SAJJ Mediterranean (Irvine)

I love this healthy fast food restaurant. It is so close to where I swim laps. It is also next to a popular restaurant that I used to go to(Everyday Eatery) who got rid of their vegan options (what shame!) so I didn't go back to that restaurant nor this shopping center. Wow, now Sajj will be my favorite place to go to, here. It is a 'Chipotle' style for Mediterranean food. I know it is a fast food but it is much healthier than most. There are lots of vegan options(marked with a 'V'). A bowl with rice or salad, a wrap, or a pita sandwich is the option for vegans, with Falafels. The price is $11.75 for any of the style. I picked vegan bowl with rice then add eggplant ragout, sumac cauliflower, hummus, cucumbers tomatoes mix, cherry peppers mix, lettuce, and spicy tahini sauce on top. One can add many more from the table that is marked with a 'V' and there are a lot. The rice was tumeric rice. I sprinkled some sumac on top. The lentil soup is included with it. For $11.75 it is a huge deal! I could not finish this bowl as it is a lot of food. There were 4 falafels! These falafels are one of the best I have tried. Unfortunately there is only 1 in SoCal. It is a fast food chain or franchise restaurant and started in Northern California. We need more! Thank you so much for providing so many vegan options. My recommendation is not to go during meal times as it can be crowded. The line never stopped when I was there. It is so popular. The parking can be hard to get too during meal times too. So after 1 pm would be best.

I've been looking for a go-to spot for a quick and healthy lunch, and this place really hits the mark. It's got that clean, modern vibe without feeling too cold, and it’s always bustling, which is a good sign. The whole "build-your-own-bowl" concept is super efficient and lets you get exactly what you want. The ingredients all look and taste incredibly fresh. My usual go-to is a base of yellow rice with chicken. The chicken is juicy and the falafel has that perfect crispy outside and soft inside. I'm a big fan of their hummus and the pickled onions; they add a nice tangy kick that cuts through the richness. The staff was friendly and patient as you make your way down the line. It's a great place to grab something to-go, but there's also plenty of seating if you want to hang out. It's not a fancy dinner spot, but for a casual, delicious meal that feels good to eat, I highly recommend it. It's a solid choice for a satisfying and healthy lunch or dinner.

SAJJ in Irvine is the place to go for healthy Mediterranean food, they are a farm to table create your own bowl/wrap/pita restaurant. The produce is sourced locally and the halal proteins are free of antibiotics and hormones. This healthy restaurant is not the, if it’s healthy it doesn’t taste good, place. Their food is delicious and full of so many flavors and spices that takes your taste bud on a journey! You have a choice between pita bread, wrap or bowl. Once you decide on your base you can start filling with proteins such as pomegranate chicken, falafel, or chicken/steak shawarma. Next comes your toppings! Examples include eggplant ragout, sumac cauliflower or onions, diced beets and avocado. Then get a squeeze of your sauce choice such as spicy tahini or balsamic vinaigrette. You really cannot go wrong! Their portions are so generous! Their sauces are delicious and their drinks so fun including my choice mint lemonade. So good! And don’t forget to have a sweet to end your meal including chocolate hummus, baklava or a cookie! The restaurant is clean and there is plenty of parking nearby.

📍SAJJ @sajjstreeteats 6636 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618 Event by Yelp. Was invited to try SAJJ Mediterranean by Yelp and it was amazing!!! I got the chicken bowl with all the fixings, the chicken was very good and tender. The condiments were delicious and paired with the chicken and rose very nicely. I highly recommend SAJJ Mediterranean if you are in the area. They offer bowls, plates, wraps, salads. If you are interested in becoming an Yelp Elite and want to benefit by enjoying amazing food and trying new restaurants check them out.

Recently tried Sajj Mediterranean, greatly enjoyed their food. Located across the Irvine business center, the restaurant offered ample parking. The ordering process was similar to popular fast-food chains like Chipotle and Subway, allowing you to select your desired base, protein, vegetables, toppings, and sauce. I opted for the steak rice bowl, and it did not disappoint. I never had any steak like this before. It was cooked to perfection and marinated with a flavorful sauce that makes me yearning for more. The turmeric rice was beautifully seasoned and gave the dish a bold pop of color. The toppings were diverse and elevated, with the cauliflower and eggplant providing a delightful surprise in every bite. The hummus, garlic spread, and tzatziki sauce were all divine and added an extra layer of flavor and creaminess to the meal. Move aside Chipotle, Sajj is gonna a new favorite. My server was friendly and patient, taking the time to explain the various toppings and sauces available. Overall, I had a fantastic experience at Sajj and I look forward to coming back!

First time here although I’ve been living in Irvine since 2016. Got the falafel bowl and it was great! Very similar concept to Cava in that you basically create your own bowl. Nice large falafels and not too crunchy / overfried. Will definitely be back! Only thing about this place is they close super early and they aren’t open everyday which is why it took me so long to try this place.

It's a simple menu, but there is a ton of variety with food choices. This has become our go-to lunch place whenever we're in the mood for something healthy. The food is delicious, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is great. We often see the same staff every time we come and they are always attentive, friendly and professional. SAJJ is especially great if you're vegan or vegetarian as it's way more than just a salad, there's so many options you can choose that you can have something different every time you come. I also like that you get a lentil soup with your meal too. Such a great added bonus. The portions are generous, and I often get filled up. If you come during the peak lunch rush, expect to wait a little and you may not find a table. But the line moves quickly and there's plenty of public seating around the restaurant as well. Signing up for the app got us occasional discounts so you may want to check that out, and we always return regularly, but especially when there's a promotion. Enjoy healthy eating!

These wheet balls are not CousCous!!! Couscous are small yellow grains… You specifically mention the piripiri sauce on the side: why do you put it on the food?

Amazing food and service, drove to LA for an early dinner to celebrate my daughter's Birthday and she selected this fabulous sushi place, we arrived early around 5:30 and were greeted and seated right away. The food was fantastic and the server was very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this place. The server was Daniel!

Came here at a super off peak time. No one was there, friendly staff. The place looks spacious and clean. The food was out displayed so I was able to pick what I wanted. Unfortunately, the food was a hit and miss. The lentil soup was delicious. But the chicken pita was meh. The sauce was great. The hummus was great. The chicken didn't have much flavor and it was cold. Also the pita bread itself was cold and hard so the entire pita wrap definitely isn't want the quality I'm accustomed to. My kid ordered mac and cheese. She took a couple bites and didn't like it. She said it tasted weird. But the pita chips that came with the mac & cheese.... omg, those were awesome. So it's really a hit and miss.

Does not honor the advertised Irvine Company Retail Therapy app coupon for bogo half off entree. See picture of coupon attached. We came today 2/1/24 at 5:35pm and they said that the coupon is "online only" even though the coupon says "in store redemption only." Then they said their system does not allow them to redeem it anyways. Take this off the retail therapy app if you can't honor it. This was a waste of our time coming here. Terrible management. Will be reporting to Irvine Company Retail Therapy customer service also.

This was my first time going, and it was such an amazing experience first, I was greeted by Milagro. Felt immediately felt super welcomed and gave me suggestions on what should I try? I took her suggestions and then followed by Bianey! She was even more amazing and I felt super amazing coming out of this restaurant and I would definitely will refer my friends and family!

No wait, quick friendly service, tasty and nutritious ingredients. If you want a solid brunch or lunch or early dinner, and there are long lines at the nearby restaurants in this plaza, go to SAJJ! It's BYOB - build your own bowl. Or wrap, or pita. I got a bowl with some chicken shawarma and half rice and half salad. Forgot which sauce, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything. It was quite filling, too. Chicken was nicely seasoned and fortunately not dry. I believe you get a complimentary cup of soup with every order. Soup was bean-based and savory, which was a good addition to my meal. Indoor seating was clean and spacious for being a small shop. Lot parking is doable.

Kinda feeling FALAFEL that I didn't try the Bay Area's best Falafel (according to @zagat ) until now, but it's always better late than never, right? Finally got to try @sajjstreeteats , and I was so blown away by the build your own options for rice bowls, salads, pita wraps and plates. You can choose from proteins such as their award-winning falafel, chicken/steak shawarma, chicken kabob and pomegranate chicken, a variety of sauces and hummus, and fresh, locally sourced greens and toppings. My favorite was definitely the shawafel- which is a combo of their falafel and your choice of shawarma. Overall, everything we tried was incredibly authentic and carefully prepared from fresh ingredients by the employees, who even threw in some free items since they were close to closing for the day. I would definitely stop by again, and highly recommend checking them out if you want fresh, authentic, healthy and customizable Mediterranean takeout!

If you are coming in and telling them what you want specifically while they prep your plate, you are good to go. If you are ordering online for a large group and making any subs, good luck. Even though the ordering system allows for special instructions or subs, it's still up to the person making up.your order to actually read it and follow. Overall, I'll stick to walk in ordering. I was disappointed to find errors in prepared plates while picking up my order and had to double check each and every item. Time I didn't have.

The entire time I was driving up the 5 freeway in traffic with tons of road construction, I was asking myself why I am doing this for Yelp? When I arrived, there was a line so it's a popular place! The sweet guys who work here knew exactly what I was talking about which was nice!! Would I come here again if I'm in the neighborhood, yes!! I got a bowl of chicken with hummus, garlic spread, cucumbers, eggplant, sumac cauliflower, and turmeric rice for my inflammation!! I also got a strawberry lemonade mixed with mint lemonade so I'm happy!! I fed it to my bf and he said it's a 3 stat bowl

As other Yelpers have mentioned this is the Chipotle of Mediterranean food. Doesn't have the authentic feel of a Mediterranean restaurant/Americanized, but tastes good and is healthy, also affordable! Ordered two Shawafel Bowl (Which comes with falafel and your choice of meat), I got a chicken bowl and steak bowl. What I like about the rice bowl is that they give tumeric rice! What I really like about this place is the toppings! You can get salad, beats, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, cauliflower, eggplant, chickpeas, hummus, garlic spread, just so many! I said give me it all! Don't forget about their sauces too! Overall great affordable bowls with lots of toppings. My only knock on this place is that the falafel is a little dry and the chicken and steak lacking in flavor a little. But overall I destroyed my bowl!

I made a quick visit to SAJJ after a family day at Spectrum which is conveniently nearby. The menu is very simplified and service was very attentive and friendly. I ordered the Chicken Shawarma in a wrap with added ingredients such as eggplant, yellow rice, arugula, Tahini and Garlic sauce. I ordered my food to go but the interior was very casual and clean. The food tasted healthy and delicious. SaJJ is definitely a great quick option when in the mood for something light and Mediterranean.

Delicious fast casual. Multiple types of salad for your bowl. Complientary lentil soup is a nice touch. Also offer a discount for healthcare workers which is appreciated. Recommended and will be back for lunch often !

Very clean upon walking in! The set up is like a Chipotle. You walk up, let them know if you would like a wrap or bowl, choose a spread, choose your meat and toppings, and then choose a dressing topping. The girls were super friendly and helpful as it was my first time. I chose the pita wrap which came on a burrito sized pita. I got the steak for my meat selection with the turmeric rice and feta cheese. I'm not sure which was sugary, but something tasted like brown sugar- like. The pita wrap was a bit tough to bite through, but it had good flavor. They have a generous amount of feta which I was very happy for as it really made everything great! I would recommend coming here for Mediterranean food.

Ordered a chicken shawarma pita and the pita had mold. I asked for a refund and the cashier told another worker to look at it and proceeded to ask when I ordered it. I told her it was 5 minutes ago and she had the audacity to scoff at me. I showed my Apple Pay was 6 minutes ago. I got a refund but their attitude about it sucked. This is my first and last time going to Sajj.

me - kind service and they even gave us soup with our entree!! loved the tahini and the beef schwarma, loved all of the veggies especially the eggplant and the cauliflower N - kind service but not a fan of the pita (not seasoned enough in his opinion), not a fan of the hummus, guess he was a hum(mus) bug about the hummus - next time I'll check in for the pita chips yum

I ordered the baklava for dessert while I was there. It was flaky and just the right amount of sweet. It wasn't busy when we went so we weren't sure if we went at an off time or not. I guess this place can be busy for lunch since it offers Chipotle style ordering but Mediterranean food. Parking is ample in the shared lot but expect a line during busy times.

5/5 food and service! It was my first time here! The staff were so kind to walk me through on how to order, their most popular items and their recommendations. They even gave me each of their sauces to try! What I ordered: - Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl with garlic spread, eggplant ragout, tomato cucumber salad, cherry peppers, picked cucumbers! - My favorite sauce is their cilantro mint chutney! - Organic Hibiscus (my favorite drink, very refreshing!) and Organic Lemonade - Chocolate hummus with cinnamon chips (my favorite dessert - Baklava with walnuts! yum!!

We came here for a quick dinner and we really enjoyed it. I wanted a bowl, but wanted something f different than cava so I'm so glad we tried this place. The staff was friendly. We ordered the shawarma bowl and it was so delicious. You have to get the egg plants for sure. I would definitely come back to try out other things in the menu. It was so filling and you'll definitely have left overs. They also had a complimentary lentil soup which tasted good, but felt a bit watery from what I am used to in the past, but the flavors were good.

I came here after work, because I've had a good experience enjoying the food that they have here. When I got here, it was very close to closing, and I was concerned that I would not get the best service. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I was greeted, and the person that was serving me absolutely was amazing very. He was very friendly, and he was very patient he guided me through the menu. He allowed me to sample all the different proteins, and also did not complain when I asked for a little bit more lettuce. Everything was still fresh. It did not look like they were trying to close. Everything was still well-kept, and amazing service again. The entire Location was also clean and spacious, and had a very beautiful ambience. As I was leaving, and another, customer came in even closer to closing time, and I overheard the server be just as nice him as they were to me. I found the food of this place to be amazing as well as the service. I highly recommend coming here.

The best way to explain SAJJ is to compare it to an elevated cava. Very much the same setup, toppinngs, meats, etc. but the quality is definitely there!! I got the bowl with steak and chicken and the garlic sauce ontop is a game changer. I would also like to point out how the two women working on April 26 at 6:00pm were so sweet. It was my first time here so I didn't know what to order but they waited for me patiently, guided me, and built my bowl with a smile on their face.

I know I've posted here before, but wanted to share again after being in the area for a bit and trying out the competition. In my opinion, Sajj definitely has the best food and customer service for delicious Mediterranean food to-go in Irvine. My go-to is usually the chicken shawarma bowl and I love the consistency of the tasty chicken, plenty of fresh produce and variety of toppings, and of course the free side of lentil soup.

Everything was delicious! I like the cafeteria style or Chipotle style service and the prices aren't too bad either. Nothing better than eating healthy and saving money!

Excellent food, great service, reasonable prices. Chicken shawarma and falafel side is the best

I got my salad bowl to-go but my experience here overall was amazing. The worker was extremely kind and friendly and they have such a wide diversity of items on the menu - I get a wrap or a bowl or even a salad depending on my mood!! I enjoyed this salad bowl with pomegranate and the tzatziki sauce was chef's kiss. I love Mediterranean food and trust me, they know how to make their bowls! Definitely coming back again :)

Chipotle-like Mediterranean food! Great flavors and tasted very fresh. The mint leaves made the bowl 63783816x better. Portions are pretty big and could not finish the entire thing in one sitting. Food was prepared fast and quick

First, the service is so friendly. They walked me through the process and all the options. I went for the rice bowl with chicken and steak schwarma. Great flavor on the meats. I added a bunch of toppings too - all terrific especially the pickled onions. I paired it with a strawberry lemonade. It was amazing. This is one of the best fast casual restaurants that I have been to in a long time. Look forward to coming back.

Basically the chipotle of Mediterranean food. You can get bowls or wraps (burrito) and add your choice of meat and toppings. I haven't seen a restaurant model like this before and I wasn't sure if it worked for me. And guess what... it does! The food here is really good. There's a lot of toppings to choose from and you get a generous amount of food. I got a chicken shawarma wrap/burrito and put all my favorite toppings in it. It's a little pricey - about 15 bucks for a meal, but it's good. Don't expect a full Mediterranean menu, it's a fast casual place.

Nice people working here. I got the chicken kebab bowl option with half rice and half salad. Pretty decent bowl, but nothing special. They had lot of sauce options that I liked. The chicken kebab needs some work. It was dry and the chunks were huge. I find that onion juice helps with tenderizing the meat and keeping it juicy. Give that a try when making kebabs. I understand it is a new location so hope they continue to improve Friendly service though.

Hidden gem in the Sand Canyon Plaza. I'm a big boy and I came hungry. I like that you can build your own meal, and I got the Falafel w/ rice bowl and ALL the fixins. I was struggling to get the last half of the bowl down I was so stuffed! And to to top it off you get a free cup of lentil soup. Great portion and good quality for the price (cheaper than Zovs or Olyvoyl).

First, the staff here are amazing. Seriously, they are always friendly and will even give you a lentil soup with your meal! Second, the seasoning and toppings here are unmatched. I love the flavor and variety. My go-to is the SAJJ wrap with chicken and just about every single topping and sauce, I love it all! It's a decent sized wrap and it makes for great leftovers too. Now, I've pretty much became a regular here

1-Great customer services 2-Meat quality is good 3- it's priced fairly for Irvine I think I paid $13 for a my plate 4- a unique twist to classical shawarma plate over all its good for a quick dinner stop

This place is very similar to CAVA but has some different options. Great for a casual lunch or dinner spot, although they don't stay open too late. We stopped in here one day with my daughter and decided to eat outside after ordering our food. The service was fast and friendly. They even gave us some complimentary lentil soup. I loved the variety of the veggies and meats. I would definitely return here!

Food, service and cleanliness means 5 stars for sure. I love me a yummy bowl, but I have to say that building my bowl here is probably my favorite. Everything is quality and fresh and flavorful. Their pita and hummus is probably one of the best I've had at a restaurant. My son devoured his bowl. He said the meat was so good. I wanted to savor mine so I ate part of it and took it home. The customer service was top notch since we walked in the door. If you want a not your basic bowl, come here. You will be happy with the selections of meats and veggies that mix in to the bowl and a variety of sauces too!

Love the variety that comes in the bowl! Every bite was so packed with flavor that I enjoyed it so much through every second of devouring the entire bowl. I got the pomegranate chicken and while the chicken was so good I want to run back for more as I speak right now, I'm not sure I got the right thing since there wasn't any pomegranate? Guess I'll get the same thing next time I get this - either I'll see it was something different, or I end up with what I got this time which was amazing anyway.

Super delicious! Large portions, healthy, fresh tasting, and very yummy. They have several locations in Silicon Valley, nice to see it's in SoCal as well. I first found Sajj via delivery apps! And then, was delighted to visit the Sajj cafe in-person. Nice clean interior and kind staff.

As a few other Yelpers have reported, the staff at this particular franchise location are VERY nice and friendly. Unfortunately the Rice Bowl I ordered with various toppings and rock hard Falafel was extremely bland and uninspiring. The topper for me was the tiny cup (6 ounce cup perhaps) of Lentil soup that is provided with various menu items. When I opened the container to eat the soup I noticed that it was 100% green liquid and there was no hint of any Lentil within the soup. This to me screams lack of attention to detail and may explain why this franchise location is rather quiet during the typical lunch hour rush whereas other restaurants in the busy Sand Canyon Plaza in Irvine are jam packed between 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on sunny weekdays.

Can't believe I waited so long to try this place. Phenomenal food. Full of flavor. Great portions. Best of all, great price. Although we got take our, service was fast and friendly, we got two bowls, and a wrap. Delicious! Fresh and flavorful ingredients! Definitely going back!

This fast casual place is best described as a Mediterranean Chipotle. Choose your protein, your veggies/carbs, your sauces. Make it a wrap, a bowl, a salad, etc. I got the shawafel rice bowl with added avocado. It was quite tasty--the falafel was surprisingly good!--and I loved the garlic sauce, but the rice was super salty! So maybe next time I do the salad bowl instead.

this restaurant is similar to chipotle! can order a bowl, wrap, or a plate! the lady helping us was nice and patient since we took a while deciding what we wanted - we went with a steak wrap. we also ordered a side of fries which were freshly made, and asked us if we wanted to put some in our wrap! and we had some on the side as well! highly recommend :)

I totally forgot to take pictures! This is a small casual eatery similar to Chipotle except Mediterranean. I got a bowl and the chicken was good, the options were good, I got guacamole and there was no extra charge. I have no complaints but it wasn't memorable either, nothing special about it. The lady didn't speak English so I couldn't ask anything but Pointing worked out. I'm not sure if this place will survive to be honest because it's in the same location as Hiro Nori and Everyday Eatery and other well known places. If I didn't have a promotional event to try them, I would've picked a different option but it was good so I hope others will give it a try.

Finally, we've found our "go-to" place for good Mediterranean food! We came right around lunch time and seating was comfortable, staff were attentive and friendly, food was delicious, and portions were plentiful, good value for money. What more can you ask for in a lunch place? As opposed to another Greek place down the road, which gives you a tiny wrap or platter with barely any food at an even higher price, this place gives a great amount of choices, such as eggplant, cauliflower, couscous, hummus, falafel, and other standard meats, and they even include a tasty lentil soup with the meal, completely complimentary, this is very special. Very special place to have in Irvine, as long as they keep the food, prices and service the same. we will definitely keep coming back.

Tried this place for the first time and their salad was fresh and delicious and of good portion. I also got a complimentary lentil soup which was also very tasty. Price was reasonable considering the quality and also the inflation.... Will definitely visit again.

Just amazing. Fresh food. Good service and clean. I ll be back and possibly order online Catering

Hard to access and get to. Had to wait to order and it took some time. Service was passable but not over the top. (think these guys use to own or run a place in DLTA and the experience-wise was not the best either). In terms of the ambiance, again, just passable. Found it noisy and pushy. Hope you have a better experience.

Always taste amazing! Staff is helpful and friendly. The place is very clean. I'm very satisfied!

Good food, fast service. We ordered online so not much to say about ambiance. The menus did not have few of my favorites though

I come here once a week. I love the food options to build your bowl. The service is always fast and smooth.

Clean establishment. Awesome outdoor area. The food was pretty good. The chicken was borderline dry. Falafels were crunchy and soft in the inside. I was surprised on the egg plant, I never eat that but this visit was different. Overall, pretty good.

If zero was available it would be zero. Bad service, does not respond to issues, does not complete orders, flat out rude, busy is one person in the store.... Chicken is mushy, rice is over flavored. Hummus tastes old, hidden by lemon. How do you promise the manager will contact you if don't ask for the customers name and number???? Do not go here. 8 days later and after forcing me to dispute the charges with CC company, they " graciously" gave a partial refund for the food they did not deliver, such a great company.... Oh , and a $5 credit to future orders, will never be used. Nothing for the horrible hummus, mushy chicken. This has to be the worst restaurant. I never post anything against places I order unless horrible. Still a zero.

This place has amazing customer service, and you can see the freshness in their foods. I love that they offer so many dishes to add to your bowl, with no extra charge like seasoned cauliflower. Try it out cause they have a lot to offer when compared to Cava.

Came here for the first time today after receiving a coupon in the mail and I'm so glad I did! I was immediately greeted with smiles and everyone was so kind. The bowls were delicious and portions were generous. The fries were crisped perfectly. The soup was a bit bland but still a nice warm touch. Overall a great experience. Will definitely be back!