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    Fennel Kitchen & Bar

    4.4 (624 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    FENNEL KITCHEN & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Fennel Kitchen & Bar

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    Baklava Waffles
    Yena W.

    This is a beautiful Mediterranean restaurant serving breakfast lunch and dinner, all delicious, with good coffee and fresh squeezed juices, located in the bustling Aliso Viejo Town Center. For all the restaurants in this center, in my opinion, Fennel is the best dining option if you want a sit down restaurant. Everything I've ordered thus far has been excellent, fresh, tasty, never dry. The service has always been extremely accommodating and the one time I've been disappointed in my original order selling out and having to wait too long for the final dish, they went out of their way to make sure I was given extra fries (which are excellent) and extra things to dip my heaping scoop of hummus into. Don't skip the cocktails, or really any of their handmade drinks. I cannot not get a cardamom latte at brunch, and it's so fun picking which cocktail to get to unwind with whatever dinner entree I go with (usually the salmon bowl). They have large tables so larger groups are welcome. I always see corporate type people having working lunches here, or families out for a nice dinner. This place is almost always quite full, but I still feel like they are slept on and under appreciated.

    Protein Bowl made vegan - no croutons cheese and added chickpeas and falafel
    Michelle L.

    We came here for Father's Day and we're luckily able to get a table. It was very busy inside. We ordered the cauliflower with the dates. It was absolutely delicious. Other people at our table ordered the spicy falafel wrap a salad and soup. We are vegan so we got the protein bowl and got things that were not vegan like the croutons and cheese not added, and then we added chickpeas and falafel. The bowl was a little dry, I preferred the roasted cauliflower and chickpea . I definitely would get that one again. My one complaint is that we ran out of water multiple times it was hard to flag down anybody to refill our water and then we also had a hard time getting a box and then getting the check everything just took a long time. I understand that they were busy. Parking is very easy lots of parking around and it's near the movie theater, which is nice. Inside is cute and we liked the decor. However, it was very very noisy. I wish they had a little bit more sound absorption measure so it was easier to talk to people at the table. The staff is very friendly and very helpful. Would highly recommend coming here for dinner again.

    Ambience
    Kshama P.

    Overall, for a fancy-esque lunch/dinner in the laguna/aliso neighborhood. You can reserve ahead online via OpenTable. There is free parking in the lot shared with Panda express and other shops. Went in on a Friday, found a reservation 15 mins ahead amd got seated promptly. They were busy so would recommend making a resy, doesn't hurt. Service was prompt, friendly, and so welcoming! The space is designed a bit to feel indoor/outdoor, but is all indoors and covered. Food and beverage wise they have plenty of options to suit different diets. We ordered some vegetarian and pescatarian dishes. Tried the spicy falafel wrap that comes with arugula salad (3.5/5 - tad bit dry), salmon plate that they gracefully swapped the bulgur with broccoli for me (3/5 - a bit flavorless but cooked well), garlic potatoes (4/5), saffron martini (4/5), ohm fashioned (4.5/5), and a pom marg (4/5). We also asked for the baklava cheesecake (3.5/5) and love cake (2/5 - skip, very dry or get with a scoop of their icecream) slices, such large portion sizes on everything including desserts.

    Barley Risotto & Lamb Chops
    Jennifer H.

    Came here to reunite with a childhood friend, and this was the perfect spot for a reunion. We shared the hummus with pita bread and veggies, which is always a good starter. I ordered the barley risotto and lamb chops. A generous amount of food, as I was able to take half of it to-go. The lamb chops were perfectly cooked and I was thankful that it wasn't gamey. The barley risotto was new and different for me but it wasn't bad. Service was fantastic all around. Everyone was kind and attentive. It was a nice place to catch up with some comfort food. :)

    Fennel Burger
    Rishi C.

    Stopped by for lunch today and had a great time! Fennel is located across from Panda Express, there's a ton of parking nearby. They have indoor and outdoor seating, and the restaurant is really bright and has a nice vibe. I loved the modern feel mixed with all of the greenery inside. Service was solid considering we came at an odd time; they were a little understaffed and things got served a little slower than I'd hope, but the staff was super nice and communicative which I appreciated. On the food front, I tried the Fennel Cheeseburger and the Potato Croquets, and both were excellent. The burger was definitely the star, and I would absolutely recommend trying it some time. It was super flavorful, juicy, and an all-around great burger. I'm glad it came with a salad because it was quite rich. The croquets were very tasty too, the burger was just SO good. Overall, this is a great spot for lunch, and I would love to come back and try their brunch menu too.

    Aalia S.

    We went last night and had a great experience. To start we ordered the appetizer dips. My favorite was the tzatziki. The eggplant was pretty good too. We also got lentil soup. This was a miss . Very little flavor in the soup and most of the time lentil soup has some lentils blended. This is more of a broth lentil soup. For my main, I got the beef kebabs. It came with rice and some vegetables. I didn't care for the pickled onions and the regular white onions were a little bit undercooked. The meat was a bit drier than most Mediterranean kebabs I've had. We had great service though. We were seated outside so I can't really tell you the vibe. It was packed around 6:00 PM.

    Fish is delicious
    Elisa G.

    After coming here Wednesday, I had to come back today since I was obsessing on the fish dish I took home. I ordered the fish again and it was as good as the first time so I wanted to give them a 5 star review again. This is a hidden gem in Aliso Viejo that is a MUST do!! Everything I ordered was perfect and seasoned so well and so beautifully presented! Rita is an excellent manager and her employees are great especially Kris!

    Chicken Protein Bowl
    Jessica S.

    Cute spot! Had only been for brunch but went for dinner with some girlfriends and we had a lovely time. We all got the protein bowl because the table next to us ordered one and it looked delicious! We each tried a different protein: salmon, chicken, and beef; all great! Overall, the taste was great and you get tons of veggies and a generous serving, I just wished the food was bit hotter. It was warm at best and my preference is hot food. We started with hummus and it was yummy. We got mocktails but they were unfortunately out of the strawberry ginger lemonade. Our server Lindsay was very attentive and helpful, even with tending the bar as well :)

    Chicken Kabob Plate
    Lauren S.

    Perfect post movie dining spot! We saw Wicked and were looking for a healthy option. This menu has something for everyone and is well balanced. The service was smooth despite multiple servers. The space is gorgeous modern with plants, unique lighting and warm woods.

    Salmon Bowl
    Xixi H.

    Amazing brunch at Fennel! Claudia was our server and she was very friendly and attentive. All of the food was incredible - my friends got the salmon bowl and lamb benedict, and I got the latke waffle with fried eggs. We also shared the seasonal salad which had blood oranges and grapefruit and it was excellent. They have indoor seating but given it's such a beautiful day we sat out on the patio and the ambiance was wonderfully refreshing particularly with our strawberry ginger lemonades.

    Salmon Bowl & Appetizer Trio
    Jana H.

    Found this as a recommendation in the AAA Westways magazine and it lived up to its review! The menu boasts a variety of delicious sounding options with fresh ingredients and great combinations. It is a great ambience with a lot of natural light and greenery. Was not super crowded on an early weekday evening, but got more and more crowded as the evening went. Service overall positive, but sometimes a bit slow and our waters stopped getting refilled after paying and continuing to sit and chat. FOOD -Fennel Slaw: I'm not a huge slaw person, but this was very tasty, not too much dressing/saucing, and flavors were great -Cauliflower & Dates: excellent! Flavors were so good and unique. Would eat this all day. -Appetizer Trio (fennel hummus, eggplant dip, and yogurt dip): excellent! All dips super tasty. -Salmon Bowl: excellent! Great ratio of toppings over rice and really good flavors. Would go again and would recommend! Thanks, AAA!

    Amanda M.

    Cute restaurant in Laguna Hills. Stopped in for brunch but apparently that's only on weekends so we dived in for lunch. Service was pretty quick, although none of the food served was actually hot, just warm. We had the potato croquettes which were more cheese than potatoes, along with the cauliflower and dates which were amazing. My friend has the salmon bowl. It looked delicious but she only had a few bites. I had the kebabs and I was not pleased with my choice at all. The meat wasn't seasoned at all. It tasted like hamburger meat but so bland. The rice was seasoned well though. Overall the service was great. They were really attentive and quick. Oh, we also ordered the rose lemonades. I would pass on that next time. It wasn't sweet and you could barely taste the rose.

    Beef Koobideh Kabob Plate
    Irene C.

    Loved the cauliflower and date appetizer- so tasty! The eggplant dip and pita was also good. The beef kabob plate was delicious - flavorful, tender beef. The med wrap with braised beef was also excellent. The cucumber gimlet and fennel rose mocktails were refreshing. Friendly service! Enjoyed the outdoor seating!

    Protein Bowl

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    12 days ago

    Love this place. I've been going for months now. Great bartenders. Thank you Lindsey, Jacob Dina and Kris​ for best so awesome.

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    Fennel Kitchen & Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Fennel Kitchen & Bar

    Are there gluten free options?

    Yes! I'm gluten intolerant and they have lots of good, healthy yummy options.

    How much is the corkage fee?

    The corkage fee is $20 per bottle.

    Is it dog friendly?

    They have some outdoor seating in the front/the entry of the restaurant. I don't see why pets won't be allowed there since it's completely outside (practically sidewalk).

    Do you serve alcohol yet?

    Yes, they do!

    Is there loud music?

    No the music was really calm relaxing atmosphere

    What type of food do you serve?

    Mediterranean fusion. 👍🏼

    Will you be serving wine and beer?

    Per other guests comments (who'd asked about it), the restaurant is awaiting receipt of their liquor license so they can serve adult beverages.

    View All 13 Questions

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    Food is good, service was okay, speed was disappointingly slow…read more I get that these places make their food to order so I expected a wait, but they have the word "express" in their business name so I had a false expectation. Needless to say I sat there waiting for my two to-go orders for what felt like an eternity. A lot of people flowed in after me and they were all just waiting, it was weird since it was empty when I walked in and then seeing 6 tables of people with no food. I thought I ordered the cheaper lunch special of chicken koobideh and beef koobideh, but he punched in the full portion instead. I didn't really mind as it just became extra food for dinner. But I feel like if someone is going in at the beginning of lunch time, they would be looking to order lunch menu stuff? I guess I can't expect people to do what I my logic would do. The two koobidehs is pretty much the same thing I order at any of these places because I prefer ground meat that's tender and juicy and this place did not disappoint. They were cooked to perfections with just a little crisp on the meats. Not much else to say since I only had a basic meal....meals

    We had it to go, so I can't speak much about the dine-in experience, but I will say the service…read morewasn't the friendliest. We ordered the combo beef and chicken plate, the beef gyro plate, and two falafel on the side. The falafel didn't look impressive, but they were surprisingly excellent--moist, flavorful, and honestly better than Sababa's. I'll definitely order six next time. The gyro plate was solid, not overly greasy or heavy, and the seasoning was just right. I wasn't a fan of the hummus, which had a bitter aftertaste, but my partner liked the tanginess, so that may come down to personal preference. On the combo plate, the chicken stood out: juicy and tender. The beef seemed to be a leaner cut and was a bit dry. I'd probably skip this particular beef kebab next time and try a different one. The saffron rice and grilled tomato were a nice complement. The plate also came with jumbo naan, served warm and smelling amazing, definitely a highlight.

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    Watched the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE final last week at PITA PITA. Such a great place to eat healthy…read moreMediterranean food, while watching sports! Located a few minutes away from the laguna canyon. which means you can grab a quality healthy meal, and then go enjoy the beach, without having to hassle all the tourism in the world famous Laguna Beach! Pita Pita offers Plates, Bowls, Pita's and Wraps! There is even another restaurant called Zach's Chicken sharing the same space, so you can actually visit 2 restaurants at once! I'll be back for the World Cup!

    I was craving Greek food for lunch and found this eatery nearby. It's located off the 5 fwy and…read moreLake Forest Dr. It's in a medium-sized shopping plaza near Cycle Gear. Plenty of parking is available in the shared lot. Upon arrival, I realized that they share space with Zach's Chicken. The space is rather large with lots of tables, both indoors and outdoors. I stepped up to the counter and no one was there. I saw a "Self Kiosk" next to the counter so I ordered from there. The experience seemed kind of impersonal to me. I ordered the lemon garlic chicken bowl with basmati rice and the 2 sides I chose were lemon garlic potatoes 2x. The total came out to $15 and some change. It took approx 10 min for my food to come out, which wasn't long at all. The smell of the garlic was very strong, and I'm pretty sure my car will smell like garlic for the rest of the week. I ordered this particular item because all of the reviews for it were very positive. The chicken was tender and it was flavorful, but it didn't knock my socks off. It only came with 5 pieces. The lemon garlic potatoes were also just average. And the basmati rice seemed more wet than it typically should be. For the amount of food, I didn't think it warranted $15. In my opinion, there are better Greek eateries in the area.

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    Food 5/5 Service 5/5…read more Ambiance 5/5 I have been dining in for many years. They just opened again for lunch buffet it was good . $16.99 I recommend it They are open for lunch buffet and ordering from 11 am to 3

    TLDR: Unassuming from the outside, eccentric from the inside. The food is what I expect from…read morerestaurants. Something that I cannot make, something that I've tried, yet the establishment still finds a way to give me a different and enjoyable experience. Boneless Chicken and Beef Koobideh Combo: One of the most dangerous things to order, as both things can either come out as dry, or start off as great, then dry up before you can finish. None of those scenarios happened here. The chicken was soft, juicy, seasoned very well, and it stayed that way. The beef koobideh had this smoky flavor profile, which is different from what I normally expect, and I liked it. Potato Boloni: I've never had boloni in my life, and the closest comparison I have is a Chinese or Korean pancake. The boloni had areas of spiciness, and I think it had room to go higher. It's definitely an appetizer, and I won't mind having it again. Service: There were only 2-3 occupied tables when we went. I think the staff had plenty of time to take our orders, give us water, and the food arrived within a reasonable time. Ambiance: You could tell that the restaurant was designed to host wedding receptions or larger parties in mind. Stage, lights, and a bunch of stuff that may be overwhelming for some. I didn't mind. Good food is all that matters.

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    Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen

    Caspian Mediterranean Kitchen

    4.4
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    All you can eat
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    We had a wonderful experience hosting a large family gathering at this Persian restaurant. The food…read morewas exceptional, beautifully prepared, and full of authentic flavor. The live music and evening belly dance performances created an elegant and vibrant atmosphere that made the night especially memorable. A special thank you to Esmeralda for her attentive and gracious service, and to Maddi for coordinating our large party so seamlessly and making everyone feel genuinely welcomed. The hospitality, ambiance, and overall experience were truly outstanding. We look forward to returning soon.

    Food was not on par with most Persian restaurants I'm used to…read more Seems they are trying to mix Persian with Mediterranean. The vegetables were so thinly sliced on the chicken kabab that they were almost non-existent. (We had one diabetic with us who could not eat the rice so we hoped the vegetables would be a good alternative.) The grilled tomatoes I love with kabab and rice were missing and the bread is thick pita. Kababs were a bit dry although the koobideh was pretty good. Tadig rice was super thick and they only offered two stews with it...the fesenjoon being good while the gehmeh pretty bad. No gourmet sabsi which is the most popular Persian stew. Kashke bademjoon was terrible. Overall very mediocre food. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and modern. We went for the belly dancing and she was great. Singers were good too. Service was also attentive. Disappointed in the food but all else was great!

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    Fennel Kitchen & Bar - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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