Moby Dick (restaurant)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | January 1, 1989 in Bethesda, Maryland, United States |
| Founder | Nezameddin "Mike" Daryoush |
| Headquarters | Bethesda, Maryland , United States |
Area served | Washington metropolitan area |
Key people | Nezameddin "Mike" Daryoush (founder; deceased 2019) |
| Products | Persian kabob |
Moby Dick House of Kabob (Persian: موبی دیک: خانه کباب) is a chain of Persian kabob eateries operating within the Washington metropolitan region. Its name pays homage to a Tehran-based restaurant located near the former U.S. Embassy during the Pahlavi period, which ceased operations following the 1979 Iranian revolution. The inaugural U.S. establishment launched in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1989, expanding to a total of 31 outlets by August 2024.
History
Nezameddin "Mike" Daryoush, the founder, immigrated from Iran in 1975 and initially opened a modest sandwich shop in Bethesda in 1987. By 1990, he transitioned the menu to focus on Persian cuisine featuring a traditional clay oven. The brand draws inspiration from the original Moby Dick restaurant in Tehran, itself named after the renowned literary work. The most recent branch commenced operations in Annapolis in 2024. Daryoush passed away due to heart failure on May 9, 2019, shortly after celebrating the chain’s 30th anniversary.