Tahini Authentic Middle Eastern Street Food

Whenever I take a trip down to San Diego, I always look forward to dining at this fantastic restaurant. The freshness of the food is truly impressive, making every meal a delightful experience. My personal favorite dish is the "make my own bowl," 🥣 🥣 🥣 where I can customize my ingredients to perfection. Each component is seasoned just right, creating a harmonious explosion of flavors with every bite. Today was particularly special, as I had the opportunity to chat with one of the owners, Moody. He is an incredibly friendly gentleman, exuding warmth and hospitality. I expressed my thoughts to him, mentioning how much I would love to see a location open up in Oceanside. He listened attentively, and it was clear he values customer feedback, making the experience even more enjoyable.

I haven't been to Tahini for 5 years. They were so successful they moved into the space where the Japanese restaurant used to be. The meat stacks are made fresh daily. It's an order at the counter type place, quick service and a great spot for lunch. No alcohol but they have sodas

It was the first time to visit, it’s a good place, the vibes and the service is great. We ordered shawarma chicken and steak, the food wasn’t not bad but the garlic sauce was so weird we didn’t like it. The big issue was with the samosas, I got the beef one it was horrible. The beef has no taste and the dough was burned with better taste. We paid around $80 for 4 orders which is a little bit pricey regarding the quality. I just wanted to edit my review to thank the Restaurant owner who contacted me and tried to make everything right. I explained all of my experience and he was very professional and helpful. He also offered me a gift card . Thank you so much and I know you will be very successful.

An excellent experience. I went in super hungry, told the guy at the cashier what kind of food I normally like and he made a tailored recommendation for me. Then I got the food and it was delicious! It's simple fresh deliciously seasoned food. It's the kind of local spot where when someone asks you, "Hey why don't we go to [chain restaurant]" you respond, "Why would we go there when we can go to Tahini for less money and have better food?!?" Cannot recommend this place enough.

I ordered a steak rice bowl with lettuce and tomato, it was fresh and juicy. It was the first time I eat middle east food. I love it. A restaurant staff was kind for me who don't know any menu, how to order. Every seat is clean. Almost perfect but there was just 1 problem, water server was empty, so I was able to get brock ice.

Great Middle Eastern food from Tahini! We ordered the esquire pita, build your own pita sandwich, beef sambusa. All tasted really good. Loved the restaurant decor and ambiance. Very friendly staff. Indoor and outdoor seating. You can also put in your order online for pick up or delivery. Recommend.

Wow. Visiting from out of town. However, it did not feel that way at all. The moment we walked in we were welcomed. My brother is special-needs. And we felt nothing but kindness from the staff. Thank you so much to this location for providing such a beautiful atmosphere, friendly environment, and amazing food. We already can’t wait to be in San Diego again to try All the other options.

I ordered a couple catering appetizers for a house warming party. The crew got the order together an hour earlier than I originally requested for! The food was a major hit, delicious, affordable and great portion sizes! (Disclosure: The veggie and fruit tray in the picture is not from Tahini.) Will definitely order again and so will the people that attended my party! Thanks again!

This was my first time at TAHINI Authentic Middle Eastern Street Food Restaurant located on Clairemont Mesa Blvd and had the most delicious sandwich called, "The Esquire Pita," with chicken shawarma pita, stuffed with French fries, parsley mix, tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, with garlic and sriracha tahini. The pita bread was baked on the spot. The restaurant has fruit flavor soda and juice fountain. I absolutely enjoyed the mango lemonade drink with my pita sandwich. I paid $19 for pita sandwich and drink..yikes! But it was worth the experience. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant was very clean and the employees were very friendly and welcoming. Give it a try! Happy Yelping :)

I had a horrible experience with this business. When you try to make an honest review they will have an attorney contact you and ask you to remove it. Don't be afraid your rights are protected in California California's Anti-SLAPP Statute The statute helps prevent people or businesses from using unfounded lawsuits, courts, or potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate and silence customers or other people from exercising their right of petition or free speech under the First Amendment.

Located right next to the Turkish coffee cafe, Tahini is one of my convenient places to go for fast-casual Mediterranean. Their specialty wraps are delicious, but they really pack any of their bowls. Falafel is cooked to order, and the service is always friendly. The plaza it is located in is small, but typically has parking. If eating in, you can order at the front or via kiosk and they'll announce when your order is ready. Open seating, but the interior decor is cute and spacious. They also have an assortment of Stubborn agave sodas, teas and a water station. The Esquire is a popular favorite with the sriracha tahini, but I also enjoy their salad bowls with double chicken. All toppings are fresh, and it reminds me of a Cava or Chipotle style with their BYO bowls and pitas.

Wife and I tried this spot out for lunch and we really enjoyed ourselves. The ordered the esquire pita and she ordered a rice bowl with chicken and some other topping / fixings. Person taking our order was very welcoming and friendly and she answered all of our questions regarding some items in the menu. Now for the food, it as delicious! All the flavors complimented each other and we will be back to try their steak. The only concern I had was when we were waiting in line to order, I saw another customers pita and the shredded cheese in it was not melted . But that will not deter me from coming back to try other menu items.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place! A friend recommended it and it is now my favorite middle eastern restaurant. It is a very similar concept to Cava but the ingredients and the pita bread are just out of this world. I got the falafel pita with the hummus spread, garlic, cucumber yogurt and sriracha tahini and a bunch of free veggies and I loved it. It is very hard to find a good falafel because it's usually dry but this was spot on. I also ordered the Zaatar pita chips (bomb!) and the halloumi cheese stix. Give it a try, you won't regret it!

I am sold on the salad. Although chicken today was a little dried. And I got very little garlic & tahini sauce. Asked for extra lettuce should have specified spring mix. Although the shredded lettuce added was minor. I feel a salad should be more greens than meat. The inside is very spacious & there's music playing overhead as well as outside. Located in a small strip next to the DeWitt company Strip includes other businesses such as and Finjan restaurant, Army recruitment center & Island Credit Union.

The flavors are on point and the servings are amazing! A little lighter on the protein than I would like, but otherwise was great! The side of fries was an extremely generous helping so that helped fill me up

Love the amazing flavors here- we've tried the chicken, steak and falafel and they were all on point! It was so nice to be able to customize the meals depending on each one's preferences- wrap, rice or salad bowl. The sauces and adds ona were delicious- especially the garlic sauce and pickled turnips. The wide selection of craft sodas were fun and service was prompt. For dessert, we popped by next door and got a fresh piping hot kunafeh and brought it back to tie up the meal perfectly. Will definitely return.

I came here for the first time today. The cashier greeted me and asked me if it was my first time. I told him it was and he asked if I wanted any recommendations, I said sure and he proceeded to tell me the most popular items. He was a nice guy. The shop had a nice interior design and was clean. I went around 7pm and it wasn't busy. I ordered a chicken bowl (1/2 rice 1/2 salad). The bowl was ok, it didn't have much flavor until I added the dressings. The bowl was $15.45 + .50 for feta cheese, way too expensive for how good the bowl was. Cava sells their bowls for about $13. I was also surprised they were charging extra for feta cheese. I probably wont come back.

So good! Salad bowl was delicious. I'll definitely be back. Falafels here are top notch!

I like the concept of building your own bowl or pita wrap. The shop is casual and cozy. I came here for a quick lunch fix, and the service was pretty quick, considering they were super busy with so many orders. I liked what I had, but there were only very few options for vegetarians. Only falafel for protein. But I still loved what I had and also kind of filling. Will go again.

Finally we got to try this place and it was amazing! We came here for lunch at a weekday. There isn't a line at 11:30 but there are more people coming in later on. I ordered a Falafel Salad bowl and my husband had a Steak Pita sandwich. Both of them are so delicious. I highly recommend my falafel, it is very yummy. The restaurant is clean and bright, the seats are comfortable. I'm very happy with this experience.

I ordered through Doordash and my order was prepared within minutes I really like all the options of veggies especially the pickled veggies which added a lot of flavor to the bowl and the nuts provided a good crunch. Unfortunately they forgot to give me the tahini sauce so next time I will double check that before I leave The hummus was creamy but super bland - I which they had options for different flavors This is a good healthy option for a quick lunch

My heart is full after trying Tahini! The flavors and quality of their ingredients were a 10/10. I ordered a rice bowl with 1/2 chicken and 1/2 steak and got ALL of the toppings except shredded cheese (recommend feta instead). Also do not miss out on the toasted almonds. They added a nice crunch to the entire bowl. Now for sauces I got the tahini in the bowl and garlic sauce and cucumber yogurt on the side. The tahini was chefs kiss and I LOVED the cucumber yogurt. I enjoy hints of garlic but if you love garlic, definitely get the garlic sauce! And for my halloumi cheese stix... they were just delightful. This side comes with its own side of pita and a fig jam and cucumber yogurt sauce. The two sauces with the halloumi cheese fulfilled my love for sweet & savory combos. I'm downright obsessed with this place now

I tried the chicken shawarma pita sandwich at Tahini, and it exceeded my expectations. The portion was generous, and the chicken shawarma had a delightful flavor. I opted for bell peppers, lettuce, olives, and the original tahini sauce, complemented by a side of creamy and delicious garlic sauce. It made for a satisfying lunch choice, and the service was efficient while the restaurant maintained a clean atmosphere.

I was visiting a friend in San Diego and we decided to try Tahini before I headed back home via the airport. This place I had an eye on for a while and gosh I am so happy we went. This place is in a plaza with not too much going around, but when you walk in it's super cute and perfect for a fun meal! Once we got here I ordered the esquire pita. Service was overall fast and once I got my hands on this pita it was game over. The meat, fries and all the fillings that went inside were delicious and plentiful. I could not stop eating and did not want to stop! I would definitely come back when in town next time! Definitely go here is you want some delicious Mediterranean food!!!

Finjan took over Tahini's old spot and Tahini has expanded next door to a much bigger spot which is amazing! This new spot has sooo much seating and is great for large groups. The customer service here is great, everyone that works here is super friendly, patient, and kind. Whenever I'm studying at Finjan next door I always find myself ordering their tahini fries bowl because of how addicting it is. They use high quality ingredients that are fresh and you can taste it. You can never go wrong with a full order of tahini fries with all the toppings and extra garlic sauce. The garlic sauce they make here is absolute heaven and I always have to order extra when I come here because of how garlicky, smooth, and fluffy it is! Def recommend checking out Tahini and going next door to Finjan for drinks & dessert.

I love Mediterranean food and this is definitely my favorite place to go. It's kind of like Chipotle. You have a choice of salad bowl, bowl, or pita sandwich and you get to pick and choose the protein and a variety of different yummy ingredients. Make sure to include their pickled beets! Their sauces are great.

Meeting a friend for a late lunch was tantalizing as the scrumptious and flavorful smells filled the air while I waited indoors for them to arrive. Unable to resist, I had to step outside until my party joined me. This place offers a range of options from wraps to bowls, and I opted for a beef bowl with multiple toppings. The result was utterly delicious, and as a bonus, I got two tasty snack treats. The atmosphere was perfect for gathering with family and friends. As the hours passed, the place filled up with its loyal patrons. I can see why - the food here is absolutely delicious!

Great spot for a quick tasty healthy bite. The environment was clean and bright, which I liked. They had a variety of seating options too (outside, regular tables, high tops.) We tried the build your own bowl with falafel and the Esquire pita. The bowl looked a little small at first but was sufficiently filling. Out of the two, the Esquire pita was by far the winner. I loved all the options and customizations available.

Some of the best middle eastern food around! And that's saying something. There are Afghan, Egyptian, and Lebanese places close. Plus Iraqi restaurants a short drive away too. Very nice place with good customer service. You can see the delicious seasoned meat being shaved off the spinners. I had the OG both times. This is a great pita that comes with alot of beef. Not skimpy at all. I though about customizing the order and taking out some of the items but ended up getting it as is. Smart move because all the flavors complement the beef flavor perfectly. I have had samosas and sambusas at a bunch of other places. This place rolls them up kind of like an egg roll instead of the normal triangle shape. I have to say, I like the egg roll shape better. You get meat in every bit and it's alot of meat too. I had the chicken, they are very tasty. Halloumi cheese sticks are very good. The wife was not a fan because of the goat cheese flavor. I think they went very well with the fig jam for the sweet taste. They also went well with the cucumber sauce for the savory taste. It had a different flavor, not really a tzatziki taste but still delicious. Lastly was the huge selection of drinks. The Stubborn Soda station has alot of great options. The rootbeer was very good. I filled up again before we left with the pineapple cream soda. Man that stuff is delicious. Kind of like a cream sickle but with a pineapple taste. This place is outstanding! Highly recommended.

I first came here years ago when it was in a much smaller space. I enjoyed it then, but I was impressed to see how much it's expanded. The store is over twice as large, and the kitchen is huge. The food is really great! The bowls are substantial and you have a lot of options for add-ons and sauces. The falafel is also very tasty too. Everything is fresh and the meat is juicy. They have a Stubborn craft soda fountain, which is cool--you don't see Stubborn so frequently. The inside has high ceilings and an open floor, giving diners a sense of spaciousness. Staff is friendly too. It's certainly worth trying out. No complaints--only praise!

I always enjoy this spot. Today I ordered the 6 piece falafel that includes pita and your choice of 2 sauces. I picked the cucumber yogurt and cilantro tahini. Their falafel is not dry and has excellent flavor. I'm not a vegetarian or vegan and I still really enjoy it. I also had a side of the cucumber-tomato salad. I ordered it online for to-go and it was ready within a few minutes of the time it was promised. It is a casual, cozy spot with ample seating indoors. Give them a try! They made it on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives.

Have only gotten the bowls, but the pita sandwiches look great. Build it how you like it. Good portions and options to customize. Great flavors, ingredients, sauces. Can be quick or take a while depending on how busy they are. I think they get a lot of online orders. Also a great option to pick up for friends/fam at Kaiser.

It's nice to have a borderline-healthy fast-casual option next to my workplace, because even if I don't order the healthiest items off the menu, I still feel better than I would if I were to go to traditional fast food restaurants (and there are a lot of them nearby). Before all else, this restaurant is bright, colorful, and always bustling with people. It's energetic and not exactly a place I would recommend to eat at while studying or trying to get work done. But lunch should be a break from all that!! Tahini definitely plays it safe by serving what they know they do well: shawarma, falafel, and pita, with various toppings to give customers that sense of customization that we all crave after being brainwashed by Chipotle. You can choose to watch them prepare your order through their open kitchen layout, or chill at a table and wait for your name to be called. I'm attempting to try different items with every visit, and I know I'll get some eye rolls by writing this but I have to say that my favorite item is the order of halloumi sticks with their fig spread!! They're such a fun snack and I don't see them offered often. On one hand, I really respect Tahini for knowing their limits and playing to their strengths by not offering a hodge-podge menu of rando foods. On the other hand, I like their food a lot and would like to see a bit more variety in options...or maybe a new restaurant concept, in addition to this one! Speaking of which, have you been to their Finjan Coffee yet? You totally should, it's steps away from this place.

I came back again and got a bowl with half shwarma and half falafel this time and enjoyed the bowl a bit more. I think the 3 sauces on the side were a big plus!

Tahini is one my favorites! I have it once a week. I mainly order their Chicken Shawarma Bowl. Lots of different toppings/sauces to add. Everything is always fresh and the orders come out fairly quick. There's plenty of seating inside and a few tables outside.

Service: friendly and fast 10/10. Ambiance: very clean, well lit, and a lot of seating areas 10/10. Food: delicious! Very flavorful and full of colors. Personally, I'm a beef shawerma girl, but I wanted to try both the beef and the chicken. My husband and I shared a small Tahini Fries with beef shawerma and The Esquire Pita, which comes with chicken shawerma. I was surprised at how juicy the chicken shawerma was. The sauces on both complement everything that was added to it from fries, pickles, and veggies. I do wish that the bowl they use for the shawerma fries was a little more shallow. Just to make mixing the fries or having a bite with all the toppings all together easier. Other than that, we left very happy and satisfied.

The food was good. The prices are WAY too high for the quality it was over $100 for the 5 of us and we had to eat off plastic forks. We could have had better Mediterranean for the same price. They were blaring music so we could n t talk to each other. I would never go back.

This place is great for a healthy lunch option. It's sort of like a chipotle but with Mediterranean options. You have the option of 3 bases. Pita sandwich, rice bowl or salad bowl. Protein options include steak, chicken, or falafel. They also have a lot of toppings to choose from and you can pick up to 3 sauces. I usually get the garlic, cucumber yogurt, and cilantro tahini. I usually add every topping and the feta (extra 50 cents) but I highly recommend the pickled turnips. It adds a nice crunch and acidity to the bowl. Service was quick and the establishment was clean. I usually come here for the bowl so I can't comment on all their side dishes and snacks but they look good!

Came here on a random weekday evening when I was craving something quick and healthy, but also warm and savory. The Build-Your-Own rice bowl with chicken shawarma, BBQ Tahini, and all the veggie toppings hit the spot perfectly. Service was quick (great for carry-out) and the restaurant was clean and professional. Will definitely be back.

Straight up 5/5 I had a bowl with halal steak today, topped with lettuce, olives, and tomato. Every ingredient was so incredibly fresh and tasty. The sauces I chose for this bowl were the cilantro tahini and the spicy tahini. They are an absolute must with the steak. I gotta come back for more. My only complaint is they didn't put enough cilantro tahini on there. Ambiance--I'm always amazed at how spotless this restaurant is. Even though it's casual dining it's cleaner than some of the fine dining I've eaten at in SD! Real gem.

Love this place! Great food, lines out the door (but it moves fast), all so fresh and busy. This place didn't get like that for no reason. Enjoy! In particular, the falafel is excellent!

I first came here a few years ago and loved it, but forgot to leave a review. I've been back a few times when we have been in the area, and most recently brought my kids to try it. They also loved it. Tahini is like a Mediterranean Chipotle. You pick a protein, toppings and sauces. It is fresh, filling ( I can never finish my bowl), and flavorful. The service is fast, and the staff is friendly. The place is in a small shopping center in an industrial-type zone, but the restaurant is clean, modern and comfortable for a casual bite. I just wish we had one in the Temecula area.

The food it made to order. The service is fast and the place is clean and warming. We had the esquire and the o.g. Pita which were both full of flavor. The only thing I wish they had done differently is to actually fill the pita. Ours were half full at best. We also had their falafel and it was delicious. Overall I'd definitely go back without a doubt.

A coworker recommended this place and even offered to pick up the food, so of course, I wasn't going to say no (my lazy gene runs deep). THE FOODS | Middle Eastern inspired street food. I ordered... - Rice Bowl | Half chicken shawarma and half steak shawarma. Add-ons include: red onions, pepperoncinis, shredded cheese, tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, kalamata olives, and parsley mix. Sauces: cilantro tahini, cucumber yogurt, and garlic sauce. A flavorful mix, this bowl has lots of savory and spicy notes. The chicken and steak are both juicy and tender. Totally recommend the garlic sauce which is creamy and delightfully pungent. - French Fries | Do we still say french fries or just fries now? Anyway, these things were fried to a golden crisp and lightly salted for added flavor. WOULD I COME BACK? | Yeah! It's great food y'all!

Tahini is located off Clairemont Mesa Blvd in a strip mall. There is plenty of parking as the location is far east away from the hustle and bustle of the Convoy area. The smells inside are great and all the ingredients look really fresh. The menu is simple, think Chipotle style. I ordered the pita with steak and Tahini sauce. The flavors were all there, but for the price, I felt a little cheated. For essentially a $13 sandwich, I was expecting to be full, but I wasn't. The staff were really nice and the food came out fast, but unlikely I will return due to the price/portion offering.

Tasty, healthy, filling. I ordered a bowl with 1/2 rice + 1/2 salad and all the toppings. Ingredients were fresh, colorful, flavorful. Recommend adding the hummus, garlic, tzatziki, and sriracha tahini- all very good. Falafel is a little dry, but has nice flavor. Halloumi sticks make a great side dipped in some fig jam and served with sliced pita bread. Recommend!

Came to tahini for the first time, it was really amazing. The cashier/server was very sweet, patient and helpful as we were picking out our meals and deciding what we wanted to eat. The ambiance, and decoration of the restaurant was very cute. All the food we tried tasted delicious. I especially enjoyed the chicken shawarma rice bowl. The rice was perfectly soft and fluffy. Definitely need to check this place out if you want good middle eastern/Mediterranean food. Mango lemonade was very sweet and tasty

Ugh, love it here. My brother took me here so I could check it out and it didn't disappoint. The vibe of the restaurant, presentation and soda optionsssssss (I'm in love with the agave vanilla cream soda hehehe) I don't even drink soda like that lol. I got the chicken salad and that ish was bomb. The only thing I will say is don't be fooled by their "pickled cucumber" option on the menu haha I know pickled cucumber is just pickles but I got tripped up and definitely did NOT want pickles in my bowl hahaha If you've ever been to kebab craft this place is very similar! Just a bit further north which is the only reason I won't be frequenting here as much as I'd like. Highkey recommend their fried cheese and pita with fig spread on the side, it's an appetizer/shareable...BUSSIN. Here for it. WE STAN.

The pita wraps my friend and I ordered were disappointingly stale and dry with poor-quality cheese. The service was decent and we were surprised to see our food come out within 5 minutes of ordering Its ambiance had nothing notable.

*****MIND-BLOWING!!!***** Amazing flavor and variety. I have been searching for a place like Hummus Bar Express in Santa Monica. My only suggestion would be adding a garlic yogurt sauce and having an option for a larger pita, like a 12 inch flatbread where you can have a super sized Chicken Shawarma wrap.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Tahini an authentic Arabic restaurant, and I must say that my experience left me absolutely delighted. The menu offers an extensive selection of traditional Arabic dishes, with authentic flavors and freshness, every bite was a journey to culinary bliss. Additionally, The staff members were so friendly and knowledgeable.

Solid Mediterranean place with customizable menu options. I like to build on own bowl. They have a lot of different menu options too and when I was trialing veganism, I actually went here a lot for the falafel to sub out meat. Service can be slow depending on how busy they are but I like that they offer online pick up options and there's also a kiosk to order from inside. The restaurant itself is roomy with plenty of seating.

Absolutely LOVED the food and the service!! The baklava was the best I've ever had. Everything was so delicious.

No better shawarma fries! Very clean place and delicious food! If you're interested in trying Falafel this is your place!

Amazingly fresh food. Respectful and positive employees. Beautiful and clean dining room.

I put in an online order for 11:45, wanted to beat the lunch crowd so I got there around 11:35 expecting to wait another 10-15 minutes to get my food but the gentleman at the pickup window told me he'd expedite it and i got my food no less than 5 minutes later. That is great customer service and the worker (I forgot to ask for his name) made my experience a 5/5. I ordered the pita sandwich with steak, hummus, bbq tahini, cucumber yogurt, sriracha tahini, lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, pickled turnips and pepperoncinis and the combination of those flavors were perfect and fixed my craving for Mediterranean. The ingredients were fresh and the meat is straight off the grill. I'll definitely be coming back here for lunch again since this is healthier than what I usually get. I definitely recommend ordering online if you're coming around lunch time since it can get pretty busy. The sandwiches are customizable similar to how subway does it, they just don't make it in front of you as your order. I haven't tried other items on the menu but I'll definitely be coming back for the pita sandwich!

Good. Portions are on the smaller side. I ordered the tahini fries. There was very little sauce on them, and apparently you have to pay for more sauce? I thought that was weird, especially in this area with all the amazing salsa bars at Mexican food places. I got the chicken shawarma meat on top and I could tell that was legit. I think mill be back because I did try a bite of my friends falafel and it was VERY good. So I would like to possibly get a wrap with the falafel....

So I watched Guy Fieri try Tahini in San Diego and the way the food was described- I knew I had to try it myself the next time I was out in San Diego. Alas, I finally got to try it! The staff was super friendly and helpful with helping me decide what to order. I love the simple menu and the lighting inside. It was a warm and bright place to enjoy delicious food! I ended up ordering the Esquire (how can I not order what Guy ordered?). The sandwich was wrapped in a fresh pita bread (made in house) and a delicious mix of fries, chicken shawarma and herbs that paired so well with each other. Everything is made to order, but so worth it! I also ordered a side of falafels and was surprised it came with bite sizes of their homemade pita bread. It has a strong garlic flavor and fried to perfection. Saving this on my San Diego Yelp list! Can't wait to come back to try their other menu items.