The Best Fast Food Spots In Tehran

In the past decade, fast food restaurants have spread like wildfire throughout Tehran and much of the country. A symbol of Iran’s unique engagement with modernity, the pizza, burger, and fried chicken venues are all indigenous creations, as their familiar Western counterparts are unable to do business. Here we explore the best fast food spots Tehran has to offer.

Boof

Boof, Iran’s home-grown answer to McDonald’s, is ubiquitous throughout Iran. Though the chain hasn’t yet achieved the addictive qualities of its American counterparts’ burgers, Boof offers a western-style fast food experience in its branches throughout Tehran and beyond. Look out for the slightly spiced ketchup here and across the country’s fast food sector. Popular branches can be found on Valiasr Street near Tajrish, and in Golestan Shopping Centre (Shahrak-e Qods).

Address: Tehran Province, Tehran, Shohada-ye-Sadeqiyeh Blvd, Iran, +98 21 4421 2199

Apache Fast Foods

If you feel your pizzerias have been lacking an American twist, Apache might be the Iranian fast food chain for you. Featuring a wide range of deep-fried Western imports, the Iranian-style pizza is the popular favorite on this menu. It has the characteristic deep-pan base loaded with copious amounts of cheese and other toppings, but Apache’s take on the modern classic is refreshingly short on the processed meat favored by other fast food joints. Douse with ketchup and mayonnaise for the real Tehran pizza experience. Pizza | © MMChicago/Flickr

Tajrish Shrine Falafel

An unassuming food kiosk on Tajrish square, located between the main entrances to the bazaar and the Imamzadeh Saleh Shrine, this unnamed restaurant offers a short but delicious menu of falafel sandwiches, served with Iranian pickles and chopped tomato, with cheese and mushrooms as optional extras. Falafel is not a dish native to Iran, but a popular import from the Mediterranean, often available near religious sites to cater to the (perceived) tastes of Arab pilgrims.

Star Burger

Spread over two glitzy stories on Valiasr square, this flagship branch of the popular chain Star Burger serves the familiar range of burgers, pizza, and other greasy goodness of a remarkably high quality and in slicker than usual surroundings. Though it does not make for the fastest of Tehran’s fast food offerings – waiting times can exceed 30 minutes – the electronic ordering system is nevertheless an impressive feature, and the fried chicken dishes come particularly recommended. Burger and chips | © jslander/Flickr

Ice Pack

Iran’s best milkshakes, heavy on the ice cream, are found in Ice Pack, a small chain that is the perfect antidote to the sweltering Iranian summer. Customers can combine a wide range of ice creams with different syrups, chocolates, and toppings for a truly personalized calorific experience. Toffee and caramel flavors are always safe bets, and if you can’t make it to one of the Ice Pack’s own quasi-futuristic branches, their products are sold through a wide network of kebab shops, burger joints, and shisha houses.

About the author

Shaahin Pishbin

Shaahin was born in southeast England, and has mixed British and Iranian heritage. Spending many childhood summers in Tehran visiting family, he developed the outlook (and neuroses) of cultural comparatist from a young age - traits that have informed the trajectory of his adult life. Reading European and Middle Eastern Languages and Literature at the University of Oxford, and subsequently completing a Masters in modern Persian literature and Arabic, he has nurtured these interests which he hopes to advance with further graduate study. He has also taught English in Spain, travelled around much of South America, and studied in Tehran for a year, where he hopes to return in the coming months.