Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

This restaurant offers authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, with minimal adjustments to the original flavors. The Kobab skewers are lightly salted and have a mild taste, lacking juiciness. However, the restaurant's falafel is exquisite, featuring a crispy exterior and a soft, tender interior. My favorite item is the small pot of tea, which costs $10 and includes unlimited hot water refills. The tea is infused with a generous amount of mint, with options for both black and green tea. Sugar is not added to the tea, allowing customers to sweeten it to their own preference.

Really nice Mediterranean food in Clairemont. The service is outstanding here—they consistently (without being annoying) ask about refills and anything that might improve the experience. The salads are enough for two people, and the chicken is very fresh and juicy. The lamb kebab plate is quite good as well, and comes with a heaping portion of rice. Come hungry, or take home a second meal. A worthwhile spot for lunch or dinner if you’re in the mood for Mediterranean. Come by and try it out.

The dining space is spacious with a distinct Middle Eastern ambiance. The service is prompt; they respond quickly to orders and attend to customers efficiently. However, let's address the food, which is crucial. We opted for the mixed grill. Unfortunately, it was rather underwhelming. The kebab, in particular, was disappointingly dry and crumbled into small pieces when attempting to cut it with a knife or fork. The flavor was also peculiar, not quite hitting the mark. The meat, specifically the Awsal Kebab, was charred around the edges and lacked the desired taste profile. The chicken, while adequately seasoned, resembled more of an Indian Tandoori flavor (minus the characteristic red hue). As for the side of French fries, they were a complete letdown, arguably the worst I've ever tasted. It would be beneficial for them to offer traditional fries or provide alternative options that are more palatable. Their signature Alladin Pizza, featuring Za'atar, unfortunately, was dominated by this herb, overshadowing other components of the pizza. In conclusion, while I might seem critical, there is genuine hope for improvement. Enhancing their culinary offerings to match their commendable service would greatly enhance the overall dining experience. Additionally, a slight adjustment in pricing would be welcomed, as it aligns more with casual dining rather than a premium gourmet experience.

Popular spot that offers huge portion sizes. Initially when ordering, we noticed the prices were on the higher side but you could easily get two meals from one dish, well worth it! The shawarma was delicious and filling as were the salads. The restaurant does get busy on the weekends so expect a short wait if you’re coming during rush hour. Highly recommend this spot!

Food is very good. Staff is nice. There are vegetarian options. Food is served in big portions. Some plates can take 45 mins to make, so they require you call ahead, see menu for details. The Baklava ice cream was soo good!!

We ordered the mango iced tea, shish kebab mix (entree) and baklava and shared it among the 2 of us. We thought the quantity was perfect. It was 3 types of meat skewers and came with basmati rice, 2 (or was it 3? Don’t remember.) freshly baked pita breads, salad, hummus, and garlic sauce.The food was so good, we ended up overeating. The meats and the rice were all well-cooked, the salad was yum, and the hummus + pita + garlic sauce were perfect. My husband loved their chicken kebab and I loved the koufta kebab. It ended up being $33/person after tip which we thought was a great deal. We went in for a late lunch but the house was packed. The food took some time to come but it was well worth it. The server was nice and attentive. We will definitely be going back.

Extremely friendly service. The food is very tasty and authentic. Lots of options on the menu. They have plenty of indoor seating and heated outdoor patio. Parking could be a bit challenging.

They know their stuff! Smooth hummus, tender lamb shank and well seasoned Shawarma. Can't wait to go again and try other food. Plus, we ordered two entries and an appetizer, it turns out to be a 4-5 person portion for us. Love it! Note, many interesting options require to call ahead or 45 minute wait so plan ahead.

Food is still consistently delicious! We always get the Chicken Tikka plate, Greek Salad and Moroccan tea. Flavorful and healthy dishes, consistently happy. We come at least once a month. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare, so recommend going in off hours to offset that and the crowds.

All around very pleased with this place and will be back. The hummus is high quality and creamy. The lamb kebabs were delicious! Ask for medium rare. The chicken shawarma was good but it did have an interesting flavor that I haven't tasted so strongly in Mediterranean food before, I think it was cardamom or allspice. So if you're not used to those flavors, go for something else. Slightly pricey but portions are good.

We made a reservation for our party of 9, and they were ready and seated us right when we got there. Unfortunately, the good service ended there. We ordered fries and pita for the kids, and despite reminding our waitress, the fries didn't come until the main courses came, so we had super bored / hungry kids with nothing to eat. The pita didn't come until after we were almost finished with dinner...super helpful. Our dinner order was also wrong as one of us got lamb kebabs instead of the chicken we ordered, and getting the waitress to bring the chicken took another 5 minutes or so. The food was outstanding: the chicken was tender and perfectly seasoned, the hummus was so smooth and the rice was also excellent. Our son loved his cheese pizza, and it's awesome to have a Mediterranean restaurant that also serves good pizza. I think this was just a bad experience based on other reviews, and I would definitely go back but just get takeout next time.

This is a mixed review because USUALLY this place is very good. It was a busy night, but these guys are often busy because they are popular... so I hope this was a fluke. I'll start with the bad. As part of our order we ordered a $40 Gyro Plate, which is supposed to be "Grade A" and I have to say was excellent in the past. Usually, it's thick strips of tender well cooked and flavorful gyro meat. This time however, it came out late, was cold, and was these super small and thin fragments of crispy meat curled up dry, hard, and gristly. In addition to the the quantity seemed much smaller than normal. I don't know what happened... maybe they ran out of meat and decided to give the left over crap to us. NOT happy about it. They did take it off the bill when I complained, but if that was my restaurant I would have done more about it. Another bad is that while the Hummus is very good and well made, the portion they give you for a $14 "full" hummus is about the same size as I can pay for at North Park Grill for a $7 "half". So, these guys aren't very generous with the Hummus. Additionally, they are pretty stingy with the bread, but will bring more if you ask, and the bread is quite good. This place generally in the past has large portions for the price, but I definitely felt this time like the portions on the meats had reduced and the price had increased. Now the good. The rest of the meats were well cooked and very tender and flavorful, as was the rice and the Salads. The host and waitress were both very professional, and there was nothing to complain about there. I'd suggest the Chef who prepared our Gyros got a good talking to. He should have never let that leave the kitchen. Neither should the server have let it leave the kitchen. It's partly their job to ensure things look right. The person who kept bringing our food (a young man) would come bring a dish, then promptly leave quickly even when we were trying to ask him something. He didn't seem too attentive and just doing his best to quickly bring stuff and leave.

QUICKIE UPDATE: Called ahead of time and got the Maklobeh. There was four of us. I cannot express to you how much food this was by itself. I am confident in saying this could feed 6, easily. Additionally tried out the mixed grill (combo #11). Everything was seasoned well with flavor. The chicken had a great kick to it. Waitress informed us we could just order "All Natural Free Range Chicken Kebab" (combo #4) and ask for the thigh to get the meat from the mixed grill. She said it was commonly asked about.

I like to rate restaurants based on three factors: the food, the atmosphere, and the service. Starting with the food, Aladdin Cafe has a vast menu with a variety of dishes. I'm not sure why the labels say "Turkish" but the food is a fusion of North African, Desi, and Middle Eastern options. I was excited for the quality ingredients advertised on the menu. We tried appetizers such as hummus, falafel, and the mixed pickles. This was followed by an order of the beef/lamb wrap with a side of biryani rice for me, and a chicken shawarma salad for my wife. The appetizers were good. The sandwich was okay - it contained a skewer of meat, pickles, and hummus. Typically some fresh ingredients such as lettuce, onions, and tomatoes are added but didn't seem to be the case here. For some reason the salad dish (a main course) arrived well after the sandwich was dropped off. The chicken was over seasoned diced chunks added to a salad with raw pistachios, pizza style olive slices, feta, dried tomatoes and lettuce. What's more, our server was barely attentive from the minute we arrived and never followed up to top off drinks or cared to do anything about the late salad. The whole thing felt careless especially at $78 for two sandwich, salad, and apps. We visit San Diego frequently and there are many middle eastern choices. Unfortunately, we couldn't add Aladdin Cafe to our list of choice locations that deliver on all three measures.

May the fourth be with you and on this July 4th May you have dinner of the best middle Eastern food there is at Aladdin ! order Zarb, lamb cooked Uber a salt bed over veggies, 48 in advance for incomparable flavor! a tad expensive but great for and service.

Located off of Clairemont Mesa Blvd in a small shopping area and depending when you go, parking can be a challenge. We went on a Thursday night at 6pm and the parking lot was full. They offer indoor as well as patio seating. Customer service was amazing as well as the food! We ordered a lot and it came out quick! It's recommended to set a reservation as this restaurant is very popular and stays busy all the way up to closing time. Now I know why, the food is AMAZING! We ordered: Jafar's pizza - good Mix grill (added rice and salad) - A MUST, moist and delicious meats Grass fed baby lamb chops - OMG A MUST, order as many lamb chops as possible! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. Lamb borak - A MUST, order 2 Hummus w/Shawerma - I have never has hummus so smooth and fresh, shawerma was a plus for flavor and texture Hawawshi - good but, Lamb borak is where it is at! Kunafa w/cream - so DELISH! I haven't had the cheese filled yet but, I will next time we go. Cream filling is amazing though! Baklava w/Turkish ice cream - OMG, order two or three! One order per person, IT'S THAT AMAZING Passion fruit tea - Just a hint of flavor...just FYI their tea is not that sweet but you can order it extra sweet. Mango tea - I'd prefer mango over passion. More flavorful and definitely ask for extra sweet! If in Clairemont, give them a try! You're welcome in advance!

Friday night evening out with the family. We had the pleasure to sit in Hazma section. What a great waiter. Great service, great personality and gave us excellent customer service. Our drinks were full, food was delivered fast and hot and plentiful food served on each entree. Delicious flavors. We ordered the mixed grill, had chicken, lamb, steak, hummus, salad and basmati rice. We ate so much and still had plenty to take home. Excellent place for lunch or dinner. We will be back. Happy customer Laura & Fam

I haven't been here in YEARS, and it's as great as it always has been. The menu has definitely expanded since the last time I was here, while also keeping the original favorites. Love, love everything we had. I need to come over more often!

Wow, wow, wow! Literally the best spot for a Mediterranean dinner in San Diego hands down! I am so glad my friend recently came here for a birthday dinner, he recommended we try it and I am so glad I did! Unfortunately I only took pictures of a couple of the apps and then I spent most of the time enjoying all the delicious food. The service was amazing even though the restaurant was completely packed including the entire parking lot and even street parking (it's popular!). The ambiance is nice, the back room is really cool. Below is every dish we tried: 5/5 - Hummus: Super creamy, very flavorful, exactly what you want, an authentic and delicious hummus to taste like. 5/5- Garlic Sauce (Toum): so garlicky, so fluffy, so delicious! 4/5: Half Dozen Borak Sampler: cheese, spinach, and lamb borak, 2 of each. The cheese is by far the best, the lamb was solid, and the spinach wasn't bad either. As long as you don't mind a lot of cheese, I would just get the cheese if you're trying this. 5/5 - Jasmin's Vegetarian Pizza: wonderfully seasoned and fire roasted veggies on a delightful wood fired pizza. An amazing starter or table share item, definitely a group favorite. 5/5 - Chicken Shawarma Bites: super flavorful and very delicious, filling, but also a great share for a family style meal. 4.5/5 - Falafel Gyro: very flavorful, really good. When you get a bite of everything, parts can be a little dry at the beginning and the end if the hummus isn't disturbed all the way.

First time here I got the beef shawerma bites, falafel, and cheese borak. Delicious. My friends got the #3,6,9. They all enjoyed their meals. Super big servings. Salads were good. My friend could not stop talking about the lamb chops. We got desserts of warbat, halva, and baklava. All really good. Good service nice, atmosphere, and I will definitely be back.

I have 2 places that are my favorite when it comes to a Mediterranean food, one in Spring Valley and one here in Clairemont Mesa. In Clairemont, we have been going to this place called "ALADDIN Mediterranean Restaurant" ever since we moved here to San Diego years ago. Every time we come here, we don't even need a Menu to look at, we get the same order whenever we dine here. Here are our regular orders every time we dine here: *HOUSE TEA POTS - ARABIAN Tea with Fresh Mint. *MIX GRILL - A combination of CHICKEN TIKA kebab, KOUFTA kebab, LAMB TIKA kebab, CHICKEN TAWOUK kebab, and LAMB CHOPS. *ALADDIN MEZA PLATTER - An appetizer platter consisting of Hummus, tabouleh, baba ghanouj, CHICKEN SHAWARMA & BEEF SHAWARMA, dolma, falafels, kebeh, garlic sauce, pickles, & tahini sauce. Served with pita bread. *LAMB SHANK (2 pieces) - A delicious and tender lamb Shanks braised in a fresh & aromatic roma tomato sauce, cooked in Mediterranean herbs, and served with basmati rice and Arabic salad on the side. I always order my Tea here, it's a Mint tea and it's delicious. Also, I love their Tea Pot here and I wish they consider someday making their beautiful and durable Teapot available for Sale. The meats on their MIXED GRILL are very tender, soft, and flavorful!!! I love how the meats here are not Dry. I always enjoy their MIXED GRILL. Then the ALADDIN MEZA PLATTER is also worth getting, there's lots included on this platter to try, and it is a perfect add-on to our main meal. And my Son's FAVORITE here is the LAMB SHANK. We love the 2 Delicious LAMB SHANKS. The lambs have good portions, and the SAUCE on this one goes very well with the basmati rice and the meat is so tender it just falls off the bone easily, very yummy! There's plenty of space indoors and outdoors to dine in. The staff are great, and our server Angie M was awesome, she's very friendly and was always checking on us for what we might need. We always come out from this place Happy and with our Tummies Full, hopefully, next time we can try their dessert because every time we try we are so full from all the food that we had here. I recommend this place to everyone to give them a try, the food and service here are very good.

Food: I really enjoyed the high quality ingredients on every dish. My favorites were their chicken shawarma, kebeh, and hummus as they had amazing flavor and their chicken was very juicy. Their pita was also very fluffy and straight out of the oven. Their falafels and beef shawarma were a bit dry for my liking and lacked some flavor. However, their warbat dessert was unlike anything I've tasted- it's a must get! Service: Staff were very friendly and our server made great recommendations for our first time there. Ambiance: Lots of space for indoor or outdoor dining, so it's great for big parties.

This place was just okay. The food was decent but you can get better and the hole in the wall style places. Everything was so overpriced compared to other restaurants too. The service and the staff were friendly but they didn't check on us and we had to finally flag them down so we could pay and leave. Some people may like that but I would like to be checked on every once in a while.

Came here for a recommendation from someone who LOVE this place. Parking was hard for dinner time. We parked far on the street. For party of 4, we waited maybe 20 mins. They do have outdoor seatings that's pet friendly. Their decorations inside were pretty random, but whatever. You are not here for ambiance, but for food. We've shared platter that had lamb, chicken, salad, rice, beef. So much food on that one plate. You could've shared it with 3 people if you weren't hungry. I would have to say lamb was the best of that platter. Some chicken were dry but some were good. I did really love their salad, rice was also good. I do think this is a solid Mediterranean restaurant in San Diego so far.

The falafels were okay - I think having the sesame seeds on it is an acquired taste. I asked for a few things to be removed from my wrap and she looks at me as though I asked if she can bring me the sun - and she says "ummm maybe I'll try". Okay... The server brings someone else out there to say they'll just put it all on the side (okay? I mean whatever - I just couldn't eat some of the things in it) Service: meh. The server didn't come check on us at all during our meal. I wanted to add on and by the time she brought it out, I was done with my meal. Ambiance: it is a nice outdoors spot. Very busy!

I order food from this place and our experience was definitely delicious fresh and healthy choices

Always a great time being here. Probably the best Mediterranean food in San Diego. I have been here multiple times. Chicken Shawarma, Falafel Wrap, Falafel bites, Pita and Pink Hummus are some of my favorites. Of course their meat platter is fantastic as well. Service is on point and does have good ambience as well. Have some space in your tummy for some amazing desserts. Baklava and Turkish Knafeh are very authentic and so so so good. I'd highly recommend this place.

We came to celebrate a birthday. The food is very delicious. We got the grilled platter with rice, salad an order of hummus and lamb borak. It was more than enough for four hungry people. Our server was attentive, friendly, and quick to respond to our requests. The ambiance was good as well with the soccer game on. Loved it!

I eat here at least once a week and I love their food so much!! I usually order a bunch of appetizers like hummus, dolma, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, falafel, cheese borak, and spinach borak. Let me tell you everything is delicious!! I also occasionally order the passion fruit shrimp salad and love that as well. If you like Mediterranean food please do yourself a favor and check this place out. The staff is amazing and has worked there forever and remembers you if you eat here often. It's such a great place to eat, don't be surprised if they are busy!!

First time trying out this place and it was bit overwhelming. Luckily they were able to give us suggestions on what to get. Couldn't really wrap my mind on the beef or the chicken so we decided to get both. Beef Shawarma Wrap was also pretty good but the sauce was a bit too much for my tastebuds. I also should've asked to remove the tomatoes. I would say this a great place to try . The next time I come back I want to try the "mixed grill."

After countless visits spanning over a decade, it's safe to say we are huge fans of this place. While there have been new items added to their menu, I believe the most impressive feature of the restaurant is consistency in quality and flavor / taste. Each time we visit our favorite dishes have tasted exactly the same... not an easy feat for a restaurant to accomplish over the span of such a long time. Our current family favorites include ordering a hawawshi or falafel AND either the mezze platter or the mixed grill to share family style (depending on how hungry the family is). But my personal go-to order is the beef&lamb shawarma wrap with a side salad and extra garlic sauce on the side. Hits the spot EVERY single time. We've even catered from here multiple times and food has always been a huge hit! The beef koufta kebabs are AMAZING. Most times we are wayyy too stuffed to have room for dessert but now that the kiddos are older and have appetites to match, the kunafa with ashta is our family favorite. The service has always been friendly and prompt, kudos to the entire team.

If you need a diet that avoids carbohydrates and focuses on vegetables and protein, you must visit Aladdin Cafe. The food here is delicious, and the staff is friendly.

Aladdin Cafe is such a great restaurant for Mediterranean food!! I loved everything I tried here. We tried the shish kebab mixed plate and the grilled shrimp plate. Comes with rice, hummus, pita, and garlic sauce. Everything was great and nicely seasoned. I loved the grilled shrimp. We also tried their borak combo which was great! For dessert we tried the baklava and ice cream separately. You can get it together as well. Their portions are huge, so we had a lot of leftovers. Service is so kind and pretty quick. They can get busy here. Parking is not too terrible. Has a very homey vibe here.

I have to be honest- the food is amazing. But my problem is with their new process of ordering food To-Go. First, I called and was told they couldn't take my simple order over the phone- that I could only order via their website. While it would have saved a lot of time just to have been able to place my order over the phone, I was able to place my order online (luckily I was a passenger in a car, if I was a driver I wouldn't have bothered ordering.) I placed an order for 2 large hummus and 10 pita breads (btw you have to pay for it then or you can't place your order). I went to pick up my food and the server gives me 20 pita. I explain I didn't order 20, I had ordered 10. He says that they come in pairs of 2. I told him his online menu doesn't say that and I would have only order 5 pita (to get 10). He then says there is nothing he can do because I already paid for my food. I explained that had I been able to order over the phone, this would have been prevented. Clearly they need to work on their processes. Even the server admitted they've been losing business. In the future I will likely go in to eat, but I won't bother with ordering to-go anymore.

TL;DR: best Mediterranean in San Diego paired with attentive service - 7/11 all day! Oh man, I think I finally found my favorite Mediterranean spot in SD - possibly in Socal Aladdin is in an unassuming strip right off Clairemont and the 805. Parking is scarce and there's probably going to be a line when you go, especially if it's around standard mealtimes It's all worth it. Food is wow. Service is quick. Vibe is happy. What else could you ask for? Order (4-top): - #7 Meza platter (5/5): if I could only order 1 item from Aladdin, it'd be this one. You're missing out on the large cuts of meat/kabobs but you get all the sides along with some meat side dishes. Undefeated order item. - #11 Mixed grill (4.5/5): We thought the lamb or the beef would be the favorite but turns out the chicken was the best. Unfortunately, the lamb was on the dry side which sucked because we had really been looking forward to it. Everything else was delicious. Service brought extra pitas whenever he saw that our stash was getting low and our cups were never empty of water. Super attentive and friendly! - don't forget to try their teas! Just get yourself here - Aladdin will take care of you :) Can't wait to be back! Cheers, Aladdin!

Every single time we visit SD, we plan to eat at Aladdin Cafe! The food is fresh and so yummy with a great selection of items! This time, I had the fatoosh salad, lentil soup, and pizza!! The food never disappoints! Can't wait to go back again!! I would totally get a second home to be closer!! ;P

Very good but the portions are huge. We got a lot because we wanted to try a bit of everything so I would recommend coming with a lot of people so you can try the different things. Only thing I would pass on are the meat rolls but everything else I would get again. They are also known for their salads even though we did not get that.

The service was unsatisfactory. I ordered a beef shawarma wrap, but it had an unpleasant odor and was mostly fat. When I requested a replacement, the server responded with considerable attitude.

I've been wanting to go here for about 7+ years after passing by on several occasions. I'd often forget about this spot and have already eaten when I'm in the area. Now that I've finally dropped in, I will never again fail to remember to go to this gem when craving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Mixed grill ($55): The kabobs (lamb, chicken, chicken koufta, and beef) were all fantastic, 9/10 rating. They were all tender and seasoned. The lamb chops were incredible, 10/10! It was juicy, tender, and lightly seasoned with just a hint of a lamb aftertaste. Side of Arabic Salad ($8): well-seasoned, slightly tart, but refreshing. 8/10. The elevated prices here are justified with the high-quality and hearty portions. The server was affable and swift, as the main course was provided shortly after the salad was given.

If you're looking for a middle eastern spot that gives you massive portions this is the spot to go to. It is always a crowd favorite for lunch two make sure you go early. The wait staff is always so friendly and the ambiance is great for both couples and families. We had came here with about 9 people and had ordered a baba ganoush, a hummus, a pizza, and two mix grills. It was enough for us to take home food. I would recommend this spot all sd locals and visitors!

2nd time here and the food is amazing again. Only issue is that the server (forgot her name) charged us for 5 lentil soups and never brought them out! We didn't realize this until after leaving as she was quick with bringing out starters and main course. She also forgot to refill our beverages after asking for refills. I know they are busy, but this is their business and should be prepared for their customers' requests.

Came for lunch and had a delicious chicken shawarma salad. Price was just under $20, but the salad was large enough for at least 2 meals, or for 2 people to share. Service was wonderful. Would definitely come back to try other dishes.

This place got to be the best Mediterranean food. The meat quality is very superior. Service is fast, there is consistency in the food. I have never been disappointed by this place. You need to pre order a few lamb items. Everything on the menu is really good. But I have never had a better dessert. The Turkish pistachios ice cream was killer. We tried gyro, pizza, shawarma, salad, chicken kabab, rack of lamb! Everything was amazing.

I have seen this place my whole life and when a friend asked to meet me here I was happy to finally try it. I don't know how I could be living all these years without this food! Our server was amazing. Very prompt yet did not rush us with anything. The atmosphere was nothing special but will definitely come back for food. I believe I got the chicken Swarma wrap. It was delicious. The dessert baclava with Turkish ice cream and pistachio goodness was so yummy!

Aladdin Cafe does a very nice menu filled with lots of delicious salads, grilled meats, and other middle eastern specialities. There is something for everybody, and the hard-working staff tries hard to please! One of my favorite dishes is the Passion Fruit Shrimp Salad. This is big and full of wonderful flavors. The shrimp are big and grilled to perfection. The dressing is sweet from the passion fruit, but not overpowering and this is definitely a full meal! Another favorite is the Chicken Shawarma wrap, which I order without the pita! The chicken is delightfully spiced, and it comes with a nice side salad or fries. The salad is always my choice, but I assume the fries are nice. Aladdin can get busy but they rarely have a long wait. Give yourself a treat and enjoy a feast at Aladdin Cafe!

great food and service! I will definitely come back again. some of the menu items need to be ordered in advance due to long preparation time, eager to try them in my next visit Ordered Turkish coffee, it's served beautifully but I think I'm not a fan for the taste in general Slightly on the pricier side

Ordered quite the feast from Aladdin! Ambiance of the restaurant was pretty average. We sat towards the back at a big table. We ordered the hummus with pita, a chopped chicken salad, grilled meat platter, and the lamb tajine stew. The hummus with pita and chopped salad were great. Portion sizes were huge. In terms of the meat platter, the lamb chops were the best part of the spread. Everything else was okay, chicken was a little dry. The pita baked on top of the lamb tajine stew was the star of the dish--whole table agreed. The stew, on the other hand, lacked a little bit of flavor and was missing some depth. Service was phenomenal, the waitress was very attentive and patient with our indecisiveness. She also took the time to explain the dishes and make recommendations!

I dont usually eat a lot of Mediterranean food, but this place was probably the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. The hummus was yummy, the pita fresh, the meats were tender and savory, the lamb shank was super good, and everything tasted very fresh. The baklava and ice cream are the best dessert there to finish off the meal The waiter was super kind and cheerful with a really good attitude and happy demeanor. This is definitely a must go to spot.

Their hummus is magical! Recently I also fell in love with their chopped chicken salad. The Greek dressing is delicious, and everything is fresh and crunchy. We find ourselves going back to the meza platter because it has a bit of everything we want.

Bad service Very embarrassing to be in these restaurants They think they are a government office, They do not care about customers and their illnesses. We must eat what they serve without altering it,, because it is the law..

My new go to... Aladdin Cafe is a hidden gem in San Diego, offering some of the best Mediterranean food I've had in the city. The menu is extensive and filled with delicious options, from savory shawarma and falafel wraps to hearty lamb kebabs and fresh salads. Portion sizes are huge but they are on the more expensive side for this type of food. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, with beautiful decor and friendly staff who make you feel right at home. I particularly love their outdoor seating area, which is perfect for enjoying a sunny San Diego day while savoring some delicious cuisine. In addition to the fantastic food, Aladdin Cafe also offers amazing service. The staff is attentive and always willing to accommodate any special requests or dietary needs. Overall, I highly recommend Aladdin Cafe to anyone looking for a delicious and authentic Mediterranean dining experience. Try the mix kebab over rice so much flavor!!

Food is amazing! Service was fantastic. I highly recommend this place, everything we ordered is amazing. Took my son for his bday , he was very happy

- Small lot of parking gets fully occupied quickly - Spacious restaurant with indoor & outdoor seating - Friendly service with super nice waitstaff - Food came out fast and so delicious - Large food portion - Chicken shawarma is well-season & so goooood! First time here and can't wait to bring my full family back to try it.

We have dined here several times now and I'm loving everything I've tried so far! The first time we celebrated a family member's promotion and they accommodated a group of about15 of us! We shared a few pups platters, enjoyed their shawarmas, and indulged in their baklava and Turkish ice cream! The second time we enjoyed dinner here, I had the lamb shank and they have the option to add a second serving for $7...You're going to want the second serving!! Oh my how delicious! The meat literally falls off the bone and the sauce it is smothered with is amazing! The staff here are so friendly and they engage in small talk with us even staff that aren't taking care of our table, stop by and check on us and say hello and ask how the food is tasting. The place is busy and we know good food keeps everyone coming back for more! Indoor dining and patio dining, while there are areas that can be arranged for private parties too! Location here has other store fronts and the parking lot can get full very fast! Street parking along the Main Street is scarce but I think getting there early to access parking is best or timing to arrive off peak. This place is definitely one of our favorite dine-in spots and we will come by every chance we get!

The food was ok. But the service was horrible. We had Yvonne H. And right off the bat she was a super aggressive server. We asked for waters and she pointed out that they had iced tea and Italian sodas. I'm 42 years old, I know how to read a menu. We ordered our meal and she went out of her way to tell us it would take a while- insisting the hummus was the best in San Diego. The upsell attempts were really distasteful and quite frankly obnoxious. We would have let it slide but when we got the bill- my partner wanted to split the check on 2 cards. She didn't seem to like that. Then the card machine couldn't read one of the cards- we asked for a manual punch of the card. She said they didn't do that there. Instead of being apologetic and trying a different reader- she got really aggressive and snarky saying that the didn't have a manager and it wouldn't work. I mean- your job is to be of service- and if you want a tip- work for it and be kind, helpful, and respectful. We got an attitude and did not tip her. She walked off visibly mad. Never again will we ever dine here, the food is decent - but Panini Grill in mission valley and UTC - has way better food, pricing, and service. Ambiance is also way better. I recommend you skip this place.

What an amazing spot! The lamb chops were cooked to perfection. The hummas was creamy the service was amazing and very responsive. Tabouli was fresh and oh my god the knafe with Turkish coffee was the absolute best way to finish the meal!

Came here last night but it was not my first time. Happy to say that It's been consistently good over the past 2+ years. My go to is the passionfruit shrimp salad. The dressing is SOO good (slightly sweet and tangy) and I love how it pairs with the crunchy pistachios + grilled shrimp, which is always grilled just right with tons of flavor. I always leave with leftovers for the next day too! My bf and i also split the borak - neither of us cared for the spinach but the cheese and lamb were delicious. He got the koufta kebab platter which is beef and lamb mixed together, which was seasoned soo well! it's a ton of food too with the rice, hummus, salad and pita bread, which are all delicious too! we will be back. Parking can be tricky to find and there is a little wait even Sunday evenings but worth it!

Delicious food. Very busy place and rightfully so. Everything we have had here is really good from the kebabs to the lamb shank to the pizzas and salads. Good quality food delicious flavors and great service. We bring our dog and sit on the patio. The staff is very friendly and work really hard.