Darband Persian Grill

Truly a gem for authentic Persian cuisine in downtown San Diego. The name “Darband” itself carries legacy, and after dining here, it's clear why they've been around since 1998. We stopped in and ordered their signature kabob plate — juicy, flavorful koobideh and well-charred chicken served alongside perfectly fluffed saffron rice and grilled vegetables. As seen in the photos, every element on the plate was executed with care. The chicken in particular stood out for its tenderness and bold seasoning. The market section of the restaurant also has a fun mix of imported items and snacks — everything from dried mulberries and raisins to lavash bread, fresh juices, and soda options. A great touch if you want to bring a little taste of the cuisine home with you. Atmosphere is clean, casual, and inviting. While it's a simple setup, the focus is clearly on the food and authenticity. Will definitely return when back in the area. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a solid Persian food experience.

I saw many one-star reviews and thought I should try this place myself and share my own experience. It’s clean, plays Persian music, and definitely offers an authentic Darband-style food experience. I hope people can be kinder to small businesses like this.

I visited San Diego in April, and had this place saved on my map since I was staying nearby. It was a Tuesday and not very busy. The service was quick, the girl behind the counter was polite, and the food was delicious. I have a habit of always getting the Koobideh kabob because i've always loved the aroma of the spices in the kabob, which makes the meal more enjoyable for me. The kabob was juicy and the roasted tomatoes made every bite even better. The rice was fluffy with a drizzle of saffron water which smelled amazing. I even decided to have one of the hot serranos that came on the side. They also have delicious Persian tea available to self-serve. You have to try some with your meal, as the flavor is distinct and goes great with pesian spices. My meal was just as delicious as it was in 1999 when I worked on 5th avenue and they were right up the street!

Had an amazing time at Darband Restaurant! If you’re in San Diego and looking to try authentic Persian cuisine, this place is a must. I got the combination platter with chicken and Shah kabab, and both were cooked perfectly so juicy, flavorful, and just hit the spot. Can’t even explain how good it was, you gotta try it yourself! Also, their self-service tea 🫖 Smelled incredible and tasted just as good 😌 strong and full of flavor. Definitely coming back! Oh, and the decor and vibe? Totally picture-worthy!

LOVE this restaurant!! And it’s the best place to show up for a tea in the evenings. Incredible spot!!

This place is soooo good. The portions are huge, which is so nice because it feeds me for like 3 days. And the food is always so fresh. Ive been multiple times and the people are always so friendly, the space is huge and really clean.

The food was subpar. I was astonished by the quality of the dishes served to us. We left the food at the table, having taken only a couple of bites. Despite being famished from not eating all day, we couldn't continue. The meat tasted stale, and the overall flavor was unimpressive. This experience was particularly disappointing, as Darband had been a favorite of mine, especially the location on Fifth Avenue, which I had visited at least weekly. I am unsure whether the establishment has undergone a change in ownership or altered their recipe, but the food was undeniably subpar. Furthermore, upon leaving, the gentleman did not express gratitude or apologize for our dissatisfaction. Notably, we did not request take-out boxes, a departure from our usual practice. I was genuinely saddened by the decline in food quality, although the gentleman at the counter was courteous. Unfortunately, this establishment seems to be lacking in some respects. Clearly if you look at the negative reviews from Middle Eastern people, they’re saying that it’s really blended. It doesn’t taste well you can look on yelp and you can see other reviews. I highly suggest researching this place.

This was a good surprise. Their barg kabob was truly amazing but the koobideh was towards the dry side. Their new location was chic.

I love going to this restaurant to get my Persian food fix. I always get the Darband Special. It includes chicken, steak, koobideh, saffron rice, and grilled veggies. This dish hits the spot everytime. I always get good service there. They recently moved from a smaller location in downtown San Diego to a much larger location.

Walking in, this place didn't seem like anything special. They have a huge dining area (2 floors) with minimal decor. But, what they may lack in vibe, they make up for with the food. The food here is superb and there's a reason this restaurant has so many great reviews! We started with hummus that is served with their lavash bread. They do not serve pita bread. The hummus was excellent. A very large portion that was so smooth and tasty. During lunch, they have lunch special options. I ordered the Salmon plate. It came with a large salad as well as rice and tender, juicy pieces of salmon. Everything was cooked so well! The spices were perfection and the portions were enormous! Food comes out very quickly! We were pressed for time, but were so impressed by how quickly our food came. Great restaurant!

We went to Darband on Sunday afternoon, ordered 7 dishes Food was very bad and some burned and some old . We ordered lamb rack , it was burned, they were out of Dough, zereshk polo with chicken was terrible, we left it there, kabob soltani was very hard . I called them they were closed, called few time on Monday, manager wasn't there, finally Monday afternoon I talked to him, the only thing he said was , thank you. I called again on Wednesday, the guy was very rude and didn't say sorry. I told him that I'm not going there anymore and he said fine. The service and food are terrible. I will tell everyone

Nice modern restaurant in downtown. Plenty of seating. Open late. I ordered a combo of the beef and chicken with rice. Everything was delicious and they give huge portions which is nice.

Food is 10/10 Tea is 7/10 The restaurant food is very god but surprisingly it's very empty. The ambience is not so lively and they can add some more music and make it warmer. Overall, because their food is good I recommend it. It's good for meetings with groups and friends.

I normally travel to Miramar for my salmon kabobs but didn't feel like driving. Trusty Yelp provided this place and I'm grateful for the recommendation. The server, Alice was very polite and patient. She explained the differences between the salmon options and I settled on one. The food was SO good! Mine looks different because I didn't get any rice. I'll definitely be back.

My husband and I and our siblings love this place! We typically get the Darband Special so we get a little of all proteins and it's a huge dish, full of flavor, always fresh! They are always so nice in there. It's never too busy but it should for as good as the food is. They never play music when we've been in there but maybe it's only for late night? The place is clean and looks brand new and you can even host big parties at the top area. Space is huge. My absolutely favorite though and I even stop by a couple times a month just to get this on my way home from work, is the baklava. They have lots of flavors. I've seen as many as 4 different ones and all delicious all fresh. Come try this place!

Restaurant changed their location to 1450 kettner blud. I do not know why they didn't update neither their website nor their address info on third parties. If you call the phone number on Yelp than they would tell you about updated address. New location semi-open. They do to go containers only but you are welcome to dine in according to gentleman who serve tables and do cashiering in same time. Darband new location around Little Italy. Only 5 minutes drive to old location. Way fancier decorated. Way bigger than what it used to be. there was only 1 table beside my table in entire restaurant Friday afternoon in September. Good quality same as always which I appreciate. It's difficult to find parking. Closer to airport location-wise. New location also continue their complimentary black tea tradition.

Nice atmosphere, well stocked Persian mini mart & delicious food presented nicely. Good tea too! Only suggestion- switch from plastic coffee stirrers to wood or any non-plastic. Same with the styrofoam to-go boxes (which I think are now banned in California).

Good overall. We had a few dishes to share - the portions are generous and the food is good. It felt a little self service for a restaurant that requests tips, but the staff are helpful when flagged. We had the chicken kabob, lamb shank, and tah-deeg with stew. A pro tip is to be prepared to have tea... a tea station is self service and available for patrons.

I grew up in LA so I know what good Persian food is, and this place knocks it out of the park They also have a hot tea station where you can help yourself to chai which I thought was pretty cool

The food was really good. The service was good. The place is really really big which makes it seem awkwardly empty. It does not feel cozy or comfy at all, kind of like a cafeteria feeling. they have Persian tea available for free which is a really nice touch. It taste exactly like the one that I had when I was in Iran.

Our favorite Persian food in town. Hands down. From the friendly service to the delicious food, I haven't had a dish I didn't like. We always end up ordering more than we should, which is a good thing because we eat it later on and/or the next day! The ingredients are always fresh and the service is so fast. We love this place

Amazing food and the ambiance is truly incredible. A beautiful restaurant. The service is alright, but the food makes up for it.

Hands down the best Persian food in San Diego. I always get the Darband special and it is always amazing! The meat is juicy a flavorful and the portion is large. The staff there is great, super friendly and accommodating. They moved recently and there new place is large, modern and immaculate. Literally one of my favorite places to eat.

This is an amazing restaurant! The food was incredible, extremely fresh and flavorful. The service was excellent! We were a large group and they were patient with us and got all of our orders correct! We will definitely return the next time we are in the area!

Had a horrible Experience at Darband, they charged me for my dinner twice, They double charged me twice for the same plate!!! I tried to stop by and talk to the manger he was no help what so ever.

I was here in 2021 and ate Darband back then. Quality is downhill. Mediocre if not sub par Persian food. In LA we have a lot better. The Kabob was dry and so was the rice. I spent $30 on my food and I'm disappointed. Was lacking in oil or butter in the rice. I paid $3 for barberries on my rice and very little was put on it. $2 extra for a grilled tomato. I was craving Persian food while I was in San Diego and drove way out of my direction to eat here. The address is also not updated as others have said. It's moved. Parking is also really hard to find. Had to park 5 blocks away and walk. I'll pass for next time.

Best Persian cuisine ever!!! We ordered Salmon Kabob platter and it was enough for two as the potion was extremely generous. We also shared a Darband Salad and it was enough for two as well. We had Baklava for dessert and everything was so delicious. Great customer service and the place is not as busy since they just moved to this location 1450 Kettner Blvd, by Ash Street. Highly recommended!!! Price is also reasonable.

Food was great from beginning to end. Tea bar was a great touch. I wish we were local so we could take in more of the cuisine. Place is far larger than expected. Service was prompt. Hope to be in San Diego again soon!

Food was okay the koobideh was bland and lacking flavor. However it was ready very fast and staff was friendly.

Heard good things about the food! The location is new to them and it's beautiful! Food quality was excellent and service was great! Only disappointing thing was they had no eggplant that day so many of my favorite dishes were not available! Prices are beyond fair for the portions! The soltani is excellent and the the hummus was great! Overall a good first experience!

The meat was good. Unfortunately, the rice is tasteless, very bland & very bad, the service non-existant, the bread served cold to our table and without butter. The telephone message is the wrong address, no one answered the telephone. They have the one waiter who cares more about his telephone than the one single customer (at high noon no less) and still, he can not bring me a salad. Incredible. He did give me a free Appetizer ($8.00) instead of the (50 cent) salad. Parking is as bad as the service. LOL

This is a new(ish) restaurant in Little Italy on Kettner Blvd. It's located near Corepower Yoga and King & Queen Cantina. They have two floors and a really big space, especially for being in Little Italy. The upstairs looks like it could be used for private parties. The staff was very nice and professional. It is authentically decorated and a nice atmosphere. It was quiet, which I enjoyed. Since they have a lot of space, you don't have to eat "on top" of the table(s) next to you. I had the Chicken Kabob plate and it was delicious! The chicken was cooked perfectly and it had this really great seasoning on it. The portion was generous and likely could be split by two people. Plenty of rice came with it and I enjoyed their version of pita bread & tzatziki that came with the meal. It typically comes with a charbroiled tomato, but since I'm not a fan of tomatoes, I asked to skip it. I wish it came with some other veggies or a salad sans tomatoes though, but it was plenty of food. I will definitely be back to try more dishes.

Home style food! Wonderful tea! Loved by taxi drivers everywhere! Every thing is fresh and delicious. Relaxed ambience'

My husband and I have been going to Darband every week now since they moved to little Italy. The food is so delicious and people working there are very polite. We especially love their Chicken and Koobideh Platter, so juicy and tender and their super flavorful Baghali Polo-Lamb. It's wonderful to have such a great place a couple of blocks away from the Santa Fe train station. Highly recommend!

The restaurant is permanently closed. Showed up and it was closed. Incorrect information

Amazing food never can get enough. Authentic Persian kabob and service is amazing. Free tea which is just great.

Had a wonderful experience here last night! I ordered the chicken and shish kabob combination plate and it was delicious. Portions were generous, and the meal came with bread and hummus which tasted fresh. The food came out quickly and service was great. They were very nice and accommodating. I would definitely come back again. :)

DELICIOUS. Love this place. They've moved to Little Italy on Kettner. Huge portions and they almost always have tahdig, my favorite.

I walked in for dinner tonight and was so happy that I did. I ordered the chicken special for Tuesday, and it was amazing. The chicken fell off the bone and the rice was fantastic. Wonderful service and people!

Worst Persian restaurant I've ever been too. Every dish was bland, kebabs and stews, even cucumber salad. Place felt like a big warehouse, fluorescent lightning that buzzed and blinked, echo, not even Persian music playing. Service was friendly but inattentive. Never again.

This is a good Persian/ Mediterranean restaurant. The food is good and the place is clean. Prices are also reasonable. Try any kabob plate. Parking is a bit difficult during the week but it is worth it.

I am not Persian so take this with a grain of salt. I usually order the same thing, chicken shish, here but I like it. I only take off one star because one time the food did not sit well with my stomach but that normally doesn't happen. The first time I was introduced to the restaurant I actually ate a few different things like appetizers or stews. I don't remember what they were but they were all good. As a Mexican, I LOVE that they add a serrano to the chicken shish. I like that they have tea available. It's very strong so pour only a little bit, then fill the rest of your cup with hot water to dilute it to your taste. Location is different from before and looks nicer but I am neutral on it. It looks like the taxi drivers still come here and play games so I'm glad they keep their spot.

A no non I This place must be the best place I have ever eaten Persian food. Everything was so fresh. The service was good and the portions very generous.We love it 5 stars from me

New location!! It's on kettner next door to Mr Tempo. Beautiful new location! I love Persian food and my go to is always the koobideh kabob (ground beef on a skewer) and the chicken shish kabob which is marinated chicken chucks on a skewer. They have a combination plate if you want both and it comes with a side of bread (eat it with the butter they give you). Comes with the best rice and grilled tomato. It's only right when having persian food is the yogurt drink it's called Doogh. It's an acquired taste. I grew up with it so I love it haha.

I had a unique water experience at Darband. Most restaurants provide tap water. However, Darband brought us two cold Arrowhead water bottles to the table as complimentary water. As expected, the water was the quality you'd expect. The best part of the experience was the coolness of the water. I do not know if refills are available.

Please update the address in yelp and Uber!!! We had to pay extra cost to get there and the guy didn't say sorry about it. We got there 11:10 am and no one greeted and we had to call several times to get a table. The food was jus ok but not impressive like pictures. Tahdig needs to be crunched, so soggy.

This is a hole in the wall type of restaurant. I thought it was pretty good . I got the beef koobideh and so did my son, my husband got the gormeh sabzi and rice . The food is delicious. The reason I gave 4 stars and not 5 was because the beef koobideh kabob was a little undercook and pink . Other then that, this is a great place to come and try .

Place is not clean smells qnd food is cold.. used to be a better place though was smaller. Also has no spirit as it feels eating in a warehouse

Poor service. Non basmati rice that was flavorless. Didn't even have a tomato with the kebab I ordered. Do not recommend. Pass.

Called in an order that was ready in 15mins yes! We live in a high-rise close by so excited to see a new offering in the neighborhoods of Little Italy and Columbia. I had a shish kabob wrap, the filet mignon melted in my mouth. We also got the vegetarian plate, huge portion and very tasty. Definitely going to order again this week. The place is very clean and on the nicer side, can't wait to eat out there as well

My friend and I were trying to get there through apple and Google maps by walking and it was really confusing and we accidentally walked 14 minutes instead of 6 lol. I got the chicken wrap and my friend got the shish kebab with salad. The portion sizes are huge and we don't really eat much Mediterranean food, but it was really good. The food itself was a bit bland but there were a couple of options to season it. The customer service was kind of nonexistent but it was fine and they were polite when we ordered the food. Overall great!

The food was good. The tsaziki was ON TOP. Their portion is SO BIG. You get your money's worth. I recommend it.

5/5 Shish kabob: This is the best shish kabob I have ever had. When I saw individuals of ethnic background eating here I knew this had to be good and authentic. My order came with perfectly cooked, perfectly marinated filet mignon over an enormous portion of basmati rice and sides of charred tomatoes, onions, a thin, spicy, green pepper, two lemon wedges, two smal packets of butter, sumac powder, pickle and yogurt dip, and thin pieces of baked flour paper (not sure on the name for it). There are tables for dining inside and outside. Parking along the street is limited.

Excellent food ambiance......i always look for Persian food and this place is fantastic . I will be back next time when I am San Diego California.

THEY MOVED 1450 Kettner. WOW the new place is freaking beautiful and the food is amazing. As always Tony the owner is always welcoming and makes sure you're happy. The employees are super nice and the decor is out of this world. Definitely worth the drive and the wait. So happy they moved and have an amazing new location.

Super overpriced for 5 lbs of rice and one chicken kabob strip. Service is horrible. Flies weren't controlled snd hours are unreliable

We went to find the new Darband and they were not really open. They fed us anyway and we're so very lovely. The food was brilliant as usual and still so affordable. The new restaurant is truly upscale and big. There is a parking garage up the street which I'd affordable. Parking is the only downside.

Hands down. Excellent Persian food, and great service. Chicken Sultani, with a skewer of beef Koobideh. I will recommended it.