Nice folks and fresh offerings. Great parking. Easy on the wallet. Big menu. Outdoor seating. read more

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Do yourself a favor and don't go. Tried for the first and LAST time. I thought no one can top Leyla in San Diego but wait... The WORST restaurant I've been to so far. The hosts don't even know if you are dining in or if your order is takeout. Food was terrible. Undercooked pieces, missing order, and saltiest fries you will ever have. The BEST part is they have items on the menu that they haven't served in over two months and hostess stated pricing is off by $2.00. So make sure to ask what the pricing is before they give you a total. The restaurant, at best, is mainly just for takeout...And but wait there's more. Don't use the bathroom...if you want to remember what it's like to go to a bathroom in the Middle East...you found your spot! Really needs a revamp...from service etiquette to cooking food properly. read more

A trip to Saray is a trip to a nice neighborhood in Baghdad. There's something about immigrant food that takes you on a magical (carpet?) ride to far away places. I love walking into a restaurant and listening to the conversations in other languages, eating food with spices and touches of other lands, soaking in the culture of a far-away place. Saray is a simple concept: Find the skewers you love; safe if you're not daring; daring if you live life on the edge. Let the cashier hand them to the grill-man with instructions on how you like it and sit and wait for the result. What will emerge will be perfectly spiced and salted nuggets of meat, flame-kissed in the best of ways. If you go the safe route you'll have chicken, tomato, maybe lamb. If you went the daring route, you'll have in front of you sweetbreads, liver and a skewer of lamb fat. This will arrive on a bed of fluffy house-made Iraqi pita bread, and accompanied by two kinds of pickled cabbage, perfect to cut through the richness of the meat. You will walk away at the end feeling full, but more important, feeling as if for a short time, you to, were in a far-away land. read more

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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 read more

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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. read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

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

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. read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - I bought kabob and was very disappointed with the quality. The outside was burned, while the inside was undercooked. - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

Best bbq chicken you can find real authentic Turkish kabob great customer service Good family owned restaurant read more

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 read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - A set of rice dishes with bean & warm bread - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

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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! read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Combo #2 - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

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. read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Inside Ground beef kebob. Too much raw meat that should have been more properly cooked. - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

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One of my bad restaurants experience Service was very ugly and it's a worse Service I had in all United States restaurants, I will never reply this nightmare again read more

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. read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Outside - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

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! read more

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Not your typical grill. You select the meat you want; it comes in a skewer and they grill it for you. It's a bit chaotic and sometimes very busy but the food is worth it especially when you are sipping complimentary tea. Get the beef kabobs - charred from the outside and juicy from the inside. read more

The food was really really good. Everything was good. The meat is so soft and the bread is so good. The service was good read more

Finally a restaurant with flavors coming close to Turkish Kabobs. Charcoal and meat makes the difference. They are always friendly and accommodating. Favorites are Adana and Beyti. We had a chance to have breakfast as well. If you don't mind the drive highly recommended for authentic Turkish kabobs. read more

This is our second time coming to Saray & it's hands down the tastiest & most authentic middle eastern food I've had in a while. The service was fantastic both times, they seemed to enjoy their work & are proud of the food. read more

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! read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

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I wish I could give this place zero stars. The personnel was quite unprofessional. Their service was terrible. We ordered dinner, and when it arrived, the staff informed us that they didn't have any plates since they were washing dishes. We never received plates or an apology. read more

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. read more

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I live close by and pass by here all the time, I finally got to try this place out and it's now on my go to list for middle eastern food. The prices are super cheap and you get a lot of food. The lady at the front helping was super nice and helped us through the menu and gave us suggestions. We got the Kebob and shawarma combo platters which comes with rice and a mix salad. We also ordered individual skewers such as the lamb ribs. Everything was so good and flavorful. read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Shawarma and kebob combo - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

Food is amazingly Fresh Hot and Delicious. Friendly and Sweet Gals at the Counter. Very clean Establishment. Parking is close. Thank You for Great Food. read more

This place is amazing! The best kabobs I've ever had. The customer service is so wonderful, and they do everything they can to take care of you. I forgot to take a picture of my food because it was so delicious. You must try the chichen kabobs. It departs from this world. read more

سب وشتم باللغة العربية أمام الزبائن كلام بذيء الأكل جيد ولكن الكلام يسم البدن ليس هناك أي ترحيب عندما تدخل لن أعود هناك أبدا ستة شياش سلخنا 100$ Very bad language in Arabic while the customer was inside in front females very bad cousin word in Arabic language between the chef or the owner very nasty. The food is good, but the words poisonous. read more

Excellent charcoal, grilled meat kebab, and chicken kebab. They use classic charcoal instead of gas so the food tastes amazing. Their salads are great too. Happy and friendly staff. They remodeled the interior and looks good. Nice and comfortable. Highly recommend! read more

The food is damn good. Been here a few times now, and it's always fresh and delicious. Always plenty to eat and to bring home. Get the regular Adana kebab, don't get fancy. And make sure to get extra bread. read more

If you are familiar with the area, you know you can get kabob all over El Cajon, but Saray serves some of the freshest and top quality meats. The Beef Kafta is a skewer of ground beef seasoned with amazing middle eastern spices. It wasn't a thick piece of ground beef like I usually get and definitely had more fat which made it juicy. Also, it is cooked on charcoal which gives it even better flavor. Lamb kabob had the perfect amount of seasoning which did not overpower the fresh flavor from the meat. Everything was cooked perfectly- the meat melts in your mouth. It is on the pricey side, but you're getting what you pay for. Service was also very well. read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

Our experience today was great. Cashier very friendly and checked in on us often. Lots of food and all spiced perfectly. Chicken tikka kabob was so moist, tender and flavorful! Veggies grilled or pickled and fresh. The lamb chops have been nice and tender when we have ordered several times. read more

Ever since the new over took over I can't believe how run down this place has become , as a business owner dramatic changes are not good coming down to portion size and even paying for bread when a traditional dish comes with bread is super interesting to me Paying for soup I understand but bread lol . I wrote a bad review when I encountered the new owner she was completely Rude and thought I didn't speak Arabic when I paid over $200 for a meal for my family just to get no bread , little did she who she was dealing with over all . It's unfortunate how cheapness can mess up a business . It's sad cause even the employees are miserable . On that Note please for once Have SOAP so your employees and consumers can wash there literally the same bottle just has water unbelievable read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Bill To ensure this doesn't get taken down - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

Came in and ordered the combo #1 family feast and added extra skewers of other meats as the family was super hungry. At the time of order I was told that they were out of the scalop and offered me additional skewers of another meat instead. Okay fine...but when the meal came the exchanged meats were not provided. The family was so hungry that they started eating before we realized the additional skewers were not provided. Had to wait an additional 20 mins for the rest of the order to arrive. The service is not the greatest. You would expect a restaurant that is serving family style would have everything served together at one time so that the family can eat together. read more

Food, price & 100% customer service !! Best service Sura you are amazing, Thankyou very much we will be back read more

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly. They talked through all the options they have (and there are a lot!) and gave recommendations. We got the lamb tika, beef and chicken kabobs and some hummus. It was all so good and the bread was the perfect vessel to enjoy all the bites. Will definitely be back! read more

Good kabob but the place was not clean , door kept open and there was a lot of flies! My recommends Yo's to keep the door closed and make sure having extra AC so to prevent the flies coming in. read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - The place was full of flies because they kept the door open - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

I took a drive further out than usual just to be away from the house a little longer. Saray Charcoal & Grill is in the middle of their soft opening to rebrand itself in El Cajon. The focus is on skewered meats instead of a broader Middle Eastern cuisine menu. As stated in their name, the kitchen uses a charcoal grill to cook the items instead of using wood or natural gas. There were eight different kinds of kabob skewers and a boneless grilled chicken featured as the main choices. The last item and the Beef Kabob were not available during my visit. I decided to purchase two Lamb Kabobs and two Kafta Kabobs. The order came with a BBQ tomato, onion, jalapenos, pickles, fresh vegetables, and pita bread. What stood out to me was the amount of bread that was included. I don't know if it was because the place was about to close for the evening and they were trying to give away the bread? I received a brown paper bag containing two humongous pitas (12" diameter!) folded in half. That was in addition to a large pita slice which served as the base on which the cooked meats were placed. I enjoyed the smoke from the charcoal that was imparted onto the meat during the cooking process. The juices from the kabobs were soaked up by the pita slice inside the take-out container which made the bread extra delicious. The experience was pleasant enough that I gave a four star rating. read more

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I've came to this place when it was just Saray, and know with the Charcoal & Grill"added to its menu, it's even more tasty. I had a Fattoush, a Beef Kafta, and Beef Arayis. The salad was very good, not doubt a little on the sour or acidic side, a common trait with this salad's vinaigrette. It came with a handsome amount of chopped Romain lettuce, a good amount of crunchy cucumbers, and a few radishes. I did miss the tomatoes that usually come with this salad. I like the fried pieces of khubz right on top. Good texture. The beef kafta tasted great. It was a little on the fatty side, so it was very juicy, with a quality beef flavor, and light seasoning. This is definitely for beef lovers. The Arayis was good too, but they kinda burnt one side of the flat bread. Other than that, the beef mixture inside was tender and well seasoned, as a result quite tasty. I was bummed that they were out of chicken kebab when I came, so I am hoping they will have some on my next visit. If you like tea and lentil soup, they offer a self serve station of both. The ladies at the front counter were very nice. read more

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Stumbled on this place while driving around, looking for a new place to eat. I really love Mediterranean/MiddleEastern food so this place looked like a new place to try out! I went inside and you got the vibe that it was not a whitewashed placed, like Luna Grill (love Luna, just not how it's authentic which is completely fine) You can hear the employees speaking in their native tongue to each other. It was my first time and I needed help, the lady in the front was very helpful and explained to me how to order and such. I ended with the Chicken And Shrimp I forgot the exact names. It was a lot of food and next time I plan to sit down and eat inside when the weather allows it as today was a massive heat wave in San Diego! I'll be back soon! Food was really good! read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Chicken and Shrimp - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Food is excellent. Service, not so much but the good food makes it a must for this type of food. read more

Best kabab ever in the town , I highly suggest this restaurant, the service is pretty good read more

Saray Charcoal & Grill - Kabab - Mediterranean Near Me - El Cajon, California

The bread is inedible here. They did not have several items. The food is very bland. The meat is good because it's cooked on the coals grill and is good quality, but it's not enough to save this restaurant. There are many better places to go. read more