Among Iranian-Americans, Shamshiry is one of the best hidden kabob havens in the Northern Virginia area. Since opening in 1993, Shamshiry has remained one of the most celebrated Persian restaurants for anyone who craves chelo kabob, offering tastes reminiscent of the streets of Tehran. The word shamshiry means sword in Farsi, and is also a commonly used term in kabob houses to order skewers of chelo kabob & barg (steak) kabob for dinner.

Cucumber Salad, Garlic Yogurt, and Feta Cheese

About three months ago, Shamshiry renovated and introduced a few new changes to their location. The cluttered dining area has changed and now houses a modern looking interior which emphasizes bright and textured white & blue walls. Along with the renovations came a new in-house bakery. In the past, Shamshiry served pre-made flatbread with every meal, however with the addition of the bakery, diners are now offered complimentary fresh baked lavash bread with butter and chopped jalapeños alongside their main dishes. Aside from these changes, not much else has changed as far as the menu.

When ordering at Shamshiry, it is important to know that the food is meant to ideally be ordered to share. Thus, I recommend going with a party of people so anyone can order what they want and also share their entrees and sides with others. This is what I did with my friends during our visit. I ordered the jujeh kabobs (chicken kabobs), while my friends ordered the barg kabob, lamb kabob, and most famously the chelo kabob (ground beef kabob). Each plate comes with a mountain of rice, roasted tomatoes, raw onions, and grilled jalapeños. Alongside these dishes, we also ordered mast-o mosir (garlic yogurt), salad shirazi (cucumber salad), and panir sabzi (greens with feta cheese) for the table.

After all the dishes arrived, we began to mix and match our plates, taking some sections of chelo kabob, pieces of lamb, and cuts of chicken onto our towering plates. These entrees were of course accompanied by spoonfuls of yogurt, portions of salad, and crumbles of feta cheese on the side of each person’s place. After this important sorting stage, we finally began eating. As for the food, the chelo kabob had a distinct taste of sweet onion, and was grilled perfectly. The chicken was juicy and charred without being dry, and the lamb was very tender. The barg was just fine, but seemed underwhelming when compared to the chelo kabob and lamb kabobs which we fought over at our table.

Shamshiry remains one of the most prominent locations for anyone looking for authentic Persian food in the Tysons/Mclean area. With the addition of new decor, and an always professional and outstanding staff, it is no wonder that natives of Persian cuisine and travelers who enjoy exotic eats have been coming here for over 20 years.

-ARM