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Inside a new Iranian bakery in Miracle Mile, ahead of Iran's next match
By Gab Chabrán at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· June 18, 2026
· 1 min read
Sahar Shomali, owner of Kouzeh, stands beside a poster for barbari, the Tehran-style flatbread that inspired her to open the Mid-Wilshire bakery.(Gab Chabrán / LAist )For the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles , the feelings around Iran's World Cup participation have been complicated. Monday's game ...
Key takeaway (Gab Chabrán / LAist )For the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles, the feelings around Iran's World Cup participation have been complicated.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The presence of Kouzeh, an Iranian bakery, in the Miracle Mile neighborhood, reflects the diverse cultural landscape of Los Angeles. As the city's Iranian diaspora community navigates complex feelings around Iran's World Cup participation, Kouzeh serves as a tangible connection to their heritage. The bakery's offerings, such as barbari, a traditional Tehran-style flatbread, cater to a specific cultural niche, while also introducing Angelenos to new flavors and traditions. The fact that owner Sahar Shomali had to look beyond existing Persian bakeries in Los Angeles to find authentic barbari suggests a gap in the market that Kouzeh is now filling. As the bakery continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how it contributes to the culinary identity of the Mid-Wilshire area and whether it becomes a gathering point for the local Iranian community, particularly during significant events like the World Cup.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 18, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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What is this story about? Sahar Shomali, owner of Kouzeh, stands beside a poster for barbari, the Tehran-style flatbread that inspired her to open the Mid-Wilshire bakery.(Gab Chabrán / LAist )For the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles, the feelings around Iran's World Cup participation have been complicated. Monday's game ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 18, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Gab Chabrán at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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