Chef Amir Hajimaleki Opened Persian Restaurant Roya
The Austin restaurant opened in February 2026, featuring traditional dishes and local art.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Dining Out
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In February 2026, chef Amir Hajimaleki opened Roya in Austin, a restaurant designed to honor his Iranian heritage and Persian culture. The space showcases a blend of Persian-inspired design and locally sourced ingredients.
Why it matters
The opening marks a new chapter for Hajimaleki, whose Austin culinary journey began with his first restaurant in 2013 and later evolved through a series of local pop-up dinners.
The restaurant launched in February 2026 after Hajimaleki built a presence in the local dining scene starting with his 2013 debut and 2018 pop-up residency.
The players
Amir Hajimaleki
An Austin-based chef and graduate of the Texas Culinary Academy who opened Roya to honor his Iranian roots.
Alexei Antonov
An artist who created custom work featured in the restaurant interior.
Ed Booth
A local artist whose pieces are displayed within the dining space.
The details
Roya features an interior defined by Persian tiles and archways, accented with custom pieces by artists Alexei Antonov and Ed Booth. The kitchen focuses on traditional Persian recipes, offering dishes such as wild mushroom borani and braised lamb shank. Hajimaleki, a graduate of the Texas Culinary Academy's Le Cordon Bleu program, aims to highlight culinary traditions from the Iranian plateau.
Timeline
2013: Hajimaleki opened his first restaurant, District Kitchen + Cocktails.
2018: Hajimaleki began hosting Persian pop-up dinners in the Austin area.
February 2026: Roya opened its doors to the public in Austin.
The Texas Context
The opening of Roya follows the established local trend of chefs leveraging successful pop-up series to anchor permanent neighborhood dining spots. This transition mirrors the evolution of the city's independent culinary scene from experimental concepts to fixed, design-forward establishments.
Residents can now visit the restaurant to experience dishes like braised lamb shank in a space designed with Persian aesthetics. It provides a new venue for those seeking to explore culinary traditions from the Iranian plateau within the city.
The takeaway
Roya offers a distinct perspective on Persian heritage through its menu and curated art installations. Patrons interested in the chef's culinary evolution should keep an eye on how these traditional techniques are integrated into the Austin dining rotation.
Further reading
You can find more coverage on the city's evolving food landscape in our Dining Out section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Forbes.
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