Middle EasternChurch Road
Shandiz
Unfussy, well-loved Persian food tucked into Church Road
6.2/10
Local score
No. 101 of 300 places to eat on r/brighton, from 14 locals across 18 threads.
100% would send a mate. Still recommended in 2026.
Repeatedly named a favourite Hove restaurant, with people praising the lamb mains, posh kebabs and generous portions that mean you don't need a starter. It's held in high regard for years, though a couple of commenters note prices have crept up recently.
- Go for
- Cheap-ish Persian mains, no starter needed
- Heads up
- Prices have crept up in recent years
What locals say
Shandiz, in Hove. I almost never see it come up in threads or discussions about best Brighton & Hove restaurants; and I don't debate the choices people tend to make because the city has *tons* of great places to eat. But we've been there \~20 times over the better part of a decade and frankly it's fantastic. Great…
…food out. Chilli pickle is the only medium-high budget one I have been to and it was amazing. We are fans of the Dorset's fish and chips and LOVE FilFil's Haloumi and Falafel wraps! Also Kensingtons Balcony Cafe is best place for breakfast! My favorite restaurant overall is Shandiz in Hove, love 7bone next door too if you want a messy burger or dirty fries. Orsino diagonally across does a great carbonara, we ate there the day we announced our engagement.
…to Mowgli. Been to Chilli Pickle several times for special evenings with my husband (admittedly not been to their new location yet) and have not ever had a bad time or meal. One of my favourite places to go as the food is great and there is decent space but it's cheaper is Shandiz in Hove. It's Persian food not Indian but again it's very tasty and I always see people there for family gatherings and such. So I thought I'd mention it.
…likely to have good labelling of food contents/alternatives for most common concerns. Near that, The Chilli Pickle is very good. I've been to Pinocchio's a bunch of times and the food there has always been to a good standard. If you can do Hove, I would strongly recommend Shandiz. It's Persian food, and it isn't expensive, but the food is wonderful.
Ranked from 21,200 r/brighton comments. Summaries are written by AI from what locals said; quotes are word for word. Not affiliated with Reddit. Back to the guide