Had a great first experience here! We went on a Saturday and there was no wait to order (you order first and then choose where to sit). The woman that took our order and served our food was so kind! Even though the place wasn't full, the atmosphere still felt like a nice and cozy family restaurant. It also seems like a lot of locals love this place since every customer that walked in were recognized by the staff. For food, we shared the lula kebab plate and tried their baklava. The food was great! The meat was flavorful and the rice pilaf was so fluffy and fresh, this was the first time I REALLY enjoyed a rice pilaf. I also loved that the plate came with tabouleh instead of side salad like other places. The baklava was okay, I wish it was packed more with pistachios, but the star of the meal was the lula plate! Loved the food and staff, so we will be coming here again! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Lula Kebab Lunch Plate and Baklava - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Went to my first-ever live classical concert post-pandemic (5-1-21 at a private home in Pasadena). Spoke to the Armenian cellist afterward, she highly recommended this place so decided to check it out. My friend and I both got a chicken gyro sandwich, wow so good we wolfed it down with a big smile on our faces (make sure you also get the hot sauce!) Large clean dining room so plenty of social distancing (very clean restroom too!) read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - chicken gyro sandwich, 5-1-2021 - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

My brother requested Mediterranean food for his birthday and chose this spot since the other spot was closing early. I called in my order for pick up, which was ready in 15 minutes. The employees were super friendly and personal from the moment I stepped inside to walking out with my order. We ordered two Sahara Combo Plates ($18.50), Hummus ($5.50), Sarma ($7.50), and Falafel ($5.25) for a family of four. The combo plate consisted of beef kebab, lula kebab, and chicken kebab over a bed of pilaf rice and side of charred bell pepper and tomato, feta cheese, black olives, cucumbers, and pita bread. You also get a choice of soup or cabbage salad. Although I chose one of each for my two plates, I enjoyed the cabbage salad more which was light and refreshing. The soup was some kind of lentil soup as I am not a fan of beans. All the meats were flavorful and smokey. As for the appetizers we tried, hummus is a must to pair with pita. The sarma was sour and chewy. This is my first time trying sarma and I cannot say that I would ever want this again, unfortunately. The falafel was just okay as well. Overall, I ate the food because it was there but not exactly my favorite. It's cooked well, but just not my taste and it's a bit pricey. I do love the hospitality here though. read more

See all

"Delicious food and very reasonable prices! I highly recommend the chicken shish tawook and the beef kebab -- both were flavorful and perfectly cooked. Service was quick and friendly. Probably the best Middle Eastern restaurant in Pasadena!" read more

I just want to start off with the service was great. They greeted us and sat us down immediately. They were attentive especially when I dropped my spoon. That was basically the only good thing about it sadly. Out of all the mediterranean place I've tried, this was easily the worst. The vibe was most definitely of the eastern culture if that's something you enjoy. read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Beef Kebab Dinner Entree - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Very good middle eastern food. I tried the beef kebab plate and vegetarian plate and they did not disappoint. Highly recommended! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Lunch Menu (1/2) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Good food friendly staff treated me like family. I call up and they know my order and it is ready in 15 minutes Great family restaurant . read more

Everything we had was delicious and fresh. We can't wait to go back. The chicken kabob was juicy and tender and the hummus was very flavorful! Thank you to the ladies for taking extra care of us. read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

We absolutely love Sahara! It all starts with the very warm welcome we receive when we walk in their door! Further, their food is delicious, consistent and always satisfying! The best! read more

The food is always great!! Love this place,the two ladies I presume owners are so so sweet they make you feel so welcomed they Re so kind makes the food taste even better! A must try place! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Front counter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

I'm back again !! Love it ! Just realized how much I love the charcoal taste with every bite !! All the meat is cooked over a charcoal grill !! So tasty & delicious !! I'll be back read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - The charcoal grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Delicious and authentic middle eastern food. We got the Sahara Combo and the vegetarian combo with some extra babaganouj. Service was good and quick. The food was actually incredible. I mentioned that we came because of my niece's birthday and they gave us some baklava for free! It wasn't the freshest baklava I've had (maybe because it was the end of the day at dinner time) but still good. We also got the Ikra - an eggplant/bell pepper and spices dip which was amazing. They also gave us lots of pita to enjoy the food with. I would go back again for some good middle eastern food. read more

Just love this place!! Staff is super friendly every time. This time I order the grape leaves and my usual combo so good !!! The meat is so juicy and tender!! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Grape leaves stuff with rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Excellent Méditerranéen food! Not sure how long this restaurant has been around but their food is solid. Very flavorful meats. Server was very nice and professional. read more

See all

Incredible service, delicious food, family owned business which I love supporting! I got the ground lamb/beef kabob and would love to try the chicken next time (which my friend got and loved). It comes with so many sides, which is awesome! The sides are pita bread, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese, rice, salad or soup, and fire roasted tomato and bell pepper. A big thanks to our server Natalie who was so friendly and attentive! read more

Gratefull to find satisfying food. I came here with a friend and we found it easy to enter in as strangers and make ourselvs at home. Had a good conversation and felt ready for the day. read more

Is pride and excellence an ingredient? At Sahara, you can taste the pride that this owner family takes in serving you an excellent dish. The kebabs are cooked over mesquite for a uniquely delectable smokiness throughout each bite. The garlic sauce has a smooth tone, without harshness, but definitely not mellow. The humus is creamy and doesn't feel heavy. I enjoyed my combo kebab platter with a Lebanese Almaza beer, well balanced and slightly floral. It is worth a try. Here they welcome you like family. The staff knows their regular customers and greets them with warm smiles and a hearty "Good to see you, welcome back! How are your parents?". I look forward to my next visit real soon. Now you have read this far. Please take a moment to vote for my review. read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Exceptional Combo Kebab Platter. The meats are deliciously cooked over mesquite. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

I am ashamed to admit this, as a native Pasadenean I have never been to Sahara. We lost our house in the Eaton Fire and temporarily relocated to a West Covina. We went to meet a friend for lunch in Pasadena. She recommended Sahara. We said fine. From the moment we walked in I knew we had been missing out. The place was very busy, the food smelled wonderful. Our server was Cindy, she was very friendly and made recommendations since it was our first visit. I ordered the combo plate and my wife ordered the chicken kabob plate. The food was delicious, tender and cooked to perfection. The cabbage salad was very good with a unique tasty flavor. Cindy's recommendations were spot on, the serving size is very generous. We will definitely be returning, Cindy sealed the deal.. . Very kind, efficient and knowledgable. Again I asked myself "self what took you so long?" read more

Food was fresh and excellent! Service was wonderful! Highly recommend! The meats and sides were delicious!

Love this place! Came after a day at the Huntington Library and took a chance on Sahara - we're so glad we did The family-run restaurant showed us so much warmth and all the recommended dishes were exactly as described but tasted even better than expected. Of note: the cabbage salad and the kufte are both so good. Wish we ordered more of both - especially the cabbage salad Cheers, Sahara read more

I had the lule kabob. It was very tasty. Portions were adequate and food was good. Parking in the back. We were very happy overall. read more

We have eaten here on and off for years. it's always good. We like it enough that we are calling for our dad's birthday party. read more

This was my first time eating Lebanese food, and the service here does not disappoint! The servers were attentive, the salad refreshing, and the meat freshly grilled. Come here with a friend to enjoy the calm vibes! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Combo with grill/beef kebabs. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Stopped by Sahara for lunch today based on a friend's recommendation. Got the beef kabob lite lunch and it was perfect. Well cooked meat and loved the rice. Lots of pita bread too. Family owned place. I recommend it read more

A friend of mine, and I ate there a few days ago. The food, the service, the ambience, were excellent. We had the combination plate which included everything and was enough food for two people. The servers were very friendly and helpful. The prices were reasonable. Great location in Pasadena. For those who love authentic Mediterranean food., This is the place to go. God bless. Marshall. read more

Wow!!! The best falafel...so crispy and light. Full of flavor! The hummus & tabbouleh were spot on with generous portions. Sis got the chicken light plate, and even enjoyed it. She is new to middle eastern cuisine, and so far so good! The flavors are right on and delicious. For authentic,well prepared dishes, great value with excellent service run to Sahara! You will not regret it... read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Falafel plate(sorry ate 1 before photo) DELISH!!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

My family isn't that big on Middle Eastern food, so I jump at the chance to go when I go out with friends. Because I never get Middle Eastern food, I figure I'm probably not the best judge. (I would say I've probably only eaten at maybe a total of five or six different Middle Eastern places in total.) That being said, I REALLY enjoyed my food. This will be my "go-to" place whenever I have a hankering for Middle Eastern food. The people who worked there were all friendly and very attentive. I will be back! read more

FYI: The Sahara website, as of 8/10/23, has been hacked. A gambling site is now displayed. Food is very tasty, consistently fresh and the service is efficient and respectful. We've been there several times and look forward to our next visit. read more

On my home on a Wednesday night in April, I stopped by to do a pick up of chicken kebabs dinner plate. I was nicely greeted by the staff. She was friendly and asked soup or salad. I ordered baklava, soup, chicken kebabs dinner plate and wait was 15 min. While waiting, they get a lot of phone calls for pick up. Finally I got my order and drove home. The rice was still warm and chicken kebabs was tasty and flavorful although few pieces was kinda dry. I had a little container of garlic sauce with small slice of feta, 2 olives, 2 pieces cucumbers, and 2 pita breads. Also, the lentil soup was really good and the baklava too. Overall I enjoyed their friendly service and delicious food. read more

See all

Ordered dishes to go and everything was delicious! The preparation of the food was quick and the staff kind when I came to pick-up!

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine is a friendly neighborhood Armenian restaurant offering a menu of mesquite charcoal grilled kebabs and other Middle Eastern dishes. Each entree came with an appetizer of warm and hearty lentil soup or cabbage salad (dressed with dried herbs and vinegar), along with pita bread and a plate of black olives, sliced cucumber, and blocks of feta cheese. For my entree, I had the Falafel Plate, which came with five crunchy fritters made of chickpeas and fava beans along with lettuce/tomato salad dressed with tahini, tabbouleh, and a super creamy hummus dressed with olive oil and paprika. I also had the Sahara Combination platter, which came with a beef kebab, lula kebab (ground lamb/beef with onions and parsley), and my favorite, a flavorful marinated chicken breast kebab, along with a grilled tomato and green bell pepper. Overall, everything here was flavorful and delicious (the hummus was my favorite item), and the service was super friendly and hospitable too. The local, rustic atmosphere of this decades old restaurant made you feel right at home along with all the regulars! read more

See all

Loved their customer service, Bertha was service nice in the front with great humor. Definitely making this my go to place! Great Spot read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Beer Kabob, Kale, Rice, Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

My coworkers just brought me back a chicken kebab plate from Sahara's so I'm enjoying it as I type this. Even in a to go box, the meal is very nicely put together. The chicken is moist, tender and flavorful. Also loved the hummus and tzatziki. I'm not supposed to have rice but I had some anyway. It's a perfect balance of a meal with varying textures and flavors all at once. Delish! Pretty sure I'll have this again, even sneak some rice in too. read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

It is located behind subway in the commercial area inside a food court. They had many choices and I chose the chicken kabob plate. They gave good portion. I got to choose if I want lemon rice or french fries. I try to pick the healthier option which was the lemon rice. I thought that rice was mushy and sour. Next time, I will definitely choose french fries. The chicken was a little in the dry side but it was pretty good. It was a little hard to find, but we saw a lot of cars in the area and noticed a small signed that says food court. read more

Great food here especially beef kabobs coujd cut with a fork Cindy the server so friendly and nice the owners nice too akways say hi

Probably the most tender meat I've had from a Mediterranean place! Got the combo kebab option which was almost enough for two people (suggest you order some fries, etc also if splitting). The food was great and love how the kebabs came with the feta/olive thing. It could have used some tsaziki or hummus though as the garlic paste is not enough sauce. read more

Warm friendly staff and awesome food! This was our first time at Sahara and we will definitely be going back. We tried the Lula Kebab, which was big enough to serve two. The Kebabs were generous in size and delicious. The pilaf rice was moist and flavorful. It can pretty much be eaten on its own with the onions and tabboule. The ikra was my personal favorite, it is not as over powering like other places. It can easily be eaten with no need for pita! Overall this place has certainly earned itself new regular customers! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Lula (ground lamb + beef) Kebab Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Sahara gets 5 stars from me!! The food was sooo good, and the service from Gohar was so wonderful. We ordered the chicken kebab plate, vegetarian plate, and falafel. The rice was fluffy and flavorful, and the chicken was so well marinated, tender, and cooked to perfection. Bravo & thank you! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California

Service was amazing. Beyond expectations. Food was phenomenal. Some of the best Mediterranean food I've had and I've had a lot. I will absolutely come back to the place when I'm in the area. read more

There are many places served chicken kebabs . They are all unique in their own way and taste . I love Sahara chicken kebabs. It's white meat and cook to perfections . Lots of side dishes, cucumber , cheese, green pepper , onions and rice . Overall great food . Price reasonable. read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine - Chicken kebabs - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pasadena, California