Recent social media posts
06/01/2026
It's with a heavy heart that after nearly three years at 4639 N. Kedzie that our final service will be 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, June 6th.
We'd like to thank our neighbors, our regulars, anyone who has dined with us, and most of all, the dedicated and hardworking team at Maman Zari, during what has been a wonderful three years.
But, until then, we invite you to join us for one final meal this week.
05/28/2026
Chef Matteo dubbed the current dessert on our tasting menu a "peach temptation."
Join us for our 8-Course Persian-Inspired Tasting Menu and taste why.
05/27/2026
It’s National Grape Day!
Join us this evening for dinner and enjoy some fermented grape juice! We even have a few dealcoholized wine options.
05/22/2026
Our less traditional take on 𝘺𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘩, a plant-based stew, has made a reappearance on our a la carte menu.
Enjoy this dish of summer squash alongside tomato, onion, and garlic medley served atop saffron rice with crispy chickpeas.
05/20/2026
Can you believe we’re in the second half of May?
Summer made a brief appearance, and we’re here for you with lighter options and hearty ones alike, depending on how you’re feeling. And you can enjoy this Pinot Gris, as well as a handful of other picks, for great prices on Wednesday. Or come in before 6:30 for $2 off small plates and drink specials for $10 or less.
Make your reservation for our Persian-inspired tasting menu or walk in for dinner and enjoy our à la carte options. See you soon!
05/13/2026
Happy Wednesday!
Today we’re highlighting Pinot Gris from in Oregon that’s perfect for this indecisive weather and pairs nicely with a lot of our lighter fare — it’s available both by the glass and bottle!
05/12/2026
We're excited for the return of the ᴅᴀᴍᴀᴠᴀɴᴅ ʀʏᴇ!
This refreshing drink features chamomile-infused rye whiskey, Persian Amaro, elderflower, sumac syrup, and black lemon bitters.
05/06/2026
This weekend is Mother’s Day which means we’ll be open on Sunday with our annual four course Mother’s Day Brunch for $55 per person. Reservations still available on our website.
In honor of mothers, and daughters, we’re highlighting a Champagne today — J.Lassalle has a third generation winemaker at the helm, taking after her mother before her who took after her mother before her.
05/05/2026
Join us for Happy Hour
Tuesdays through Thursdays from 5:30-6:30PM!
$2 OFF SMALL PLATES
$10 SERVER'S CHOICE GLASS OF WINE
$10 MZ HANDSHAKE (Beer of Choice + “Handshake Persian Amaro”)
$5 GLASS OF NON-ALCOHOLIC BRUT
Beverage specials can be ordered both a la carte or with the tasting menu.
05/01/2026
Weekend plans: the Persian-inspired tasting menu at Maman Zari.
The dish featured here is a deconstructed take on 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘪 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳 -- grilled fish topped with pomegranate, tamarind, walnut, and herbs served alongside a roasted tomato butter saffron sauce.
04/29/2026
Can’t pick a wine? Match the label to your outfit!
But in all sincerity, we’re excited to include the 2015 ‘Jamsheed’ Pinot Noir from on our Wine Wednesday list, and not just because it has a purple label that matches Mariam’s cardigan today.
Maysara releases their wines as they’re ready to drink, meaning it’s this wine’s time to shine. This Pinot Noir is playful and jammy, but restrained with a little bit of smokiness and black pepper. Even better: it goes great with a good portion of our menu whether you’re enjoying our tasting or ordering à la carte, making it the perfect bottle for your table!
04/24/2026
It's in the little details.
We offer our Persian-inspired tasting menu Tuesday through Saturday evenings with advance reservations.
Looking for something to dine tonight in Chicago? It's not too late to join us for our a la carte offerings!
04/22/2026
We’re swimming in fava beans over here! Join us for our spring tasting menu to enjoy these delightful green morsels of spring.
And please let us know some of your favorite wines to enjoy with dinner ⬇️
04/22/2026
Chef Matteo had a lot of fun with this season's dessert course on the tasting which we've dubbed 𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘰, or "peach temptation."
It starts with a flourless chocolate case base, topped with a peach & barberry compote-filled meringue, and finished with a peach crème anglaise tableside.
Book your reservation to enjoy this sweet delight towards the end of our 8-Course Tasting!
04/14/2026
The first course — based on a traditional Persian breakfast spread — is just the beginning.
Join us on Sunday, May 10th for a Mother’s Day Brunch filled with vibrant flavors in our 4-Course Prix Fixe.
Reservations available from 11am-3pm.
Maman Zari | 4639 N Kedzie Ave | Chicago, IL
04/08/2026
Spring is in the air!
Join us for dinner to enjoy a Persian-inspired meal. Our 8-Course Spring Tasting is now available with advance reservation.
04/07/2026
Golden hour in a glass.
Our Saffron Cooler (شربت زعفرانی) is a naturally non-alcoholic blend of saffron, rosewater, and basil seeds—fragrant, refreshing, and a beautiful way to start your meal.
04/03/2026
Looking to try something new?
Join us for our 8-Course Spring Tasting Menu, available Tuesday through Saturday evenings with advance reservations.
04/01/2026
It’s April 1st and a Wednesday — time to point out a few more wines!
Stop in for dinner tonight between 5:30 and 8pm. Or plan ahead and join us for our full tasting menu. Our spring tasting menu starts this Friday!
03/27/2026
We love the patterns in our dining room right as dinner service starts.
Make your reservations for the final weekend or our special Nowruz Tasting Menu -- our Persian-inspired 8-Course Spring Tasting Menu starts next Friday, April 3rd!
03/24/2026
Look at the unveiling of this perfectly crisp tahdig of saffron-hued noodles on our 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰: smoked basmati rice with 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘩 (noodles)!
Join us for dinner this week and enjoy our 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰 with 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘩 𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘻𝘪, an herb and kidney bean stew, as part of both our omnivorous and vegetarian tasting menus.
03/21/2026
Our Nowruz tasting menu features this take on the classic 𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘻𝘪 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰 𝘣𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘪, a dish traditionally consumed on the eve or beginning of the new year.
It's a tradition that dates back to the Zoroastrian roots of the holiday and represents life, the earth waking back up as winter ends, and prosperity and abundance for the coming year -- much like many of the elements of the 𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 we set up.
03/20/2026
Nowruz arrives with the spring equinox (in Chicago, that would be right at 9:46 AM today, March 20th) and the promise of renewal. For thousands of years, it has been celebrated by gathering around the table and sharing meaningful food with loved ones.
At Maman Zari, we’re honoring those traditions through the dishes we're featuring on our tasting menu starting tonight and continuing through the end of the month.
Join us for dinner and welcome spring and the new year together.
Reservations available at mamanzari.com
03/20/2026
Growing up, it was always a treat when I'd come home from school and the kitchen would smell of saffron and cardamom, with my grandmother for whom this restaurant is named, stirring a golden pot of rice at the stove. It meant we'd be having 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 later or for breakfast the next morning! Sholezard is frequently a dish made for special occasions, gatherings, or festivals, or, sometimes, for your grandchild on a random Thursday afternoon.
The first Nowruz we were open, I convinced Chef Matteo make 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 just like she made it, so he'd understand the first dessert she ever taught me to make. Since then, he's taken his own culinary liberties with the treat, but I can still taste what inspired it. His version has turned this Persian rice pudding dish into a creme brulée inspired dessert, served with a pineapple-barberry compote and Italian sweet shortbread.
Sweets are an important part of Persian New Year, and necessary to bring sweetness into the new year, something we could all use more of these days.
-- Mariam
نوروزتان پیروز
03/13/2026
Nowruz marks the arrival of spring and a new year.
For those of us in the diaspora, the new year often lives in the traditions and small rituals we hold onto: the 𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯, familiar dishes, and gathering around the table with friends and family. Right now, these rituals can feel especially meaningful.
At Maman Zari, we’re grateful to share these dishes and our 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 with our community. If you’re looking for a place to sit together this season, we’d be honored to have you.
Address
4639 N Kedzie Avenue
Chicago, IL
60625
Directions to the Persian/Iranian restaurant in Chicago can be found below:
Public Transport:
1. Take the Red Line or Brown Line to Belmont Station.
2. Walk west on Belmont Ave for two blocks and take a left onto N Clark St.
3. Walk for half a block until you reach the restaurant on your right.
Driving/Parking:
1. From downtown, head north on Lake Shore Drive and take the Belmont Ave exit.
2. Turn left onto Belmont Ave and continue for about two miles.
3. Turn right onto N Clark St and look for parking in the surrounding areas or use a nearby parking garage.
Note: Please double-check with Google Maps or other route planner websites/apps for accurate directions, as there may be unexpected road closures or construction work affecting your travel plans.
Opening Hours
| Tuesday |
5:30pm - 8pm |
| Wednesday |
5:30pm - 8pm |
| Thursday |
5:30pm - 8pm |
| Friday |
5pm - 8:30pm |
| Saturday |
5pm - 8:30pm |
Alerts
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What people say
Maman Zari is a Persian/Iranian restaurant that promises to offer an authentic culinary experience. The restaurant is set to open in Albany Park in early summer 2023, and we can't wait to try their delicious dishes. Persian cuisine is known for its unique blend of flavors and spices, and Maman Zari seems to be doing justice to this reputation.
One of the standout features of Persian cuisine is the use of sumac, a tangy spice that adds a lemony, smoky, and earthy flavor to kabobs and other dishes. Maman Zari's social media posts highlight the importance of sumac in Persian cuisine, which shows their commitment to authenticity.
Another spice that's commonly used in Persian cuisine is cardamom. This versatile spice adds a floral aroma to both sweet and savory dishes. Maman Zari's sholeh zard, a saffron rice pudding that features cardamom, sounds like the perfect dessert after a hearty meal.
Speaking of saffron, it's another ingredient that's widely used in Persian cuisine. Saffron threads are picked by hand from crocus flowers and dried for use. It takes 70,000 crocus flowers to yield just one pound of saffron! Maman Zari uses saffron prominently in their dishes, especially in their saffron rice.
Overall, Maman Zari seems like a promising addition to Chicago's food scene. Their dedication to using authentic ingredients and spices bodes well for the quality of their food. We can't wait to visit them when they open!
