Darya

The experience was… fine. The food wasn’t bad, but it didn’t stand out either. The kabobs were decent but lacked the juiciness and seasoning you’d expect from a good Persian grill. Portions were fair, and the rice was fine, but overall the meal felt uninspired. An average spot if you’re nearby, but not worth a special trip.

Nice setting. Quite spacious. Service was prompt, though we were there mid afternoon so not too crowded. Tahdig appetizer was good, though the tahdig was not crunchy. The khoreshts were great and flavorful. Kabob barg was done very well. Flavorful and cooked to perfection!! Yummmm. Koobideh was also good, but barg was the favorite. We had side of loobiya polo which was so/so.

This is a great location for Mediterranean food and one of my favorites. Had the baba ganoush and hummus as appetizers, followed by a family style kabob dinner. While family style isn't directly in the menu, they are more than happy to figure it what you need. Then followed it up with really tasty desserts. Can't wait to return

Darya Persian Restaurant in Costa Mesa? Oh, it’s a flavor festival! The appetizers, main courses, and desserts were so good, I almost considered hiding the menu to prevent myself from ordering more (almost). Every bite was like a tasty little celebration in my mouth. And the service? Let’s just say, if the servers were any more attentive, I’d be worried they were stalking me. Seriously, top-notch service all around. If you’re not careful, you might end up rolling out of there in a happy food coma.

I gotta be honest: I couldn't go more than 3 stars for the food quality / price index! Best Persian Restaurants in So Cal Are in Glendale...Anak, Raffi , Pardis, Kebob Village, which recently opened in OC too. Nice environment with plenty of seats to wrap it up positive😅

Beautiful Persian restaurant that has the well know dishes alongside some more traditional dishes. The place looks very elegant and has a party room upstairs for private events. For those who like the open air there is a patio on the side of the restaurant. The food is delicious and well seasoned. Portions are adequate, but those with a heftier appetite might want to order another dish and bring the leftovers home. One dish that is a must try is the borani. Service was impeccable from start to finish.

One of the best Persian foods I’ve eaten anywhere. We celebrated a friend’s birthday. The live music and the beautiful decor added to the ambiance. Great restaurant!

We had an amazing time here! The Tadig with ghorme sabzi/ fesenjun sauces, chenge and rice. I highly recommend these! They also had an excellent guitar player who added a nice touch to the atmosphere. We will definitely be eating here again!

Enjoyed a very lovely lunch for my auntie's birthday. Came here on a Sunday and I was pleasantly surprised. She loves Persian food and recommended Darya for lunch. Lovely ambiance, great service, and the food is amazing. To start, we had the borani appetizer which is eggplant with onion, garlic and herbs - soo good! I enjoyed this appetizer with the pita bread. Delish. For my main course, I went with the salmon which also comes with sautéed vegetables and rice. Overall, enjoyed the food as well as the experience. Our waiter was very attentive and ensured that we were well taken care of.

The menu is very comprehensive and has a little bit of everything you want in Persian food. At first we were a little confused because I wanted to order the 4 course menu for $59 pp incl. from the back page. But the waiter kept trying to talk us into selecting items from the regular dinner menu. Then finally I told him that we were there for my daughter's birthday dinner and that we might want to share some items from the menu. He didn't like that but agreed after we ordered two appetizers to split for the 4 of us. Well, the Darya salad is terrific and the yogurt dip is amazing too. The eggplant salad is also great too. Then my husband ordered the lamb chops and the waiter said they don't have them. I said that you have rack of lamb in the menu and that's from the same cut. He said that it might be so, but not cooked the same. Anyway, the first order of meat that came out was breaded and so tough that we couldn't eat it. So we called the manager and he took the dish back to the kitchen. After a few minutes he brought out a dish called Filet of lamb which was so far superior that there was absolutely no comparison. The second lamb dish was tender and juicy and flavorful and I don't understand why they didn't offer that to begin with. The manager also brought out a much better salad which was superb. So things really turned around after that and instead of wanting to rate the food a 3, it's now a 10. What a difference!!!! The ambiance is terrific, especially with the 3 piece combo that played the birthday song for our dessert. Nice touch. !!! We plan on returning but need more explanation for the menu next time. The lamb that was served the second time and the salad were terrific. We appreciate the effort the staff made on our behalf.

I was in Costa Mesa for a work trip and always love searching for local favorites when I travel. A local coworker and a Persian friend both recommended this restaurant to me. As soon as I walked in I felt like I had been transported to a world of luxury. The service was great. The food wonderful. Our server was a great guide through the menu. The decor is refined and includes white tablecloths and sharply dressed servers. Chandeliers, crystal and flowers on the tables. I ordered a glass of Shiraz, the Lamb Kebobs with rice and salad. The food was cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. I am a slow drinker, so the server came over to ask me if I was enjoying the wine and if not, he'd happily exchange it for me. That really impressed me!

Was craving some good kebabs and this place came highly recommended by a friend. Close to home so hey why not try it out. This place is a really cute and spacious dining hall right across the street from south coast plaza. Can't believe after so many years I didn't realize there was a whole line of dining options. Tried a few new dishes I haven't had before and now has become one of my favorite dishes. Definitely going back for more. 1. Borani: delicious eggplant mash flavored with onions, yogurt, and herbs. Love the flavor. Sort of like hummus but made with eggplants. I can snack on this all day. 2. SHIRAZI: love this salad, very refreshing. Diced fresh cucumber, tomato's, onions, and parsley dressed in lemon juice and olive oil. Can't go wrong with this refreshing appetizer. 3. CHELO Kebab SOLTANI: ground beef and filet Mignon perfectly cooked medium served with grilled tomato's and what I believe is basmati rice. The meet was absolutely fabulous but the rice just took over the night. Didn't realize seasoning the rice with butter and a citrusy spice (believe it was sumac but not for sure) could taste soooo good. Best rice I have ever tried. Will confirm with my friend what this seasoning was again. 4. Saffron ice cream: yum love it and was the perfect end of dinner

Excellent food! Good service. It was very crowded when we were there for dinner last Friday so the wait was a bit long, but not horrible. The food was worth it!

Last time I was here was over 20 years ago for a wedding reception. I figured it was time to revisit and I'm really glad I did! Definitely won't be waiting another 20 years to visit again, I'll try to put this on my regular rotation. I park the car and open the door and this wonderful aroma enters my nostrils. There's other restaurants around so I was hopeful but not sure if it was coming from Darya. We open the door and the aroma is definitely coming from here. Grilled meats and spices entice you you enter. From the first person we encounter at the reception desk to the last when we leave is outstanding service. Every single employee was friendly and the service matched the atmosphere. This is one gorgeous restaurant and it's kept spotless. It looks just as good now as it did 20 years ago. I love Persian food but since my wife can't have carbs it's not really something we can eat. Luckily you can substitute your rice for salad here making it low carb. Unfortunately when my wife and I saw the 4 course special our willpower went out the window and we went carb crazy instead. $59 gets you a choice of appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert. I assumed they'd be smaller versions but they were full sized portions. We shared a variety of things. Borani: deep fried eggplant, yogurt, caramelized onions, garlic, and herbs. This is one of the best dip style appetizers I've ever had. The caramelized onions and herbs made this a flavor explosion that I could not stop eating with the stack of lavash bread. Dolemeh: grape leaves stuffed with ground beef, rice, tarragon, split peas, green onions, basil, parsley, and herbs. I really enjoyed this more than Greek dolmades. They were served warm and the leaves much softer than I'm used to. I loved all the filling instead of most places that just use rice. This would be a great meal with a side salad or soup. Persian Salad (Shirazi). Chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and parsley, topped with house dressing of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and black pepper. Sounds boring yet it's exciting to the taste buds thanks to the acidity. Huge portion and since we got two of them with the combo we took half home to use with dinner the next day. For my main entrée I went with the lamb kebab. When it came out I was skeptical. Then I took a bite. The lamb was filet mignon tender and whatever their "Darya Sauce" is they marinade the lamb in was a match made in heaven. Truly some of the best lamb I've had in a long time. It came with half a plate of buttery saffron rice. Again, came here to avoid carbs yet gorged myself with them. My wife had the filet mignon shish kabob. I took a bite and it was as tender and flavorful as any high end steakhouse. She's usually not a fan of Persian cuisine but she declared at the end "we need to come back here again soon!". For dessert we both had Zoolbia and I ordered a cup of tea with it. Zoolbia is like a mini funnel cake shaped donut saturated in honey and rose water. It was insanely sweet but paired fantastic with the hot tea. Absolutely loved my visit here and cannot wait to return. Parking is easy since it's tucked away on the far end of the plaza with Morton's across the street from South Coast Plaza. It's the last Restaurant in the plaza. You've got Morton's, Corner Bakery, Royal Khyber, Antonello's and then Darya.

I met up with my friend from high school and we ended up here at Darya's at South Coast Plaza. Great spot with a cute outdoor patio with waterfall. Ordered up a bottle of J Pinot Noir from Monterey County. I ordered the Lamb Rice plate (medium rare). The meal was excellent. The meat was super succulent and juicy. The presentation was great. The service here is top notch and an enjoyable experience. Our party also had the Persian Dessert combo of baklava and a few other items I can't remember.

Outstanding. Food, menu options, service, speed, convenient parking. Looks like they have multiple locations near one other.

Wonderful Birthday Treat at my Favorite Persian Restaurant The Best ! Thank you ! Also Special Thanks to our server who did a great service for us and super friendly. The food was tasty! I always enjoyed my visit . I've celebrated many of my birthdays here .

Wow what a feast! We started off with some shirazi salad. Very fresh and tasty. Lemon and olive oil with some middle eastern herbs in the dressing. Great on the lavash with a touch of butter. My friend ordered the grilled boneless chicken shisk kebab (some grilled veggies) and an extra skewer of koobideh ($10), which came with rice, greek salad and a grilled tomato. It was a huge generous platter! I ordered the veggie skewer plate, which comes with your choice of 2 kinds of rice (the zeresk polo is barberries, and the other kind was crispy onions, dates and lentils). The rice was outstanding! I also got an extra skewer of koobideh. My combo plate also came with borani. Think of a more elevated babaganoosh (egg plant dip with crispy onions, herbs, etc.). The veggie skewer had a satisfying amount of grilled onions, bell peppers, plum tomatoes too. Their iced tea is a different kind, has depth of flavor. Their hot tea is good too. We didn't want too much caffeine so our waitress watered it down for us. Service was pretty good for the most part. We also ordered Soltani combo platter to go too (for my friends kids). It has filet mignon and grilled chicken too. It runs about $38. This place was so elegant, warm and friendly. I am still thinking about our meal, plotting another return visit!!!

Found this place 2 years ago and we are regular customers ever since. Food is always great. Service is good whether it's for dine in or take out. Lovely ambience :)

Darya has authentic Persian food near SCP. The restaurant has an elegant ambiance and the waiters are extremely attentive. + there was live music. Parking was also easy. Our group of 9 ordered family style Order: Appetizers: Dolmeh Hummus Maust khiar Tabouleh Entrees: Darya #2 Filet mignon Shish Kabob, Chicken Shish Kabob and one skewer of Beef Koobideh Darya #3 Filet mignon Barg Boneless Chicken, and Lamb Chops Seafood platter (shrimp, scallops and white fish) Adas polo (rice w dates)

Always live going to Darya. Food is consistently good as well as the service. Ambiance is very classy but you can be casual dressed.

An absolute treat to have dinner in Darya, Food was outstanding, tasty , looks fresh and well looked after by the chef before serving, service was out of any body's imagination, they went out of their way to make 6 of us appreciate them , quick, understanding and most of all clean, As for the Ambiance , we felt like we were eating in a well designed museum, cleanliness, tables not a spic of dirt on them , in fact the owner was watching like a hawk , we sat at one table and three minutes later we changed to a different location in the restaurant , waiters bus boys re changed the white linen new eating utensils , etc etc to the table we were on it for no more than couple of minutes, to me Darya is the Rolls-Royce of restaurants. I wish other restaurant owners worry about customers than their pockets

I have been here for 6 or 7 business lunches (usually a party of 4), a few business dinners (3 or 4 persons) and three group dinners (10-16 people). Food has always been very good, service is excellent, good wine, and plenty of parking. We usually get a selection of different kabobs and I enjoy them all. The Koobideh is always flavorful, the chicken is tender, as is the filet. Soups and salads are good too - I personally like the Barley Soup. We usually try to get the Tadig (crispy rice) but it is rarely available for lunch since it is basically the crispy rice from the bottom of the pot and the bottom isn't crispy enough yet at lunch time. I have found a few other places in the OC with Middle Eastern /Persian food as good as Darya at better prices or slightly better food, but I would not hesitate to come back to Darya.

This is a great restaurant to hold large parties. I've held a party of 110 guests last year and a party of 50 today. In addition to having great food, the service was outstanding, from the time that our guests started to arrive, they were greeted with hot teas, the servers were attentive through out the stay. Everyone in our party had a great time. Thank you miss Masi and the team for the great experience.

Food : 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 I recommend it to you, family and friends, group Good romantic place Prices: sss

La comida deliciosa y el servicio espectacular!! El postre de pistache es una delicia!! Lo mejor que he comido

My recent visit to Darya Restaurant left me with mixed feelings. While some aspects of the meal were enjoyable, others fell short of expectations. On the positive side, the Tadig (crispy rice) was excellent, offering a delightful crunch and flavor that complemented the meal perfectly. The Borani was another highlight, with its creamy texture and well-balanced seasoning. Unfortunately, the Chelo Kabab (kobideh) was a letdown. The meat had an odd taste that detracted from the overall enjoyment of the dish. Additionally, the chicken dish I ordered was undercooked, with parts of it still raw--a disappointing and potentially unsafe experience. While the ambiance of the restaurant was pleasant, and the service was attentive, the inconsistency in the quality of the food left much to be desired. With some adjustments to the cooking process and perhaps a closer eye on food quality, Darya Restaurant could easily elevate its dining experience to match its inviting atmosphere.

Terrible Customer Service and Zero Accommodation for Families with Babies I had one of the worst experiences at this place recently. We stopped by with 3 people and a 4-month-old baby in a stroller, hoping for a nice meal, but were met with unbelievable rudeness. They were trying to prepare two seats table next to parking lot for us with adding a chair to it for sure there was not enough room for 3 people and for sure there was not a suffice place for stroller! I politely asked if we could be moved to a nearby round table that had more space, but she bluntly refused, saying that table was for five and they could "get more orders with that." It was clear they had zero interest in accommodating us, even with a baby, which made the situation even more frustrating. When I expressed my dissatisfaction with their lack of care, the hostess had the audacity to say, "This is what it is, and you can leave"--incredibly rude and unprofessional. We will NEVER return to this place and will be telling all of our friends and family to avoid it at all costs. This place doesn't value customer service and basic respect, steer clear of this establishment.

Omg the food is horrible!! I have order from darya tustin and is so different . The fish was dry and it looks like old frozen fish , juice chicken was not juice at all . It was so bad !! Darya salad didn't have walnuts , the lettuce was old and they just throw a bunch of feta so it cover the old lettuce!!

Very fancy looking when your first walk in! And there's a step and repeat in the front of the restaurant. Really feels like you're somewhere fancy haha. There was some live music playing. It was gentle and not super noticeable. Just a guy with his guitar! The waitress was super sweet. The food was great. Tried the borani appetizer which was eggplant but it didn't even taste like it, which was great. I don't like eggplant haha. The main plates are pretty big. I shared the naderi with a friend and it was more than enough for the both of us. Taste was great. I do wish there was a tiny bit more rice and tomato but the flavor is great regardless. A little pricy if you're not splitting the food though. But I enjoyed the experience overall!

First time trying this Daryas. The hostess tried to seat us waaay in the back corner. She was very accommodating when asked to be seated elsewhere. The restaurant is very clean and it seems like they do a lot of events. Servers were very polite. I did think that the items were over priced for a single skewered item tho. Ordered the Daryas salad and it was delicious. My husband and I shared the combo meal and it was very filling. The meat was nicely seasoned and cooked well. It wasn't dry. Next time I'm in the area and craving Mediterranean, I'll go here.

One of the best Persian restaurants in OC!! As far as location, service and hospitality. They have a professional crew. Friday nights they have live music and they have been known for their reservation for different occasions as well. We got koobide, lamb kabob for main dish and Tahdig(crispy rice) and stew, eggplant dish and shallot yogurt for appetizers. For desert we got hot black tea and baklava which was perfect. If you like lamb, I would suggest that over beef for sure.

A beautiful Persian restaurant that now has multiple locations around the OC. This in my opinion is the nicest one with a very classy feel to it with both indoor and outdoor seatings. Make reservations on weekend or busy holiday weekends as this place fills up pretty quick. I've been here many times in the past for occasions and meetings and never really rated the place. First of all 5 stars for the manager in the evening. He was excellent and really hospitable in making sure a good table was arranged. There was a medley of food ordered for the table but the ones I tried were the koobideh with albalo polo (sour cherry rice) and the lamb kabob and beef barg combination. It's very hard to impress with Persian food for me as being half Persian I will know the taste. The quality is good here but the Persian food over the years has been just okay to me. I get it, Persian food is hard to make and flavors sometimes are difficult to imitate but food wise it's always been the industry average to maybe slightly above on food taste. Great management team once again.

WHAT A HORRIBLE Disappointment! I could not believe how bad the food was. And especially at the price! The chicken kabob was like eating plastic! Just unacceptable which tells you that there is no quality control. This place used to be excellent but over the years they have increased the price and decreased the quality to the point where the food belongs to trash! So sorry to have to write this but maybe this will get their attention!

Highly recommended. Beef kabab and chicken barg was awesome. Great service and lovely staff. I always enjoy the ambiance of this restaurant.

***** Warning ***** Yesterday, on Dec 8th, together with my wife and 5 year old son, we arrived at Darya Restaurant for lunch. At first, we ordered a Beef Barg for the kid as he was pretty hungry. The dish came in at an alarmingly quick speed. While the Beef did not look like it was cooked at the time, somehow, that did not move us to question it. The baby start eating the food. When he was done, my wife and I ordered the Chicken Barg for ourselves. When the food came in, it had a tremendously bad smell of raw chicken, much the same as those with Salmonella. We right away sent the dish back and in-spite of the server offering a different dish, we chose to pay off and get out of the restaurant. My kid's stomach experienced a huge turmoil afterwards with him going to bathroom three times during a 6 hour period within a few hours of leaving the restaurant. Today, on Monday, the kid has been throwing up and we just called the Doctor on him. To be fair to the servants at the restaurant, they were extremely concerned and cordial while trying to mitigate the experience by offering alternative dishes. While, this restaurant, has been a great place for us every time we came to Costa Mesa, I strongly suggest that everyone be extremely mindful of their quality of food, if and when they dine there. This experience brings to an end our ever dining at Darya Restaurant in Costa Mesa.

Love the service & food!!! Highly recommend the Fessenjun! Live music is great and ambiance is gorgeous!!!

Persian fine dining at its best is on display in the OC I'm a frequent patron and they do not disappoint. The food is the star but the service is understated

This restaurant is such a beautiful restaurant with amazing costumer service. The waiters are always there to serve you with a positive attitude. The menu food selections are such great selections. The quality plus servings are amazing:

the portions when ordering takeout are huge! ordered the salad and #7 plate to go, and they put the dressing for the salad on the side :) amazing service!

I love going to Darya! I recently went with my boyfriend and had the best time. The chicken koobideh was perfection! The staff is so sweet, and Mona is the sweetest of them all :) They all went above and beyond to make sure we had a good experience.

Hands down , one of the best Persian restaurants I've visited in Orange County ,CA. From appetizers to desserts, we loved everything we tried. The meat medley was a crowd pleaser. Must try !!! Even though we were so full by the end of our entree , we could not resist the variety of desserts that burst with middle eastern flavors . I loved their pistachio cheesecake that I even took a takeaway with me . ( on the house) . Not to mention the hospitality of the owner himself who I noticed made sure everyone in the restaurant was well attended. The entire staff worked seamlessly together. Great coordination!! I loved their decor . It strikes the perfect balance between chic and cozy. The ambiance is trendy yet comfortable. I surely felt the beautiful vibe .The attention to detail and commitment to guest service were top notch. I will be definitely returning.

Delectable Persian food! The Chelo Kebab (koobideh) was juicy, tender, and flavorful served with Basmati rice and charbroiled tomato. The Fesenjan was delicious too! Service was pleasant and friendly. The restaurant was spacious but we would have liked to be at the patio if we knew ahead.

Probably the most elegant Persian restaurant in U.S. Love the ambiance, decor, the servers attire, the chairs the carpet, the bar, the entire place is like entering to a palace. The service was awesome. They serve brewed Persian style tea which was delicious with great aroma and they refill with no extra charge. The food was good but not the best. They do not serve most popular Persian dishes other than beef and chicken Kabobs with plain rice. They offer all kinds sides & appetizers but for a very high price. Too bad they do not offer other Persian dishes like stews, rice varieties or fish Kabobs. If you are in Orange County it's worth a visit to this place.

I had the food to-go but my koobideh was still pretty good. What sucks is you have to eat it quickly, because the meat gets exponentially worse the colder it gets. Service was fast and the staff were ready for me since I called ahead. The ambiance was good, an old ish feel that feels homey and family like.

Food great Service excellenr Price slightly pricy Overall expeeiemce 5/5 Close to south coast plaza Clean elegant persian halal store

Pretty decent. Their kabob koobideh didn't taste very authentic, but it was fine. I did like how they give small amounts of lavash with the meal.

The food is wonderful. If you want Real Persian food then this is your resturant. Beautifully decorated interior. The servers are delightful. We will be back again and again

I was led to believe that the Darya Restaurant is the same Darya Restaurant that I've visited in the past but it was totally different and the food was horrible... Make sure you're going to the correct Darya Restaurant because this one is a -10 The better restaurant is located in the city of Orange

Darya is a Persian restaurant near South Coast Plaza that has an elegant ambiance. I wouldn't call it fine dining, as the portions are generous and the prices are fair, especially if split among a group. But, you get the feel of fine dining because of the attentive service and nice atmosphere. Parking is easily found in the front of the restaurant and there was no wait for lunch. To start, you complimentary lavash bread and butter. Our family ordered the boneless chicken kebab and chicken koobideh. The waiter offered to combine our orders into one plate to make it shareable family-style. Out of the two, I recommend the boneless chicken kabob, which was juicy and flavorful. The chicken koobideh is good as well and is composed of ground chicken. The rice and tomatoes always pair well with chicken.

Excellent in everything Service Food Organization Delivery Employees Friendly Above and Beyond expections

One of the best Persian restaurants in OC!! As far as location, service and hospitality. They have a professional crew. Friday nights they have live music and they have been known for their reservation for different occasions as well.

one of the best iranian restaurants I have ever been in, for 50 years I have been in the food industry , Their tasteful food , out standing service and I challenge any restaurants to have such a clean and organized kitchen while dinner service to about 100 customers. i recommend this restaurant for a romantic dinner or for a large party celebrating a memorable occasions . Ps. The owner is part of the furniture he is always there watching . Well done

The outdated interior really gives this place charm. The meat here is soo juicy, I usually get the Soltani, the steak falls apart once you bite into it. I don't usually eat red meat but here I can devour it! The chicken kabobs are also mouth watering. I've ordered out and eaten in and each time the quality of food was unmatched. When I have eaten inside the restaurant the service is always top notch everyone is so animated and passionate about Persian food. I love the combination of quality food AND service and this place has it!

Excellent as always. We miss their food so much. Now that they are opened for dine in again. We will be there often as before. The kabobs are excellent and so delicious. We love it

I haven't been here in more than 30 years. First time I ever had Persian food back when "I don't know what year". It's as good now as it was then. Thankfully, I can get good Persian nearby, but we really need more diverse cuisine in Colorado!

Excelente authentic Persian food So many options Very clean Pleasant environment Good service