This location is in a relatively large strip type mall. Depending on which side you approach from, it can be hard to find and you may need to take, stairs, an escelator, or an elevator in order to get to it. The lot can get crowded due to the many popular businesses in the mall, but it is seems possible to get parking at least during non-peak hours. While the servers here were not rude, they were somewhat cold and not very friendly on our visit. The food is good quality and you get a good quantity for your money here. It is a good value, something hard to say of many places now days. On a Monday around 11:00-12:30 for lunch they were pretty quiet, but had some business. Like many places, it seems like a lot of their business is take out. Their seating area is well decorated and is a nice dining atmosphere. We would come back here and recommend you give them a try or try one of their other many locations in the SoCal area. read more

See all

Manager spat in my take out and I had to throw it out. He was very rude and disrespectful to me. I paid for my take out and he tried arguing I didn't. I showed him my Google Wallet showed the completed transaction and my card showed it. Very rude and I will not ever eat here again! He walked to the back and I could watch it because you can see the kitchen. He spat in it and laughed. They laughed when they gave it over the counter. Don't ever eat here. read more

Very happy with my meal here: Tasty and Fresh Great Value for the $$ Friendly staff Had the falafel platter out on the patio, where dogs are permitted. Extra star for that option, plenty of space outside and inside, not at all crowded. Falafels were warm, crispy, and super tasty. Greek salad was generous, Tzatziki was good, hummus was just ok. Maybe a little more Tahini in there to up the creaminess, my chef friends? Nice pita bread served warm too. Truly a platter. Grilled shrimp was equally good, salmon too. Portions here are generous but not grossly so, you leave feeling good, not overstuffed. Definitely when looking for Mediterranean, this place beats Luna Grill by a mile, better value, better food, better all around. I will revisit soon! read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Salmon Wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Really enjoyed my meal here! We ordered the family platter. The chicken was perfectly cooked and very tender, the rice was good, and the portions were generous. The service was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. We sat on the patio. I'll definitely be coming back and would recommend this place to anyone looking for great Mediterranean food. read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Patio dining - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The absolute worst Panini Kabob Grill I have ever dined in. Location is nice, however the waitress CLEARLY hated her job and customer service is not her thing judging from our experience. Took her forever to bring water to the table, one of our cups was dirty but we just decided not to say anything because she was so rude, she just put the cups on the table and walked off, not even a smile or welcome. Ordering was no different, she abruptly put our plates down and just turned away and left abruptly again. Food was not as good here, I frequently go to mission viejo and Newport locations which are always good. I see there are several comments that align with mine, maybe the manager here just doesn't care, but for me, I won't be back. read more

We ordered 11 beef kabab skewers for pickup at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night at Panini Kabob & Grill in Carmel Valley, Del Mar Heights expecting the same quality we've enjoyed in the past. Unfortunately, the order was very disappointing. Several skewers were overcooked, dry, and burned, while others were pale in the center, as if they had not been fully cooked. It was surprising that the same order could contain both overcooked and undercooked meat. The next day, I called to speak with the manager, hoping they would take the complaint seriously and make things right. Instead, I was told that because I didn't have photographs of the food, there was nothing they could do. As a loyal customer, I found that response far more disappointing than the meal itself. Not everyone thinks to take pictures of their dinner before throwing it away, especially when they're simply trying to enjoy a family meal. Good customer service is about listening to customers and standing behind the quality of your food, not dismissing legitimate concerns because there isn't photographic evidence. Mistakes happen in every restaurant, but how a business responds to those mistakes is what truly earns--or loses--customer trust. Sadly, in this case, the lack of concern and unwillingness to address the issue left an even worse impression than the food. read more

This was one of the worst service experiences I have ever had at a restaurant. As a business owner myself, I fully understand that every business aims to be profitable -- but clearly not all employees understand how to treat customers in a way that supports that goal. We actually ordered our food from this same restaurant, but since it was our first time here, we genuinely didn't know that if you place a to-go order, you're not allowed to eat inside. The dining room had plenty of empty tables, and we were even planning to order drinks to enjoy while we ate. Instead of offering us any options or trying to help -- for example, letting us finish quickly or suggesting an alternative -- the staff were extremely rude and simply told us to leave. It felt like they didn't want to deal with us at all. And honestly, it also felt like we were being treated differently because our group speaks with accents. That made the whole experience even more upsetting. A very disappointing and unwelcoming experience overall. read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

We always get take-out here to feed the family. Their Family Combo is fantastic! Order online. Usually choose 6 Koobideh skewers and 2 Chicken skewers. Also Mediterranean salad and Basmati rice. Everything is delicious. It feeds our family of 7 adults and 3 kids. We park in the entrance circle and walk in the side door to pick up the food. Super convenient. read more

See all

Panini Kabob Grill is one of the best restaurants in my opinion, because there is something for everyone! I like to order plant based, and they have amazing options. So many yummy choices-in addition to the standard falafel meals, they make great tofu!!! I'm so impressed with their tofu! The tofu kabob platter is so delicious and filling. It has the option for rice or bulgur and the bulgur is excellent. Then, there are various salad choices. I like the vegan avocado salad. There are a variety of sides which are also plant based, such as lentil soup, hummus and pita and veggie kabobs. All in all, a nice place to eat in or take out. The menu is so diverse, it's perfect for a group. read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Tofu kabob with wheat bulgur and avocado salad take out container - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I wanted rigatoni with my pesto instead of what they had. Kitchen had accommodated me nicely. The rigatoni was a bit soft, but I did ask for something off-menu. It was quite busy during weekday lunch. Only one waiter was working the entire outside patio. Ambiance was kind of like a relaxing neighborhood joint. read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Chicken Caesar Wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I know they are slow. But last night reached a new level. We really do love their food, but don't dine in due to the very poor service received each and every time we have done so. So to avoid the usual annoying dine-in experience, last night at about 6.50pm we ordered a pre-paid takeout. It said to pick up at 7.24pm. Had it said a different time we would have gone at that time, but 7.24pm is quite specific. I arrived at 7.24pm to pick up. I was told they were running behind and it would be another 15-20 minutes. Irritating, but OK. I came back at 7.45pm - still not ready. At 7.55pm I was told I am next and it was being packaged up. Four other people received their orders. A lady who was dining in came to the desk to find out how she can pay as she had been given the check 30 minutes ago but no-one came to get her credit card. The phone was ringing - I saw the guy lift the receiver a few times and put it right back down, cutting off the caller without saying hello. At 8.10pm I politely asked again where my order was. I mean, they did say I was next in line 15 minutes prior. They got quite annoyed with me for asking how much longer, again..... I finally received my order at 8.20pm - just about an hour after the pickup time they estimated. And the saddest part - when I got home, they had left out a few items we had ordered and paid for. But it just wasn't worth my time to go back to that fiasco to get the rest of my order. read more

I love Panini! Food is very fresh and has a ton of flavor. I have ordered for my office here a few times and everyone loves it. Tamara was amazing and very helpful! Highly recommend them! read more

I like Panini Kabob Grill now and again for takeout. Their falafel wrap is usually delicious - pickles, mint, tzatziki, greek falafel and a wrap, with your choice of side. Tonight, there was no tzatziki in my falafel or on the side, so it was dry as molasses. I'll come here again, but that was a bummer! read more

This is my new favorite Mediterranean restaurant! This past Saturday was my second time here. I love that the prices are relatively very reasonable and the food tastes great. My boyfriend ordered the beef koobideh kabob, while I ordered the charbroiled chicken shish kabob. We shared our dishes with each other. I enjoyed both dishes, but my favorite was the beef koobideh dipped in tzatziki. Sooooo good. For sides, I picked the bulgur wheat pilaf (highly recommend) and the romaine avocado salad (which was also pretty good). The portion sizes for both dishes were generous. Despite both of us starving when we got to the restaurant, we each only finished a little over half of our plates. Service was good. Our food came out within 5-10 minutes. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor/patio seating options. The great thing about the patio is that they have so many ceiling heaters installed that I felt very comfortable despite sitting outside (I have pretty low cold tolerance). This restaurant is located in the Del Mar Highland Center and near Sky Deck, which means there are plenty of other eateries and cool things to check out while you're there. The parking lot can get busy, but I've always been able to find parking within a few minutes. Overall, would highly recommend trying out this place! I'm excited to bring my family to try this place one day. read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Beef Koobideh Kabob - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

GREAT PLACE!!! The food here is seriously delicious - the meat was juicy and packed with flavor, and the portions are absolutely huge. You definitely get your money's worth. Prices are super reasonable for the amount and quality you get, which is always a win. Our order took a little longer than expected, but honestly, the quality made the wait totally worth it. So if you're in a hurry and need something quick, this might not be the best choice for a fast bite. The atmosphere is really nice too -- you can choose to sit inside or outside. The outdoor seating is behind glass panels, so you get the fresh air and view without feeling like you're right in the middle of foot traffic. Overall, great place. Definitely coming back. read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Charbroiled Chicken Shish Kabob and Strawberry-Date Salad with grilled salmon (extra) - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Yummy Mediterranean food in Carmel Valley! The portions are huge and the menu is reasonably priced. I enjoyed my salmon wrap and I don't usually order salmon. We did have to wait quite a bit... it was a very long lunch. It was nice to not feel rushed though! I'll be returning in the near future :) read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Salmon Wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I think it was a fair experience. I don't know how to determine a good Mediterranean vs bad one. But my kebob wrapped in a flour tortilla was made properly and based on that experience, I am satisfied so yeah. read more

The setting of this restaurant is very nice. It is located near the movie theater in this mall. Their menu selection is very good - a lot to choose from. And the portion size looks huge.However, unfortunately, large portions do not translate to taste. We ordered lentil soup, the salmon kabob, lamb kabob, and a chicken panini sandwich. I only liked the soup. The lamb tasted funny. The salmon was undercooked. And the chicken was bland. The amount of protein you receive is actually small. So why the humongous plates? It's filled with mostly rice and salad and vegetables. I would rather have a bigger serving of protein. So, overall, just average for me. Service was good. Parking can be quite challenging especially on a Saturday night. read more

This is probably one of the more fresh kabob shops I've been to. You just know that the meat and all the ingredients are fresh and made to order. We celebrated my nieces first birthday here and they were very accommodating for a large party. They even allowed us to bring in her smash cake and brought out an extra table for us to put it on. The food is absolutely delicious and the portions are generous. Price point is fair for the quality and amount of food you get. It's a pretty casual dining experience in my opinion and it's usually pretty fast paced and busy through out the day. If you'd like a more intimate experience I would suggest going on a weekday in the evening. read more

See all

We always loved to eat at Panini when we lived in Orange County. So we we excited that there is one close to our home in Delmar. But this place never fail to disappoint. One day the rice is undercooked, the other day the kabab is half burn, etc. It's like they don't care anymore. And if you check the picture for our most recent combo, here is how much rice they included. To be fair, the kabab was very good. read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Hardly any rice in our combo. And it's usually undercooked. - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Recently went to a party catered by Panini Kabob Grill. I really enjoyed the chicken, it was moist and flavorful. The roasted veggies were delicious and everything reheated nicely. The rice was a bit disappointing lacking much flavor but the meat and veggies more than made up for it. read more

We went last Sunday for dinner. When sitting down, the waitstaff informed us it would be about a 30 minute wait because the kitchen was backed up. I really appreciated this as it gave us a choice to stay and wait or leave. Since we had no time constraints we stayed. The service was excellent throughout from ordering to delivery and boxes for leftovers. The ambience was standard chain eatery, pleasantly upscale with enough room between tables so we did not feel like we were sitting at another table as well as our own. The noise was not too loud, so we could hear each other. Now for the food as the kitchen put out 3 great platters of food. We ordered a falafel plate which came with large portions of salad (go for the avocado romaine), tzatziki, and hummus plus pita bread. Falafel were crisp, salad, the tzatziki, and the hummus were tasty. Chicken skewer plate came with rice, salad and tzatziki. Chicken had nice seasoning and still had juiciness when served (white meat which dries out easily). The final dish was Koobideh kabob plate, which has the same sides as the chicken. The koobideh was loaded with flavor, plenty of juiciness, and may have been the best dish. I will go back again. read more

He Said: This is a good lunch spot that was recommended to us by a local. I opted for the falafel combo app for my lunch and the portion size, alone, indicated this was a good choice. The flavor also proved to is was the right choice. The combo included a nicely flavored tzatziki and a smooth hummus. Both were great with the vegetables and pita included in the plate. I'd prefer the falafel a bit less cooked - they were pretty crispy - but they had great flavor. All in all, a fine lunch. She Said: I had the falafel wrap and with the avocado and romaine salad on the side. I thought the falafel had great flavor--and I liked the crispiness of them! I agree with what He Said about the hummus and tzatziki; they complemented everything else perfectly. It was a fine lunch, indeed. Potty Points: No visit to the potty for me on this trip! read more

Updating this review, as Panini Kabob Grill has been our go to restaurant of choice for all family gatherings whether we dine in or pick up to go, for the past several years. Our food is always excellent and portions are generous enough for leftovers. Everyone in my (large) family has a favorite. Hummus trio is the best! We love PKG! Thank you! read more

Food is decent but even if there are two occupied tables in the whole place, you wait like 40 mins for your food EVERY TIME!

Randomly decided to stop here with my boyfriend and we absolutely loved it. I loved the decor and it's located in such a nice area to walk around in. Our server was a very nice older man, who seemed pretty excited we stumbled upon the place. To start, we tried the Hummus Trio. It intrigued me because I've never had Edamame hummus before and I was happy it tasted good. The Spicy Red Bell Pepper hummus was my favorite, but the edamame and the regular hummus tied for second. I got the Chicken Pesto Panini with Lentil Soup for my meal and the panini was absolutely perfect! I only managed to eat half of it, but even as leftovers, it was delicious. The lentil soup wasn't good. I couldn't even finish my little cup of it. I actually can't pinpoint exactly what I didn't like about the flavor, but the texture was pretty mushy. My boyfriend got the Grass Fed Lamb Barg Kabob, which was also very good. However, the lamb pieces weren't cooked evenly between each other. The side salad was fresh, but nothing special. And the rice was a bit undercooked and bland. Overall, I would definitely come back here again! read more

See all

Best Mediterranean you can have here. This restaurant is in a very good location. We went there without any reservation and it was easy to get the table. They have huge menu and plenty of wine selection. The server showed up pretty quick, we ordered quickly and the food arrived quickly. We ordered chicken Kabob Plate, Lamb Kabob and Falafel plater the food was very good. The Ambiance is very good. Every time we get cravings for Mediterrenean food we are going to any of the Panini Kebob grill. read more

Tried this place last Friday for the first time and it did not miss. The server recommended the meat lovers which was perfect to share and the chicken was amazing. She was super sweet and told us there's a downtown location just 5 minutes away. Loved the whole experience, definitely recommend if you're looking for a nice restaurant with a nice atmosphere. read more

Gloria helped me she was amazing she could be a manager .. she is very experienced and passionate!

One of my local favorite in town. Great taste and food quality. The best thing I love for this place is they really grill the food not burn. read more

For my first time at this Mediterranean restaurant, I had a lovely heathly dinner. I was at the library for a cultural event and decided to have dinner in the area. I noticed this restaurant when I visited the Cinepolis a couple of times in the past. I wanted to finally give PKG a try. Lilian, my server, was stellar! She was very knowledgeable about the menu and a huge help to me deciding what to eat. As you all can see from the picture below, my dinner was delicious and for a reasonable cost. You can't beat that!! :-) read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Fresh Atlantic Salmon Kabob with Bulgur Wheat Rice with Strawberry Date Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been a loyal Panini Kabob Grill customer for years, visiting multiple locations including Carmel Valley, and even used your catering services. Unfortunately, my recent experience was so disappointing that I'm seriously reconsidering ever returning. On Saturday 7/26/2025, I visited with a group of 9 (6 adults, 3 children). Since your restaurant doesn't take reservations, I checked in with the hostess around 6pm and was told most large parties had already been seated and the current wait for large parties would be around 40 minutes. I agreed to be added to waitlist and I received a confirmation text at 6:09 PM showing we were on the waitlist. I patiently waited, understanding that a large group could take some time to seat. However, 40 minutes passed, then an hour, and still no update. I checked in again and was told we were "likely up next" and a large party would be clearing soon but he couldn't tell me how much longer it would take. I trusted that update and waited some more. Eventually, after seeing smaller groups continuously being seated, I checked in once again and asked if my group could be split into two tables because that would probably be easier to seat/serve. The hostess agreed, and again I waited. By the time it came close to the two hour wait -- I see a group of six seated ahead of us, despite our earlier request and confirmed presence on the waitlist. That was my last straw, at that point we gave up and left. Upon leaving I didn't cancel my place in line, because I wanted to see how long it would have taken to be seated. What's worse is that I never received any notification to be seated at all! So if we hadn't left, I'm confident we would have not been sat and we would have just wasted time waiting for nothing. I even have screenshot when it was confirmed on waitlist at 6:09 PM and around their closing time 9PM showing I have no response. How is it possible to be added to waitlist and never be called up? To top it all off, I received a survey the next day asking about my experience -- yet I was never even seated. This experience was frustrating, unprofessional, and deeply disappointing. I expected better from a place I've supported for years. It's unacceptable to be ignored for hours and let alone never communicated with, especially when traveling with kids and making every effort to be patient and accommodating. I sincerely hope your management addresses how large parties are handled in the future. No one should be left waiting endlessly without communication. It's basic human decency. read more

Panini Kabob Grill - Timestamp of waitlist confirmation and no response - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

We had a large party and the wait was longer than anticipated. Worth the wait! Really enjoyed my salmon pasta and all the very generous plates. I would come back anytime. read more

See all

4.5 stars! Great food. Ambience: the place is huge with lots of seating options. I liked the indoors-outdoor area. It's pretty casual & chill. Service: service is pretty standard and good. Food: the kabobs are tasty, one of the better once's we've had. - Koobideh: their koobideh is great! Very tasty and juicy. Loved it. - Chicken: also good flavor and the meat was juicy. - Veggie: good variety of grilled veggies with good seasoning. The side rice, salads and yogurt were all great additions. This wasn't our first time and won't be the last. read more

See all

Huge portions, yummy food! I was surprised by how tender the meat was and the strong flavors from the tzatziki and hummus. Fresh and Delicious. Service was great also. They have multiple locations around town. This one is in Del Mar Highlands across from Cinepolis (my go-to movie theatre). Parking is mall parking so not an issue. There are plenty of good food options at the mall but I wouldn't skip over this spot. read more

See all

Fantastic chicken skewers! They only have a few salads, but they are amazing, and this is now my go to salad place. They are a bit pricey but fantastic. The price is the one-star drop. We sat at the bar and had mediocre service. I had come here once before too and remembered the chicken was fantastic then too. In the Highlands shopping center next to Cinepolis. Lots of structured parking and easy to get to. Large covered outside patio, dog friendly. Outside turf with a couple games for the kids to run around. read more

See all

Great service and team is very friendly. Food was amazing, I got the meat lovers, its a ton of food but couldn't beat the price. I will be back for sure and this time I will bring more friends. read more

Portions are great and food is tasty but had such an off putting interaction with one of the employees (kitchen manager? her name is Gloria). Service overall was slow and inattentive. Our waitress rang in the wrong item for my boyfriend (not a big deal it happens). Waited for a few beats to talk to the waitress about the mistake but she didn't come back. My boyfriend got up and went inside to tell someone the wrong item was brought out. They told us the right item was being prepared and it would take ten minutes. Much closer to 20 minutes and at this point my boyfriend has been picking at the incorrect order (they did not offer to take it away after being told about the mistake) because he was hungry and the rest of us had our food. We're not going to wait 20 minutes for all of us to eat cold food together. Long story short a lady brought out the correct food and told us (with a little attitude I might add) we would have to pay for both meals since my boyfriend was eating the old food. The waitress rang in the incorrect item and now we are supposed to pay for both? I am a waitress myself and anytime a mistake is made on the restaurants end rather than the customer we never charge them for the mistake especially after it's hit the table. Really rubbed us all the wrong way and will not return! read more

I like the food at Panini grill, particularly the chicken kabob plate. However the chicken and veggies are often burned black throughout on the outside, which is not appetizing, and I end up having to remove all burned parts myself. Is it possible to control the cooking process so that it is not so burned? read more

Andrez always makes the times we enjoy dining at Panini Kabob grill so special. From Koobideh to salmon he makes sure our experience is suberb. The service and food is sublime. Dining alfresco allows us to enjoy the elements under their patio. Kudos to Andrez! read more