Really good Iranian food! I got the tahdig 1/2 and 1/2 which is crispy rice with different types of…read morecurry on top. Service wasn't the best, as they never check in on you, so you have to flag them down for everything. There is a free parking lot behind the restaurant, that you have to drive through an alley way to get to.

So my friend and I went this past weekend, I had been boasting to her about how good the food was,…read moreblah blah, blah for quite some time and we needed to come eat here. Come to find out the food is now actually blah blah blah! The cold super thin pita bread was cold & flavorless and oddly comes with a cold cube of butter, what the heck am I supposed to do with that? It won't melt on a cold piece of pita bread. Then the iceberg salad comes out with two small dressing containers to use; this salad had a lot of "bones" [what the hard white parts of lettuce are called]. At least the cucumbers were crunchy, as well as the 2 pieces of tomatoes. I ordered the Koobideh Combo [Beef & Chicken]; and my friend ordered the Chicken Kabob [white meat]. The lacking of flavor in the Koobideh beef & chicken was unbelievable, I asked for a grilled serrano or jalapeno chili and the waitress said they had ran out. I was 2:00 p.m., what do you mean you ran out? We were looking for something to "save" this blandness of both our dishes; thank gawd they have containers of sumac & salt at the table. The basmati rice was bland as well. The beef koobideh, tasted like plain hamburger meat with minimal seasoning. Bottom line, I didn't finish my dish, I just left most of it. My motto is: "If it's not worth the calories, don't eat it." As for the environment: No music, etc. I really don't mean to bash the place; but you guys need to spruce up the place. My seat at the table was ripped; and the table was dirty when we sat down and asked for it to be cleaned (again?). I wish you nothing but the best in this economy!

There is usually a long line to be seated but the food is so worth the wait, We were greeted by…read moresome delicious fresh herbs and fresh breads. Their kabob quality is one of the best i have ever had. We tried their baghali polo with lamb and wow, the lamb was so tasty and well made, same with the soltani, so flavorful. If you like Persian food, Raffi is a must!

Raffi's is a famous Mediterranean place in the LA area. they are quite packed and the waitlist is…read morevery long. We ordered food 1.5 hours in advance. We ordered over the phone as the website was down. Huge portions - love that. Bread was a little bland but still did the job. Chicken koobideh seasoned fine and rice was good...would come again!

I love Mediterranean food! We had appetizer sampler, and a combo of lamb chops & chicken thighs; it…read morecomes with grilled vegetables and a side - we opted for half rice/half potatoes. All the food was flavorful & delicious! Bring your appetite - portions are large. We were disappointed they no longer carry Napoleon & syrniki for dessert but tried honey cake and thoroughly enjoyed it. Service was fast and couteous. Space is open & contemporary.

Visited here during the soft opening... I know, it's long…read moretime ago, but the service was really good with great food.

What beautiful energy and amazing food. It feels like homemade food, which is very hard to find…read morethese days. Just the right amount of everything. A true hidden gem. Will definitely come back!

I came by with a couple of friends because we wanted to see what the hype was all about. We got the…read moreMirza Ghasemi w/ Barbari bread, Kotlet Plate, Turmeric Braised Chicken, Lamb Gheimeh, Kofteh Tabrizi, and the Sholezard for dessert. Turmeric Braised Chicken - The dish was a bit on the basic end, not a lot of seasoning but you could taste the tumeric. Chicken was tender but slightly on the drier side which was a bit surprising considering it was dark meat (6.5/10) Kofteh Tabrizi - The tomato taste was prominent in the broth but the meatball itself was overly salty. The flavor was one note, I can't see myself ordering this again as I've heard this dish should have more complex flavors so I was disappointed (5.5/10) Kotlet Plate - As you can see from my picture, the kotlet was burnt beyond repair and I could taste the bitterness from the overused oil they used to fry it. I did like the yogurt spread and the pickles that came with it but I did not like the kotlet at all. We didn't bother asking them to replace it (4/10) Mirza Ghasemi w/ Barbari bread - The star of this whole experience was the Mirza Ghasemi, the roasted eggplant and tomato spread came cold and it was the most delicious thing we had. One of my friends vacuumed it right up before the rest of us could have seconds. Bread was a bit dry but it was a great vehicle for the Mirza (8.5/10) Lamb Gheimeh - Lamb was tender and it had some nice spices infused in there but it didn't wow me in any way (7/10) Sholezard - Our waitress brought over some complimentary Ceylon tea with the Sholezard which was kind. This rice dessert was not too sweet. The warmth and saffron ended our meal in a comforting way. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't get it again (7/10) +1 star for the service

There is a massive pressure felt by all Los Angel-inos when we host guests from different parts of…read morethe country. Not only do we have to chaperone the visiting friends to tourist hot spots that we generally avoid in everyday life; but even the restaurants we choose as dining options need to be positioned on a perfect pedestal that impresses but is still comfortable. A very close friend of mine from Nashville visits the City of Angels once a year; and I always feel the stress to impress in regards to dining. In 2026, we decided on a more casual dinner than our usual upscale entertainments and opted for Pasadena. Of course, I turned to Yelp and that is how I discovered Café Santorini. Café Santorini has been a favorite dining option in the Old Pasadena neighborhood of Pasadena since 1993 on the intersection of West Union and De Lacey (a block from Colorado Blvd) nestled in one of the famous historic red-brick buildings with alley alcoves that makes Old Pasadena so beloved. Café Santorini encapsulates European love that is as warm as its bricks uniting the culinary richness of Italy, Greece and Morocco in semi-upscale/trendy real estate with iron railings, high ceilings, exposed brickwork, duct beams and glossy wood surfaces that is both inviting and will absolutely entice tourists and residents, alike. Whether seeking indoor dining bar-adjacent with tables or booths or the lovely outdoor second-floor patio alcove overlooking the plant-filled alleys below; Café Santorini is quite pleasant on the eyes. My Nashville-based friend and I made a reservation for an early dinner at 4pm on a Saturday and Café Santorini was already filled to the gills and bustling with activity (granted, there was a Guns n Roses concert at the nearby Rose Bowl in the evening). Opting to sit outdoors due to the loud volume in the dining room; we had a perfect ratio of casual and date-worthy. Café Santorini is seamless with its 'vibe'. To begin the evening, we opted for some cocktails with a Smoke and Citrus Paloma (grapefruit and lime juice, smoked sea salt agave syrup and soda water, alcohol free at $12 but I made it alcoholic with mezcal) for me while my friend ordered a traditional margarita on the rocks (no salt) as we gazed the menu and also decided on sharing a Grape Leaves appetizer (rice, herbs, tomato paste - $16). If you are Celiac like myself and need gluten-free options, Café Santorini is AMAZING in its GF options (also dairy free and vegan dishes) with more choices than usual competitor restaurants which that alone makes it stand out from the crowd. Our drinks arrived in classy and colorful derivations with my paloma holding a seducing orange hue akin to a setting California sun with dried rosemary and dried fruit with the margarita being perfectly yellow-ish green with a dried lime. My paloma was delicious with an ideal combination of sweet to alcohol and smoke with the margarita being refreshing and tangy. I am quite picky with grape leaves having friends from the Middle East living in the US but Café Santorini's grape leaves (5 pieces) are delicious both in texture and flavor without being too bitter which is sometimes the case. For dinner I chose the Branzino (Grilled Mediterranean sea bass, lemon Greek potatoes, dill, capers- $42) while my friend wasn't super famished and decided on Greek Salad Horiatiki (Valdivia Farms tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, Anaheim peppers, red onions, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, lemon juice - $17). One of my favorite details of Café Santorini is their capacity to present elegant dishes that are still simple and not pretentious on plateware that encompasses Greece itself with colorful mosaic prints and painted motifs. The ingredients are fresh, colorful and artfully displayed. My Branzino was faultless: grilled perfectly with charred grill marks and crispy skin (large filet) with capers and fresh dill with fingerling potatoes based under the fish soaking up the lemon juices. Delightful! The Greek Salad Horiatiki allowed the garden-fresh veggies to truly shine even with the lemon juice/oil and large piece of feta making it a perfect summer option. Service at Café Santorini is friendly and a family-like atmosphere with every staff member acknowledging you as you saunter by, answering all questions and constantly smiling. Café Santorini is an overall pleasant joy of an experience. Whether you need to impress out-of-state friends or simply seeking Mediterranean fare in Old Pasadena; Café Santorini is a musty-try for a casual meets elegance dining experience.

Enjoyed a family birthday dinner at Cafe Santorini. The food was excellent. Everyone in our party…read morehad a breadth of the menu. We had one anomaly on one plate, and the staff and manager quickly fixed. The restaurant has plenty of seats with a visible kitchen, and a full bar. They did a great job to keep waters topped and drinks coming if we want it.

I don't write reviews very often. Usually I have to really want to, and that doesn't happen a lot…read more Raffi's earned one. I had a combo plate. Honestly, combo plates are combo plates. What separates this place for me is the meat. The skewers were cooked really well, and the lula was excellent too. Good kebab isn't as easy to find as people think, and that's what keeps me coming back. I also liked the pickled vegetables that come with the plate. Nice little touch, and the grilled vegetables were done well too. They have indoor and outdoor seating, a large free parking lot, and of course they do catering - as you can see from their name )). If I ever needed catering for an event, I'd definitely consider them. A little sad inside for me. Easy 5 stars from me. The meat alone is worth it.

I first visited and tried Raffi's for a friend's birthday celebration back in 2021, and it's become…read moremy go-to Armenian spot since. Their lule and chicken kebab are always perfectly seasoned, and pair wonderfully with their tabbouleh. The portions are very generous, making it a great meal for sharing with family and friends. They also always have such friendly service.

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine is truly one of our favorite restaurants in Pasadena. We've been…read morecoming here for the past few years, and the food is consistently extraordinary. Their kebobs are cooked over actual coals, and you can absolutely taste the difference. The chicken is always incredibly tender and flavorful, the beef is tender and perfectly cooked, and I have a friend who could probably live on their tzatziki. Everything is fresh and thoughtfully prepared every day. But as wonderful as the food is, the people are what make Sahara so special. Ana owns the restaurant with her husband and runs the kitchen, and she and the entire staff are simply amazing. This is a true family-owned restaurant where you can feel the care that goes into both the food and the way they treat people. After we lost our home in the Eaton Fire, in Altadena, we were living in a hotel and would come to Sahara for dinner. Every time we came in, they insisted on sending us home with extra food so we would have something to eat later. At a time when our lives had been completely turned upside down, that kindness and generosity meant more to us than I can possibly express. Extraordinary food made by genuinely wonderful people. We love Sahara, and I feel very lucky to be able to support a local family-owned business that puts so much heart into what they do. If you haven't been, go. And get the kebobs. And definitely the tzatziki. And, the tahini...but leave some for my husband because he loves it on the lamb skewers.

I have to be honest I tried so many different middle eastern restaurants and this one was not my…read morefavorite Food was just ok no more than that Pretty expensive especially for what you getting I don't think it's worth it I don't think that I'll be back here Food tasted like it was prepared yesterday and not really fresh

Came here with my family to try their food, right away the staff greeted us!!…read moreVery welcoming and on top of the service their food was amazing, we ordered different stuff to try and yes all the plates were wiped clean! I do recommend this place and yes I will be back probably less than a week.

Fantastic Food. HORRIBLE service. Today I sat down and ordered at the end of the server's shift…read more She left and never put in our order. There were only two tables of people, so you think they would notice that the food order was missing. But they didn't. They offered nothing in the way of an apology. My one hour lunch break turned into 2 hours. GET IT TOGETHER PEOPLE

We came here for Nowrooz lunch. I was skeptical of trying a Persian restaurant in Koreatown as we…read morenormally drive to Westwood for great Persian food. I'm so happy we tried this place - it's Westwood quality without having to drive all the way there. We tried their perfectly made kashkebaddmjoon, combo of chicken and beef shish kebab and chicken koobideh for my son. The food was chef's kiss. We parked in the front meter parking but there's valet available. The service was friendly - our waiter was a younger gentleman. The vibe is like a mixture of casual + fancy. Their restrooms are super duper clean - which I really appreciate as a person with ocd. Will definitely be back! Happy Nowrooz!

Mediterranean option in the world of Korean Food…read more... Had KBBQ the night before so we're looking for variety when in Ktown. Landed here due to the high reviews. Spot gives sports bar, and the server came up immediately. We ordered koobideh, rack of lamb and hummus. Koobideh was moist (sorry hate the word) and good flavor. Lamb chops were well done, which isn't my fav (prefer medium to medium rare) but had a nice char. Salad dressing that came with the salads was unique. The acidity was needed. Hummus was probably my favorite thing. Not sure if we would be back, but solid option in ktown if you do want variety.

The experience as a customer was good. I was greated at the counter and the order was taken…read morecorrectly. The food was great I made a video rating the item I got. I am also a vegetarian of 13 years funny enough before I become a vegetarian I was able to try their chicken 20 years ago. It was amazing! I still remembered the vibe of the restaurant although it looks like the menu was simplified. The hummus was not homemade and it seems to be from a factory so there's that. Although it was okay. My only suggestion would be to get more ventilation bc upon walking up to restaurants it looked steamy. Like what my daughter's JiuJitsu Gym looks like when there's a class in session. The windows look like they could use a PROFESSIONAL wipe down. With chemicals probably after hours lol idk. I love that this place is still there as a staple to Pasadena, although let's step it up a tiny bit guys

I first tried Zankou Chicken in 2013 when my friend recommended it and I'm finally back to have it…read moreagain and it still hits! The rotisserie chicken is amazing, the chicken kebab plate is also one of my favorites. The hummus and tzatziki are my favorite sides and you have to eat it with the pita! Love that it comes on a bed of fluffy rice. The sauces here are so good - garlic sauce and tahini are actually way better than anywhere else. Great deals because most items are under $20. I definitely will have to come back here more often!! Service is friendly and they make everything to order so it's not that fast but it's ok! Ambiance is very casual. Ask the cashier for the bathroom door code!