Shish Taouk is a small, family run Lebanese shawarma spot that is a pure labor of love. Bilal is an…read moreexcellent guy and the service was outstanding. The beef and lamb combo was generous, flavorful and fresh. All of the vegetables were crisp and the pita bread tasted homemade. I told him it was my first time and he treated me incredibly well. I sampled some of the grilled veggies and a divine falafel. Definitely going to be my go to for a nice and quick work lunch.

My partner and I tried Shish Taouk a couple months ago. I've thought long about posting a review or…read morenot, as our experience was so out of the ordinary that I doubt it will be replicated for most, but I think it needs to be done. When we arrived, we were the only people in the shop. The owner was extremely friendly and started a long and fun conversation about pro football ("soccer") and his sons' team and their games. He gave us a couple of small sample plates while we waited for our ordered food, and told us to grab fountain drinks too at no charge. Our ordered food then arrived, and as we ate he switched the conversation to the lack of sports and business opportunities during the Covid pandemic and how he proudly didn't get vaccinated. I had been prioritized for a vaccination due to my profession and gotten it, and as soon as I mentioned that (in conversation, not confrontationally cos it was so long ago anyway and the subject doesn't need to be divisive) his mood and attitude to my partner and I soured. The conversation abruptly and awkwardly ceased, and we felt very unwelcome. Sure enough, when I went to pay the bill we were charged for the supposedly-free fountain drinks, and I didn't feel I could risk furthering ill-feeling towards us by disputing it. We left, regretting our choice of dinner. The food itself was at least good (albeit not outstanding compared to other local Mediterranean options) hence the star rating I've still given, but with the extra fountain drink cost that we wouldn't otherwise have incurred it turned into an expensive meal. In addition, and needless to say, the negative interaction left a very sour taste. I can't see myself going back. TL:dr; Go for the food, or get delivery, but beware that offers of 'free' items may not remain so.

My friends thought their meals were dry and underseasoned. Most of our food, especially the falafel…read moreand rice, were served lukewarm and didn't taste super fresh. I was hoping the leftover falafel would taste better the next day, but sadly, it didn't. Chicken and beef kabob were decent. Kinda bummed how they didn't have some sort of combo bowl. You'd have to buy extra meat if you wanted to try different meats together. The extras and sides were quite pricey, too. We also tried a variety of flatbreads. The spinach and cheese was our favorite. We liked the zataar one, and the meat with jalapenos was just ok. The thick creamy garlic sauce went well with the thin, crispy flatbreads, while the runny white sauce tasted bland and slightly bitter (unpleasant with everything, to be honest). Overall, the food is fine, but I wouldn't go again. A few tables were available inside the small, simple-looking shop, but it felt a bit awkward eating there. Staff were not very attentive, but once we got their attention, they were helpful.

A great local spot, everything made to order…read more I've been here twice and ordered the falafel bowl and tabbouleh both times. The tabbouleh is awesome - this is pretty much identical to mine so of course I would love it. The first time I came, I got the spicy falafel; The second time I got the regular. Just based on those two visits, I would recommend the regular. The spicy wasn't actually really spicy, and the patties were almost burnt. It tells you how good everything was that I still came back though. Second visit I got the regular patties and I really really enjoyed the bowl. Every ingredient is fresh and delicious, tahini is great, and there's a shaker of zataar for seasoning on the counter. Great prices, great owner, great food. Big thumbs up. Gotta try one of the fresh made flatbreads or wraps next time.

Dizzy Bird is located inside the Mission Viejo Mall food court. It is one of the first places…read moreyou'll see in this food hall. We came on a Monday afternoon. The service could've been a little more friendly. The young guy working at the register didn't say much and didn't seem to really promote the menu, even after I told him it was my first time there. I was really excited to try the food here with my friend. I was in the mood for whole pieces of chicken and I'm so glad I chose the half chicken plate. The plate comes with two sides and there were a few options to choose from. I selected a side salad and roasted lemon garlic potatoes. I was trying to be a little more healthy. Otherwise, I probably would've chosen the french fries. The dressing on the salad was really good and all of the ingredients were fresh. I really liked the pickled red onions that came with the salad. The potatoes were alright. The plate also comes with a large soft pita. And the garlic sauce was just right with everything . The star of the show was the juicy and flavorful chicken.I enjoyed this lunch so much. I can't wait to come back!

I love the spicy wrap for a nice reasonable healthy lunch! The garlic spread, the tasty rotisserie…read morechicken and jalapeño inside are fire. If I had it my way I would put more garlic spread. It is nicely priced around $12? Service is good. Unfortunately it does take a bit of time for your order when there's many guests ahead. Waited about 15-20 minutes which meant I needed to eat quickly back at my desk at my work office. Busy at the mall food court. Parking is not the greatest here but there is better parking in the garage past the food court straight ahead. I've gotten the salad before and wasn't a fan. It was definitely more costly and just didn't do it for me. Wrap for the win!

Really enjoyed this place! The portions are generous and everything we tried was packed with…read moreflavor. The beef shawarma was juicy and seasoned really well, and watching the shawarma spinning while they prepare everything was such a nice touch. The kafta was also delicious. Freez mix drinks so refreshing from Cyprus. And the pita was so soft and fresh -- definitely worth getting with your meal. Creps with nutella were perfect deser. The interior very traditional Lebanese. Taboleuh salad I highly recommend to try. Overall, great Mediterranean food, good portions, and lots of flavor. I'll definitely be coming back to try more from the menu!

If you're looking for authentic, fresh Mediterranean food near Disneyland, Zait Zataar is…read moreabsolutely worth the stop! It's only about 7 minutes from the parks, making it the perfect lunch or dinner spot if you're craving something flavorful that won't leave you feeling heavy. Everything we ordered was incredibly fresh and full of flavor. The spinach pastry was hands down my favorite, perfectly flaky with a delicious savory filling. The potato pastry was a close second and just as satisfying. If you visit, don't skip the pastries! We also tried the steak and chicken kebab combo plate, and both were cooked perfectly. The chicken was especially tender, juicy, and seasoned beautifully. You can actually watch the meat being cooked fresh in the back, which made the whole experience feel even more authentic. I ordered the veggie plate with falafel, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, hummus, and tahini sauce, and every single item was delicious. The falafel really stood out. It had a perfectly seasoned, crispy exterior with a soft, flavorful center. Dipping it into the baba ganoush, hummus, and tahini made every bite even better. One of my favorite things was that the meal was incredibly satisfying without feeling greasy or overly heavy. It was fresh, filling, and packed with flavor, but I still felt great afterward. The staff was warm, welcoming, and genuinely friendly, and the service was impressively fast. They also have a great selection of Mediterranean spices if you want to bring some of those incredible flavors home. Huge compliments to the chef and the entire team. Between the fresh ingredients, authentic flavors, generous portions, and excellent service, Zait Zataar has definitely earned a spot on my list of favorite Mediterranean restaurants. I'll absolutely be coming back!

RUN, don't walk, to dine here!! Celebrated our 49th…read moreanniversary - very well taken care of by our fabulous waiter Tony!! Delicious meal, nice wine-- but let me tell you about the baklava ice cream dessert: ORGASMIC!!! (And I never eat dessert, haha!) Thank you Tony & all dining on patio... it felt like a huge extended family but we didn't have to cook, cleanup, nor do dishes!!!

They have an outdoor hookah lounge attached to the restaurant. Beautiful interior, good service…read more We ordered the Sultan's platter and an order of baba ganoush, and it was a perfect amount for a table of 4 light to moderate eaters. I think two hungry people could finish the Sultan's platter alone. The Sultan's platter comes with hummus. The server kindly refilled our pita with a fresh batch multiple times without being asked. Of the 3 meats we had: Filet: The server asked how we wanted the filet cooked and we said medium, but not even a hint of pink; regardless it was very tender. A bit on the gamey side in case you don't like that, but for me it was fine. Chicken: Very juicy but a little undersalted and some parts were a bit chewy. Not among the best chicken kabob I've had. Kafta: This was the standout among the three. The seasoning was excellent, so herby and delicious. I appreciated the variety of having all three, but next time I might get just kafta. The hummus and baba ganoush were great, but also not particularly better than any other Mediterranean place. This is a small nitpick but for a nice place that otherwise uses all ceramic and silverware, why plastic cups for the tahini and garlic sauce? Overall it was good, I would come back, but for the price I think I wish more elements would have wow'ed me.

Gets my vote every time! I'm a regular at Open Sesame and…read moreabsolutely love their food. It's always consistent, flavorful, good portions, and friendly staff. The Lebanese culture if felt through the restaurant and music is playing in every room. I love the ambiance too. Perfect for lunch, date night, or casual dinner.

I'm glad that I tried this place during the summer stroll in Belmont shore so I had to come and…read morevisit see what they're all about. I ordered the Sultan which came with lamb chops, filet mignon and grilled shrimp which your choice of dip and salad. I chose the hummus and tabouleh My friend ordered the beef kofta we got these potatoes super good. I like citrusy and hanging these potatoes came out surprised, but I didn't like was a two dollar up charge on the garlic dip the garlic dip that they gave you in the beginning. I thought that was free, but it wasn't. Come here on a Friday night so this place gets pretty packed

+5/5 Food and hookah…read morewere both good . Live music on a Sunday was great from 7pm - peaceful oud and instrumental music set the mood for dinner Had the Bei platter - all the meats were delicious. Their toum was great . Negative points for not making their own pita bread or at least sourcing higher quality pita. The bread served here feels like grocery store white pita. Hookah was delicious service was friendly . It's on the backside of EZ Kabab Had a good experience will come back

I ordered flatbread Zater was amazing…read moreChese was good Meat doesn't taste good I told the waitress about that

Interesting their name has "Restaurant" but it's more of a to-go shop than a dine-in place…read more Picking up my food was an interesting experience. No one at the counter. Turns out multiple food shops occupy this location. You'll have to ring the Ring doorbell of the shop you ordered from. Likes: + Yummy food. I liked the variety of flavors and textures in my order. + Pleasant, modern ambience. . The shop will seem like it's in the middle of nowhere, but rest assured, your food is at Ste F. Non-likes: - Somewhat expensive. I don't think the cup of simple-looking lentil soup was worth $6. - Very limited seating. - Inconveniently located in the middle of nowhere. I had: $6 Crushed lentil cup + $19.55 Kafta plate + tax - 1-time ChowNow discount = 24.77

I absolutely love Lebanese food even more so than my native Persian cuisine, so when I heard about…read morean authentic Lebanese spot in Irvine, I knew I had to give it a try. Before you visit, keep these things in mind: 1. This is a ghost kitchen, not a full-service restaurant. It's best for takeout and delivery. There are only a few chairs outside--just four in total. 2. Ordering is entirely self-service via a digital kiosk, with no staff on hand to assist you. 3. There are no bathrooms available anywhere on-site. Regarding the food, it was just okay-- a bit underwhelming, especially given that Lebanese cuisine is typically so flavorful. The chicken was dry, the hummus lacked depth, and the rice was bland. That said, the fattoush salad, one of my favorites, was very good, with a delicious dressing. Overall, I can't say I'd return. The prices were quite high for the portions, and the quality didn't meet my expectations. If you're looking for a quick Lebanese meal, this place is a decent option, but don't expect much more than that.

I ordered this on DoorDash I want to say the food isn't…read morebad....its okay. The portions are small for a 30$ delivered meal. I could have gotten a large pizza delivered for less. The hummus wasn't the greatest, had no flavor. The meat was ok. Rice ok. Veggies seemed fresh. Sauces were alright. Not sure if I'd come back, depends on how hungry I am. Food ok. Portion small. Unsure if I liked it, I've definitely had better. Figured 3 stars represents this place well. Would have been 4 if larger portions. Not really sure what else to say.

We tried Navroz for lunch and the food was good. We had the Chicken Kabob Salad Plate (4.5/5) -…read moreflavorful juicy chicken, Kafta Salad Plate (4.5/5) - delicious well spiced meat, Chicken Shawarma Salad (3.5/5) - not a fan of their shawarma, but my daughter liked it, and the Gyro Bowl (3/5) - gyro meat had good flavor but it was dried out. The service was ok. Food was also expensive for fast casual experience (salads were about $24 each) and the bowl was about $16. They had some nice dipping sauces (spicy peri and a cilantro) next to the soda machine. Overall, food was good but for the price and service, I'm not sure if I would go back.

Our experience was outstanding! We're planning to cater a party with several Lebanese friends, so…read morewe decided to "research" different restaurants -- a very serious mission that involved eating lots of delicious food. Zena's was the fifth place we tried, and they absolutely hit the nail right on the head! Our waiter, who is also the owners' son, was fantastic. He explained everything we were ordering, made great suggestions, and took care of our every need -- basically a menu tour guide and food therapist all in one. The food was fantastic, and the tabbouleh vanished fast. I'm not saying there was a fight over the last bite... but let's just say friendships were tested. Zena's is definitely a winner! We will be returning soon!!

Always a pleasure to come here! New ownership is such a breath of fresh air! I love that the oldest…read moreson took over and is bringing back the charm that has always made this place a diamond in the rough. I definitely recommend the KSARA white wine and the three skewer and the veggie platter! It gives you everything between two plates and definitely enough to take home! I love this place because it's always something big enough to share or to take home