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Berenjak

Berenjak Berenjak is an Iranian restaurant that brings a home-style dining experience reminiscent of the classic kabab houses found in Tehran. Founded by Kian Samyani, the establishment aims to recreate the intimate atmosphere of traditional hole-in-the-wall eateries while incorporating British seasonal produce into its menu. Highlighting the spices, dips, pickles, and herbs from his childhood, Samyani emphasizes the importance of sharing meals with friends and family. Located at 27 Romilly Street in Soho, Berenjak invites diners to enjoy authentic Persian flavors in a communal setting.

Recent social media posts

Opening a restaurant on Nowruz felt particularly meaningful. There’s something symbolic in starting a new chapter at tha...
08/05/2026

Opening a restaurant on Nowruz felt particularly meaningful. There’s something symbolic in starting a new chapter at that very moment and carrying that energy into the space. Our intention was to bring the depth and generosity of Persian cuisine into a slightly more contemporary setting without losing our soul, and the new restaurant has given us the space to explore this journey in a different way.
I’m grateful for this opportunity and that I get to do what I love for my livelihood. I’m grateful for our community, who showed up and filled our new restaurant from day one, and I’m grateful to our teams everywhere for holding it down every single day. This period has demanded a huge amount from us: opening Mayfair and Riyadh simultaneously, preparing Abu Dhabi, which will follow imminently, and planning openings for later this year in Chicago, Bahrain and Kuwait, not to mention the numerous projects we’re juggling right here at home. I’ve come to realise that this work is never ending, so embrace it, because whatever hill you climb over, there’s an even bigger one waiting for you after.
Anyway, less of the sentimental stuff and a bit more about Berenjak Mayfair, which happens to have around thirty new dishes, although not in one place and not all available at the same time. Some of my home favourites are finally on a menu called ‘Golestan’, in honour of the beautiful Golestan Palace in Tehran that was damaged earlier this year in the ongoing conflict.
Each dish is partnered with a province that I think best represents it, but really it’s just an educated guess on where these dishes could have originated from. Plus, I’m not an expert and have never claimed to be when it comes to Persian cuisine and its history. I only know what’s been passed down to me, and unfortunately there’s a serious lack of verified information available when it comes to the history of Persian food. Most knowledge is shared through generations within families, usually with a hint of Chinese whispers added. So we do our best to put pieces of this ginormous puzzle back together, build theories, and find the ‘why’ to so many questions that the generation before us are unable to answer.

Opening a restaurant on Nowruz felt particularly meaningful. There’s something symbolic in starting a new chapter at tha...
08/05/2026

Opening a restaurant on Nowruz felt particularly meaningful. There’s something symbolic in starting a new chapter at that very moment and carrying that energy into the space. Our intention was to bring the depth and generosity of Persian cuisine into a slightly more contemporary setting without losing our soul, and the new restaurant has given us the space to explore this journey in a different way.
I’m grateful for this opportunity and that I get to do what I love for my livelihood. I’m grateful for our community, who showed up and filled our new restaurant from day one, and I’m grateful to our teams everywhere for holding it down every single day. This period has demanded a huge amount from us: opening Mayfair and Riyadh simultaneously, preparing Abu Dhabi, which will follow imminently, and planning openings for later this year in Chicago, Bahrain and Kuwait, not to mention the numerous projects we’re juggling right here at home. I’ve come to realise that this work is never ending, so embrace it, because whatever hill you climb over, there’s an even bigger one waiting on the other side.
Anyway, less of the sentimental stuff and a bit more about Berenjak Mayfair, which happens to have around thirty new dishes, although not in one place and not all available at the same time. Some of my home favourites are finally on a menu called ‘Golestan’, in honour of the beautiful Golestan Palace in Tehran that was damaged earlier this year in the ongoing conflict.
Each dish is partnered with a province that I think best represents it, but really it’s just an educated guess on where these dishes could have originated from. Plus, I’m not an expert and have never claimed to be when it comes to Persian cuisine and its history. I only know what’s been passed down to me, and unfortunately there’s a serious lack of verified information available when it comes to the history of Persian food. Most knowledge is shared through generations within families, usually with a hint of Chinese whispers added. So we do our best to put pieces of this ginormous puzzle back together, build theories, and find the ‘why’ to so many questions that the generation before us are unable to answer.

I’ve rewritten the caption for this post maybe four or five times since October. This isn’t unusual for me, as I always ...
25/02/2026

I’ve rewritten the caption for this post maybe four or five times since October. This isn’t unusual for me, as I always struggle with words. But this time it was worse: I hit a wall so tall that, for months, I couldn’t figure out how to climb over it.

This has allowed me space and, more importantly, time to reflect, and I believe that the most meaningful way we can honour those whose lives were lost and carry their memory in what we build each and every day is to continue our mission with purpose, respect and integrity

The toll on the global Iranian community over these past months has been immeasurable. Our beloved brothers and sisters inside Iran have paid and continue to pay the heaviest price. We allowed some time to pass out of respect for the many thousands of grieving families, some of whom are our friends. But recently, I have begun to feel that adopting this position is somewhat defeatist.

So, instead of climbing over it I’ve decided to crash through that wall. Iran will be free, if not today then tomorrow, if not tomorrow then the next day; it is not a matter of ‘if’, it is a matter of ‘when’. Holding onto that conviction changes how we move forward. Last year I made a point of not celebrating Nowruz. Ironically, this year I feel we must. But more on that soon.

My OCD around building this page requires me to talk about things in semi-chronological order, and my original intention back in October was to talk about the Berenjak we had just opened in LA.

It was something of a full-circle moment for me. Few people know this, but when I was little, my dad co-owned a Persian restaurant in Santa Barbara with a friend he later discovered to be a fraud and a conman. My dad had a lucky escape and managed to exit the business with much of his investment returned. Soon after, the restaurant shut its doors for good.

So, I went to LA not quite knowing what to expect. I was sceptical and simultaneously worried about opening a Berenjak there. I was aware that the Iranian diaspora in California is one of the largest in the world, and maybe even one of the most unforgiving, but I wasn’t prepared for what came next.

Continued in comments 👇🏽

What can I say about what’s going on in the world right now that hasn’t been so brilliantly said already by so many of o...
22/06/2025

What can I say about what’s going on in the world right now that hasn’t been so brilliantly said already by so many of our amazing and kind-hearted community. It’s a devastating situation, and I’m saddened to see so much conflict and disagreement among countless who I’d previously assumed were more aligned, but that’s ok, I guess it’s the beauty of this life that each individual is different and has the freedom and privilege to think and feel how they want, especially when we take the latter for granted sometimes.
One thing I will point out though is that I do believe we’re all united in wanting the common end goal of a regime change in Iran, albeit with different views of how we get there.
Anyway, I’m sharing some snaps I’ve been holding onto that showcase the beauty of a traditional Persian Sofreh and hope that one day our friends and family all around the world who are currently affected by war can return to some level of normality. Check in on your loved ones and please reach out if there’s any way we can support those affected recently.

We don’t normally do much for Nowruz, this year even less so. I just wasn’t feeling it, I’m lucky I get to be selective ...
23/03/2025

We don’t normally do much for Nowruz, this year even less so. I just wasn’t feeling it, I’m lucky I get to be selective with my Iranian-ness. Like a switch, I can flick it on or off as I please to suit how I’m feeling any given day.

I guess you can call me a Nowruz grinch, I kept my head down and let the week pass. I think it can all be very shallow and a bit of a vanity fair as all the ‘what is Nowruz’, ‘what is a Haft-Sin’ and ‘what to eat during Nowruz’ posts start to resurface, followed by a tiny amount of self-guilt that we haven’t done enough. But this feeling passes quickly and I’m sorry to the Iranian community for feeling this way, I can’t help that my perspective has changed this year.

What’s happened in Gaza has desensitised me, I’ve witnessed bodies of countless children on the same device I use to take photos of my own from the comfort of my privileged life, the only thing separating us being where we were born. So everything we seem to do at the moment is in my mind so unequivocally eclipsed by the devastation there.

One thing I do still care greatly about is the people around me, and this post started off with the intent of sharing how incredible our four week pop-up in Riyadh was and how it was only possible because of the amazing people I get to call my colleagues, and the things we had to do as a team to get this project over the line. But it all feels so unimportant at the moment so I’ll hold on to the details for another time leaving the photos here as a placeholder.

Address

27 Romilly Street
London
W1D 5AL

To reach 27 Romilly Street in London, you have a couple of convenient options for both public transport and driving.

**Public Transport:**
1. **Underground:** The nearest tube station is Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly Lines). From the station, exit onto Leicester Square and walk south towards Romilly Street; it’s about a 5-minute walk.
2. **Bus:** Several bus routes serve the area, including numbers 14, 19, and 38. Alight at the nearest stop on Charing Cross Road or Shaftesbury Avenue, then walk to Romilly Street.

**Driving/Parking:**
If you’re driving, head towards central London and follow signs for Leicester Square. There are limited parking options nearby; consider using NCP car parks or street parking where available. Be mindful of congestion charges that may apply during peak hours.

Always check for any local traffic updates or changes to public transport schedules before your journey!

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 3pm
5:30pm - 11pm
Tuesday 12pm - 3pm
5:30pm - 11pm
Wednesday 12pm - 3pm
5:30pm - 11pm
Thursday 12pm - 3pm
5:30pm - 11pm
Friday 12pm - 3pm
5:30pm - 11pm
Saturday 12pm - 11pm

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What people say

Berenjak, located at 27 Romilly Street in London, offers a delightful culinary experience that beautifully captures the essence of traditional Persian dining. The restaurant reinterprets the beloved kabab houses of Tehran, creating an inviting atmosphere reminiscent of rustic hole-in-the-wall eateries.

Founder Kian Samyani draws inspiration from his childhood memories, where family meals were filled with love and laughter. At Berenjak, diners can expect to enjoy a menu that celebrates signature Persian dishes crafted with seasonal British produce. The vibrant flavors of spices, dips, pickles, and fresh herbs come together to create a memorable dining experience.

The communal aspect of Persian dining is at the heart of Berenjak's philosophy. Guests are encouraged to sit elbow-to-elbow with friends and family, sharing each dish until every last bite is savored. This approach not only enhances the meal but also fosters a warm sense of connection among diners.

With its unique blend of tradition and innovation, Berenjak stands out as a must-visit destination for anyone looking to explore the rich flavors of Persian cuisine in London.