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Joon was founded by Reza Farahani, who set out to create a one-of-a-kind fine dining destination rooted in Persian culture. His passion for sharing Iran's rich cuisine — in an atmosphere that reflects the country's renowned hospitality — comes to life through an all-star team of chefs and hospitality professionals. The result is a restaurant that blends refinement, creativity, and tradition, and is recognized among the best restaurants in Tysons Corner and the greater Washington, DC area.

Joon's kitchen is led by executive chef Najmieh Batmanglij, hailed by The Washington Post as the "Grande Dame of Iranian Cooking" and a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic) with Joon. Together, Reza's hospitality-driven vision and Najmieh's decades of culinary authority have brought authentic Iranian cuisine into the national spotlight.

Reza Farahani — Founder

Reza Farahani founded Joon to give Persian cuisine the elevated stage he felt it deserved. Drawing on the warmth and generosity of Iranian hospitality, he envisioned a restaurant where the flavors, rituals, and stories of Iran could be experienced in a refined, welcoming setting. Every detail at Joon — from the design of the dining room to the way guests are welcomed — reflects that founding vision.

Born in Iran, Reza spent his early childhood moving between Iran and the United States from 1977 to 1981, before his family settled in the U.S. permanently when he was thirteen. He grew up in his family's restaurant business, and hospitality became second nature — the foundation for a career he would go on to spend in restaurant development. Through it all he held one conviction: Iran's cuisine deserved an elevated platform, a place where non-Iranians could discover it and Iranians could take pride in seeing it celebrated. Joon is his answer to that idea.

Determined to match his vision with the best possible talent, Reza sought out and interviewed acclaimed Iranian chefs from across the country. One stood out well beyond the rest: Najmieh Batmanglij.

Chef Najmieh Batmanglij - Executive Chef/Co-Owner

Che Najmieh has spent decades introducing Iran's flavors and traditions to new audiences. She is the award-winning author of several landmark cookbooks, including Food of Life, and is widely recognized as one of the foremost authorities on Persian culinary heritage.

At Joon, Najmieh translates that lifetime of expertise into a living menu — dishes grounded in traditional recipes and cultural authenticity, prepared to a fine dining standard. The Washington Post has called her the "Grande Dame of Iranian Cooking," and her work with Joon earned recognition as a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic).

A Shared Vision for Persian Fine Dining

Together, Reza and Chef Najmieh bring a rare balance to Joon: a founder's commitment to genuine Iranian hospitality paired with a master chef's command of traditional recipes and cultural authenticity. The result is a menu that celebrates the rich history and diversity of Iranian cuisine while offering a refined, approachable, and distinctly memorable dining experience — one that has helped put Persian food on the map across the DMV.