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    Aladdin Cafe

    4.3 (2k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    ALADDIN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Aladdin Cafe

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    Hot tea
    Gerrie H.

    Authentic, fast, and absolutely divine! Huge thanks to my brother for bringing me here! Even on a busy weekday, Aladdin Cafe delivers a 5-star experience. The place was packed, but the service from Mike and Samir was lightning-fast and super attentive. You can tell the staff love working here. The Food Highlights: * Shish Mix: Perfectly grilled and seasoned. One order is good for two people. * The Garlic Dip: Hands down the star of the show. It is so flavorful--we couldn't get enough of it. * Greek Salad: Fresh, crisp, and authentic. * The Finish: You HAVE to save room for the baklava and hot tea. The baklava was divine (flaky, sweet, and nutty), and the tea presentation in the traditional copper pot was a beautiful touch. Highly recommend this spot if you're in Clairemont. We'll definitely be back soon!

    Bonnie G.

    Delicious food, generous portions. Be sure to order the fabulous tabouli. Good alone, and on everything! Half order was plenty for 4 of us. The baba ganoush was good, as well as the creamy humus. Don't bother adding beef to the humus, it was very dry. The #5, combo kebobs, was fantastic. We couldn't pick a favorite. They were all tender and flavorful. Each was treated differently, and I loved them all (lamb, chicken and kefta). Very good rice. Before the entree was served cane the house salad. Yum! Very fresh, well dressed and seasoned. Note: we ordered 2 entrees, the combo kebobs and chicken kebobs. It was too much in addition to our starters. Very nice people and good service.

    #7 Aladdin Mezze Platter
    Amanda N.

    Came here after a recommendation from a friend and had a great experience. I arrived 40 minutes before closing and still had to wait 15 minutes (for an outside table - it was fine because it was a nice night out). I guess it's just that popular! We ordered the Arabian mint tea and the mezze platter which came with pita bread. Tea was hot and refreshing. (fyi the tea will make the cups really hot so may have to let it cool down a little). I was impressed by the food and really enjoyed both the chicken and the beef. Not dry at all and very flavorful. Hummus and baba ghanoush were delicious! We had plenty of leftovers. I didn't love the wait or the parking situation but food was great. I can see many people coming here for celebrations. Worth a try! I'm looking forward to my next visit.

    Pinay M.

    I've been going to this place since 2018-2019, and I hadn't been back until today, but it still hasn't changed. The consistency of the food, the aroma, and the taste remain the same - it all tastes delicious. The layout of the restaurant is even more beautiful now. I prefer the outdoor seats, even though it's cold, because each table has a heater and there are also curtains you can pull to give you more shade and privacy, which is really cool. They have really good teas; I personally love their coffee - it's the best. The mezza platter is one of my favorites to order because it comes with a little bit of everything. I also love their lamb. I'm really intrigued by the combo borak; it looks mouthwatering, but we already had too much food, so I'm going to get that next time. We ordered the shish mix kebab for $45; it's shareable for 2, which was very satisfying. Every entree comes with a salad as a starter and their delicious naan bread. Everything they serve here is fresh. If it's not the first, it's one of my top favorite Mediterranean restaurants in San Diego. FYI: if you haven't tried Turkish ice cream, you should and they have it here. It's so good. Its texture is thick, chewy, sweet but not too sweet and with the pistachios on top, it's so satisfying.

    Yum!
    Anne L.

    Came here for a birthday dinner celebration. Maybe I should've mentioned that. Do they offer birthday dessert dish? Not sure. Although we didn't make reservations, we were seated outdoors right away under the heat lamp. It was nice! With a somewhat extensive menu we tried a salad, lentil soup, hummus, pizza and a platter for a family of 7. Soup was saltier than expected, but everything else lived up to its par and we left full and content would love to try their dessert next time. Service was fine, our waitress was helpful and friendly. They refilled our pita which came out hot. Kids loved the color activity while waiting for our dishes. This cafe is a treat for us when we visit and I always look forward to coming back!

    Boraks (cheese and lamb)
    Mollee K.

    I would give this spot a 3.75! My family of 7 had a reservation but took 15 minutes to get seated once we arrived. Although the food was great, my rating decreased due to the service. It seemed very understaffed so it was hard to contact our server. The food was so tasty. Appetizers came out surprisingly fast. I recommend the pink hummus and boraks (especially cheese). I ordered the gyro for my entree. The meat and sauce were flavorful and the Arabic salad was a delight. The lentil soup was also quite tasty. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant, but expect slow service!

    Pistachio Baklava with Turkish ice cream, Alladin Ceylon Tea with fresh mint
    Vince B.

    Hands down my favorite Mediterranean restaurant in all of San Diego and I have been to a lot of them since 1998 (the year I moved to SD). I love that their servings are big enough for two people...or just for one with a good appetite. The lamb shank that I ordered was delightfully tender! I would have ordered their wood-fired oven specials but it requires you to call 45 minutes ahead. I will do this the next time I have a hankering for Palestinian food! The photos alone make my mouth water! Mike, our Filipino server certainly made our visit unforgettable. He was fast, knowledgeable and reminds me of Philippine hospitality presented to us with flavorful spices, and aromas! He even convinced us to enjoy half an order of Baklava with Turkish ice cream. Indulging on this decadent desert will surely spike my insulin but...nothing a 20 minute walk or 30 squats can manage to lower.

    Chicken Biryani
    Sonny C.

    First time here and service was quick. Travis our server was on it with the order and the staff were very friendly. The food was amazing, we got the gyro plate and chicken biryani. Definitely will be coming back to try other dishes.

    #14 Lamb Shank 2pcs
    Laura G.

    This place was AMAZING. I'd go back just for the lamb and cheese borak. I got the lamb shank, it was so tender and flavorful. Well deserving of the hype, I have heard about this place for years and finally got a chance to try it out!

    Arabian Tea with Fresh Mint
    Ploy N.

    A large Middle Eastern restaurant with many food items and HUGE portion. Definitely do family style here to try as much as you can. Our waiter was so fun and lively. Made our meal even more enjoyable. We started with the Mezza Plate which came with so many things from chicken shwarma to lamb shwarma to baba ganoush to hummus to tabouleh to dolmes. The dips and the dolmes were my favorite, accompanied with a side of warm pita breads. For my main, I got the Lamb Shank that came with not one but two shanks with fall off the bone tender meat. Tenderness was on point but I wish the flavors were stronger though. My coworkers' dishes on the other hand had flavoful meats that were on the tougher side but that's just my preference. Pro tip, get the curly fries instead of the salad with your main. Some of the crispiest and delicious fries I've had. We also split some Mint Tea and Turkish Ice Cream Baklava for desserts. Both were amazing. I really enjoyed the not overly sweet baklava, filled with toasty pistachios. It's a feast to remember!

    Appetizer cucumbers, hummus and don't forget the hot sauce
    Scott M.

    I haven't been here in many years but I remember the food was spectacular so I brought my family today... the food was 5 stars! Everyone was very happy with their food. Portions are huge and most dishes can be shared.. makes for a great family meal. The service is great.. seating inside or outside.. both are very nice... I highly recommend giving this place a try... Note: the original location can be mistaken for the current location which is 100 yards down.. make sure you go to the main entrance.

    Peter H.

    This was a fun and authentic dining experience with some great Mediterranean style food, The portions were huge and tasty and the service was great. The pizza was a standout item with a crust like pita bread and excellent flavor. We ordered the Aladin pizza as an appetizer and it was a hit. The Hummus appetizer was also delicious with a large portion of fresh pita and vegetables. I ordered the # 5 Shish Kabob Mix and it was delicious and a overwhelming amount of food. Everyone in my party were able to leave with a hearty amount of leftovers as well as satisfied. I would definitely come back, the pizza alone is worth the trip and for the price this is a great dining option in San Diego

    Joshua D.

    This place is always amazing. I always get the chicken Shawarma pita wrap with fries today we tried the pink hummus with beats and it was fantastic. Love the size of the food. The flavor and quality. The service is amazing. Robin sat us down very promptly. Got us a great table and Michael was awesome as usual very friendly and will be back for sure. Loved everything here.

    ##7. Aladdin Meza Platter

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    Aladdin Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Aladdin Cafe

    Is there dairy free options? Is your food made with butter?

    Their pita has a milk powder on it, so not dairy free. But they do have meat dishes without dairy

    Does Aladdin have a corkage fee if I want to bring my own bottle of wine?

    went there 2 months ago and no charge.. food was delish

    How do we make reservations?

    Open Table dot com or call, the lovely but massive Lebanese owner stands by the phone & his very very busy CASH register...like a HAWK $$$$$$$

    Is Aladdin Cafe offering sit down dining during Covid right now?

    Yes you can sit outside. They had outdoor seating before covid started too, so you're not in the street and you're in the shade.

    Can their vegetarian options be made vegan?

    I've never order that way but I'd call ahead & check... their food is fabulous!

    Is the menu halal?

    To my knowledge, yes. We usually go with a friend from Texas. We found out about this place, because of him. He only eats at places that are halal. When he comes to town, Aladdin is always on his list of places to eat.

    Uds tienen bellydancwr?

    No they do not. Its not that kind of establishment.

    View All 10 Questions

    Alforon

    Alforon

    4.6(1.9k reviews)
    8.0 miRolando
    $$

    I have eaten there so many times I can't even count. Their food and their restaurant is my favorite…read moreplace to eat in San Diego. George and Samia are the most wonderful people in the world. George will come out of the kitchen and explain, in detail, every item on the menu. I laugh when I read or even see a subpar review of Alforon. Those people are either high on drugs or never experienced excellent food before. Chicken Tawook, Tabouli salad, house pickles, everything is off the chart and that's just the for starters. You can close your eyes, point to a menu item and have the best meal of your life. Explore their whole menu, you can't go wrong with a single item. Hands down off the chart and excellent food by two of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life.

    First of all let me say that the love dessert has me hooked. Best thing here! One of the most…read moreunique and tasty things I've tried in a while, and that's saying a lot w my sweet tooth. I love the floral and pistachio taste, and it doesn't leave you feeling heavy afterwards. The mint lemonade is also a must have- tastes like it came from the garden in the best way possible. For savories, I had the spinach and cheese bajeen, baba gannouj, and the lamb fatteh - all had a lot of flavor and tasted homemade. I love trying new foods so will have to come back with more friends and try other things on the menu. The downside of this place was being seated on the right side of the restaurant near the carry out section. This was the pit of despair. I noticed that most of the staff goes to the other end first, and as a result 4 tables got seated after us and all of them had food on their table before we managed to flag one of the staff. It was definitely busy in there but he replied that he was simply going in order, but apparently order or left side to right side instead of arrival. I recommend trying to get seated on the side w the stained glass windows for better service. Other than that, the experience overall was pleasant.

    Photos
    Alforon - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Alforon - Ouzi Lamb Special

    Ouzi Lamb Special

    Alforon - Lamb fatteh

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    Lamb fatteh

    Micho'z Fresh Lebanese Grill - Greek Salad - @rayz

    Micho'z Fresh Lebanese Grill

    4.3(852 reviews)
    6.2 miHillcrest
    $$

    Always a true delight! I come here often, and this family…read morebusiness is still going strong after many, many years here in Hillcrest. I just love the food, plenty of good parking in the back of the restaurant. Easy on your wallet with a vast menu......... No one cooks like the Lebanese. I'm an Egyptian, and we don't even come close. The Lebanese are the best at cooking Middle Eastern Cuisine, no question, Hands down. Try the dessert, Konafe, you won't be sorry.

    I really wanted to like it here, I've passed by it so many times!…read more First, the service was not friendly. We walked in and there was only 1 other customer. The lady working there didnt greet us, ask us if we are eating in or taking out, she just stood and stared at us until we said something. It was a tad awkward. Rest of our time there was a bit similar, it just seemed like she really didn't want to be there. Second, the food was so bad. We got chicken shawarma wraps and they were 50% sauce, and the rest was lettuce, tomato, and boiled unseasoned chicken. My friend and I tried so hard to eat it but wow.. honestly worst wrap of my life. It was also on happy hour but we got charged full price anyway. At that point we were ready to go so didnt even argue the extra charge it was just a bad experience overall. Im so confused about all the good reviews! Maybe we just got the wrong thing..

    Photos
    Micho'z Fresh Lebanese Grill - Ambience inside

    Ambience inside

    Micho'z Fresh Lebanese Grill - Greek salad with chicken

    Greek salad with chicken

    Micho'z Fresh Lebanese Grill - Chicken Kabob (Tawook) Sandwich

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    Chicken Kabob (Tawook) Sandwich

    Yalla Habibi

    Yalla Habibi

    4.4(128 reviews)
    8.3 miGaslamp, East Village

    A small Lebanese restaurant tucked within downtown Gaslamp streets, Yalla Habibi houses authentic…read moremediterranean cuisine that is sure to fill your stomach and wow your taste buds. We got Baba ghanoush as an appetizer and the spices inside punctured my palate while the lemon juice puckered my mouth. All that is to say that the Baba ghanoush certainly did not lack flavor. I also got a beef shawarma, and I'm from Texas so I'm used to seeing Texas sized dishes but this one was United States sized. It was a shame that I was visiting and couldn't take back leftovers but the beef shawarma was easily 2 meals. My only minor complaint is that at $25-$30 the price was not Texas-priced, but it's California so I came in with Californian expectations. All in all, nice family owned Lebanese restaurant. Would recommend a try!

    We got the Falafels to start and they were nicely crisped, but were a bit on the saltier side. I…read moreenjoyed that the salad was very lightly dressed with olive oil and lemon juice. Simple, fresh, and tasty! My guy got the Chicken Tawook Bowl. The chicken was nice and juicy, but they don't give much chicken for the price. I got the Kafta Kebab Plate and the meat was on the drier side and could've used more seasoning. The hummus was good and both meats mixed well with the rice. While we enjoyed this place, it wasn't very memorable. There's nothing special about what we had and it was pricier than similar restaurants we've been to.

    Photos
    Yalla Habibi
    Yalla Habibi - Lentil soup

    Lentil soup

    Yalla Habibi - Mixed grill plate

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    Mixed grill plate

    Tahini - The Esquire Pita Sandwich with chicken Sriracha Tahini, French fries and mango lemonade.

    Tahini

    4.6(1.4k reviews)
    2.5 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    We've been to Tahini before but decided to make a special trip to Tahini to support them after…read morehearing they've been constantly harassed with hate messages/crimes -- which is so horrible and sad. The food is was great and one of my favorite spots when I'm craving middle eastern wraps- I did built your own pita so of course I like the ingredients. I loved my pita bread (it's much different from the Greek style if you haven't tried it before!) and the enjoyed the steak in particular. It had a lot of warming spices (nutmeg and cinnamon maybe?) and the flavor is pretty unique! I added bell peppers, pickled cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, red onion, tahini sauce, and garlic sauce. I also got a piece of falafel - I always gotta judge a place by their falafel and this one was crispy on the outside and soft in the inside which was perfect. Next time I need to try the halloumi cheese stix with fig jam! Place was very clean and the decor was nice. I also love the Finjan coffee spot next door.

    The food here is genuinely outstanding - fresh, colorful, flavorful, and made with care. Every time…read moreI eat here I'm reminded why I keep coming back. The staff is also consistently warm and kind, which makes the whole experience feel good from the moment you walk in. My only real frustration is with the wait times on online orders, and it's significant enough that I have to mention it. I work 10 min away and only get a 35-40 minute break. The app consistently quotes around 20 minutes- but honestly, 20 minutes shouldn't even be necessary. I've stood there and watched them make a bowl. It takes about two minutes. Other similar restaurants have my order ready in five minutes, consistently. So when the app quotes 20 and then I still end up waiting at the 20 minute mark on top of that - in a nearly empty restaurant - something is off. Today this happened (I hit the 20 min mark with no food), and I had to go up and ask them to make my order. This isn't a one-time thing either. It's happened enough times over the years that it genuinely deters me from coming here on my break. To their credit, there was a stretch where it seemed like they had it figured out, so I know they can do it. I just wish that consistency would stick. If you're not on a time crunch, absolutely go. The food alone is worth it. But if you're relying on a quoted pickup time, build in a buffer- a bigger one than you'd think you'd need.

    Photos
    Tahini - Interior of the restaurant

    Interior of the restaurant

    Tahini - Close up of the OG Pita. Packed will delicious meat!

    Close up of the OG Pita. Packed will delicious meat!

    Tahini - Interior

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    Interior

    Aladdin Cafe - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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