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!"

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."

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."

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."

Saffrono Lounge Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (115)

"Came in for lunch. Reception/Server was very accommodating.... Gave us a free hummus & pita AND gave us the "to go" lunch price even though we were dining in. Food was excellent. A nearby table was eating a meat dish and it smelled great. They have belly dancing on Fri and Sat. Will have to come back."

Del Mar Seaside Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 (168) • $$

"This cute place is a 1/2 Mile from our Stay. Greek and Med dining. We went for the best of everything. Shrimp, ceviche, filet mignon kabob, chicken kabob, lamb. We love loved it. And the service was superior. This would def be a place to go thru the menu. Don't pass this one up."

Darband Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (647) • $$

"Walking in, this place didn't seem like anything special. They have a huge dining area (2 floors) with minimal decor. But, what they may lack in vibe, they make up for with the food. The food here is superb and there's a reason this restaurant has so many great reviews!We started with hummus that is served with their lavash bread. They do not serve pita bread. The hummus was excellent. A very large portion that was so smooth and tasty. During lunch, they have lunch special options. I ordered the Salmon plate. It came with a large salad as well as rice and tender, juicy pieces of salmon. Everything was cooked so well! The spices were perfection and the portions were enormous! Food comes out very quickly! We were pressed for time, but were so impressed by how quickly our food came. Great restaurant!"

Shiraz Persian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (183) • $$

"If you love Persian food and are looking for incredible service and ambiance in Poway, Shiraz is the place to go! My husband and I found this gem on yelp and the reviews were right! We came on a Friday night and it was not busy like so many other places in town. The music was lovely and the decor was beautiful.The owner gave us exceptional service! We tried the olive appetizer dip, a soup, and shared the 3 kabob combo. Every single thing was bursting with flavor, and subtle hints of herbs and spices... absolutely delicious!We finished with baklava and traditional Persian rice pudding with rose water and saffron. Unlike anything I've ever tried. Not to sweet and again, SO flavorful. We will be back soon!"

Naseem's Bakery & Kabob

★★★★☆ 4.4 (313) • $$

"I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and the reviews made it seem like it was an amazing place to go. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by what I got from here. It's a cute, small place and they definitely get pretty busy during the lunch rush. Staff was nice and moved quickly to get everyone's orders in. I got their plate with a chicken kabob and lamb kabob. The veggies in my salad did not taste fresh, the rice had absolutely no flavor to it whatsoever, my lamb was very dry and bland, and my chicken was dry and half burnt. There is nothing I tried that I would get again. I probably wouldn't even come back if someone suggested coming here."

Khyber Pass Zarparan

★★★★☆ 4.3 (879) • $$

"Awesome family-style restaurant with delicious food. Prices are a bit higher than I'm used to, but expected in Hillcrest. - Extensive menu with Afghan, Pakistani, Iranian cuisine- Aushak was the highlight of our meal- Plentiful vegetarian options- Kabob plates were rice heavy with less meat, did not come with much else (no veggies, sauce/dips, etc)- Curry came with less meat and sauce than expected, also rice heavy- Has a bathroom for customersOther:- Parking was difficult, street parking and lots are all paid- Workers and service were very nice, felt family-operated"

Namino

★★★★★ 4.8 (41)

"The reviews are right! One of my top Medi spots. Awesome flavor, from the rice to the meat and the salad. They are equally aaahmazing! It was a great experience trying their food and then buying another one coz they are that good! I hope you guys continue to visit the Park Circle area."

Bistro Kabob

★★★★☆ 3.9 (322) • $$

"This Mediterranean restaurant has a warm welcoming interior with a relaxing patio area. The menu has a ton of options from several combo plates to salads to wraps. We ordered the salmon plate entree and the gyro and chicken combo plate. The chicken and salmon were grilled over fire on a metal skewer. It was cooked to perfection and seasoned well. The combo plates are a bit pricey and are well over $22 to $28 each but they do give a ton of food per combo plate including salad, rice, pita, and hummus. The staff was fast and efficient. We loved this restaurant with healthy delicious options."

Tak Grill Fresh Mediterranean Food

★★★★☆ 4.4 (287) • $$

"Food here is very good. When you order it's made just for you. It is fresh and delicious. Service is quick. I go there a lot. Ambiance is nice. It's mainly a take out place but you can eat there too. Go there it good food. Let's support them."

Sadaf

★★★★☆ 4 (555) • $$

"After many days at comic con recently my group was just wanting to eat somewhere away from the crowd on 5th and our Airbnb was down the street and we were feeling like some Persian or anything along the Mediterranean My friend was like hey this place seems cool and without the major crowds coming down that far on 5th we should have no issues Well the place.had a few tables in service outside but we arrived and quickly realized service may be slow because it was just one person doing the job for everything but the cooking but hey we understand I get itCan't fault that but yeah we sat inside and after a good wait on all things we eventually get some drinks and eventually our food and the food was actually good we liked it Lot but we definitely felt they needed more help that night and our order got a little mixed up but again we get it with the guy doing the best he couldLike I said all food we got was good!"

Marketplace Grille

★★★★☆ 3.9 (186)

"Great selection of Mediterranean food which is all cooked fresh on the spot. The staff was so helpful suggesting the best dish for what you're looking for. I had a grilled chicken salad and it was huge. The hummus is also delicious. You order at the counter and they have plenty of outdoor seating and some indoor as well."

Paradise Kabob

★★★★★ 4.9 (21)

"Paradise Kabob has taken over the former space of Pauly's Pizza Joint which has moved to an end corner suite in the Miracrest Plaza that used to house a Subway. The words 'Persian Kitchen' hung beneath the marquee sign so I stopped in recently to check out this new Middle Eastern cuisine eatery. There were about half a dozen tables for dine-in seating. A menu screen hung on a wall to the left of the service counter, but it was easier to look at one of the take-out sheets.Appetizers and wrap sandwiches were listed on one side while the other side featured entrees, salads, and specialty stews. The last category looked intriguing, however my taste buds weren't adventurous enough. The Kabob Mix Plate #2 was my choice. Shish kabob and boneless chicken kabob were the proteins that were served with basmati rice, grilled tomato, onion, parsley, and a salad. The cubes of chicken were some of the juiciest I have tasted at any restaurant so kudos to the chef. I preferred that meat over the filet mignon chunks which was probably a first for me. What I would like to have seen for this combo was less rice and the addition of a spread like hummus or baba ghanoush with some pita bread. That would have elevated this plate to match the $27 price tag. The service from the staff was fine. The business will need to advertise to let the public know they are operating now because this plaza has numerous dining choices, not to mention competition from other spots along Miramar Rd."

Peachy's Market & Grill

★★★★★ 4.7 (250) • $

"Its a hidden gem in a small shopping plaza in the heart of Encinitas! They known for their freshly made persian food and amazing family deal meals. The market itself is very clean, well stocked with middle eastern as well as some easter European items. Check this place out!"

Kabob Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (381) • $$

"3.5 it's a great quick spot. Food was pretty good but nothing over the top or something I'd be recommending to friends to try out."

Marketplace Grille

★★★★☆ 4.1 (233) • $$

"5 Stars for Marketplace Grille!!!All the skewers are so good.Highly, highly recommend the Filet Mignon Skewer."

Orchid Persian Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.6 (57)

"The meals at Orchid never disappoint. This place is close to the freeway so I have called in to go orders. After the first order of Khoresht Gheymeh Bademjan I knew I found a true Persian restaurant. I made this a once a week stop and have tried working my way through the stews. The flavors are authentic and food is so delicious. I work all over the state of California and this is one of the best Persian restaurants I have tried. The only other ones close have been in Los Angelos. You people that live in San Diego are so lucky to have this hidden gem. I have never had a meal at the restaurant so I can not comment on service."

Safi Mediterranean Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (135)

"A solid choice. Don't be put off by the slightly rough exterior, this is great mediterranean food for a cheap price. One star off for the slightly dry baklava. Otherwise, great!"