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    Mediterranean Cafe

    4.1 (767 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    MEDITERRANEAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Mediterranean Cafe

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    Salmon Greek Salad
    Lin J.

    Such a cute spot. Food was good. Service was good. Portion sizes was huge!! I couldn't finish this salad. Nice location within walking distance to work-UCSD Hillcrest.

    The salad was delicious also
    Debra G.

    This place is so delicious and the customer service is excellent and the food is soo Authentic and delicious!!! Our new go to Mediterranean cuisine we give 10 Stars

    Dinner for Two Special
    Francesca P.

    Came for dinner here on a Saturday with family to watch some friends in the belly dance community perform. There is only street parking but we were able to find a spot that was metered but free after 6pm. The restaurant is small with only a few tables and seems like a small family-run business. The portions were extremely generous, reasonably priced, and each dish I tried was delicious. I got the dinner for two to share and it was massive. I got to try the beef, chicken, gyro, and falafel, rice, grilled veggies, stuffed grape leaves, and side salad. The meat was extremely tender, juicy, and flavorful. The falafel was a little dry but the side sauces that came with the meal helped. I love that they bring local talent to entertain patrons and would definitely return again.

    Chicken Hummus Plate

    Food tastes great. Nice man working the counter and relatively quick service. Good experience overall.

    Empty dinner rush
    Kevin T.

    TL;DR: NO. HEAVY PASS. GO HUNGRY. Sour taste in all dishes. Terrible seasoning. Protein buuuuurned. Oh ya, found a curly hair in my bite. Nothing tasted fresh...including the salad. Avoid at all costs. Do not be fooled by the quality or quantity of reviews. Mediterranean Cafe in Hillcrest is hands down the WORST Mediterranean food I've had, and not just in San Diego - ever. *Sorry for the rant but this was an overall terrible experience* [negative stars if possible] Was craving Mediterranean and blindly decided on Mediterranean Cafe based on the rating, and after reading some Yelp Elite reviews. Friendly reminder to do your homework! Your stomach will thank you Phoned Mediterranean Cafe in Hillcrest and ordered the Dinner for 2 takeout for $36.58. While this is not a terribly expensive meal by today's standards, this is absolutely not worth a single penny of that price tag. If I could go back, I'd rather just have burned it. I'm all for supporting local businesses but this food is not worth supporting. Was told that it would be a 20-minute wait (no problem - was expecting 30 given it was prime dinner time ~7p) - looking back I can't believe it took more than 10 I show up for pick-up and the place was...empty (kicking myself for not realizing what I was walking into). Let who seemed like the owner of the place know that I was there for pick up and paid. He checked the pass and saw my order was partially complete. After a quick conversation with the kitchen, I was informed it would be ready soon. Strolled the empty restaurant for about 5 minutes before I was handed the meal. Still, as I'm writing this, I'm realizing the delay is not frustrating. It's just confusing. Quick drive home and we get ready to dig in (see pictures) and proceed to regret each bite starting from the first Regrets: Salad: [#1 regret] Found such a curly hair in the second bite of already wilting greens...and there goes the appetite. Also, unfortunate to report the rest of the experience was better by 'just a hair'' Chicken and Beef kebabs: everything is charred. Both sides. Onions and bell peppers included. You eat it because it's the protein of the dish, not because you want to Dolma: wow this was weird all the way through. The grape leaf wrapping smelled sour and after biting through, the texture of the wrapped rice was mushy and even more sour. Truly difficult to even put a single bite down Falafel: questionable texture and seasoning. Might have been microwaved. Equal possibility of canned? Definite frozen. Hummus: grainy, and covered in even more sour chunks of feta - not tasty Ok: Gyros meat was acceptable/passable as cooked. Still is not worth getting Pita: dry as a thick soft saltine but at least this was edible and in good amount. Pita was paired with some home cooked eggs for our actual dinner I am not looking for a second chance to prove quality nor show off customer service. I am not looking for my money back. I am not looking for any excuses or apologies. I will absolutely never set foot in there again I am all for supporting local businesses - especially in a post-covid era where franchises and chains have been able to weather the storm and are buying up local shops trying to recover best they can. That said... This is not the food to support To the owner(s): I'm sure food was once your top priority. It is very clear that it no longer is. I hope you rediscover the passion for flavor if you decide to keep serving San Diegans. 0/5

    Chicken Kabob Plate
    Vesta B.

    I came here for the first time with my family and right away we were greeted. Fred (The owner) was so friendly and welcoming that we felt at home immediately. The menu offers you so many options that it's so hard to just pick one thing! We got the chicken kabob plate and it was delicious! It was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. It was so delicious that we were dancing in our seats and just kept saying how good it was. This place is amazing!! If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Excellent staff, service and food! Highly recommended for a great meal and a great conversation!

    Brenda B.

    I loved the chicken on skewer and the gyro meat. The rice was ok. Love the humus and I did like the salad. I placed my order through the website for pick up.

    3 types of meat for the dinner for two!
    Jonathan Z.

    Ordered through door dash, the Dinner for Two for $32 is a pretty good deal considering the amount of food you get. First of, you get a large greek salad, complete with feta and olives and a couple dressing options- one creamy and one balsamic. Then there's also an appetizer platter that comes with tabouli, hummus, dolma, falafels, and a bunch of olives. The entrees include a chicken kabob, beef kabob, and a helping of shaved lamb atop a bed of rice, and two foil-wrapped pitas, also complete with a creamy tzatziki sauce. The pistachio baklava wasn't included, but we decided to get it to complete the dinner. They've also got a walnut baklava option too. While not the best presentation, the quality of the food wasn't bad for the price. It was a nice, quick option for an indecisive Tuesday evening for two.

    Chicken Kabob

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    4 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    Fred L.

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    6 months ago

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    Fred L.

    Thank you for your kind words. Hope to see you soon again.

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    7 months ago

    Authentic traditional Greek & Mediterranean food. Excellent quality and service. One of my go-to neighborhood places for lunch and dinner.

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    Fred L.

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    3 years ago

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    Fred L.

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    8 months ago

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    Fred L.

    Thank you for your review. See you soon.

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    4 years ago

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    Page 1 of 20

    Mediterranean Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mediterranean Cafe

    Aladdin Cafe - Baklava

    Aladdin Cafe

    4.3(2k reviews)
    5.9 miClairemont
    $$

    An absolute standout, elevated by exceptional service and unforgettable flavors…read more From the moment we sat down, Ivis set the tone for the entire evening. As first-time diners, we really appreciated how knowledgeable and intentional his recommendations were!! Everything he suggested was spot on. His attentiveness was seamless (never overbearing, always present), and he made the experience feel curated rather than routine. Now let's talk about the food... wow. Every dish came out fresh, beautifully prepared, and packed with flavor. You can truly taste the authenticity and care in each bite. It's one of those menus where everything sounds so good, you're immediately planning your next visit before you've even finished your meal. The ambiance makes it versatile enough for anything, whether it's an intimate date night or a lively group dinner, it executes both effortlessly. Safe to say, we've found a new favorite. We'll absolutely be back... and next time, we're ordering even more!

    We arrived at 5:30PM on a Friday without reservation but we got a table shortly. The restaurant is…read morelocated small strip mall which has limited parking. Service was warm, fast, and efficient. Food: large portion, flavorful, healthy, delicious. Our favorite: the mixed grill lamb chops, chicken, and different kebabs. The garlic sauce compliments the meats well. We can't get enough of it. Arabic salad was refreshing and light with lemon and extra virgin olive oil dressing.

    Photos
    Aladdin Cafe
    Aladdin Cafe - Marinated lamb shank

    Marinated lamb shank

    Aladdin Cafe - Mediterranean pizza with lamb

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    Mediterranean pizza with lamb

    Tahini - The Esquire Pita Sandwich with chicken Sriracha Tahini, French fries and mango lemonade.

    Tahini

    4.6(1.4k reviews)
    5.9 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    We've been to Tahini before but decided to make a special trip to Tahini to support them after…read morehearing they've been constantly harassed with hate messages/crimes -- which is so horrible and sad. The food is was great and one of my favorite spots when I'm craving middle eastern wraps- I did built your own pita so of course I like the ingredients. I loved my pita bread (it's much different from the Greek style if you haven't tried it before!) and the enjoyed the steak in particular. It had a lot of warming spices (nutmeg and cinnamon maybe?) and the flavor is pretty unique! I added bell peppers, pickled cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, red onion, tahini sauce, and garlic sauce. I also got a piece of falafel - I always gotta judge a place by their falafel and this one was crispy on the outside and soft in the inside which was perfect. Next time I need to try the halloumi cheese stix with fig jam! Place was very clean and the decor was nice. I also love the Finjan coffee spot next door.

    The food here is genuinely outstanding - fresh, colorful, flavorful, and made with care. Every time…read moreI eat here I'm reminded why I keep coming back. The staff is also consistently warm and kind, which makes the whole experience feel good from the moment you walk in. My only real frustration is with the wait times on online orders, and it's significant enough that I have to mention it. I work 10 min away and only get a 35-40 minute break. The app consistently quotes around 20 minutes- but honestly, 20 minutes shouldn't even be necessary. I've stood there and watched them make a bowl. It takes about two minutes. Other similar restaurants have my order ready in five minutes, consistently. So when the app quotes 20 and then I still end up waiting at the 20 minute mark on top of that - in a nearly empty restaurant - something is off. Today this happened (I hit the 20 min mark with no food), and I had to go up and ask them to make my order. This isn't a one-time thing either. It's happened enough times over the years that it genuinely deters me from coming here on my break. To their credit, there was a stretch where it seemed like they had it figured out, so I know they can do it. I just wish that consistency would stick. If you're not on a time crunch, absolutely go. The food alone is worth it. But if you're relying on a quoted pickup time, build in a buffer- a bigger one than you'd think you'd need.

    Photos
    Tahini - Interior of the restaurant

    Interior of the restaurant

    Tahini - Close up of the OG Pita. Packed will delicious meat!

    Close up of the OG Pita. Packed will delicious meat!

    Tahini - Interior

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    Interior

    The Kebab Shop

    The Kebab Shop

    4.3(2.3k reviews)
    2.7 miEast Village
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Halal

    Food was amazing! Came out quick and fresh…read more Went out for lunch with my coworkers and everything was great.

    I was on jury duty today and I wanted to have some Shawarma so I looked up on yelp and found the…read moreK-pop shop was about a 20 minute walk away. The menu was a bit confusing, but I know that I like grilled veggies and Greek salad and then Ike was able to pick my protein that I wanted so that seemed easy enough. The base price with falafel or chicken Shawarma was Close to $16 but since I chose the meat, they added two dollars to my total. It took about 10 minutes for them to assemble my meal, but my veggies were cooked fresh on the stove, which was really nice. They tasted very freshly cooked just as they would as if I had cooked them myself at home. I was there about 1245 on a Monday and there were a few people there and they had some takeout orders so my order took about 10 minutes before I could walk out the door with it. They had a nice condiment bar where you could pick out some yogurt with dill sauce and then they're famous garlic yogurt sauce, as well as a jalapeño sauce And another spicy hot one that I would never try. When I got back to the jury room to eat my meal, I saw that there was a nice quantity of the fresh salad and the grilled vegetables but the meat was piled high! The employees were working efficiently and the place was spotless and orderly.

    Photos
    The Kebab Shop
    The Kebab Shop
    The Kebab Shop

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    Shawarma Guys - Chicken California Shawarma Wrap

    Shawarma Guys

    4.7(1.1k reviews)
    8.7 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Casual dining

    I can for the viral Wagyu Shawarma Cheesesteak. It was very tasty with a mix of peppers, onion…read morecheese and sauce. Whatever sauce they used gave it a bit of spiciness. I went at 3:30 pm on a Saturday and was surprised that it was pretty busy at that weird time The sandwich was huge ( probably 12 inch sub) so depending on how hungry you are, you could easily split it. I loved the fries. Whatever seasoning they used gave is perfect

    I decided to visit this location for a late lunch during the week. I was so busy at work that I had…read moreto not had an opportunity to get lunch. I was able to sign off at 330p and head over to this location. The place was empty and there were clean tables and floors when I walked in. I was greeted by the lady behind the counter, and she had a smile on her face. I ordered the beef & chicken shawarma plate, Wagyu Beef eggrolls, and a bottled drink. My food was freshly prepared. I received my order in 7-10 minutes. It smelled wonderful. I paid for extra yogurt sauce and left to take my food to-go. When I arrived home, I enjoyed a delicious meal. Everything was prepared with great flavor, portions, and care. I had the garlic sauce and the yogurt sauce with my meal. This place is one of my favorites. I have been eating their food since the Southpark Truck days, phenomenally delicious. Thanks!

    Photos
    Shawarma Guys - Ordering counter

    Ordering counter

    Shawarma Guys - Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!

    Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!

    Shawarma Guys - The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !

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    The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !

    Alforon

    Alforon

    4.6(1.9k reviews)
    5.6 miRolando
    $$

    I have eaten there so many times I can't even count. Their food and their restaurant is my favorite…read moreplace to eat in San Diego. George and Samia are the most wonderful people in the world. George will come out of the kitchen and explain, in detail, every item on the menu. I laugh when I read or even see a subpar review of Alforon. Those people are either high on drugs or never experienced excellent food before. Chicken Tawook, Tabouli salad, house pickles, everything is off the chart and that's just the for starters. You can close your eyes, point to a menu item and have the best meal of your life. Explore their whole menu, you can't go wrong with a single item. Hands down off the chart and excellent food by two of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life.

    First of all let me say that the love dessert has me hooked. Best thing here! One of the most…read moreunique and tasty things I've tried in a while, and that's saying a lot w my sweet tooth. I love the floral and pistachio taste, and it doesn't leave you feeling heavy afterwards. The mint lemonade is also a must have- tastes like it came from the garden in the best way possible. For savories, I had the spinach and cheese bajeen, baba gannouj, and the lamb fatteh - all had a lot of flavor and tasted homemade. I love trying new foods so will have to come back with more friends and try other things on the menu. The downside of this place was being seated on the right side of the restaurant near the carry out section. This was the pit of despair. I noticed that most of the staff goes to the other end first, and as a result 4 tables got seated after us and all of them had food on their table before we managed to flag one of the staff. It was definitely busy in there but he replied that he was simply going in order, but apparently order or left side to right side instead of arrival. I recommend trying to get seated on the side w the stained glass windows for better service. Other than that, the experience overall was pleasant.

    Photos
    Alforon - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Alforon - Ouzi Lamb Special

    Ouzi Lamb Special

    Alforon - Lamb fatteh

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    Lamb fatteh

    Shawarma Guys - Wagyu Beef Shawarma plate

    Shawarma Guys

    4.6(1.5k reviews)
    2.6 miSouth Park, Golden Hill
    $$

    We grabbed lunch while we were in town and I remember this place had great vegan options. It was…read morehard to decide between the vegan chicken cutlet or vegan cheese steak but since it's rare to find a vegan cheese steak, I went with that. I'd normally get the breaded vegan chicken cutlet and honestly, it's cooked to perfection but I needed to try something new. My husband got the wagyu beef schwarma plate and loved it. We shared the baklava and got a side of fries as well. Our food came out quickly after ordering. Overall, really good and it hit the spot!

    I would give this 4.5 stars if I could. It was good! For…read morewhat it is. It didn't completely blow me away. I have had better shawarma from some random guy in NYC. I have had a lot of wagyu, and if no one told me this was wagyu, I wouldn't have known. It was like regular steak. The whole experience would be better if you could eat it fresh and not take it to go. The egg rolls and fries got a little soggy on our 3 minute drive to the park. I bet they would have been amazing if they were served on a plate. They do have e a couple tables, but they are standing only. The sauces are REALLY good. The jalapeño hummus is super good! You can sub it out on a plate. It's a cool truck and San Diego needs more of these types of trucks. It is filling and worth going. At least once.

    Photos
    Shawarma Guys
    Shawarma Guys - Falafel Plate ($13) comes w/ yellow rice, hummus, tabouli and pita bread

    Falafel Plate ($13) comes w/ yellow rice, hummus, tabouli and pita bread

    Shawarma Guys - Wagyu Beef Shawarma

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    Wagyu Beef Shawarma

    Mediterranean Cafe - greek - Updated June 2026

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