** this is from several months ago** t'was sitting in my drafts for a bit,…read more... Several beer pitchers in @ HACHI (just next door-shout out to them)-- for a celebration of a breakup, the end of midterms, or simply the triumph of continuing to exist (in THIS economy?? were all needing to praise ourselves for simply surviving) -- we found ourselves drawn, like moths to a fluorescently lit flame, to Halal Guys. Now listen. The food? Solid. Reliable. The kind of food that understands you are not here for nuance. You are here because life has punched you in the throat and you require a plate of rice, chicken, gyro meat, and mysterious white sauce to spiritually stabilize. I used to go to the OG one in NYC when i was getting punched in the throat there too. (PUNCHED IN THE THROAT BY ACADEMIA, FIGURATIVELY, y'all haver crazy imaginations outthere). BUT it;s the people... It's always the people... The staff. My siblings in falafel... it was 10 PM. You could feel the collective energy of "we have been serving drunk people since sunset and you are the 437th group tonight explaining your breakup story while pointing at the menu." Not judging, just warmth and the quiet aura of people who have seen things. Who have witnessed humanity at its lowest point: ordering extra hot sauce and then immediately regretting it. JC looked in my soul and I think he understood,,, everything. AND JESS! (my fairy wielding a spoon scooping the heavenly meat and talking to me like a therapist??) And they fed us. Efficiently. Respectfully. Would I return? hell ya i would. only to see if Jess and JC remembers me. JK the food is always reliable. y'all stay away from the hot saucres,

Overall (1/5) This was easily my worst Halal Guys experience…read moreand honestly left me really disappointed. I came craving something familiar and left feeling like I wasted both time and money. First Impressions (1/5) When I walked in, there was only one person working, handling the fryer, the register, and assembling plates. I genuinely felt bad for her, especially considering the steady line forming. What We Got (2/5) I ordered a regular plate, which is what I usually get at Halal Guys. Nothing customized or complicated, just the standard order I have had many times before at other locations. Taste and Quality (0/5) The food was shockingly bad. The rice was raw and crunchy, which was hard to believe at first. The meat pieces were tiny and very chewy, and the pita bread was extremely soggy. On top of that, it was only around 4 pm and the usual spinning meat and grill were not even on, despite the line picking up. Service (2/5) The worker was clearly trying her best, but one person running everything in a busy location is not realistic. She was constantly running back and forth between the fryer and the line, which made the whole operation feel chaotic and slow. Space and Atmosphere (3/5) The space itself was fine and what you would expect from Halal Guys. Clean enough, but nothing stood out positively enough to offset the food experience. Was It Worth It (0/5) Not at all. As someone who is pretty frugal and almost always finishes their meals, I could not finish this plate. It genuinely felt like a waste of $18. Final Thoughts This location does not seem to be held to the same standards as other Halal Guys in the area. This experience was disappointing from start to finish.

Causal, and very good kabobs for take out! You order at the window facing the street. I had the…read moreribeye and chicken kabobs. Both were very flavorful! The ribeye quality was good and cooked perfectly. The plate came with garlic sauce, and pita and hummus.

Saw this kebab place in Costa Mesa and decided to try it. I had the 1/2 chicken & 1/2 rib eye steak…read morecombo. My plate was delicious! I loved the hummus and the salad. I'm not from the area so when I'm in the area again, I'll be sure to stop. Food was amazing and prices were a little expensive but the food was delicious. It seemed high for take out lunch. Parking is in the back. And it's a walk up window where you order your food.

This place is such a gem. It's tucked away in the plaza where Nordstrom Rack and DSW are but like…read morewayyy in the back. Whenever I come here, there's hardly anyone. Your order what you want at a kiosks in the front and then you pick up the order. Always plenty of seating and the place is clean. Good place to study or chill if you don't like noisy places. I got the burrito and it tasted great. Added some French fries in there too cause why not. The lemonade was only okay. I e had better and I pro ably wouldn't order it again though. I'd definitely come by here again for a mid day snack.

Awesome Nashville Chicken shop. Excellent flaky coating on big juicy pieces of chicken. Four levels…read moreof spice - Easy, Risky, Fiery, Crazy. I tried Fiery and it wasn't spicy at all. I came back the next day and tried Crazy spice and it was a huge jump, very spicy. I could handle it but it was pushing my limits. The mashed potatoes and gravy blew my mind, amazing! The fries were decent. The cookie was average. There are a large variety of sauces that you can dip your sandwich or fries in. Z Sauce (chipotle aioli) was too tarty, Smoky Sauce (Golden honey BBQ) was my favorite, Ranch was nice and homemade, Comeback Sauce (Creamy Ketchup) was really more like a nice true chipotle aioli to me. Service is good, you order at a kiosk. Ambiance is nice and modern.

A Delicious Lebanese Gem with Quirky Charm…read more If you're searching for unforgettable Lebanese food in an unpretentious setting, Barbonzai delivers in spades. The moment the food hits the table, any doubts about the decor fade into the background. Let's get the obvious out of the way: the interior is... eclectic. A mix-and-match assortment of tables gives the space a slightly haphazard vibe. But if you're willing to overlook the visual dissonance, you're in for a real treat. This place doesn't just serve food--it serves flavor, heart, and authenticity. My dish was bold, vibrant, and absolutely delicious. Everything feels fresh, well-balanced, and made with care. Whether you're diving into creamy hummus or perfectly spiced grilled chicken each bite is a reminder of why you came--and why you'll be back. Quick and the lemon dressing and garlic dip adds flavor! Come hungry, and maybe bring a friend who doesn't mind sitting on a mismatched chair. It'll be worth it

Was pretty amped for takeout from here but ultimately this was a bit of a letdown for this cuisine…read more Grabbed the chicken pita and steak platter, neither of which really was very interesting or well-flavored. The steak itself was particularly disappointing, as it really wasn't seasoned at all and felt like just some ground meat that was grilled. The dips were fine but couldn't make up for the rest of the meal

100% Worth It!!!…read more Great value for a dollar!! They might have one of the BEST burgers in the OC. The fries are superb. My son and I patron there, weekly. The location is nowhere near our home. However, the burger and fries are worth the distance. I'm looking forward to exploring the menu and purchasing one of the many wagu steaks available. It's just so hard not to order the burger because it's that good!!!!

Way better than Expected…read more The two girls working were supper helpful and gave me a Free container of some kind of Avocado Sauce that was great. I will be back

4.5 stars I found…read morethe barramundi fish to be quite good. The rice was delicious as well as the salad. I just wish they had a choice of options of sauces for the toppings or how it was cooked like most other fish houses. Would prefer a choice of Cajun versus lemon, etc. Very good though and super fresh food. Hoping it's all wild caught and not farm raised, forgot to ask

Door dashed some fish and chips. Just one order, sent to my hotel room…read more 1. No utensils. Please be aware that a lot of doordash orders are to hotel rooms with no readily available utensils. Please include utensils on your orders. 2. Coleslaw (which I had to eat with my fingers because of above) was not very flavorful. 3. Fries, which had plenty of seasoning, had no real 'seasoning' flavor. 4. Everything on my order was mushy, including the fries. Nothing was crispy. But I don't think this was your fault. I blame the doordash lag. Overall, it was ok, but not great.

We recently had Istanbul Grill California catered at my job, and WOW... it was an absolute hit!…read more From the moment the food was set up, you could smell all the amazing spices and fresh ingredients. Everything was incredibly flavorful, perfectly cooked, and beautifully presented. The chicken, beef, rice, and sides were all delicious--honestly, not a single dish was left behind! It quickly became everyone's favorite, and people are still talking about it. You know it's good when coworkers are going back for seconds (and thirds) If you're looking for catering that will impress a crowd, this is it. Highly recommend!

Never been to Istanbul grill before, thought I'd check it out. I called ahead of time to place an…read moreorder to go. I ordered the chicken kebab. Every other local Mediterranean food place prices their chicken kebab at around 17 dollars and some change. This place charges a ridiculous 23 dollars after tax. And they don't even include hummus, but they give you pita bread? ( if you pay an extra 9 dollars you can get hummus! Unbelievable. Other places give hummus for free in their bowls. This place is over charging. After I arrived at the place I and I go in to pay, I had waited 15 minutes as the person over the phone quoted me. But then I find out they don't accept cash?! No where is this mentioned. Didn't even tell me over the phone. Do you think they are cashless in Istanbul? Just absolutely ridiculous. The woman tells me just this time she will accept cash. But she doesn't have change. So I had to pay 25 dollars for my already overpriced meal. ( after I gave her the cash she opened the register and there was cash and coins in there, I could have gotten my exact change back, but whatever. This place is a joke. She then told me to wait another 7-9 minutes. After I had already waited 15 minutes. So after waiting a total of 28 minutes I finally received my food. I honestly wish time machines were a thing because I'd use it to go back in time and never have ordered here. Terrible first experience. And the vibes are atrocious. Non of the staff looked happy. Mean faces everywhere. 0/10, the food was alright. Not 23 dollars worth. I get more for way less at other places.

I use to frequent this place several years ago when I used to work in Costa Mesa. Excellent food,…read moregreat staff, overall fun to go eat. Four years later, here I am visiting and the pita fries, are still to die for! Ordering that is a must! I love lamb, so lamp chops were the order. Succulent, tender, melt's in your mouth lamb chops. Still as good as ever! The Shawarma combo plate is pretty good too. If you love around town, or are just passing by with a hankering for greek food, drop by. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Not enough staff to provide service. We were told bar service and cocktails were shut down. We were…read morebetter off ordering a bottle of wine, which we did. We order the beef shawarma and it was over cooked so match it was beef jerky. I worked in restaurant management and managed bars. This place is different.