Delicious food and really beautiful restaurant. Hummus, baba ganoush, tabouli, all the middle eastern comfort food Service was warm and welcoming. Lots to see. Artwork is beautiful. read more

My husband and I stopped in and had the absolute best time! The food was delicious, savory and with so many complex flavors. The ambiance was astounding. The art around the restaurant was such a treat for the spirit. I walked around and admired the art while I waited and I was only sad I couldn't afford it. However, I saw that there were prints that I could. I bought two of them to display in my home. I also bought two poetry books that I read in a day. I was just so happy that we stumbled upon this Palestinian restaurant where we had a chance to speak with the owner. He gave us so much of his history and we learned even more through his books and art. We will be back but I can't imagine that this experience can be topped. read more

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Fairouz Cafe is a delicious and charming spot! We were welcomed by the cafe's owner, who is also an incredible painter and poet. He showed my husband and I his works of art throughout the cafe while we waited for our food, such a pleasure getting to speak with such a positive and kind person. And the food was delicious. We ordered a chicken shawarma plate and a gyros plate to go. The chicken was so juicy and had a delicious flavor! It came with pita bread, lettuce, tomato and tzatziki or garlic sauce. The gyro plate was also excellent. We recommend you check them out, a truly authentic Mediterranean restaurant with heart! read more

Fairouz Cafe & Gallery - Chicken shawarma plate and gyros plate - both delicious! - Lebanese Near Me - San Diego, California

This is quite literally a mom and pop business. Such a unique concept and it's great to support local business'. It's obvious the owner (the woman) has put her heart into this business. It gives off home cooked meal vibes which was comforting. She's sharing an experience with you. The flavors weren't off the charts and the meal was not super extravagant but that's not the aim they're going for. I felt loved here. read more

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Came in as a DoorDash driver, unfortunately had to wait 30 minutes really was kind to them, but had to speak up, and the owner felt bad gave me a $10 tip so the universe is balanced. read more

This place is so homey and friendly, one feels like a member of the family here. The food that comes out of that kitchen is so amazing and I haven't even tried everything yet. I keep getting the lamb shank as I am a big eater and the meal comes with a big Greek salad and a wonderful rice you just have to experience. I have tried the vegetarian grape leaves and they were wonderful, spicy and a flavor that lingers well after leaving the cafe. And Bibi is the consummate host. Never a problem. He shared that the cafe name is from the name of a famous Lebanese singer named Fairuz, check her out on youtube. read more

The food is great here, I got the chicken shawarma plate and it was incredibly fresh! The guy who I believe owns the place was very nice, super attentive and gave me a water while I waited for my food. MUST EAT in San Diego, great food and vibes all around. read more

Great food, great art and poetry all around. Service was good too, a touch slow, which suits the ambience.

This place is a hidden gem in Point Loma! It is definitely a beautiful art gallery in a restaurant setting. The art featured is made by the owner's brother, and showcases some amazing pieces. Service was superb. The owner was very welcoming and personable. We ordered the Chicken Tagine and CHicken Shawarma and they were both equally delicious! We will definitely be back... :) read more

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The owner was so kind and lovely. His art, poetry and books were delightful. The inside felt like visiting a friend at home. It had warmth. I did not enjoy the taste of the food very much. Maybe next time I would go there for some tea or drinks just to hang out. read more

We had such a wonderful experience here. The owner came to our table, introduced himself, and we ended up having a great conversation about his family history and the origins of their food. It felt genuine and warm, never pressured. The food was excellent. The chicken was perfectly balanced--juicy, smoky, and grilled just right. Every dish we tried was delicious and clearly made with care. You can tell this restaurant is run with heart and soul. As a thoughtful gesture, the owner even gifted our daughter a postcard with his poetry and artwork, which made the evening extra special. We will definitely be coming back to this magical place filled with flavor, art, and hospitality. read more

Fairouz Cafe & Gallery - Lebanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Tonight I wanted to vote with my dollar, who deserves my dollar? They say in times of duress we should go to the places that are worth our time, with good value for the money. But I also like to get to know owners over time. It's my thing. I was tired after running errands, and sick of my own cooking, so as I drove home I got on Rosecrans and turned down Midway right behind Target and across from Boot World, there I saw the open sign below the letters, Fairouz. Mmmm Home! It's been a long pandemic, and why should I deprive myself from all the handmade items from Sara in the kitchen like garlic sauce, flaky light and delicious spinach pie, tenderly wrapped dolmades, delicious fresh baba ganouj, with iced tea (and rose water, of course). When I come here, I get to see the family run business, they are immigrants just like me! I feel like they are family cause we've been coming here for so long. It always feels good to be there. We always see big families having fun and laughing too. I crave the garlic sauce from here, and I ordered too many things so I could bring them home, and think about Al and Sam, (the owners) the next day. If you've been here you'll see art all over the walls painted by Al, and books he wrote as well. I bought the books tonight, cause I really missed him and I am glad they are surviving. If you like a family run business, amazing fresh food, and art, do yourself a favor and check these guys out. Everyone needs our support right now, but vote with your dollar on your favorite deliciousness read more

The food here is amazing. Definitely made with love and care. I would give this place 10 stars if I could The ambience is quiet and cool on a hot Summer day. I had the MANSAF a delicious dish from JERUSALEM succulent lamb cooked with homemade yogurt on the low heat served on rice pilaf and almonds. I had a cup of the Greek chicken lemon soup. It was exactly how I like it. I also had the Gyros salad. There was a lot of Gyros meat on the salad. I was very happy please come and eat at probably really the best place in San Diego. read more

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Friendly, welcoming, charming. The food was tasty. Mansaf was lovely with tender lamb, rice & yogurt sauce. My wife raved about the dressing for the salad. Art covers the walls in a comfortable setting. The main attraction, though, is the friendly, gentle and welcoming Al. He is an example of a good person to meet in life, if only briefly. read more

The food was delicious. The service was fast & great. extremely nice owners. It had been a few years since we've been here but we will be back again soon read more

Food 5 Service 5 Ambiance 5 I had the cabbage salad; cabbage like you wouldn't think cabbage could be, definitely worth trying...I don't know how to describe the tastiness, it's just good...The hummus & pita chips were most delicious as well! I love the lady that served us, she is priceless read more

Fairouz Cafe & Gallery - Cabbage Salad...tasty! - Lebanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I highly recommend this place for authentic Arabic flavors and beautiful ambiance. I especially loved their mansaf and chicken soup on the side! The service was really good as the waitress was kind and the food came out really quickly. I also loved all the art displayed around the restaurant and was able to buy a beautiful print. This was a very unique restaurant experience and one of the highlights of my San Diego visit! read more

Fairouz Cafe & Gallery - Art print - Lebanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Enchanting, delightful, delicious, fabulous lunch. The owner is a painter and artist, a timeless truth poet, a philosopher, a story teller and the food was wonderful. I cannot think of even one thing that can be improved. It is all magical, lyrical, and delicious: the place feeds both body and soul. Out party had moussaka, lamb kabob. Spinach pie, the best Falafel, the salads were perfect , Not fancy but you will be at home there at once, and will leave a refreshed person. I would give it a hundred stars if i could. read more

If you're looking for a place for a wonderful meal, as well as a memorable experience, you've got to make a stop to this artistic gem. It was such a delight and honor to be amongst a wonderful family, such as this one. We had the opportunity listen to their stories as well as experience their artistic pieces of art from poetry to paintings as well as their selection of literature. Visiting this restaurant was like walking into an art gallery where each table is also embedded with many verses of beautiful poetry and memorable stories, literally. In addition to the food which was amazing and very flavorful, the kind owner, who is also an artist exhibits his pieces all throughout the restaurant with an opportunity to purchase if you wish. The experience felt as if I was walking into someone's home, greeted with open arms, and invited to cherish a meal with their family. It's simply a place that you must visit when you're in the area. It's a very visual experience that I highly recommend. read more

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I have never had Lebanese cuisine before and wanted something fairly light and healthy after some weekend yoga so my friend and I decided to stop by here for a late lunch. It is tucked away in a small shopping plaza right behind the Sports Arena Shopping Center. We shared the grape stuffed leaves, chicken tagine, and moussaka. All of the dishes were hearty and delicious. If you're familiar with Mediterranean flavors then this shouldn't seem too unfamiliar. What is so special about this place is Al, the owner, is also the artist of all the art displayed here at the restaurant. It's not everyday you meet someone who is an artist, author, and a chef! He was extremely nice and friendly from the moment we walked in till the moment we left. It felt like I was talking to a family member. This restaurant has a lot of history and has been in the area for several decades. Unfortunately, due to COVID, they had to shut down half of the restaurant so now it is much smaller than it used to be. This mom and pop shop has an unique and warm ambiance. This would be the perfect place to have a lunch catch up with a friend or a casual intimate date. read more

Fairouz Cafe & Gallery - Lebanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Family run cafe that offers authentic Middle Eastern fare. It's not fancy by any means / strip mall location and furnishings are "cozy" at best. Staff is older. Ordered salad, got soup. Whatever... The chicken and lamb options were bomb and the humus was to die for. Affordable for SD and that's saying something. read more

Delicious! Grew up eating middle eastern (Jordanian/Palestinian) food and I read they had mansaf -- so I had to stop by for a little nostalgia! We happened to come in right before the lunch rush so we had the whole place to ourselves which was perfect. The place is family owned - the gentleman who took our order was very sweet and lovely to talk to. Appreciated the warm hospitality!! Food was delicious! Will happily return on our next trip after the swap meet hehe - and do recommend! read more

Fairouz Cafe & Gallery - Mansaf - Lebanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Tucked away in a non-descript shopping strip, there's this amazing place -- a gallery with a wide variety of outstanding artworks on the walls and doubling as a restaurant offering delicious middle eastern dishes. We all had a fabulous chicken lemon soup, followed by wonderful meat dishes, expertly prepared, whether it was chicken or lamb. A special treat is the owner of the place who stops by your table to refill your iced tea and chat. He's the originator of much of the artwork on the walls, but also a prolific author. The visit to this place is a treat both in the culinary sense, and intellectually and socially, in other words, a delightful experience in many dimensions. read more

LOVE this place! Everything is so great--the food, the art, the wine, the owners, the conversation. We had the pleasure of chatting with the artist (one of the owners), then his sister in law came out and spent several minutes talking with us. They are lovely people and when I told the woman I've been looking for a Lebanese garlic chicken her face lit up--"I make that!" I was confused. I didn't see it on the menu! Then she told me that she only makes it for catering but she had just made some and I should try it! Off she goes into the kitchen and comes back a few minutes later with a to go container of garlic chicken. Hugs all around and I left feeling like I had just had dinner with family! read more

Fairouz Cafe & Gallery - Moussaka - DINNER - Lebanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Noce ambiance and friendly service. Great falafel. My favorite Mediterranean dinner spot.

Owner is an everyday saint -- interested in peace on earth and cultivating love among us with his beautiful art and hospitality. Not to mention, yummy food! Have had numerous work and family celebrations here for the atmosphere and the food! read more

I wanted to love this place because the owners are so wonderful. But I couldn't finish what I ordered because it tasted bad. Not "rotten" or "spoiled bad, but flavor bad. It pains me to say this, but I just have to report accurately. Service is spectacular. Food is less than mediocre. read more

Good food and even better service. I truly felt at home here with allll of the people cooking and serving. There is a huge and gorgeous gallery all over the restaurant. They played such fun happy birthday songs for our mothers and made our experience truly special. My favorites: 1. The mansaf. Perfectly tangy and flavorful. 2. The orange blossom lemonade. GOODNESS. The essence was perfect!!!! I could have gallons of it. 3. The baklava. Made in house and so chewy. Will come back for it! As a Palestinian away from my family, I am beyond excited to have found this place. Someone from the House of Palestine at Balboa park recommended it. My whole family felt so welcomed by Sara and all of the others. read more

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We went to Fairouz for dinner this past week with friends. This restaurant is a true San Diego gem. If you have never been there before, the Resteraunt is also the owner's art gallery. He is a world renowned artist and truly talented. His artwork adorns the walls and is available for purchase. The food was spectacular, and each plate was clearly made with care and attention. We love coming here- have never had a disappointing experience. read more

The nicest family that made me feel like I was back in Palestine and THEY HAVE MANSAF! I've already posted about this place in 3 local groups because it was just that lovely of an experience. Everyone run, don't walk, to this restaurant for delicious Arab food. (Also it was super fast!) I think I'll be making their mansaf a regular part of my food prep! read more

Best food ever! The owner is an amazing artist, and displays his art in the restaurant. Love this place!

First time at this restaurant and I was very happy with my experience. The owner and staff were extremely welcoming upon entry and I was inspired/impressed by the art work that immersed the entire restaurant. I ordered beef kofta meatballs with rice and tabboulah. Everything was seasoned beautifully. Overall, the food tasted like a home cooked meal and I will definitely be coming back next time I'm in San Diego! read more

As soon as I saw the name of this restaurant, I knew I had to try it. I came in expecting a fantastic Mediterranean meal, and Fairouz cafe & gallery still exceeded all my metrics. I had the Greek lemon chicken soup and the chicken tagine. Both were great but the chicken tagine in particular was a rare perfect dish. Here, know how to cook that chicken just right. I'm very eager to return and try other dishes here. They have mansaf on the menu! When I called in ahead of dinner, I asked if they had any Ramadan specials, to which Sami responded, "we have mansaf." I smiled. Though I wasn't craving that, my solo Ramadan iftar ended up being very special. Beyond the food being delectable (and the fresh lemonade!)I was so pleased reading the poems in the menu and observing the art around the entire store. Sami was happy to walk me around and explain photos, art pieces, and introduce me to the staff while I was waiting for my food. You get a real comforting, homey feeling while you're in this restaurant. All this considered, I can't wait to go back. read more

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Was really pleasantly surprised by the interior look/feel & decor of this place. It's so cute. The service is great - so chill, warm and friendly. We went for lunch & had the chicken tagine and chicken shawarma sandwich (wrap). The chicken shawarma wrap was really good. The tzatziki sauce it came with was very flavorful, garlicky and delicious. The chicken tagine was pretty good. The chicken was insanely tender, just falling apart like pulled pork. It was good. Could've used a bit more seasoning. The only thing I didn't like were the slivers of outer onion skin mixed in with the chicken that I mistook for plastic packaging at first (as seen in the photo). Overall, it's a really nice place with a great vibe, great service and fresh food. We will be back. read more

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Amazing atmosphere small business! Local art and poetry to check out! Food was great and the service was even better! Go support this local gem. read more

We absolutely demolished this amazing food. It tastes just like home made food your Khaleh makes. Everything we ate was made fresh and delicious. The owners were so kind and gave top service. By far, the absolute best falafel I have eaten in San Diego and beyond. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We have had our fair share of mediocre falafel at other places, and this put them all to shame. read more

Fairouz Cafe & Gallery - Lebanese Near Me - San Diego, California

The best Mediterranean I had in the world. Impeccable service!! The most extraordinary Art and charming ambiance.

Great food and service. Babaghanoush was one of the best I have ever had. Host was super friendly and made us feel very comfortable.

It was my first time trying Lebanese food and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The chicken shawarma was insanely juicy and tender and flavorful. The mufasakh was good as well. However the real star of the show was the mansaf. Highly recommend that entree! The service was also top notch, served by the two owners who loved to quip and banter, certainly winning us over with their humor and charisma. The restaurant doubled as a mini art gallery, filled with pieces that the owners painted, which really brought a quaintness and charm to the whole dining experience. read more

Fairouz Cafe & Gallery - Chicken Shawarma Dinner - Lebanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I have had my share of travel thoughout the Middle East... business and pleasure. One pleasure that I have found at every stop... a Lebanese restaurant that the locals called the best. Soon Lebanese food became my favorite. And while I admit that my favorite has bounced around a little between Japanese and Peruvian in recent years, I attribute that partly to the fact I haven't spent much time in the region lately. But either I had an out of body experience 7,500 miles away or a severe case of deja vu... cuz my love has returned! DO Not be fooled... this is not just a restaurant. It is a merging of the senses, collection of artistic expression, and collective past experiences lived (lives if you will) that are on display here. Part gallery, part bookstore, a stage for the comedies of Sami, and the community square where all subjects are free to be discussed and the Master of The House is sure to have a thoughtful story to add! But let's start with the food. You quickly can taste the love and craftsmanship in the first few sips/bites. I say sips first because I always start my venture into any Lebanese restaurant with the soup of the house, and then its on to the Stuffed Grape Leaves. Simple dishes that tell you much about the establish (in my opinion). The soup was Greek Chicken Lemon (Avgolemeno)... it was amazing!!!! I have wanted to try the Lebanese Lentil but each time I try to say it... I instead blurt out "Lemon Chicken soup please". It is sooooo good. Flavorful and Clean... more pure in fact. And the Grape Leaves (Dolmas)... they were no joke. Like the difference between your best friends Mexican grandmothers homemade tortillas you had as a kid when you visited their home, and Taco Bells offering of whatever it is they wrap a burrito in .... this is the real deal! Full of flavor and fresh... please don't go veggie on this one. The Chicken Tagine and Chicken Shawarma featured the kind of tender and flavorful chicken I would find in the Lebanese restaurants I would venture into 7,500 miles away. And how can you properly judge a place without trying the Baklava. The Baklava was the best I have had in many many years. And the secret .... well it is a secret. But let's just say, Sami doesn't use tap water for his prized offering. More like the water that comes from a bouquet of my ex's favorite flower. Usually red. And expensive. Now... about the purveyors of this establishment. Ibrahim Al Nashashibi and his brother Sami are perfect compliments. Sami, the obvious choice for anyone remaking a Peter Sellers film (lookalike and mischievous character), keeps it light, running tight and never a dull moment with his contagious spirit. Ibrahim is the soul of the place. From his artwork taking up most of the available wall space, to his several books on display begging to be read. The food, the art, and the books are expressions of his journey, life and heart. In the preamble to one of his books of poems written in the wake of his wife's passing, he writes, 'I came to life with a lot of thoughts and feelings some to be written with colors And some to be drawn with words' .... I might add, 'and some to be tasted with the heart' read more

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