Zoya absolutely exceeded my expectations! Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The Mezza Platter had an amazing variety of delicious appetizers, the Chicken Shawarma Plate was juicy, tender, and packed with authentic flavor, and the Too Hot to Handle Pizza was the perfect balance of spicy and cheesy with an incredible crust. The food quality, generous portions, and excellent service made this an unforgettable experience. If you're looking for authentic Mediterranean food with something unique on the menu, Zoya is a must-visit. I'll definitely be coming back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic meal! read more

To begin with , the staff and service reminded me of being welcomed like family. The food was outstanding , very fresh, presentation was very appealing . The bread was freshily made and we had it with a no. of their appetizers and Pizza. Very vegetarian friendly. The felafel was the best i had eaten and I have tried more than i count in my life time. We Will definetely recommend one of a king restaurant in beautiful La Jolla. read more

Probably the best middle eastern food in San Diego! Parking is a little tricky depending on which day you come, but absolutely amazing food... and this doesn't come lightly from someone who knows middle eastern food;) Fresh ingredients, wonderful service, solid food. read more

Zoya - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is a unique add from my experience on 8/6/26 to Masha S.'s review on Jun 22, 2026. My review is in relation to a chance visit this evening to your restaurant. Thankfully, my guest enjoyed her meal. I thought the food was fine. I've seen your responses to prior guests, Kamal, so I don't have any expectations other than receiving a generic response also. We, too, paid about the same as Masha for our two meals with no drinks and one order of hummus and pita bread--close to $80.00. There were a few things that surprised us, especially for The Cove, that made us have buyers' remorse, although I do take ownership for suggesting your restaurant after noticing it during our walk. 1.) Not only in La Jolla, but for any reputable restaurant located anywhere, the goal should always be "customer obsession." We did not plan to come to your restaurant, but because the one we intended to visit nearby had already closed, we stopped into Zoya as a hopeful alternative. Unfortunately, we were seated shortly before the kitchen was due to close. However, customers that earnestly enter your establishment during business hours shouldn't feel that pressure--we did. It was communicated to us in a manner that pressured us to make a rapid decision as to what to order. It could have just been a training opportunity, which we thought it was, but unfortunately I think it's in your restaurant's culture/DNA. Why? There were about 6-8 other guests already eating inside, and yet, by the time our dinner came out, your staff were already putting chairs on top of empty tables throughout the restaurant, and on tables next to diners as they ate. It felt like the whole place was shutting down around us and our food had just arrived! I don't believe a majority of your guests ever truly intend to come in at the last minute before closing to spite your employees, but it left me wondering about the lack of hospitality we all experienced. 2.) As my guest and I were sat outside in a dimly lit area, your waiters, as a courtesy, should ALWAYS proactively point out that your business adds a 4% charge for all credit cards when closing out the bill. Only customers that retain a receipt might notice that stipulation, but it wasn't entirely clear that we were charged more until after-the-fact. Additionally, your receipts have a two-tiered category of suggested tips (e.g., Tip (30%) $19.84 and suggest tip adjacent to one that says $19.07 on our bill, so on, and so on, further creating confusion. And lastly, 3.) Please update your in-restaurant menus. I'm 100% certain that your menu lists/listed a Chicken Shawarma bowl for $19.00, yet we were charged $22.00 each (not inclusive of tax). Hummus and Pita bread was $14. So between menu pricing discrepancies, no mention of the 4% extra charge for using a credit card, and tip amounts on your POS terminals instantly suggesting tips from 18-30% at your business, it's easy to understand Masha's perplexity, and surely many others' surprise, along with an uneasy feeling of 'what just happened?' after leaving your restaurant. Tips are earned, and although the 'closing-down-soon-service' was not at all appreciated, we still left one of the suggested tip amounts in the spirit of generosity. I sincerely hope you'll take the appropriate steps to properly train your staff, unambiguously correct your menu pricing, and create an atmosphere of CUSTOMER OBSESSION that makes patrons feel valued, want to return beyond a "special occasion," and add to your list of 5-star reviews. Clover ID: 7J5WR3Y1DAWXM read more

While walking around beautiful La Jolla, we decided to stop by Zoya Mediterranean Pizza & Bar for a late lunch. The service was friendly and efficient, and our food arrived within about 10 minutes of ordering. The three of us shared the Mezze Board and the Chicken Shawarma, and everything was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The portions were generous and more than enough for the three of us. We chose to sit outside and enjoyed the beautiful La Jolla atmosphere, but the inside of the restaurant looked modern, inviting, and well-designed. Overall, it was a great dining experience, and I'd definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area. read more

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I'm not a huge Mediterranean foodie, but my wife is. I have to say, this place changed my mind. Generous portions, fantastic customer service and good value for the money. This is a place to go if you're in the mood for Mediterranean. No ocean view, but right downtown and good for people watching. read more

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Tried this cute Mediterranean restaurant in downtown La Jolla! We got the zoya trio (hummus, muhammara, and baba ghanoush dips served with pita bread and carrots) and the beef tenderloin kebab to share between 2 people. All of the dips were delicious and the beef tenderloin was tender with good flavor! The restaurant did get quite busy later in the evening and so service became slow towards the end of our meal, but all the staff were very kind! They have several sharing platters on their menu, so it would be a nice place to go with a large group of people. read more

Zoya - Zoya trio - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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The Zoya trio was really yummy, every single dip was delicious and they gave us extra pita bread for only 1$! They give you a lot of all 3 dips you choose, so we ran out of pita bread quickly. The beef platter was just ok, beef was decent but felt like it was a lot of salad and not that much beef. Food came out really quick but then it got very busy and it was difficult to flag down a waiter to get our check. read more

Zoya - Beef Tikka Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Where do I start? This place was superb. I had a party of seven from work. Reservation experience was great. We called to add a couple extra people, and then those people didn't show; they rolled with the punches. The table was set when we got there. Service throughout was friendly, prompt, over and above. Ambiance was great, in a very important way: There was nice music, but you could hear yourself think! Nobody had to repeat themselves a million times. Perfect sound level for a group our size. But the food was the absolute star of the show. Literally everything was perfect. For shareable appetizers, we got both the trio and the mezze plate. It was basically hummus flights, with pita triangles and multicolored carrots. All the hummus types were delicious. But a special shout-out to the truffle hummus--it was divine. It was very truffle-y, but it was also very light and creamy. Somehow that's not a combo I expected. Next, I'm already a falafel fan, but good *Lord* their falafel was unreal. Some kind of perfect crispiness on the outside and soft flakiness inside that I've never experienced before in falafel. I asked the server what he'd recommend, and he said beef kebab. I got the beef kebab. He was not wrong. The meat itself was sumptuous. And I just moved from Texas, where every other backyard BBQ has someone smoking their brisket for 18 hours. This was the kind of cook where even the marbling melts in your mouth. Even the carrots were good, I don't know what to tell ya. 10/10. read more

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The food here is really great and I loved sitting outside on the patio. For Mediterranean, it's a little expensive which is unfortunate because it is really great but $78 for lunch is kinda crazy even in La Jolla. That was just for 2 plates and no drinks or appetizers. I might come back for a special occasion. read more

Zoya - chicken kebab plate - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Incredible mediterranean food! The variety of dips and the flavorful / juicy meats makes this place a stand out in San Diego. Everything is incredibly fresh and not to mention fantastic presentation. For the price I was also surprised by the portions - extremely generous. We fed 5 people for $120 (not including drinks) and we had leftovers. Really nice spot to come for family style and it's walking distance to the water for a nice stroll after a big meal! I will absolutely be coming back. read more

Zoya - House Mezze Board - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Okay, amazing highs and amazing lows. First the good: The food is exceptional. Clearly made with passion by experienced cooks. The menu is great, there's something for everyone and the each dish we had was fantastic. Not a single complaint. The service? Also excellent. Attentive, friendly, helpful. The prices? Surprisingly reasonable considering you're in the middle of a tourist hot spot and on the Main Street! Would I eat here again? Absolutely! Now the one negative...and it makes you second guess a few things: The restroom was absolutely disgusting!! Like walk in, turn around and walk out!! Used tissue, urine and even feces all over the place! I don't understand it. The restaurant is perfectly clean but the bathroom was an absolute nightmare. read more

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Excellent Mediterranean food! Awesome location just up from the water. Quick service S we had our order to go!

Ambiance..cute place..next to where the old living room is Service..good and friendly.. Food..amazing..ao fresh and diff flavours..we got the royal trio..came with hummus..baba ganoush..tomatoes spread..and bread and carrots..they have threw diff hummus to try too..I loved the bab gaboush the best. Also got truffle fries and chicken sandwich. It was so fresh and loved the garlic sauce. read more

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We were waking around La Jolla San meeded a nivel and a sip. We stopped in ambas the Blair made hummus..... so good. The pita bread was fresh out of the oven and yummy. Will have to go back to try the menu. read more

Zoya - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Ate here our first night in La Jolla. The service was very good. We split the platter that had pita, saffron rice, falafel, chicken Shawarma, beef tenderloin kebab and chicken kabab. We enjoyed the food. read more

I dropped by a little over a month ago after the La Jolla Art & Wine festival with some friends and this was a cute little gem of a place to grab a bite with my girlfriends. The interior is super cute & aesthetic and is set up like a cafe, so probably best for smaller parties. We ordered the Zoya trio to share and I got the chicken shawarma bowl for my entree. Out of the trio (hummus, muhammara, baba ghanoush), my favorite was surprisingly the muhammara and I'm usually not a fan of red pepper in general. Very tasty and great flavor! I just wish there was more pita, as we had a ton of the dip remaining. The chicken bowl was tasty and the chicken was seasoned well, but overall a bit dry. It came with a dollop of dip, but this time there wasn't enough of it. Thankfully I was able to use the dips from the trio! The salad was fresh, but too lightly dressed and super plain. I thought there would be tomatoes or feta (which would have added some much needed moisture) at least but it was just spring mix seemingly tossed with lemon juice and a bit of olive oil. I hate to give this place 3 stars as it has a lot of potential, but another aspect that was missing for me was the service. Don't get me wrong, all the servers were super nice and friendly, but they totally forgot my entree so I was sitting there for almost 10 minutes while my friends got theirs. After I was finally able to flag someone down, I saw them trying to figure it out on the side, realize that they forgot/delivered my dish to someone else, and then rush remake it. Then after it got dropped off at the table, they didn't even acknowledge that they made a mistake and pretended that it was just a minor delay. And in general, the service overall was on the slow side. I know they're new so they still have some kinks to work out. I would be willing to give them another try in a few months after they're more settled and if I was in the area. I do love that they're dog friendly! read more

Zoya - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Wow... 5 stars for the food!! The truffle mushroom pizza!!! This was the best pizza my husband and I have had... I think ever!! The crust was bubbly and crispy and chewy. I wish there was a little more mushroom but the flavor was exquisite with the truffle oil and the buffalo mozzarella. We have talked about this pizza several times already and can't wait to bring our son here to try their other pizzas. We also got the appetizer board with the hummus, baba ghanoush and muhamarra... all were very tasty. The hummus was sprinkled with toasted garbanzo beans that gave it a nice crunch and the baba ghanoush had a nice smokiness to it and was garnished with pomegranate seeds. I really enjoyed the muhamarra as well. Everything tasted fresh and high quality. I got a mimosa (they were out of the first two flavors I ordered so I settled on a mango) and my husband got a Guinness that looked really good. Service was good... we were greeted by the owner right when we walked in and selected a patio table. Our server was very sweet. read more

Unique mediterranean place with pizza! I've never tried dates on a pizza before and it was definitely interesting. If you love dates, I definitely recommend the "Take Me On A Date" pizza. Make sure to add chicken for extra flavor. It is definitely on the sweeter side but the chicken adds in the perfect contrast. If you're not feeling pizza, try the Small Family Platter to experience a little bit of everything! The service was amazing! Everyone was so attentive and would check in on us every so often asking about the food as well :) This is a perfect place for family and friends read more

Zoya - Zoya Family Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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So much yes to this spot! The food is fire! We got the Zoya Trio. It was perfect! Such a great addition. We also got the chicken kebab platter. The chicken was literally cooked to perfection. The taziki was also amazing! The salad was also great. Next time I'm in La Jolla, I'll head back to Zoya and have a feast! Our server was also really kind and efficient. Overall, it's a GREAT dinner spot. read more

Zoya - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

From the initial greeting by the host to the farewell from our server, our experience was stellar. Every encounter with staff was polite and kind. The food was outstanding. Hummus appetizer sampler, Zoya salad, cheese pizza, beef bowl. Their chef was rightly nominated as top local chef. We agree! We were seated directly under a TV blasting FIFA WC and they turned the volume down for us (though we enjoyed the game). Restaurant noises and decor made for very nice experience. Thank you all, we will return! read more

03/31/2026 We met up with friends for dinner at this place. It is located on the southern end of the downtown area next door to Free People. You could call in to reserve a table (highly recommended!) or wait. They have inside seating, a small 6-8 person bar, and patio seating. Our server recommended the Mango margarita. It was good and sweet, but I barely tasted any alcohol in it. The Mezze Board was definitely a hit for the four of us - pita bread, 4 falafels, small, colorful fresh carrots, a trio of hummus, and some muhammara. We did have to ask for more pita bread. =) Apparently our hummus to bread ratio wasn't the best! LOL Hubby and I ended up sharing a chicken kabab plate, which came with light and fluffy saffron rice and a salad. The salad had roasted chickpeas (my favorite!), cherry tomatoes and a yummy vinaigrette dressing. The rice was delicious and the chicken was moist and tender. It was definitely more than enough for the two of us to share after having appetizers. Our server was friendly and efficient. We sat and talked a lot during our eating so he was very patient with us. We didn't even notice it started to get busy and tables nearby turned over at least twice while we were there. The quality of food was excellent - cooked well, tasted amazing, and presentation was perfect! We would definitely be back to try more of their food - specifically their pizza, sandwiches, and desserts. Their desserts looked amazing! We didn't have room for any. The table next to us ordered some dessert and they were shaped like fruit. The menu says there are different types of cakes and fillings inside each. YUM! Definitely check it out when you're in the La Jolla area. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. read more

Had an overall great experience at Zoya. Service was warm, the food was well rounded, and I think there's even more room for potential. They've only been open a few months, and I can see this place getting very busy very fast on the weekends. There is outdoor seating if you have pups, and the indoor is very spacious for larger groups. The falafel sandwich was really good, not soggy and crunchy with a great sauce. The dips were incredible. Get the trio, and try them all. The fish is bone in, so it was require a bit of de-boning but it is worth it. We will be back, and so happy to have this restaurant in downtown La Jolla. read more

Zoya - dips - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Just adding to my precious review, I noticed that the bill is much higher than I thought. So be careful if you use credit card, there is a 4 percent surcharge which was specified in the bill but I overlooked it at the time. And then when it came the time for tip, the machine gave out options that is based on total amount including the surcharge the sales tax etc. So all this resulted in a much higher bill. read more

Zoya opened over a month ago taking the space of the former Ahi tuna restaurant in La Jolla. Parking is always a challenge in this area. The restaurant has a full bar, ample seating inside and outdoors. Interior decor was lively with the typical faux greens and flowers cascading from the ceiling. Contemporary background music played. From the menu selections, the food seems to be Mediterranean with various hummus, grilled meats, sandwiches, salads and pizza. I ordered the hummus trio, side of falafel, beef skewer sandwich and a mocktail. Sadly, my phone desperately needed charging and didn't take food pics, apologies. The falafel balls tasted too dry and were smaller than expected, not like the ones posted that were larger and didn't have the greenish hue inside. I've eaten lots of falafels and so I was disappointed with this version. The beef skewer from the sandwich was for my pup, who enjoyed it. The mocktail was too sweet and sugary, couldn't drink it. The hummus trio was fresh, wish the baba ganoush had more of a smokey taste but nonetheless all these dips were delish. The only waiter was cordial, courteous, very nice and made our dining experience better than expected, excellent service. read more

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This downtown La Jolla suite near the Cove has gone through multiple businesses since a national burger chain closed its operations several years ago. Zoya is the latest entity to open with a focus on Mediterranean cuisine. The interior decor was modified from its predecessor, but nothing had changed in the layout. A kiosk was set up near the entrance if you wanted to place an order to go. That unit was not fully functional during my visit at the beginning of this month. The two-page food menu consisted of appetizers, bowls/plates, and salads on one side with pizzas, sandwiches, sides, and family style items on the other side. A whole roasted fish was one of the family style choices. A Beef Tikka Plate was my dinner selection. Two skewers of marinated beef filet were grilled medium rare and served with saffron rice, lemon labneh, and a salad. The meat was cooked well, however it could have used more marinade/seasoning beforehand. A larger serving of rice or the addition of pita bread slices would have provided better balance to the protein and veggies, especially for $28. The service from the staff was adequate as it wasn't busy that evening. I gave a four star rating for my dining experience at Zoya. read more

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Pleasant first time dining at this new restaurant in LJ Village on Prospect. We made a reservation using Google as we did not have any luck having our calls answered. Restaurant is pleasant in decor and has an open feel. We were greeted very kindly and offered our choice of tables despite restaurant being fairly busy. Server was very pleasant and efficient. We did not try the bar. Humus and pita appetizer. We split a family dinner for 4. They were kind enough to let us change chicken and beef to all chicken. Kabobs and schwarma very moist and perfectly spiced. Tiny taste of sweet baklava as a thank you for our business. Perfect end to a nice dinner. We'll be back. Their pizzas looked very good and we'll try one. read more

Zoya - Family platter but with all chicken instead of chicken and beef. It also came with pita bread. - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

We had a great dinner here! We were immediately seated, service was very friendly. With three people total, we ended up getting the Mezze board and the chicken shawarma plate. I think that ended up being the perfect amount of food for us to share. I loved all the different hummus options that came with the platter, my personal favorite was the spicy hummus. We all liked the crispy chickpeas on top. The Muhammara was delicious!! The falafel was also great. The chicken in the shawarma plate we got was so juicy and overall the food was very flavorful. Everything tasted very fresh. I would definitely come back next time I'm in La Jolla. read more

Zoya - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Needed to find a place for dinner in La Jolla and decided to try Zoya based on these reviews. It's a casual restaurant serving Mediterranean food and pizza. All of it was well prepared and delicious. The falafals were the best I've had - crisp shell and flavorful and spicy interior. The pita bread was fresh and the chicken kabobs on a bed of rice with salad were delicious. We were told it's a family restaurant and the food tasted like it was homemade. Service was excellent. Everybody was friendly. Overall great food at very reasonable prices. read more

Zoya in La Jolla has varied Mediterranean eats, like their jalapeno beef sausage pizza, breakfast pastries, Nutella strawberry pizza and mushroom pizza. delicious and flavorful, located right in the heart of the jewel City la Jolla! read more

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Why Zoya didn't have a full house on a holiday afternoon is a mystery to me. My partner and I got a table on the patio next to the street under a few big umbrellas. The service was friendly and attentive. The menu extensive and price was right. The restaurant was inviting, nicely decorated with lively and lovely Mediterranean music playing. (I am a snob when it comes to hearing music that matches the cuisine of the restaurant I am dining in.) We ordered the spinach strawberry salad with falafels and mushroom pizza and shared. BOTH were fantastic. I could have eaten that salad for days. It was delicious. And I've never had better falafels. About halfway into our meal, it started down pouring outside. The staff offered an inside table, but we were well protected under the big umbrellas and thoroughly enjoyed hearing the rain and our view of the bustling Prospect Ave. It was very romantic! The waiter brought us a complementary bowl of warm soup and some pita bread which was so kind (it was very good and we ate it all even though we were sufficiently stuffed). I suppose he felt sorry for us in the cold, but we were actually very happy. The only criticism I have is the state of the bathroom. One of the doors was completely broken and unable to lock, and all the supplies were low or nonexistent. Other than that, it was an excellent experience and I will definitely be coming back! read more

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I came here on a Thursday around 11:30 AM, right when they opened. It was nice and quiet with only one other table seated. We chose to sit outside, and the patio setup was great. The umbrellas gave plenty of shade, and they allowed my two dogs to join us, which was a huge plus. Our server was fantastic. He brought out a bowl of cold water for the dogs. We were also given complimentary pita bread, which was a nice touch. For drinks, I ordered a Pinot Noir. There were two options, and I went with the one he recommended. It was phenomenal. Smooth and paired well with the meal. I ordered the: *Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken Shawarma: it was honestly one of the best salads I've had. The addition of figs made it stand out, and the chicken was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. Everything tasted fresh and light. I was able to finish the whole plate and walked away feeling satisfied, but not overly full. My friend ordered the chicken bowl, which looked just as good. The portion was generous enough that they boxed up half to take home. Overall, this is a great spot. Awesome service, fresh and flavorful food, and a really cute atmosphere. I'd definitely come back with a bigger group to try some of the appetizers and explore more of the menu. Everything that came out looked delicious. read more

Zoya - Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken Shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amazing truffle hummus and fish! The decor and service were also great. Everyone was friendly. read more

Zoya - Family style Roasted Whole Fish - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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I used to think mediterranean places cant be bad.. was proved wrong. We ordered some kind of a kebab plate. the meat seemed to have a sweet glaze on them, which was unexpected and unnecesary. Didnt order anything much after that wanted to give 2 stars, but to be fair, we didnt try a lot other stuff there so dont want to ding the place on that one bad (but i'd say fundamental) dish. read more

Food was amazing. Menu is reasonably priced although for a group of four it will add up. There is a 4% additional charge added to the bill for using card. read more

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The house salad and margherita pizza was perfect lunch takeout when we were at a nearby hotel. Hot, thin crust pizza, really good crispy chickpeas and dressing on the salad. I loved how thin the pieces of tomato were on the pizza and that the pizza was hot. Margherita is such a simple pizza it's really nice to get it right. We opted for pickup instead of delivery and because it was a few minutes later than they estimated, they offered him a free drink while he waited. What a nice touch. read more

Stopped in on a whim for lunch over the weekend on the hunt for authentic Mediterranean. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare on prospect but we were able to find spots quickly. Menu is fairly straight forward with bowls, plates, appetizers and pizzas. Casual dining with only beer and wine options. Our food was okay. Hummus didn't pack much flavor and the portion was quite small for $15. Chicken schwarma bowl was another quite small portion with a bit more char than we preferred. Not much to the entree beyond rice chicken and salad. Again missing key flavors you'd expect for a Mediterranean restaurant. Our server was great fixing the issue but not sure flavor and value was there for a return visit. Oddly enough the pizzas were quite popular and looked fantastic but not sure Zoya hit the mark for us. read more

Zoya - Hummus & Pita - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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How to even begin describing Zoya? If you want to spend a pleasant afternoon with friends, this is the perfect place. It has a great atmosphere for a perfect afternoon. You're greeted with a big smile, and each one of the servers is super attentive. Oogie (I hope I didn't misspell his name) was our very attentive waiter, suggesting hummus appetizers in different presentations, each one delicious. For our main course, we chose the Zoya Family Platter with perfect portions of marinated meat and chicken, not forgetting our "Too Hot to Handle" pizza, a unique take on sweet and savory. And to finish, we enjoyed delicious desserts, but the baklava was the best for me, accompanied by a rich caffè latte. Thanks to Zoya for creating the best evening. read more

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Not sure what race is all about with this place. Waited to get seated while this other customer came in and started talking to one of the staff and the others didn't pay attention. Food - blah. Spicy Caesar not spicy at all. Falafel - not good. Overall I didn't care for it read more

What a cute new spot in downtown La Jolla. The owner and the bartenders went above and beyond to provide stellar customer service! Their pita and muhammara are very flavorful, so is the baklava. The baklava is probably the best I have tried in SD. Will be back to try their main course. read more

Zoya - Muhammara - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California