What it's actually like
Caspian Bistro is overwhelmingly beloved as a multi-decade institution, with strong loyalty and warm atmospherics. The attached market and owner's genuine hospitality are defining features. However, a vocal minority critique food quality inconsistency—particularly dryness and lack of freshness in some kebabs—and some note facility maintenance issues (worn flooring, broken restroom locks). Pricing and transparency concerns appear occasionally but don't significantly dampen overall positive sentiment.
warm family-ownedauthentic Persianwelcoming atmospherecultural hubhomemade charm
Diners keep mentioning
koobideh kebabghormeh sabzi stewpistachio ice cream (bastani)Chelou Kabab Koubidehvegetarian sampler platterbaklavahouse tea blend with tart cherrylamb shank
Ambiance
cozy-traditional
Noise level
moderate
Dress code
casual
Outdoor seating
No
Good for
family dining, birthday celebrations, casual dinner
Reservations
direct
Wait reality — Typically seats walk-ins without reservation at moderate times (e.g., 6 PM weeknights). Best to arrive before peak dinner hours. Owner is gracious about accommodating guests even near closing time.
Derived from 96 recent Google reviews — not marketing copy.
What's cooking
Beverages
Black Carrot Drink$4
A wonderful complement to kebab sandwiches or entrees
Coffee$3.75
Doogh$4.50
Mint flavored yogurt drink, homemade
Doogh - Bottle Mint$4.50
Bottled mint flavored yogurt drink
Doogh - Bottle Plain$4.50
Bottled plain yogurt drink
Fruit Juice - Mango$6
Fruit Juice - Sour Cherry$6
House Tea$3.75
Served hot or iced, special combination of Darjeeling, whole leaf and pure Ceylon, Earl Grey and hint of cardamom
Lemonade$4
Milk$3.75
Perrier$5
Persian Drinks - Persian Pomegranate$5
Persian Drinks - Tart Cherry$5
Pure Pomegranate Juice$6
Rose Lemonade$5
Sekanjabin$5
Soft Drinks$3.50
Spring Water$3
Tart Cherry Tea$4.50
House tea with tart cherry extract
Cold Appetizers
Feta Cheese Plattervegetariangluten free$11
Homemade feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, walnut halves, pepperoncini, kalamata olives, and aged garlic
Hummusvegetarianveganorganic$9
Garbanzo beans and sesame paste seasoned with fresh lemon juice and imported olive oil, served with warm pocket bread
Labnevegetarian$7
Homemade strained yogurt topped with Mediterranean Za'atar and extra virgin olive oil
Mast O Khiyarvegan$7
Chopped cucumber in creamy homemade yogurt mixed with mint, served with fresh warm pocket bread
Mast O Moosirvegan$7
Homemade creamy yogurt flavored with minced shallots, served with warm pocket bread
Desserts
Bastani$7.50
Rich, creamy homemade ice cream made with pistachios and saffron
Dates$5
Jumbo medjool dates
Dates with Walnuts$6
Jumbo medjool dates with walnuts
Faloodeh Shirazi$7.50
Sweet rosewater frappe mixed with rice noodles and served with tart cherry syrup and lemon juice
Greek Baklava$5
Filo dough layered with walnuts, almond, butter and honey
Makhloot$9
Rosewater frappe and rice noodles accompanied by homemade pistachio ice cream
Persian Baklava$5
Filo dough wrapped around walnuts, almonds, and pistachios
Turkish Baklava$5
Turkish pastry leaves layered with pistachios or walnuts
Zoolbia and Bamieh$5
Delightful sweet fritters in honey and rosewater syrup
Entrees
Caspian Choice$25
One skewer of tenderloin specially seasoned and marinated, then charbroiled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Caspian Special Chicken$22
Fresh, boneless tender breast of chicken marinated in saffron and lemon juice, charbroiled and served with basmati rice
Caspian Supreme$28
One skewer of Caspian Choice tenderloin and one skewer of Koubideh, charbroiled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Chelou Choobideh$20
Two skewers of specially seasoned and marinated ground chicken breast, grilled to perfection and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Chelou Choobideh (Single Serving)$18
One skewer of ground chicken breast, grilled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Chelou Kabab Barg$24
One skewer of tender filet mignon, specially seasoned, marinated and charbroiled, served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Chelou Kabab Barg with Joojeh$32
Chelou Kabab Barg with added skewer of Joojeh
Chelou Kabab Changeh$24
Two skewers of cubed filet mignon, charbroiled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Chelou Kabab Changeh (Single Serving)$18
One skewer of cubed filet mignon, charbroiled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Chelou Kabab Koubideh$20
Two skewers of combination of ground beef, lamb and special seasonings, charbroiled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Chelou Kabab Koubideh (Single Serving)$18
One skewer of ground beef and lamb combination, charbroiled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Chelou Kabab Soltani$27
Combination of Chelou Kabab Barg and skewer of Koubideh, served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Chicken Soltani$26
One skewer of boneless, skinless chicken breast and one skewer of specially seasoned ground chicken, charboiled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Ghormeh Sabzi$19
Most popular khoresh in Persian cuisine - aromatic stew made with sautéed fenugreek, Persian chives, parsley, spinach, kidney beans, sun dried limes, and cubed tenderloin served with basmati rice
Gyros (or Doner)$19
Generous portion of lean, specially selected beef and lamb, seasoned and cooked on vertical broiler, served with tomato, onion, basmati rice and tzatziki sauce
Joojeh Kabab$22
One skewer of tender, specially seasoned and marinated chicken left on the bone, served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Kashk e Bademjanvegetarian$17
Baked eggplant and garlic puree served with special yogurt sauce and basmati rice
Khoresh-e Gheimeh$19
Delectable stew made with choice tenderloin, tomato puree, yellow split peas, onion, dried Persian limes, potatoes, saffron, and special blend of herbs and spices served with basmati rice
Koubideh Combo$20
One skewer of ground chicken and one skewer of ground beef and lamb, charbroiled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Lamb Collar$26
Fragrant combination of sweet, young lamb collar and homemade fresh herb, tomato, and garlic sauce baked to perfection, served with basmati rice
Mahicheh$26
Whole, tender roasted lamb shank baked in delightful tomato, herb, and garlic sauce, served with basmati rice
Shish Kabab$27
One skewer of Caspian Choice tenderloin served with basmati rice, grilled tomato, green peppers and onion
Vegetable Medleyvegetarian$16
Skewer of grilled green peppers and onions accompanied by grilled tomato and basmati rice
Zereshk Polo$24
Sautéed tangy barberries and fried onions in saffron basmati rice, served with skewer of charbroiled boneless chicken breast and grilled tomato
Z's Four Season Red & White$26
One skewer of Koubideh and choice of boneless chicken or joojeh kabab, charbroiled and served with basmati rice and grilled tomato
Z's Four Season Red & White with Barg$35
Z's Four Season with added skewer of Barg
Sandwiches
Caspian Burger & Steak Fries$14
Fresh hamburger patty grilled and served between pita with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and choice of American or feta cheese
Caspian Falafelvegetarian$13
Chickpeas, onion, and parsley vegetable balls seasoned with cumin and coriander, wrapped with tomato and onion with fresh green salad
Choobideh$13
One skewer of specially seasoned and marinated ground chicken breast, grilled to perfection, wrapped with tomato, onion, and pickles with fresh green salad
Gyros$13
Lean blend of specially selected beef and lamb, lightly seasoned and cooked on vertical broiler, wrapped with tomato and onion with tzatziki sauce and fresh green salad
Koubideh Kabab (Kafta)$13
One skewer of ground beef and lamb, specially seasoned and charbroiled, wrapped with tomato, onion, and pickles with fresh green salad
Side Orders
Khiyar Shorvegetarianvegan$7
House Persian baby dill pickles
Pepperoncinisvegetarianvegan$7
Greek pickled peppers
Seer Torshivegetarianvegan$7
Aged Persian pickled garlic
Steak Fries$5
Torshivegetarianvegan$7
Mixed pickled vegetables and herbs
Veggie Shorvegetarianvegan$7
Pickled giardiniera vegetables
Soup & Salad
Caspian Saladvegetarianvegan$8
Fresh cucumber, tomato, and onion tossed in light lemon oil dressing, served with warm pocket bread
Caspian Special Soup$7
Lamb-based three bean soup made with sun-dried tomato paste, potatoes, and fresh herbs, served with warm pocket bread
Greek Saladvegetarian$13
Tomatoes, pepperoncini, onions, kalamata olives, and feta cheese over fresh lettuce with Caspian's special dressing, served with warm pocket bread
Greek Salad with Gyro Meat$17
Greek Salad with added gyro meat
Ollvieh Salad$9
Combination of chicken and potato salad served with warm pocket bread
Tabooleh Saladvegetarianvegan$9
Parsley, tomato, and cracked wheat tossed with lemon juice, imported olive oil, and spices, served with warm pocket bread
Turkish Saladvegan$9
Fresh cucumber, tomato, onion and parsley tossed in light lemon oil dressing and garnished with feta cheese, served with warm pocket bread
Warm Appetizers
Caspian Falafelvegetarianvegan$10
Housemade falafel balls made with chickpeas, onions, parsley, cumin, and coriander served on bed of fresh tabooleh salad
Caspian Vegetarian Sampler Plattervegetarian$14
Special combination of Hummus, Spinach Pie, Caspian Falafel, and Dolmeh served with fresh warm pocket bread
Dolmehvegetarian$10
Basmati rice, fresh herbs, and imported olive oil wrapped in tender, tangy grape leaves served with homemade cucumber dill yogurt sauce and fresh warm pocket bread
Kashk e Bademjanvegetarian$10
Sautéed eggplant and onion topped with special homemade yogurt sauce and crispy fried onions, served with warm pocket bread
Lahmajun (Mediterranean Pizza)$8
Thin bread crust topped with mixture of beef and lamb, red peppers, onion, tomatoes, fresh parsley, and spices
Pomegranate Wings$10
Charbroiled chicken wings flavored with pomegranate molasses glaze and special blend of garlic and spices
Spinach Pievegetarian$10
Spinach, feta cheese, imported olive oil, and steamed onions wrapped in delicate phyllo dough
Tahdigvegetarianvegangluten free$6
Crispy bottom of rice, choice of plain, topped with puree of grilled tomato and yogurt, or with homemade stews
Tahdig Khoresh Combo$16
Tahdig with choice of Khoresh stew
Tahdig with Stew Combo$13
Tahdig topped with choice of Ghormeh Sabzi or Gheimeh stew
Find it
Address
2418 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, Minneapolis, MN
Phone
(612) 623-1113