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    Alforon

    4.6 (1.9k reviews)
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    ALFORON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Alforon

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    Reviews With Photos

    Amazing custom Lebanese menu
    Peter H.

    I came to Alforon for dinner with my team from work and it was a wonderful experience! George and Samia (the owners/operators) made us feel right at home and rolled out the red carpet for our team. George explained the entire front of the menu, highlighting each item and why he added it to the menu, it's history, the flavor, and recommendations on what to order. We had a big group so we were able to order several flat breads. I'm not even sure which I tried but they were all delicious. For the entrees, we all shared those as well and the standouts were the fisherman's rice, the Ouzi Lamb, and the Majbous. Everyone raved about how tender and delicious the chicken was on the Majbous, I think it may have been the winner! The Mint tea Lemonade was also very unique and delicious. We also enjoyed the only beer in the middle east, Almaza, straight from Lebanon! George recommended a dessert which was interesting, not too sweet and had kind a flan type texture. I don't know what it was called but it was a nice way to cap off the meal. This wasn't just a dinner, it was an experience! Appreciate the hospitality that George and Samia shared with us, they really did make us feel like part of the family with their welcoming atmosphere and personalities. I'm not local to San Diego but if I was I would be visiting Alforon often!

    Aaysh Essaraya
    Haylee M.

    I had this place on my list for over a year and so happy we finally got to go! Really lovely family kind of vibe at this place. The server and chef basically treated my husband and I like their own children. A little strict but also giving us what we wanted, haha. super fun people and I was a little confused at some points whether or not she was actually being strict but I think it was all fun and games, haha. We both get intimidated at a few times not going to lie, haha. We usually look at the menu ahead of time and plan what to order but then after getting here we asked for recommendations and extremely extremely extremely grateful for all the suggestions our host / server gave us because it was way better than that we would have ordered! It was really nice how she told us they were about guest experience and not about making money because she even mentioned she was saving us money by helping us with this order. Tabouli - I asked if they could use less oil in this and even though I got a little bit of a stone look I think they actually delivered on that respect. such a beautiful and flavorful Tabouli - so fresh and refreshing! A lot of greens the perfect amount of lemon and not at all oily or greasy. There was also just very very little bulgar which was nice cuz it was like a proper salad and not something you would get at a supermarket. Za'atar Supreme Bajeen (Za'atar + Labni) We knew we wanted to try the labneh and some form or the other and really happy that it worked out on this Bajeen. We had been considering ordering the chicken one but this one was definitely much better!husband and I both love bread and this was like the perfect fresh baked bread that was warm and perfectly thin and crispy and flavorful as well. The tomatoes and love me on top added a nice touch, but I loved it even just plain! Majbous (flavorful rice + roasted chicken breast) Husband and I had planned on ordering the chicken kabobs but after we mentioned we wanted chicken she suggested this and man we are so so grateful for that! Such soft and perfectly cooked flavorful chicken!I don't know how they cook that chicken but it was really so so soft and perfect the rice on the bottom was extremely flavorful as well but all the spices that was infused with.there was also some combination of lentils and raisins on the side which went really well with the chicken and rice. 100% recommend this dish! Really big portion size on this dish as well and totally value for money! It's big enough to split among two people. Aaysh Essaraya - This place is really known for this dessert and I can totally see why. Perfect balance of flavor and texture with the soft creamy pudding and the crispy crunchy pistachios with the rose syrup soaked cake. Husband loved it so much he actually ordered a second one for himself after we split the first one.

    Kibbie Labaniyyeh
    Brian J.

    Back at it again. Alforon. Tabouli, Falfel, Shawarma Bajeen!!!! Yummy yummy yummy!!! Trying to get in here every 6 months!!!

    Chicken Tawook
    Leslie P.

    Well this was my first time having Lebanese food and now I want to get adopted by a Lebanese family so I could eat like this every day. We ordered the chicken tawook with peppers and no cheese. The dollops of garlic paste make the dish - it's the best garlic paste I've ever had. The dish is a little one dimensional but the peppers add something different; my only complaint is that I wish they would've added a little more. Regardless, I still loved it and would order it every time. We hesitantly ordered the ouzi lamb special because we don't love the gaminess of lamb. The server told us the lamb wasn't gamey at all so we took the risk and I'm so glad we did because she was right - ZERO gaminess. Idk how they did it but the lamb was tender, juicy, and went perfectly with the rest of the dish. Lastly, we had the Aaysh Essaraya pistachio dessert and omg.......... The first few bites my brain was trying to make sense of the new flavors it hadn't had before but once it did, I regretted getting a dessert to share. I strongly suggest you order it for yourself! The restaurant was pretty spacious. They were a little understaffed when we went in so we had to be patient but the servers were kind and were moving as fast as they could. Our food came out very quickly though. There isn't a ton of parking in the plaza but I didn't pay attention to whether there's a side street close by. All in all, if I wasn't trying to eat at home more I would probably be here daily trying everything on the menu.

    Falafel bajeen
    Jennifer C.

    What a neighborhood gem. Located in a small strip mall in El cajon boulevard. It's pretty unassuming outside but right when you walk in you can smell all the delicious flavors that you're about to enjoy. We ordered takeout and got the chicken tawook (added peppers and jalapenos) and the falafel bajeen. Both dishes were served on their oven baked flatbread. Chicken tawook: the tenderness of the chicken was on point. What really makes it is the garlic paste (sooo creamy and flavorful) and the peppers/jalapenos (must get even if it's $2 extra. Adds a nice acidity and pop of flavor that isn't too hot) Falafel bajeen: familiar flavors but in a different format. The spread the falafel all along the flatbread like a pizza sauce and then bake it. Toppings are out on top after. A good variety of textures and the pickles added a nice flavor. Both dishes are fairly reasonably priced. Happy to support a smaller business! We will be back.

    Vegan Kibbie

    Delicious food. Came on a Friday night at 7pm, and surprisingly, there were only 4 other parties there during our hour+ meal. Other reviews mentioned the owners being pushy about what you should order. Because I saw that ahead of time, I was prepared for it and welcomed it as a positive part of their culture. Sambousek cheese: Delicious, crispy, hot and fresh. Outside is reminiscent of a fried empanadas. Cheese/zataar flatbread: Fantastic. The most flavorful cheese I've ever had. Not a zataar fan, but the owner pushed us repeatedly to add half zataar. Fisherman's rice: really disliked this. The fish was dry/overcooked. The overwhelming flavor was just the tahini they covered it with, and a sour taste too. Vegan Kibbie: incredibly crispy, fresh. The insides and the salads surrounding them were so sour that I couldn't eat them. Baklawa: very dry and pistachio-forward. Didn't have the sweet/gooey aspect I love about other baklava. Overall we plan to return. We want to support a family run business where they clearly put so much work and energy into the food. While we disliked half of the food we ordered, it seems that we just don't like the overwhelming sour/tahini flavors that drive many dishes. We plan to get only cheese flatbread and falafel (our favorite was the outside of the Kibbie, which is basically falafel). The service is kind even though they can be pushy. The owner recommended Phoenician pie and chicken tawook, both of which we are open to trying next time.

    Falafel

    Alforon has the best falafels I've ever had in my life! They somehow feel fluffy, crunchy, and light at the same time. Their original dessert Aaysh Essaraya is deservedly the award-winning showstopper. Very unique flavors, super creamy, yet not excessively sweet or heavy. Loved it! And to top it all, it is run by the most wonderful couple whose passion for their food is evident as soon as you speak to them. Like I told them, this was first visit to Alforon, but certainly won't be my last :)

    Spinach Pie
    Christina R.

    Bhajeen. It's fantastic toasted in their giant stone/brick oven - basically Lebanese pizza. I chose falafel- piping hot flatbread, smeared in rich luscious falafel spread, topped with fresh lettuce, fresh diced tomato and cold, tart, pickled beets. Delish! 4*food Why only 2 stars? The service. TLDR: I have been wanting to try this place for almost a year. I walked in alone, and the woman that everybody loves (see other reviews) was talking to a table of people. I waited patiently by the podium that said 'please wait here to be seated'. After a few minutes of watching her casually chitchat, she finally acknowledged me with a head nod, an index finger, and commanded curtly "Wait." Then she kept on having her conversation with the table!!!! I was confused because it didn't look like she was taking an order (they already had food on their table), she wasn't delivering food, and she wasn't removing dishes. So I shrugged it off... and kept waiting. Then after a few more minutes of chit-chatting, she walked over and offered me a choice of tables. Only 3 out of 10-12 other tables were taken at 4:30pm, so I sat at a table near the middle. Soon after, the first table left and she gave them a very friendly goodbye and asked them to come back soon. I watched her sit down at every other table to have a conversation, admiring the young children at 2 different tables, and listening patiently to all the questions they asked--- 2 of the tables were families of 4, dining there for the first time. She asked them where they were from, how they heard about the restaurant, on and on. Meanwhile, I just waited. I watched her walk back-and-forth many many times past me without ever looking at me, or wondering if I was ready to order. When she brought me water, she had three glasses in her hands, dropped mine off without a word, then went to the next table, delivered their water, sat down and started a new conversation with them! Finally, a handsome older gentleman from the back kitchen came out to take my order. He was very friendly, smiled at me, and was kind enough to explain that some people like to put hummus on top of the falafel bhajeen. I declined in favor of the original simple tahini dressing. I also ordered a spinach pie and thanked him. When I was done eating, I kept trying to make eye contact with the woman to ask for a box to go for half my bhajeen, and a check. But she kept sweeping past me over and over, ignoring me. I tried placing my credit card on the table, first on the table, then on a white napkin to make it easier to see, and then further down near the end of the table, but she still didn't see it? Finally after taking all the other orders, delivering food, and having sit down conversations with the two other tables, she pointed to my half eaten bhajeen and asked "box?" as she was already walking almost past me. As much as I enjoyed the bhajeen, I doubted I would be coming back based on the cold treatment I was getting from her, and I didn't want to leave without at least having tried their dolmas. And I was so relieved to finally be noticed that I hurriedly said "yes please, and also a half order of stuffed grape leaves to go." She repeated the order and turned away abruptly. Instead of the woman, the sweet gentleman brought out my box and took my check and card. I noticed he didn't serve any of the other customers. The second star is only because he treated me like a valued guest. After several more minutes, the woman brought out the warm dolmas in a go-box, and set them down on top of a closed plastic bag, and walked away without another word. If it had been a language issue I would have understood, but she was having perfectly normal, laughing conversations with all the other tables in English. I felt like she didn't want to spend one extra second near me, ugh, so uncomfortable. I read through many other reviews and found another single Asian woman who managed to have a lovely solo meal and was served by this same woman in a warm friendly way. So it wasn't my appearance. And FYI, I was appropriately dressed ie, I didn't look like I was homeless or a working girl, lol! The restaurant was not even 1/3 full. At no point were there ever more than 4 tables including me. One was a 2-top that already had their food when I walked in. I just could NOT understand why the woman was so obviously treating me so differently from all the other tables. At no point during the entire meal did she: 1. make any suggestions re: what to order, 2. ask me if I have any questions about the menu, 3. ask if my food was all right, 4. ask me if I needed anything else, 5. acknowledge me leaving. I watched her do all of these things with every other table. Bizarro.

    Jenna M.

    Flatbreads and Phoenician pie did not disappoint! I ordered through DoorDash for pickup and was so pleasantly surprised. The owners are so prideful of their space and product. They were excited for us to try and were so passionate about their product. The garlic dip is a must add on for the flatbreads. I I hope to return and eat at the restaurant so I can try more of their items!

    Alexa M.

    Definitely lived up to the hype! Make a reservation if you can because it gets packed here. Also parking is a little tough so just street park. Food was incredible!!

    Baked kibbeh
    Jamie A.

    Best authentic Lebanese food you can get in San Diego. Wonderful owners and a team that serves quality, flavorful and filling dishes. If you like Lahm bi ajeen - which is baked meat pie on a thin flatbread dough - this is your place to go! I haven't had a dish here I didn't like; and I plan to try more dishes! The last time we came here they were not serving kabobs, but the amazing (and funny) lady made some other suggestions. I wasn't even listening to her recommendation since this place is consistently good. Glad we just trust, because we ate a stuffed zucchini and cabbage dish combo that wow'ed our group. DELICIOUS! My husband makes a similar stuffed zucchini at home, but the yogurt sauce here changes it up and was the highlight. Alfaron makes their yogurt in-house (their yogurt cucumber sauce is superb). MUST TRY: baked kibbie, Ouzi lamb (lamb & rice) and baba ghannouj. Don't skip on the custard bread dessert dish (5 stars in itself). Parking can be a little tough, but be patient. The food is worth it.

    Jenn M.

    Delicious food and amazing service. Can't wait to go back for dessert. Samia was our server she was full of energy and gave us great recommendations

    Love dessert

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    1 month ago

    If you don't order drinks then you are in for a miserable experience. Zaatar tasted like sand.

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    1 month ago

    Super awesome place, food was excellent, atmosphere was charming. I will definitely be back. Can't wait to try more.

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    2 months ago

    Phenomenal. This is by far the best Lebanese food I've ever had. Highly recommend coming here!

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    3 months ago

    It's been a minute since our last visit. Food and atmosphere still great as past visits.

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    11 months ago

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    Page 1 of 49

    Alforon Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Alforon

    Do you have gluten free options?

    Thank you for your inquiry. Yes please review our menu on alforon.com GF clearly noted next to a… 

    Do they have outdoor seating?

    Sure do. It's very limited, but they do set up 3-4 table on the sidewalk. Not ideal for a large group but for two people it should be fine.

    How much does the Ouzi Lamb Rice cost and is it available this season?

    Gluten free & soyfree options?

    Yup. They have lamb, beef, rice and dolma.

    Is the whole menu halal?

    Yes Asna. AlHamdulillah

    Do they cater for small parties/get togethers?

    Thank you for your inquiry Curt. Yes Alforon caters all size of Parties / Get-togethers.… 

    View All 8 Questions

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    Yalla Habibi

    4.4
    (131 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    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.

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    Furnsaj Bakery & Restaurant

    Furnsaj Bakery & Restaurant

    4.3
    (230 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$

    The food was amazing. We went here on a whim trying to find a new spot locally and decided to try…read morethis place out! We're hooked. We got the Beef and Lamb Gyro shawarma and both did not disappoint! We're obsessed. Please come and support local!

    Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. And I really wanted to love it…read more I'd been watching this Mediterranean bakery/restaurant for a while and was excited to finally stop in. The owner/manager was incredibly kind, gentle, and welcoming, which honestly made me want to like the place even more. Hence the 3 stars The menu was a little confusing, and I ended up ordering a falafel wrap with a side of tabbouleh. I believe my total was around $36-$37. The wrap itself was mostly hummus and pickled vegetables, and unfortunately the whole thing just had a very soft, mushy texture. But the biggest issue for me was the falafel. It was very, very dense -- almost a Play-Doh-like texture. I've never had falafel quite like that. Maybe it's a particular style or preparation, but it just didn't work for me. The tabbouleh had really nice flavor, but it didn't taste as fresh as I was hoping for. That said, I saw a couple of other tables with what looked like flatbread pizzas topped with za'atar, along with some tabbouleh, and those actually looked really good. Good enough that I might give this place another try and order something different. I really hope I do, because the person running the place was genuinely lovely, and I'd love to be able to support a small local business like this. For me, this visit was unfortunately a miss -- but I'm not writing the place off just yet. Sometimes you simply order the wrong thing.

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    Tables inside
    Tables inside
    Vegan Chicken Plate
    Vegan Chicken Plate
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    Mama's Bakery & Deli

    Mama's Bakery & Deli

    4.1
    (1.3k reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    Mamas Bakery was just what we needed for the birthday party we hosted this weekend…read more Somebody came out, rolled out delicious dough with different fillings and all 60 people loved it The team for Mamas Bakery were on time, clean, neat, friendly, and professional I definitely would use them again and again not just for how good it taste but how easy they made everything from set up and clean up. I had absolutely nothing to do except enjoy my guests and delicious food

    Don't be fooled by "bakery" in their name. They have a full menu of sweet and savory meals…read moreincluding bowls, wraps, salads, and more. Came in here while I waited for my car at the shop, and they are generous with their portions... big enough to share. I got the Mediterranean bowl with beef, and it was flavorful. The meat was marinated well. You definitely need to eat it all together, or else the marinade on the meat will be too powerful. Their bowl also comes with the pita, which was a good addition, as they give you a big scoop of hummus. I give their food a solid 8/10 - flavorful and filling. The place is pretty spacious with seating inside and out. I appreciate the plants and framed Lebanese artwork. Something to note... this is not a full service restaurant. You place your order at the cashier, find a seat, and they'll bring you your food. I give their place and service, also solid 8/10. A great "grab and go" or "stay for a while" type of place.

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    Stubborn soda! So delicious
    Stubborn soda! So delicious
    Mama's Bakery & Deli
    Patio view out to Alabama, but soon they move around the corner 2141 El Cajon.

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    Patio view out to Alabama, but soon they move around the corner 2141 El Cajon.

    Alforon - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

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