Cafe Aly

I love the persian tuna sandwich .I like how. clean it is. I beig eating at the café Aly for.5 year.

I would drive over an hour each way to eat at the only place worth eating in dtla.
The best Persian sandwiches (especially the sausage kosher), Mexican fare and variety of goodies stocked beyond galore.
The owner is on site everyday, providing masterful costumer service one is not used to having in downtown.
Whether you’re shopping or a passer-​by, do yourself a favor, go here :)

Had the quesdilla and the Persian tuna sandwich. Both were fresh, light, and delicious. Great coffee too.

Super Clean, delicious, and excellent service! The sausage kosher panini is the best!

Very clean café with, good food and friendly service. It was hard to find a place I was comfortable eating at so this place was a gem to find in the middle of the fashion district. We had the tuna and cutlet Persian sandwiches and they were great. The tuna was very clean and healthy and the cutlet was had rich flavors and smooth texture. I would definitely come back.

I dont like downtown food but this place definetly changed my mind. Buddy and I went here, I had beff tounge my buddy had sausage sandwich and we got a kookoo to split between us.
I can not say enough this was one of the best sandwiches I had. It was not heavy for my stomach, portion size was just the right size, price was just right, customer service was really good. Pretty much everything was A+++.

Wow this place really is an oasis in the middle of the desert! But more like in the middle of the craziness of downtown LA. And it’s clean, now that’s a wow!
Café Aly is even ranked one of the top 10 Persian Restaurants in LA! Found an article online!
Love coming here… they have persian food and Mexican food! What an interesting contrast but totally works together :) Try their sausage sandwich, mortadella sandwich, authentic Mexican tacos, and so much more. They have like every drink you could possibly want and ice cream! Persian style ice creams too :))
You gotta check this place out if you’re in downtown LA doing some shopping!!!

I drive all the way from the valley to come to this place! Food is DELICIOUS! What a cute and clean spot. The owner is one the nicest people in the world! He is so kid and genuinely wants you to enjoy your meal. The Persian food is divine!!! Almost as good as my moms (my mom would kill me if I said otherwise)… The mexican food tastes so authentic. You get great service. Maybe even a free soda! There’s a reason I drive 40 mins just to come here! I completely recommend this restaurant. Best in town!!!

5 stars.
For ambience. Great customer service from owner. Great smoothie. They have soy milk for lactose people.
And a 5^th star for personal attention :)
This place is Persian owned. And very cutely decorated. It’s an oasis in downtown LA, for sure! Great place to chill and chat.
Please visit!

Never tried Persian food, so naturally, I was intrigued when I saw this meandering through Santee alley. I had their kookoo sandwich upon the recommendation of the owner (at least I think he was the owner). He was such a joy! Very sweet natured and genuine.
He came by midway through our meal to check on us, and seemed so happy that we liked it. Not going to lie, we were famished and contemplating chowing down on one of them greasy, artery clogging, hot dogs; but were so glad to have found this place! The sandwich was well made, flavors were balanced, and the bread was the perfect compliment to the filling. Will definitely go back when I’m in the area.

Stopped in after the shopping rush for a small oasis of rest. Cute persian café selling everything from snacks, smoothies, sandwiches to Persian food and Mexican tacos. Enjoyed the customer service and wide selection of choices.
Get the aly sunrise smoothie. So refreshing with pineapple, banana, blueberry, and orange juice.
Especially loved that this was such a clean nice place to rest and eat after being outside where most places are just on the street with no seating.

Found this place by accident, wandering around the fashion district with a friend a few weeks ago. We’d already filled up on street food («LA dogs» with bacon and pico de gallo, grilled corn, you know the stuff!) so although I was very excited to find a little Persian lunch place, I just got a Persian ice cream sandwich to go – creamy saffron with pistachios, between two thin wafers, mmmm.
So yesterday I brought my husband here for lunch. Didn’t remember exactly where it was so we ended up battling our way through Santee Alley etc to get here, but it was worth it. Their Persian sandwiches include ingredients many Persian restaurants don’t make — stuff like kotlet (a potato-​meat croquette) and kookoo (like a frittata of leafy greens) are often home foods, and only Persian delis will carry salad olivieh (Persian potato salad). I had a kotlet sandwich and he had salad olivieh, and they were both huge, very filling, and really fantastic. (My mom makes great kotlet too; theirs has more turmeric in it, also very delicious.)
Service was great, very friendly and prompt. They also make fresh juices, smoothies, and «licuados» that we’ll try another time. I’m also planning to come back for their Persian breakfasts of barbari bread with Persian cheese, walnuts, and herbs or cream and honey. Then there’s also a selection of Mexican dishes — I’ll upload a photo of the menu. They also have a selection of coffee drinks and a couple of armchairs in front of the window to lounge in and enjoy them, as well as little tables to eat your sandwiches at.
Most sandwiches, with a side of green salad and chips, are around $ 6. The Persian ice cream sandwiches are around $ 3 (and they also have pints to take home). They’re cash only, but have an ATM inside if you forgot to bring enough.
There are a couple of sit-​down Persian restaurants around the fashion district but if you’re not in the mood for a big meal and hot rice or kabab, come here and enjoy the food and the service as you rest your feet for another wave of shopping.

If you’re in the «Fashion District» in downtown L.A., this could become your favorite rest spot for a sandwich and drink. And what makes a great café in the downtown shopping district? Good food and service, a relaxing clean interior, and clean restrooms! Once you discover «your spot», you feel more comfortable visiting downtown L.A., and having your own «home base.» This place, at least for «picky me»… qualifies.
This Persian-​Mexican cuisine café boasts some excellent specialties; chicken and/​or cheese enchiladas, burritos and Persian sandwiches. Most items start at around ($ 5.00). Café’ Aly has a well stock beverage case, as well as coffee and tea. You can even do a limited amount of «Persian food shopping.» They stock Sadif brand foods, including olive oil, hummus, teas, and a few other items.
We ordered the cheese enchiladas with chili verde sauce, and a turkey sandwich made on the owner’s own panini-​recipe bread. Both were very good. My wife doesn’t eat meat, and I prefer oil and vinegar on many of my sandwiches. So I appreciated the owner bringing out an olive oil and vinegar dispenser, so I could «drench» if I wanted; and I did. We were told of another specialty; the Persian tuna sandwich. I don’t know what makes it so special, but maybe next trip I’ll try it? (however, not in 90+ degree weather… as for me, hot weather, tuna and mayo don’t mix! ugh!)
If you’re shopping… and you’re hungry… AND… you can get past all the street vendors with their grilled onion and sausage carts, (what a great aroma), spend your $ 5.50 for a nice sit-​down sandwich or entrée in what I think is an «Oasis» amidst a sea of crazed bargain shoppers! And yes, I’d call this one of those «Hidden Gems.»