barg, joojeh & koobideh · saffron rice · salad
The most-talked-about dish on the menu, and the one to order for the table. A loaded platter of charcoal-grilled barg, golden joojeh chicken and koobideh, all on saffron rice. Come hungry, come to share.
Two skewers of charcoal chicken · saffron rice · salad
Marinated chicken fillet, grilled over charcoal until it is juicy and tender, with golden char on the edges. Served on saffron-and-white rice with a fan of fresh herbs, pickles and grilled tomato.
Slow-roasted lamb · dill & broad-bean rice
A Tehran-style favourite. Lamb shank, slowly roasted with Persian herbs and spices until it falls off the bone, beside a tahdig dome of dill-and-broad-bean rice.
Made for sharing
The best way to eat Persian food is together. Our sharing platters — the King Plate and the Akdeniz Mix Plate — pile barg, joojeh, koobideh and lamb cutlets over saffron rice, with herb salad, pickles and charred tomatoes. Bring the whole family, settle in, and let the table do the ordering. Persian music's on, and there's no rush.
Takeaway & Click + Collect
Not staying in? Take the kebabs with you. Call ahead and we'll have your order ready to collect — charcoal kebabs, saffron rice, mezze and a tray of baklava.
We're building a new Nine Tables online ordering flow for pickup, and it's on its way. For now, order by phone for collection — pickup only, no delivery.
“The atmosphere is inspired by the grandeur of the ancient Persian Empire — it makes the whole experience feel special and unique.”
— A guest, on Google
What our guests say
Iranian guests keep telling us it tastes like home — and like the best in Tehran.
Alireza jaan, you took me back to Tehran with the delicious food and Persian music. The Ghormeh Sabzi was to die for — as good as the best in Tehran. And the joojeh kebab… juicy and tender.
One of the best Persian restaurants I've been to, and without doubt the best in Auckland. It reminds me of the cooking I grew up enjoying in my Iranian family. Their khoresht is wonderful, the kebabs tender and well-marinated.
We dropped in for coffee and cake in the cute cafe section out the back. Great coffee, awesome Turkish Delight — but the baklava was the BEST I've ever eaten. Absolutely perfect.
Found this little gem tucked away within the Devonport Arcade. The baklava is out of this world — the owner's wife makes a fresh tray every morning in small batches. She's been perfecting this recipe for eight years.
Find us in the Arcade
We're tucked inside the Devonport Arcade, a short walk from the harbour and the ferry. Look for the round AKDENIZ signboard on the brick.
5/15 Victoria Road
The Arcade, Devonport
Auckland 0624
