Sahara Taste of the Middle East

Sahara Taste of the Middle East was EXCELLENT 💯🔥 the different meat's were UNBELIEVABLE DELICIOUS, each had it's own distinct taste and flavor... All were tender. This place was one of the original Middle Eastern Restaurant in Rancho San Diego with the TRADITIONAL mouth watering taste. The salads are EXCEPTIONAL, I can't believe they had real beets cut into pieces, I usually see canned beets at other places. The salmon with the salad was soft ,juicy and just melted in my mouth. The staff are EXCELLENT Professional and Caring. Interior was modern and very very clean. I Highly Recommend this Place 🙂

Pretty good chicken shawarma over rice, tender, flavored grilled chicken, wish they had asked me if I wanted the heavy white sauce over the whole plate would have tasted better without it. The grilled chicken salad was good too, plenty of salads, nuts and berries. We liked the outdoor sitting, a breath of fresh air during the winter flu/covid season. 😄

Amazing food, the Sahara fries are a classic and is San Diego's Middle Eastern answer to any SD taco shop's best carne asada fries. However the overall experience puts a bad taste in your mouth because the front cashier staff they've hired lately are complete jerks. They don't look at you or pay attention when you're ordering, and unless you're actively walking up to ask where your order is, they'll let it sit at the prep counter all day if you let them. I have been coming here for almost 10 years and the service was never this bad!

Fast. Seating was adequate. Food from Mediterranean idk how to judge it. Ive never really tried it. So after all dishes. The salad and flat bread veggie was the best. My taste buds could be different from other people or people raised on Mediterranean food.

Had falafel and gyro. All great flavors. The sides were fresh and tasty. Beet salad , tabouli, baba ghanoush, pasta salad, all fresh and tasty. Flat bread tender and tasty. $40 for all and leftovers tomorrow. One if our best meals on Adam’s Street. The women who waited on us were friendly and helpful with our ordering. Top notch.

How have i lived in SD and missed out on this place? Hands down one of the best Middle Eastern places. We had some of everything and it was all awesome. The stuffed grape leaves were great with some yogurt on the side (meat and rice type); The lamb over rice was amazing so tender; the tabouleh and hummus were spot on; and the falafel were great just the right amount of crispy! Enjoy!

Amazing food - we tried a little bit of many items and each one was amazing. I will say the falafel was solidly average but the dolma was probably the best I’ve ever had. I am unable to describe how they flavored the dolma but can offer that it is warm and melt in your mouth mind blowing. Even my friends who usually dislike dolma enjoyed it - i had ordered it to go, but ended up eating the entire plate in the store. Will be back

First time here and the young man who took our order was extremely polite and helpful. Later when I asked two young ladies behind the counter for two bags, one grabbed them and shoved them at me, never meeting my eye. Regardless, I thanked her. Very casual atmosphere, lots of families eating in and lots of to go orders stacked up on the counter. I ordered the lamb special and it was ok, not fabulous. The yogurt soup that came with it had strings of lamb in it and was seasoned very nicely. The portions were very generous (matching the big price $25). I also ordered the "potato chop" which was baked or fried round dough filled with mashed potatoes and seasoned ground beef. I really liked it. I had a piece of my friend's chicken tikka which was DELICIOUS and I had some of her babaganoush, also very good! I'm looking forward to coming back and ordering something else.

My fav place in El Cajon .... Delicious food and excellent service .! Awesome environment as well .

I read the other reviews and thought this would be a good place to try after our son's soccer game. Honestly, pretty disappointing, and didn't at all live up to the hype. First of all, it's more fast-foody than a restaurant. You order at the counter and find a table and they bring you your food. There was a varied and interesting menu--every thing from Lahema June (what they call a middle eastern flat bread --ground beef with a very generous helping of ME spices usually.); also have small fried dishes filled with biryanis and beef or chicken. I'm sure these would have been good also. But the weird thing was that their middle shelf of veggies, like tabouleh, and humus and baba ganoug- all filled platters filled high with all kinds of me sides--yet they didn't have any tabouli left, and the humus platter, while full, we weren't allowed to order. (I wanna say they were done for the night and saving it for tomorrow, even though it was only 7:45 when we were ordering). My daughter wanted the falafel veggie platter and she got falafel and was supposed to order 3 sides: she wanted tabbouleh (which at first they said they were out of) and the hummus (which they said they were out of) and she ordered the baba ganoug, which she doesn't like because the rest of the stuff (Taxiku and yoghurt sauces) did not look very appealing. Finally they relented and said they would give her humus. My son ordered the salmon skewer, which came with rice and humus, and having read the reviews,I ordered the Sahara salad and some chicken Shawarma. The salad was supposed to have this pomegranate dressing that got rave reviews. Unfortunately, it was a pretty ho hum salad, and the dressing was only ok. My son was starving, from his game so he ate everything, but said the vegetables were not that great--overly charred and tasted burnt. And the salmon was in the dry side. Despite the enormous portions with my salad and my daughter's veggie plate, neither one of us took any food to go--it was that mediocre. And with the service being what it was--how is it that you can order $90 worth of food, and yet you're not allowed to order some of the food, even though you're looking at a huge platter if it?! It was so odd. And not very good. Maybe they were having an off night, So I'm giving them 2 stars. For wishful thinking that they might be better at other times. But no way did they merit 4 or even 4 stars. Disappointing.

Great food. Good portions. I was able to eat half for lunch and take the rest for another meal at home. They have four sauces self serve as well (i.e. unlimited and tatziki, tahini). A nice spot. Service was fair. No complaints.

Our overall experience at Sahara was exceptional. The food was outstanding. I had the chicken shawarma bowl and my husband had the beef shawarma wrap. I definitely recommend to anyone considering middle eastern food.

Found this gem while on camping trip. Delicious middle eastern food Full of amazing flavors. Everything we order we loved. Wish they had location in Los Angeles.

Picked up some to go food for dinner. Been here to this restaurant many times. This visit I noticed something I never have tried. It looked like spinach/ cheese bread. Picked up a few to enjoy later. I enjoyed the food as usual and tried the spinach/cheese bread. Oh it was delicious! I would definitely pick up some again!! Thank you !

The filet Tikka was unreal tender juicy and lovable. It's super casual inside so don't dress fancy. The lentil soup is to die for! The Kubba Halib is the best I ever had in a restaurant. I usually only eat it from my mom and aunts and grandmothers because it's a tough delicacy to make for mass production but Sahara has it feeling like grandmas house! The service was very helpful and explained everything elaborately! You should definitely try this bomb middle eastern spot!

Came here after work and I must say the flavors are extraordinary. Unlike most other middle eastern restaurants. I got the mix plate, at first I thought it was wildly expensive the plate and drink was $30 just for me. But after seeing the amount of food it was completely justified. Service was good, the cashier girl very nice and helpful. Come give it a try!

Service good Food is ok Amnience fast food feel It is worth to try yet not my favorite in the area

This place is sooooo good! The schwarma is probably some of the best I've ever had!! The service is great and the staff is so nice. It's not too expensive especially when you're eating such delicious food!!! Definitely going back for more

This place never disappoints. Flavorful, fresh, amazing menu. Worth the drive and price always. I wish they would expand locations

Hve a craving-go here for delish kabob and shawarma. Love the help yourself to garlic cream and tahini. Rice yummi nutty and little sweet raisin. Ask for hot sauce. Big portions god for 2 sittings - lunch & dinner or snak ;)

Not sure why Yelp put me down for a 5 star review. I've never been there??! In fact, I don't really know of any restaurants in El Cajon.

Sahara Taste of the Middle East offers an exceptional meal experience highlighted by their exquisite Filet Mignon Plate and flavorful salads. The perfectly grilled filet mignon melts in your mouth, while the fresh salads burst with vibrant flavors. What sets Sahara apart is their unwavering commitment to quality, evident in every dish, making it the go-to destination for discerning palates seeking top-notch Middle Eastern cuisine.

Food is great and yummy plus service are great we ordered fillet mignon and Kuba Halub. They are delicious. The rice is flavorful. The beef is soft and textured but wish it has more flavor. The portion of Fillet mignon plate is good for one person. Kuba halab is yummy (first time trying it). Inside seating area and restroom are clean.

Don't come if you want delicious food and extremely friendly service!! The food here is SO tasty, we'll prepared and seasoned. I appreciate the authentic Middle Eastern culture and welcoming people that work here the sauces and soups are delicious on top of everything else, along with the family-friendly ambiance! I couldn't come up with something wrong about this place even if I tried LOL the prices are great as well.

I was visiting friends in Normal Heights who asked what I wanted from the menu and friend picked it up with their orders. I got the gyros plate. I actually meant to order the gyros sandwich. There was plenty of meat and rice, one piece of pita, no onions, no tomatoes and especially disappointing was NO Tzatziki. My friend had to park 2 blocks away to pick it up so no way was I going back for the omission and further delay dinner. The order was pretty dry so I wasn't impressed with the food or service.

Food is amazing, I recommend the lamb and the chicken plate with toom. Service was quick, attentive, and considerate. The employees do an amazing job, our server Diane especially was very helpful and offered to move our table to turn on a heater for us. The decorations inside the restaurant are very beautiful and the outside seating is surrounded by flowers and plants. Can't recommend this place enough, try the Turkish coffee too!

The lamb shank plate comes with bean stew and rice (we had yellow rice and black rice). The lamb was very tender and yummy but the sauce was way too salty. Yellow rice was my favorite and the soup was pretty tasty. Service was good, the food didn't take too long. This place is more of a chipotle food spot than a fine dine restaurant. They have different yogurt sauces and the garlic one was our favorite. My hubby had the beef flatbread, it was decent. The atmosphere was okay for a quick bite, super casual.

If you haven't tried Sahara down here in Rancho I recommend you do go by there and try their food it's so good

I had to be back here for a reason. To clear some illusion. Was it my imagination or it was all real. I ordered the regular stuff that I would Iike for Greek or Mediterranean food, the roll the bowl the plate. What makes me go crazy is that there awesome sauces are available as much as one wants to get. Like a salsa bar. This is good stuff. Others charge for an extra ranch. Everything was tasty and fresh especially their rice. Something is extraordinary about it. Something is awesome about this place!

Beautiful spot in Ranch San Diego. The food is delicious and the service is great! After eating here you can enjoy some hookah next door or have a few drinks at the Press Box! This is one of my Favorite Middle Eastern Places.

Place is still BOMB !!! Mediterranean food. Filet mignon skewer was so tender and flavorful.

Food was good, but ridiculously overpriced. A tiny 6" sandwich with no sides for $16 and a small shwarma bowl for $20. Would never order from here again.

Excellent good, a little pricey, but one of the best middle eastern food I've had in San Diego.

Seems like everyone was craving some middle eastern food on this Sunday night. It was a packed house. We were going to eat in but most tables were taken, and it was just way too cold to eat outside. This time around we ordered beef flat bread (label bajeen) since Tim was craving it. And we both ordered combination plate with 2 Beef and 1 Chicken Kulta Kabob. It comes with basmati rice, pita bread, roasted tomato, pickled turnips and Middle Eastern Salad (my fave). We also ordered Greek Salad for my lunch for work tomorrow. Everything was delicious as usual. And side note - sauces are self serve. This means you can have as much Tahini and Tzatziki sauce. To sum it up, this is one of my go to if I'm craving some delicious middle eastern food. You see my friends have spoiled me over the years and I have eaten some amazing home cooked middle eastern food. And the fact that they gives this restaurant 2 thumbs up says a lot.

Terrible place and management! Very rude staff and bad customer service. Avoid at all costs.

This is my favorite middle eastern restaurant and I've tried quite a few! Food is always fresh and always tastes great!

Had dinner with my hubby since we were in the area. We've love this place since discovering it while we were shopping at target. Food is consistently amazing, service is good. Place is clean, more importantly bathroom is always clean :)

The restaurant was a little out of the way for me, but based on the reviews I felt I had to try it and I was not disappointed. The food was really tasty and the portion size was good as well. The one negative I would have to give is related to the service. The cashier came off as cold with a faint scowl and forceful mannerisms. Not that big of a deal, but did make me feel slightly uncomfortable as I was ordering.

Another Middle Eastern restaurant with a few Iraqi items that are unique to Chaldea. Great customer service and was able to go before the dinner rush and actually get a table. Place is bustling with to-go orders and happy hungry people all around. :-) Loved the Kubba Hamuth - (juicy dumplings made with beef and bulgur wheat with a smooth tomato sauce) Everything was fantastic, and brought the leftovers home to enjoy later. For sure will be back!

My coworker took me here for lunch since I'm not as familiar with East County. I love all the selections that they have - the classics were available with a few options that I don't usually see like potato curry stew. The sauces are served via large containers with pumps so you can fill up as much as you need. There's also a fridge area near the register for various drink options, house pickles and sauces, and some dessert options. The service was very friendly and it was a nice bright space to enjoy lunch.

Good food. I can't say much for the service because we did a to-go order. The place was extremely crowded though. So you know their food must be good.

I ate everything! The service was quick and pleasant we ordered a kabob combination plate with chicken and a large salad. Everything was great. We definitely will return.

The best pita chips and hummus in SoCal. Service is fast but menu can be a little pricey if coming with a bigger family. Their kabab is also high quality and one of the best I've tried. Wish they weren't to stingy with their sides though

Great food with great service. Always tastes amazing. This place is highly recommended for authentic middle Eastern food. Make sure you stop there and try the Sahara salad and the flat breads also!

Second experience here and was pretty underwhelmed. The chicken was well cooked and rice flavorful but the other sides fell short. The meal was okay, but this place does not stand out of me when compared to others in the area just based on the food. Our food was ready on time and customer service is nice which I appreciate!

Been coming here for years... my go to has always been the chicken shawarma fries. They used to load up the meat and the fries were always crispy fresh. For the last year I've been trying to give them a chance... but now it's the 4th time I've gotten them this past year and every time, the fries are soggy or stale, taste like they've been sitting out for hours. The meat is not as loaded as it used to be... and I'm just disappointed everytime now. Really can't justify stale fries for $17. Stick to the rice

Got my mom $50 worth of food last night from DoorDash. Falafels (4), chicken shawarma plate, Mediterranean salad, Kufta kebab and different yogurt drinks. I spoil my mama. She loves chicken and this place popped up as halal food on DoorDash. I'm happy my mom has somewhere she can enjoy eating because she doesn't trust American restaurants for their meat and cooking standards. She is old fashioned in that way.

If I could give ten stars I would. I used to be a local and I would frequent at least a minimum of 3 times a week... to the point they addressed me by my name when I called ahead .. was even better living 3 miles away. Even though I've moved to OC.. I'll make the drive just to eat and go right back home. I brag to all my friends to go... it's been so many years of dedication to Saharas... I haven't found a single place yet that compares.

I had an amazing chicken meal here. I was on a cleansing diet and they accommodated me with my limitations. Good food and very reasonable. I liked the set up and it was perfect for a quick in and out meal! Oh and try the desserts!! Any of them!

Great EVERY time!!! Staff are great as well, friendly and great service. Chicken kabobs and Schwarma are outstanding.

The bread was dry and not fresh at all, also the food was cold not heated? Not recommended

It's so good! I really enjoyed the food first time eating here! The service was good. The ambience was good too. I would highly recommend trying this place! I got the falafel plate and added rice separately.

This is one of those hidden gems. Good is great quality and has an amazing flavor profile

All of their soups are FANTASTIC. I was surprised all of the soups on the menu are vegetarian, but they do have one that is not on the menu, a chicken and rice, that my friends say is very very good. My favorites are the lentil soup that tastes like DAHL and the vegetable bean soup.

Delicious food. I love it here. Vibe is great. Nice and clean. People are friendly, i have ordered many delicious meals.

The restaurant is very clean. The food comes out within a decent time frame. The chicken tikka wrap was just alright, it lacked a little flavor and sauce. But I just recently came back to try the chicken shawarma and it was so juicy and flavorful. The cashier was also very patient. I love how they have a self serving sauce station.

A disappointing experience. The restaurant was a disorganized mess, and I was trying to give the place a chance, thinking maybe it was just a busy day. However, the manager was also rude and unprofessional. My companion, who was looking forward to this outing and who is familiar with the cuisine, was also disappointed.

Best Arabic food in SD the lamb basmati is the best choice Thankssssssssssssssssssssssss