Zoya

Great restaurant!! We had amazing time at Zoya. They opened on Aug 1st and already enough reviews to make us try them out and weren’t disappointed. Our server Alihan took great care of us. The food was excellent! Chicken was very tender and trio place was also great. We will definitely come back especially to try pistachio tres leches.

Zoya is a must-try for Mediterranean food in La Jolla. Everything we ordered was fresh and flavorful. The Chicken Shawarma plate was cooked perfectly, and the Falafel plate was authentic and crispy. also loved the Strawberry Walnut salad, was the perfect fresh side to balance the meal. Great food and a great location. Highly recommended!

The food was delicious! Lentil soup had a nice thick texture with great flavor. The only thing I wouldn’t care to order again was the Muhammara. It was too sweet for my taste. Baba ghanoush had a nice smoky eggplant flavor and the spicy hummus was tasty as well. I will come back to try more dishes.

Zoya is truly exceptional, easily earning a five-star rating! The vibes are wonderful, and the staff's genuine treatment and rapid service were impeccable. Everything we tried was incredibly tasty and expertly prepared. The generous Appetizer Platter was a perfect start, followed by phenomenal main courses: the Chicken Shawarma was juicy and flavorful, the Chicken and Beef Kababs were delicious and flavorful. I highly recommend the Cheeseburger. So tasty and has unique flavors! Highly recommended Zoya for an outstanding dining experience!

Really good quality food. Portion sizes are smaller than usual but the quality compensates for that. Felt really good and nourished after eating the food. Ordered the three mocktails and the mint one was the table favorites

Me and my friends came here after watching the sunset at the cliffs for dinner. We walked in and the vibe was amazing, beautiful Christmas decorations. The server made great recommendations for our large party. Food came out timely the variety in the platters is amazing and offered a well rounded dining experience.

It’s an amazing place with many veg options. Loved everything that we ordered. Zoya Trio is a must try. Lentil soup was yumm and the falafel sandwich was amazing too. Highly recommended!!

We had such a wonderful dining experience at Zoya. The service was truly exceptional. Alihan took great care of us and the owner Dr. Karam personally greeted every guest with warmth and kindness which made the evening feel extra special. We ordered the Family Plate and it was a feast of Mediterranean favorites with juicy beef kebab, flavorful chicken shawarma, tender chicken kebab, soft pita bread and more. Everything was beautifully presented and perfectly seasoned. The portions were generous and easily enough for two people. The ambience was warm, elegant and very welcoming. A perfect blend of great food, heartfelt hospitality and a beautiful atmosphere. Highly recommend.

The food was amazing. Everything was delicious. Celebrated a friend's bday. We were all happy with everything Service was 5 Star! Ambiance great. Looking forward to going back Highly recommend

Excellent! What a great lunch, great quality ingredients, great service, great location! Congrats on the new restaurant!

Excellent food. Exceptional service..friendly and helpful. I loved the chicken here. I recommend the kabobs plate

I had a great experience at zoya , honestly everything was spot on The appetizer plate had a really good mix -fresh , flavorful and nicely presented And the pizza came out hot with a perfect crust and great flavor the décor is really nice and gives the restaurant a cozy, stylish vibe. The service was excellent too. The staff were friendly and welcoming I'll definitely be coming back and recommending it to family and friends!

I dropped by a little over a month ago after the La Jolla Art & Wine festival with some friends and this was a cute little gem of a place to grab a bite with my girlfriends. The interior is super cute & aesthetic and is set up like a cafe, so probably best for smaller parties. We ordered the Zoya trio to share and I got the chicken shawarma bowl for my entree. Out of the trio (hummus, muhammara, baba ghanoush), my favorite was surprisingly the muhammara and I'm usually not a fan of red pepper in general. Very tasty and great flavor! I just wish there was more pita, as we had a ton of the dip remaining. The chicken bowl was tasty and the chicken was seasoned well, but overall a bit dry. It came with a dollop of dip, but this time there wasn't enough of it. Thankfully I was able to use the dips from the trio! The salad was fresh, but too lightly dressed and super plain. I thought there would be tomatoes or feta (which would have added some much needed moisture) at least but it was just spring mix seemingly tossed with lemon juice and a bit of olive oil. I hate to give this place 3 stars as it has a lot of potential, but another aspect that was missing for me was the service. Don't get me wrong, all the servers were super nice and friendly, but they totally forgot my entree so I was sitting there for almost 10 minutes while my friends got theirs. After I was finally able to flag someone down, I saw them trying to figure it out on the side, realize that they forgot/delivered my dish to someone else, and then rush remake it. Then after it got dropped off at the table, they didn't even acknowledge that they made a mistake and pretended that it was just a minor delay. And in general, the service overall was on the slow side. I know they're new so they still have some kinks to work out. I would be willing to give them another try in a few months after they're more settled and if I was in the area. I do love that they're dog friendly!

EVERYTHING was deeeeelicious!!! We had no idea this was a newish restaurant, but liked the menu, they had a lot of vegetarian options, although I would not call the menu a vegetarian menu, there was a lot of protein as well. We ordered 3 dishes - The Trio spread, each one was so good. Don't be afraid of the spicy hummus, it is flavorful but not hot at all. The pita was soft and delicious. We ordered a salad and falafel bowl as well. Everything was GREAT! A very enjoyable meal! Our waitress was charming, and helpful. Although the room was a little chilly with the doors wide open and cool night, it did not hamper our enjoyable evening. We would return to Zoya happily any time we were in La Jolla!

Unique mediterranean place with pizza! I've never tried dates on a pizza before and it was definitely interesting. If you love dates, I definitely recommend the "Take Me On A Date" pizza. Make sure to add chicken for extra flavor. It is definitely on the sweeter side but the chicken adds in the perfect contrast. If you're not feeling pizza, try the Small Family Platter to experience a little bit of everything! The service was amazing! Everyone was so attentive and would check in on us every so often asking about the food as well :) This is a perfect place for family and friends

Stopped in on a whim for lunch over the weekend on the hunt for authentic Mediterranean. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare on prospect but we were able to find spots quickly. Menu is fairly straight forward with bowls, plates, appetizers and pizzas. Casual dining with only beer and wine options. Our food was okay. Hummus didn't pack much flavor and the portion was quite small for $15. Chicken schwarma bowl was another quite small portion with a bit more char than we preferred. Not much to the entree beyond rice chicken and salad. Again missing key flavors you'd expect for a Mediterranean restaurant. Our server was great fixing the issue but not sure flavor and value was there for a return visit. Oddly enough the pizzas were quite popular and looked fantastic but not sure Zoya hit the mark for us.

Had an overall great experience at Zoya. Service was warm, the food was well rounded, and I think there's even more room for potential. They've only been open a few months, and I can see this place getting very busy very fast on the weekends. There is outdoor seating if you have pups, and the indoor is very spacious for larger groups. The falafel sandwich was really good, not soggy and crunchy with a great sauce. The dips were incredible. Get the trio, and try them all. The fish is bone in, so it was require a bit of de-boning but it is worth it. We will be back, and so happy to have this restaurant in downtown La Jolla.

Hello everyone, This was my first experience at this restaurant, and I was thoroughly impressed. Our server, Uğur, was exceptionally courteous, professional, and attentive, creating a very pleasant dining atmosphere. I highly recommend this establishment to others. The appetizers and main courses were absolutely outstanding.

Zoya opened over a month ago taking the space of the former Ahi tuna restaurant in La Jolla. Parking is always a challenge in this area. The restaurant has a full bar, ample seating inside and outdoors. Interior decor was lively with the typical faux greens and flowers cascading from the ceiling. Contemporary background music played. From the menu selections, the food seems to be Mediterranean with various hummus, grilled meats, sandwiches, salads and pizza. I ordered the hummus trio, side of falafel, beef skewer sandwich and a mocktail. Sadly, my phone desperately needed charging and didn't take food pics, apologies. The falafel balls tasted too dry and were smaller than expected, not like the ones posted that were larger and didn't have the greenish hue inside. I've eaten lots of falafels and so I was disappointed with this version. The beef skewer from the sandwich was for my pup, who enjoyed it. The mocktail was too sweet and sugary, couldn't drink it. The hummus trio was fresh, wish the baba ganoush had more of a smokey taste but nonetheless all these dips were delish. The only waiter was cordial, courteous, very nice and made our dining experience better than expected, excellent service.

Pleasant first time dining at this new restaurant in LJ Village on Prospect. We made a reservation using Google as we did not have any luck having our calls answered. Restaurant is pleasant in decor and has an open feel. We were greeted very kindly and offered our choice of tables despite restaurant being fairly busy. Server was very pleasant and efficient. We did not try the bar. Humus and pita appetizer. We split a family dinner for 4. They were kind enough to let us change chicken and beef to all chicken. Kabobs and schwarma very moist and perfectly spiced. Tiny taste of sweet baklava as a thank you for our business. Perfect end to a nice dinner. We'll be back. Their pizzas looked very good and we'll try one.

This downtown La Jolla suite near the Cove has gone through multiple businesses since a national burger chain closed its operations several years ago. Zoya is the latest entity to open with a focus on Mediterranean cuisine. The interior decor was modified from its predecessor, but nothing had changed in the layout. A kiosk was set up near the entrance if you wanted to place an order to go. That unit was not fully functional during my visit at the beginning of this month. The two-page food menu consisted of appetizers, bowls/plates, and salads on one side with pizzas, sandwiches, sides, and family style items on the other side. A whole roasted fish was one of the family style choices. A Beef Tikka Plate was my dinner selection. Two skewers of marinated beef filet were grilled medium rare and served with saffron rice, lemon labneh, and a salad. The meat was cooked well, however it could have used more marinade/seasoning beforehand. A larger serving of rice or the addition of pita bread slices would have provided better balance to the protein and veggies, especially for $28. The service from the staff was adequate as it wasn't busy that evening. I gave a four star rating for my dining experience at Zoya.

We had a great dinner here! We were immediately seated, service was very friendly. With three people total, we ended up getting the Mezze board and the chicken shawarma plate. I think that ended up being the perfect amount of food for us to share. I loved all the different hummus options that came with the platter, my personal favorite was the spicy hummus. We all liked the crispy chickpeas on top. The Muhammara was delicious!! The falafel was also great. The chicken in the shawarma plate we got was so juicy and overall the food was very flavorful. Everything tasted very fresh. I would definitely come back next time I'm in La Jolla.

What a cute new spot in downtown La Jolla. The owner and the bartenders went above and beyond to provide stellar customer service! Their pita and muhammara are very flavorful, so is the baklava. The baklava is probably the best I have tried in SD. Will be back to try their main course.

I enjoyed my time visiting the soft opening last month. This pizza was delicious and the service was amazing. The drink menu was not expansive, but did the job. Small but charming. I'll be back.

I really wanted to give this place 5 stars but unfortunately it seems they are still getting into the swing of things as a newly opened spot. Location and venue are gorgeous, and the interior was obviously designed with care. Everyone was friendly, but service was a bit slow and it wasn't totally clear which staff were helping which tables. The food was good, but not outstanding. I wasn't a huge fan of the labneh, and there wasn't quite enough sauce (I would've preferred tzatziki, which they didn't have, but that's more of a personal preference) for the falafel bowl since the rice & falafel are a bit drier. Drink prices very reasonable and a good selection of mocktails to choose from. I'd probably swing back in a few months to see if they've ironed out the kinks!

Finally!!!! The best of the best Mediterranean has landed in La Jolla. My foodie family was overwhelmed by the food catered by this fantastic new restaurant. We are talking delicious, fresh, flavorful, creative real deal food. The menu is vast and this place is both authentic and incredibly diverse. Although we ordered catering for a family dinner, I stopped in personally to place my order. Two of the owners were there and they couldn't have been warmer, more helpful or more personal. The ambiance looks lovely and we can't wait to go back in person. They made our to-go platters GORGEOUS! Shawarma, Beef and Chicken Kabobs, Hummus three ways with pistachios, walnuts and pomegranate seeds in abundance, baba ghanoush overflowing with flavor, Muhammara, falafel, chicken briyani, salad, crunchy delicious chick peas and Pistachio tres leches as the finale?? My foodie son and his wife were in from Austin where the food scene is top-notch - they became immediate fans. My picky parents were blown away, my cousins and all my guests drooled. The portions were generous and beautifully displayed. And the prices were truly reasonable, especially considering we are still working our way through the delicious leftovers. Truly can't wait to go back for the whole fish, the mussels, the pizza - did you say pizza??? I am grateful this team chose Prospect for their lovely new home. It is a veritable gem and we are super fans. Flavor has found its home in La Jolla. You're welcome!!!!

Friendly and kind service. Beautiful display of food. Meat was somewhat dry and some too much charred. Food was delivered cold. (Meats). Appetizers were amazing.

Tried Zoya for the first time and had the chicken shawarma bowl. It was super flavorful, and the perfect amount :D The interior of the restaurant was very cute, and very much in the holiday spirit. Will definitely come back to try more dishes!

Finally some good Mediterranean food in this area ! Came here with the family and it was amazing ! We started off with the mezze board which comes a little bit of everything. 3 hummus, babaganoosh, muhamarah, and falafel ! So good the spicy hummus and muhamarah were my favorite. Then I got the chicken and beef kabob plate and the beef kabob is one of the best I ever had. My wife got the chicken shawarma sandwich and I took a bite it was amazing. We also got the truffle mushroom pizza we shared and it was amazing as well ! They have a full bar, so we got margaritas and I got the lime mint margaritas and it was so good ! Restaurant was clean, lots of room to sit and the service was great ! Definitely coming back here to try more food !

This is one of those places where everything you take a bite of you're like... wow.. that's so good! The people are nice. Chef and sous chef came out to greet me during their soft opening. Oogie( spelling) was courteous and attentive. So good that I went last night and came back the next day with an order for my office. Here's what great: The Baba Ghanoush! The Beef Kabab Sandwich! The Chicken Kabab Plate comes with saffron rice and salad! Chicken is very tender. And the Date Pizza I'm sure there are even more great dishes so I'll have to go back. Looking forward to trying dessert and falafel

This restaurant services up great cocktails and great customer service. We ordered several entrees with the pizza being my favorite. The food lack the typical Mediterranean flavor I'm accustomed to enjoying but the portion sizes were perfect.

First time here and giving my honest review -Best service !! -Best food !! So much flavors and variety the chicken shawarma melts in your mouth! We loved the food and the atmosphere. Also, very clean tables, utensils, and plates! The staff were very friendly and welcoming. I will come back again and again and again. Bringing all my friends next time so get ready Zoya for a big order and a loud table I highly recommend this restaurant! The Best in La Jolla! I was so happy and thrilled to find a Mediterranean restaurant that is this good in La Jolla! Thank you to our wonderful waiter and Kamal

My friend and I stopped by here over the weekend, and it's definitely a cute spot with excellent service. The staff was so attentive and friendly that it almost pains me to say the food just didn't measure up. Compared to other Mediterranean restaurants I've been to, this place really shines in service but falls short in flavor. The pizza was pretty good, but most of the other dishes we tried lacked seasoning. On the plus side, everything did taste fresh, and the portion sizes were generous. Unfortunately, the flavors just weren't there for me, so I'm not sure I'd come back for the food.

My boyfriend & I stumbled across this place looking for a bite to eat a bit later in the evening. When we walked by to check if it was open, the staff was super friendly & welcoming & offered to serve us even though they were closing. Not only did they serve is with such care, but they also went over every special & answered any questions we had about the menu happily it was a pizza/Mediterranean food menu. We could see the chef making the pizza from scratch through a big window & we both don't usually eat the crust, but we did that day! They have unique pizza types, we were definitely going in blind but the chef talked us through what to expect & the pizza was delicious. We also had falafels as an appetizer, these were also made fresh & the sauce served with it was a great pairing. The inside was also really cute, there was fun lighting above the bar & the tables had a nice aesthetic. I don't know if the seats were comfy since we sat on the booth side, but we enjoyed ourselves a lot. They just opened in August, & I will definitely be back! I didn't get the spelling of the staffs names but the server was super sweet as well as the chef/one of the owners . But great people & great food!

Went with a large group on Friday. The service was terrific, super friendly folks, the food was awesome. The dips were great, falafel was moist, the beef super flavorful and tender. All in all, we had a really terrific meal, in a nice spot, served by super nice people. Definitely recommend.

Visited Zoya during their soft opening for lunch and had a great time. Loved the ambiance and the service was great. My partner and I had lovely conversations with the staff. We ordered the falafel and truffle fries for appetizers. For entrees, we had the chicken kabab and shawarma. Good portions and very tasty food. We did have in issue with the falafel, but after letting our server know, the staff addressed it amazingly by bringing out a fresh plate and comped it as well. The chef also came out to give us a personal apology and gave us complimentary hibiscus tea. We will definitely be back!

My New Favorite Spot in La Jolla I just tried Zoya in downtown La Jolla and wow... this place is something special. From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel like an old friend. They're warm, attentive, and genuinely happy you're there, which instantly sets the tone. The vibe is cozy and authentic, like you've been transported somewhere far away but still right at home. The food? Absolutely delicious. The mezze platter was packed with flavor - creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanoush, and the crispiest falafel I've had in a long time. The chicken kebab was juicy and perfectly seasoned, and the white pizza with mushrooms and burrata was out of this world. It's the kind of place where every detail feels thoughtful - from the way the dishes are presented to how the flavors balance perfectly. You can tell they really care about what they're serving. Karam was such a great host and gave us a really warm welcome. Feels great being here If you're in La Jolla and want amazing food with an equally amazing atmosphere, Zoya is a must. I'll definitely be back... probably sooner than later.

We absolutely fell in love with the food, service and ambiance at Zoya. The Family Platter was amazing and fresh. You can taste the love that was put into it. We ended with Pistachio Tres Leches and savored every bit of overflowing pistachio flavor. We highly recommend this place and will bring all my family and friends!!

We went last Friday and had a great time. Everything was delicious with the mezza patter appetizer a highlight. The service was excellent and the vibe is lovely. Zoya's a fantastic addition to the village and we look forward to returning!

So overrated, lack of flavor, overpriced Reason to Go Elsewhere: Chicken schwarma sandwich had no taste Way overpriced. Terrible value. Server was not able to speak clear English and misinterpreted what we had requested and then wouldn't take it off the bill. The bread they used was tasteless and tasted uncooked. The fries were cold in the sandwich and had no flavor The chicken used did not have any flavor, not sure it was real chicken A side of about 8 little carrots was $9.50 Good luck finding free parking, no easy task Only positive - I will say I liked their hot sauce.

Very good food and priced ok for La Jolla and we like Karen one of the waitresses Food comes out promptly and is delicious

These guys never disappoint. Beef and chicken always super juicy and portions are great. Yusuf was our server and was awesome too

Beautiful cozy place very clean, friendly stuff delicious food . Definitely we coming back.

Excellent service, food, and drinks! Came here for a simple bday dinner with friends. It was not busy when we arrived for our 5:15 pm reservation. It got busier as we were leaving around 6:45 pm. Our server also made our delicious cocktails. I'm already looking forward to coming back!

Casual quick bites with decent price points. The friendly service is notable and greatly appreciated. Was pleasantly surprised that they have a large range of halal offerings which is a huge bonus for my family. We ordered: Zoya burger & fries Zoya Cesar Salad with chicken kabab Chicken Kabab plate The chef also surprised us with kubba (fried rice dough filled with minced meat) at the end of the meal so all in all would come back the next time we're in the area.

Great vibe from the team. We had a catering order and honestly didn't know what I was doing. Kamal was so patient and supportive made it so easy and very accommodative for our needs. The food was great, we had it delivered the drive was very kind, helpful and respectful young man. We could have been happier with the service and the food. Highly recommend checking them Out if you're in La Jolla if you love Mediterranean food and for catering.

The best restaurant in La Jolla. The food is fresh and delicious and the service is top notch. I loved the ambiance and the service. Overall I give this restaurant 10/10 and I definitely will be coming back

Wow!! Their mezze board is EVERYTHING. When we saw the hummus samplers (4 types) we knew we had to come here. We've never had the muhammara (walnut + roasted red peppers) and it was the single best hummus we've ever had. It's savory and sweet, and the walnut texture crunch just makes it the more satisfying. I would come back here JUST for this. Ordered a mussels in butter. Seasoned to perfection. Nothing overpowered the mussels, but it was full of flavor. This chef knows his food and has abundant common sense/doesn't overwhelm the main ingredient with unnecessary flavoring. Chicken rice plate - chicken was juicy, the rice might have benefitted from a little more salt. Overall no complaints. Hospitality is top notch. Our server heard my son's name once and remembered it for the rest of our dining experience. So friendly and courteous. The food did take a little bit of time to prepare by American standard (vs in Europe it's the norm to wait for your food to be cooked and prepped) and I'm thinking they probably cook it as you order which is totally fine by me! We were thinking this place cannot possibly has less than 1000 reviews on Yelp, if it does it HAS TO BE new. And turns out it is, that's the only logical explanation. Come here before they inevitably blow up because they deserve it!

Love this restaurant . The dips are amazing. Yummy and try the mama-- one .. it will surprise you how delicious it is, but make sure you like nuts ! And the bowls are fantastic. The small bowl is plenty big for me and has great combination too - salad , rice , and a skewer meat, fish, chicken + a little healthy tzatziki sauce. There's a lot of love put into each dish . I highly recommend this wonderful new spot since I've only had a positive experience every time I go.

Very nice restaurant located right next to La Jolla beach. Inside is clean and nice, food is all very good. I got a couple of their bowls, which ended up being a very good size, especially if you share a side or something. I did get one piece of dry chicken kabob though. The salad in the bowl had a nice sour dressing on it and tasted fresh.

Delightful Mediterranean cuisine, impeccable service, and a charming ambience make this spot a must-visit gem!

We enjoyed a fabulous meal at Zoya! The Meze plater was over the top delicious. The team is outstanding and makes the meal ver special. A shout out ugi, Karam a a fabulous chef Kamal!

Rare to see top notch service in a casual spot these days. super nice staff. Food options were great. We had the family style mezze board to start. It was excellent. Loved the spicy hummus and the muhammara. We then had the strawberry spinach salad which was one of my favorite items. We shared the spicy hot honey pizza which was excellent. For entree we had the Kabob plate and I did a combo of beef and chicken. All the flavors were great! This is a great lunch and dinner spot. We took the whole family so had little ones there and they enjoyed the options. Great Vibes and location!

Amazing Mediterranean food right off the La Jolla cove! Absolutely top tier baba ganoush and one of the best falafel wraps I've ever had. Hummus could have used a touch more salt but texture was on point. Love the cute vibes inside and service was great as well!

Zero flavor! We were excited to try after looking at pictures on website First picture is from website, second picture is what I was served.

My wife and I ordered the family kebab platter for two and it was more than enough food. And it was very delicious. I would say that the house wine was not quite as good, but it was acceptable. The food made up for it. The service was exceptional, and if you're in La Jolla, and looking for Mediterranean food, this is a very good choice

We had a great time at Zoya! The food was fantastic, especially the hummus and take me on a date pizza. I've never had such a unique pizza that was rich, slightly sweet with a spicy twist and deliciously flavorful! The service was top notch and our waiter was especially kind to my aunts dog. They even brought a little fan over to keep the flies away. We aren't local, but we will be back when we are in town!