North Austin’s latest date-night flex is hiding in plain sight, perched right above District Kitchen in the Shoal Creek strip. Roya, the Hajimaleki brothers’ Persian restaurant, turns an unassuming center into a low-lit, deep-blue dining room built around family recipes like ghormeh sabzi, olivieh, and grilled koobideh. The bar leans hard into saffron and spectacle, from an albaloo sharbat margarita to an over-the-top $65 cocktail called “A Night in Tehran.”
As reported by The Austin Chronicle, Roya began life as a series of pop-ups in 2018 and represents a long-held ambition for brothers Amir and Ali Hajimaleki. The Chronicle notes that Amir, who was born in Tehran and moved to Austin as a child, sees the project as a way to “share my culture with others” while keeping family traditions on the table instead of just in the memory bank.
What’s On The Menu
Plates at Roya are meant to land in the middle of the table, not stay in front of just one diner. Starters like bademjan and gojeh farangi join olivieh, a Persian take on chicken salad, alongside shirin polo and grilled kebabs including koobideh and jujeh. According to Community Impact, the restaurant also offers a Sofreh Experience, a chef-curated tasting designed to feel like being invited into a Persian home.
Drinks And Nowruz Specials
The cocktail list pulls Persian flavors into familiar formats. The albaloo sharbat, a sour cherry sherbet turned margarita, has already emerged as a bestseller, while the Behesht stirs gin with a sekanjabin-inspired syrup and orange zest. As reported by The Austin Chronicle, the showpiece “A Night in Tehran” arrives dressed up with Remy XO, cardamom-saffron syrup, and saffron-roasted nuts and carries a $65 price tag. The Chronicle also noted a special $95 Sofreh tasting offered around Nowruz for those who want to go all in on the holiday.
Where Roya Fits In Austin
Roya joins a small but growing lineup of Persian-influenced projects in Austin, tucked into the same complex as the Hajimalekis’ neighborhood spot, District Kitchen. According to District Kitchen, Amir co-founded the restaurant with his brother Ali, and the same team quietly tested the waters for Roya upstairs before going permanent. Early pop-up coverage was documented by Eater Austin, which previewed Roya-style dinners back in 2019. Local reviews have clocked slightly different Sofreh prices over time, and Houston Chronicle coverage cited a Sofreh rate closer to $75 during its review…