🍗🔥 Off-Radar Eats #3 - Persian night in North Van

### 🍗🔥 Off-Radar Eats #3 - Persian night in North Van (Akbarjoojeh 19th)

Small group restaurant meetup (4–6 people). Everyone pays their own bill.

Short summary
The first two stops in this little series did exactly what I wanted them to do.
Caffè La Tana gave us a genuinely good night out.
Dinesty gave us dumplings, good table energy, and a reason to keep going.
So now we cross the water.

This stop is Akbarjoojeh 19th in North Vancouver - the kind of place people keep talking about because the portions are big, the room has some life to it, and the menu is built for showing up hungry. OpenTable lists it as casual Persian dining, generally CAN$30 and under, and says weekday / early weekday dinners are the calmer time to go, which is exactly why I’m doing this one midweek and early.
The obvious move is to try the namesake Akbarjoojeh chicken, but the menu and reviews point toward a few other strong bets too: Koobideh Kebab is currently the most-liked item on Uber Eats, Vaziri Kebab and Chicken Kebab also score well, and if the table wants a starter, Mirza Ghasemi is the one I’d nudge people toward first. OpenTable diners also keep mentioning generous portions, which is always good news for a small-group dinner.
It’s not about pretending to be food critics.
It’s about finding the places that make Vancouver feel like a real city - and getting to know a few people along the way.

Our little food journey so far
Wed, Mar 18 - Italian night (Caffè La Tana, Commercial Drive) - 5:30 PM
Wed, Apr 8 - Dumplings (Dinesty, Robson) - 5:30 PM
Saturday May 16 - Persian night (Akbarjoojeh 19th, North Vancouver) - 6:00 PM
Wed, May 27th - Dessert (Mister, Robson) - 8:00 PM

Why this stop looks promising
The menu has enough range that we won’t all be forced into the same obvious order. If you want to keep it simple, go for Akbarjoojeh, Koobideh, or Chicken Kebab. If you’re feeling a little more ambitious, Vaziri gives you a bigger mixed-grill kind of plate, and Mirza Ghasemi looks like the right shared starter if the table wants one. Uber Eats currently shows the restaurant at 4.8 stars with 500+ ratings, which is strong enough that this doesn’t feel like a random gamble.

The vibe
No food-critic cosplay.
No pressure to “know” Persian food before you show up.
Just come hungry, try something good, and be honest about what you’d actually come back for.

One important note
This series works a little differently than my other meetups because restaurants need real numbers.
So this one also has the 1-strike no-show policy. If you RSVP yes and can’t make it, please update your RSVP as soon as you know. Tiny tables only work if people are considerate.

How the night works
I’ll reserve a table for 12 people under Reza. OpenTable shows that reservations are generally available, and the restaurant’s listed hours are daily 11:00 AM–10:30 PM. Please show up on time - restaurants hold tables for a limited window.
And yes, we’re keeping the tiny tradition: near the end, I’ll ask the table:
“If aliens landed in Vancouver tonight, what dish here would you use to explain humanity - and why?”
Note: I’ll need your WhatsApp number to add you to the foodie group and to confirm the reservation.

When and where
📅 Saturday May 16, 2026
🕕 5:45 PM - 7:45 PM
📍 Akbarjoojeh 19th - 1857 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver
Cap 7 + waitlist
Small table on purpose.

###

• Try at least one Akbarjoojeh plate at the table because it’s the namesake dish and the whole point of going there. The official site frames the restaurant around its traditional Persian crispy chicken.
• Koobideh Kebab is the safest crowd-pleaser: it’s currently the #1 most-liked item on Uber Eats.
• Chicken Kebab is another easy, lower-risk choice that still scores well.
• Mirza Ghasemi is the best starter bet if you want one shared dish to open the table.
• If someone is very hungry or wants the “big plate” experience, Vaziri Kebab is the more dramatic order.