A True Gem in Orange County -- My New Favorite Spot! Fanous Mediterranean Grill is absolutely exceptional -- hands down one of my favorite places in all of Orange County. From the moment you walk in, you're met with the most vibrant, welcoming atmosphere. The music is fun and lively, the energy is amazing, and the entire place just feels like a celebration of culture and incredible food. Let's talk about the food... WOW. Every dish tastes unbelievably fresh -- you can literally feel how high-quality the ingredients are with every bite. The flavors are bold, authentic, and perfectly balanced. Whether you're ordering a classic dish or trying something new, everything is cooked to perfection. Their beverages deserve their own shoutout. They offer everything from refreshing, crisp juices to beautifully brewed Middle Eastern teas that warm your soul. It's rare to find a place where the drinks stand out just as much as the food, but Fanous nails it. The hookah? Amazing. Their flavored hookah is smooth, full, and clearly made with care -- perfect for relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere. And the staff... truly some of the nicest, most attentive people you'll ever meet. They make you feel like family from the moment you sit down. And finally -- the kenefeh. I don't even know how to do it justice. It's rich, perfectly sweet, warm, cheesy, crispy... just absolutely heavenly. Easily one of the best desserts I've ever had. Fanous Mediterranean Grill is a rare combination of fantastic food, great ambiance, and incredible service. If you haven't been yet, you are genuinely missing out. This place deserves all the spotlight -- and more. read more

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Really good food. Great service and excellent vibes. Interior and exterior seating. Hookah also available. Highly recommend the lamb skewers dish, it's an acquired taste but is so delicious. The watermelon refresher was delish as well. read more

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Service was good she was really nice but food was ASS. Had to burry the chicken with rice and leave read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

The food was amazzziinnggggg!!! I ordered the chicken shawarma and it was so good, I devoured it! Our waiter was very quick, efficient and very friendly. He was very on top of refills and asking if we needed anything. The ambiance is very nice, well decorated, comfortable seating and a good amount of space to have a private conversation. Will be coming here again! read more

Hands down the best Persian spot (Renovated/ New owner) in town -- Fanous Grill is a hidden gem that deserves all the hype! I went Saturday night (OCT 11, 2025) and was completely blown away. The kabobs were perfectly grilled: juicy, flavorful, and tender. The pizza was surprisingly amazing too -- crispy crust, loaded toppings, and just the right balance of cheese and sauce (definitely not your average grill pizza!). The appetizers were top-notch:-) grilled eggplant appetizer, Samosas, crispy falafel, and that warm, pillowy bread you can't stop eating. Every bite felt like a trip to Tehran! To top it all off, the hookah was smooth and flavorful, with plenty of options. The live music created such a fun and vibrant vibe. .Can't wait to go back! read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - Eggplant appetizer - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

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My husband and I were the only ones inside this restaurant but they did have a patio which has people drinking and smoking on it. Unfortunately they cared a little bit more about the patio customers than us. Food was not very good and not very hot just warm. Waitress was nice but not very attentive towards the end, once our order was taken she wasn't around much, we had to ask someone to find her to get out check and she never checked on us once our food was served. Unfortunately we will not be back since the smoking and drinks seem to be where they make Theo money. read more

Came here for the chicken koobideh, it's incredible and SO moist it just falls apart. Will be back frequently!

Extremely disappointed with our dining experience last night. The food we were served lacked freshness, flavor, and the quality expected from Afghan cuisine. Several dishes tasted as though they had been sitting for some time rather than prepared fresh. The tiramisu had a noticeable freezer-burn taste and did not seem freshly made. The chai consisted primarily of tea and milk, without the spices and preparation typically associated with traditional chai. While the service itself was acceptable, it was unprofessional to see the hostess openly vaping behind the front podium during service hours. Afghan cuisine is known for its rich flavors, hospitality, and attention to detail. Unfortunately, our experience did not reflect those standards. read more

Met up with my cousin on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. I was greeted before even stepping foot on the property which was very welcoming. There are options for indoor and outdoor seating. I chose outdoor since it was a beautiful day. Plenty of delicious options to choose from but I went with tzatziki and chicken koobideh. Everything was delicious and beautifully plated. There was more than enough food that I was able to take half of everything home for another time. I have heard that they just opened up for lunch recently but it would be nice if there was a lunch menu with smaller portions. But definitely delicious and we will definitely be back. Would love to come at night with a group for dinner and hookah. read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - Tzatziki with toasted pita - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

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Three of us came on a Thursday at 12:00pm (lunch time) where there was NO ONE inside the building and approximately 4-5 people outside who were being serviced and mostly just smoking hookah. It was a windy day and they had the door leading to the outside area where the smoking section was and the hookah smell was permeating all inside the building, which is not a great thing when people are trying to enjoy a meal inside. Because of this, we decided to order our food to go. It took 45 minutes to prepare (2) Greek salads (one with chicken), a chicken kabob plate, and a falafel appetizer. There was absolutely no reason for the food and service to take that long. They apologized after the 45 minutes and did not provide a reason why the food took so long. Even during our waiting period, the waiter came back to ask "Wow you still haven't gotten your food yet?" And sadly, the food was not even that hot upon arrival and was more "warm". The flavor was average. I have had way better Mediterranean food at other establishments. Even though this is the closest, but unfortunately I will not be coming here again. read more

I really enjoy coming to Fanous Mediterranean Grill. Their hospitality is excellent and they always make you feel welcome. The quality of their food and hookahs is very good, and the patio is spacious and really nice to sit and relax with friends. On Friday and Saturday nights they have a DJ and the entertainment is always fun and lively. The waitresses and the owner are some of the nicest people, and every time I come here I have a great time with friends. Definitely one of my favorite places to hang out. read more

Service was a bit off. No one was inside when we walked in around dinner time. Everyone was outside enjoying themselves in the patio doing hookah. The food was ok, a little disappointed since most of the things we wanted to try they were "out" of. I felt as if they didn't want to make anything that would take long so they can go back outside for hookah. The food was ok, service was ok. The waiter was a bit weird....He kept looking in my child's mouth and asked her for a hug. It just didn't feel right. I won't return. read more

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Amazing Food and very nice staff. We loved it and will be back on Friday night for live music. Highly recommend this place. Food was really really good. read more

Beef Koobideh is old meat. Took a bite and it was chewy. Sliced it open and looked spoiled. Server asked me if the food was okay, in a tone as if he knew it was old. I was late for work so I left. I came home and took a picture of the sliced meat and I knew from the smell and the looks of it that it's been sitting there and was just reheated to char. Was charged $20.00 plus dollars for this unsafe food. I work in the restaurant business and this quality is not worth the price. I'm surprised that the O.C. Health Care Agency's Environmental Health Division has not caught them during their last inspection. For your health and safety I would stay away. I attached a photo and this below is what ChatGPT said about this analysis.. Visual Analysis: The white, stringy bits seen in the photo do not have the appearance of worms or maggots. They resemble: Connective tissue or muscle fibers, which can look stringy when meat is ground or overcooked. Possibly soy protein or plant filler, if this is processed meat. There's no visible segmentation, head, or tapering typical of maggots or larvae. Taste and Texture Warning: However, the chewy texture and sour taste raise serious red flags: Chewiness may indicate improperly stored or cooked meat. A sour flavor is a strong indicator of bacterial spoilage, such as from Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas, or other microbes that produce lactic acid or other sour-tasting byproducts. Even if the stringy parts are not parasites, spoilage bacteria can cause foodborne illness. Final Conclusion: While the white strands likely are not dead worms or maggots, the sour taste, smell, and texture strongly indicate that the meat is spoiled and unsafe to eat. read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - The color of this beef koobideh looks unsafe. What's worse is it's chewy & smells sour. - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

I had my birthday celebration at Fanous Mediterranean Grill, and it couldn't have been better! The Persian cuisine was absolutely delicious. The owners and staff were so friendly and made sure everything was perfect. We enjoyed music, dancing, and a great space for cake--such a fun time! read more

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The food is excellent and they even had live music which made the experience even better. Highly recommend to anyone it was amazing. read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

Amazing service. Live music with DJ. Kind staff and delicious food. The menu had a lot of fresh juice. Healthy option for kids and also variety of vegetarian options. read more

Food is always amazing! Service is perfect they always make things right and are very great at customer service. Ambiance is currently in memory of Iran's situation otherwise they have Friday-Sunday a music event. Sunday's I heard they got belly dancing while Saturday's are DJ! read more

Such great place with good vibe, music, food and hookah. You should try it. Their hospitality is perfect read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

This is the most unorganized and unprofessional restaurant I've ever been to. Waited in the front for 10 minutes for a host to show up. Place is literally only ran by one server. Such a joke food spot. They brought out the hookah and didn't even bring coals. Not sure how this place is even in business. Also the bathroom has exposed electrical lines and is a safety hazard. This place needs to be inspected. I don't even want to look in the kitchen. Also Food was very salty and no flavor. Save your money and don't go here read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

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My first time visiting, I arrived at 5:30 pm on a Tuesday and was the first patron. I was there for dinner specifically as a friend recommend I try this place. The food was fine... average to be honest. Compared to other mediterranean establishments i've dined at, i've had better food. My biggest gripe was the service. NON EXISTENT. After they take your order, then they never check on you. Then they drop your dish and never return or ask if you need anything. I sat there parched needing water most of my visit. They we're not busy by any means so I can't give them the benefit of that. I actually say my original waiter smoking hookah and laughing with friends at another table. I finally flagged down the busser to bring water for the table (which was $3 bottles) and the bill too. This place in my opinion is better served as a lounge or hookah bar, rather than full service restaurant. I will not be returning. read more

The food is absolutely worth it. Like, really worth it. Everything we ordered was delicious. The food alone makes this place worth coming to. Excellent. read more

Great food, great atmosphere, service is top notch. Their koobideh is amazing. I also like their samosa. It's very unique. read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

Terrible experience. It was my friend's birthday dinner and we had the worst dining experience. We had the ordered the koobideh combo, chicken and beef shawarma, passion fruit and tamarin mocktails, and ended up receiving beef shawarma and beef koobideh and no drinks. We waited over an hour to get order fixed and when we finally got the chicken shawarma it came at the end when we were leaving and it was only chicken and rice which was only half of the items depicted on the menu. Very disappointing and servers didn't even offer to apologize or accommodate with a birthday dessert or taking items off the bill. Overall, I believe you'll have a better experience if you go for the hookah and not just for dinner. read more

One of the best Persian restaurants in Irvine with best customer service I love pizza and kabab and eggplant appetizerthey are all good and the best part is the attitude of customer service, the owner Mr Puya and rest of the people working there are so polite and welcomingalso the atmosphere during weekends with live music makes it so special, thank you so much and keep it up a good work read more

I was really surprised by this place. I have never heard of it. I was eating pizza next door and decided to give it a go. The food is really great and the staff is beyond helpful. The hookah is good most of the time. The hookah service isn't that great though. If you're planning to just eat inside, I think it's a good deal. But if you plan to eat outside and smoke. Not a lot of space. Odds of getting a table is little to none. The culture is a lot of old Persian people read more

I've read the reviews and don't really agree with them. I've tried the Beef Koobideh entree twice and it was the juiciest most flavorful kabob I've had as of yet both times. It was shaped, flavored and cooked perfect. The rice was very tasty as well. The garlic sauce (ordered separately) is incredibly very tasty with the rice also. The reviews don't seem to agree with the high quality of taste I've experienced. The staff is always very friendly and welcoming and the food is prepared in a timely manner. read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - Beef Kubideh Entree - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

The food is expensive and nothing special! Beware ordering a refill for your ice tea is an additional $5! I never heard of charging for an ice tea refill! Also my table ordered 6 water glasses but got 6 water bottles and got charged $3 each on the bill without warning that the water wasn't free! Also the hookah hose is an additional $5. I don't like restaurants that charge you extra for stupid shit that should be FREE! read more

save yourself a trip, and a few hours, and go literally anywhere else. service was horrible, staff was horrible, hookah was horrible, and THE SERVICE WAS HORRIBLE. 6 people in here, and im waiting on damn tongs for my hookah.... its been 1.25..... do not come here. read more

Delicious food, warm service, and authentic Afghan food! The mantu, chicken kabob, and rice were all perfectly cooked and seasoned. Cozy atmosphere and great hospitality. Highly recommend. Their hookah is also good. read more

Fanous Fresh Grill - Qabili pulao - Mediterranean Near Me - Tustin, California

Wow! The food was so fresh and delicious! I got a Greek salad with boneless chicken added and the chicken was so moist and flavorful and the dressing was herby and refreshing. Their service was impeccable. The waiter brought me goji berries to snack on while I waited for my food. I had to leave abruptly for work and he was quick to bring me a to go box and the check. And he offered me an extra water bottle and ice for my to go cup. Their patio was comfortable and relaxing. I enjoyed my time there. read more

First time here and I was really impressed -- the food was amazing and came out super fast! I'll definitely be back. The only downside I noticed is that service seemed more attentive on the outdoor patio than inside, which was a bit disappointing. Still, the food made it worth it! read more

Amazing food,service,clean,welcome. Good for a large group or an intimate setting. Will be back.