The Best Iranian Businesses in San Francisco

The Bay Area’s Iranian community is spread wide rather than concentrated in one neighborhood. Businesses sit across the bridges, down the Peninsula, and through the East Bay, so this page covers the region rather than the city limits alone.

Browse by category

Restaurants and bakeries : kabab houses, family kitchens, and Persian pastry shops.

Doctors and dentists : Farsi-speaking physicians and dental practices.

Rug stores : hand-knotted Persian and Oriental rug dealers.

Realtors : agents who know both the market and the community.

Persian markets : groceries carrying saffron, dried lime, barberries, and fresh herbs.

Also listed: professional services, finance, insurance, beauty and spas, automotive, and home services.

Where to look in the Bay Area

San Francisco : professional practices, restaurants, and services within the city itself.

Marin County : Mill Valley, San Rafael, and the surrounding towns, with an established Iranian community north of the bridge.

The Peninsula : San Mateo, Burlingame, and the corridor toward Palo Alto, with medical practices, professional offices, and markets.

East Bay : Berkeley, Oakland, and the inland suburbs.

Given how spread out the region is, the map is usually more useful than the city name. A business across a bridge may be closer than one on the far side of the city.

What each listing shows

Every listing includes the phone number, full address, opening hours, and website, so you can reach the business directly. Many add photos and a description of what they do. Where a business notes that staff speak Farsi, that appears on the listing too.

Every submission is read by a person before publishing. We confirm the business exists and the contact details work. We do not verify professional licenses, credentials, or insurance choosing a doctor, lawyer, or contractor is still your decision.

Nowruz and community events

The Bay Area holds Nowruz gatherings each spring, along with concerts, film screenings, and cultural events through the year. Nowruz, the Persian New Year at the spring equinox, is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and it remains the anchor of the community calendar here as everywhere.

Many of the restaurants and markets listed on this page take Nowruz orders sabzi polo with fish, sweets, and haft-sin items so it is worth calling ahead in the weeks before.

Nearby areas

San Jose has the largest Iranian community in Northern California and is worth checking alongside this page. Sacramento is further inland.

In Southern California: Los Angeles, particularly Westwood, along with Beverly Hills, Glendale, Irvine, Orange County, and San Diego.

Own a business in San Francisco?

If you run an Iranian or Persian-owned business in San Francisco or the surrounding Bay Area, add it to the directory. Basic listings are free and take a few minutes.

Looking elsewhere in the state? Browse Iranian businesses in California from the Bay Area to San Diego.

Frequently asked questions

Which areas does the San Francisco directory cover?
San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, including Marin County, the Peninsula, and the East Bay.

Where in the Bay Area should I look first?
It depends where you are. Marin County, the Peninsula, and the East Bay all have listings, and the map will show what is closest.

Is it free to list a business in San Francisco?
Yes. Basic listings are free with no time limit. Paid plans are available for featured placement.

Do the listings show whether staff speak Farsi?
When a business tells us, yes. It appears on the listing.

Can non-Iranians use the directory?
Yes. Anyone can search and use it. The listings are for Iranian and Persian-owned businesses, but the directory is open to everyone.