Today we’d like to introduce you to Yahya Sardari
Hi Yahya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi my story in Washington DC started when I moved here in 2013, I was looking to open my own food business. I looked and looked and after a year of searching I found a Café to buy from the owner, I was so excited, after so many years of working for others, I finally had my own business. I purchased the Café in 2015 and owned it until 2021, we had our ups and downs during that time, especially the period after the pandemic, business was nonexistent, a year passed and the business was not much better, so I decided to close the café and I opened my lifelong dream of opening a Persian Restaurant at the same location as the café. After a year of permitting, inspections and construction, we opened the doors on August 22nd 2023.
We serve authentic Persian food and fantastic Persian inspired cocktails. We are serving our Columbia Heights neighborhood and the surrounding. We offer small plates , assorted Kabobs ( grilled meats ), the best lamb shank dish in town, Persian stews and even more mainstream dishes such as Pomegranate Chicken wings and fries with a Persian twist. Cheeseburger is coming soon! We also have a new Brunch menu with different egg dishes, cheeseburgers with fried egg and a fried chicken sandwich with coleslaw. We have great online reviews,Google, Yelp etc….
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Opening a Restaurant is very challenging, there is a lot of moving parts. You have to be physically and mentally though in order to succeed. Oh I forgot! Include very upbeat and extremely positive in that equation. Building a loyal customer base is the most important part of your success. The food and service have to be excellent and also getting good reviews are keys to success.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business is the Kookoo Restaurant in Washington DC opened about a year ago. We specialize in Persian and Middle Eastern food. We cook authentic Persian dishes, our food is made with love and it’s as if Grandma made it!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
What works for me is positivity and to never give up, even if it’s hard. Tomorrow is a new day and new opportunities will arise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kookoodc.com
- Instagram: @kookoodc
- Facebook: Kookoodc
- Yelp: Kookoo Restaurant
