Well, I think I have a new favorite Persian kabob restaurant! It's pretty far from home, but I…read morecould easily work it into the flight path so to speak, between the Tustin REI and 17th Street in Costa Mesa. Located in a small but busy plaza, HOK is a small, potentially packed restaurant with a few tables outside. About half full mid afternoon on a Saturday, i got a table and quickly made a decision to try the combination plate with a chicken and kubideh kabob, with rice. Next time I'll branch out, but this first sample provided much pleasure and evidence that they can't do anything wrong (except be closed when I'm craving more ;) A few minutes after placing my order the warm flatbread came out with butter. Comparatively, many other Persian restaurants use Lavash sections, so I enjoyed the contrast. The neighboring table of four received their plates one at a time, so I figured the kitchen and grill were probably also fairly constricted like the lobby. Nonetheless, it didn't take long and the generous, colorful portions were a sight to behold! The first thing I noticed was how moist and tender both kabobs were. Not burnt or dry anywhere on either type. That's attributable to the elevated method of grilling, but here the chef has it down to a science. The second observation came later when I didn't feel excessively thirsty, or bloated, ir dehydrated. Some restaurants really brine the meat while marinating, but here it's another level of perfection. Good service and a reasonable price, although the menu prices might be behind current food costs. Still, it was totally worth it. I didn't have a way to keep leftovers in a safe temperature range, so I ate everything. Full, but not stuffed.

**1-star review** I…read morecalled to place a pickup order, and the experience was incredibly disappointing. The phone connection on the restaurant's end was very poor. I had a hard time hearing the employee, so I politely said, "I'm sorry?" several times because I genuinely couldn't understand what he was asking. Instead of being patient or trying to speak more clearly, he became visibly irritated. His tone became increasingly rude, and he raised his voice at me as if I was the problem. Despite the poor phone connection, I managed to complete my order. At the end of the call, he abruptly said, "It will be ready in 20 minutes," and hung up on me without a "thank you," "goodbye," or even asking if I needed anything else. I've never experienced such unprofessional and disrespectful customer service. The issue was clearly with the phone connection, not with me, yet I was treated as though I was inconveniencing him. The interaction left me so upset that I called back and canceled my order. There are plenty of restaurants that value their customers and know how to treat people with basic courtesy. Unfortunately, this was not one of them. I won't be returning.

Ordered takeout through DoorDash and was very impressed with the food. The Cornish hen was really…read morejuicy with loads of flavor. Upgraded the rice to adas polo and it was as good as any other, thought I thought the price to upgrade ($5.99) was steep. Kashk O'bademjan has become one of my favorite Persian dishes to order and theirs did not disappoint. Takeout was well packaged. Recommended!

I can confidently say that Darbari Persian Grill is my all-time favorite spot for Persian cuisine…read more Every single time I come here, it's consistently amazing. My go-to order is the chicken Cornish, and I always substitute the rice for zereshk polo. The rice is perfectly fluffy every time, and the barberries add the most delicious tang that just brings the whole dish together. It's seriously so good. They're also incredibly generous with their lavash bread, which I love because it pairs perfectly with everything. But what really makes this place special is the service. Everyone here is genuinely so kind and attentive, and I mean everyone. You're always greeted when you walk in and again when you leave, which just makes the whole experience feel so warm and welcoming. There's also an older gentleman who is always there with the biggest smile, checking in to make sure everything is perfect, and it never goes unnoticed. I also love that it's pet-friendly. The outdoor seating area with the turf is such a nice touch, and my dog absolutely loves it. Overall, this place is a 10/10 with 1000/10 service. Anytime I'm in the area, I have to stop here without fail.

We were looking for a middle eastern style place to eat and settled in Persian/Iranian at Darya…read more We were seared quickly and our server, who was very friendly, approached and offered drinks and appetizers. We ordered an order of dolmeh to start. For main course we ordered Darya salad, and koobideh kabob plates. The dolmeh were warm and delicious, the salad was big enough for three of us to share and was very good. I especially liked the chunks of sliced dates in the salad. The koobideh meat came out hot, was well seasoned and also very tasty! The plate came with two kabobs and a side of basmati rice! The portion was so large I could only eat one of the kabobs. Had the second one the next day for lunch!! Score!!! The only thing I wish was that they had something spicy to add to the dish, but no luck on that! Sorry no pics!!

I don't usually leave reviews, but Darya was too good not to. From the moment we walked in,…read moreeveryone was so welcoming and friendly. The restaurant has a really nice atmosphere elegant without feeling stuffy. The food was incredible. Everything came out fresh, hot, and full of flavor. The kebabs were perfectly cooked, the rice was fluffy, and the tahdig was hands down one of my favorite parts of the meal. You can tell they take pride in the quality of their food. The service really made the experience even better. Our server was attentive, checked in on us at the right times, and made us feel well taken care of without hovering. This was easily one of the best Persian meals I've had in Orange County. I'll definitely be coming back and recommending Darya to my friends and family.

Chicken Bonless with rice and salad Very delicious, well…read moredone chicken bonless juicy and delicious. And our server was Parto very good , friendly and polite We were here many times and enjoyed persian foods and music!

It was my first time trying this place. I had heard a lot of mixed reviews, but overall, I had a…read moregood experience. The restaurant was clean, and the ambiance was very nice. The food was good and definitely not traditional Persian, but I actually enjoyed the creative mix of Persian and Mexican flavors. The quality of the food was good as well. I especially loved the cucumber lychee martini--it was delicious! The samosas were also excellent, although the order only came with three pieces. Compared with other places that usually serve four or five, I felt the portion was a little small. I also tried the lamb plate, which was good, and the koobideh tacos were excellent. The service was okay, but there is definitely room for improvement. For dessert, I ordered the tres leches, but unfortunately, they were out of it. Instead of coming back to ask what I would like as a replacement, the server brought me tiramisu without asking. I would have preferred to choose my own substitute. On top of that, the tiramisu didn't seem very fresh, so I didn't feel it was worth the $12 price. Overall, though, I enjoyed the food, drinks, and atmosphere, and I would come back again.

Went to this restaurant last night with a group of friends. The atmosphere is elegant, but the…read moreprices are reasonable. The food was so delicious. Everything had such good flavor, and the portions were amazing. The service was also fantastic. Our whole group loved it. Definitely will return.

I've been here twice recently and it can get a little pricey, so maybe lunchtime is the move…read more I loved my adas polo, the flavors of dates and raisins adds a fun sweetness to the rice and chicken. My friend's all time favorite dish here is the chicken koobideh so give that a try if you want koobideh. I hope to come back and try their cocktails or dessert soon.

I had an absolutely amazing experience at Cafe Naderi, and a huge part of that was thanks to Sara…read more From the moment we walked in, she made us feel genuinely welcomed with her warm smile, positive energy and incredibly respectful. Always anticipating what we needed before we even had to ask. If you're going to Cafe Naderi, ask for Sara, you'll understand exactly what excellent service looks like.

I ordered chicken kebab to go, but when I got home, it was nothing like a proper Persian chicken…read morekebab. The chicken had almost no flavor and tasted like it had never been marinated. It seemed as if it was only seasoned with salt and pepper, with none of the traditional spices or marinade that make Persian chicken kebab so delicious. I called the restaurant hoping to speak with the manager, but the employee who answered refused to let me speak with them and was very rude. Instead of trying to resolve the issue, I was treated disrespectfully. The food quality was disappointing, and the customer service was even worse. Unfortunately, I won't be coming back, and I cannot recommend this restaurant based on my experience.

Found Soltani while driving around Santa Ana. I went around 12p(noon), there was plenty of parking…read moreas well as available tables in the dining area. I was greeted with a smile by the gentleman cooking behind the counter and I was able to self seat at the table of my choosing. The person that took my order was very kind and instructed me to grab a beverage from the fridge if I'd like. I ordered a simply chicken and rice plate with a side of their salad. I can't recall the name but it was very tasty, fresh, and delicious. The food came out quickly and tasted amazing, the chicken was cooked to perfection and the rice was flavorful. I enjoy the roasted tomatoes as well as the jalapeno on the side. It brought even more flavor and texture to the meal. Soltani is worth checking out if you are looking for a Mediterranean spot in Santa Ana

Long bookmarked on Yelp, but I didn't find myself anywhere near the area until recently to actually…read moretry the food. Located on 1st in Santa Ana near Tustin, there's a wrought iron fence around the private lot, and the restaurant is open until 9pm most nights. I was surprised nobody was dining in, and except for a woman waiting for her takeout order to be made, I was the only person for most of the visit. I quickly realized the phone rings often, so most business is ordered ahead, with the option to eat there, in the car, or take home. Clearly, for presentation and likely quantity, I recommend eating there. The host is a nice older gentleman who literally does it all, and is so good it hardly seems like he's working. My Shish kabob plate came out faster than expected, and I was almost as impressed with the salad as the saffron rice and actual kabob, which is tender and amazing by the way. Basically, you pick a drink from the refrigerator, and I let him talk me into trying hummus, and appetizer, which ultimately comes with cut flatbread. His take is less creamy than other restaurants, but the flavors are fresh, without garlic. Don't worry, the salad dressing is a fantastic creamy Italian style. All-in-all, I was enjoying every bite and pretty much ate everything, although I preserved some hummus to eat at home. The price was commiserate with the quality, and I suppose I'll try more when I'm around the area.

The first thing that attracted me was the name--it has such a warm and inviting feel. I really…read moreenjoyed the food, and the atmosphere was warm and friendly. It made the whole experience relaxing and enjoyable. I'll definitely be back!

I love the food, steak and salad delicious Great service,…read morel recommend them for enjoying a delicious meal with the family Thanks guys