Persian Munchies: where to find delicious Persian food in Newcastle

Best for: Persian food, grilled dishes, authentic Persian cuisine

If you’re looking for delicious food that is fresh and chargrilled right in front of you, Persian Munchies in Newcastle is where you need to be. This place is all about traditional Persian dishes and if you appreciate fresh, delicious food (of course you do – otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this!) you will love it here. You walk in, and you can actually smell all the spices they use to marinate and cook the food in straight away; it is delightful and we couldn’t get enough of their gorgeous food.

What we had:

• Hummus – So creamy and rich, perfect with the warm bread. It was quite garlicky in flavour which I absolutely LOVED!
• Grilled aubergine served with naan – Smoky, soft, and just delicious. It is one of my favourite flavours and this place didn’t disappoint. Beautiful as a starter, but you could have it as a side (which we did) as it complemented the mains so well.

• Chargrilled salmon – Perfectly cooked, super tender, it was falling apart perfectly. It was infused with the chargrilled deliciousness and the grilled veggies it came with were a perfect side to the strong salmon flavour. The portion was also huge – you got 3 large portions of salmon, it was a feast on a plate. And it was a stunning dish; one I will go back for very soon. My happy food right there!

• Lamb chops & chicken (marinated & grilled) – Tender and juicy, seasoned to perfection. There was so much food on the plate, I wasn’t sure Ryan would finish it all (spoiler – he did). While the lamb and chicken were the hero of the dish, the perfectly grilled veggies were beautiful in their own right.

You get all the same grilled veggies with the grilled meat and fish, and we both loved (and ate) every little bit of it. The large green peppers were sweet, with a little hint of heat at the end, and beautifully grilled skin which just added so much depth of flavour to this humble vegetable. The tomatoes were just melting in your mouth, they were grilled beautifully.
You also get some fresh salad – the type I adore; all crunchy veggies which go so, so well with the deeper flavours of grilled meat, fish and veggies. A stunning combination on each plate. Just perfect in flavour and texture.

• Doogh (yogurt drink) – I had to include this in this section because I could drink it as a meal on its own. I adore Ayran, but it was my first time trying Doogh, which I assumed would be similar. It was similar but it was like Ayran on steroids – a lot more infusion of herbs and spices, it was GORGEOUS!!! Refreshing and cool, just the right balance of tanginess, went perfectly with all the delicious food I had. I would never drink milk, but I would drink Ayran and Doogh all day every day if I could. My only regret is that I have not had it before now. If you visit – you need to try it.

• The chilli sauce. OK, so this isn’t a dish BUT it was another highlight from our visit to Persian Munchies. It comes in a red bottle like a tomato sauce so we didn’t try it, until near the end of the meal thinking it was tomato sauce and OH. MY. GODNESS!!! As soon as we tried it and realised what it was, we literally poured it over everything we had left on our plates. It was one of the best chilli sauces I have ever had (you can read about the others on the blog too!); it was fresh, tangy, full of chilli flavour, spicy but not crazy hot, it was PERFECT poured over everything. We used ¾ of the bottle, it was divine. A 10/10. If you go – learn from my mistake and don’t mistake the red bottle for tomato sauce.

But if you think such a feast meant we had no room for dessert – you’d be wrong! We went for:

• Baklava – it was the ‘sweet of the day’ so Ryan wouldn’t be himself if he didn’t go for baklava. The perfect sweet treat to end the meal. And did you see how beautifully presented it was with the 3 tiny roses? I took them home, they are actually super fragrant!

• Persian saffron ice cream – this was the biggest surprise for me, and another highlight from the visit (I know, ANOTHER ONE because the food here is just unreal). I actually originally asked for Faloodeh (slush noodles with lemon juice and sour cherry) because it’s not something I have ever had before, but as they just ran out, I got the ice cream. I will be honest – I am not an ice cream fan and didn’t really think I would like it. And I didn’t like it. I LOVED IT (said in a Simon Cowell X factor voice, ha). It was absolutely crazy how delicious this dessert was. It was smooth so texture wise it was perfect, and the flavour was just insane. I adore rose flavour and it had hints of this, with chunks of pistachio which were surprisingly soft, and the depth of flavour was unlike any other ice cream I have tasted. I am finding it hard to describe it because it was so simple and understated, but so delicious at the same time. I will absolutely be back to have this ice cream again.

Why we loved this place

What makes Persian Munchies so special isn’t just the delicious food (although that’s a huge part of it!). The real charm of this place is the super friendly and welcoming staff and the live grilling station just behind the glass screen so you can watch your food being grilled. Just imagine the smell – it fills the place in the most subtle way that makes you instantly hungry for grilled food, the moment you step in!

Now, let’s talk about the food. Each dish was full of flavour, and there’s something about chargrilled food that just can’t be beaten. I know I am not the only one with this sentiment. The salmon was a standout – it was grilled to perfection, flaky on the inside with a beautifully crispy skin. I couldn’t get enough of it! And of course, the lamb chops and chicken were equally impressive – perfectly marinated, grilled just right, and as flavoursome.
And don’t even get me started on the Persian saffron ice cream. It’s one of those things you’ll remember long after your meal is over (I, for example, am thinking about it right now and calculating when we can go again so I can have it again!) So good! The Doogh yogurt drink and the chilli sauce also need a mention as they were equally delish and made this meal so memorable.

We were also super impressed by the reasonable prices. Given how amazing the food is and how generous the portions are (I am not kidding – each plate is like a feast!), I feel like you’re getting incredible value. A satisfying, authentic meal without breaking the bank? Yes, please.

Location

Persian Munchies is located on 25 West Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England NE4 9PU. There is parking available right in front of the restaurant.

Tips for visiting: