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Best Food in Kermanshah (2026)
Begin your culinary journey in the city center around Modarres Street, where you'll find a cluster of traditional restaurants. For a classic Kermanshahi breakfast, head to Haj Ho… 🍽️ Where to Start
Begin your culinary journey in the city center around Modarres Street, where you'll find a cluster of traditional restaurants. For a classic Kermanshahi breakfast, head to Haj Hossein Restaurant at 12 Modarres Street, open daily from 7 AM to 11 AM, where the kaleh pacheh (sheep's head and trotters) is a local favorite. Expect to pay around 150,000 to 200,000 rials per serving.
🥘 Signature Dishes
Kermanshah is famous for its dandeh kebab, a succulent lamb rib kebab that you must try. The best version is at Shazdeh Restaurant on Jomhouri Boulevard, where a full plate with rice and grilled tomatoes costs about 350,000 rials. Another must-taste is kangar (wild artichoke) stew, often available at traditional eateries like Saraye Sefid, located in the old bazaar, for around 200,000 rials.
🥙 Street Food Stalls
For a quick bite, explore the bustling streets around the Grand Bazaar, where vendors sell sambusas (savory pastries) and fresh bread. Try the chickpea sambusa from a stall near the entrance of the bazaar on Modarres Street, priced at just 30,000 rials each. In the evenings, look for carts selling grilled corn and beetroot, a popular snack among locals, for about 50,000 rials.
🍯 Sweet Treats
Don't leave without tasting Kermanshah's famous sweets, especially the sesame-based koloocheh and the saffron-infused nan-e berenji (rice cookies). Visit the historic confectionery Haj Khalil on Modarres Street, where a box of assorted sweets costs around 400,000 rials. For a modern twist, try the pistachio baklava at Cafe Golha on Ferdowsi Street, priced at 120,000 rials per piece.
🏘️ Hidden Neighborhoods
Venture to the historic neighborhood of Faizabad, where family-run eateries serve home-style dishes. At the unassuming Faizabad Traditional Restaurant, located at 5 Alley, you can enjoy a hearty abgoosht (meat and bean stew) for 180,000 rials, served with fresh herbs and bread. Another gem is the Kurdish tea house in the same area, offering a pot of tea and local cheese for 80,000 rials.
💰 Local Prices
Eating out in Kermanshah is generally affordable, with a typical meal at a mid-range restaurant costing between 200,000 and 400,000 rials. Street food is even cheaper, with most snacks under 100,000 rials. For a budget-friendly feast, visit the traditional bazaar where you can assemble a meal of bread, cheese, and fresh herbs for less than 150,000 rials.
🚶 Getting Around
Most food hotspots are within walking distance of each other in the city center, but for farther neighborhoods like Faizabad, use the local bus system or a taxi. A short taxi ride within the city costs about 100,000 rials, and buses are only 20,000 rials per trip. Ride-hailing apps like Snapp are also available and convenient for navigating to specific restaurant addresses.
🌙 Best Evening Spots
As the sun sets, head to the Takyeh Moaven ol-Molk area, where several outdoor cafes and restaurants set up seating under the stars. The traditional music and ambient lighting make it a perfect spot to enjoy a dandeh kebab from the nearby Kebab Sorkh restaurant, open until midnight. For a more upscale evening, reserve a table at the rooftop restaurant of the Parsian Hotel, offering panoramic views of the city and a full Persian menu with mains starting at 500,000 rials.
The guide's spot on about kangar stew, that's the dish I still dream about. But the place to get it isn't the bazaar, it's a tiny joint called Ghasedak on the corner of Jomhouri and Shariati, they do it with lamb shank and it falls apart. They're only open for lunch and usually sold out by 1:30, so go early.
Also, if you're there on a Friday morning, skip the touristy breakfast spots and head to the park near Taq Bostan. There's a family that sets up a cart selling nan-e-taftoon with fresh white cheese and walnuts, plus a tiny cup of strong tea for about 60,000 rials total. Eating that with the rock reliefs in the background is the most Kermanshah moment you'll have.
kangar stew is the one that got me too, but i found it at a place the guide skimmed over, a little khanegi (home style) spot in the old bazaar called Saraye Abbas. they serve it with a side of siah aleh (black grape syrup) to cut the bitterness, and the owner will happily tell u the artichokes are picked wild from the mountains east of the city. cost me 180k rials with bread and a doogh that actually tasted like yogurt, not the bottled stuff.
also, if u want a real local move, hit the juice stands near the Grand Bazaar entrance around noon. they press fresh pomegranate and carrot juice right there, and the guy adds a pinch of dried mint to the carrot one. 40k rials for a big glass, and it beats any soda after a heavy kebab. the pomegranate is tart and dark, perfect for washing down the fatty lamb.
honestly the guide nails it with dandeh kebab, but i'd push back on Shazdeh being the absolute best. there's a tiny place called Kebab Sorkh near Takyeh Moaven ol-Molk that does it with a smokier char, and they don't skimp on the fat. go at sunset, grab a table outside, and order the mast-o-khiar with it, that combo is unbeatable.
for a snack the guide missed, try the boiled chickpeas sold by old guys with carts around the bazaar, they season them with salt and a squeeze of lime. 20,000 rials a cup and way better than the corn, imo. also, if you're into bread, the sangak from the oven right off Modarres Street around 5 PM is still warm and crusty, perfect for dipping in the abgoosht from Faizabad.
one thing nobody mentions: the nan-e berenji from Haj Khalil is good but the fresh batch, the one they bake in the morning, is a whole different thing. ask for the soft ones, they melt. the packaged stuff is for tourists, get there before 10 AM.
3 Days in Kermanshah: Itinerary 2026
Start your first day at the Grand Bazaar of Kermanshah, open from 9 AM to 8 PM, where you can wander through spice stalls and carpet shops. From there, walk five minutes to… 🗺️ Day 1: Old City Core
Start your first day at the Grand Bazaar of Kermanshah, open from 9 AM to 8 PM, where you can wander through spice stalls and carpet shops. From there, walk five minutes to the Tekyeh Moaven al-Molk, a stunning Qajar-era building with mirror work and tile panels, open 8 AM to 5 PM. In the evening, head to the nearby Jameh Mosque of Kermanshah, built in the 12th century, and enjoy a traditional dinner at the Haj Hossein Restaurant on Modarres Street.
🏛️ Day 2: Taq Bostan and Beyond
Dedicate the morning to Taq Bostan, a UNESCO-listed site with rock reliefs from the Sassanid era, located about 5 kilometers northeast of the city center; take a taxi for around 150,000 rials (about $3) and arrive by 9 AM to beat the crowds. After exploring the site, visit the nearby Museum of Anthropology, housed in a traditional bathhouse, open 8 AM to 4 PM. In the afternoon, drive 20 minutes to the Moaven al-Molk Tekyeh, which you may have missed, but if you saw it, instead visit the Emad o Dolah Mosque, a hidden gem with intricate brickwork.
⛰️ Day 3: Nature and Local Life
Spend your final day at Bisotun, a UNESCO World Heritage site with the famous inscription of Darius the Great, located 30 kilometers east of Kermanshah; take a shared taxi (savari) from the main terminal for about 200,000 rials per person, and plan to spend 3 hours there. On your way back, stop at the Tagh-e Gara, a natural cave with a small waterfall, just 10 minutes off the main road. In the evening, stroll through the Park-e Shahr (City Park) and try local sweets like koloocheh at the Shater Abbas bakery on Jomhouri Street.
🚌 Getting Around
Kermanshah's city center is compact, so walking is the best way to explore the old bazaar and nearby sights. For longer distances, use the city's bus network, with fares at 10,000 rials, or hop in a taxi; short rides within the center cost around 100,000 rials, while trips to the outskirts like Taq Bostan run 150,000 to 200,000 rials. For Bisotun, shared taxis depart from the Kermanshah Bus Terminal on Modarres Boulevard every 30 minutes from 7 AM to 6 PM.
🍽️ Where to Eat
For authentic Kermanshahi cuisine, try Dizi (a lamb and chickpea stew) at the traditional restaurant Saraye Sefid, located inside the bazaar, open noon to 4 PM. For a quick lunch, grab a kebab sandwich from the popular Javad's Kebab on Shariati Street, priced around 120,000 rials. In the evening, head to the upscale Shandiz Restaurant on Ferdowsi Boulevard, which serves grilled meats and local appetizers, with mains starting at 300,000 rials.
💰 Money and Prices
Kermanshah is one of Iran's more affordable cities; a budget traveler can get by on about $20 per day, including a hostel bed, meals, and local transport. Entrance fees are low: Taq Bostan costs 200,000 rials, Bisotun 150,000 rials, and the Tekyeh Moaven al-Molk 100,000 rials. Carry cash, as credit cards are not accepted; exchange money at the official exchange offices on Modarres Street, where rates are better than at hotels.
🌙 Evening Strolls
As the sun sets, join locals at the Moaven al-Molk Tekyeh courtyard, which is beautifully lit until 9 PM, and often hosts cultural events. For a more relaxed evening, walk along the Simeryeh River promenade, where street vendors sell roasted corn and tea. If you're up for a lively scene, head to the Cafe Naderi on Jomhouri Street, open until midnight, for strong Persian coffee and people-watching.
📅 Planning Tips
Book your accommodation in advance, especially during the Persian New Year (Nowruz) in late March, when hotels fill up quickly; the Parsian Hotel on Modarres Boulevard is a reliable mid-range option. Dress modestly, as Kermanshah is a conservative city, and women should carry a headscarf for visits to religious sites. Finally, learn a few phrases in Kurdish, as many locals speak it, and they'll appreciate your effort.
The itinerary is well put together, and I'd back the call on Taq Bostan in the morning, the light on the reliefs is much better before noon. One thing the guide doesn't mention: the bazaar has a separate coppersmiths' lane, just off the main spice corridor, where you can watch them hammering trays and pots. It's free, it's loud, and it's a better souvenir stop than the carpet shops if you want something small and real.
For the Bisotun day, don't skip the little spring-fed pool at the base of the cliff, it's where the locals picnic and the water is shockingly cold even in summer. And if you're there on a Friday, the savari back to town fills up fast, so either leave by 1 PM or be ready to wait an hour at the terminal.
yeah the guide nailed the essentials but one thing it glosses over is the food scene outside the tourist spots. skip shandiz honestly, it's fine but overpriced for what it is. instead hit the kebab place on shariati street near the bazaar, the one with the yellow sign, it's called something like abbas's grill and the koobideh there is insane, like 80,000 rials and they give u free yogurt with it. locals queue there at noon for a reason.
also for the bisotun trip, if u got time after the inscription, walk up the little path behind the caravanserai, there's a second smaller relief hidden up there that most people miss. it's not marked or anything, just a worn stone face, but it's way more intimate than the big one and u'll have it to yourself. takes like 15 mins extra and worth it. i found it by accident last spring and it was the highlight of my day.
this guide is solid, especially the bazaar route. one thing i'd add: skip the museum of anthropology if you're tight on time and instead grab a glass of doogh at the little stand right outside taq bostan, it's the best in the city and the guy there has been running it for like 20 years. also, the haj hossein restaurant is good but it gets packed with tour groups, if u want the real local vibe try the dizi at saraye sefid for lunch instead, it's way quieter and the bread is fresher. oh and for the simeryeh promenade at night, it's lovely but watch ur step near the river, some of the paving stones are loose, i almost ate it there last year lol