Bandar Restaurant

Absolutely, the most delicious Persian food in all of San Diego may be in all of California, and maybe in all of United States. Had the beef Barg last night it was spectacular. Very delicious. I love this restaurant and I love the owners. I highly recommend it. If you haven’t tried Persian food before I highly recommend to try this Restaurant you will fall in love with it. You will definitely get what you pay for at this restaurant. The world famous chicken is to die for super super delicious.

The best Persian food ever....clean...service with a smile...huge portions if you have a big appetite

First time here and I really enjoyed this place the food was great and surprisingly the quantity was beyond expectations. We had to take most of our plates to go hehe. Our hostess Tida was really great and helpful and attentive. The waiting time for the food was not too long which is definitely a good thing. I liked that they have a full bar menu.

We came from Va to see San Diego. Before I came to this restaurant I read the reviews and it turns me off, but we decided to go because the pictures of the food looks so good and it was so delicious, the people were very professional and nice. I would highly recommend this restaurant to all who like to try Persian food. Thank you

We went for a friend birthday at Bandar Restaurant. The food was delicious. Our waiter Edwardo was courteous and attentive. He made sure we were served hot tea constantly(Persians drink a lot of tea). Even the owners took time to welcome us and to sit with us. Adding to my original review! Went back to Bandar on 2/3/24 with some friends and had an amazing time. Our server Tiba did an amazing job and the food was the most delicious Kabak in San Diego. They serve generous amount of dishes which is enough for 2-3 person. We also received complimentary tahdig courtesy of the owners. The only draw back is parking which is difficult to find and pricy.

I do not understand the low reviews for this place. The pesto hummus is phenomenal it’s the perfect creamy consistency. The atmosphere is elegant with fresh flowers dim lights and candles. It’s the perfect venue for a romantic evening

They did a nasty trick on us and others. They sneaked in 20% tip on all orders and then they also asked for tip without telling us they have already added the tip! Lucky I read the fine print and told the waiter. The tables were placed too close to each others and it was all tight. We constantly had to move our chair so people can pass through. The food price was outrageous. For example the Fesenjoon (the pomegranate stew) was almost $40! That was the typical price and some items were $50. The chicken 🐔 kabob was awesome. The rice was tasty. I loved their vegetarian stew selection but the high price and the mandatory tip ruined the experience. Staff were helpful. However they made a mistake and brought us the bill with somebody else's credit card! At that point we had not given our credit card yet. My daughter says she wish they used the glass cups for juice instead of plastic 🥤 because environment. A 9-year old can handle a glass cup. Note, for parking use the Horton Plaza pubkic parking (10$ in 2023).

The food is not bad. Hummus was very good. 20% tip is included by default as well as 8% surcharge. Portions are really big. Take the main course for two or skip appetizers.

Bandar Restaurant is just WOW! Seriously, the food is next-level delicious. You gotta try their kebabs--they're like flavor bombs! I highly recommend ordering the fesanjoon! Service is on point. The atmosphere is perfect for a laid-back dinner with friends. I'm definitely coming back here always!

I've had the pleasure of eating food from Bandar on a few other locations, mostly catered. This time we ate in the restaurant for an office dinner and this review is based on this visit. This was a great choice for this dinner since it is conveniently located for us and they were able to accommodate a party of 13. The space is very classy and upscale with servers wearing full suits, however felt that the diners were dressed more on the casual side. Upon entry we were greeted at the door and service throughout our meal was excellent. The food here is quite delicious with an emphasis on the meats, not to mention the huge portions! Everyone had to take the leftovers to go and it would likely provide 2+ meals which makes the price rather decent. The most ordered dish was the Chicken Soltani (chicken & beef combo) and I can see why it's called "world famous chicken" - tender and great flavor. The yellow and white rice is also my favorite. We also ordered the hummus platter to share which was a perfect appetizer for a large group. We ended with baklava and pistachio ice cream to add to the overall excellent experience. I'm sure we will be back and/or ordering more catering.

Made a reservation for 6 people at 6 on a Tuesday! When we arrived, it was empty but that quickly changed- yes on a Tuesday! Service was great- we asked a lot of questions. 2 of our group were stuck at work, so 4 of us ordered probably 6 people worth of food. We ordered the Bandar salad, group appetizer, then famous chicken, steak skewers, & the chef special, along with a bottle of wine. Everything arrived quickly, we all had left overs, and everyone was happy. The ambiance is great, kinda romantic, dim light, modern but very attractive. No doubt we will be back!

Delicious food. There is a vegetarian section on the menu with 4 items. Very large entrees, so come hungry. The staff is really friendly and helpful. The interior is well-decorated with a warm ambiance. The homemade yogurt drink was so good, but know that it's a savory item.

Hands down one of the best Persian restaurants in San Diego. The chicken kebabs are amazing. The portions are huge. I suggest you get one combo kebab and share and try some other dish. Kebabs can easily feed three people. The service was attentive. We had a party of nine so 20% tip was automatically added. The design of the inside was elegant but not over done.

My husband and I came across this restaurant while in downtown SD and we were pleasantly surprised! We ordered just the one dish: chicken and beef soltani that comes with rice and salad. Firstly, the portions are large and shareable, so win win! The chicken and beef was so perfectly flavored, and the rice was the perfect combo of moist and flavor. The food was absolutely delicious and high quality. My husband also ordered wine, which he said was fine, and was quite smooth. The service was also commendable with wveryone being very kind and the service being top notch The ambience had a slight romantic feel to it, but would also be perfect for an upscale dinner with friends. Overall, we tried just one dish, but we would recommend!

Wow!!!! Fabulous! The food is amazing. Wonderful and earthy. the use of saffron and lime. the blend of meats with fruits and nuts, a unique way of cooking rice, with subtly spices, delicate in flavor. The rice with cranberries was an unexpected treat . The eggplant dip and cucumber dip was so tasty and creamy. I ended up putting that on everything . What an unbelievable treat to experience. Thank you.

I found hair in my food and guess what the rude waiter did not want to do anything about it. Food quality is also horrible. Stay away from this establishment

I read an article about top ethnic restaurants in San Diego and I have realized I have not been to this one. Not really sure why. The parking is a challenge in this area of downtown and the streets are one way. It will be a while to get here. We were greeted at the door by a very polite gentleman, who turned out to be the person who took care of us. This is a very clean and classy place, I have to admit doesn't really look like a Persian restaurant. While waiting for the appetizer, and drinks, I checked the reviews and I was disappointed. I guess I realized why I have not been here. In a city with plenty of places 4.5 and above, I rarely go anywhere rated at 3.9. Kashk-e bademjan arrived, as well as mast-e-mousir. Amazing presentation, amazing quality, and the texture was just right. Exactly as t has to be. Although I personally like a little more sautéed mint on kashk-e-bademjan, but that was my problem at home too! Homemade dough was just right. We had been offered to have more bread and we said yes. Food arrived, the proportions were insane. Kababs were large, jucy, and at the same time tender. No bad smell as a result of using subpar ingredients. Shirin polo was absolutely right. It was as if it was a real albaloo-polo, not a white rice with added cherry to it at the time of serving. We had to pack half of each dish to go, and no room for deserts. Although we have been told they have many Iranian deserts in the menu, such as Makhloot, Faloodeh, ... May be next time. This is a relatively expensive place. It is in one of the most crowded places of the city, and I am sure the real estate itself is a premium. I think if I have to pay $30 to park, then I should not complain about the cost of the food. I waited for couple of days to write the review, I wanted to see how the leftover will be, it was awesome. I read many reviews about this place after. I am not a person that I say if a place is expensive do not go. I actually believe that price has to be fair. Chelokabab may cost you twice as anywhere else, but it worth every penny. The ambient itself and the politeness of the person who served us worth more than the food. I love food, and I will be back in this place again, once I crave some more Iranian foods. https://bahram-zehtabfard.blogspot.com/2023/10/20231031-bandar-restaurant-san-diego.html bahram.us

Came here for drinks before a show at the Balboa theatre. $19 EACH for drinks, one was an old fashioned (very basic drink), plus they added a surcharge. Outrageously expensive. Plus, the bar stools were very uncomfortable and the specialty cocktails had no descriptions on the menu so you'd have to ask what each one had in it. We won't be back.

Ordered: Chicken Soltani Platter (~$35): combination of Bandar's World Famous Boneless Chicken Tenderloin and a strip of Beef Koobideh served with white basmati rice topped with saffron rice Cucumber Dip (~$10): homemade yogurt mixed with chopped cucumber and mint Aya's take: Bandar's portions are enough to feed an army. I'm serious! One platter can easily be shared among 2-3 people. I had enough leftovers for at least 2 meals. Great portion for the price. The chicken and beef were butter, tender, grilled perfectly, and most importantly - well seasoned. The rice was light, airy, and fragrant. The Cucumber Dip was refreshing and I highly recommend sprinkling some sumac on the meats!

The host/server has an awful attitude. The bus boy is nasty and impolite. Half way through eating they started removing dishes and cleaning the table. Despite telling them to wait until we are finished, they continued moving empty dishes over our head while we were trying to finish up our meal. One of the empty dishes almost fell on my head. Another empty dish almost hit me in face. There was absolutely no reason for this rush. Our stay was short and the restaurant was almost empty.

The best Barg I have ever had!! I'm Persian and grew up in the Bay Area with some great Persian food but I think Bandar might have the best Barg I have had outside of Iran. The portions are large you can easily have one plate for 2 people. The restaurant is nice, not too big but not small either. I would recommend to all looking for good Persian food in San Diego.

Excellent food- authentic. Great service, 5 star feel, very polished. Best chicken ever!

Adding to my original review! Went back to Bandar on 2/3/24 with some friends and had an amazing time. Our server Tiba did an amazing job and the food was the most delicious Kabak in San Diego. They serve generous amount of dishes which is enough for 2-3 person. We also received complimentary tahdig courtesy of the owners. The only draw back is parking which is difficult to find and pricy. I highly recommend.

I really don't know why this restaurant doesn't have 100 stars because it is absolutely by far the best Persian food I've had in San Diego. The price might seem high but the portions are huge two people can easily feast on one. I usually have very high standards when it comes to Persian food as I grew up on it and no restaurant was ever high to my standards except for this one. Another important thing to mention is that the leftovers taste just as good as it did the first day which is really hard to pull off because usually kebab doesn't store well and the leftovers don't taste great. To anyone reading this review please go and support this business. It's a family-owned business and the owner is a delight to have around.

Great Food, Ambience classy, Amazing service, I believe it's family run attention to detail!!! Food was served hot along with great flavor. Big Portions spit 1 plate. Would highly recommend for ME food.

Food- The servings are huge and can very easily be split The eggplant appetizer was so good- I wouldn't have expected to like this as much as I did Bandar salad - reminded me of a Greek salad and was huge , could feed 4 Chicken Shish Kabob - i swear this could feed 3-4 especially is you order a starter or salad. The chicken was tender We ordered the above for two people and ended up bringing about half the food home Service - it's a family owned business and the staff was really friendly Atmosphere- it happened to be pretty loud when we were in there for dinner but there was also a large group next to us

Pros: the food was delicious, and the portion size was large. Cons: the overpriced and very watered down and under filled drinks. The insanely slow service. The very loud environment where I could hardly have a conversation with my husband. For the price point, there are much, much better restaurants in San Diego with attentive wait staff.

Went downtown to see a comedy show and wanted to get some great food close by. Bandar is still killing it folks. I hadn't been there in years but the food was still amazing. We ordered two hummus appetizers. The were four of us and we couldn't finish them before the food came out. The original was delicious and the avocado hummus had a great spiciness to it. I needed some salad so we got a giant one for the table. It was full of fresh tomatoes anda great dressing. For the main course we got the Chicken Soltani which is the best, juiciest chicken you ever had plus beef on top. Served with two great rices. I cannot recommend the amazing chicken enough! The beef was juicy too. You need to check this place out.

Reservation made, arrived at 4pm when they opened on time. Hostess kind attentive. Food large portion (Took some home). Quality of the meal very good and fresh. I brought the family and my two girls shared a plate as the portion was a lot. Great place, this is my 3rd x visiting and worth going. Good and clean atmosphere. They always clean the table when you're done. Seafood WILD KING SALMON Charbroiled and Coated with a mixture of Garlic, Fresh Lemon, Saffron and Seasoning, Served with Grilled Vegetables (Tomato, Onion and Bell Pepper). WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN Juicy Chunks of Charbroiled Boneless Chicken Tenderloin CHICKEN SHISH KABOB Charbroiled Chicken Tenderloin Served with Grilled Vegetables (Tomato, Onion, Bell Pepper). You will be filled very much, so watch out. Save room for dessert.

This has been the primary place I go if I want a fancier and classier variety of middle eastern/Persian food. That or I want to eat and have food for about 2 days after. It's pricey to be sure but you get huge portions of everything and it tastes outstanding. Their salads are freshly made and taste delicious but the highlights are the stews and the meats with rice. Honestly they make some of the best chicken I've ever had - it's always moist tender and delicious and I've been going for years. Their beef dishes are excellent as well and, if you want a surprise, their stews (especially eggplant and their lamb one) are delicious. I recommend trying it with a tahdig too. Don't forget to enjoy the rice as well, recommend the one with raisins and lentils but my family also loves the cherry rice too.

I ate twice at this restaurant in one week and I still want more. The food is SO. GOOD. Words are insufficient for how delicious their food is. A large family with many kids were in the restaurant when we arrived and they were painfully loud. We asked whether we could move outside despite already getting set up at a table inside. They happily agreed to accommodate us but thankfully didn't have to as the family left shortly thereafter. I appreciated their support nonetheless. The mouth watering and savory food, along with their generous portion sizes and great service, make this restaurant a true winner. Definitely a must-try Persian restaurant in San Diego.

We came from OC to visit our friends and had dinner at Bandar . Delicious food and great service. We have a lot of persian restaurants in OC but definitely Bandar was superior . Big portions that can be easily shared by 2 We really enjoyed our dinner

Been coming here for over 25 years and it never disappoints. I'm a huge, huge fan of chicken kebabs there and their rice is the best. The servers go above and beyond. Great place in the Gaslamp that I love whenever I'm back in San Diego.

We wanted to have Persian food and celebrate the start of our vacation. Aaron, our waiter was great. We can only say good things about his level of service. We ordered Tahdig rice, salad and the lamp chops. We've had/made tahdig rice many times. Bandar's version tasted like under cooked rice. The crunch top had ZERO fluffy rice underneath. It was opaque in color and no flavor. When we ordered the lamp chops, Aaron coached us how to order to meet our needs and the way the kitchen cooks. The salad was great, no issues. It was delicious! Our lamp chops came back more than raw (we ordered med rare). I think the lamb chops were still alive. We sent back to cook more. They came back close to the same condition. We ate a few small pieces that appeared to be more cooked. We left most of the meat on the plate. By know, we are frustrated and wanted to leave. Paid the $250 bill and left . Later that evening and into the next morning, we felt terrible (upset stomach). We should have realized the quality with only a few tables occupied. Complete disappointment, waste of money and time of vacation.

Great food!! Big portions and the flavors are authentic. This is only place I go downtown for Persian food.

I've been going to Bandar since I was a child and I have to admit: their quality has not wavered. Best Persian food... ever eaten.

The food was good and comes in large portions that can be shared. We didn't know though, until after we all ordered individual entrees lol. The pomegranate martinis were delicious. However the price of the drinks wasn't listed and many rounds later, we were all surprised when we received our check. They also included a 20% service fee, and I don't think it said anyone on the menu about that, nor were we verbally notified. There was also only 5 people versus 6+.... So that was great.... Long story short we probably won't be coming back. That's also not to mention that they ran out of one of the meats so 3 people in my party had to choose a different entree. Come at your own risk

Food was just ok Service was good and each plate enough for 2 persons Ambiance was good

Behrouz, the owner is very nice and caring oh his guests, The best Persian food I've had in Sandiego. 5 start service / 5 star food / 5 star owner The restaurant is also extremely clean and high class.

This is hands down our favorite restaurant. My husband and I went here on our first date, 18 years ago and became hooked!! The service is above and beyond. We wish we could eat here every night!!

I really appreciate their amazing food with the wonderful quality . We should introduce them as the best Persian restaurant in San Diego. The portion of food was large and it was worth it. I suggest everyone go there and taste their food and they made my night. Thank you guys.

Nice restaurant in downtown San Diego! Tiva, and the owner, warmly greeted us and sat us at our table. Our appetizer and drinks order was taken and returned quickly. Appetizer - the cucumber dip is a must! Creamy, refreshing, and delicious. The Barg and Koobideh entree plate is delicious. Both meat selections were cooked and seasoned perfectly! The portion of the size for the price is well worth the cost, (keep in mind, you're paying for high quality meat). The entire staff was welcoming and friendly.

The very best Persian kabob in California, much better than anywhere in LA or Orange County

We came here before a show at 5:45. It was restaurant week and we did the restaurant week special of humus, salad and an entree. Two of us got the eggplant and the other 2 got the lamb shanks. Upon ordering one person at our table informed the waitress she was allergic to tomatoes and ordered all items without it and made sure the seasoning on the lamb didn't have it. The salad and humus were good and came out within 10 minutes. 4 drinks took over 25 minutes to arrive! Then 1 hr after we ordered we asked the waitress where our food is. She claims, "it'll be right out" without going to the kitchen to check. If you're going to lie at least pretend you're checking the status. Another 7 minutes go by and she finally comes with the food. As she's about to put it on the table she says, "oh you were allergic to tomato right?" As there's a tomato on one of the lamb chop plates. She takes it back to the kitchen and magically 2 minutes later brings a "completely new" plate and claims all items on the plate weren't on the previous plate. Ummmm absolutely not, if it took you 67 minutes to bring our order and then 2 minutes to bring a new order you obviously just replated the same food, in which one of the lamb shanks was touching the tomato. The lamb chops and rice were good, if only we had more than 7 minutes to enjoy them before rushing off to our show across the street. If you have unlimited amounts of time and no food allergies I'd recommend this restaurant, if not look elsewhere.

The service at this place was extremely disappointing. When I went to pick up my order, instead of handing it to me, the lady who seemed to be either a host or a bartender deliberately moved the order out of my reach and placed it behind me. This lack of basic customer service was incredibly frustrating and unacceptable.

Awesome food and service at reasonable price. The quality of food is exceptional. High-end setup and atmosphere. The best Persian food around.

This is hands down my favorite place to have chicken kabobs. The chicken is cooked to perfection and the rice is light and fluffy yet both are bursting with flavor. The service ia amazing as well. Even though everything is cooked fresh they still manage to get it out to your table very quickly.Tonight someone was celebrating a birthday so it was a little louder than usual however our service was still great! Our servers were still very attentive even though they had a big party of at least 25 people to serve. Anytime I'm in San Diego this is a must stop.

I really liked the food. My sister and I agreed that we want to go here again. They have vegetarian and vegan options. We tried the famous chicken and the koobideh. I loved the saffron rice and had enough leftover of my entrée for two more meals. We had a reservation through OpenTable and everything went smoothly.

If you like fresh, lemon, olive oil, salt, simple but tasty salad, try this place!! So good and fresh you'll crave it every day!

If you are looking for a place to eat great Persian food. This is it!. The food here is phenomenal! I've been to many Persian restaurants but I have never had food that tastes this good. Very clean and classy restaurant. The service is exceptional, prices are fair for the quality of food that you are eating. So, if you are ever in San Diego you must try this restaurant it is the best!!!

We love Persian Food and it has been a long time since we have been to Bandar. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was beautiful.

A friend of mine took me and my husband here to try Persian food for the 1st time. Wow what a treat! Food was so delicious and the service was top notch. I will definitely be going back the next time I'm in San Diego.

Went here on Christmas Day, pretty much last minute craving . We were staying at a walking distance hotel and craving Persian food. Very thrilled of finding one that's open nearby. We called and asked their hours and if they had the food we were craving for. So we went. 3 of us, sat inside. The server was a Persian lady who pretended that she wasn't Persian while giving us a bit attitude. She didn't respond to us in farsi so we went on with her English conversation. We ordered one Koobideh, one gheymae Bademjan - she asked if we wanted vegetarian or with lamb . We were surprised by that question, as there was no indication of that the lamb was extra on the menu ! And, gheyme (literally in farsi means piece of meat, so we didn't imagine it can come vegetarian by default, and that we have to pay $7 extra to have it "with meat". Well, then I read the fine print on the menu . They charge 20% tip to all ! And on top of that extra 4% to help them with paying their employees benefits !? Whattt ?? Well, the only reason this place got my 4 star was for their amazing food . But the mandatory 20% +4% was a ripoff for their half - attitudy employees that I'm paying all that money for on top of their already expensive food. I'm from LA and not used to paying $108 for 2 positions of Persian food ( one of which being a stew) , one yogurt and no drinks except tap water. I may be back but probably next time just do takeout and save my nerves here, along with saving some money.

They really live up to the Persian hospitality! Growing up in a Iranian household i've had a variety of Persian food and I can say this was the best in San Diego! We got the Soltani and Zereshk Polo plate, I definitely recommend!

Great food, A must if you have not tried Persian food before. The owner is the chef and he's amazing. You will love this place

Great good Great service Very elegant and chic Right in front of Balboa theater, this Persian restaurant was really good

I was in San Diego for a soccer tournament. My teammates and I searched for a Kabob restaurant and Bandar showed up as the number one place. We were a group of 20 people. I ordered the chicken and beef combo plate. The chicken was cooked really well and juicy. The beef was cooked perfectly with the side of rice. The way the meat was cooked, it would just melt in your mouth. It didn't have any meat smell to it. I'm usually picky about how the meat smells, I was really surprised how delicious it was and cooked just the way I wanted it. Servers were very patient with us and great service. We had a great time and enjoyed the food a lot. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants to have some delicious kabobs.

Bandar is an absolute gem! The food is amazing - bursting with authentic flavors and top notch quality. The staff is incredibly attentive and friendly adding to the wonderful dining experience! I can't recommend this place enough - a must visit for anyone who appreciates Persian cuisine!