Shawarma Guys

★★★★★ 4.7 (1342) • $$

"I was SHOOK at how delicious this place actually is.As someone with Lebanese/Syrian/Armenian roots, I have high standards when it comes to any middle eastern food and restaurant. Most places skimp on the flavor and spices to appease the "western" palette, while others are lazy in the process of crafting the foods with the traditions that are needed to uphold quality.Shawarma Guys not only keeps that flavor profile and preparation standards, but they also elevate it to a whole new level for Californians and foodies in general.Staff was super friendly and offered great recommendations. First up - the Wagyu Shawarma Egg Rolls.WOW. WOW. WOW.The egg rolls are SO crunchy and crispy, and great sized. They are FILLED with juicy, crispy, soft flavorful shawarma meat, plenty of cheese, and the toum is perfection. Seriously, I could eat these every day.Now for the California shawarma. I had no idea this thing was the size of a baby burrito, honestly I couldn't even finish it after eating the egg rolls, but man it was so damn good I would've finished it if I wasn't on my way to an event. This was filled with chicken shawarma, fries, lettuce, pickles, rice, garlic paste, tortila. Although it was excellent, I think it would be even more excellent with the beef shawarma. The chicken was soft and flavorful, the rice was amazing, crispy fries, fresh veggies, crunchy pickles, and again that amazing garlic paste. Seriously, this place is a must on anyone's SD food visits."

Ali Baba Mediterranean Cuisine of Escondido

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1051) • $$

"I have ordered the dinner/party platter #1 for 2, #2 for 5-6 and #3 for 7-8. They serve much more. The platter number 1 serves 6 ppl and the platter #3 as a snack for party had so much left over. Platter #3 can easily serve 12 people. All the food was good. I love the halal meat and the rice. All platters come with a salad and hummus plus a huge naan bread. I'm not a fan of the hummus. There is plenty of parking and Tesla charging in the parking lot."

Spiro's Mediterranean Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.7 (137) • $$

"Good spot for Mediterranean/Greek food near La Jolla Cove. Got the lentil and vegetable soup which was pretty good. The chicken kabob platter had enough food for 2 people (if you're not very hungry). The chicken was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious with the yoghurt sauce. Overall very good experience."

Grill House Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (614) • $$

"I'm really glad Yelp told me about this place because I don't think I would have ever found it on my own. Between my coworker and I, we got the Cucumber Dip, Falafel appetizer, Ash Reshteh Vegetable Soup and the Beef and Chicken Kabob Combo. I really enjoyed the Ash Reshteh soup. I have never had it before, but it was packed full of unique flavor that I could've eaten more than a cup of. The falafels were really good, but I was a bit disappointed by the hummus it came with since it was very bland to me. The cucumber dip was not the best for either my coworker or I. It honestly almost tasted like plain yogurt. The kabob combo would've been amazing if the meat wasn't so dry. That's the only complaint about it, but the flavor was really good. Could've just been a fluke. This place serves very authentic food with large portions, high quality ingredients and loads of flavor!"

Shawarma1

★★★★★ 4.7 (41) • $$

"I got a little lost finding this food truck. It's located in a lot that sells cars, so I parked among them LOL. My visit was back in July, so when I got my food, I had to keep shooing the flies away.I ordered the beef wrap and chicken plate. I also got their lemonade energy drink, which was refreshing and had cute balls of fruit floating on top.I like their fusion take of shawarma! They add a lot of veggies and give you sides of jalapenos, ketchup, etc. I honestly don't eat a lot of veggies, but this version had a nice balance of meat to veggie ratio. The owner was very nice and checked up on me and told me a little bit of his background of how he got started- worth a stop if you're in the area!"

Mediterranean Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (742) • $$

"I loved the chicken on skewer and the gyro meat. The rice was ok. Love the humus and I did like the salad. I placed my order through the website for pick up."

Madison

★★★★☆ 4.2 (1659) • $$

"This place was so beautiful!! When you walk in, the ambiance is already stunning and you know you're gonna get an amazing brunch. Staff is super friendly and the food came quickly. Make sure to have a reservation though! Here's some notes on the things we tried:Waffles churro sticks - super crispy and flavorful! It came with berries and a berry sauce which was unexpectedly spicy (but added such a great depth of flavor!) White bean shakshuka - I love shakshukas and this one did not disappoint! The poached egg mixed perfectly with the richness of the dish, and the pulled pork was juicy and deliciousPapas locas - a great brunchy choice if you're feeling like having something egg-y! With fluffy scrambled eggs and crispy potato wedges, this bowl was a perfect start to the day French toast - if you like your sweet breakfasts, this one is for you! Light yet moist, the French toast came with a good amount of fruit and butter to accompany the dish!"

Bandar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (1034) • $$$

"I've had the pleasure of eating food from Bandar on a few other locations, mostly catered. This time we ate in the restaurant for an office dinner and this review is based on this visit. This was a great choice for this dinner since it is conveniently located for us and they were able to accommodate a party of 13. The space is very classy and upscale with servers wearing full suits, however felt that the diners were dressed more on the casual side. Upon entry we were greeted at the door and service throughout our meal was excellent. The food here is quite delicious with an emphasis on the meats, not to mention the huge portions! Everyone had to take the leftovers to go and it would likely provide 2+ meals which makes the price rather decent. The most ordered dish was the Chicken Soltani (chicken & beef combo) and I can see why it's called "world famous chicken" - tender and great flavor. The yellow and white rice is also my favorite. We also ordered the hummus platter to share which was a perfect appetizer for a large group. We ended with baklava and pistachio ice cream to add to the overall excellent experience. I'm sure we will be back and/or ordering more catering."

Kraving Kabob

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Kraving Kabob food truck is a culinary oasis that deserves a detour. Tucked away at a local gas station, this place is a treasure trove of Middle Eastern flavors.The kabobs are simply amazing - succulent, perfectly seasoned, and grilled to smoky perfection. The hummus is creamy, rich, and with a taste that invites you to keep dipping. But the crispy, golden falafels stole the show for me; each bite was a perfect crunch of deliciousness. Would come back here again!!!"

Ishtar Restaurant and Banquet Hall

★★★★☆ 3.6 (20)

"Excellent Food and the service was both warm and friendly, I will definitely return to this truly wonderful restaurant. The prices are kind to the wallet and the portions generous and extremely tasty. Perfect everything."

Shawarma Guys

★★★★★ 4.8 (461) • $$

"I'm sorry to say my husband and I were extremely underwhelmed. I've gone to the South Park location off and on for a few years and I found what I ordered tasty. However today I got the blandest falafel wrap I've ever had. There was no flavor at all and the falafel on their own were greasy and lacking any flavor other than maybe a boiled potato.I don't eat meat so can't speak to the other items. Unfortunately I don't think I'd return, which I think is pretty tragic given my support in the past."

Medina Moroccan-Baja Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (335) • $$

"Moroccan + Tacos + Fries = Yes PleaseMedina offers up Moroccan fusion and we're all better off because of it. The menu consists of tacos, bowls and a couple specialty entrees. Yours truly ordered the Cali-Merguez sandwich which is a spicy lamb sausage covered in veggies, cheese and sauce nestled in a toasted roll served atop a bed of freshly made fries. It was absolutely gluttonous, I loved every bite of it and ordered a beer to go with it (they have beer and wine).It's one of those walk up to the counter, order, take a number, find a seat and they bring your food type of set ups. Friendly staff and pretty quick service. Lots of outdoor seating right on El Cajon Blvd so the people watching is top notch."

CAVA

★★★★☆ 4.3 (509) • $$

"I love Cava and was excited to go here for a little family dinner. The food here was delicious as usual. However the place was not kept up well and was a little dirty. The bathroom was very filthy and almost made me lose my appetite. The drink station looked like it wasn't cleaned for a while. The pita warmer looked worn and somewhat crusty on the outside. I was surprised because the locations that I've visited are usually well put together. However the food was still delicious. So it wasn't a bad experience all together. Parking is in a lot nearby."

Alforon

★★★★★ 4.6 (1827) • $$

"Awesome spot to try out Mediterranean Lebanese food in San Diego.3 of us ordered:-chicken tawook-Sayyadieh (Fisherman's Rice)-Ouzi LambChicken tawook (flatbread) was extremely tasty and very unique. The other two items were their top 2 most popular dishes (rice dishes). The flavors were great! If it is a small group, I would recommend only picking one of the rice dishes so you don't carb overload.Food definitely comes out a bit on the slower end. For the value, I did wish they provided more food. Staff is friendly. Owners/chefs made their ways around tables to check in. I'll be back for sure to try out different items on their menu!Extremly limited parking out front...otherwise, street parking."

Tappi's Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (169) • $$

"My son asked me to look at the menu on line and he picked up a sandwich for me. So for lunch i chose the OsakaSmoked turkey, turkey bacon, grilled cheese, avocado, scrambled eggs, mayo & mustard.All sandwiches served on garlic brioche bread) Very filling and yummy."

Ibis Market

★★★★☆ 4.4 (64) • $$

"I was desperate for somewhere to eat in this incredibly residential neighborhood. Ibis Market to the rescue! It's a combination convenience store (including liquor) and deli counter specializing in Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food. I ordered a falafel plate and stuffed grape leaves. They were kind enough to heat the falafel up for me. Everything was delicious, especially the garlic sauce! Prices were really reasonable. The people working here were super nice and even came outside to make sure I was enjoying my food! If I lived in this neighborhood I would love to consistently support this business!"

Mystic Grill & Bakery

★★★★☆ 3.9 (404)

"This place has been rock solid in all my visits. Although they have been wildly spaced apart, nothing has changed a bit. Consistency is totally important, and they get this. It sure has been nice to see a worthy Mediterranean spot thriving after all these years. It all started a decade? ago with the pizza, at the time the new spot nearby with the great value. I felt it was a healthier style of pizza, with and thinner crust, less cheese and heavy toppings. However, I do remember if you order pepperoni on your pizza, it is beef pepperoni. This will be different tasting of course, and have ordered mostly veggie options since. I believe a large 2- topping pizza is an ongoing deal for only 7.99.Over the years, we moved on to falafel, hummus and the shawarma platter which have all been tasty and prepared well, my favorite being the hummus. For sure, I'm no hummus guru, but among the many(10 at least)I've tried, it is the best I've had! Amazingly smooth and creamy, with a slight nutty flavor that's unparalleled. I make sure I have extra pita bread at the ready to finish it off the following day..Next up, the desserts and baklava. You will finish whatever you bite.. so tasty good. For some reason, I never posted pics of any of these it appears and I can only guess it was a dessert- first kind of day. Are you with me?A good incentive now is it's within walking distance for me- a plus too, since this is a new, fresh way to burn a few calories and save gas with the ridiculous prices we are experiencing."

Dino's Gyros Greek Cafe and Taverna

★★★★☆ 3.5 (543) • $$

"I felt like having some Greek food, so we ordered lunch for me and other August birthdays from here. I got the gyro plate which comes with lamb slices, pita bread, a side of Greek salad, and French fries. The food was pretty good, but nothing really special."

North Park Produce Bakery and Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (441) • $$

"We ordered take out dinners of chicken kabob plates. We also ordered their fresh hummus. The chicken kabob plates here are generous portions, tasty and cooked to perfection. It a fantastic dish. The service was fast and friendly. I ordered the food via phone and it was ready in 15 minutes. It was fresh, hot and presented well. The side sauces were perfectly made and complimented the main dishes. The restaurant was clean and bright. Their kitchen is a well working machine to make great Mediterranean food."

Arslan's Gyros

★★★★★ 4.5 (563) • $$

"We checked out this spot since it was close to our place. 12/10 would recommend.Everything is made super fresh and the employees were super friendly. Fries seasoned perfectly. We opened our gyros wrong and all the meat fell out, but still so delicious. Loaded with meat and fresh veggies and grilled onions.Definitely a spot worth checking out"

Panini Kabob Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (58)

"So far I have to say Panini kabob Grill has been pretty solid on their wraps. I've had their chicken, beef and salmon wrap. The salmon wrap is my favorite so far. If you get the Cesar salad, add the cesar dressing to the salmon wrap and a little spicy hummus and thank me later. Salmon is cooked to perfection and nice fresh vegetables inside. I ordered from Uber eats and they package everything nice and neat as well as seal the bag. They're a good healthy option if that's what you're looking for."

Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.8 (693) • $$

"The food at Sufi is so comforting and delicious! I was kindly invited to dinner by a wonderful friend who wanted to be able to share Persian food with us. What a treat! He walked me through the menu that has some well known items as well as some lesser known options for those not as familiar with Persian food. The menu also seemed to be slightly fusion with some non-Persian foods like chicken tikka masala and samosas. We each ordered an entree, but also shared some appetizers. The only miss was the crispy rice appetizer. It was a little too hard and inedible. Everything else was an absolute hit! I ordered the koobideh combo platter. It came with the garden salad, rice and koobideh (one ground chicken and one ground beef). I was obsessed with the dressing on the garden salad. It was so good, but I also appreciated that it was poured on lightly- just enough to enjoy, not too overwhelming. The koobideh was flavorful and tender. Paired with the rice, it was so warming and good. It also paired really nicely with the yogurt side. This is a great spot to dine with friends. I had such lovely company and we enjoyed our meal on the spacious outdoor covered patio area. They also have a very large indoor area with ornate decor. Parking is very easy here and prices are very fair for the portion!"

Sahara Taste of the Middle East

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1127) • $$

"Picked up some to go food for dinner. Been here to this restaurant many times. This visit I noticed something I never have tried. It looked like spinach/ cheese bread. Picked up a few to enjoy later. I enjoyed the food as usual and tried the spinach/cheese bread. Oh it was delicious! I would definitely pick up some again!! Thank you !"

Big Bear Produce

★★★☆☆ 3 (18)

"Main St. in El Cajon has become a hub for Mediterranean/Middle Eastern grocery stores and another one has opened, Big Bear Produce. What an adorable name, right? They even have a bear on their big, bright signage. For me what sets them apart is that they're a full-service market compressed in a smaller, easily navigable space. They have a hot food section offering beef and chicken shawarma and a handful of other dishes like lentil soup, rice and potatoes. They make their own bread and baklava (they're pretty good!) and also have a meat section with halal/non-halal meats. The staff here has always been friendly and greet me with a smile when I walk in. On one occasion when I picked up some beef shawarma, the lovely lady threw in two complimentary sammoon bread with my order! How sweet of her :)btw they cut their shawarma really thick here...and it's always been very moist and nicely seasoned. Delish!Produce is fresh and reasonably priced. It may be limited at times, but they always have a decent selection.It's my new favorite Mediterranean grocery store."

Harbor Greek Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.7 (220) • $$

"Great little spot , family owned selling made fresh daily greek food , salads , plates and combinations I had the lamb pita with the salad and fountain drink cost around $20 with a slice of baklava and it was all sensational The lamb was tender juicy and well seasoned , the bell peppers and onions had a great char and flavour all wrapped up in the most fresh soft and delicious pita I've had in a long time Salad was clean crisp and delicious with all those great Greek salad flavours And the pistachio baklava had me thinking about going for me , so sweet and perfectly made Dining indoors and out , free refills on the soda fountain and a great range of traditional Greek fast food would gave me back in a heartbeat Service was friendly and welcoming That and a 5 min walk from the hotel and it's a winner Shame I live in LA"

International Market & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (283) • $$

"Covid review #72 --- They've been here 25 years and I'm finally trying a sandwich. For longevity and charming hole-in-the-wall type quality, I give 5 stars. "I hope they don't close the outside, " he said as he, the very nice man and very nice lady of the international market entertained my ramblings about our California governor's recent decisions to allow Hollywood be exempt from his newest covid rules whims, while the rest of us have to be home by 10pm for a month... yeah right, they said 2 weeks about 9 months ago... And how the governor was caught eating in an intimate private room with 12 others from different households while he advised us not to celebrate Thanksgiving... and how people can go into strip clubs to be entertained but not into churches to worship... ...but I digress... boy, were they patient with me while I waited for my freshly grilled sandwich. They deserve an award.In all my rambling their beautiful teapot caught my eye and I ended up adding a delicious Persian tea to my takeout order. I added 1 sugar cube upon advisement from the local experts. My sandwich traveled well. I ate half in my car and then the other half at home with a little vino... it was a beef tenderloin sandwich afterall.Plenty of nearby parking to run in and run out.They also have a small attached market. I found unique items like rose jam, sumac and canned babaganoush.If you're hankering for Mediterranean and want to support a small local business, this is your next spot."

Mimoza Mediterranean Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.6 (220) • $$

"We came here on Tuesday, September 26th for lunch with family.The food was delicious and fresh.Ambiance was beautiful.Customer service was great.Ordered:1. Cilantro and Jalapeno Hummus with basket of pita - Simply delicious2. Falafel Wrap3. Fried Falafel 4. Chicken Wrap with fries 5. Chicken Shish Kebab with rice and saladWe ordered all of our dishes from the lunch menu. Falafel was freshly made and delicious. Chicken was very tender and flavorful. Highly recommend this Turkish Mediterranean restaurant!"

Micheline's Pita House - La Jolla

★★★★☆ 4.4 (842) • $$

"Wow! Salad is so refreshing. The seasonings in the chicken shawarma is on point! Everything was perfect! I had to steal my hubby's Pesto dressing, it was great with the greek salad. Price was reasonable and service was excellent.The only thing was we paid for parking inside the plaza. Nonetheless, this will be a go-to when we are in the area."

Fusion Kabobz

★★★★★ 5 (9)

"They are located in the Barrio Food Hub! I ordered the Cali Bowl and Chef's Wrap. I love that they add seasoned fries to both dishes! The fries were perfectly crisp and the wrap was huge and flavorful. Their food is organic, grass-fed, and fresh. This is the fusion I didn't know I needed!"

Mystic Grill - San Diego

★★★★☆ 4.2 (201) • $$

"Mystic Grill replaced a longtime Italian eatery, Giovanni's, at this location in Clairemont. The refurbished interior was very clean and brightly lit. I did not go upstairs to check out the environment there so I can't comment on how it appeared. The menu screens displayed all the classic Middle Eastern dishes as one would expect. There were some pasta entrees too which I thought were unique because you normally don't see such items at this type of restaurant.I started with an appetizer of Dolmas (stuffed grape leaves). I also wanted to try the Stuffed Salmon, but it was unavailable so my alternative was the salmon with four jumbo shrimp. The plate was supposed to be served with feta cheese salad, hummus, basmati rice, and pita bread. For some reason, the kitchen made it with penne pasta slathered in alfredo sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, black olives, and mushrooms. I guess the cook may have been confused because such a pasta style with salmon and shrimp didn't even exist on the menu.Tastewise, the fish was cooked fine, but the shrimp was dry from being on the grill too long. The creamy pasta was too much for me to finish in one sitting so I took the leftovers home. Other than the faux pas with the preparation, the rest of my dining experience at Mystic Grill was positive."

Mr Shawarma

★★★★☆ 4.4 (57) • $$

"Mr. Shawarma and his crew 6 some tasty food. I stopped in for an early dinner before the rush. I had a Middle Eastern Pita stuffed with beef shawarma, pickles, tomatoes, onions, parsley, sumac, and tahini sauce with side, and I choose seasoned waffle fries.The beef shawarma was tender and tasty, and the pita came stuffed with a good amount. I like the tahini sauce it was flavorful and not overly done. The onions and pickles worked very well in this pita sandwich. I would have liked it better if they would warm up the pits bread. It was cold and gave a dry texture as a result. They should warm it up in the hot griddle they use.The waffle fries were great. They were crispy and well seasoned. They were great eating with they Jajeek sauce with yogurt, cucumber, and mint. The service was very nice. They young lady at the counter was very sweet. I look forward to returning."

The Grill at Vine Ripe

★★★★★ 4.7 (287) • $$

"This place is next time to a grocery store and it's a hidden gem!The staff is really nice and seemed like cool people. Friendly when you walk through the door and were dancing to music. The food was mouthwatering. I ordered the grill combo to try everything since it comes with the beef kabob, chicken tikka, and beef shawarma. The rice was flavorful and I fully enjoyable the salad and hummus. Great spot if you're ever in town!"

Pilot Food

★★★★☆ 4.2 (22)

"Seen that they opened a new spot at the local market a couple months ago and finally made it in. It's in the back of the market with a sign out front advertising it. First of all the owner is super cool very accommodating and answered all my questions and you can see the passion he has for his business. Ordered the chicken plate and it was excellent and a side of french fries that was good as well. You gotta try this spot and you won't be disappointed. You can't beat the customer service and some of the best food places are in hole in the wall mom and pops spots like this."

Beeside Balcony

★★★★☆ 4.1 (130) • $$$

"I hosted an early dinner here for my MeetUp Fun Diego Ladies group. Parking in La Jolla is always a challenge, so I made a dinner reservation for 5pm so that we could find parking without having to drive around in circles. Our group of 7 all drove separately and were able to find free street parking near the restaurant.I had originally reserved a table on the balcony so we could enjoy a view of the ocean, but it ended up drizzling so the hostess proactively reserved a nice table for us indoors. She also reserved a table for us inside the speakeasy.I ordered the PEI mussels and really enjoyed this dish. There was less broth than what I normally see at other restaurants, but it was well seasoned and the mussels were cooked just right. I would have liked just a bit more sauce so I could dunk my toasted bread.The salmon tartare had too much sauce and ended up being a bit too creamy. I did not care for this appetizer and was rather disappointed. The crab cake was a bit too dry and over fried. It looks like the crab cake ball was thrown in a deep fryer, as opposed to being pan fried, so it was crispy hard and oily. It was served on a bed of arugula that was drenched in dressing. It was about the size of a giant meatball, so I thought it was a bit pricey.The restaurant was beautifully decorated with a beehive theme. After dinner, we stopped into the speakeasy located on another side of the restaurant. It was very small, cozy, and beautifully decorated. I especially loved the flowers hanging from the ceiling. The drinks were very strong and pricey."

Athens Market Taverna

★★★★★ 4.5 (258) • $$

"And when the delicious bread is served warm to your table accompanied by soft sweet butter; well then you know you're in the RIGHT PLACE!I've had the utter pleasure of dining here since 2017. Need I say more.Parking is less than anyone in their right mind would desire. You would be hard pressed to find better service in SD than here. Getting ready 4 outdoor dining, too! I had lunch there Wednesday past, always quite enjoyable."