Family opening Persian restaurant in Lubbock, here's when, what it will serve

UPDATE: Cyrus Kabob will open it's doors on Wednesday, May 1.

A family-owned Persian restaurant is coming to Lubbock, and will be the only one of its kind within 300 miles.

Cyrus Kabob, a Persian-Iranian restaurant, will open in the former Dimbas, which closed in June 2023, at 421 Frankford Ave.

The restaurant, which is expected to open in mid-to-late-March, will be the only Persian-focused eatery within 300 miles. The closest Persian restaurants prior to the opening are in Dallas (320 miles); Albuquerque, New Mexico (323 miles); and Norman, Oklahoma (340 miles).

The name of the new eatery comes from Cyrus Malekaninejad, whose family moved to Lubbock to pursue better opportunities in the summer of 2020.

"The only reason he moved here was (for) me and my sister, so we could have a better life," said Sayeh Malekaninejad, one of Cyrus and Tina Javanbakht's daughters. "After, he was trying to find a way to start a business so we can all have a better future. Then he figured out maybe we can open a restaurant, and that's how the whole idea started."

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Sayeh said Cyrus loves cooking, and the restaurant will serve the same comforting meals the family typically has at home. The menu will include Persian beef and chicken kabobs at first. In the future, it could add falafel, stew and other Persian dishes.

Cyrus, through Sayeh's interpreting, said the spices and cooking style make Persian food unique.

"It's a complete cooking process that you cannot see nowadays, with how people are trying to find fast recipes," Cyrus said, through Sayeh's interpretation. "It's different, and makes the food taste better."

Javanbakht, also interpreted by Sayeh, said the taste and smell of the cuisine are also distinctive.

"There are different spices and ways of cooking it and it tastes different," Sayeh interpreted for her parents. "They said what makes it unique is that if you try it once, you will definitely like it, and you're going to want to try more."

The family plans to have the restaurant open for lunch and dinner hours. If the business goes well, Cyrus Kabob may open for breakfast two days a week.

"They said we are hoping that people of Lubbock will come try the food and support us the same way the same way we love and support them," Sayeh interpreted for her parents. "We are trying to keep the food the same way we make it at home. It tastes homemade, and you will feel at home whenever you come to our restaurant."

The family also thanked the community for helping them start their business.

"They helped us a lot," Sayeh said. "(My parents) are really happy that people here in Texas are so nice and kind, and we couldn't do it without them.

People can follow Cyrus Kabob on Facebook and Instagram, and visit cyruskabob.com. The website and social media pages are operated by Parand Malekaninejad, Sayeh's sister.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Cyrus Kabob opening in Lubbock, only Persian restaurant in 300 miles