Middle Eastern Restaurants near La Mesa, CA

“Good portion size! I can usually split one entree plate for two meals. I got the beef shawarma plate. There are quite a lot of onions mixed into the meat which isn't my favorite, but the meat is always cooked to perfection. Large-sized pita bread to go with the hummus which tastes very smooth and creamy. It was a bit busier than normal when I came around lunch time, but they were able to get my order ready in ~10-15 min! Very casual restaurant, seemed like most people were taking their food to-go/picking up. Parking out front is on a hill/at the corner of the block which can sometimes get crowded depending on time of day. Will be back again!“

“Finjan Coffee Shop might be the best coffee shop I've ever been to based on the cleanliness and decor of the coffee shop, the quality of the drip coffee, the overall menu offerings, and the friendly staff.I came to Finjan about five times over two visits to San Diego in March and April, 2024. I stayed at the nearby Courtyard San Diego Central (which just completed a full renovation) so this coffee shop was nearby. Finjan is a Turkish coffee shop so some of the menu offerings are specific, which is great!The drip coffee is on par with the best drip coffee I've ever had. My coworker ordered a pistachio latte that she said was exceptional. It tasted great and looked good with a simple garnish. I also tried the Turkish coffee which was also very good. I don't like Turkish coffee as much as drip or espresso, but it was one of the best Turkish coffees I've ever had and the presentation is unmatched by any other coffee shop I've been to. Finally, homemade baklawa and knafeh are offered and will not disappoint.The location of Finjan is great if you are in Kearny Mesa, Convoy District, or driving along HWY 163 Cabrillo Freeway. The MTS 25, 235, and 928 busses have stops walking distance on Clairmont Mesa Blvd. The Spectrum Center office complex is to the south and the MCAS base is to the north. Finjan is in a great spot for a to go order or to dine in.“

“This is not a review about the place, but a review about a person that works here. His Name is Raz and let me tell you that this guy will go above and beyond for you. My wife and I were visiting the coffee place next door and lost our keys. We thought maybe we had lost them in the parking lot so we went next door to see of maybe somebody that visited the place next door had turned them in , that's when we met Raz. If the owner personally knows Raz just know that he went above and beyond to try and help us and we hope that if there is some type of employee compensation for his actions because his care, time, and compassion he displayed made our unfortunate situation go alot easier. We are visiting from out of town and I had my wife and 1 yr old daughter. Eventually we found our keys but as mentioned before if it wasn't for Raz our situation would have felt worst“

“Love The Halal Shack!! Best middle eastern street food in all of San Diego! Better than Cava and Chicken Over Rice in my opinion ? would absolutely recommend. The staff are also great and the manager or shift lead on Thursday 4/18 was so kind“

“Traditional Afghan cuisine. I have been doing commercial real estate for a living for 36 years and l eat at restaurants all the time. This particular place is my very favorite for Mediterranean food. I love the food and the service. I drive one hour just to come and it here. It is worth the drive ???“

“I ordered 5 Ground Beef Kabob Skewers , 5 Chicken Tikka Skewers, 1 chicken cream chop, 1 Shawarma Wrap, Rice, Hummus & Salad. Served with Pita Bread, Grilled So when I got home I find out there is only 4 Ground Beef kabob and 4 chicken Tikka And that was so embarrassing for me because I invited 5 people for lunch That was really bad experience“

“I never write reviews…even when I really really disliked a place…but I’m literally writing this right after I ate here. First of all, I think the lady that helped me order was named Alexandera…well give her a raise…I haven’t had a better customer service experience in such a long time! And that’s on top of how good the food was! I had the Chx Cream Chop Wrap…and wow! So good!!! And when you add that red sauce that it came with…seriously…mind blown! Not only will I come back…I will tell everyone I know about this place!“

“We have ordered Kebabs before here, we recently ordered a meal kit that was all rice and hardly any meat, I mean it was a joke, its a $30 meal. I messaged them because we have ordered several times before and thought maybe they would try to make it right but they never replied. This was 2 weeks ago. We will never buy food here again! The servings are very small and there are tons of other places to eat or order take out around here if they want to be jerks about it! The food is average really, we order out frequently so as not to have to cook and live in the area. We got about $1 worth of rice and lettuce for a $30 meal plate, what a joke!“

“The food is clean, tasty, fresh and healthy. What else can you ask for? You could see the owner grinding in the kitchen to make sure everything is perfect. He really cares about your experience. This places one of a kind and very authentic. MOST of the other places in San Diego have influences from Iraq, which is good in its own way. But this place has a touch of the Levant and is a totally different eating experience. One bite and you are hooked... I've eaten here many times and I've never been let down...“

“Great place to spend time with your love ones and enjoy a Sunday afternoon. We ordered the Family chiken and beef kaboob feeds about 4 people. It was healthy and delicious we even had leftovers for lunch tomorrow..or later. The medditerranian salad was so good. I recommend this place, great atmosphere. Coming back for “

“Solid spot to fulfill your crave for Mediterranean after a long day of shopping. Easy parking, convenient spot next to other restaurants and boutiques. You order at the cashier and can choose between a wrap, bowl (protein with rice or fries), or plate (protein and any two sides). There's lamb, beef, and chicken and it might cost a little extra for certain meats. I tried a plate so I can have more sides. The gyro is decent and portions are huge. The hummus and pita were really tasty, and I enjoyed the salad a lot. A bowl and plate really feel like two portions so I thought it was a great value. They had a sauce bar with multiple really tasty sauces. Overall, a solid lunch spot and I was super full after.“

“Really fulfilling food ranging from delicious and fruitful salads, to wraps, and gyros. The portions are shareable and the service was great. There was one person working the entire store, so it did take a little bit of time for the food to come out, but no problem there. The man was super helpful with suggestions. We chose the 2 protein plate, a gyro, and the strawberry salad. Everything was really hefty and not skimpy, and full of so much flavor. Will definitely be coming back.Vegetarian options: SaladsParking: Lots of parkingWheelchair accessibility: No stairs“

“The food is delicious. The gyros sandwiches are wonderful. Fresh and delicious. The feta fries were yummy too. Ordering was good. Food delivery was .... The food came out separately. Everything was ordered at once but each entree arrived 3-5 minute apart. 1 of the entrees was very different than ordered. They didn't seem to care that it wasn't correct. Everyone's food got cold waiting for everything to arrive. They'd deliver 1 item to one table and 2 to another. Usually each table is served in full. This was very confusing to me. And the tzatziki ordered (and we paid $1.50 for each tablespoon size serving) had to be asked for repeatedly. The order of feta fries that used to come on a big plate were now in a tiny basket. Maybe 15 fries for $6.95. Very disappointing. I asked to speak to a manager and the lady there said I could speak to her. I had already spoken to her and wanted to get a different opinion on the size of the fry order. It was very different than when I had been there prior. I keep coming back because the food is so good. But each time I leave I'm not happy on how hard it was to get the food. The service isn't bad, but it has some definite room for improvement. I'm frustrated but the food tastes so good.“

“The California kabob is so good! If you haven't tried yet, you're missing out. Cucumber sauce is a must. Fries are perfected. I order from grub hub but the one time I did walk in, I did have to wait quite a bit, maybe it was a busy day. Staff were friendly! Clean spot for the location. Nothing fancy just a small lunch food spot in west Chula Vista.“

“The gentleman that served my meal was very kind. He even showed care in details that I’m not used to being asked: “1 or 2 cups of ketchup?” “Would you like ice in your drink?” I don’t know of any other place that takes the time to show they care and ask the details. He was very kind and respectful and the food was good!“

“Had to go into downtown El Cajon this morning & figured we'd grab a bite at one of the middle eastern restaurants. Scanned Yelp reviews & then recalled a friend telling me about a hole in the wall eatery with fantastic food. Couldn't remember the name she'd mentioned so I continued to scan Yelp. Low & behold a place popped up that said they were closed, only open 1 hour a day from 9 am to 10 am...Seriously? How is that possible, obviously a mistake. Curiosity got the best of us and we were within walking distance so we cruised by on our way to the 8 west. Good luck locating it! It's next door to a tire shop & the sign over the door is painted over in same color as the building. Doesn't even look like a restaurant from the outside. As we parked we saw tables inside & decided we'd explore, hoping they were open & serving food. Turns out to be the best secret spot for middle eastern food around! Super fresh, huge portions, excellent service & the friendliest people we've met in a long time. Frankie was a delightful man, he cooked our food. His father & mother were there (assuming his parents) too. Everyone sitting around talking & smiling away! What an awesome find. We will be going back time & time again. Don't miss out.“

“I love this place. They are always pleasant and greet you when you walk in. Food is amazing every time. Even for a small business they seem passionate about what they do. Would definitely recommend this place to anybody looking to taste authentic East African cuisine.“

“This is a lovely place to have a great meal and sit down with family. The owner is friendly and welcoming, always greeting you with a smile. The food is delicious, my kids love it too, and you know how hard it is to please kids. We will be coming back again and again.“

“Great place to have your event at, great food, super friendly and accommodating management and staff. The food quality and quantity were amazing. I would definitely come back here for our future events and recommend The Palms to all family and friends.“

“Kabob House is hard to beat! Their service is quick and the food is amazing. My sister and I both got the beef kabob plate. The kebab was juicy and flavorful, the rice was delicious, and the tabbouleh was very fresh! This is my new spot for a quick fix of mediterranean food in San Diego.“

“The chicken shawarma over rice was quite enjoyable—tender, flavorful grilled chicken. However, I wish they had asked me before drenching the whole plate in heavy white sauce; it would have tasted better without it.The grilled chicken salad was also satisfying, with ample servings of salads, nuts, and berries.We appreciated the outdoor seating, providing a breath of fresh air during the winter flu/covid season. ?“

“Ever have amazing food from a no frills food stall on paper plates and that just blew your mind because it's so authentic and delicious? Nahrain restaurant is the equivalent of that - it's not designer food, it's authentic dishes served to you in a basic setting. And it's so good! We had the falafel sandwich that is served in traditional "sammoun" bread and drizzled in a tangy mango sauce called "anbah." We also ordered a tilapia "masgouf" dish where the fish is split open and grilled to perfection. You can choose from various fish options on the menu. We even saw the fish delivery guys deliver their boxes and then sat down to order at this restaurant! The food is excellent.“

“Hubby loved it here, rated 5 out of 5! Everything tasted very fresh with good service. The restaurant was clean with good amount tables and chairs. We ordered lamb tikka combo plate, lamb heart, beef liver, lamb fat and my favorite, lamb kabob! It was so yummy that I had to order two more to go. We'll be back!“

“I love Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food and have had quite a lot over the years. This is one of the two best restaurants I've had the pleasure to enjoy. And better yet, the people who work there are just lovely. I hardly ever get out to that area, but when I do, I'm coming back!“

“Came in for the first time and had a great experience. Baylee the cashier greeted me and was very welcoming. She recommended I try the San Diego wrap. All of the employees at this location are very helpful thank you to Diana and Lorena for the quick service!“