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Saray Charcoal & Grill

3.9 (126 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Saray Charcoal & Grill Photos

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SARAY CHARCOAL & GRILL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Outdoor seating
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Saray Charcoal & Grill

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Mark K.

Well, I will say that Saray Grill has truly a special place in my heart. It was introduced to me by a dear Iraqi friend of mine that I ride motorcycles with and he asked me if I had ever tried Iraqi barbecue before and I told him no I hadn't. He then went on to explain that where he lives in El Cajon, there's a large Middle Eastern population, and this was by far the best restaurant there, and "on par and just as good as he could get back home in Iraq". That said, I was sold and everything he said about this place was an understatement. Long story short this is the best shish kebab in which ever meat you choose, as well as lamb and of course, the Iraqi salad, then I've had eating Middle Eastern food all over the country, in Europe, and even places that I'm not allowed to disclose from my time serving in central Asia. My go to is the shish kebab plate, which comes with three skewers, and I add an additional one for a total of four. It comes with basmati rice, Iraqi bread, made fresh and prepared on charcoal, and of course, the wonderful Iraqi salad. In terms of savory perfection,, this is a top two restaurants in San Diego that I must go to at least once a week. Service is incredible and fast, seating is cafeteria style and very friendly as you may find yourself sitting next to some pretty cool people. Another great sign is that it's normally full with Middle Eastern people and I trust that they know what they're looking for. Lol. A bit of a melancholy into this review, because my friend needs to return back to the Middle East, but glad I have this restaurant here as a reminder of our friendship as well as my go to Spot whenever I want the perfect meal. Might I also mention, that I believe the owners own, the Halal butcher shop next-door also, so to say that the meat is perfectly selected and extremely fresh and high-quality may be the understatement of the year. Thank you again to all the staff for their excellent food and service. Until I see you again, next week, keep up the great work. Mark

Diana M.

We ordered takeout mazguf fish and wow, it was unforgettable! Even after bringing it home, the fish was still hot, fresh, and cooked to absolute perfection. The texture was tender and flaky, with seasoning that made every bite burst with flavor. My husband and I couldn't stop talking about how good it was. we finished every last bite and were already wishing we'd ordered more. This will definitely be our go-to spot when we're craving amazing fish.

I bought kabob and was very disappointed with the quality. The outside was burned, while the inside was undercooked.
Ramy T.

I bought kabob and was very disappointed with the quality. The outside was burned, while the inside was undercooked. This made for an unpleasant eating experience.

A set of rice dishes with bean & warm bread
Vica G.

I've never tried Iraqi cuisine and I loved what I ordered, rice dishes with lamb, pickles, bean & bread. It reminds me of special yummy dishes when I visited Kurdish family in Turkey. The person who served me and my sister was very friendly and extraordinary. We definitely will come back for a great value special rice dishes

Combo #2
Guilbert A.

All I got to say is this place is a must try! The homies and I order the combo #2. Everything that was serviced with this combo was fire. Plus we had left overs and I'm going to tell you we got some big appetites and couldn't finish. Definitely coming back! Service was outstanding by the way!

Inside Ground beef kebob. Too much raw meat that should have been more properly cooked.
Tina T.

Usually food is decent but yesterday I ate ground beef kebob and next day my stomach was cramping, then the diarrhea and vomiting kicked in. They need to ensure ground beef is cooked more.

Outside
David C.

Service was terrible. Ordered my one kabob plate (rice and salad) for takeout and waited. There were two families (one had just ordered and the other had already been sitting and waiting) with no food. About 20 minutes into me waiting, a group of men came in. It looked like the owner came out to greet them and immediately brought out food. They never ordered nor payed. 12 kabobs with all the fixings came out. The grill master looked mad as he threw a bunch of new/fresh kabobs on to the grill. The server also looked really annoyed bringing out all the side dishes. Meanwhile the two families who had already been waiting 20-30 minutes had NOTHING while this group already had a full feast within minutes of walking in. It almost seemed as if the kabobs meant for everyone went to this group of men. I know I wasn't the only one thinking this as both families went to ask about their food. One of the family members said they already waited 30 minutes and they were told 30-45 MORE minutes. They all requested their money back. I asked about my food and was told at LEAST 45 minutes. So that's an 1hr 5 min to grill ONE kabob?!?Safe to say I also asked for my money back. Didn't get any food and never coming back here.

Hummus dip
Annie T.

Hubby loved it here, rated 5 out of 5! Everything tasted very fresh with good service. The restaurant was clean with good amount tables and chairs. We ordered lamb tikka combo plate, lamb heart, beef liver, lamb fat and my favorite, lamb kabob! It was so yummy that I had to order two more to go. We'll be back!

John C.

Finally an Iraqi restaurant in the area, tried to update the business listing for that cuisine but it was missing that category and unable to add it. When I was in Phoenix for a short stay there was an Iraqi restaurant there that was just as delicious and sadly is no longer there. This place not only has authentic style also has Turkish and Iranian style food as well. Great customer service, food was fantastic and so flavorful. Had leftovers for a few meals as their portions are ample. For sure will be back!

Baba ganoosh with fresh bread.
Kam Y.

Amazing food and service.. this was the tastiest kebab I've had in southern CA and I've tried all of the Persian places up and down the coast.. the quality of the meats, marinades and cooking on charcoal all adds up to the most amazing flavor profile. The warm, just made, bread was amazing as well.. I'm not sure about the 2 last reviewes but my experience was amazing and service was wonderful with the kind, smiling and tentative servers tending to the table.. I'll be back despite the 45 minute drive.

Shawarma and kebob combo

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1 month ago

Good food always consistent and fresh. Great service. It has a little wait but it's the sacrifice for fresh food!

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Ali Baba Family Restaurant

Ali Baba Family Restaurant

4.1
(924 reviews)
1.3 mi
•$$

The location is right on the corner you can't miss it. They have their own small parking lot. There…read moreis a lot of similar restaurants in the area that we have tried. They just don't compare. The quality and flavors are out of this world. The inside is very cute. it is clean and welcoming. We enjoy lunch dates and dinner here as a family. The owners are very friendly. Definitely recommend the lunch for 2. FYI it feeds 4 people easily. Dinner for 3 feeds 6-7. Large portions. The hummus is soooooooo good. Pro tip: ask for extra olive oil. Give this place a try!

Haven't been here in years, decided to take a trip to El Cajon to have lunch at this mom and pop…read moremiddle eastern restaurant with my mom and pop. They definitely invest their time on the taste of their food and serving large portion sizes instead of fancy tables and decor. It's not upscale fine dining... the interioir looks the exact same for past decade. Although a little dated the place is very clean and fits large or small groups. Not a date night spot -- more a friends and family stuff your face kind of place. They have a dedicated parking lot with plenty of spots. We ordered a ton of food to share. Half roasted chicken with side of fatoush salad, beef kabob plate with side of rice, lamb tikka with side of fries, a large plate of hummus, and an order of falafel (Best Falafel in SoCal). EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! I personally didn't like the lamb tikka but everyone else destroyed that plate. We ordered a pot of black tea (mint flavored) and they brought our large pieces of steaming hot fresh bread. Service was very friendly and fast. They modified any order to your liking. They also thanked us for coming and meant it when they said it -- Mom and Pop shops are The Best! Highly Recommend if you're looking for good quality middle eastern food with large portions.

Photos
Feast for 4!
Feast for 4!
Pita Bread the Size of a Pizza
Pita Bread the Size of a Pizza
From the newly renovated parking lot =D

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From the newly renovated parking lot =D
Mr Shawarma

Mr Shawarma

4.3
(266 reviews)
1.0 mi
•$$

I rarely leave reviews, but I had to recognize Mohammad. We stopped by around 11 PM, and despite it…read morebeing late at night, his energy, attitude, and hospitality were absolutely outstanding. He treated us like valued guests, not like customers walking in near closing time. What impressed me most was that he genuinely seemed to care about our experience. He was friendly, attentive, made great recommendations, and even surprised us with a small piece of chocolate on the house. It's the little things like that that people remember. Restaurants are only as good as the people who represent them, and Mohammad is the kind of employee every business wishes they had. If management sees this, please recognize and support him--employees with this level of professionalism and kindness are rare. We'll definitely be back because of him. Thank you, Mohammad!

I was really disappointed with my experience at Mr. Shawarma. The first thing I noticed was that…read moremany of the chairs were dirty and stained, which didn't leave a good impression. On top of that, the front doors were left wide open, allowing flies to come in and buzz around the restaurant while people were eating. Parking was also frustrating. Every parking space appeared to be limited to 30 minutes, which adds unnecessary pressure if you're trying to enjoy your meal. The food was another letdown. The prices are what you'd expect for a full adult meal, but the portions were so small they felt more appropriate for an infant than for a paying adult. It definitely wasn't worth the price. What bothered me the most was the service. One of the employees was snacking while taking my order, which came across as unprofessional. In the middle of everything, she suddenly left, and I later saw her moving her vehicle after it had been parked in a handicapped-accessible space. From what I observed, she did not appear to have a visible need for using that space. That, combined with the other issues, left a very poor impression. Overall, the cleanliness, tiny portion sizes, and lack of professionalism made this a disappointing experience. I won't be returning.

Photos
Fantastic and delicious selection.  Great food - nice music.  Great for lunch or dinner.
Fantastic and delicious selection. Great food - nice music. Great for lunch or dinner.
Mr Shawarma Rice, Mr Shawarma Fries & Hotdog
Mr Shawarma Rice, Mr Shawarma Fries & Hotdog
Chipotle Wrap Combo

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Chipotle Wrap Combo

Saray Charcoal & Grill - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

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