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Met some friends for lunch today. When we walked in they were greeted like old friends and everyone was so welcoming. Such a lovely atmosphere. We chose this place because we love the food and service. We ordered hummus and the homemade pita were superb. We got the Mediterranean Chicken salad and the Chopped Chicken salad. Both were amazing and flavorful with a good balance of ingredients. Love their dressings. The portions so generous. Parking was a challenge but we eventually found some spots at the other end of the lot. Yay!
A lot of people I know spoke highly of Aladdin Cafe so I had to check them out especially since I always see it super busy. I ordered the #1 which is All Nature Free Range Chicken Shawarma. It comes with Chicken, Basmati Rice, Hummus, Tahini Sauce, Arabic Salad and Pita Bread. First, the amount of food you get is a lot. My picture doesn't do the portion justice. Between the spices and flavors, this is one delicious meal. It tasted fresh and light, but yet fulfilling. This place costs $30, but it's worth it. I definitely had leftovers and even after reheating it, it still tasted so good. They have plenty of seating, indoors and outdoors. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly. Our waiter was very nice. It's a great place for lunch, date night or even a family night out sharing delicious food.
The service was quick, there is plenty of seating and the parking is easy. The portions are huge so consider sharing if you don't have a big appetite. We ordered the baba ghanoush, and the half and half shawarma (chicken/beef). All were delicious!
My first time here and I will definitely be going back. They have indoor and outdoor seating. My friends and I shared the Baba Ghanouj appetizer. The smokey flavor was delicious and the pita bread was warm and fluffy. It was a perfect starter for the 3 of us. For my main dish I ordered the 1/2 and 1/2 Shawarma dish. It was a huge portion of beef and chicken. It came with a large side salad with a lemony flavored vinaigrette and rice. It also came with hummus and really good garlic dip. Server was so nice and attentive. It was a great lunch experience all around.
Bombbb food The hibiscus iced tea and passion fruit iced tea were sooo refreshing. The spicy chicken pizzaaa had a nice lil kick and was loaded with toppings, but that LAMB SHANK??? OOOOF. So juicy, tender and literally falling off the bone I loveeee lamb shank and this one definitely satisfied the craving. Everything hit and the portions were solid too. 10/10 I'm coming back because I already know I'm gonna be thinking about that lamb shank
Such a comforting and homey place to eat. Wonderful service the entire time. I loved that their lentil soup was completely blended making it more is a butternut squash soup type of texture. Perfect for the fall. I had a chicken greek salad which could easily feed 2 people. The homemade pepperoni pizza was surprisingly one of their best plates. The borak combo had a mix of spinach, lamb, and cheese with a garlic sauce and similar to a chimichurri sauce as well. It came out warm and I enjoyed the combination but it's not something that stands out. The menu is diverse so there's options for everyone. Can't wait to return to try more!
I visited the restaurant and ordered the Mezze platter, which included hummus, baba ghanoush, kibbeh, beef shawarma, chicken shawarma, dolma, and tabbouleh. Unfortunately, the food was below average. The shawarma tasted reheated, the bread was not good, and the overall presentation and arrangement of the food were poor. I don't think I would visit this restaurant again.
Aladdin Cafe was OK. Did i like it? Yes but i got over cooked (burnt) food so i have mix feelings about this place. First make sure, when you enter parking, the restaurant is the one that its open! Because, we were so close to leave because the door was closed and a worker told us the Aladdin is now the other open spot. It didnt have the restaurant nameso we werent sure. The employees were brilliant. The Arabic salad is the most to order. We ordered the plate that was coming with 4 different kababs and honestly because the lighting inside is lil bit dark and its hard to see what you eat i ended up to take my photo with camera's flash and i sawall the burnt meat so i was right about the very strong charcoal taste! I called the server on the table and he toldme this is well done and i asked him what does it mean its well done! Welldone doesnt mean burnt the food and give to the customer! And specially that we are middle eastern! Do we know what are we looking for and the quality is the most important thing. So he saw and accepted and apologized and brought new one! We already ate the yummy flafel so the new plate was much better! And i was happy that they changed it. The other thing the table wasnt clean and it was too sticky!
The food was 5/5, but the service last weekend on 7/03 was a 2/5. She was nice but extremely inattentive and slow. It was busy but that just means they need to staff up better.
An absolute standout, elevated by exceptional service and unforgettable flavors. From the moment we sat down, Ivis set the tone for the entire evening. As first-time diners, we really appreciated how knowledgeable and intentional his recommendations were!! Everything he suggested was spot on. His attentiveness was seamless (never overbearing, always present), and he made the experience feel curated rather than routine. Now let's talk about the food... wow. Every dish came out fresh, beautifully prepared, and packed with flavor. You can truly taste the authenticity and care in each bite. It's one of those menus where everything sounds so good, you're immediately planning your next visit before you've even finished your meal. The ambiance makes it versatile enough for anything, whether it's an intimate date night or a lively group dinner, it executes both effortlessly. Safe to say, we've found a new favorite. We'll absolutely be back... and next time, we're ordering even more!
Aladdin Cafe! a dining adventure! The food was an absolute journey!!!! Beginning with the meza platter oh myyyyy nice smoky beef and shawarma chicken on the pita bread and we could mix and match the sauces oh my soooo fancy and delish and fun to explore and experiment with all the different flavors total win I just about filled up on the appetizer alone! The chicken shawarma pizza holy moly thin sliced tomato with some succulent bursting with flavor chicken with exquisite fine cheese just all combines so well with the pizza sauce come oooonnn!!! How do they do it literally my number 2 favorite pizza ever!!! Must try!!! Dessert pistachio baklava with the Turkish ice cream they did it my dream was fulfilled a beautiful marriage of baklava and sweet ice cream wow wow wow must try!!! Service was the absolute best! Our server Jordan was such a delight and made the experience a true adventure as she showed me each item telling me the best and favorites and personalizing my meal to exactly what we were looking for! She was such a joy and very fun and obviously loved working here Very passionate! Ambiance was epic we lucked out with a beautiful evening in this fun looking tent thing and the tea pot was sooo fun and cool looking just completed the vibe totally a great chilling spot if I just wanted a fancy dessert and chill out with friends!
We arrived at 5:30PM on a Friday without reservation but we got a table shortly. The restaurant is located small strip mall which has limited parking. Service was warm, fast, and efficient. Food: large portion, flavorful, healthy, delicious. Our favorite: the mixed grill lamb chops, chicken, and different kebabs. The garlic sauce compliments the meats well. We can't get enough of it. Arabic salad was refreshing and light with lemon and extra virgin olive oil dressing.
Food service and portions were amazing. Background music was pleasant and the meal served fresh.
11 days ago
Sunday 12:30pm. No wait, seated promptly on the patio. Party of 5 adults + toddler. Came here based on a recommendation and it did not disappoint. We ordered Aladdin Mediterranean chicken salad ($19), borak combo ($18), entree #4: free range chicken tika kebab ($34), entree #9: New Zealand spring lamb chops ($45). We enjoyed everything we ordered! Chicken was slightlyyyy dry but flavor was great. Highly recommend the lamb chops! May be the best lamb chops I've ever had! read more
We got the mixed grilled with all the good meats and stuff to sample a bit of everything. I like the lamb chops the most. Had a charred flavor and not too gamey. My second favorite was the grilled chicken. We tried all the borak and my fav was the cheese and lamb. I didnt like the spinach because it was pickled. The restaurant is pretty big and good for big parties. Parking can get a little challenging but if you come early enough its not too bad. The staff was really good too, we had little kids and they were very accommodating and interacted with the kids. They also gave us ice cream since it was someone's birthday. read more
1 month ago
Met some friends for lunch today. When we walked in they were greeted like old friends and everyone was so welcoming. Such a lovely atmosphere. We chose this place because we love the food and service. We ordered hummus and the homemade pita were superb. We got the Mediterranean Chicken salad and the Chopped Chicken salad. Both were amazing and flavorful with a good balance of ingredients. Love their dressings. The portions so generous. Parking was a challenge but we eventually found some spots at the other end of the lot. Yay! read more
A lot of people I know spoke highly of Aladdin Cafe so I had to check them out especially since I always see it super busy. I ordered the #1 which is All Nature Free Range Chicken Shawarma. It comes with Chicken, Basmati Rice, Hummus, Tahini Sauce, Arabic Salad and Pita Bread. First, the amount of food you get is a lot. My picture doesn't do the portion justice. Between the spices and flavors, this is one delicious meal. It tasted fresh and light, but yet fulfilling. This place costs $30, but it's worth it. I definitely had leftovers and even after reheating it, it still tasted so good. They have plenty of seating, indoors and outdoors. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly. Our waiter was very nice. It's a great place for lunch, date night or even a family night out sharing delicious food. read more
The service was quick, there is plenty of seating and the parking is easy. The portions are huge so consider sharing if you don't have a big appetite. We ordered the baba ghanoush, and the half and half shawarma (chicken/beef). All were delicious! read more
My first time here and I will definitely be going back. They have indoor and outdoor seating. My friends and I shared the Baba Ghanouj appetizer. The smokey flavor was delicious and the pita bread was warm and fluffy. It was a perfect starter for the 3 of us. For my main dish I ordered the 1/2 and 1/2 Shawarma dish. It was a huge portion of beef and chicken. It came with a large side salad with a lemony flavored vinaigrette and rice. It also came with hummus and really good garlic dip. Server was so nice and attentive. It was a great lunch experience all around. read more
Bombbb food The hibiscus iced tea and passion fruit iced tea were sooo refreshing. The spicy chicken pizzaaa had a nice lil kick and was loaded with toppings, but that LAMB SHANK??? OOOOF. So juicy, tender and literally falling off the bone I loveeee lamb shank and this one definitely satisfied the craving. Everything hit and the portions were solid too. 10/10 I'm coming back because I already know I'm gonna be thinking about that lamb shank read more
13 days ago
Such a comforting and homey place to eat. Wonderful service the entire time. I loved that their lentil soup was completely blended making it more is a butternut squash soup type of texture. Perfect for the fall. I had a chicken greek salad which could easily feed 2 people. The homemade pepperoni pizza was surprisingly one of their best plates. The borak combo had a mix of spinach, lamb, and cheese with a garlic sauce and similar to a chimichurri sauce as well. It came out warm and I enjoyed the combination but it's not something that stands out. The menu is diverse so there's options for everyone. Can't wait to return to try more! read more
2 months ago
I visited the restaurant and ordered the Mezze platter, which included hummus, baba ghanoush, kibbeh, beef shawarma, chicken shawarma, dolma, and tabbouleh. Unfortunately, the food was below average. The shawarma tasted reheated, the bread was not good, and the overall presentation and arrangement of the food were poor. I don't think I would visit this restaurant again. read more
16 days ago
Aladdin Cafe was OK. Did i like it? Yes but i got over cooked (burnt) food so i have mix feelings about this place. First make sure, when you enter parking, the restaurant is the one that its open! Because, we were so close to leave because the door was closed and a worker told us the Aladdin is now the other open spot. It didnt have the restaurant nameso we werent sure. The employees were brilliant. The Arabic salad is the most to order. We ordered the plate that was coming with 4 different kababs and honestly because the lighting inside is lil bit dark and its hard to see what you eat i ended up to take my photo with camera's flash and i sawall the burnt meat so i was right about the very strong charcoal taste! I called the server on the table and he toldme this is well done and i asked him what does it mean its well done! Welldone doesnt mean burnt the food and give to the customer! And specially that we are middle eastern! Do we know what are we looking for and the quality is the most important thing. So he saw and accepted and apologized and brought new one! We already ate the yummy flafel so the new plate was much better! And i was happy that they changed it. The other thing the table wasnt clean and it was too sticky! read more
An absolute standout, elevated by exceptional service and unforgettable flavors. From the moment we sat down, Ivis set the tone for the entire evening. As first-time diners, we really appreciated how knowledgeable and intentional his recommendations were!! Everything he suggested was spot on. His attentiveness was seamless (never overbearing, always present), and he made the experience feel curated rather than routine. Now let's talk about the food... wow. Every dish came out fresh, beautifully prepared, and packed with flavor. You can truly taste the authenticity and care in each bite. It's one of those menus where everything sounds so good, you're immediately planning your next visit before you've even finished your meal. The ambiance makes it versatile enough for anything, whether it's an intimate date night or a lively group dinner, it executes both effortlessly. Safe to say, we've found a new favorite. We'll absolutely be back... and next time, we're ordering even more! read more
26 days ago
Aladdin Cafe! a dining adventure! The food was an absolute journey!!!! Beginning with the meza platter oh myyyyy nice smoky beef and shawarma chicken on the pita bread and we could mix and match the sauces oh my soooo fancy and delish and fun to explore and experiment with all the different flavors total win I just about filled up on the appetizer alone! The chicken shawarma pizza holy moly thin sliced tomato with some succulent bursting with flavor chicken with exquisite fine cheese just all combines so well with the pizza sauce come oooonnn!!! How do they do it literally my number 2 favorite pizza ever!!! Must try!!! Dessert pistachio baklava with the Turkish ice cream they did it my dream was fulfilled a beautiful marriage of baklava and sweet ice cream wow wow wow must try!!! Service was the absolute best! Our server Jordan was such a delight and made the experience a true adventure as she showed me each item telling me the best and favorites and personalizing my meal to exactly what we were looking for! She was such a joy and very fun and obviously loved working here Very passionate! Ambiance was epic we lucked out with a beautiful evening in this fun looking tent thing and the tea pot was sooo fun and cool looking just completed the vibe totally a great chilling spot if I just wanted a fancy dessert and chill out with friends! read more
7 months ago
We arrived at 5:30PM on a Friday without reservation but we got a table shortly. The restaurant is located small strip mall which has limited parking. Service was warm, fast, and efficient. Food: large portion, flavorful, healthy, delicious. Our favorite: the mixed grill lamb chops, chicken, and different kebabs. The garlic sauce compliments the meats well. We can't get enough of it. Arabic salad was refreshing and light with lemon and extra virgin olive oil dressing. read more
1 month ago
Food service and portions were amazing. Background music was pleasant and the meal served fresh. read more
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. read more
3 months ago
Highly recommend Aladdin to anyone who loves Mediterranean food . They have some authentic flavors & great portions that will make your belly & heart happy. Try the falafels , that's a must! Some of the best falafels I've ever tried . Great service , very helpful with recommendations and made us feel welcome . I will definitely come back for more visits . read more
23 days ago
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. read more
25 days ago
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. read more
28 days ago
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. read more
3 months ago
Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant is one of my favorite places for Mediterranean food in San Diego. The Tikka Kebab was absolutely delicious--perfectly seasoned, tender, and full of flavor. The service was fast, and everyone was welcoming and professional. A special thanks to Mike for his outstanding customer service and friendly attitude. He made our dining experience even better. Highly recommended, and I'll definitely be back! read more
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! read more
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! read more
8 months ago
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! read more
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! read more
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! read more
4 months ago
In town for a company training and ordered online on my trip back to the hotel. Quick (superior) service. With my pickup they offered me a tea or something sweet. Knowing I was exhausted, I chose their spiced tea. Best part - I get back, open my box and the portion of Gyro meat on the salad I ordered was a meal in itself. Ignore my hotel ambience as next time I am back, I'll stay and enjoy the food, the service and the ambience. read more
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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. read more
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More info about Aladdin Cafe
5420 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117
Clairemont
Directions
(858) 573-0000
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http://www.aladdincafe.com
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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.
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