Zaytoon

Zaytoon is an Irish restaurant brand focused on Persian and broader Middle Eastern food, particularly kebabs. The chain was founded in Dublin by Iranian entrepreneurs Jamshid Kamvar and Azad Shirazi. Its first outlet opened on Parliament Street in 2001, which also became the location of the chain's headquarters. From that initial site, Zaytoon developed into a multi-outlet operation serving Dublin and the surrounding county. The available reference material identifies five outlets across the city and county, making the brand a locally established restaurant chain rather than a national or international franchise. The brand's offer is centred on kebab-based meals and Persian-style restaurant food. Its positioning appears to combine accessible casual dining with a cuisine identity linked to Iranian and Middle Eastern culinary traditions. The available sources do not provide a complete menu, detailed corporate structure, ownership information, financial data, or a confirmed official website address, so those details remain unspecified. Zaytoon has received public recognition in Ireland's food-delivery award programmes. Deliveroo Ireland named it Best Middle Eastern restaurant in both 2018 and 2024. Just Eat Ireland gave the restaurant a similar award in 2018. These distinctions indicate strong recognition among delivery customers and place Zaytoon among the better-known Middle Eastern restaurant brands in Dublin's delivery market. In October 2019, social-media rumours questioned the source of ingredients used by the chain. Zaytoon responded by stating that its meat was 100% Irish. The available material records the response but does not establish that the allegations were substantiated, nor does it describe regulatory action or litigation. The episode is therefore best understood as a provenance-related reputational issue and public clarification rather than a confirmed food-safety scandal. Zaytoon remains described as an active Dublin restaurant chain with five outlets across the city and county. Its identity is tied to Iranian-founded entrepreneurship, Persian and Middle Eastern food, kebabs, local delivery demand, and a long-standing presence beginning in 2001.

Zaytoon was established in Dublin by Iranian founders Jamshid Kamvar and Azad Shirazi. The first restaurant opened on Parliament Street in 2001, establishing the location that is also identified as the chain's headquarters. The business was built around Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine, with kebabs as a central part of its offering. Over time, Zaytoon expanded beyond its original restaurant into a chain with five outlets across Dublin city and county. The available reference material does not specify the opening dates of the additional locations, the exact corporate structure, or whether the outlets are company-owned or operated under another arrangement. It does, however, characterise Zaytoon as a Dublin-based chain rather than a single independent restaurant. The brand gained recognition through Ireland's major food-delivery platforms. In 2018, Deliveroo Ireland named Zaytoon its Best Middle Eastern restaurant, and Just Eat Ireland gave it a similar honour. Deliveroo repeated its award in 2024, suggesting that the brand maintained visibility and customer recognition in the delivery market over a number of years. Zaytoon's public profile also included a provenance-related episode in October 2019. Social-media rumours raised questions about where the restaurants' ingredients came from. The chain answered publicly that its meat was 100% Irish. The available source does not report a finding of wrongdoing, an official investigation, a product recall, or legal proceedings. Accordingly, the incident is documented as a response to online speculation rather than as a confirmed scandal. The available information presents Zaytoon as an active, locally concentrated Irish restaurant brand. Its principal distinguishing features are its Iranian-founded origins, Persian and Middle Eastern culinary identity, kebab specialisation, Dublin footprint, and repeated recognition in food-delivery awards.

• 2024

  Second Deliveroo Best Middle Eastern award

  [1]Zaytoonen.wikipedia.org

  Deliveroo Ireland again named Zaytoon Best Middle Eastern restaurant in its annual awards.

• 2019

  Meat-sourcing clarification

  [1]Zaytoonen.wikipedia.org

  Zaytoon responded to social-media rumours about ingredient sourcing by stating that its meat was 100% Irish.

• 2018

  Recognition from Deliveroo and Just Eat

  [1]Zaytoonen.wikipedia.org

  Deliveroo Ireland named Zaytoon Best Middle Eastern restaurant, while Just Eat Ireland gave the brand a similar honour.

• 2001

  First Zaytoon outlet opens in Dublin

  [1]Zaytoonen.wikipedia.org

  Zaytoon's first restaurant opened on Parliament Street in Dublin, the site later identified as the chain's headquarters.

A Dublin-based casual restaurant chain offering Persian and Middle Eastern food, with a particular focus on kebabs and takeaway or delivery occasions.

• Restaurant food · 2001

  Kebab meals

  Kebabs are the most clearly identified specialty associated with Zaytoon. They form the central product category around which the chain's casual restaurant, takeaway, and delivery proposition is organised. The available reference does not provide a complete list of meats, preparations, sides, or portion formats.

• Restaurant food · 2001

  Persian and Middle Eastern dishes

  Zaytoon serves Persian and broader Middle Eastern cuisine across its Dublin outlets. The cuisine identity reflects the Iranian origins of its founders and provides a broader offer beyond the chain's kebab specialisation. Specific dishes and menu architecture are not detailed in the available source material.

• 2019

  Public clarification on meat provenanceOther

  Background

  Social-media rumours questioned the source of ingredients used by Zaytoon's restaurants.

  Action taken

  The chain stated that its meat was 100% Irish.

  Aftermath

  The available source records the statement but gives no evidence of regulatory action, litigation, recall, or further corporate consequences.

  Source

• 2024

  Deliveroo Ireland names Zaytoon Best Middle Eastern restaurant again[1]Zaytoonen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Deliveroo Ireland again selected Zaytoon as Best Middle Eastern restaurant in its annual awards.

• 2019

  Zaytoon responds to social-media questions about meat sourcing[1]Zaytoonen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After rumours circulated on social media about the source of ingredients used by the chain, Zaytoon stated that its meat was 100% Irish.

• 2018

  Deliveroo Ireland names Zaytoon Best Middle Eastern restaurant[1]Zaytoonen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Zaytoon received Deliveroo Ireland's Best Middle Eastern restaurant award in the platform's annual restaurant awards.

• 2018

  Just Eat Ireland recognises Zaytoon as a leading Middle Eastern restaurant[1]Zaytoonen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Just Eat Ireland gave Zaytoon a comparable Middle Eastern restaurant honour in 2018.

1. 1Zaytoonen.wikipedia.org